Creating community on campus at the University of Malta

Among the prime objectives of the Jesuit-run Chaplaincy of the University of Malta is to offer a place of welcome for all, and to create events which foster a sense of community on campus.

One of these events is our weekly Free Wednesday Lunch for all students who wish to attend. With the help of student volunteers, the Chaplaincy staff cook a hearty warm lunch which is served after the 12.30pm Mass. Up to 120 students attend each week, a mix of Maltese and international students, and all participate in a few minutes of reflection before the lunch is served.

Delicious meals are served despite keeping the spending to a minimum, usually under €1 per person, and they are funded through the kind donations from the public, staff, students themselves, and once monthly from the University of Malta’s International Office.

“It’s a special time where we receive students who otherwise would not venture into the Chaplaincy space” shares Alison Vella from the team. “Through events such as this, several students eventually reach out to learn more about their faith, engage in wonderful conversations, join CLC or apply for the volunteering programmes which the Chaplaincy organises throughout the summer months in Ethiopia, Egypt, Albania, Cagliari, Naples, Firenze, Rome and Malta”.