CONFRATERNITY OF THE KNIGHTS OF ST. PETER & ST. PAUL Saturday 30 July, 2022. Latin Rite Mass in Croatian. The Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul was invited by the Croatian Catholic Centre of Clifton Hill to take part in the Latin Mass, in Croatian. The Holy Relics of St. Peter and St. Paul and of St. Anthony were placed on the altar. A nice number of priests and altar ministers wearing the old vestments brought back a lot of memories of the Mass in Latin. The choir made the Mass more pleasant. Congratulations to the organizers for bringing back the old traditional Mass. We'll look forward to taking part again next year. God bless. Photos by Dame Suzana Fentov Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli Grand Master CKSPP Melbourne. Australia.
Ghaqda Armar Triq Xandriku
BBQ KBIR b’risq l-Għaqda Armar Triq Xandriku! Fl-10 ta’ Settembru, fis-7:30! Il-biljetti jinsabu għal-Bejgħ araw lill Charlie Xuereb.
Delicata Classic Wine Festival 2022 - NADUR GOZO DCapitals Big Bandfor a grand closure to the biggest Wine Festival in Gozo
NEWS FROM MALTA ARA: Il-Pulizija jintervjenu waqt ġlieda bejn 20 ruħ fil-pjazza tal-Ħamrun 18 ta' Awwissu 2022
Għadd ta’ pulizija tar-Rapid Intervention Unit ikkontrollaw ġlieda li nqalgħet bejn 20 ruħ fi Pjazza Fra Diegu fil-Ħamrun. Il-Pulizija kkonfermat li l-argument inqala’ għall-ħabta tas-1.15 p.m. fi Triq il-Kbira San Ġużepp meta grupp ta’ rġiel li l-identità tagħhom għadha mhix magħrufa ġew fl-idejn. Fil-ġlieda l-irġiel jidhru jagħtu b’għadd ta’ oġġetti fosthom tabella f’nofs ta’ triq. Filmat mibgħut lil tvmnews.mt juri għadd ta’ rġiel jagħtu f’xulxin u b’dak kollu li ġie għal idejhom. Fl-istess waqt il-pulizija jidhru jintervjenu biex iwaqqfu l-inkwiet li nqala’ bejniethom. S’issa għad mhux magħruf x’wassal għal din il-ġlieda. Fuq il-post intbagħtet ukoll ambulanza li ħadet żewġt irġiel l-isptar, Sirjan ta’ 23 sena li joqgħod il-Mosta li ġarrab ġrieħi ħfief u ieħor Sirjan ta’ 37 sena li joqgħod il-Marsa li l-kundizzjoni tiegħu għadha mhix magħrufa. Nifhmu li l-pulizija għadha għaddejja bl-investigazzjonijiet tagħha dwar il-każ. Ara il film hawn: tvmnews.mt/news/il-pulizija-jintervjenu-waqt-glieda-bejn-20-ruh-fil-pjazza-tal-hamrun/
Watch: The parishioners standing by their priest despite financial crime charges Fr Luke Seguna is charged with misappropriating funds but he still has support By Mark Laurence Zammit
Times of Malta stopped many locals in the streets of Marsaxlokk and not a single one of them had anything unfavourable to say about Fr Luke Seguna.Marsaxlokk parish priest Fr Luke Seguna is accused of swindling hundreds of thousands of euro given to him by parishioners over a decade — but many of his flock are standing by him. Every single person who spoke to Times of Malta in the fishing village on Wednesday morning had words of praise for their parish priest. The locals said they are shocked and in disbelief that he was charged in court with financial crimes because they only saw him do good deeds. They spoke out hours before a court heard details of how Seguna had amassed hundreds of thousands of euro across ten personal bank accounts, despite being on a meagre priest's salary. Watch video here: timesofmalta.com/articles/view/saintly-marsaxlokk-people-shower-parish-priest-praise.974894
Publish contract between Heritage Malta and Vilhena Palace courtyard restaurateur, Julie Zahra tells government Heritage Malta had said the arrangement was a four-week trial to determine whether the agency should issue a tender
Sirjan ta’ 20 sena li jgħix il-Fgura kien mixli li stupra lit-tfajla f’bajja bil-pulizija jsibu lill-allegat vittma fil-baħar. L-allegat reat seħħ fis-sigħat bikrin tal-bieraħ it-Tlieta 16 ta’ Awwissu ħdejn Dar il-Mediterran. Qasem Saleh, li jaħdem fil-kostruzzjoni, tressaq quddiem il-Maġistrat Marse-Ann Farrugia fejn wieġeb mhux ħati. Il-prosekuzzjoni qalet li kienet il-vittma li ċemplet lill-Pulizija għall-għajnuna. X’ħin il-pulizija waslu fuq il-post sabu lill-akkużat fuq il-blat u lit-tfajla fil-baħar. Il-prosekuzzjoni qalet li huwa kien qed jistennieha titla’ fuq l-art. L-avukat tas-Sirjan, Mario Mifsud, ma talabx għall-ħelsien mill-arrest imma li jinżamm fit-taqsima taż-żgħażagħ. Saleh baqa’ miżmum taħt arrest waqt li l-Maġistrat Farrugia ħarġet ordni ta’ protezzjoni għat-tfajla. Huwa tressaq fil-Qorti mill-Ispetturi John Spiteri u Kevin Pulis. Ara il film hawn: tvmnews.mt/news/zaghzugh-mixli-li-stupra-lit-tfajla-fil-belt-il-vittma-taqbez-fil-bahar/
Gozo Business Chamber wants Gozo tunnel to remain ‘key priority’, new regional planning policy Wednesday, 17 August 2022, The Gozo Business Chamber wants the Malta to Gozo tunnel to remain a “key policy priority”, as it proposed a set of measures for the sister island for the upcoming Budget. The Chamber’s document addressed four main points: employment, environment, accessibility, and infrastructure, as it said that these are the areas which should be given the highest priority. “Gozo is an island region with specific characteristics and issues which need to be addressed. The situation brought forward by the COVID-19 pandemic, and the recent situation in Ukraine, points forward to an economy which needs to be more resilient and sustainable so that it can start to recover,” the Chamber said. Read more: www.independent.com.mt/articles/2022-08-17/local-news/Gozo-Business-Chamber-wants-Gozo-tunnel-to-remain-key-priority-new-regional-planning-policy-6736245236
Updated: PN queries why a palace in Mdina has started being used as a restaurant By Owen Galea August 17, 2022
Aqra bil- Malti The Nationalist Party is asking how a Heritage Malta historic site has recently started being used by a private operator as a restaurant. A statement by Spokesperson for National Heritage, the Arts and Culture Julie Zahra said it is not acceptable for Palazzo Vilhena in Mdina to be used by private operators for commercial purposes. Zahra also remarked that Heritage Malta is using the National Heritage without any transparent process having been carried out. It was pointed out that this was done without anyone being aware of this agreement. The Nationalist Party spokesperson expressed concern about the lack of Curators at Heritage Malta, saying their work is the preservation of historic sites. Zahra concluded that the Government’s aim is purely that of making money and it is not really considering the priorities of the national heritage. Heritage Malta says it used an existing commercial contract for a four-week trial period in a reaction, Heritage Malta clarified that this was only a four-week trial in order to analyse the viability and fiscal potential of a restaurant at this site. It was pointed out in a statement that in the case of Vilhena Palace, an existing commercial contract was used and ended on the eve of Santa Marija. Heritage Malta added that the aim of this initiative was also to establish whether a public call in this regard should be issued in the future or whether it should be up to Heritage Malta itself to operate this initiative internally. Heritage Malta stated that these types of arrangements are held on a regular basis, particularly when they involve private activities and functions held when Heritage Malta sites are leased. The agency added that over the past four years, not only has Heritage Malta invested in the existing curators, but it has also engaged the services of a number of employees as curatorial support in order to assist curators in their duties. tvmnews.mt/en/news/pn-queries-why-a-palace-in-mdina-has-started-being-used-as-a-restaurant/
Parish priest's bank deposits raised suspicion when compared to meagre earnings Signatures on a number of cheques deposited to Marsaxlokk parish priest Fr Luke Seguna’s bank accounts were inconsistent, the court hears as the compilation of evidence gets underway
17 August 2022, by Luke Vella
Marsaxlokk parish priest Fr Luke Seguna had bank deposits amounting to €450,000 over seven years, when his salary amounted to only €75,000 over the same period. The information emerged in the first sitting of the compilation of evidence against Seguna, 39, accused of misappropriation of funds and money laundering. Seguna was charged last week and the Curia placed him on administrative leave pending the criminal investigations. Seguna’s arraignment last week was cut short after he complained of chest pains and had to be rushed to hospital for treatment. Seguna remains in prison since bail was denied at the end of today’s sitting. Inspector Christopher Ellul from the police’s Financial Crimes Investigation Department testified how in March 2022 the police received intelligence that in the bank accounts of the accused, a number of transactions were not congruent with the financial status of someone holding the occupation of a parish priest. Bikes, a Land Rover and a garage The inspector said that in 2016, the year he became a parish priest, the salary of Seguna amounted to €16,204 and increased gradually each year until it reached €20,613. According to the prosecution his salary from the Archdiocese was his sole income and he received no inheritance. The inspector said that on 28 December 2021, the accused purchased a garage in Paola at a value of €34,000. Seguna was in possession of five motorcycles, a Land Rover and a Fiat 500. These were all acquired between 2014 and 2021. Read more: www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/court_and_police/118336/parish_priests_bank_deposits_raised_suspicion_when_compared_to_meagre_earnings#.Yv1sTHZBy3A
It-Tieni Jum Tad-Tridu Minn Mario Muscat Quddiesa mmexxija mil-Kappillan ta Kercem Dun Brian Meylak
Quddiesa ta l-ewwel jum tat -tridu immexxija mis-Sacerdot novell Dun Mario Mercieca li fiha jiccelebra l-ewwel Quddiesa tieghu fil komunita taghna .Jippriedka .l- Arcipriet tax-Xaghra Mons Carmelo Refalo Ritratti minn Mario Muscathttps://www.facebook.com/nadur.ghawdex.96/videos/423540685283950/
The Basilica of Nadur Yesterday Photo by Mario Muscat
Jitnizzlu l-linef ghal festa
Ritratt minn Mario Muscat
Jibda jintrama l-Altar tal- kor ghal festa Ritratt minn Mario Muscat
Il-villagg Tal-Hali fin-Nadur jizzejjen ghal festa Ritratt minn Mario Muscat
Nadur in pictures Dahlet Qorrot Bay Photo by Mario Muscat
L' artal tas-Sagrament fin-Nadur Ritratt minn Mario Muscat
Qala windmill and Nadur skyline under a misty sunset By Alessio Sultana
Fountain at Xandriku Street Photo by Mario Muscat
Il vara ta' San Pietru u San Pawl mahduma minn Galard f' Marseille
Il vara ta San Pietru u San Pawl tan Nadur Ghawdex ingibet min Franza fil 1882. F dan ir ritat narawa kif kienet meta waslet l Ispirtu Santu zdied xi snin wara . Dan ir ritrat grazzi lil Darren Vella
IL-KONSAGRAZZJONI TAL-KNISJA
Il-lum, 12 ta’ Mejju jaħbat il-153 sena mill-konsagrazzjoni tal-knisja. Il-Konsagrazzjoni ssir billi l-artal jindilek biż-żejt u jitwaħħlu dawk is-slaleb ta’ madwar il-knisja. Il-Konsagrazzjoni tfisser li dik l-art u l-binja tal-knisja ġew mogħtijin lil Alla. Bħalissa lanqas nistgħu nersqu wisq lejn il-knisja. Nistennew il-jum li nerġgħu niltaqgħu hemm. Sadanittant il-knisja kkonsagrata hija kull wieħed u waħda minna li qed nippruvaw inkunu Knisja fid-dar tagħna.
MOMORJI SBIEH TAL-HADD 25 GUNJU, 1967 Il-Parrocca tan-Nadur giet mgħollija ghad Dinjita ta' Bazilika Ritratt kortesija ta' Mario Muscat - Nadur
MEMORIES OF THE PAST IN NADUR Courtesy of Mario Muscat - Nadur
Mill lum c-centru tan-Nadur jerga jiehu ftit hajja meta mistennija jifthu certu hwienet. Dan wara li ghall-ahhar kwazi xahrejn kienu qed jifthu biss l-bank, spizeriji u hwienet tal-ikel, stationery u ironmongeries.
Nappellaw lil kulhadd biex xorta wahda jimxi mad-direttivi kollha tal-awtoritajiet tas-sahha u nirrispettaw lil xulxin.
The stripes flag to commemorate the Parish birthday in Nadur
Beautiful San Blas
By Mario Muscat
Canon Anton Meilaq passes away. Very much humble priest. RIP. http://www.nadurjana.com/in-memoriam.html Għadu kemm ħalliena l-Kan. Anton Meilak, mill-Parroċċa ta' San Pietru u San Pawl, in-Nadur, fl-età ta' 89 sena, li dan l-aħħar kien residenti fid-Dar tal-Kleru, Malta. Il-funeral tiegħu ser isir għada: l-Isqof Mario Grech ser jippresiedi waqt id-difna privata fiċ-Ċimiterju tan-Nadur. Agħtih, o Mulej, il-mistrieħ ta' dejjem.
NADUR IN PICTURES
By Mario Muscat Click on the pictures below to enlarge.
Nadur invokes Our Lady’s intercession Photo: Charles Spiteri
A 1689 painting depicting Our Lady breastfeeding Jesus has been placed near the main altar at St Peter and St Paul Basilica in Nadur to invoke Our Lady’s intercession against the COVID-19 pandemic. The painting, donated to the church on the occasion of the inauguration of the new parish in 1688, must have been commissioned by someone who most probably ex-perienced the 1675-1676 plague which left around 11,300 persons dead. However, Gozo, Lija and Mdina recorded no fatalities. Besides Our Lady, the painting depicts St Michael Archangel, St Roque and St Sebastian, and a lady on the bottom left-hand side, reciting the rosary. Since the Middle Ages, St Sebastian and St Roque were regarded as protectors from various epidemics, including the bubonic plague.
Old farm house in Upper Ramla
Photo by Mario Muscat
THE SHIELD OF THE CONFRATERNITY OF THE KNIGHTS OF ST. PETER & ST. PAUL Made by Chevalier Chancellor Joe Louis Meilak of the Grand Chapter of Malta. The shield will form part of the furniture in the Office of the Confraternity in Nadur, Gozo. Well done Chancellor Joe Louis Meilak. Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli Grand Master CKSPP
CONFRATERNITY OF THE KNIGHTS OF ST. PETER & ST. PAUL AND FRIENDS WE PRAY TO THE LORD
By Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli - Grand Master Greetings. Messages and prayers from our Reverend Chaplains
Dear All: What seems impossible to us Humans, prayers and supplications will rise like Incense before our merciful Father-God , because for God NOTHING is impossible.
May the Good Lord bless all Medical Teams to find a cure . One of the best prayers I would like to suggest is the Litany of the Saints.
I will keep all in my daily prayers.
Fr Francis Xavier Buhagiar PE Chaplain of the Confraternity St Peter and St. Paul MELBOURNE
Covid-19
Prayer to ask for help, comfort and salvation God the Father, Creator of the world, omnipotent and merciful, that for our love you have sent your Son into the world as a doctor of bodies and souls, look at your kids that at this difficult time of disorientation and consternation in many regions of Europe and the world turn to You in search of strength, salvation, and relief. Deliver us from sickness and fear, heals our patients, comforts his family members, gives wisdom to our rulers, energy and reward to doctors, nurses and volunteers, eternal life to the deceased. Don't abandon us in this time of trial, but deliver us from all evil. All this we ask of you, O Father who, with the Son and the Holy Spirit, you live and reign for centuries. Amen. Santa Maria, Mother of health and hope, pray for us!
Bishops of Europe
With friendship
Fr. Manuel Martins Chaplain of the Confraternity of St. Peter & St. Paul PORTUGAL
Litany of the Saints Lord, have mercy on us. CHRIST, have mercy on us. LORD, have mercy on us. CHRIST, hear us. CHRIST, graciously hear us. GOD, THE FATHER OF HEAVEN, have mercy on us. GOD THE SON, REDEEMER OF THE WORLD, have mercy on us. GOD THE HOLY GHOST, have mercy on us. HOLY TRINITY, ONE GOD, have mercy on us. HOLY MARY, pray for us. HOLY MOTHER OF GOD, pray for us. HOLY VIRGIN OF VIRGINS, pray for us. ST. MICHAEL, pray for us. ST. GABRIEL, pray for us. ST. RAPHAEL, pray for us. ALL YE HOLY ANGELS AND ARCHANGELS, pray for us. ALL YE HOLY ORDERS OF BLESSED SPIRITS, pray for us. ST. JOHN THE BAPTIST, pray for us. ST. JOSEPH, pray for us. ALL YE HOLY PATRIARCHS AND PROPHETS, pray for us. ST. PETER, pray for us. ST. PAUL, pray for us. ST. ANDREW, pray for us. ST. JAMES, pray for us. ST. JOHN, pray for us. ST. THOMAS, pray for us. ST. JAMES, pray for us. ST. PHILIP, pray for us. ST. BARTHOLOMEW, pray for us. ST. MATTHEW, pray for us. ST. SIMON, pray for us. ST. THADDEUS, pray for us. ST. BARNABAS, pray for us. ST. LUKE, pray for us. ST. MARK, pray for us. ALL YE HOLY APOSTLES AND EVANGELIST, pray for us. ALL YE HOLY DISCIPLES OF OUR LORD, pray for us. ALL YE HOLY INNOCENTS, pray for us. ST. STEPHEN, pray for us. ST. LAWRENCE, pray for us. ST. VINCENT, pray for us. SS. FABIAN AND SEBASTIAN, pray for us. SS. JOHN AND PAUL, pray for us. SS. COSMOS AND DAMIAN, pray for us. SS. GERVASE AND PROTASE, pray for us. ALL YE HOLY MARTYRS, pray for us. ST. SYLVESTER, pray for us. ST. GREGORY, pray for us. ST. AMBROSE, pray for us. ST. AUGUSTINE, pray for us. ST. JEROME, pray for us. ST. MARTIN, pray for us. ST. NICHOLAS, pray for us. ST. ANTHONY, pray for us. ST. BENEDICT, pray for us. ST. BERNARD, pray for us. ST. DOMINIC, pray for us. ST. FRANCIS, pray for us. ST. MARY MAGDALEN, pray for us. ST. AGATHA, pray for us. ST. LUCY, pray for us. ST. AGNES, pray for us. ST. CECILIA, pray for us. ST. CATHERINE, pray for us. ST. ANASTASIA, pray for us.
San Koronatu fin-Nadur
Tissebbah in-nicca ta San Koronatu Martri li tinsab gewwa l-Bazilka tan-Nadur minn Mark Falzon.
CONFRATERNITY OF THE KNIGHTS OF ST. PETER & ST. PAUL Grand Chapter of Melbourne. Today, the Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul organized its Annual BBQ to raise money for charity. As always, it was a very successful event and all the patrons were very happy. Thank you to all the volunteers who came to help yesterday and today. God bless you all. Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli - Grand Master and the Supreme Council.
CONFRATERNITY OF THE KNIGHTS OF ST. PETER & ST. PAUL Our mission is to helping the poor in Peru. Medic by day, priest by night: a Gozitan missionary in the Amazon By John Paul Cordina.
Photo from left: Chevalier Joe Louis Meilak, Fr. Raymond Portelli and Chevalier Carmel Saliba presenting a donation to the mission in Peru.
What’s it like to be a doctor and a priest in one of the most remote cities on earth? Fr Raymond Portelli, a Gozitan priest who has called Peru his home for the past 26 years, recounted his experiences on 103 Malta’s Heart, on the programme Newsbook Hour presented by Fr Joe Borg. Fr Portelli is based in Iquitos, a city of around 400,000 people located in the Amazon basin. The city is the world’s largest city that cannot be reached by road: it is only accessible by river or air. Fr. Portelli is the parish priest of the St Martín de Porres parish, with a population of 18,000 people. Around a fifth of his parishioners are comfortably middle-class, but the vast majority are poor, with around a tenth living in extreme poverty. Households do have running water and electricity, but many live in simple wooden shacks on dirt roads. Due to the city’s isolation, job creation efforts are limited and unemployment is a significant problem. Many people try to eke out a living through fishing, agriculture or by selling trinkets on the streets of the city. Caring for the body and soul As the only priest in the parish – though a number of laypeople do help out – Fr Portelli seeks to look after his community’s pastoral needs. But he also identified another need: for healthcare. “I have always been interested in medicine, even before I joined the seminary,” he explains. Consequently, he obtained a dispensation from Gozo Bishop Nikol Cauchi to study medicine at Iquitos’ university part-time, and graduated as a medical doctor after nine years. He often sees patients at the parish, but notes that his parishioners clearly distinguish between his two roles. “They call me doctor by day, and father by night,” he notes. Helping out in the jungle Though he is based in the city, Fr Portelli regularly ventures outside the parish to provide religious and medical services to isolated communities along the Momón River, a small tributary of the Amazon. Travelling by speedboat to reach a series of tiny villages, with the most distant one 12 hours away, the priest encounters a completely different reality. These communities are virtually inaccessible most of the year, as a drop in water levels reduces the river to a muddy path, and are thus mostly self-reliant. People live in small huts with no doors – theft not being a concern in such an isolated place – in communities with no shops or facilities. Stocking up on medicines for the journey, Fr Portelli takes care of common ailments such as diabetes and malaria. If more serious health issues are identified, he offers to take patients to the city, but they often refuse, as they are unwilling to leave their families behind. Once all patients are treated, Fr Portelli holds a catechism session and celebrates mass, often illuminated by candlelight or kerosene lamps – electricity is unheard of so deep in the jungle. Though most are baptised Catholics, even non-Catholics attend mass out of respect. Living conditions may be harsh, but Fr Portelli also notes that there is a strong sense of community in these villages, with people helping each other out. Everyone knows everyone else, and everyone helps out whenever a new house is built. But every so often, village inhabitants try their luck in the city, effectively severing their ties with the community they grew up in. And as a result, they often feel lost among the city’s 400,000 inhabitants, struggling to fit in.
FLAG OF THE KNIGHTS OF ST. PETER & ST. PAUL
The flag of the Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul created by the Grand Master Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli and put in details by Ross Sabatini.
The flag is now registered as a Trade Mark in the Australian Federal Government IP Australia. Our aim is that one day the flag will fly in St. Peter Paul Square in Nadur during the feast of Mnarja.
Nadurama Poezija ta' Peter Paul Vella
Ghana fic-Centru Kulturali Malti gewwa Melbourne, l' Awstralja
Gustav TonnaPROSET L-GHANNEJJA IL-KITARISTI U LODJENZA TA KULL NHAR HAMIS IMORRU ALBION JIEHDU PJACIR U NISA JITGHALMU IL BIZZILLA .GRAZZI IL BARMAN U NNISA TA TEA BAR U L-KOK +++
Giacinta GrechNice to keep the Maltese folk singing going on so far from Malta. Was nice to have met a few of you some weeks ago. Best Wishes to ALL, especially Peter Paul Portelli.
Kelinu Vella Haber (1913-2014) Imwieled fin-Nadur fl-1 ta’ Ottubru tal-1913, Kelinu, kif ħafna kienu jsibuh, kien wieħed mill-aktar Nadurin li taw sehem attiv fit-tiswir u t-tisħiħ tal-ilsien Malti matul is-seklu għoxrin. Kien edukat fisSeminarju t’Għawdex u wara filKulleġġ tal-Ġiżwiti f’Birkirkara. Għamel xi żmien novizz mas-Soċjetà Missjunarja ta’ San Pawl u kien hemm li ltaqa’ mal-poeta Karmenu Vassallo. Fost il-ħafna inizzjattivi siewja tiegħu favur il-Malti, huwa waqqaf ‘ix-Xirka għat-Tixrid tal-Ilsien Malti’, u miegħu kien hemm Anton Buttigieg, Ġużè Bonnici, Ġużè Chetcuti u Ġorġ Pisani, li nislu wkoll huwa min-Nadur. L-ewwel laqgħa saret fil-15 ta’ Jannar 1939. Fl-1940 Vella Haber waqqaf din ix-Xirka wkoll ġewwa n-Nadur u din ħadmet bis-sħiħ favur aktar edukazzjoni u tixrid tal-lingwa Maltija kif ukoll biex jinxtered il-litteriżmu. Dan għen lil ħafna żgħażagħ kif ukoll lill-isforzi favur l-emanċipazzjoni tal-mara. Ħeġġeġ ħafna żgħażagħ jibdew jiktbu u mbagħad il-kitba tagħhom kienet tinqara fuq irrediffusion. Fost iż-żgħażagħ li kienu msieħba u ffurmata fl-għaqda li waqqaf Kelinu nsibu persunaġġi bħal Guido De Marco, Charles Camilleri u Frans Ebejer. Kien ukoll membru għal xi żmien fl-Assemblea Nazzjonali tal-Gvern. Miet nhar it-28 ta’ Jannar 2014, fl-età ta’ 100 sena.1 Bħala rikonoxximent tal-ħimda tiegħu kien ingħata Ġieħ irRepubblika fl-1997 mill-President tar-Repubblika l-Eċċ. T. Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici.
Fost il-ħafna kitbiet tiegħu, in-Nadur kellu post prominenti. Forsi l-aktar li jispikkaw huma l-folkdrama ‘Nadurjana’ u l-poemett bl-istess isem: ‘Nadurjana’. Il-folkdrama ‘Nadurjana’ li huwa kiteb bħala rakkont f’650 vers joħroġ fil-beraħ il-karattru tan-Nadur u n-Nadurin, dejjem marbuta mal-baħar u mal-agrikultura. Dan kollu fl-isfond tal-istorja li tibda miż-żmien tal-qedem u li twaħħad fiha l-kult lejn San Pietru u San Pawl ma’ dak pagan. Dan irrakkont jimxi mbagħad maż-żmien tal-ħbit tal-furbani, tattwelid tal-parroċċa, taż-żmien li fih saru l-qniepen fl-1815, iċ-ċelebrazzjoni tal-Imnarja fil-Buskett, li inċidentalment qed tagħlaq tliet mitt sena (kien fl-1720, skont ma jikteb Giovanni Agius de Soldanis li l-Imnarja bdiet tiġi ċċelebrata b’dan il-mod fil-Buskett), għall-bini tal-knisja, it-tkabbir tagħha u l-leġġendi marbuta mar-raħal. Hawn se nagħti silta ċkejkna ħafna li anke toħroġ fil-beraħ il-kuntest li fiha nkitbet. Billi din il-folkdrama nkitbet għall-okkażjoni tal-festi triċentinarji mit-twaqqif tal-parroċċa fl-1688, u billi dak iż-żmien qamet il-kwistjoni pjuttost taħraq bejn in-Nadur u l-Qala dwar min minnhom kellu leġittimament jiċċelebra t-300 sena tiegħu, Vella Haber kiteb hekk:
‘In-Nadur kien sar parroċċa maqdes bnew in-Nadurin għax kien ġie Cocco Palmeri amar fis lil Bernardin knisja ibni mar amarlu f’dik il-wesgħa ta’ Nadur qim ġie’ fiha ’l Pietru u Pawlu sadattant aħraq il-bħur ġewwa l-Qala l-Kunċizzjoni fost il-poplu żomm l-unjoni.2
Fih ukoll dawn il-versi patrijottiċi: Jiddomina n-Nadur tagħna minn kull fejn tħares lejh kif mill-port ta’ Malta toħroġ dlonk jisraqlek dwal għajnejk!
Iktar ma qribu tersaq iktar ’il fuq jogħla u kien minħabba f’hekk li nħatar biex għall-Għawdxin ikun gardjola!
Il-widien u l-miġriet tiegħek il-għerien u l-bajjiet ismijiet ta’ nisel juru minn tal-eqdem żminijiet kif il-ġonna u l-kampanja it-triqat l-inħawi sbieħ ismijiet tal-qedem għandhom jixhdu nisel xiħ bis-sħiħ!
Għaċ-ċelebrazzjonijiet tas-sena tal-Fidi u tal-1900 sena mill-martirju ta’ San Pietru u San Pawl kienu saru festi kbar fin-Nadur, li l-Knisja Kolleġġjata tiegħu kienet għadha 2 Duminku Camilleri, 125 Sena Kkonsagrata. 125 Sena Bażilika, Vigilat 4, (Nadur 1992), 86-98.
hemm ġiet mgħollija għad-dinjità ta’ Bażilika Minuri. Waqt Akkademja mużiko-letterarja nhar il-Ħamis 27 ta’ Ġunju 1968 kienet inqrat il-peożija ta’ Vella Haber li ġġib l-istess isem ‘Nadurjana’. Dan huwa wkoll xogħol patrijottiku fuq l-istess temi ta’ dak imsemmi aktar ’il fuq:
Wiret in-Nadur fuqani l-isbaħ u l-ogħla fost kull panorama li jiflaħ joffri l-arċipelagu tagħna ... ... In-Nadur kiseb foħrija kiseb ġmiel u dija kiseb ruħ Nadurija mill-erwieħ tal-Għawdxin l-oħra.
3 Fost diversi poeżiji oħrajn li huwa kiteb dwar in-Nadur insibu għadd fil-ktieb ta’ Karm Caruana In-Nadur u t-Tempju Tiegħu Monumentali. ‘Il-Bajja ta’ San Blas’ li hija ddedikata lil Girgor Buttigieg ‘Naduri li għex u miet ta’ qaddis,’ u fiha jiddeskrivi l-bajja bħala ‘s-sebħ u l-kobor tan-Nadur,’ blistess stil romantiku ta’ poeti oħrajn ta’ qablu: ‘San Blas nitgħaxxaq bik: / Seħer il-ħajja nsibu kollu fik!’4
Imbagħad insibu wkoll diversi poeżiji oħrajn b’laqta patrijottika. Vella Haber kiteb ‘Il-Kanuni tan-Nadur’ bħala ‘tifkira tal-Professur Lazzru Pisani li Pitter ilMaqdes tan-Nadur.’ Fiha l-kanuni li xi darba kienu jisparaw fuq ‘il-misħut Nofs Qamar’ sabiex jiddefendu lir-reliġjon Nisranija, issa jinsabu sektin. Kanuni oħrajn ‘qniepen saru,’ b’referenza għall-manuvra li kien għamel il-kappillan Dun Anton Scasciato (1772-1834) fl-18151816 meta rnexxielu jakkwista kanuni bil-permess tal Gvernatur Sir Thomas Maitland (1760-1824) sabiex jagħmilhom qniepen ġodda.5 F’ ‘Żernieq il-Maqdes tanNadur’ iddedikata bħala ‘Bukkett qronfol lill-Professur F.S. Sciortino’, il-poeta jibda mill-leġġenda tal-bini talKnisja meta Girgor għabba l-ħmara bil-ġebel u fejn din waqfet, allura nbniet din il-binja u jinfexx f’ħafna tifħir:
Maqdes gwapp ħafna n-Nadur inbena Nixxiegħa sar tal-ogħla sebħ u faħar; Ġieħ dan il-maqdes jiktor, le jinfena.
6 Fuq laqta reliġjuża, fil-poeżija ‘Luminaria Magna’, ‘B’tifkira u żżih il-ħajr lill-Artista Piju Cellini’, Vella Haber jeżalta lil San Pietru u San Pawl fil-ġrajjiet ta’ Attila s-Salvaġġ. Kienu huma li ‘ħarġu għalih bil-qilla, / ħanqu lill-għadu bir-rabtiet tal-lġiem.’ Hekk ukoll ‘aħna nirbħu żgur ... il-Kruċjata Mqaddsa ...’ Dan kollu bit-tarka tal-Imnarja, voldieri tażżewġt idwal li huma San Pietru u San Pawl.7
Anke fix-xogħol tiegħu ‘Quddiem San Koronatu Martri. Fit-Tempju Monumentali tan-Nadur,’ Kelinu jinseġ għanja ta’ tifħir lil dan il-bniedem li sa minn żmien ilu n-Nadurin qisuh bħala Kon-Patrun tagħhom flimkien ma’ San Pietru u San Pawl:
L-osservazzjoni li jagħmel meta jikteb li ‘mhux ta’ b’xejn b’ismek imgħammda / ħafna wlied minn tan-Nadur!’ kienet tapplika b’mod tajjeb għall-1953 meta dehret din il-poeżija ppubblikata, iżda llum iż-żminijiet inbidlu u huma ftit jekk xejn, dawk it-tfal Nadurin li jiġu msemmija għal San Koronatu. Jolqtok ukoll kif Vella Haber jitratta mal-fatt li ma nafu xejn dwar dan il-korp, iżda hu joħroġ b’dan: ‘Aktar m’Int mostur u moħbi, / aktar fostna sirt magħruf ...’ U tassew għaliex f’dawn iż-żminijiet li fih kien qed jikteb San Koronatu kien għad għandu ħafna popolarità fin-Nadur, xi ħaġa li bħal dik tal-ismijiet, illum ixxejnet ukoll.
3 Duminku Camilleri, 200 Sena mit-Twelid ta’ l-E.T. Mons. M. Buttigieg. 100 Sena Arċipretali, Vigilat 5, (Nadur 1993), 94-95. 4 Karm Caruana, In-Nadur u t-Tempju Tiegħu Monumentali, (Nadur 1953), 23.
5 Ibid., 120 6 Ibid., 125 7 Ibid., 133. Kelinu Vella Haber jingħata ġieħ mill-Akkademja tal-Malti f'għeluq il-mitt sena tiegħu - 2013 Storja, Kultura u Attwalità36
'In-Nadur' Poezija ta' Patri Mattew Sultana
Jekk f’sidri nħoss nifs qawwi, Jekk bqajt sal-lum bil-ferħ qalbi trid tfur, Ngħid li mill-arja, mid-dehriet ta’ seħer U l-ħlewwa tan-Nadur.
Fejn il-ħolqien jitbissem Kont nilmaħ qalb dawk l-oqsma, żara’ u ħdura; Widien, għoljiet, siġar tal-frott fejn tħares; Kemm xtaqtni ma ġejtx lura!
X’jiem hienja! X’jiem ta’ seħer, F’raħal sabiħ, f’ġenna tal-art qattajt! Sirt naf in-nies, tħabbibt, ħabbejt, ħabbewni; Nies bħalhom, ftit, jekk rajt! Sal-lum bqajt nistħajjilni
Inħoss il-fewġa tonfoħ f’dawk l-ibruħ, Tmelles fuq wiċċi u fuq uċuh ir-raba’ U nħossha ‘ttini r-ruħ. U għalkemm minkejja fija
Tlaqt f’qasir żmien u ’l min sirt naf ħallejt, Ġmiel in-natura mżiegħed f’dawk l-inħawi U r-raħal qatt ma nsejt. Għax dawn in-nies dħulija ...
Maqdes San Pietru Pawl, ġmiel kull fejn tmur, Ħallewni noħlom b’dawk il-jiem mgħoddija F’dil-‘Ġenna ta’ Nadur’.
Chevalier Michael Camilleri Cauchi receives Gieh in-Nadur 23 November, 2019
Members of the Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul of the Grand Chapter of Malta, during the presentation of Gieh in Nadur to Chevalier Michael Camilleri Cauchi Deputy Chancellor.
Photo from left: Chevalier Adonai Camilleri Cauchi, Dame Marlene Muscat, Chevalier Carmel Saliba, Chevalier Michael Camilleri Cauchi, Chevalier Chancellor Joseph Louis Meilak, Brother Matthias Mercieca and Dame Veronica Camilleri Cauchi.
Message from the Grand Master H.E. Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli
Photo: The Secretary Chevalier Carmel Saliba is reading the message from the Grand Master for the presentation of Gieh in Nadur to Chevalier Deputy Chancellor Michael Camilleri Cauchi.
The Grand Master His Excellency Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli and the Supreme Council of the Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul is very honoured to have Chevalier Michael Camilleri Cauchi one of its own.
He has been a very dedicated and honourable member of our Confraternity. He is always ready to give advice to help our Confraternity to achieve more.
We are very happy to say that on Tuesday this week, we donated $10,000 to the Royal Women’s Hospital - Newborn Intensive Care Unit. The money was raised from a Fund Raising Lunch we had last month and some donations from individuals and sponsors.
This year we donated others sums of money to the Australian Farmers who were suffering from drought-ravaged part of the State of Victoria and to our missions in Peru.
Our Confraternity is still small but it’s making a big impact to help those in need.
We like to Congratulate Chevalier Michael Camilleri Cauchi, on receiving the honour Gieh in-Nadur 2019.
God bless you.
H.E. Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli Grand Master CKSPP
Gozo Channel ship damaged after crashing into pier - MinisterMonday, 25 November 2019, Gozo Channel is operating with only two ships after one of the ferries was damaged today due to the strong winds and rough seas, Gozo Minister Justyne Caruana told Parliament. It had already been announced that the MV Nikolaus, which was leased by the company to operate as a fourth vessel, was to undergo repair work that will last till mid-December. The company was operating with three vessels until this morning when one of the remaining three ships was damaged and needs repair work.
CONFRATERNITY OF THE KNIGHTS OF ST. PETER & ST. PAUL Melbourne. Australia. By Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli - Grand Master
On Tuesday 19 November, 2019 the Members of the Supreme Council of the Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul made a generous donation of $10,000 to the Royal Women's Hospital - Newborn Intensive Care Unit.
Every year more than1,600 babies who are born sick or prematurely are cared for by the specialist NICU team at the Women's.
The money was raised from a Lunch organised by theGrand Chapter of Melbourne on the 13 of October, 2019.
The Supreme Council has agreed to donate money to the Royal Melbourne Children's Hospital at the Good Friday Appeal.
Photo from left: Chevalier Saverio Greto, Dame Gail Vas, Dame Carmela Barbaro, Chevalier Vincenzo Galtieri. H.E. Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli - Grand Master presenting the cheque to Sue Jacobs Deputy Clinical Director - Neonatal Paediatrician, Laura Bignell Chief Midwifery and Nursing Officer, Dame Angela Greto and Dame Mimma Sabatini.
The Most Respected Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul. Grand Chapter of Malta. Address: December 13 Street. Nadur, Gozo. 22 September, 2019
Congratulations to our Members in Malta for doing such a great job in helping the poor in Peru. Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli Grand Master CKSPP
The mission of the Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul is to help the poor and the sick
HELPING THE POOR IN PERU
Yesterday Bishop Giovanni Cefai a missionary priest in Peru celebrated Mass in the Basilica of St. Peter and St. Paul in Nadur. After the Mass the Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter and St. Paul donated money to his mission. Thanks to the Supreme Council of the Confraternity in Melbourne and the Grand Chapter of Nadur for the money. Thanks also to Mons. Jimmy Xerri Parish Priest of Nadur for his support.
This was the second time that the Confraternity donated money to missions in Peru in the last couple of months.
God bless His Excellency Bishop Giovanni Cefai for his work to help the poor and the sick.
God bless the Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter and St. Paul. Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli Grand Master CKSPP
Dahlet Qorrot Bay from Sopu Tower in San Blas Nadur, Gozo. Malta.
Nadur Bailica Church from San Blas
Sopu Tower built in 1667 by the Knights of Malta
Sopu Tower is situated on the cliffs between St. Blas and Dahlet Qorrot bays in Nadur.
Black statue of St. Peter on the throne
I saw this statue while visiting the church of St Anselm and St Cecilia Roman Catholic church in Kingsway, Holborn, London.
Just like the one in Rome and Nadur.
CONFRATERNITY OF THE KNIGHTS OF ST. PETER & ST. PAUL Nadur. Gozo. A meeting of the Confraternity was held in the Nadur Council Board Room on Monday 24th June where two newly Knights were appointed by Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli Grand Master CKSPP of the Confraternity of the Knights of St Peter and Paul. These are Chev Joe M. Attard of Rabat Gozo and Chev Joe Meilaq. Congratulations. Photos Copyright Carmel Saliba 24.6.19.
After the meeting of the Confraternity of the Knights of St Peter and Paul we attended for the 25th Anniversary Mass of Fr Raymond Portelli at Nadur Basilica. Donations to Fr Raymond were presented to be used in his mission in Peru. Congratulations to Fr Raymond. Photos Copyright Carmel Saliba 24.6.19.