News
Apr - Jun 2012
www.vittoriosahistorica.org
Holy Week and Easter at Vittoriosa
Good Friday exhibitions
Passion play
Judas Iscariot’s silver coin
Cappella Sanctae Catharinae Choir at St Lawrence Church
Organ recital at San Lawrenz parish church, Gozo
The Torch of St Benedict
Flag of the city of Vittoriosa
Pastoral Visit at Vittoriosa Parish
Verona’s Basilica of San Lorenzo
Old People’s Residence at San Lawrenz, Gozo
Annual Concert by the St Lawrence Philharmonic Society
Band Music Week
Unesco exhibition at De La Salle College
70th anniversary of the George Cross award
Malta at War Museum inauguration
Visit of the Duke of Gloucester
Unexloded bomb at Vittoriosa
Classic yachts berthed at Vittoriosa
Malta’s coastline
The name of the city is Vittoriosa
Cultural and educational history publication
Request for injunction against restoration project works denied
Trivial criticism of the harbour fortifications restoration!
Improving Accessibility to the Cottonera area
Twinning of Vittoriosa with Belvi’ in Sardenia
Fr. Paul Chetcuti SJ – autobiographical note
Prof. Peter Serracino Inglott passes away
Fr. Tonio Mifsud OFM Conv. passes away
Borg-Pisani’s failed mission
Melchiorre Gafa’ exhibition in Rome
Painting of St Augustine attributed to Caravaggio
Vittoriosa joins Green MT
Vittoriosa clear skies
Sustainable Eco-Cultural Responsible European Tourism project
The barbers trade
The Darmanin family
Envin Cremona 1919-1987
Rafel Bonnici Cali 1907-2002
Fra Paolo del Rosso, a mischievous knight
Giuseppe Callus, a rebel against the Order
Website of the Benedictine Nuns of Vittoriosa
Marsa Parish Church 1st Centenary
Interview with the Greek Papas
Fort St Angelo Open Day
Maltese “dghajsa” in London
Grand Master La Vallette statue
Devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes
The Castelletti Family
A privileged altar
Fejn Sabu s-Sinjur – 175 years ago
St Lawrence Band May-June 2012 newsletter
Holy Week and Easter at Vittoriosa
The celebrations started with the Via Crucis along the steets of the city and reached their peak with the solemn church liturgy on Good Friday and the traditional procession with participation of various biblical personages. This year the route of the procesion was changed, with the entourage heading first towards the Collacchio area and return to the church from Main Gate street rather than the other way round. Another welcome change was the display of the Good Friday statues under the vaults of the main aisle in St Lawrence Church as they used to be placed some forty years ago or so, with the old statute of the Crucifixion dominating the view. The project for the restoration of the statues started in 2006 on the initiative of Mr Joseph Scicluna was brought to a conclusion this year with the restoration of the statue of the Dead Christ, made by artist Wistin Camilleri. The statue is placed in a silver plated hearse dating back to 1750 which was used during the funeral of high ranking officials from the Order of St John. Vittoriosa Square was crowded with numerous foreign visitors and the commentary during the procession was this year rendered in various languages. The beautiful weather that marked Good Friday was in contrast with the overcast sky on Easter Sunday.
Good Friday exhibitions
It is incredible how a city like Vittoriosa with its small and aging population could present the public with so many exhibitions and attractions during Holy Week. The St Lawrence Band continued to present its Getsemani show with various life size statues made by Vittoriosa artist Andrew Bugeja. For the inauguration of the exhibition, a musico-literary programme was put up by the Band under the direction of Mro Paul Schembri and presented by Mr Gorg Peresso. It was held in the Oratory of the Crucifix. The programme included a tribute to the later Prof. Peter Serracino Inglott. A similar exhibition with life size statues but showing different scenes was that at the Auberge de *France, courtesy of the Vittoriosa Local Council. The Domenican commnity also features various episodes from the Passion in their convent. This year the devout statue of the Redeemer venerated at the Annunciation Church was restored. This used to form part of a set of Good Friday statues that existed in the church and that were carried processionally at Vittoriosa on Maundy Thursday.
Passion play
The Vittoriosa youth centre presented a drama of the passion entitled Tamara, written by Charles Scerri and the directed by Roderick Castillo. It was held in the newly refurbished Parish Hall in Vittoriosa Square. It is also to be note that the Vittoriosa youths also found the occasion to repeat yet again at the Parish Hall, the popular musical Jesus Christ Superstar.
Judas Iscariot’s silver coin
One of these was once preserved at St Lawrence when it was the Conventual Church of the Order of St John after their arrival in Malta in 1530. They brought with the from Rhodes innumerable relics, among which mementos in connection with the Passion of Our Lord. These included one of the thirty silver Roman coins in Juda’s betrayal of Jesus. With the Order’s orgin in the Holy Land way back in 1099, the Knights celebrated the Holy Week with great devotion. During the functios, the coin used to be displayed in the church and wax replicas were distribured to the participants. According to the historian Antonio Bosio, the coin was stolen in 1558. The story is related in an article by Lorenzo Zahra, Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Society Seccetray, in an article in the Holy Week exhibition programme of St Philip’s Band Club.
Cappella Sanctae Catharinae Choir at St Lawrence Church
This choir formed in 2009 is Malta’s only male choir specialising in Renaissance polyphony. It started within the church of St Catherine, Valletta, hence its name. In its tour of a number of parish churches during the Lenten Period, the choir also came to St Lawrence Colleggiate Church with a programme baroque music all of which inspired by Our Lord’s Passion. Among those present was HE the Italian Ambasssador. Though of a different genre, such meditative musical scores brought reminescences of the classic musical chants better known as Responsori written specifically for St Lawrence Church for the occaion of the Holy Week by Can. Luigi Fenech. These were discontinued after the war.
Organ recital at San Lawrenz parish church, Gozo
In the run up for the Holy Week celerations, the Gozo Culture Office held, for the first time ever, an Organ festival in Gozo. Concerts were held in a four churches, among which the parish church of San Lawrenz. This was specifically chosen because the old organ of the church, which previously belonged to the Carmelite Church in Valletta, and was acquired by the San Lawrenz church in 1889, was repaired and restored to its former splendour. The work was entrusted to Mr Noel Gallo. A full report was carried in the magazine Lets Gozo.
The Torch of St Benedict
St Benedict and the benedictine monastic tradition have been at the heart of European culture since the sixth century. No wonder St Benedict has been declared by the Catholic Church as one of the Patron Saints of Europe. To rekindle the spirit of this tradition and renewal of moral virtues that it inspires, an annual symbolic event, launched in 1964, consisting of the lighting of a Torch of St Benedict takes place in different countries around Europe, as part of a pilgrimage leading to the famous benedictine sanctuary at Montecassino. This year it was Malta’s turn: present for the occasion at St John’s Co Cathedral were the Archbishop, the President of the Republic, and the Prime Minister. It should be recalled that the nuns of the Order of St Benedict settled at Vittoriosa in 1604 Their convent is the former Holy Infirmery which they occupied when the hospital was transferred to Valletta.
Flag of the city of Vittoriosa
On Easter Sunday, for the first time ever, the flag of Vittoriosa bearing the coat of arms of the city, was proudly hoisted on the new arched entrance into th city at the top of Main Gate Street. This entrance was constructed as part of the extensive restoration works under way on the city’s fortifications with EU finance under the ERDF scheme. The Vittoriosa Local Council unanimously decided that the flag will fly every day on this prominent location. The Vittoriosa Histroical & Cultural Society praised the Local Council’s initiative and suggested that this entrance should be called Vittoriosa Gate.
Pastoral Visit at Vittoriosa Parish
The Pastoral Visit at the Vittoriosa Parish took place during the third week after Easter. It was launched by a Solemn Mass by the Archbishop of Malta, Mons Paul Cremona OP at St Lawrence Collegiate Church. Upon his arrival, the Archbishop knelt on the knelling stand at the Church main door and said prayers. Before proceeding to the main altar he kissed the silver cross that was presented to him by the deacon, the same silver cross, borrowed from the Parish Museum, that was kissed by the Grand Masters upon their visits to St Lawrence Church. The Archbishop was welcomed by the Archpriest of Vittoriosa, Can. Joe Cilia, who in his opening speech said that having only been in office as archpreist for barely one year, he was not expecting the pastoral review so soon. He nonetheless expressed his total commitment to the spiritual needs of the community. he Reverend Chapter of St Lawrence Church, the Prior of the Domenican Friary and other members of the clergy participated in the Concelebrated Mass. The main altar was beatifully decked for the occasion, surmouned by a seventh candlestick to denote the presence of the Archbishop, and a memento of the pre-war privelege enjoyed by the Chapter of Vittoriosa to sing the Pontifical Mass on major liturgical solemnities. During the week-long Pastoral Visit the Archbishop had the occasion of meet the various religious and social organisations active in the parish as well as the general public. The meeting were held either in the Parish Hall or in the Hall within the Chapel of the Holy Trinity. The concluding event was the encounter with the Domenicans at their Convent and a Mass of Thanksgiving at the Annunciation Church, with the participation of the Archpriest and the Chapter of St Lawrence Collegiate. It is to be noted that this was the Archbishop’s 49th parish visit in a list of 70 parishes throughout Malta, but a distinctive one as this is the second oldest parish in Malta after the Mdina Cathedral. Indeed, the origin of thes two parishes is lost in history: it is traditionally held that St Lawrence Church was erected to a parish by Count Roger when he reorganised the Maltese diocese in 1090-1091.
Verona’s Basilica of San Lorenzo
In a travel review in The Sunday Times of Malta onVerona, a picture of the city was published which clearly showed the ancient Basilica of San Lorenzo on the banks of the river Adige.
Old People’s Residence at San Lawrenz, Gozo
Villa San Lawrenz, the old people’s home at San Lawrenz, Gozo, is complete and ready to take in residents. It was the brainchild of former parish priest Can. Michael Borg. The project was embarked on in 1990. The home, leased to a private company by the church, is furnished with specialised equipment including motorised beds and lifters.
Annual Concert by the St Lawrence Philharmonic Society
The St Lawrence Band kept its annual appointment with the musical concert held around this time under the direction of Maestro Paul Schembri. The venue was the Parish Hall at Vittoriosa Square, which has recently been refurbished. Up to last year, it used to be held at Caraffa Stores on the Vittoriosa Wharf. This year’s programme included an assored selection of modern music ranging from the Gustav Holst’s “Jupiter” and Calvin Cluster’s “La Virgen de la Macarena” to Tim Water’s “Bohemian Rhapsody” and Johnnie Vinson’s “Themes from Walt Disney”. Mr Andrew Zarb from Vittoriosa who plays the trumpet was solo lead performer. The Hon. Prime Minister was guest of honour.
Band Music Week
On the initiative of the Malta Band Clubs Associations, in collaboration with the ministry of Education, band clubs throughtout Malta organised for the first time a Band Music Week. The St Lawrence Band took part by organising a presentation for school children at the St Roque Vittoriosa Primary School, conducted by the Assistant Band Director, Mro Hugo Buhagiar. The pupils were taken for a tour of the band’s palatial premises at Vittoriosa Square and a Quiz Competition was organised for them.
Unesco exhibition at De La Salle College
The event gave students of the from the primary school situated at Vittoriosa the opportunity to create and realise their ideas and discover their skills and crafts. The exhibition was visited by the Commissioner for Children.
70th anniversary of the George Cross award
In April 1942 the Maltese Islands were experiencing the most gruelling times endured during World War II. Malta was severely battered and especially so the harbour area with Vittoriosa in the midst. King George VI saw it fit to bestow the award instituted by himself to the entire Maltese nation as a touching honout for Malta’s bravery and courage. Various commemorative events were held to celebrate the anniversary. In an article in The Sunday Times of Malta, Mr George Cilia, who is amon the first members of the Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Sociey, recounted his war-time experience when as a 12 year old boy, the house where they lived at Vittoriosa, which was situated close to the Old Clock Tower, was bombed and his family had to take refuge in Zebbug. In another article in The Sunday Times, Mr Carmel Bonavia traces the events that led to the award of the George Cross to Malta. He recalls that the situation had become very serious and how the people appreciated the solidarity of the King himself when he visited Malta in June 1943 and toured the battered Grand Harbour cities including Vittoriosa. In November 1943 it was Winston Churchill’s turn to visit Malta.
Malta at War Museum inauguration
Couvre Porte, which used to be the seat of the Vittoriosa Local Council, has been vacated and handed to Fundazzjoni Wirt Artna. They have painstakingly converted the place into an extension of the already existing Malta at War Museum. Previously the museum consisted of a number of rehabilited war time shelters. With the new wing, which has been refurbished with EU funds, numerous war time artifacts, equipment, arms and memoralia have been professionally displayed and labeled. The museum also included virtual walk-through galleries depicting life in Malta during World War II. The inauguration took place on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the award of the George Cross to Malta in 1942 by King George VI.
Visit of the Duke of Gloucester
Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, who was in Malta as the respresentative of Queen Elizabeth II for the commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the award of the George Cross to Malta, paid a visit to Vittoriosa, accompanied by Ms Louise Stanton, British High Commissioner. He was greeted by Vittoriosa Local Councilllors at Couvre Porte He was then lead to a conducted tour of the city where he visited the city’s main historical landmarks including the Auberge d’Angleterre, the Collegiate Church of St Lawrence and the Maritime Museum.
Unexloded bomb at Vittoriosa
Mr John Powell writing in The Times of Malta records that when he was 13 a similar incident to that of Mosta regarding the bomb that miraculously did not explode happened at Vittoriosa. It happened in the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament in St Lawrence Church where he was himself eye witness to an unexploded torpedo which was embedded in the ground. He said he had related the matter to a certain Censu, nicknamed Il-Veza, who reported it to the local police.
Classic yachts berthed at Vittoriosa
Vittoriosa Wharf was graced with the majestic view of the classic yacht Sea Cloud which was in Malta for an overnight stay. It was launched in 1931 and is a masterpiece of shipbuilding, dominated by its three tall masts that boast the whole paraphernalia of sails and caters for luxury cruises to many destinations. Another magnificent superyacht that spent a couple of weeks at Vittoriosa and that had already been here befor e was the luxiourous four-masted The Maltese Falcon.
Malta’s coastline
Malta’s coastline is featured in Lino Bugeja’ article in The Sunday Times of Malta, urging readers to stroll and enjoy the fantastic rocks and geological formations that characterise Malta’s shores. Particular reference is made to the white cliffs of St Thomas Bay which are still, thankfully, intact. It is this bay that saw the disembarkment in May 1565 of the might of the Turkish Armada which headed they way toward Birgu and Mdina.
The name of the city is Vittoriosa
It is regretful that city of Vittoriosa is being continuosly referred to by its old name as Birgu in government and local council publications and by the media and its proper appellation, Vittoriosa, is being sidelined. In an appeal to the press, Lorenzo Zahra, Secretary of the Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Society, stated that the official name by of Birgu was changed to Vittoriosa after the victory of the Great Siege of 1565. This historic name should be preferred to the older version as it inspires dignity and honour to Malta.
Cultural and educational history publication
Miranda Publishers has launched a magnificent book tracing Malta’s history from ancient times. It is endowed with beautiful photographs and a short butwell thought commenentary. The book was distributed free of charge to all primary school students in Malta and Gozo. Vittoriosa and its leading role in the history of Malta are well documented. The only snag is that there is nowhere any mention Birgu is proud with its hard-earned glorious name, Vittoriosa.
Request for injunction against restoration project works denied
In First Hall of the Civil Court, a plea by the Mayor of Cospicua for a stay on constuction works taking place on the Post of Auvegne and Advanced Gate was not upheld byJudge. The work involves the digging up of a ditch at the foot of the bastion which been filled up with war debris and the consequent deviation of the road leading to Cospicua. The Mayor argued it would create an inconvenience. The Judge said the impact of the road
Works had been studied in detail by MEPA, the planning authority, before the issue of the permit.
Trivial criticism of the harbour fortifications restoration!
The massive, exceptionally professional resortoration works under way on the Grand Harbour fortifications and in particular the bastions around Vittoriosa have come to some far-fetched, even if trivial criticism by a media social commentator: he is concerned because the restoration programme will render the walls a continuous pale honey colour! Probably he forgot the sight of the facade of St Peter’s at the Vatican when it was renovated for the Millenium celebrations.
Improving Accessibility to the Cottonera area
This was the theme of a half-day seminar held at the Auberge de France at Vittoriosa by the Fondazzjoni Temi Zammit in collaboration with the Vittoriosa Local Council and supported by EU funds from the project known as Seatoland, which deals with the vital connections within ports and their hinterland. The discussion centred arounds ways of improving tranport conncetions in the Grand Harbour with particular reference to the Three Cities. Various speakers made presentations, including Mr Lino Bugeja on the historical importance of Grand Harbour, Architect Vincent Magri on the regeneration of the region, and Stewart Burke on the revival of the Maltese dghajsa. The Vittoriosa Histroical & Cultural Society was represented in the conference by the Vice President and the Secretary.
Twinning of Vittoriosa with Belvi’ in Sardenia
The Vittoriosa Local Council has in mind concluding a twinning agreement with the Municipality of Belvi’ in the province of Nuoro, Sardegna. Mr John Boxall visited Belvi’ and started talks on the possible cooperation between the two cities and collaboration in the fields of art and folklore as well as youth exchange. The Vittoriosa Local Council is convined that, despite the different cultural background of the two cities, the proposed town-twinning would yield positive results.
Fr. Paul Chetcuti SJ – autobiographical note
Fr. Paul Chetcuti in his weekly column in Lehen is-Sewwa gives a succinct but profound explantion of the Sunday gospel. On the Sunday dedicated to religious Vocations, he dwells on the calling to a consegrated life and gives a narrations of his experience as a Jesuit. He joined the congregation in 1963 from being a member of the Vittoriosa MUSEUM and continued with his studies until his ordination. Thereafter he worked extensively with young people and youth movements and also passed a number of years doing mission work with Mother Theresa. He greatly treasures this unique experience. For a while he was also Provincial of the Jesuits in Malta. Fr. Chetcuti
Prof. Peter Serracino Inglott passes away
Lino Bugeja in a centre page article in The Sunday Times of Malta pays tribute to the memory of the erudite professor of philosophy, Fr Peter Serracino Inglott. He loved Vittoriosa due to family connections where as he wrote he had multiple family roots in the city. He collaborated solidly with Lino Bugeja in putting together the monumental two-volume publication in 1993 Birgu – A Maltese Maritime City. In the epilogue he muses about the revitalisation of the Marina Grande, as Birgu wharf was known to the Knights, a dream which is had gradually matured.
Fr. Tonio Mifsud OFM Conv. passes away
He zelous preacher with an aimiable character. Fr. Tonio was a gifted communicator and well loved broadcaster of the Gospel, exponent of the charismaic church. On a number of occasions he visited Vittoriosa as guest of the local prayer group City of God tHe would descent from the main altar holding the Eucharist in his hands and tour around the church blessing the congregation.
Borg-Pisani’s failed mission
Lawrence Mizzi in an article in The Sunday Times of Malta recalls the sad memory of Carmelo Borg-Pisani, the young artist turned fascist who seventy years ago, in a vain attempt to what he conceived to be Malta deliverance from war, landed in Malta near Dingli cliffs, was picked up by an RAF rescue boat and denounced as a traitor, and condemned to death by hanging.
Melchiorre Gafa’ exhibition in Rome
An exhibition on Vittoriosa born Melchiorre Gafa’s baroque sculptures has been inaugurated by President George Abela at the prestigious Academy of St Luke in Rome. The exhibition, which is attracting many visotors, has been curated by Prof. Sante Guido, the author of numerous art restoration projcets in Malta in recent years.
Painting of St Augustine attributed to Caravaggio
A painting of St Augustine discovered in a Spanish private collection was attributed to Caravaggio. A symposium was recently held at Palazzo Venezia in Rome to discuss this painting. Certain art critics denied the attribution to Caravaggio. So St Augustine takes the same fate as St Lawrence – a discovery of painting of the Martyrdom of St Lawrence in the Chiesa del Gesu’ in Rome some three years ago was ascribed to Caravaggio. As in the case of the St Augustine painting, there was chorus of opponents to this view.
Vittoriosa joins Green MT
Green MT is the entity authorised to handle the national packaging waste scheme. The Vittoriosa Local Council joins numerous other Local Councils with an award of a contract to Green MT for waste management at Vittoriosa.
Vittoriosa clear skies
As part of its policy of improving the old city’s sight, the Vittoriosa Local Council lauched a scheme offering residents the chance to remove unnecessary TV aerials for free. The work is being done by a number of workers assigned to the Council by the Employment and Training Corporation.
Sustainable Eco-Cultural Responsible European Tourism project
This EU funded project which the Vittoriosa Local Council is running in collaboration with the municipalities of cities in Greece, Slovakia, Latvia and Cyprus, this year held the plenary session and exhibition at the Auberge de France, Vittoriosa. The event was inaugurated by Hon. Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, Minister of Home Affairs and Local Government.
The barbers trade
Treasures of Malta, Vol. XVIII, No. 2 features a study by Anna Borg Cardona of the barber’s trade in Malta starting with the controls and taxes levied on barbers by the Aragonese rules during the 13th century. Similar regulation continued following the arrival of the Knights of St John. The barber’s occupation included other services besides hair-cuts and shaving: wig making, dealing is related products such as soap and wax, and in certain instances the performance of minor surgury interventions and medical treatment. The author, quoting Stanley Fiorini, states that the Order brought with them from Rhodes no less than six barber-surgeons who settled and operated at Birgu. In her research the author found that in 1710, Gugliermo Bonnici from Vittoriosa requested permission to sell tobacco and aquavita in his barbershop at Birgu. The Order’s chief medical officer, the Portomedico, refused the request as he felt it was inappropriate.
The Darmanin family
Kate Hay in Treasures of Malta, Vol. XVIII, No. 2 writes about the successful story of the enterprising Darmanin family during the 19th century founded by Giuseppe Darmanin. They excelled in the manufacture of marbleworks and in partular, splendid inlaid colourful marble tables from their Valletta business. Giuseppe had five sons of whom Giovanni Darmanin turned to another form of art: the production of papier-mache’ figures of saints. His works are spread throughout various churches in Malta. Vittoriosa boasts the devout statue of Christ the Redeemer which forms part of the Good Friday set of processional statues at St Lawrence Parish Church.
Envin Cremona 1919-1987
On the occasion of the 25th anniversary from the death of Envin Cremona, Richard England, his architect contemporary, gives an in-depth appreciation in Treasures of Malta, Vol. XVIII, No. 2 of the artistic genre of Cremona who excelled in various field of art by it modern art, abstract compositions, design and ecclesiatical works. At Vittoriosa, Envin Cremona is represented by his colourful altarpiece at the Annunciation Church run by the Domenican community.
Rafel Bonnici Cali 1907-2002
The people of Tarxien recalled the memory of Tarxien-born artist Chev. Rafel Bonnici Cali on the 10th anniversary from his death. Joseph A Farrugia in an article in the Tarxien Feast Programme 2012 gives a biography of the artist and his works. Besides being an artist, Chev. Bonnici Cali was also a historian. The people of Vittoriosa also pay homage to Chev. Bonnici Cali in view of the various artistic restoration works carried out by him at Vittoriosa, notably the Giuseppe Cali and the Igino Conti ceiling paintings at St Lawrence Church. For many years until his death, he was a dedicated member of the Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Society and for a while also acted as its Vice-President.
Fra Paolo del Rosso, a mischievous knight
In a detailed three part historical feature on The Sunday Times of Malta, Giovanni Bonelli narratives the adventures of this high ranking knight from the Langue of Italy . He ended up paraded in chains in the streets of Florence in 1553 and imprisoned for having purpurtedly conspired to murder Duke Cosimo de Medici. This was the time when Florence was divided into two feuding families, the de Medici’s and the Strozzi. Del Rosso was a loyal of friend of Fra Leone Strozzi. Grand Master La Sengle from the Magesterial Palace at Birgu sent a plea to the Duke for his release. After his term in jail expired, he again joined the Order’s fleet and scoured the Mediterranean hunting for Muslims. On top of his vigourous character, Fra del Rosso was also a writer: his literary output includes a description of Malta and two poems extalling his friend, Grand Master La Vallette.
Giuseppe Callus, a rebel against the Order
He was a doctor and exercised his pracice in Mdina. He was a champion of the Mdina nobility. Before the arrival of the Order in Malta in 1530 there was already a strong antagonism between the rulers of Mdina and the rest of the Island dominated by the Castellan, the Governor of Fort St Angelo at Birgu. In 1560 Callus got into trouble with Grand Master La Vallette. Callus had petitioned King Philip, the King of Spain and Sicily, critising the Order. Consequently, Callus was arrested, tried for treason and executed in Rabat. His property confiscated by the Grand Master. An article in The Sunday Times of Malta by Noel Cassar, examines the research undertaken to re-discover the whereabouts of the Callus estate.
Website of the Benedictine Nuns of Vittoriosa
The Benedicatine Nuns from the Monastry of St Scholastica at Vittoriosa launched new website [ sorijietbenedittini.com] with the aim of bring the 550 year history of the convent to the public attention and also to encourage vocations to the Benedictine Order.
Marsa Parish Church 1st Centenary
The Parish Church of the Holy Trinity at Marsa will next year celebrate its first centenary. A year long programme of activities was launched by the Capuchines who administer the church. It was in 1913 that the church and convent, donated by benefcator Lorenzo Balbi from Vittoriosa, were inaugurated to coincide with the International Eucharistic Congress which was being held in Malta that year. It should be recalled that Lorenzo Balbi had shown his desire to dedicate the church to his namesake, St Lawrence. One of the side altars is in fact dedicated to St Lawrence.
Interview with the Greek Papas
The rector of the Greek Catholoc church in Valletta explained how the Eastern christians continued to celebrate according to the old rites, the mystery of Christ’s resurrection. In an interview on The Sunday Times, he gave brief look at the origina of the Greek community in Malta which pre-dates the arrival of the Order. However, a number of Rhodians settled at Birgu in 1530 and they organised themselves in three parishes within the city. The Greek community thrived at Vittoriosa even after the transfer of the Order’s seat to Valletta and the establishment of the Valletta Greek church. The devout icons of Our Lady of Philermos and Our Lady of Damasene were both transferred to Valletta from their original Birgu shrine.
Fort St Angelo Open Day
Heritage Malta organised an open day at Fort St Angelo, giving the chance to the public to visit the fort before it is closed for major restoration works start, predominantly with EU funds. There were guided tours around the fort and an exhibition was put up on the history of the fort and the planned restoration project. There were also period re-enactments which found a natural setting in the fort. Access was also opened to the area leased to the Order of St John, including the Chapel of St Ann. Tourism Minister also joined the crowd flowing into the site, despite the hot weather.
Maltese “dghajsa” in London
Denis Darmanin writing in The Times, observed that among the 1000-strong flotilla on the Thames for the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee, there was someone representing Malta with a traditional Maltese “dghajsa”.
Grand Master La Vallette statue
A bronze 2.5 meter high statue is being carved by sculptor Joseph Chetcuti that will be proudly placed in the new square being constructed as part of the Valletta City Gate Project. It will be a fitting homage to the Grand Master who founded the city soon after the Great Siege of 1565. La Vallette is also closely associated with the city of Vittoriosa which was the main protagonist in the Great Siege. It was La Vallette who re-named Birgu as Vittoriosa. One of the principal streets of Vittoriosa is called after the Grand Master, following recommendation by the Vittoriosa histroical & Cultural Society.
Devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes
In the programme for the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes in Qrendi, Mr Guido Lanfanco recalls the country walks of people from Vittoriosa in the vicinity of the city in post-war period. One such outing popular among schoolchildren from Vittoriosa Girls Primary School at the old Armoury, run by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, would see them wending their way across Il-Fortini and past St Edwards College, or further uphill towards the Cappuchine Convent in Kalkara, for a stop to recite a devout prayer in front of the beautiful grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes standing next to the Cappuchine Church. The headmistress at the time was the late Sister Donata Galea, still well remembered by those who frequented the school at the time. Mr Guido Lanfranco is a long-time member of the Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Society.
The Castelletti Family
Lorenzo Zahra, Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Society Secretary, narrates how this noble family from Palermo founded the chapel dedicated to St Caterine of Alexandria within the old Gozo Cathedral. The chapel already existed in 1532. The family continued to lavish this chapel with beneficies throughout the centuries, which was incorporated in the newly build Cathedral. The Castelletti family also had its own chapel at Vittoriosa, dedicated to Our Lady. This now forms part of St Lawrence Church and is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. A relic of the Castelletti family connection is the artistic tombstone in front of the altar that is still well preserved.
A privileged altar
In the parish bulletin of the village of Ghasri, Gozo, historian Toni Calleja explains how some churches, few in number, have been given a special honour from Rome to have their mail altar endowed with spiritual favours. The altar could be designated Gregorian Altar, because the concession was first granted by Pope Gregory the Great. It could otherwise be a Privileged Altar. Such is the main altar of the parish church of Ghasri. The author mentions that one of the earliest altars to be so designated is that of the Basilica of San Lorenzo Fuor le Mura. This followed the miraculous appearance in a vision in the basilica in 1062 of St Lawrence delivering the souls from Purgatory.
Fejn Sabu s-Sinjur – 175 years ago
This years marks the 175 anniversary of the theft of a ciborium filled with consecrated hosts from the tabernacle of St Theresa Church in Cospicua. The sacrilegeous act occurred in October 1837. On the following day, a person walked into a silversmith shop in Valletta and offered to sell a small silver cross. This raised the shopkeeper’s suspicion and he reported the case to the police. The chalice was discovered by accident three weeks later by an 11-year old boy who happened to be playing in the ditch in adjacent to Advanced Gate, Vittoriosa. It was found in a crevice in the bastion foundation: the ciborium was intact except for the small cross on the lid which was missing. It was only a matter of days that the culprit was apprehended and taken to court and imprisoned. Some two months later he was killed in prison by a fellow prisoner. The place where the chalice was found became popularly known as Fejn Sabu s-Sinjur and a small altar was erected. The ditch next to the site is at present being cleared as part of the the restoration project of the fortifications.
St Lawrence Band May-June 2012 newsletter
Edition no. 69 contains new about the Band’s recent initiatives. In the editorial, Lawrence V.Farrugia, President, reports about arrangements being made for the outdoor celebrations of the feast of St Lawrence in conformity with the Curia guidelines. It is also announced that this year the Band will commemorate the 25th anniversary of Mr Lawrence V. Farrugia’s presidency. A special programme with classical music will held for this purpose in run up for the feast of St Lawrence. The Band Club is renowed for is billiard competitions: the billiards sub-committee is embarking on a project to improve the game facilities, including the upgrade of the 90-year old billiard table. As far as historical sketches are concerned, Mr George Cilia writes about the origin in Malta of the Maypole during the Order’s reign and how it became even more spectacular during the British period. The author recalls the setting up of the Maypole during his child days at Xewkija, in Kalkara, and at Santa Margerita, Cospicua. Mr Anton Attard, in turn, tells about two fables found in the book of legends written by Italian author Aldo Farina, both of which based on Vittoriosa during the time of the Order. Paul Micallef’s interview in this edition is with Mr Anthony Gauci, Vice President and former Treasurer of the St Lawrence Band. In his youth days he was an active memebr of the Vittoriosa catholic action and was enamoured with drama. He is well remembered for the part he played as St Lawrence is the play about the saint’s life. He was also a pioneer in preparing for display during Holy Week the Last Supper Table, all with clay statuettes of the apostles hand-made by Pawlu Drago, of the MUESEUM. Twanny, as he is popularly known, is now an active member of the St Lawrence Band.