News
Jul - Sep 2013
www.vittoriosahistorica.org
New publication on the Vittoriosa Inquisitors’ Palace
Royal Navy photographic competition
Samurai Sword at Vittoriosa Museum
Tourism in the Cottonera
Feast of St Benedict
Students’ choir at St Lawrence
Rev. Hermann Duncan O.Carm 25th anniversary
Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel at Vittoriosa
Origin of Fgura parish
Old niche of Our Lady inaugurated
La Vallette’s progeny
Fort St Angelo restoration works progress
Post of Castille restoration
MareBlu on RAIUNO
Duke of Edinburgh Band in 1913
Classic yachts racing from St Tropez to Vittoriosa
Venerable Nazju Falzon and Vittoriosa
SMOM 1113 – 2013
Archbishop Michael Gonzi’s pectoral cross
VersAghtini origin at Vittoriosa
Feast of St Lawrence 2013
St Lawrence feast programme booklet
St Lawrence feast, a century ago
San Lawrenz website
Feast of St Dominic at the Annunciation Church
Decapitations during the Order’s reign
Don Giusepp Kentenich
Fr William Doyle SJ
Statue of St Joseph
St Lawrence Band July-August 2013 newsletter
Appalling poverty in the early 19th century
Luigi Pisani, renowned Vittoriosa physician
Casino di Venezia closure
Kenn il-Bahhara
The Battle of Malta of 1283
MEPA indexation of historical buildings
Sr Brigida Caruana passed away
Pope Francis in World Youth Day
A passage to Europe
The Historical Importance of Malta’s Grand Harbour
Complaint on bus service to Vittoriosa
Kalkara’s worst war days
Christian persecution during Roman times
Jum il-Birgu 2013
Honouring the war’s unsung heroes
Fruit & Vegetable Market at Vittoriosa
Maritime Museum Clock Tower
Cardinal Prospero Grech’s new book
Capuchin preachers in the 19th century
The cult of St Roque
New publication on the Vittoriosa Inquisitors’ Palace
Heritage Malta launched its latest colour publication entitled The Inquisitors Palace: an architectural gem spanning centuries and styles. It is a collection of papers with an introduction by History of Art Professor Mario Buhagiar, which synthesizes the recent discoveries in this intriguing and unique palace. Kenneth Cassar, who also edited the book, delves into the architects and artists commissioned to decorate the interior and places the palace within a artistic context; Matthew Balzan reviews the historical development of the prison while Godwin Vella surveys the recent restoration works and throws light on the relevance of the building when it was still the Order’s Castellania prior to the advent of the first Inquisitor in 1574. Recent statistics show that during 2012 the Inquisitors Palace was visited by 34,298 persons, an increase from the previous year of 32,741.
Royal Navy photographic competition
Of the multitude of entries a photography competition sponsored by the Royal Navy, there was one particular impressive photograph, shot by Dean Nixon, that caught the attention of journalists and was reproduced in the British press. It showed a magnificent aerial view of the Malta Grand Harbour, with the foreground being taken by a close view of the complex network of fortifications and ramparts within Fort St. Angelo, and the centrepiece of the picture occupied by the full length of HMS Illustrious during one of its visits to Malta, being manoeuvred in the main harbour thoroughfare. What is curious about the aircraft carried is that its spacious deck is devoid of aircraft. One blogger observed that this is because the British government had sold all the Harriers to the US !
Samurai Sword at Vittoriosa Museum
Following the recent surge in interest on La Vallette’s original battle sword preserved at the Vittoriosa Parish Church Museum, a martial art expert, Mr Paul Pulis, who was on a visit at the Museum shed light on another interested sword exhibited at the Museum: a Japanese Katana Samurai sword. It ended in the Museum as a donation as a votive offering from a deceased Vittoriosa citizen upon his safe return from the war in Burma where he was serving with the US Army in 1942-43. Mr Pulis examined the sword and confirmed its genuine manufacture. A picture of the sword and of the accompanying note written by the donor were carried in The Times of Malta.
Tourism in the Cottonera
The Ministry of Tourism has set up a unit, with a desk at the Inquisitors Palace, Vittoriosa, aimed specifically at promoting and coordinating tourist activity at Vittoriosa. The unit is arranging meeting with stakeholders and one of their first initiatives was an exploratory visit to the Vittoriosa Parish Museum. They were hosted by the Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Society which followed up the meeting by submitting various proposals to attract more visitors to Vittoriosa.
Feast of St Benedict
The Solemn Mass on the occasion of the feast on 11 July of St Benedict, Patron Saint of Europe, at the Chapel of the Benedictine Monastery of St Scholastica, Vittoriosa, was this year celebrated by H.G. Archbishop Paul Cremona. Concelebrating with him were 12 other prelates, among whom Mons Lawrence Gatt, Mons Lawrence Mifsud, Rev. Can. Joe Cilia, Archpriest of Vittoriosa, and Mons Paul Raggio, who is also Rector of the nunnery. The homely was delivered by Rev. Martin Schembri O. Carm, former Provincial of the Carmelite Order in Malta. The Benedictine Nuns have occupied the former Sacra Infermeria of the Order of St John since 1604.
Students’ choir at St Lawrence
A combined student’s choir from two of England’s finest school music departments from Guildford High School and from the Royal Grammar School of Guildford presented a choir and orchestral Sunday morning concert at St Lawrence Collegiate Church, Vittoriosa, with musical scores from Dvorak, Schubert and Mendelssohn. The conductors were Sam Archord and Grayson Jones. The event was coordinated by Club Europe Concert Tours and on the initiative of Fr. John Avellino.
Rev. Hermann Duncan O.Carm 25th anniversary
Congratulations to Rev. Herman Duncan O. Carm on the 25th anniversary of his priesthood ordination. He was born at Vittoriosa and has been for several years the Prior at the Carmelite Convent at Fgura. He concelebrated his anniversary thanksgiving Mass at St John’s Co Cathedral with Archbishop Paul Cremona and other 20 fellow priests who were all ordained in one group.
Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel at Vittoriosa
This year’s feast was celebrated with Mass and Adoration at the Oratory of the Crucifix, Vittoriosa, led by Fr Ray Toledo. Devotees and affiliates of the Habit of Mount Carmel animated the programme which was marred at one point with an irreverent intruder who marched into the Oratory and stole a handbag of one of the elderly participants. Thankfully the robber was later apprehended by the police. Vittoriosa has its own chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel which had a chequered history often marked with dark episodes. Built in 1611, it was occupied by the Carmelite Order till 1652 when they had to vacate it owing to a restriction by the church authorities on the number of convents run by religious orders. Henceforward its administration was entrusted to the provost of the Order of St Philip Neri established at Vittoriosa. On two occasions the Carmelites attempted unsuccessfully to repossess the chapel. In 1886 the chapel and adjacent convent were passed to the Sisters of the Immaculate of Egypt founded by St. Caterina Troiani. During the war the chapel was severely damaged and was rebuilt but its reconstructed roof had to be pulled down and rebuilt due to bad workmanship. In 1960 the Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Society affixed a marble tablet on the convent to denote the historical value of the precincts. The chapel now serves as a workshop for the St Lawrence external festivities committee and is in shambles. The convent has been demolished and replaced by modern apartments. The latest sacrilegious act suffered by this unfortunate chapel is an encroachment on its balcony and two windows on its facade which, by virtue of a mistaken legal provision, were claimed by a neighbouring developer. It is a pity that the church authorities did not lift one single finger to avoid this irregularity on ecclesiastical property.
Origin of Fgura parish
The parish of Fgura is dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel and is run by the Carmelite Order. However, the Carmelites came to Fgura in 1945 and they took over an earlier chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. This chapel was erected in 1790 on the site of an old niche of Our Lady of Mount Carmel on the initiative of owner of the niche who petitioned the Grand Master for permission to build the chapel. It was build on land partly owned by the Vittoriosa Dominican Friars and other proprietors. The original chapel was rebuilt in 1854. Up till the handover to the Carmelite Order, the chapel was serviced by a priest from Paola parish church. The present Fgura church was inaugurated in 1990.
Old niche of Our Lady inaugurated
An old niche of Our Lady situated in one of the streets along the Post of Allemagne which had been neglected for several years has been given a thorough maintenance thanks to benefactor Joseph Scicluna, known at Vittoriosa as Ic-Cossi. It was inaugurated on the occasion of the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel and was blessed by the Rev. Archpriest Can. Joe Cilia.
La Vallette’s progeny
Further to the recent controversial articles by Judge Giovanni Bonello on the purported offspring of Grand Master La Vallette, attention was drawn to an earlier research carried out by Prof. Godfrey Wettinger and published in The Sunday Times of Malta in 1998 wherein he argues that the birth registration at St Lawrence Church in 1559 of a certain Matheo, son of Joan Batista of Fra Joan de Valette is not proof that the Grand Master had accepted the paternity of Joan Batista who therefore could not have been the Grand Master’s grandson. The author contents that the father, Joan Batista, was more likely a former slave belonging to the Grand Master’s personal estate who was subsequently freed.
Fort St Angelo restoration works progress
Work on the restoration of the Fort St Angelo Main Gate and the ramp leading to it has been completed. The Gate’s stonework now gleams with its original beauty. The restoration of the masonry was entrusted to Vaults Co Limited of Qormi. A beautiful picture of the restored gate is reproduced in the St Lawrence 2013 feast programme booklet. Pity the old original timber door of the Fort that was removed well before the works started was not reinstalled. The Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Society made various pleas to the authorities for this purpose. The restoration project is now concentrating on the sea-level De Guiral Battery and the sally port. The extensive restoration project being undertaken by Heritage Malta with assistance from EU Funding and with the coordination of the Superintendence of Cultural Heritage, were somewhat delayed due to a court case on the tender awards.
Post of Castille restoration
Heritage Malta and in particular its Restoration Unit based at L-Ospizio in Floriana is to be congratulated on the magnificent restoration works under way at the Vittoriosa Post of Castille. This is one of the most historic sites in connection with the 1565 Great Siege as it is the place where the fiercest battle was fought which proved to be the turning point of the siege. The fort is still the same one that existed during the siege but was badly in need of repair. Heritage Malta is doing wonders on these fortifications. Among the restoration contractors are Agius Stone works of Mqabba and Mangion Bros of Zurrieq, besides stonemasons John Farrugia and Godwin Tabone.
MareBlu on RAIUNO
One of the cultural programme on RAIUNO on Mediterranean ports featured the Maltese Grand Harbour. The programme gave special coverage to Vittoriosa and the National Maritime Museum which was professionally filmed by the RAIUNO crew.
Duke of Edinburgh Band in 1913
What follows is an news report from the Daily Malta Chronicle of 27 June 1913, reproduced by The Times of Malta recently in the corner: A century Ago: A grand bazaar, in aid of the fund for the embellishment of the historical church of San Lorenzo, will be opened at Sda Irlandese (Palazzo Pirotti), facing San Lorenzo steps. One hundred articles presented by the inhabitants of Vittoriosa will be displayed, comprising silk and linen wear for ladies and children, gloves and ornaments, furniture, china and glass, fancy goods, oil and water colour paintings, and an endless variety of toys. There will be the usual attractions consisting of games of skill and chance, and a well-stocked refreshments bar. The Duke of Edinburgh’s Own Band and the Mandolinistic Society Melita will play at intervals during the bazaar which will be continued all day.
Classic yachts racing from St Tropez to Vittoriosa
The Mediterranean’s most beautiful 600 mile yacht race for classic yachts, the Trophee Bailli du Suffren, organised by Camper & Nicholsons, was held with the participation of stunning fleet of 22 classic yachts. The race is run over three legs: St Tropez – Porto Rotondo (Sardinia) – Trapani (Sicily) – Vittoriosa (Malta). This year’s event celebrated the historic twinning achieved in 2012 of the two cities of St Tropez and Vittoriosa. Named after the 18th century French admiral Pierre de Suffren de Saint Tropez who spent his early career in Malta in the service of the Order of St John, the race had its finishing line at Vittoriosa where yachts offered an impressive sight.
Venerable Nazju Falzon and Vittoriosa
Nazju Falzon was a cleric from Valletta who, abandoning his wealthy family background, dedicated his life to the poor and to the teaching of the Catholic faith to the innumerable servicemen and their families who were based in Malta engaged with the British naval and military authorities. He was born in July 1813 so this year was the 2nd centenary of his birth which was celebrated with a Solemn Mass at the Church of Ta’ Giezu, Valletta, where he is buried, and with various biographies in the press. In one of the articles on his missionary works among protestant British servicemen, it was recorded that a total of over 700 adult baptisms were registered dispersed among the parishes of Malta. Among these St Lawrence Church is features with 2 baptisms.
SMOM 1113 – 2013
A unique exhibition is being held at the National Malta Library, Valletta entitled Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum to commemorate the 900 years from the official recognition of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta by virtue of the papal Bull granted to the Order by Pope Pascal II. The exhibition includes various objects and manuscripts relating to the Order. Precious among the exhibits is the rescript of Emperor Charles V bestowing the Maltese Islands to the Order of St John. The Knights landed at Birgu on 26 October 1530, with the Grand Master L’Isle Adam on board the carrack St Anne.
Archbishop Michael Gonzi’s pectoral cross
A recent article in Lehen is-Sewwa by Paul Saliba on Archbishop Gonzi vital defence of the Catholic religion during the 1960’s political controversy is accompanied by a close-up picture of Mons. Gonzi who is wearing the golden pectoral cross which, after his demise, he awarded to the Collegiate Church of St Lawrence to be decked on the processional statue of the saint on his feast day on 10 August. Mons Gonzi was born at Vittoriosa.
VersAghtini origin at Vittoriosa
This Maltese literary association is the brainchild of Miriam Cassar. It was set up with the object of popularising and diffusing Maltese literary appreciation by organising public literary events. An article in It-Torca by Philip Borg chronicles the development of the association. He points out that during its early days in 2004 – 2005 it met the encouragement and assistance of Vittoriosa Major, John Boxall by offering the Auberge de France at Vittoriosa as venue of the society’s various literary activities.
Feast of St Lawrence 2013
This year’s Solemn Mass on St Lawrence feast day 10 August was the first by one led by Mons Charles Scicluna since his investiture as Auxiliary Bishop of Malta in November 2012. He was assisted by the Rev. Chapter of St Lawrence Collegiate Church and various other prelates. The panegyric was made by Rev. Martin Schembri O. Carm. He dwelled on St Lawrence total dedication to the service of the persecuted church and of the needy. He also highlighted the early devotion to St Lawrence in Malta since it re-Christianisation following the Norman conquest in 1090 - 1127. Together with the Mdina cathedral, St Lawrence church at Birgu administered to Malta’s pastoral needs acting as a co-cathedral emeritus. The epistle reading, the prayers of the faithful and the offerings during the Mass were this year entrusted to teenagers and youths from Vittoriosa, all coming from a circle of young people who are being organised in a group within the Vittoriosa parish by Fr. Stephen Magro. By contrast, for the first time in many years, the choir that backs up the church orchestra under the baton of Mons... executing Mro. Carlo Diacono’s Messa Cantata was not the usual children’s choir. The major attraction in St Lawrence Church for this year’s feast were the first two pilasters in the church nave whose rosso perlato marble covering has just been restored. The restoration project will proceed throughout the coming year. Another attraction was the Mace used by the Rev. Collegiate Chapter: this artistic silver masterpiece, made to the design of Vittoriosa artist Anton Agius and manufactured by the Milan firm of Ghezzi, was first used 100 years ago. It should also be pointed out that also 100 years ago the belfry on the southern side of the facade of St Lawrence Church was inaugurated. The external festivities were somewhat marred by strong winds that swept the Island for three days, preventing the festa enthusiasts from hoisting the colourful flags and banners in the streets of the city and on the bastions. The traditional procession with the statue of St Lawrence was held nonetheless, accompanied by the unmissable petards and fireworks. One of the local TV stations made a direct transmission of the processions with commentaries including from Anton Attard, the Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Society’s Vice President. The Vittoriosa St Lawrence Band held its usual musical concert in Vittoriosa Square on its artistic bandstand. The band, under the direction of Mro. Paul Schembri, played mainly modern dance music and songs from the 1980s. The feast was well reported in an article in In-Nazzjon on 10 August which carried a picture of the processional statue of St Lawrence.
St Lawrence feast programme booklet
As usual the booklet, besides details of the feast programme a diary of parish activities and works during the year, carries a number of interesting articles. Anton Attard writes a researched article on Vittoriosa’s involvement in the Eucharistic Congress events in 1913, Denis Darmanin describes heraldic images on St Lawrence from various countries around the world, Gorg Peresso writes about literature on St Lawrence, Lino Bugeja on the artistic treasures of St Lawrence Church and Emanuel Fiorentino on Mattia Preti’s altarpiece depicting the Martyrdom of St Lawrence, this being the 400th anniversary of Mattia Preti’s birth.
St Lawrence feast, a century ago
The Daily Chronicle on 7 August 1913 reported: The preparations for the celebration of the feast of St Lawrence at Vittoriosa are proceeding on a grand scale. This was reproduced in The Times of Malta.
San Lawrenz website
A website of the Gozitan village of San Lawrenz has been launched. It gives prominence to the restoration project of the parish church, initiated in 2009 and now completed.
Feast of St Dominic at the Annunciation Church
The feast of St Dominic was celebrated on the last Sunday of August. The High Mass was led by the Vittoriosa Dominican fathers. The Prince of Wales Own Band, besides the usual street band marches, executed a concert of Spanish classical and modern dance music under the direction of Mro. Emanuel Spagnol, in the square adjacent St. John’s Tower. The feast programme booklet contains various articles about the devotion to St. Dominic, in particular Fr Reno Muscat’s OP experience of his visit in the small remote village of Soriano in the Italian Campagna province; and JC Azzopardi’s scoop discovery of a poem in honour of St Dominic written in 1898 by Giuseppe Mifsud Bonnici, the grandfather of President Emeritus Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici. The programme also carried historical articles: Anton Attard writes about Holy Week traditions with particular reference to Vittoriosa; Fabian Mangion writes about Mons. Leopoldu Fiteni OP who was a doctor of theology and canon law and who served as Archpriest of Senglea from 1819 to 1852; Fr Mark Montebello OP writes about the achievements of Vittoriosa born Fr Michael Fsadni OP who chronicled the history of the Dominican presence in Malta and who died earlier in 2013.
Decapitations during the Order’s reign
Guido Lanfranco, a member of the Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Society, is featured in an article with the above subject in the St Philip feast programme booklet, Zebbug. He states that it was not in the fashion of the Order to invoke this type of punishment. Convicts were mainly sentenced to forced work on the galleys or sent to the gallows. But it was sometimes resorted to: first to be mentioned is Sir Thomas Dingley an English knight resident in England who fell in disfavour with Henry VIII and was beheaded in 1537. The Order’s Langue of England with its Auberge at Birgu, was battling for survival at the time on account of the Reformation. Various decapitations of Turkish prisoners were recorded by Balbi in his chronicles of the Great Siege of 1565. Other decapitations are mentioned during the reign of Grand Master de Paule and Grand Master Ximenes.
Don Giusepp Kentenich
He was a saintly German priest from the village of Schoenstatt near Coblenz who had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin, survived the persecution in the Dachau concentration camp and founded a lay religious movement. He died in 1968 and the case for his beatification was opened in 1975. Lorenzo Zahra writes about his story in Lehen is-Sewwa.
Fr William Doyle SJ
He was another philanthropic priest from Ireland who led an ascetic life and who ministered to the regiments during World War I, actually ending his life on the battlefield at Ypres while attending to two mortally wounded soldiers.
Statue of St Joseph
The artistic statue of St Joseph carved in wood by Nazju Portelli in 1694 and venerated in the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Valletta, and owned by the Confraternity of St Joseph, is the subject of a detailed and referenced article by Andrew Borg in the programme booklet of the Feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Valletta. At Vittoriosa the Confraternity of St Joseph also has a historical statue of St Joseph with the child Jesus, preserved in the Oratory of St Joseph, which now houses the Vittoriosa Parish Museum. What is curious about the Valletta statues is that the round pedestal on which the statue stand closely resembles that of its Vittoriosa counterpart. The Vittoriosa statue is dressed in velvet and silk vestments and the head and hands are reputed to have been sculpted by Vittoriosa born artist Melchiorre Gafa’ (1635-1667).
St Lawrence Band July-August 2013 newsletter
This edition mainly focuses on the feast of St Lawrence and the Band Club’s contribution in the celebrations. The front cover shows a picture of the facade of the Band Club’s palatial headquarters in Vittoriosa Square illuminated with colour lights for the feast of St Lawrence. Incidentally, the newsletter announces that work on the restoration of the facade with its intricate sculptures and wrought iron handrails will soon commence. The headline article is by Fr Charles Buttigieg who describes the role and function and historical background of the deacon, considering that St Lawrence was Rome’s archdeacon. The historical piece from Anton Attard is about two episodes from the 19th century: the discovery of the Blessed Sacrament at Fejn Sabu s-Sinjur after it was stolen from St Theresa Church in 1837, Cospicua; and the arrival at St Lawrence Church of the new statue of the Immaculate Conception in 1838. The face-to-face interview in this edition of the newsletter is with Anton Attard who recounts his childhood experience during the war as a refugee at Rabat with his parents. As a little boy he remembers attending with his father the feast of St Lawrence in 1942 at St Paul’s Church in Rabat where the statue of St Lawrence had been taken for safety. After the war, back at Vittoriosa as an altarboy, he delivered the Christmas sermon three times: at school, at the church of St Scholastica, and at the Dominican makeshift church temporarily set up within the Inquisitors Palace since their main church was destroyed during the war. He attended catechism at the Muzew and later joined the Catholic Action.
Appalling poverty in the early 19th century
This is the title of a two-part study by historian Giovanni Bonello in The Sunday Times of Malta. The research is based on various excerpts from the diaries or travelogues of foreign visitors to Malta at the time. All of them agree without exception that Malta was the poorest country they had been to. The author looks for a reason for the wretchedness that pervaded all strata of society: he attributes it to gross mismanagement on the part of Malta’s colonial masters. The people were left without employment and with meagre means of living while the British arrogated for themselves most civil service posts. Malta became a prototype of mendacity and beggary. The contrast between the once-flourishing conditions under the Order of St John could not be more distinct. Nostalgia for the Order could not be extinguished. The Order’s flag, il-bandiera tar-Religjon, continued to dominate the roofs, more so at Vittoriosa, where even the statue of the Risen Christ, sculpted in wood by Salvu Psaila in 1834 for St Lawrence Church, is decked with it. Poverty was most acute in the Grand Harbour area. At Vittoriosa the old underground Slave Prisons near Fort St Angelo, vacated following the transfer of Malta to the British Crown, developed into ramshackle mass squalid habitations for the poor. Various attempts by the colonial government throughout the 19th century to clear the area proved futile until it was decided in 1907 to demolish the site to make way for a tennis court for use by British servicemen.
Luigi Pisani, renowned Vittoriosa physician
The story of this prominent medical doctor is related in an article by Michael Galea in In-Nazzjon. Luigi Pisani (1806-1865). He was promoted as Malta’s Medical Superintendent and was the author of various reforms in the health sector. During his stay in office, Malta was several times the victim of the plague of cholera and typhoid. Indeed he himself lost his life from an infection he contacted from a patient. A monument in his honour was erected at The Mall, Floriana, two years after his demise.
Casino di Venezia closure
The Casino di Venezia which had opened with so much fanfare and promise at the Vittoriosa Marina in 2008 has faced financial difficulties and was forced to close business. It suffered a major knocking when it was robbed in broad daylight by a gang of daring burglars in a spectacular and well concocted robbery. The departure of the Casino di Venezia meant that work on the adjacent hotel project and business centre had to be shelved.
Kenn il-Bahhara
One of the topics dealt with in a recent edition of the TVM cultural series with the above title, presented by Joe Dimech, was the Vittoriosa collacchio or the zone within the city that was reserved for the knights after they settled at Birgu in 1530. Vittoriosa mayor John Boxall praised the residents of the well kept area for their awareness and appreciation its historical value. He hoped that the long awaited project for the paving of this part of Vittoriosa with EU funding would soon materialise.
The Battle of Malta of 1283
Frans Said in an article in The Sunday Times of Malta recalls this crucial and often forgotten episode in Malta’s history. After Roger II assured Malta’s occupation by the Normans in 1127, Malta became subject to the Kingdom of Sicily which however was rent by feud and antagonism between Angevins and Aragonese. This battle took place in 1283 at the entrance of the Grand Harbour when a galley fleet commanded by the Aragonese Roger of Lauria defeated the attacking Angevin aggressor fleet led by William Cornut. The Angevin fleet had come from Sicily to rescue their Aragevin confreres who were trapped in the Castrum Maris, now Fort St Angelo, where they were overlords, after the Maltese inhabitants had rebelled against them. The Aragonese fleet arrived just in time to defeat the Angevins and expel them from Malta. A new chapter in the history of Birgu, and of Malta, began under the Aragonese.
MEPA indexation of historical buildings
As part of the intended review and reappraisal of the Urban Conservation Areas, MEPA is conducting a programme of public consultations in the Grand Harbour district with the object of determining the needs for the compilation of a new local plan. At the same time an extensive exercise is under way whereby MEPA is identifying and indexing in the core areas of the Cottonera all old buildings and the less older ones so that any eventual development applications could be properly assessed.
Sr Brigida Caruana passed away
Sister Brigida Caruana from Vittoriosa went to meet the Risen Lord. She leaves to mourn her loss the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, her brothers and sisters among whom Fr Lawrence Caruana SJ.
Pope Francis in World Youth Day
Pope Francis received a rapturous welcome in Brazil during the week-long visit for World Youth Day 2013, the biennial Church gathering of youths that was this year celebrated in Rio de Janeiro. In his itinerary he visited and said Mass in the shrine of the Blessed Virgin of Aparecida, the patroness of Brazil. He urged youths to shun the ephemeral idols of money and pleasure and to cherish traditional values to help build a better world. He visited a slum district in northern Rio, wading into cheering crowds. One of the news reports mentioned a young well-wisher who gave the Pope a garland of paper flowers hang around his neck and held up another offering: a scarf from the Pope’s favourite soccer team, Buenos Aires’ San Lorenzo. A contingent of some 90 Maltese youths went to Brazil for the occasion, led by Bishop Auxiliary Charles Scicluna.
A passage to Europe
This is the fitting title of a supplement to The Times of Malta on Shipping and Logistics. It is also an appropriate description of the historical role of Birgu as a maritime port since Roman times. The supplement carries an article on the historical development of Malta as a maritime hub which was inevitable considering it is a Mediterranean island. Malta has been witness to many great conflicts from the Punic Wars, the warring with the Ottoman Empire to Napoleon’s conquests and the North African campaigns during World War II. Birgu developed into a town in the shadow of the castle during the Arab occupation. In medieval times, Birgu saw the origin of the arsenals. With the arrival of the Knights of St John in 1530, Birgu became their headquarters and fleet base. The 19th century saw Malta under the British. Malta’s strategic position complemented perfectly the requirements of the Royal Navy.
The Historical Importance of Malta’s Grand Harbour
This is title of a two part series by Lino Bugeja in The Sunday Times of Malta extolling the central role played by the Grand Harbour in Malta’s development. He actually broadens his vision explaining that Malta’s geographical position with its superb harbour at the strategic crossroads in the Mediterranean had a great influence on world affairs. He highlights the role played by the ancient town of Birgu with its Castrum Maris, the erstwhile Fort St Angelo, as the focal point of Malta’s principal maritime port of call. He praises the considerable restoration works under way and affirms that whatever the future holds for this gem of our fortifications, whether it is administered by Heritage Malta or as a joint venture with private enterprise, Fort St Angelo should not be simply a museum piece but a living edifice of Malta’s great maritime history.
Complaint on bus service to Vittoriosa
Vittoriosa residents are rightly annoyed that the Arriva bus route stops short of servicing the city. The bus stop of route no. 2 is near Cafe’ Riche which is outside the city. It should at least enter Vittoriosa from Xatt ir-Risq and proceed around the Freedom Monument and back on its way to Valletta. Route no. 1 to Senglea reaches into the city opposite the parish church. Vittoriosa citizens, especially the elderly, are deprived of a similar facility.
Kalkara’s worst war days
Etienne Camilleri in an article in the St Joseph feast programme 2013 recounts the tragic moments experienced by Kalkara, the village at the outskirts of Vittoriosa, during the war. On 10 April 1942 the old parish church of St Joseph received a direct hit and was left in ruins. The article carried a picture of the heap of rubble to which the church was reduced, and the surviving steeple standing lonely by, with bomb ridden Vittoriosa in the background. On the same day the Admiralty House, sive. The Palace of Captain General of the Galleys, at Vittoriosa Wharf, was also partially damaged. On the following day, 11 April 1942 a gun post at Fort St Peters in Kalkara, manned by four volunteers from the Dockyard Defence Battery received a direct hit and were killed. During the same month, the Capuchin Convent of St. Liberata, so endeared by the residents of Vittoriosa, was also suffered from the heavy air raids. The bravery and heroism shown by the members of the Dockyard Defence Battery is acknowledge in a heart-felt article in The Sunday Times of Malta by Patrick Farrugia.
Christian persecution during Roman times
Fr Charles Buttigieg writing in Lehen is-Sewwa commemorates the 1,700 anniversary of Constatine’s Edict of Milan with an article about the various Roman persecutions until the grant of religious freedom in 313. Among the list of saints mentioned is St Lawrence who was martyred in Rome in 258 during the Valerian persecution. In the same year another great saint of the Church received his martyrdom in Carthage, St Cyprian.
Jum il-Birgu 2013
The celebrations for Jum il-Birgu 2013 were held with due solemnity and decorum by the Vittoriosa Local Council. The Mass of Thanksgiving at St Lawrence was presided by Rev. John Avellino assisted by Can. Joe Caruana and Can. Mario Agius. The concelebrants included Mons. Lawrence Mifsud and Mons. Paul Raggio. It is to be observed that At the conclusion of the for the second year running, the sacred icon of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin preserved at the Annunciation Church was not processionally transferred to St Lawrence for the feast of the Otto Settembre as has been the custom for many years. At the end of the Mass the St Lawrence Church parvis and the area around the Oratory of the Holy Crucifix were blessed to honour the remains of the Maltese heroes to were killed during the Great Siege of 1565 and are buried there. The event came to a climax with the Commemoration at near the Great Siege Monument in Vittoriosa Square which was beautifully illuminated. This included traditional speech for the occasion which was delivered by Mr Anton Buttigieg, son of former Vittoriosa District Medical Officer, Dr Louis Buttigieg; the award of the Gieh il-Birgu trophy to Vittoriosa- born Mr Lawrence Mizzi; the concluding address by Vittoriosa Mayor Mr John Boxall; and the laying of laurel wreaths at the foot of the Monument. The Mayor paid homage to Vittoriosa Historical & Cultural Society which had initiated the Great Siege Victory commemoration back in the 1950s. The Society was represented in this year’s celebrations by various Committee Members. During the Jum il-Birgu 2013 weekend, an exhibition was held at the Auberge de France, the Vittoriosa Local Council offices, of conjectured designs by university architecture students for the embellishment of several public spaces at Vittoriosa.
Honouring the war’s unsung heroes
Retired engineer Prof. Carmel Pule’ is of the opinion that the unskilled Maltese who did the vital but lowly jobs during the war should be honoured. This includes such people as the labourers who fired the engine rooms in the depths of battleships, the cooks on destroyers, the volunteers who manned the Islands early warning system, the fitters who repaired the war vessels in the dockyard; those who dug the shelters. He also points out that the educational system does not give due regard to the unskilled workers who are the real wealth creators: the factory hands in industry, the road workers looking after the country’s infrastructure, the maintenance staff at the power station. His comments are carried in the Times of Malta.
Fruit & Vegetable Market at Vittoriosa
A fruit & vegetable market is being held every Saturday at St John’s Tower Street, Fuq is-Sur tal-Kurdara, from tents set up for the purpose. The market takes the form of a mini pitkali as the products come straight from the farmers to the consumer. The initiative was inaugurated by Vittoriosa Mayor John Boxall accompanied my Minister Joe Mizzi. The public’s participation has been so encouraging that it is being considered transferring the market to the larger ground at Il-Fortini.
Maritime Museum Clock Tower
The recently restored clock tower on the Vittoriosa Marina, synonymous with the Royal Naval Bakery and the Admiralty Victualling Yard, has earned further praise for Heritage Malta in the press. Denis Darmanin suggests that the facade of the restored clock tower be illuminated.
Cardinal Prospero Grech’s new book
Lehen is-Sewwa reported the publication of a new book by the Vittoriosa-born Augustinian Cardinal. It is entitled Spiritualita’ del Nuovo Testamento. He probes into the Gospels and the Epistles and delineates therein the work of the Holy Spirit. He has published several other doctrinal books. Cardinal Grech was also in the news when the Times of Malta revealed the contents of the speech he made to the College of Cardinals that he was presiding, before they headed their way into the Sistine Chapel to elect the new Pope. It was marked with a warning that the church was experiencing hard times and was likely to face a schism.
Capuchin preachers in the 19th century
Winston Zammit, writing in the August / September edition of the periodical Dawl Frangiskan throws light on several capable Capuchin preachers who were engaged to deliver the Lenten sermons, an office known as quarestimalista, at the Mdina Cathedral, the Gozo Cathedral, and St Lawrence Collegiate Church, Vittoriosa. Interestingly, the preachers were originally compensated for their services not by the ecclesiastical but by the civil authorities, first by the Universita’ i.e. the local town authority, and after their abolition by the British colonial government, the payment was issued from the Treasury.
The cult of St Roque
Alex Busuttil, in the programme booklet for the feast of St Leonard at Kirkop, narrated the story of St Roque and his veneration in the village of Kirkop. St Roque, born in Montpellier, renounced his noble lineage and dedicated his life to the poor and the sick. While on a pilgrimage to Italy, he was infected with the plague but was miraculously healed. For this reason he was looked upon as the Saint Protector of plague victims. Besides Kirkop, the devotion to him is popularity throughout most of the old villages. At Birgu the devotion to St Roque was prevalent since medieval times when the outbreak of the plague was a common occurrence in a maritime city with frequent ties with plague-infested countries, particularly North Africa. Tangible testimonies of this are the votive painting of The Plague Saints at Vittoriosa’s parish church by Filippo Paladini; the artistic statute of St Roque made by Giovanni Darmanin also in the parish church, and the stone statue of the saint found in the Vittoriosa Primary School that dominated the cemetery of those who died with this dreaded disease which stood on the same site occupied by the school. The feast of St Roque used to be celebrated on 16 August when his statue, overlooked by that of St Lawrence, was placed in the main aisle of the St Lawrence church.