Angela Camilleri was until recently a parishioner at Christ the King Reading for over forty years. She has recently relocated from Reading to the Mediterranean island of Malta and shares her journey of faith and parish life over the past fifty years. She is pictured with members of her family at her leaving party at Christ the King.

“My faith journey began in 1974 when I became a convert to the Catholic faith at St Anne’s, courtesy of St Mary Aiden in Caversham, before marrying my husband George Camilleri of 44 years, who was born in Malta. George was also involved in the life of the Church and lead the youth group for a number of years. He was a great encouragement after I suggested I would like to become a Catholic.

Christ the King School and Church community has been my home ever since. Before the twins were born I was the housekeeper for Fr Vincent Flanagan – a lovely experience. I started attending Christ the King in 1984 with my eldest son, and over the years, all five of my children made their First Holy Communion and Confirmation here. My twins also had the privilege of serving at the priestly ordination of Fr Gerard Flynn – a special moment for our family.

I’ve had the privilege of serving in various roles – from Sacristan (25 years!) to Lead Catechist, leading altar servers with Clare DeMeyer and becoming a safeguarding minister under Fr Bruce Barnes. I was also a member of the Lunchtime staff in school – keeping the children safe and ensuring good relationships. I was an elected parent governor and the secretary of the PTA (parents and teachers association) – loved working with the school community. I stepped in as a volunteer parish administrator as Fr Daniel joined us at Christ the King as our newly appointed Priest and was a member of the PPC, supporting Fr Daniel in his ministry. One of the joys of being part of Christ the King has been watching the children grow in faith and love through the sacramental programmes – seeing them journey from nursery to Year 1, then receiving Holy Communion, becoming altar servers, and going on to Confirmation… and even getting invited to their 21st birthday parties.

And I’ll never forget the lockdown – it was unprecedented, but with the support of Fr Pat Madden, Renee De Souza, Margot Spooner, Teresa Chapman, and John Cosgrove, we were still able to support, build confidence, and deliver programmes using Zoom to keep the children spiritually nourished. It was amazing to see how we could still be interactive with the children and parents, even from a distance.

Fr Gerard Flynn played a huge part in building my confidence, making me feel like I could do anything. I even received the Diocesan medal in 2005 – it felt quite surreal at the time. I’ve volunteered in countless ways, from the playgroup to the school and church, and loved every moment. The support I received from the parishioners at Christ the King and Fr Pat Madden when my husband passed away in 2019 was second to none – the love and support were astonishing. On the same day, our grandson was born, and the community’s prayers meant everything.

I’ve also had the pleasure of working closely with priests, deacons and seminarians like Canon PJ Smith, Farvin Gonsalves, and Deacon Stephen Opoku Anokye – they’ve all enhanced my faith journey in incredible ways. I recently received an extremely heartfelt letter of thanks from Fr Daniel Msugh Agber – it meant a lot to me. And I’m also grateful for the letter of thanks for my service to safeguarding from Bishop Philip – a lovely recognition.

As I prepare to start a new chapter in Malta, I’m reminded of the incredible send-off I received from the special parishioners at Christ the King Church – I’ll be forever grateful for that. Fr Daniel’s account of my time at Christ the King was amazing, totally heartfelt, and inspiring. As I look back, I’m reminded of the power of faith, family, and community. Christ the King has shaped me, and I’ll carry the memories and lessons with me always.”