Watch: Paola Priest Invites Robert Abela To Tour Church After He Called Cafeteria A ‘Non-Starter’
Paola parish priest Fr Marc Andre Camilleri has invited Prime Minister Robert Abela to a tour of the Basilica of Christ the King in Paola to get a better understanding of a proposed project that includes a rooftop cafeteria.
Lovin Malta asked Fr Camilleri what went through his mind when he heard the Prime Minister harshly criticise the cafeteria proposal as a “non-starter”.
“I think maybe he hasn’t understood exactly what we have in mind, as happened with many people,” the priest said.
“I think I would invite him to come over, even if he wants to come privately. It would be a great honour for me to take him around, as I’ve taken you around, to give him a full tour of the church and show him what we are talking about, to show him the beauty of the church, the potential it has, and the service it can give Maltese people and tourists.”
“There is something good that we want to share, I think that’s what we have in mind, obviously while making it sustainable at the same time.”
Fr Camilleri also responded to former PN MP Franco Debono, who warned that people will “forgive the sins of contractors when they see that even holy people are opening a catering business on a church rooftop”.
“I honestly can’t understand why he’s saying that,” he said.
“What do they expect? Am I to just not pay the bills? Ok, it’s a sacred place and money should not change hands, but when someone comes to do the painting or the waterproofing or if I get an electricity bill, should I just tell them they’re blessed and that’s it?”
“I have to pay. We live in a society where you have to pay.”
The cafeteria is part of a plan to utilise 12 rooms in the Paola church’s belfry towers that are currently unused and falling into disrepair.
Other rooms will be converted into an interpretation centre, museums, and Catechism classrooms.
Would you visit this cafeteria if it opens?
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