Our first destination was the Convent of the Virgin Mary of Grace in the city of Larnaca, a few kilometres from the airport. We were welcomed by Fr. Andrew Verdote, head of the Franciscan Community, and Fr. Andrew Arhin, parish priest of the Catholic church. The Franciscans have resided in Larnaca since 1593. The Church we see today is the third in a series of sacred buildings built on the same site. In the shape of a Latin cross, it has a narthex, dome and peristyle. At the entrance to the church, we see the bust of the architect, the Franciscan friar Serafino Da Roccascalegna, the inspiration for the project from the ecclesiastical architectural style of southern Italy of the 17th and 18th centuries. The Church is always open and many people visit and come to pray. Each altar is endowed with singular beauty among the centuries-old frescoes and the images of the saints. In the central nave, the wonderful painting of the Our Lady of Grace composes the main altar. Above, the Franciscan cross. The daily Holy Mass is celebrated in the afternoon. On the days when they welcomed us with them, we saw the parish priest preparing the children for their first communion, teaching the signs of faith, explaining the readings of the liturgy and talking with the parents. And the collaborators who took care of the Church, both in cleaning and organizing the spaces around it. Fr. ANDREW ARHIN, ofm Parish Priest - Virgin Mary of Grace – Larnaca We have this desire to serve everyone and that everyone can come here to pray. The convent is attached to the church, as is the nursing home for the elderly currently run by the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. All expenses are shared between them. From Monday to Saturday, every morning at eight o'clock, Holy Mass is celebrated in English at the nearby St. Joseph's College. Local believers and even children come here to participate. Fr. ANDREW ARHIN, ofm Parish Priest - Virgin Mary of Grace – Larnaca We also have two chaplaincies outside the parish but we don't have a church there, we use the Orthodox one. So, at 9:30 we go to Ayia Napa and at eleven to Para Limini. During the week, the parish priest tells us, the faithful are invited in the evening to pray the Holy Rosary, with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament. On Tuesday, St. Anthony is celebrated; on Marian feasts, prayers are said in the grotto and processions are held and so subsequently the pastoral care is carried out following the Latin liturgical calendar. Fr. ANDREW ARHIN, ofm Parish Priest - Virgin Mary of Grace – Larnaca This adoration did not exist before. When I arrived I did it here because I already did it in Nicosia: daily adoration. And now many people come and they say to me: Father, you are truly a treasure of the parish. We are here for the people and not for vain glory. We are here to invite everyone to pray. On Sundays, friar Andrew tells us, the pastoral activity is intense. In the church, four masses are celebrated: one in Greek, one in English and one in accordance with the linguistic groups that frequent the parish: Filipinos and Africans. A small but very welcoming fraternity, attentive to the needs of locals and visitors. Today they carry on the Franciscan mission in this land and with courage they are workers of peace and unity. Fr. ANDREW ARHIN, ofm Parish Priest - Virgin Mary of Grace – Larnaca For me, it is a grace from God to be here and serve the people of God and also to give good testimony of Christ who is risen for all of us. With the arrival of Bishop Mons. Bruno Varriano, there are now also meetings at the diocesan level to make known the different realities present on the Island. Fr. ANDREW ARHIN, ofm Parish Priest - Virgin Mary of Grace – Larnaca Now we are gathering the young people who are over eighteen years old to go to Santiago de Compostela. This is one of our projects that we are doing for the church and for the faithful. A presence that in itself speaks of the love and dedication of those who have built history with its contrasts and challenges. And finally, the sympathy of those who like a mother take care of the friars both in the kitchen and in assisting in the liturgy. Next direction: Nicosia, in the centre of the island. Three intense days of learning about their mission.