Br NOEL MUSCAT, ofm Malta "The Commissariat of the Holy Land in Malta is one of the first born in the Order". In 1636 the commissioner of the time managed to buy a small building next to the Franciscan convent in Valletta. This house became the Hospice of the Holy Land. Br NOEL MUSCAT, ofm Malta "The purpose was not only to have a Commissioner's office, but it was also to have a place where Franciscan missionaries going to or coming from the Holy Land could stop." Because of its location, near the port, the hospice soon became the center of many activities and a refreshment point for missionary journeys, as evidenced by the many "souvenirs" left by passing friars. Br NOEL MUSCAT, ofm Malta "Our church in Valletta, St. Mary of Jesus, is named by a document we have, dated 1730, as 'paroecia omnium', that is, 'parish of all'." In the world there are 67 Commissariats of the Holy Land, in 60 countries. Their task is to support the work of the Custody of the Holy Land, with pilgrimages, conferences and the Good Friday Collection, as well as with special initiatives in different contexts. The Commissariat of the Holy Land in Malta represents the Custody of the Holy Land in the two dioceses of Malta and Gozo. Br ANTHONY CHIRCOP, ofm Commissariat of the Holy Land - Malta "The relationship with the bishops is very good, they help us a lot. Our bishops also love the Holy Land very much." Br. Anthony Chircop has been Commissioner of the Holy Land in Malta, his homeland, for 19 years. He has been to the Holy Land as a pilgrim, as a guide and then as a student. Br ANTHONY CHIRCOP, ofm Commissariat of the Holy Land - Malta "The first thing is that I am in love with the Holy Land, really in love. And then through these courses I have come to know much better what the Holy Land is like, what the Holy Land is. And I consider it as my second home!" Among the initiatives to promote knowledge of the Holy Land: courses and publications on the Bible and the Holy Land, Good Friday Collect, and especially pilgrimages. Br ANTHONY CHIRCOP, ofm Commissariat of the Holy Land - Malta "I believe that pilgrimages help a lot for people to know the Holy Land. We have brought a lot of pilgrims and there is a great demand now, because after two years of not coming, now people want to go back to the Holy Land." Br ANTHONY CHIRCOP, ofm Commissariat of the Holy Land - Malta "The way we do pilgrimages also helps: not simply as a regular guide, but we also do catechesis in the places. And when people return to Malta, they come back spiritually renewed and this helps a lot." Stretching out into the Mediterranean, which has always been a natural bridge between West and East, Malta's link with the Holy Land is truly special. Br NOEL MUSCAT, ofm Malta "There has never been a time in the history of the last 300 years when there have not been Maltese friars in the Holy Land. I always say that Malta could be considered as part of the Holy Land, also because the presence of the Apostle Paul made Malta a point of support for the diffusion of the Word."