The psycho-social and religious situation of Maltese migrants in Australia

Abstract

When Christianity came to Australia, with the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788, it came as the religion of the Europeans. The British gradually extended their control over the whole continent and consequently established in this country the dominance of European culture. They were, in fact, determined to make sure that this "new" country would be British. And the religion of Britain , as of Europe, was Christianity (Wilchen, 2005). Malta is a traditionally European Catholic country. And although there is evidence of early Maltese settlers in Australia, it was only during the years following the Second World War that the Maltese came to play a far more important role in the process of ethnic diversification of the Australian population in general and the Australian Catholic community in particular. Meanwhile, Australian Catholicism, like several other Christian Churches, is still to this very day, examining and evaluating the best possible expressions of its relatively recent national experience. Hence, I would like to take adeeper look at the psycho-social and religious situation of Maltese migrants in Australia.