Living in Malta was a huge change after Ampleforth. St Edwards College had become a non-resident school and students were sent home early in the afternoon.
Holidays were at least of three months in summer and apart from swimming, there was little else to keep the young occupied. The whole island’s youth seemed to converge on a place called Paceville where locals from all parts of the island joined the many young foreigners learning English. These foreign students ranged from the age of 7 to 70 with some schools catering for young and old whilst a few schools catered for those over 18 which is where Elanguest fitted in.
Drugs were easily obtainable in this area and the pushers had a heyday especially since more and more schools were being opened and two of the largest housed there in Paceville.
Stories of overdoses spread like wildfire as did suicides, overdoses and rapes of young girls. Alcohol was being served to the young and gradually over the years online gambling, strip clubs and massage parlours overtook the peace of the locality.
Parents refused to believe their children were smoking pot or dropping acid and many families were torn apart and put in financial predicaments because of their children’s habits it was always a case of ‘not my children’. It was noticeable how few young people were seen at church especially in the more affluent parts of the island. This was the second generation of those who used drugs. My sons didn’t escape the culture of Paceville and the use of pot and pills. What with the hard work in making Elanguest a going concern and looking after four boys, our life was proving exhausting.
Thank God for our faith. Schooling suffered, exams were failed, anger spread, and life became one of the greatest struggles we had to face. During this time, we had Padre Pio prayer groups in Qawra and at the church which was once the private chapel of Grand Master Spinola.
My teaching salary at St. Edward’s was supplemented by our savings which we had brought to Malta from the sale of our house in Ampleforth. The school fees for the four boys plus the cost of travel, ate up most of the earnings from the pittance of a school pay. My stay at St. Edwards fortunately lasted only for fifteen months otherwise we would have ended up in financial dire straits.
In those early years of its building, the area around Qawra was like a big rubbish dump, especially where we were staying. The flats were large but since they were among the first to be built, the upper floors were still not completed. We bought the entire basement area as it afforded us ample space for our family and, since it too was in ‘shell’ form, was able to have the three small units finished as one complete flat with an outside Terrace. During its completion we noticed that the workmen swore continually and, as a holy priest in Malta said, they could put the devil to shame when it came to obscene and blasphemous language.
We did not like this at all and decided to fight back by praying for the work and hiding a small miraculous medal in between the stones before they plastered. We survived it even if Ursula had to jump on an enraged, and drunk, ex-policeman who was about to hit me with a metal bar. All in a day’s work.
Because of the language School, I travelled a great deal, meeting agents in Japan, China, Korea, Hong Kong and all over Europe. Ursula was often left on her own to cope with the most difficult home life possible.
We heard of a holy man who had gone to see Padre Pio without anyone in San Giovanni knowing about it. He was startled when he heard Padre Pio call out his name and ask to have a chat with him.
This man had started a Eucharistic ……? And had a group of people forming community with him. Ursula and I went to see him somewhere near Marsa and heard some very consoling words from him. He also added that I was being tested and all our sons would pull through court cases, drugs, lack of purpose and whatever. Words which were consoling and renewed our trust in a loving and caring God. All would be well in God’s good time. Wonderful graces have already come their way but the battle goes on….