altteessee livviinngg abbrrooaadd ## 44 o … · resistance in the echelons of power in malta in...

NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2010

AALLTTEESSEE LLIIVVIINNGG AABBRROOAADD

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FFRROOMM TTHHEE EEDDIITTOORR::

MMAALLTTEESSEE BBOOOOKKSS FFOORR TTHHEE HHOOLLIIDDAAYYSS........AANNDD BBEEYYOONNDD

I have been an enthusiastic reader for what seems like forever. Actually, it began when my Aunt Marion, a first grade teacher then,

taught me how to read when I was four years old. So, it would come as no surprise to anyone who knows me that every

time I visit Malta, I spend a considerable amount time (and considerable amount of euros) in bookstores. I come home with a suitcase full of language and workbooks

and tapes, calendars, a novel or so, plus the most recent issues of Treasures of Malta published by the Fondazzjoini Patrimonju Malti.

I have fond memories of going to Zachary St. in Valletta to visit the Hertie Library to find some hard-to-locate Maltese books and speaking with the owner, Rose

Farrugia and stopping by Sapienzas, nearby on Republic St., to browse the shelves upstairs and downstairs and chat with the always-knowledgeable salespeople.

Sadly, the Hertie Library went out of business several years ago; its storefront was still empty when I was at the Convention of Maltese Living Abroad last March.

The fate of Sapienzas, which had been on Republic St. since 1928 and began as

kiosk on St. Mark‘s St. in 1903, is similar, although in its place, another bookstore, Agenda Books, a chain bookseller in Malta is there. (A.C. Aquilina Bookstores, also on Republic St., and in business since 1855 still is there. I remember many smoky

afternoons (at least one of the owners smoked in the store in earlier times) browsing and buying books there.

Although there may be fewer brick and mortar bookstores around Malta these days, my interest in Maltese books has never faltered, and I am certain that is the case

with many FMLA Newsletter readers.

Here are some holiday book ideas that can be used year round:

Why not give the gifts of Malta to family and friends? Present them with books for Christmas,

birthdays, or other special events.

Do you belong to a Maltese association/club that has a Maltese reference or lending library?

Either donate Maltese language books to an existing association library or start one. Several

Maltese associations in the FMLA have libraries, and members who visit Malta, often bring

back books and Maltese music tapes for the library.

Give books as awards, prizes, or gifts. In at least one Maltese association with which I‘ve been

in contact, Maltese books are given as prizes to children for a variety of accomplishments.

This is important for several reasons: it shows the value we as adults have in our culture and

language. In some cases, when the child is not familiar with the Maltese language, it can

encourage a family member or friend to read to him/her in Maltese and start a dialogue about

language learning.

Remember, keeping our language, literature, art, and culture alive begins and ends

with us.

Il-Milied it-Tajjeb u l-Isbaћ Xewqat Gћas-Sena l-Ġdida ! Claudia Caruana


FFRROOMM TTHHEE PPRREESSIIDDEENNTT::

CCOONNVVEENNTTIIOONN PPUUBBLLIICCAATTIIOONNSS

The good news finally has arrived: after a gestation period that compares favourably with that of human pregnancy, we are now expecting the birth of the Convention Proceedings. We hope to see them before the

end of the year, unless the celebrations associated with that time of the year delay production further.

The other piece of good news is the production of a Commemorative Photo-booklet, which now has

been sent to all delegates

who attended the Convention in Malta in March. It is a superb production, with attractive photos, highlighting the

glory of such eminent places like St John‘s Co-

Cathedral, the palace of the President of Malta, and the Exchange Building, itself, where the meeting took place.

It gives ample space to the various Ministers who were lined up to address the meeting on

their various portfolios, which in the major part were informative, interesting and useful to all members of the Diaspora.

Where I believe that it sadly falls down is in the emphasis it places (or fails to place) on the contributions made by Maltese living overseas. One impression one could get from a

superficial perusal of the booklet is that, for the most part, the Maltese from abroad were required primarily as ‗bums-on-seats‘, or to participate in refreshments and post-meetings parties, or even to be seen having a chat with eminent members of the Maltese political

scene.

In a 100-plus page book, I could find only five photos actually illustrating Maltese from overseas delivering a paper! For a booklet purporting to illustrate and highlight the state of affairs of Maltese living abroad, this looks

like a highly significant omission.

One can, of course, read too much in deconstructions of this type. This is after all, only a commemorative booklet, which members might wish to show their grandchildren one day, indicating where they had been and where they were actually sitting during a particular talk by a famous minister.

It simply might be an oversight by the Foreign

Affairs staff who perhaps are not quite attuned to the actual realities and meaning of a Greater Malta, a concept which should mean an equal

partnership and representation from both sides of the divide, both those living at home and those living overseas.

My worry is that this further illustrates the resistance in the echelons of power in Malta in accepting that those living overseas have a very valid role to play in promoting and

designing actions that impinges on their well-being.

We have seen well-meant initiatives that may prove less that fully effective because of the lack of such prior consultation. We still have

not heard anything further in relation to a

number of initiatives promised at the Convention. There has been no approach to the FMLA in relation to such initiatives and a two-way discussion about these issues still has not materialised.

Maurice Cauchi

President, FMLA

It has been my suggestion that there

should be a very close link between the

projected ‗advisory committee‘ and the

FMLA to ensure thaHHEE PPRREESSIIDDEENNTT::

CCOOMMMMUUNNIICCAATTIIOONNSS WWIITTHH MMAALLTTEESSEE

AAUUTTHHOORRIITTIIEESS

It can be fairly stated that currently there

are no formal direct means of

communications between representatives

of Maltese living abroad and the Maltese

Government. Of course any person,

whether a representative of an

organisation can approach the Maltese

Government, Ministers or High

Commissioners/Ambassadors abroad to

put their point of view, but these are often

taken or more often left, at the discretion

of the authority concerned.

The need for some sort of more formal

links has long been felt. At the

Convention held in Malta in March a

couple of lone voices were raised in

““BBIISSHHOOPP EEMMEERRIITTUUSS NNIIKKOOLL CCAAUUCCHHII

RREETTUURRNNSS TTOO TTHHEE HHEEAAVVEENNLLYY

FFAATTHHEERR’’SS HHOOUUSSEE”” [The Curia in Malta announcing the death of Bishop Emeritus Nikol Cauchi]

[photo courtesy Curia Malta]

Born in Gharb, Gozo in 1929 he was

ordained a priest in 1952. A parish

priest in Fontana in 1956, he became

Auxiliary Bishop to Msgr. Giuseppe Pace

in 1967 and Bishop of Gozo in 1972.

Bishop Cauchi retired in January 2006

with these words: ‖I promise you that I

will keep thinking of you and praying for you till the day I die.”


MMEESSSSAAĠĠĠĠ MMIILLLL –– EEĊĊĊĊEELLLLEENNZZAA TTIIEEGGЋЋUU DDOOTTTT.. GGEEOORRGGEE AABBEELLAA,, PPRREESSIIDDEENNTT TTAA’’ MMAALLTTAA

Ħuti Maltin u Għawdxin li tgħixu jew taћdmu barra minn Malta, huwa ta‘ pjaċir

kbir għalija li għat-tieni darba mindu ġejt

elett President ta‘ Malta qiegħed

inwasslilkom dan il-messaġġ ta‘ awguri u

xewqat sbieħ għall-Milied u s-Sena l-

Ġdida. Il-komunitajiet Maltin, jinsabu fejn

jinsabu, huma ћafna gћal qalbna gћaliex

huma wkoll jagћmlu parti integrali minn

nażżjon Malti. Jiena nћoss li, bћala

President, ma nirrappreżentax biss l-Istat

imma anki n-Nazzjon Malti kollu kemm

hu. Kullmin gћadu jidentifika ruћu bћala

Malti jew ta‘ nisel Malti, li jћoss li gћandu

ruћ Maltija, igћix fejn igћix u twieled fejn

twieled, jiena nqisu bћala parti

minnnazzjon.

Jiena naf u nifhem dak li jћossu ghal

arthom u gћal nieshom dawk il-Maltin

emigranti u d-dixxendenti tagћhom, kif

ukoll dawk li jgћixu jew jaћdmu barra --

gћaliex jiena wkoll, flimkien mall familja

tiegћi, kont emigrajt l-Awstralja gћal

żmien qasir meta kont zgћir. Mhux hekk

biss iżda t-tifla tiegћi, illum ukoll tgћix

barra minn xtutna u nista‘ nћoss in-

nuqqas li jћossu Maltin oћra li gћandhom

qrabathom igћixu ‗l bogћod minnhom.

B‘xorti tajba, illum il-firda ma gћadhiex

tinћass daqshekk sfiqa kif kienet fl-

imgћoddi gћax il-mezzi ta‘ komunikazzjoni

jagћtu l-opportunita‘ ta‘ kuntatt immedjat

u mingћajr ћafna spejjez.

Tradizzjonalment, il-festi tal-Milied u l-Ewwel tas-Sena jagћtu lok gћal mumenti

ta‘ riflessjoni fuq it-tradizzjonijiet sbieћ

tagћna, iċ-ċelebrazzjoni tal-wirt

folkloristiku u religjuż, il-valuri tal-gћożża

tal-familja u gћeżież tagћna. F‘dawn il-

ġranet jiġġeddu l-memorji ta‘ l-art ta‘ l-oriġini, id-drawwiet, il-ћbiberiji u r-rabta

mall-qraba. Hu zmien meta huwa naturali li wieћed taћkmu xi ftit in-nostalġija gћall-

ћajja li kien jaf fi tfulitu u gћall-persuni li

jkun ћabb u li forsi m‘gћadhomx magћna.

Fl-istess ћin, huwa ż-żmien li nћarsu lura

lejn il-kisbiet u d-diżappuntamenti tas-sena li ћarget filwaqt li nxettlu tamiet

ġodda gћas-sena li dieћla.

Naf li wћud minnkom kultant tiġu zzuru

Malta u taraw b‘gћajnejkom kemm sar

tibdil u żvilupp, lukandi ġodda, toroq ġodda, tisbiћ ta‘ ћafna postijiet bћalma

huwa l-Port il-Kbir u r-restawr ta‘ bini

storiku fil-Belt u l-Imdina u restawr tas-swar. Aћna nieћdu pjaċir narawkom

iżżuru l-gzejjer Maltin u naћseb li tkun

ћaġa xierqa li dawk il-Maltin li twieldu

barra u forsi qatt ma ġew, jiġu f‘pajjizna ћalli jaraw b‘gћajnejhom il-wirt ta‘

missirijiethom u b‘hekk isaћћu aktar l-

identita‘ tan-nisel Malti anki jekk igћixu ‗l

bogћod minn artna.

Ninsab ċert li ћafna minnkom gћadkom

tieћdu interess kbir f‘dak li jiġri f‘dawn il-

gżejjer mhux biss gћax artna hija gћal

qalbkom imma wkoll gћax gћad gћandkom

xi whud mill-gћeziez tagћkom igћixu

hawnhekk. Malta, minkejja li t-taqlib ekonomiku li affettwa ћafna pajjizi laћaq

lilna wkoll, irnexxielha tiskansa l-agћar

riperkussjonijiet ta‘ dawn il-kriżijiet. L-

investiment qawwi li sar u gћadu jsir

sabiex niżviluppaw l-aqwa riżorsa li gћandna, ir-riżorsa umana, ћalla l-frott u

konna kapaċi, mhux mingћajr sagrifiċċji, li

nevitaw telf kbir fl-impiegi kif ukoll

diffikultajiet ekonomiċi u finanzjarji serji.

Dan ma jfissirx, madankollu, li l-maltemp gћadda u li nistgћu nserrhu rasna gћal

kollox. Is-sena li ġejja mistennija tkompli

toffri sfidi diffiċli fuq ix-xena ekonomika mondjali u pajjizna wkoll jeћtieglu jkun

ippreparat biex jaffrontaћom bil-kuraġġ

tradiżżjonali ta‘ niesna. Jiena fiduċjuz li l-poplu tagћna jirnexxilu jegћleb dawn id-


diffikultajiet, specjalment jekk, minkejja

d-diverista‘ ta‘ opinjonijiet, kulhadd

jagћmel sforz komuni biex nilhqu l-

gћanijiet tagћna.

Filwaqt li qed nibgћat dan il-messaġġ lill-

Maltin u l-Ghawdxin li jgћixu barra,

nahseb li ma jkunx barra minn loku

nfakkar ukoll f‘dawk li bhalissa jinsabu

barra minn pajjizna minhabba raġunijiet

ta‘ sahha. Jiena kelli l-opportunita‘ mmur

Londra ftit tal-gimgћat ilu u nżur numru

ta‘ morda ta‘ kull eta‘ li kellћom isiefru

gћall-kura medika. Filwaqt li naf li ћemm

min jiehu hsieb sewwa ta‘ dawn hutna li

jinsabu msefrin bhalissa ghal ragunijiet ta‘

kura, jiena nixtieq nagћmilhom il-qalb u

nawguralћom success fil-kura li qed jiehdu

sabiex nerggћu narawhom fostna ma

ndumux.

Bhal snin ohra, din is-sena gћamilna

diversi attivitajiet sabiex niġbru fondi gћall-Malta Community Chest Fund li parti

minnhom tmur ukoll halli nassistu nies fi bżonn ta‘ kura u l-familji tagћhom.

F‘dawn il-ġranet qegћdin inhejju gћall-

akbar wahda minn dawn l-attivitajiet, l-

Istrina mill-Qalb, u nittamaw li niġbru somma sabiha halli tmur gћall-benefiċenza

kif semmejt. Niehu pjacir ninnota u nifrah lil hutna Maltin li jgћixu f‘Dearborn fl-Istati

Uniti fejn inġabru donazzjonijiet gћall-

Istrina waqt Kuncert ta‘ Joseph Calleja.

Nappella biex dan iservi ta‘ eżempju.

Matul is-sena li gћaddiet, jiena żort ukoll

gћadd ta‘ pajjizi bhala rappreżentant ta‘

Malta – ic-Ċina, il-Montengro, Ċipru u r-

Rumanija. Nittama li fis-sena li se tibda

ftit ġranet ohra, ikolli l-opportunita‘ nzur

pajjiżi ohra li nixtieq li jinkludu xi pajjiż fejn ћemm komunitajiet Maltin biex b‘hekk

insiru nafu ‗l xulxin mill-qrib u niskambjaw

feћmiet u ideat.

Ħuti Maltin u Gћawdxin li tinsabu barra

minn Malta u Gћawdex, jiena nixtieq

inwasslilkom l-isbah awguri ta‘ paċi, risq u

hena fil-ghożża ta‘ qrabatkom fil-ġranet

tal-Milied, kif ukoll sena ġdida mimlija ġid, saћћa u serenita‘. Nirringrazzjakom.

FFMMLLAA MMEEMMBBEERRSSHHIIPP:: CCUURRRREENNTT SSTTAATTUUSS

As many readers know, the FMLA Committee

has been working on a Constitution. It now has been made available to all members and delegates. We are now waiting for comments, and these will receive the full attention of the committee before a final recommendation is made.

The FMLA Newsletter has readers in Australia,

Belgium, Brazil, Canada, France, Germany,

Greece, Italy, Luxembourg, Malta, Peru, United Kingdom, and the United States.

To date, we have received and accepted the 30 member organizations who in total have a

membership of 6,000– see list below:

If you have comments, please send them to

the FMLA secretary, Albert Vella. E-mail: [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]


MMEESSSSAAGGEE BBYY TTHHEE HHOONN LLAAWWRREENNCCEE

GGOONNZZII,, PPRRIIMMEE MMIINNIISSTTEERR OOFF MMAALLTTAA

The Christmas season brings joy to all not

only because it commemorates the birth

of Our Lord, but also because it marks the

yearly step ahead in our lives. It also

reminds us of our annual achievements,

our joys and, of course, our delusions, but

it is definitely a time for us to feel a sense

of satisfaction due to all the good we have

sought to do for the benefit of one and all

around us.

In this sense the

festive season is

a call for the

advancement of

common

understanding,

mutual respect

and unanimous

collaboration.

Such a season

reminds us once

again, perhaps

more than what

any other

moment in time

can do, that all

of us, in spite of our unique and distinct

individuality, have got so much in

common. We fortunately share the basic

moral values on which a sound society is

based. We take pride in our common

cultural heritage, not only because it

makes us Maltese but also because it

ensures unity amongst us. We profess the

same set of fundamental principles

regarding democracy, human rights, social

solidarity and development of the human

person under all possible respects. We

equally share the same sound conviction

that our future is intimately tied to the

condition of our natural environment,

which we are all bound to secure its

integrity.

This year has been a challenging year for

the world due to the global economic

recession which left no economy

unscathed. However the Maltese work

ethic coupled with Government‘s effort

have managed to not only cushion this

impact but our recovery has been stronger

than most of our counterparts. Our

common values were also clearly

confirmed this year as Malta hosted the

Convention of Maltese Living Abroad in

March. This successful convention

evidenced our shared principles and

values when discussing issues such as

education, the economy and culture. The

strong will to cooperate and sustain this

common heritage notwithstanding the

distances, proved yet again that Malta and

the Maltese identity is not confined to its

physical boundaries.

More than during any other phase

throughout the year, in such a season our

thoughts go more naturally to you all

Maltese scattered throughout the world,

our dear relatives and friends who all

recognize in Malta, this fair land, a secure

point of reference, a source of authentic

values, an archive of tender memories.

You are obviously always in our thoughts,

and we in Malta can never dare feel

ourselves complete without the awareness

that somewhere far from our island there

are you, as faithful as ever towards your

homeland, as successful as ever in any

enterprise you have embarked upon,

equally Maltese and international in spirit

and in deed. Your moral and professional

success is indeed a source of satisfaction

for all of us.

May the happiness of Christmas be with

you all the year round. May this festive

season enable us always to get closer

through all possible means, because Malta

is not simply the specific inhabited land,

but also, and more so, the wider world

where people scattered in various

countries recognize one and the selfsame

mother, ‗din l-art helwa, l-omm li tatna

isimha‘. May the joy of Our Lord Jesus

Christ abide with us all throughout the

year, making us feel better both as

Maltese and as citizens of the world.

Il-Milied u s-Sena t-tajba lill-Maltin

kollha fid-dinja.


IINN FFLLAANNDDEERRSS FFIIEELLDDSS

A small delegation, led by H. E. Pierre-

Clive Agius, Ambassador of Malta to

Belgium, participated at a commemoration

ceremony at the Ploegsteert Memorial to

the Missing in the Belgium on 5th

November.

Ploegsteert Memorial should carry

symbolic significance to the Maltese as,

amongst the more than 11,000 soldiers it

commemorates, there's the name of

Second Lieutenant Bernard Fredrick Paul

Bernard, the first Maltese casualty of the

First World War. Second Lieutenant

Bernard was killed in action in the area on

20 December 1914 when he was only 20

years old. Like his comrades

commemorated in Ploegsteert, he has no

known grave.

[H.E. Pierre Clive Agius Ambassador of

Malta (left), Capt. James Grixti AFM Malta right) and Franklin Mamo Secretary General of Maltin fil-Belgju asbl. (further back right) Photo: Austin Tufigno]

Ambassador Agius, who was accompanied

by Capt. James Grixti of the Armed Forces

of Malta and Franklin Mamo, was received

by the Mayor of Ploegsteert and a

delegation of the Commonwealth War

Graves Commission that manages the

site. The Maltese flag was hoisted, the last

post was played, and poppy wreaths were

laid at the monument.

Although most Maltese who perished in

the Great War of 1914-1918 fought on the

Salonika and Gallipoli Fronts (in Greece

and Turkey, respectively) a number

served and were killed in action on the

Western Front (in France and Belgium).

Not far away from Ploegsteert is Ypres

(Ieper) in the Belgian region of Flanders

where most of the casualties are

commemorated. There are Maltese

surnames on the marble slabs

commemorating the young men who died

fighting here.

There also are other Maltese

commemorated at the monuments in the

north of France. They served in British

regiments but not only. A search through

the records of the Commonwealth War

Graves Commission brought up Maltese

names of men who fought in the Canadian

and Australian infantries. Further research

would be likely to bring up the names of

Maltese casualties who served in this War

with the U.S. Army and Marines.

Ambassador Agius and the Mayor of

Ploegsteert discussed the possibility of

having a fitting memorial plaque

commemorating the Maltese killed on the

Western Front, set up in time for the

centenary of the declaration of War in

2014.

[Poppy wreaths. Photo: Austin Tufigno]

For this reason, the Maltese Embassy in

Belgium is asking for information (E-

mail:[email protected]) on

the Maltese casualties of this War.

Franklin Mamo

Secretary-General of "Maltin fil-Belġju asbl”


CURIA ARCHIEPISCOPALIS

MELITEN

MILIED 2010 MESSAĠĠ EMIGRANTI

Gћalina l-insara il-Milied huwa żmien ta` ferћ kbir meta niftakru fit-twelid tal-Iben ta` Alla fostna bћala bniedem. Dan kien ifisser unur kbir gћalina gћaliex jurina

kemm Alla li ġie rrivelat lilna minn sidna Ġesu` Kristu stess gћandu lilna bnedmin f‘ qalbu: gћalhekk qalilna biex insejћulu ‘Missier‘. Aћna nistagћġbu imqar meta

missjunarju jmur f‘pajjiz ieћor biex jgћin lill-oћrajn, aћseb u ara meta jkun l-Iben

ta` Alla li ġie jżurna. Ħafna drabi f‘pajjiżna il- familji ma jistennewx il-lejl tal-

Milied biex jiċċelebrawh anki jekk dak il-lejl huwa l-iktar important. F‘dak il-lejl aћna niltaqgћu fil-knisja madwar l-

Ewkaristija u nirringrazzjaw lil Alla u ngћixu spiritwalment

dak il-mument tat-twelid ta` Ġesu`. Jiena ċert li ћafna minnkom tiċċelebraw dan il- mument ta` ferћ f‘Ġesu` fil-

Quddiesa ta` nofsillejl, u nћeġġeġ lil dawk li ma jmorrux biex imorru u jieћћdu sehem fl-ispirtu tal-Milied.

Tul is-snin daћlet il-kultura nisranija li niftakru fiha fil-familji

tagћna billi narmaw Presepju u Bambin. Jiena nittama li anki din it-tradizzjoni tibqa` tiġi magћmula mhux bћala kultura

biss, iżda anki bћala ġest ta` fidi. Min jaf x‘okkażjoni tkun gћall-ћbieb tagћkom li

jiġu gћandkom meta jaraw il-presepju u l-Bambin, biex imbagћad titkellmu fuq Ġesu`magћhom.

Jiena nixtieq li naqsam magћkom il-ferћ ta`dan il-Milied. Ix-xewqat tajba tiegћi jmorru lill-emigranti kollha, fil-pajjiżi fejn qegћdin jgћixu. Tislijiet speċjali lil dawk l-

emigranti li jiena ltqajt magћhom fiż-żjara Pastorali tiegћi f‘din is-sena: fil-Canada,

f‘parti tal-Istati Uniti u fl-okkażjoni tal-Malta Day, lill-Komunita‘ Maltija ġewwa Londra.

Jalla l-imћabba kbira li biha ġejt milqugћ f‘dawn il-postijiet kollha – u hawn nixtieq

nirringrazzjakom, min organizzahom u min ћa sehem – tkun l-ispirtu li bih nilqgћu

lill-Mulej Ġesu` fit-Twelid tiegћu.

Pawlu Cremona O.P. Arċisqof ta` Malta.


MMEEMMOORRIIEESS OOFF AA 1133--YYEEAARR OOLLDD BBOOYY

OONN HHIISS WWAAYY TTOO NNEEWW ZZEEAALLAANNDD

[Editor’s Note: Earlier in the year, Costantino (Coisy) Micallef wrote the FMLA Newsletter about his recollections of his journey, when he was 13 years old, to New Zealand shortly after World War II. He wanted to share his story with our readers.]

It was December 1950 when our rented

house in St. Margaret Street, 50 m from

Tower Road in Sliema and 100m from the

sea was visited by many members of our

family, friends and neighbours. The word

had spread: my family—my parents,

brother, and I were leaving Malta.

―Where?‖ They would ask.

―New Zealand.‖

―Where is that?‖

Neither we, nor they, would have come to

the realisation that we would probably not

see each other again. Who would have

thought that today‘s ease of travel would

give short shrift to this notion?

It was well known then that it was difficult

to migrate to New Zealand. There was a

preference for emigrants from Britain and

Northern Europe. So, it was a long

process of family interviews by a

commission, which also covered

emigration to Australia. I am told that at

the time Msgr. Philip Calleja may have

had a hand in our success in getting our

emigration permit.

[brother Paul, Coisy, and parents- 1947]

At this time, the seriousness of breaking

away from school, friends, and extended

family did not register with me as being of

great importance. It was as if it would be

a long holiday, an adventure, a longing to

see things not seen in Malta. It would

break the routine of daily living. My

schooling achievements were not great

anyway, so a break from school would

have been welcome.

Photographs of New Zealand sent to us by

our uncle Francis, who lived there, showed

huge tracks of green pastures, large flocks

of sheep, dairy farms, trains, snow-

covered mountains, rivers, and tall

buildings. These scenes were reminiscent

of Hollywood movies, and they were not

scenes familiar to those of us living in

Malta.

My uncle Oscar presented me with

binoculars for the voyage, which made my

perceptions of things to come more

exciting.

My father, who had been employed on

British naval ships throughout his working

life, including the war, had seen many

wonderful places in the world especially

the Middle East and Europe. So, of course,

he tended to embellish the adventures to

come. It would have been difficult to take

it all in. To me at age 13, I was energetic,

good at sports, and I thrived on a change

of pace.

A few weeks before the scheduled

journey, I was still attending school at the

Lyceum in Hamrun. My French teacher,

whose name escapes me, always seemed

to me to be a man of culture, quiet but

not too friendly, and perhaps that was a

sign of the times.

It must have been November sitting at the

back of the classroom, my thoughts far

from school work as was the norm, and

only weeks before our departure.

―Costantino, would you please stand up?‖

he said. ―Children you probably know that

Costantino and his family are emigrating


to New Zealand.‖ His eyes focused on me

and he asked, ―Can you tells us what you

know about New Zealand.‖

I was dumfounded. I knew little about

New Zealand. I simply mentioned that my

Uncle Francis had settled there in the

1930s, and he was our host for the

immigration permit. He always described

New Zealand as a beautiful place.

My teacher then continued, explaining

that New Zealand was an English-

speaking country, and although very far

from Europe, it took part in the war

against the Germans. He added that we

Maltese should be grateful for the food,

meat, and butter sent from New Zealand

to sustain Malta in her hour of need.

Strangely enough, that discussion gave

me a sense of relief that perhaps yes, the

family will be fine in New Zealand even

though I did have some concern as to how

my limited English would suffice in school.

I also wondered how my mother would

cope since her English was quite poor.

Those thoughts stayed with me for a long

time.

My father had been away for more than

five years, serving on warships and ashore

working for the NAAFI, which was a food

logistics organization set up to serve allied

troops all over the world and throughout

the Royal Navy. When the war was over in

1945, he was stationed in Malta on one of

the Mediterranean fleet ships. It was only

during those five years prior to leaving

Malta that he began to know his family.

So, my brother and I missed out on the

fatherly nurturing one would expect in a

Maltese family. The five years of war

separation did not allow him to pick up the

simple family responsibilities easily. He

took great delight, however, recounting

war stories in which he was a part.

He told me of Sir Keith Park commodore

in the Royal Air Force, a New Zealander

who was the chief strategist for defending

England against huge odds to beat the

Luftwaffe. Sir Keith repeated this feat in

the defence of Malta in the worst

onslaught from the Luftwaffe. At that age,

although exciting, the significance of this

went over my head, but strangely enough

this all came back to me only last month

at the anniversary of the battle of Britain

when Sir Keith was honoured in London by

the British government. His statue is

mounted in Waterloo Place, London.

The War Years

And now, for other memory of so long ago

that falls into place.

My immediate and extended family on my

mother‘s side (the Micelis) were all born in

Senglea. My father‘s family was from

Bormla (the old cities). I believe it is

important to show how and why many

families were displaced from this area with

the arrival of World War II and finding

themselves in another part of the island

after the war. With regards to my life in

Senglea my recollection would inevitably

be derived from family hearsay on my

part because I was small. It often is

difficult to separate these images from

fact.

The many naval ships, the dockyard and

consequently Senglea and surrounding

areas took a great hammering from

German aircraft. So we moved to

Marsaxlokk (Wied il Gћajn) to my

grandmother‘s house. Soon after, we were

evacuated to a small farmlet (razzett) at

the start of the Boschetto Road, Rabat.

The owners, brothers and sisters Pawlu,

Peppi, Karmena, and Katarina Vella took

great care of us for almost four years. Just

before the end of the war we moved to

Mdina, the old city, for a short while.

I have very fond memories of my

favourite uncle Spedito arriving with a

truck in Mdina to move us to our Sliema

home, which was a palace compared to

the old, smelly 500-year-old stuffy rooms

in the house at the lower entry gate of

Mdina city.

Uncovering my mother‘s elegant dowry


furniture for the first time, which had been

stored in an old building opposite the

razzett, was a pleasant surprise and still

very vivid in my memories.

During the five years at the razzett, we

often used boxes and makeshift furniture

although our hosts did everything possible

within their means to make us

comfortable. Pawlu and Peppi even dug a

bomb shelter adjacent to our room at the

farm and we all had cause to use it

several times as cover from stray mines

dropped by stuka aircraft.

There were no tractors or machinery on

the farm, and probably that was the same

all over Malta. So every farm chore was

done by hand, mule, or cow. I remember

very well riding on the cows to make the

qigha. This was an old method of

separating the chaff from the wheat by

having cows trod over the dry wheat,

which was placed on the ground in a wide

circle on the baked earth in the blazing

Malta summers.

I remember the smell of the donkeys and

cows in their shelter adjacent to the

farmhouse. Then, I can remember the

sweet prickly pears, the well ripened fig

off the trees, and the sweet carob. We

sliced the carob with a special curved

knife attached to the wall and fed them to

the donkeys; we also sampled the carob

ourselves.

[At the Club Villa Schinas with friends]

Our main meal at night invariably

contained French beans made into a

nutritious vegetable stew. Meat and bread

were extremely scarce. Dried cabbage

leaves were smoked instead of tobacco.

Drinking glasses were made out of bottles.

The deprivation of many items did not

seem to affect us too much, but only

because of the generosity of the Vella

family who became part of our family. All

of them have passed away now, but I

never can forget their kindness.

Living in Sliema before our Journey

On our arrival in Sliema both my brother

Paul and I joined ―The Club‖ as it was

known, and we became very much a part

of the San Girgor Parish Catholic Action

family at Villa Schinas. This villa was at

the top of Isouard St., where the Catholic

faith was nurtured along with sporting

activities, camping, swimming, fishing,

and seeing the latest movies every

Sunday at the villa‘s theatre.

It was an interesting, pleasant and

character-building time. Perhaps one of

the few reservations I had about leaving

Malta then was abandoning this stable

environment. The late Father Gennaro

Camilleri was our closest mentor to whom

we looked to for guidance at this time.

Cold January came, and one day, my

parents and I took the bus to Valletta to

buy luggage for the voyage. We got off

the bus at the entrance to Kingsway.

[Editor‘s Note: Now Republic Street]. I

would have pleaded with my mother to

buy me a ruggata at the kiosk (an almond

drink served very cold) and then most

probably insisted on going to my favourite

cake shop, ‗Bonaci‘s‘ for tea and cream

cakes.

We then attended to the task in hand: We

walked down Kingsway, turned right, and

looked for a specialist luggage shop

opposite St. John‘s Co-Cathedral. My

mother haggled for the big trunk that we

purchased. We still have it today.


And finally. . .

The big day arrived. It was a cold wet

day. I must have been a little

overwhelmed because I do not remember

leaving the house for the last time, the

journey in a taxi, nor arriving in Valletta.

Yet, I remember very well having our

photo taken with other passengers at the

‗Upper Barrakka,‘ which was later printed

in the Times of Malta.

The SS Jenny, a small single funnel old

ship looked nothing like what we call now

a passenger ship, floated in the hazy sun.

We hugged goodbye to some well-

wishers, jumped into the small tender that

took us to the ships gangway at anchor.

We were soon taken to our cabin in the

bow of the ship, which later proved to be

a particularly bad position for us except

for father, who was an experienced sailor.

We suffered sea sickness badly during

much of the voyage as did many of the

other passengers. This was not a good

start.

Soon, we were to get used to the rolling

and pitching of this little ship.

It was a wet and breezy afternoon. The

SS Jenny pulled up anchor, and within half

an hour we steamed out between the

Grand Harbour breakwater heading for

Cyprus, the first port of call. There were

Maltese and Italian families and a few

young single German men going to

Australia on the ship.

As we sailed away and the Island started

to move away from view, we, the Maltese

passengers, unconsciously moved to the

stern of the ship as if there was a longing

not to cut the connection from our birth

place.

Thanks to Uncle Oscar, I was able to stay

a little longer using my binoculars.

CCAALLLLIINNGG AATTHHLLEETTEESS OOFF MMAALLTTEESSEE

DDEESSCCEENNTT Constantino Axisa in Malta writes that he

is seeking Maltese athletes and athletes of

Maltese descent. He writes us: ―My main

area of research has been for basketball

players. Through my research, the Malta

Basketball Association has recruited

various players from Australia, Canada,

and the United States to represent Malta

in our basketball national teams. These

teams have earned four gold and one

bronze medals.

―Recently, I expanded my research to

almost all sports and am helping the Malta

Olympic Committee recruit potential

athletes for various sports.

The Internet is a useful tool to find those

athletes who still have a Maltese surname.

But as you might know, it is very difficult

to trace those athletes of Maltese descent,

where the surname has been lost.

―Word of mouth definitely helps. It would

be appreciated if you could spread the

word about my search and forward

information about Maltese athletes and

athletes of Maltese descent to me.

―The Malta Basketball Association has

recruited various athletes of Maltese

descent from Australia and Canada, who

are representing Malta in basketball

national teams and been part of four gold

and one bronze medal winning teams.

―The Malta Olympic Committee is

attempting to recruit potential athletes in

various sport disciplines to represent

Malta.‖

Our readers are encouraged to forward any information of athletes of Maltese

descent from around the world to [email protected]



MMEESSSSAAĠĠĠĠ TTAALL KKAAPP TTAA’’ LL--OOPPPPOOZZIIZZZZJJOONNII UU MMEEXXXXEEJJ LLAABBUURRIISSTTAA LLIILLLL--MMAALLTTIINN TTAA’’ BBAARRRRAA

Tama u kuraġġ

Nibda biex f‘ismi u f‘isem il-Partit Laburista nawgura

lill-Maltin ta‘ barra u lill-familji tagћkom l-isbaћ xewqat u awguri gћal dawn il-festi tal-Milied u gћas-sena l-

ġdida.

Nemmen li dan iż-żmien ta‘ festi, magћruf bћala żmien li jġib l-gћaqda fost il-ġnus, gћandu jservi biex isaћћaћ

il-kuntatti bejnietna l-Maltin f‘Malta u intom il-Maltin ta‘ barra u anki biex jiftaћ opportunitajiet ta‘ kuntatti

ġodda.

F‘dawn iż-żminijiet gћandna niftakru f‘dak li jagћmilna lkoll kemm aћna ġens wieћed u f‘dak li jgћaqqadna

bћala ġens wieћed – il-ġens Malti. Nifhem li huwa naturali u ta‘ ћtieġa gћalikom u gћall-familji tagћkom li tintegraw ruћkom fil-

komunitajiet li tgћixu fihom. Fl-istess ћin iżda nemmen ukoll li l-gћeruq Maltin

tagћkom gћandhom jinżammu ћajja. L-impenn tagћna kien minn dejjem, gћadu u jibqa` dak li permezz ta‘ inizjattivi u proġetti konkreti, nsaћћu r-rabtiet bejn il-

Maltin f‘Malta u intom l-Maltin ta‘ barra.

Irridu wkoll f‘dan iż-żmien fejn ћafna drabi nћallu lilna nfusna ninġarru miċ-ċelebrazzjonijiet, nibqgћu niftakru f‘min gћal raġuni jew oћra, m‘gћandux il-

possibilita‘ li jgawdi mill-ferћ tal-festi li ninsabu fihom. Irridu nżommu quddiem gћajnejna l-isfida kbira kif f‘dawn iż-żminijiet sbieћ, iżda mћux biss, nistgћu nagћtu

l-kontribut tagћna biex intejbu l-kwalita`tal-hajja ta‘ dawn in-nies.

Il-messaġġ tagћna huwa wieћed ta‘ tama, kuraġġ u t‘azzjoni biex nagћmlu l-ћajja

aktar facli gћal kull min iqum kmieni filgћodu biex bi bżulija u b‘gћaqal imur gћax-xogћol, biex jagћti hajja ahjar lill-familja tiegћu.

Mill-ġdid nixtieq lilek u lill-gћeżież kollha tiegћek l-isbah xewqat f'dawn iż-żminijiet

ta' festi. Is-sliem.

Joseph Muscat Kap ta’ l-Oppozizzjoni u Mexxej Laburista

BBAAQQGGĦĦUU MMAALLTTIINN

You can watch Baqgћu Maltin on the website www.di-ve.com. Programs feature the

Maltese communities in Belgium, Brazil, France, Greece, London. Sicily, Tanzania and Tunis.

Once you are on www.di-ve.com click On-Demand Library or Live-Streaming and go to Baqgћu Maltin.

http://www.di-ve.com/

http://www.di-ve.com/


BBOOOOKK BBAAGG Beginning with this issue of the FMLA

Newsletter, we‘ll be featuring and

discussing books and other publications

plus DVDs of interest to the Maltese

Community. Most will be new or current

publications, but we will mention some

older, popular and still valuable

publications that may be available.

We also have included on page 20 a listing

of several on-line booksellers who can

help you locate the items mentioned and

others that you may be interested in

learning more about. Several of the on-

line booksellers send e-mail newsletters

with information about new Maltese

books.

Feel free to E- mail me at:

[email protected] if you have

suggestions for this column or wish to

send the newsletter a copy of a book,

DVD, or other material suitable for review.

Fiction

Lou Drofenif. Cast the Long Shadow.

Kilmore Publishers. Kilmore: Australia.

2010. (ISBN: 978098063237).

Cast the Long Shadow focuses on three

individuals who are thrown together by

chance in Melbourne in the 1960s, each

one is on a different and personal quest.

Charlie Scicluna with his ability to read

minds and see into the future, is

searching for a long- lost uncle and a way

to help the brother he left behind in Malta.

Roman Novak slowly starts to make a life

for himself and his daughter Iris after the

death of his wife.

Newly arrived Edward Sciberras needs to

find the identity he lost when as a six year

old his parents gave him away to be

raised by a childless couple.

Drofenik, based in Australia, writes “Cast

the Long Shadow came to me from all

over the place — from the stories my

mother used to tell, the hours of gossip I

heard as I was growing up in my

grandfather‘s house, stories I heard in

Australia from migrant women and stories

of returned migrants when I was in Malta

on holiday.‖

Non Fiction

Charles Daniel Saliba. Hijacking in the

Mediterranean. The Five Cases of Malta.

BDL Publishing : St. Gwann: Malta, 2010,

168 pp., hardcover. ISBN:

9789995720735) Also available in

Maltese: Ħtif ta' Ajruplani fil-Mediterran.

Il-Ħames Każi ta' Malta.

Saliba in Gozo writes: ―From 1970 to

2000, there were, on average, two aircraft

hijackings every month somewhere in the

world, with the Mediterranean area being

a particular hotbed. Most were committed

to extract a ransom for political or

personal ends, but it was from these

fertile seedbeds that the modern idea of

using a stolen aircraft as a suicide missile

grew.

―Although hijackings are much rarer now,

their consequences are disproportionately

greater. The fear of hijack is ubiquitous at

every level from individual passenger to

nation-state, so that analysis of these

earlier hijacks, which seem almost

innocent now, is vital to our

understanding of the motives and

mechanisms of hijacks, helping us to

prevent or defend ourselves against them.

―This book supplies this analysis by

concentrating on five hijacked aircraft, all

of which landed at Malta's Luqa

International Airport, right at the heart of

the Mediterranean. They were:

► Flight KL 861 Amsterdam-Tokyo KLM

Royal Dutch Airlines 25 November 1973.

► Flight LN 642 Houn-Tripoli Libyan Arab

Airlines 16 October 1979.

► Flight LN 484 Sebha-Tripoli Libyan Arab

Airlines 20 February 1983.

► Flight MS 648 Athens-Cairo EgyptAir 23

November 1985.



► Flight KM 830 Malta-Istanbul Air Malta

10 June 1997.

―The original aim was to find out why

certain areas in and around the

Mediterranean are more prone to

hijacking than others, but on researching

the thousands of words written and

spoken about these hijacks, I found that

most accounts were either false or

incomplete, so made my first object to

discover and reveal the truth, using

published sources, oral interviews,

contemporary newspapers, reports,

television programmes, discussions with

security experts, police reports, procès-

verbaux, court reports from experts, press

releases and official correspondence.

―Armed with this knowledge, I set out to

prove that security and stability in the

Mediterranean, and thus in Europe, cannot

be achieved unless regional security

problems are addressed.

―I note the accomplishment of Dom

Mintoff, Prime Minister of the newly

independent Malta, who personally

negotiated the successful conclusions of

three of the five hijackings with no loss of

life at all.‖

Maltese Language Learning Tools

Many readers probably are aware of Dr.

Lydia Sciriha, a professor at the University

of Malta who spoke at the FMLA

convention in March and her Beginning

Maltese text and two audiocassettes first

published in 1996 by the University of

Malta. (ISBN 99909-44-091). This is still

available. Now, she has another text and

this time, a 200 page textbook and 2

compact discs, called Continuing Maltese.

(ISBN: 978-99957-2008-7) This is a lower

intermediate to intermediate course,

published earlier this year by Book

Distributors Ltd.

Charles Daniel Saliba and Adrian Muscat.

Eċċellenti. Book Distributors Ltd., St.

Gwann: Malta, 2009.

Although it was written for an adult

audience Saliba says, it can be used by

the younger generation as a Maltese

language learning tool. He adds: It also

can be practical for Maltese migrants.‖

Throughout the book, grammar is taught

in a specific context. Each chapter begins

with an original text written by Saliba and

Muscat. These texts include novels,

recipes, historical facts, health awareness,

and other forms of general knowledge.

Saliba says ―By analysing the text, the

reader can understand the grammar in

use. An explanation is then provided,

together with a short grammar note.

Additionally, each chapter has a number

of graded exercises, such as crossword

puzzles, word searches, matching and

reading comprehensions, which are

appropriate for all age groups.

Daniel Charles Saliba and Adrian

Muscat. Malti Għalina t-tfal 1 – 6.

Book Distributors Ltd., St. Gwann:

Malta, 2009. (ISBN: 9789995720-24-

7.) [Editorial note: these workbooks

can be purchased separately.]

These six workbooks cover the Maltese

Language Syllabi in the Maltese Primary

Schools.

Malti Għalina t-Tfal 1

This workbook aims to cover the Year 1

syllabus. It is full of colourful pictures and

a number of exercises. The exercises cater

for all the children who are still learning

the basic language skills. Emphasis is

made on both the capital and small

letters. Apart from the alphabet, various


exercises guide the children to sentence

formation. The contents at the end will

guide both teachers and parents to the

aspects of grammar tackled.


This workbook covers the Year 2 syllabus.

Throughout the book, the children are

helped by Kika, a penguin which

reinforces their learning. A short grammar

note is provided in a colour box coming

from the penguin‘s mouth. This is the

most important part of the lesson. The

contents at the end are intended for

teachers and parents to guide them

through the grammatical aspects covered

in this book.


The aim of this workbook is to cover the

Year 3 syllabus. Grammar is taught in a

context. The young children are guided by

Pengo, a dog helping them to enrich their

language skills. Each chapter starts with a

text and then a set of questions from

which the children will master the

grammar. A variety of creative exercises

follow. At the end of every lesson there is

a self assessment session. Additionally

this book has a number of mind maps,

guiding the children in planning and

writing compositions.



Year 4 syllabus. Grammar is taught in a

context. Each chapter starts with a text

and then a set of questions from which

the children will master the grammar. At

the same time the students will be given

the skills needed for self-expression. A

variety of creative exercises follow. Finally

the students are given supplementary

work such as writing a letter, a

composition, a rhyme or similar

expressive work. At the end of every

lesson there is a self assessment session.

Additionally at the end of each topic there

is a mind map, guiding the children in

revising the work done.



Year 5 syllabus through a context. Each

chapter starts with a text and then a set

of questions from which the children will

master the grammar. At the same time

the students will be given the skills

needed for self-expression. A variety of

creative exercises follow. Finally the

students are given supplementary work

such as writing a letter, a composition, a

rhyme or similar expressive work. At the

end of every lesson there is a self

assessment session. Additionally at the

end of each topic there is a mind map,

guiding the children in revising the work

done.


As in all the series grammar is taught in a

context. Each chapter starts with a text

and then a set of questions from which

the children will master the grammar. At

the same time the students will be given

the skills needed for self-expression. A

variety of creative exercises follow. Finally

the students are given supplementary

work such as writing a letter, a

composition, a rhyme or similar

expressive work. At the end of every

lesson there is a self assessment session.

Additionally at the end of each topic there

is a mind map, guiding the children in

revising the work done.

Oldies but Goodies for Maltese

Language Learners

FMLA Committee member Mona Vella

recommended these Maltese language

tools, which are still available.

The Maltese Interactive Picture Dictionary

by Lydia Sciriha, Protea Textware Ltd.,

Hurstbridge: Victoria, Australia. 1997.

Joseph Vella. Learn Maltese, Why Not?

Valletta Publishing, Valletta: Malta. 1996.

There also are workbooks by the same

author.


BBIIOOGGRRAAPPHHYY TTRRAACCEESS TTEENNOORR PPAAUULL AASSCCIIAAKK’’SS

EEVVEENNTTFFUULL LLIIFFEE

Small Island, Great Riches, a biography of

Maltese tenor Paul Asciak, was launched

recently at the Casino Maltese in Valletta.

Published by Allied Publications and

authored by Sue Brown, the book records

the experiences of the opera singer whose

successful career took him to Italy and the

United Kingdom.

At a young 38 years, he decided to return

to Malta and eventually discovered Joseph

Calleja‘s talent. Paul became Calleja‘s only

teacher and mentor; he nurtured him to

the level that tenor Joseph Calleja has

now reached. The author, of course, looks

into the influence that Paul Asciak had in

developing Joseph Calleja‘s voice and

style.

A highlight of the ceremony was that the

guests were able to listen to recordings of

Mr Asciak's performances. Joseph Calleja

also sent a video message for the

occasion.

A newspaper article and a video of the

book signing are available at:

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/vie

w/20101105/local/paul-asciak-biography-

launched]

[Tenor Paul Asciak signing biography at book launch]

http://www.timesofmalta.com/articles/view/20101105/local/paul-asciak-biography-launched




MMEESSSSAAGGEE FFRROOMM TTHHEE DDEEPPUUTTYY PPRRIIMMEE MMIINNIISSTTEERR AANNDD MMIINNIISSTTEERR OOFF FFOORREEIIGGNN AAFFFFAAIIRRSS

The successful outcome of the Convention on Maltese living abroad held in Malta last March

should spur us to further action to safeguard the interests and welfare of Maltese living

beyond our shores. In the past years I have visited Maltese communities in Melbourne,

Canberra, Sydney, Toronto, New York, Detroit and San Francisco. I have admired their

attachment to their mother country in spite of a proper integration in the societies in which

they live.

This love for Malta its culture, history, language and traditions needs to

be nurtured and harnessed through the establishment of new institutions.

As I promised last March, Government intends to approve legislation

setting up a Council of Maltese Living abroad; it intends to propose and

pilot this legislation through Parliament in the first half of next year.

The aim of this Council is to have an institution encompassing Maltese

living abroad and other Maltese who are well versed in matters relating to

emigration to channel the aspirations and wishes of the Maltese

communities abroad through a special Council which would have direct

access to Government and public authorities in Malta.

The possibility of setting up a Malta Cultural Institute which would centralize human and

financial resources to promote Maltese culture abroad is also being discussed with the

relevant Ministries relating to culture, education and foreign affairs.

I look forward towards the development of a regular dialogue which does not depend on

management by crisis, or reaction to particular situations, but which should be based on a

dialogue mechanism put on a permanent footing.

Only time will tell whether this experiment will be successful or not, but I am confident that

the Maltese communities abroad will rise to the occasion and fully co-operate, irrespective

of their country or continent of adoption, to make this Council a success.

Tonio Borg

~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~ ~~

MMEESSSSAAĠĠĠĠ MMIILLLL--MMIINNIISSTTRRUU TTAALL--EEDDUUKKAAZZZZJJOONNII,, XXOOGGЋЋOOLL UU FFAAMMIILLJJAA Lill-eluf kbar ta‘ Maltin u Għawdxin li jgħixu barra minn xtutna nixtieq il-Milied it-Tajjeb u

sena ġdida mimlija risq u barka.

F‘dawn il-festi, filwaqt li nħossuna aktar qrib ta‘ xulxin għax ifakkruna fi

tradizzjonijiet u drawwiet li sawwruna u tawna l-identita‘ tagħna bħala

Maltin, intom li tgħixu f‘artijiet imbegħda tħossu l-firda mill-għeżież

tagħkom aktar milli tħossuha fi żminijiet oħra tas-sena.

Madankollu ma għandix dubju li anke fi djarkom, intom fejn intom, f‘dawn

il-jiem tiltaqgħu ma‘ membri oħra tal-familja, ma‘ ħbieb u mal-komunita‘

Maltija ta‘ fejn qed tgħixu, biex tiċċellebraw flimkien dawn il-ġranet sbieħ u

ġġeddu t-tradizzjonijiet li ġarrejtu magħkom minn pajjiżna.

Inħeġġiġkom biex iżommu ħajja dawn it-tradizzjonijiet u tifkiriet u tkomplu ssaħħu l-għaqda

ta‘ bejnietkom u l-għaqda mal-pajjiż tal-għeruq tagħkom.

Mill-ġdid nawguralkom u nixtiqilkom kull ġid.

Dolores Cristina


MMSSSSPP –– 110000 YYEEAARRSS ―Let‘s think of our overseas brothers‖ –

“Nahsbu f’hutna ta’ barra.” This was one

of Fr Joseph DePiro‘s favourite sayings,

together with another one that, put

together, show very clearly where his

heart was beating: ―Let‘s give to others

what St. Paul has given us‖, obviously

referring to the gift of faith brought to the

Maltese islands by the apostle Paul.

Joseph DePiro was born in Mdina in 1877.

Noble by birth, he managed to translate

that nobility inherited by birth into a way

of life. Having studied for the priesthood

in Rome, he had come in contact with

students from many

nationalities. He was,

therefore, aware that Malta

had richness in vocations

which other nations had

not. It was also a time

when many Maltese were

leaving our shores in

search for a better life

elsewhere. DePiro was

painfully aware that, very

often, these immigrants

lacked the spiritual support

which they found in their

homeland. Often a very

low level of proficiency in

the adopted nations‘

language heightened the

need of a Maltese-speaking

priest to minister for their

spiritual needs.

In the midst of many difficulties,

sometimes even from very unexpected

sources, De Piro gave birth to the

Missionary Society of St Paul (MSSP) on

June 30th, 1910. He loved calling it ―the

Little Company of St Paul‖. It was a slow

beginning. In his short life (he died at the

age of 55) De Piro was entrusted by his

superiors with a host of responsibilities,

ranging from being Rector of the Major

Seminary, to director of a number of

orphanages, secretary to the Archbishop,

dean of the Cathedral Chapter, having

parish responsibilities, and even finding

himself in the Maltese Senate and a

peace-broker after the dark ―Sette

Giugno‖ events in 1919.

This left him little time and energy for his

newly-founded Society. Yet, he plodded

along, and after giving his first members

some solid formation, he managed to send

Brother Joseph Caruana to Ethiopia (in

those days, Abyssinia), in 1927. He had

plans to send another two members, and

go visit this mission himself towards the

end of 1933, but it seems that God had

other plans, and DePiro died suddenly on

September 17th, 1933, leaving his Society

in shock and struggling to survive.

―My Society will only grow

after my death,‖ he once

said, and these words

proved to be prophetic.

DePiro was pained by the

fact that he could not

cater for the great needs

he was seeing. In 1916 Fr.

William Bonnett wrote to

him from Sydney, asking

for some Maltese priests

to go to minister to

Maltese Migrants in

Australia. DePiro‘s answer

was: we‘d love to, but we

cannot yet. He also asked

for Fr. William‘s prayers

for his small Society,

being sure that ―one day,

we shall set foot even in

Australia,‖ and for himself

as he was being ―tried a great deal in the

virtue of patience‖!

After DePiro‘s death, it was mostly a

struggle for survival for the first members,

living through difficult years during which

superiors were not even appointed from

within their own ranks. The first Paulists

were granted permission to elect the first

MSSP Superior General in April 1948.

Slowly, the Society started to grow and a

few months later Fr Augustine Grech

found himself aboard the SS Strathnaver,

accompanying 451 Maltese bound for


Australia as the first Paulist to set foot in

that vast and far-away continent where

many Maltese were settling. In January

1959, the Society opened its first house in

Ontario, Canada.

As time went by and the Society slowly

grew in numbers, its members went to

countries such as Peru, Pakistan, and the

Philippines. Whether it is working in a

strictly mission country or with migrants

away from Malta, the MSSP members

have a first-hand experience of what it

means to leave one‘s own country and

culture and dive into the unfamiliar and

the unknown. They know the difficulties

experienced in trying to reconcile faith-

expression as lived at home to that of the

new country, or the gaps between

generations as families grow in the

adopted country.

Looking back at these last 100 years, the

MSSP today thanks God for a very rich

and fruitful story, while at the same time

looks forward with hope that the little tree

planted by Joseph DePiro 100 years ago

will continue to grow and flourish.

Fr. Mario Micallef MSSP

Vicar General

OONNLLIINNEE BBOOOOKK SSEERRVVIICCEESS

Although many readers use Amazon

(www.amazon.com), Barnes & Noble

(www.barnesandnoble.com), Borders

(www.borders.com), Indigo

(www.indigo.com) in their respective

countries to obtain books about Malta or

books by Maltese authors, there are

several Maltese on-line booksellers that

usually have a much larger selection of

these books.

Here are several websites and services

that may be helpful if you are seeking

books about Malta, learning the Maltese

language, art and culture.

www.maltaonlinebookshop.com. This

website bookseller, owned and operated

by Patrick Anastasi, who lives in Malta,

lists an extensive number of Maltese

books, and books about language, on its

website.

www.bdlbooks.com. Book Distributors

Ltd., which operates a book warehouse in

San Gwann, has an extensive number of

Maltese books available at its website.

www.maltabook.com. This website/on-

line bookselling service is operated by

A.C. Aquilina Booksellers on Republic St.,

Valletta.

www.agendamalta.com This website/on-

line booking service is operated by

Agenda Books, a bookselling chain in

Malta. Agenda Books took over the

Sapienza Bookstore on Republic St.,

Valletta, several years ago.

The Federation of Maltese Living Abroad Newsletter is distributed free of charge to members of the global Maltese Community. Letters to the editor, comments about the Federation, and requests for more information should be addressed to the editor. The editor has the right to edit material for style and content or refuse publishing material that is in poor taste or potentially libellous. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ If you do not wish to receive further copies of this newsletter, please send a note to the Secretary, Albert Vella, e-mail: [email protected] Opinions published here do not necessarily reflect the views of all individual members or the Executive Committee of the FMLA.

Sad Note: On page 3 we made

reference to the death of Bishop

Emeritus Nikol Cauchi, brother of the

FMLA President, Maurice Cauchi.

On behalf of the committee and

members of the FMLA, I extend

heartfelt condolences to Prof. Maurice

Cauchi and his family.

Albert E. Vella Secretary FMLA

http://www.amazon.com/

http://www.barnesandnoble.com/

http://www.borders.com/

http://www.indigo.com/

http://www.maltaonlinebookshop.com/

http://www.bdlbooks.com/

http://www.maltabook.com/

http://www.agendamalta.com/


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