"The Bucket List" - a film about living a life...

On Sunday 26^th October, LIFT organised another Film Night. Around 40 people gathered at the Multi-Purpose Room to watch the film for the night; “The Bucket List” (2007). This film written by Justin Zackham and directed by Rob Reiner tells the story of two terminally ill men who escape from a cancer ward and head off on a road trip with a wish list of to-dos before they die.

As usual, after the projection of the film a discussion took place from which various interesting points were brought out.

Something about the plot itself:

Corporate billionaire Edward Cole (Jack Nicholson) and working class mechanic Carter Chambers (Morgan Freeman) have nothing in common except for their terminal illnesses. The quiet mechanic Carter Chambers is a man with a great general culture; has been married for forty-five years with his beloved wife Virginia and has two sons - one lawyer the other engineer - and a violinist daughter. The caustic and bitter billionaire Edward Cole owns many hospitals, has many divorces and one missing daughter. Following the policy of Edward, his hospital makes no exception giving a private room to him and he has to share the same room as Carter. Along the days, they become close to each other and when Edward finds in the garbage the bucket list that Carter had prepared, listing all he wanted to do before dying, he includes his own items and invites Carter to a journey of friendship, discoveries and redemption.

A pro-life movie …

Apart from having an interesting and enjoyable trail, this movie comes along with a good deal of positive messages towards life. It highlights the importance of friendship and the support of the loved ones in discovering better one’s self and the others around us. It indicates the importance of feeling joy and love, and making others feel the same in our company: a message very related to the one we heard in the scriptures during last Saturday’s mass:

“Love God with all your might and love your neighbour as yourself”.

The movie emphasises the fact that unfortunately in many circumstances we really start appreciating the beauty of those around us, at somewhat a late stage in life. No one should be taken for granted. Another important message that this movie promotes is that what really matters in life are generally the small simple things: a kiss, a hug, a good word …

Once Albert Einstein said:

“Not everything that counts can be counted, and not everything that can be counted counts”.

LIFT invites you to continue the discussion on this blog by sending comments to this post and share your views about the film itself and this activity.

LIFT participates in the FARE Action Week by organising a 5 A-Side Football League

Football Against Racism in Europe - FARE - fights through football all forms of discrimination in football: in the stadiums, on the pitches, in the changing rooms, at the training grounds, in the offices and classrooms; by fans, players, managers, coaches, administrators or educators. Everyone should be free to play, watch and discuss freely, without any fear.


Living In Friendship Together (LIFT) has taken the opportunity, thanks to the FARE Action Week, to organise a morning 5 a-side football league on the 26th of October 2008. Five teams participated. The teams consisted of four Maltese teams and one refugee team residing at Dar Liedna, Fgura. The league started at 09:30hrs and ended at 12:30hrs, where each team played against each other.

The team players, who ranked first, second, and third were rewarded a trophy denoting their rank in the league. It was a joyful experience for all the players. LIFT assigned two referees from the Malta Football Association (MFA) to monitor the matches. One could note that all the teams played professionally and fair.

LIFT, being an Augustinian organisation within the Millennium Chapel, believes in fighting racism of every kind. This was a good opportunity to enhance intercultural relationships through the biggest sport in the world.

LIFT would like to take the opportunity to thank all the persons involved to make this event happen. Special thanks go to Conrad Dimech who was the main organiser from LIFT. Readers are all invited to continue the discussion on this blog by sending comments to this post and share your views about this event.

A Special Formation Meeting by LIFT

On Friday 24th October 2008, LIFT organised another formation meeting. However, this meeting had a different format....a different aim all in itself. Over the last two years of its foundation, LIFT, was feeling the need to invest more in the idea of a community. This initiative took birth from a dream...that of sharing unforgettable moments of true friendship, of getting to know each other more, and to feel a sense of belonging.


For this purpose, last Friday’s meeting, called all those interested in starting this adventure. Many were those who answered for the call! The multi-purpose room in the Millennium Chapel was full of enthusiastic people, all ready to share their ideas and invest their energies in this dream. The meeting started with a power point presentation portraying the possible views and ideas on which our community may be based.

Fr.Ray carried out the explanation in a very pleasant and understandable way. Everyone seemed interested and paid attention to what it was being said. After this presentation, the people present were divided into seven groups. Each group was led by one of the members of the core team. During the thirty minutes allocated for these focus groups, everyone had the opportunity to express his/her ideas. Each idea was written down and then a spokesperson was chosen to give a brief of what was said in each group in front of everyone.

There was a big wave of enthusiasm from those present and everyone showed a great interest in seeing this dream flourish. The main idea of building up a community was very much welcomed as it showed from the ideas that were shared after the groups.

In a nutshell, it was concluded that this idea is very much needed, that there is the need of knowing more each other and to create a sense of belonging, that different people, not just the core team, will contribute in organising activities, that there may be a fixed day dedicated for the community. It was also agreed that another meeting will be held were all those interested in giving their contribution in the organisation of activities will attend.

LIFT would like to take this opportunity to invite everyperson reading this post to send his or her comments and suggestions. The concept of a community should be a group effort and LIFT is ready to take it on-board even further. Thanks for your support. Your comments are very much appreciated!

LIFT TEAM

LIFT FILM NIGHT presents; 'The Mission'

This LIFT activity of Sunday the 28th of September hosted about 30 people at the Multi-Purpose Room and this was the first indoor activity for its type after summer 08. The limelight of the event was entirely dedicated to the Film itself; 'The Mission'. This is a 1986 British film about the experiences of a Jesuit missionary in eighteenth century South America.

After the film a 30 minute discussion took place and many interesting points were put forward.

Something about the plot itself:

Jeremy Irons (Fr Gabriel) plays a Spanish Jesuit who goes into the South American wilderness to build a mission in the hope to bring Christianity to the natives. Fr Gabriel succeeds and brings a golden age among them. Robert DeNiro (Mendoza) plays a slave hunter who is converted and joins Fr Gabriel in his mission. When Spain sells the colony to Portugal, they are forced to defend all they have built against the Portugese aggressors. The church, under pressure, cedes the land to the Portuguese which will allow slavers in again. Mendoza breaks his vows and organizes the natives to resist while Gabriel warns him to help them as a priest.

A must see for every one…

Rarely does a film have all the elements in film making all come together so perfectly. A very powerful film and also comes with some exceptional music by Ennio Morricone. The Mission won a number of awards and still remains a landmark in its genre. The film is based on real events based on the Jesuit Missionaries of the 18th Century in South America. The film is all about the strength of actual believing and faith in God. Life is always about choices and way back to the 18th century many believers suffered for their faith. In actual fact in some ways this is still the case. There were many martyrs for their faith and The Mission brings this sad history in a very realistic way – based on what had happened this Film will make you realize that at the end it’s only the faith in God that truly makes up for all our sins.

‘So, your Holiness, now your priests are dead, and I am left alive. But in truth it is I who am dead, and they who live. For as always, your Holiness, the spirit of the dead will survive in the memory of the living’.

This quote is taken from some of the last lines of the Film. Ironically these are the words of the bishop himself (Altamirano).

LIFT invites you to continue the discussion on this blog by sending comments to this post and share your views about the film itself and this activity.

LIFT presents a €1000 donation to Puttinu Cares.

The first word that comes to mind when starting to write this article is THANKS. Thanks to all those people who donated, sponsored and helped in this activity organised by LIFT. It was held on Saturday 20^th and Sunday 21^st September and its main aim was to raise funds for Puttinu Cares, a foundation that constantly helps children with cancer.

The subgroup LIFT Voluntary organises various activities in order to be of help to others. This time we opted to organise an activity to raise funds for charity and at the same time bring a smile upon the faces of those people less privileged. The activity, LIFT Car Wash, was organised in Qawra, at Ta Fra Ben. Number of young adults, some of them members of LIFT Voluntary themselves, gave their very best in these two days so that this event be a success. Consequently car owners were being asked to donate €5.00, but the renowned generous heart of us Maltese came forth once again when most of them gave more than requested. Furthermore, some of LIFT members were present along the promenade of Bugibba, collecting money from passers-by. This too helped us to pull together the lovely sum of €1000.

LIFT Car Wash demanded a lot of support and assistance from both the members of LIFT themselves and also from agencies which promptly offered their help. In fact we cannot but thank the company Ignazio Anastasi Ltd for providing us all the products necessary to wash cars such as the Zip Wax washing liquid of Turtle Wax brand, car chamois and sponges. A big thank you also goes to Farsons for freely lending us two big umbrellas and a chest freezer. A special thank you goes to the Local Council of St. Paul’s Bay which cooperated immensely so that this activity was positive. Besides, the site was also equipped with a sound system and a generator that certainly aided to create a bright and breezy atmosphere. For these two equipments a heartfelt thank you goes to two of LIFT members, Cedric and Louis, for every time we solicit help they are the first to come forward. Thanks to you all for your support!

This was the first endeavour put on by LIFT in order to raise funds for Puttinu Cares. It was a positive experience for us all and we take this opportunity to encourage other youth groups to organize such events for good causes. It definitely enriches the spirit.

For more information about LIFT Voluntary visit our website www.mclift.org or send an email addressed to Stephania or Katya on info@mclift.org.

Send your comments to this post and share your ideas, suggestions and opinions about this activity or related activities. Give us your feedback :)