NEW CANDIDATE TO THE CONFRATERNITY OF THE KNIGHTS OF ST. PETER & ST. PAUL Grand Chapter of Malta Office in Nadur, Gozo.
I have the pleasure to announce that Lina Mifsud of Nadur, Gozo, accepted our invitation to join the Confraternity. She will be invested in the Confraternity on 28 June 2025. She is very much involved in serving in the parish of St. Peter and Paul, the local elderly group and the Nadur Local Council. I believe she will be an asset to the Confraternity. Thank you Lina, for accepting our invitation. Congratulations. Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli Grand Master Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul Melbourne. Australia.
It-Torri ta’ Kenuna f’Għawdex jingħalaq minħabba riskju li jiġġarraf Minn Mariella Cilia
22 ta' Marzu 2025
Ta' Kenuna Tower in Nadur, Gozo (Wikipedia) Il-Ġnien u t-Torri ta’ Kenuna fin-Nadur Għawdex kellhom jingħalqu minħabba periklu strutturali kkawżat mill-elementi naturali. Dan tħabbar ilbieraħ mill-Kunsill Lokali tan-Nadur fi stqarrija, fejn intqal li l-ġnien u t-torri se jibqgħu magħluqin sakemm jingħata avviż ieħor. Sadanittant, il-Kunsill qal li se jkun qed jaħdem mal-awtoritajiet relevanti sabiex is-sitwazzjoni tkun evalwata u sabiex tinstab soluzzjoni sigura. Il-Kunsill fakkar li dan il-proċess “jista’ jieħu ż-żmien”, waqt li qal li “s-sigurtà ta’ kulħadd tibqa’ prijorità” matul dan il-proċess. L-għeluq tal-ġnien u t-torri waslet fid-dawl tat-tħassib li esprimew figuri politiċi dwar il-kundizzjoni tal-monument, fosthom Arnold Cassola. Cassola, li hu l-mexxej tal-partit politiku Momentum, saħaq li azzjoni immedjata trid tittieħed sabiex jkun protett dan it-torri li jmur lura għas-seklu 19. It-Torri ta’ Kenuna nbena fl-1848 fi żmien il-ħakma kolonjali Ingliża u serva bħala stazzjon importanti għan-network bikri tat-telekomunikazzjoni ta’ Malta hekk kif kien jintuża biex jintbagħtu messaġġi qabel ma nħolqu metodi elettriċi ta’ komunikazzjoni. Il-post strateġiku tat-torri fuq għolja kien ideali biex jintlaħaq l-għan oriġinali tiegħu hekk kif hu offra vista ta’ stazzjonijiet oħra waqt li pprovda veduti panoramiċi ta’ Għawdex, Kemmuna u xi partijiet ta’ Malta. It-torri ma baqax jintuża fis-seklu 20 hekk kif inħolqu teknoloġiji aktar avvanzati ta’ kommunikazzjoni. It-torri ġie restawrat wara bħala sit ta’ wirt kulturali wara li kien tħalla abbandunat. F’dawn l-aħħar snin, it-torri kiseb il-popolarita’ mat-turisti, kemm għas-sinifikat storiku tiegħu kif ukoll għall-visti li joffri. newsbook.com.mt/it-torri-ta-kenuna-fghawdex-jinghalaq-minhabba-riskju-li-jiggarraf/
Mara tweġġa’ gravi f’ħabta bejn karozza u trakk f’Għawdex 22 ta' Marzu 2025
Read in English Mara weġġgħat f’ħabta bejn karozza u trakk fin-Nadur, Għawdex. L-inċident seħħ illum, għall-ħabta tas-1.30pm, fi Triq ir-Rabat. Il-mara ta’ 43 sena mis-Sannat kienet qed issuq BMW. Fil-ħabta kien involut trakk tal-għamla ERF misjuq minn żagħżugħ ta’ 26 sena mix-Xewkija. Il-mara ttieħed l-Isptar Ġenerali t’Għawdex b’ambulanz fejn instab li weġġgħat gravi. L-investigazzjonijiet tal-Pulizija dwar l-inċident għadhom għaddejjin. tvmnews.mt/news/mara-twegga-gravi-fhabta-bejn-karozza-u-trakk-fghawdex/
Fl-Okkażjoni Tal- Ewwel żjara tal-E.T. Mons Arċisqof Pawl Cremona fiċ-Centru ta’ Matul il-Jum f’Għajnsielem – Għawdex
Kav. Joe M. Attard CKSPP
Insellmulek Eċċellenza, li llum qbadt il-vapur – għamiltilna il-ġurnata, u bil-ferħ qalbna trid tfur.
Minn qiegħ qalbna nagħtuk merħba li ħallejt il-gżira l-Kbira u ħadt din id-deċiżjoni – tiegħek aħna nkunu l-mira!
Lilna hawnhekk dejjem sa ssibna f’daċ-ċentru matul il-jum, magħqudin familja waħda fejn dlonk niġu ta’ kuljum.
Nitolbuk: itlob għalina; għandna għadd ta’ bżonnijiet – ‘mma l-għajnuna qatt ma tonqos f’tal-ġurnata l-ħinijiet.
Bierek lil dawn il-ħbieb kollha illi tant iduru bina; il-ħin kollu jieħdu ħsiebna u jagħmlu kollox għalina.
U la darba tinsab fostna Nagurawlek ħafna snin F’dan l-Ewwel Anniversarju Bħala Isqof tal-Maltin.
Tal-ġnus Pawlu minn ta’ Tarsu il-ħin kollu ħsiebu fik biex jgħaddik minn treqat watja u bl-għerf, bis-saħħa jagħnik!
Inwiegħduk it-talb minn tagħna: ħares dejjem ‘il quddiem; ibqa’ ċert, bl-għajnuna t’Alla rebbieħ toħroġ fuq kull żmien!
Kav Joe M Attard Victoria Għawdex 29 – 01- 2008
L-ogħla awtoritajiet isellmu lill-Arċisqof Emeritu Pawlu Cremona Minn Francesca Gauci - 21 ta' Marzu 2025
Ritratt ta' Miguela Xuereb Waqt li l-Arċisqof Emeritu Pawlu Cremona huwa espost għall-qima tal-pubbliku fil-Konkatidral ta’ San Ġwann fil-Belt Valletta, l-ogħla awtoritajiet tal-pajjiż marru jagħtuh l-aħħar tislima bejn ilbieraħ u llum. Fost dawn il-President ta’ Malta, il-Prim Ministru Robert Abela u s-Sinjura Abela, u l-Kap tal-Oppożizzjoni Bernard Grech u s-Sinjura Grech. Matul il-jum, tfal, żgħażagħ, familji, sorijiet, saċerdoti djoċesani, u reliġjużi marru jagħtu l-aħħar tislima lill-Arċisqof Emeritu Pawlu Cremona. Filgħaxija, l-Arċisqof Charles Scicluna talab ir-rużarju flimkien mal-Arċisqof Emeritu George Frendo, il-Provinċjal tad-Dumnikani Patri Vince Micallef, u saċerdoti oħra, fosthom patrijiet Dumnikani, madwar il-katavru ta’ Cremona. Għada, is-Sibt 22 ta’ Marzu, fid-9.30am se ssir il-quddiesa praesente cadavere b’suffraġju għal Cremona fil-Konkatidral ta’ San Ġwann fil-Belt Valletta, immexxija mill-Arċisqof Charles Scicluna. Din se tixxandar fuq Knisja.mt, Newsbook Malta, RTK 103, u TVM. Fi tmiem il‑quddiesa, il‑korteo funebri jitlaq bil‑mixi mill‑Konkatidral ta’ San Ġwann għal Triq ir‑Repubblika sa Bieb il‑Belt. Wara, il‑funeral ikompli f’forma privata fil-Knisja tal-Madonna tal-Għar u ta’ San Duminku fir-Rabat. Ara l-programm sħiħ tal-funeral ta’ Pawlu Cremona Jitħabbru d-dettalji tal-funeral tal-Arċisqof Emeritu Pawlu Cremona L-Arċisqof Emeritu Pawlu Cremona mexxa l-Knisja f’Malta għal tmien snin – bejn l-2007 u l-2014. Ara iktar ritratti hawn: newsbook.com.mt/l-oghla-awtoritajiet-isellmu-lill-arcisqof-emeritu-pawlu-cremona/
Kenuna Tower Nadur, Gozo. Important notice: Due to structural danger caused by natural elements, the Kenuna Garden and Tower will be closed until further notice. We are working closely with the relevant authorities to assess the situation and find a safe solution. This process may take time, but public safety remains our top priority.
[WATCH] Elderly couple to take legal action after construction workers try to demolish part of their block Developer behind the project, MDA President Michael Stivala, says family living in the apartment block are ‘reaching out to the media to try to conceal their illegal actions’
20 March 2025, by Matthew Farrugia
Photos and videos from inside the apartment show extensive damage, with a gaping hole drilled into the couple’s living room
Play VideoThe Building and Construction Authority (BCA) has halted construction works on the Sliema Hotel after the developers tried to demolish part of another building. The developers however, maintain the part of the building meant to be demolished was illegally built. Josette Vella, who lives in the damaged apartment, told MaltaToday that trouble with the construction project started from the first day. Workers carrying out construction work from outside the apartment blockThe project in question is aimed at adding a 14th floor to the Sliema Hotel, and its applicant is developer and Malta Development Association President, Michael Stivala. Josette told this newspaper that since mid-February when construction began, she called the BCA numerous times, but on Thursday, she saw that workers were attempting to demolish part of her building. Footage shared on Arnold Cassola’s Facebook page racked up hundreds of reactions. Damage caused by construction workFollowing the incident, she filed a police report and has vowed “to go all the way” and take all necessary legal action at her disposal. “I hope you never have to go through something like this,” she said. Michael Stivala claims family was in the wrong On the other hand, developer Michael Stivala said that Josette and her husband “are reaching out to the media to try to conceal their illegal actions.” Neither Josette nor her family reached out to this newspaper. Stivala said that ST Group, which is behind the project, met with the property owners a number of times, “after they built part of their building illegally, encroaching on our property.” MDA President Michael StivalaStivala said that both the family’s architect and contractor “admitted they were at fault.” On the site’s safety, Stivala insisted that the company takes safety seriously. “As a member of the MDA, Mr Stivala fully understand the importance of setting an example in terms of safety and best practices. We continuously work to ensure that our projects uphold these standards, and I am always open to feedback that helps us improve,” the MDA head stated. www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/134164/watch_elderly_couple_to_take_legal_action_after_construction_workers_try_to_demolish_part_of_their_block
[PHOTOS] Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona lies in state at St John’s Co-Cathedral Members of the public begin visiting Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona lying in state
20 March 2025, 6:44pm by Karl Azzopardi
Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona lying in state
The first members of the public began filing into St John’s Co-Cathedral to visit Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona lying in state. Cremona passed away late on Tuesday. (Photo: DOI)Cremona, who was 79 years old, dedicated his life to the Catholic Church, serving as Archbishop of Malta from January 2007, until his resignation in October 2014, at the age of 68. (Photo: DOI)The funeral for the former archbishop will be held on Saturday 22 March in Valletta at 9:30am at St John’s Co-Cathedral. See more photos. Click on the link below. www.maltatoday.com.mt/news/national/134163/photos_archbishop_emeritus_paul_cremona_lies_in_state_at_st_johns_cocathedral_
L-Għaqda tan-Nar San Pietru u San Pawl 𝐏𝐢𝐳𝐳𝐚 & 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 L-Għaqda tan-Nar San Pietru u San Pawl qed torganiżża ‘𝐏𝐢𝐳𝐳𝐚 & 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭’ is-Sibt 29 ta’ Marzu 2025 5:00pm ‘il quddiem Se nkunu qed noffru ‘𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐒𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞’ b'xejn! Għal bookings tistaw iċċemplu fuq: 99877693/79091687 Ordnijiet għal 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐛𝐬 se jigu 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐭𝐭𝐚𝐭𝐢 biss sal Gimgħa 28 ta' Marzu sa nofsinhar Ghal min jipreferi Gluten Free base bi prezz ta' €3.00 izjed.
San Pietru u San Pawl Fireworks group is organizing a ‘𝐏𝐢𝐳𝐳𝐚 & 𝐁𝐮𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐫 𝐃𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐍𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭’ Saturday 29th March 2025 5:00pm onwards We are offering Free Delivery To Place your order call: 99877693/79091687 𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐢𝐛𝐬 orders will be 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥 Friday 28th March at noon Gluten Free base additional cost of €3.00
“Mons. Cremona jibqa’ mfakkar bħala ragħaj ġwejjed li ħabb b’umiltà” – L-Arċisqof Minn Luke Vella
19 ta' Marzu 2025
L-Arċisqof Charles Scicluna sejjaħ lill-mibki Arċisqof Emeritu Pawlu Cremona bħala “bniedem pożittiv, ikunu xi jkunu ċ-ċirkostanzi,” liema pożittività ġejja mill-fatt li għex l-imħabba sal-aħħar u b’mod konkret. F’kollegament waqt programm speċjali li matulu ġie mfakkar il-legat tal-Arċisqof Emeritu Pawlu Cremona, Mons. Scicluna fakkar lill-predeċessur tiegħu bi kliem mill-iktar sabiħ. Sostna li Mons. Cremona jibqa’ maħbub u mfakkar mill-poplu bħala ragħaj li ħabb, ta’ umiltà, u bniedem ġwejjed. “Niftakru fl-Arċisqof bħala Patri Pawl. Qatt ma nesa’ l-vokazzjoni fundemanetali tiegħu bħala reliġjuż, u li dan wrieh anke fil-mod li kien jgħix: fil-faqar, fl-ubbidjenza u fl-imħabba safja.” Huwa fakkar il-predeċessur tiegħu kien għażel li jgħix fir-residenza ta’ Ħ’Attard ma’ grupp ta’ saċerdoti, fejn kien jilqa’ bosta nies biex ikellmuh. L-Arċisqof sostna li Mons. Cremona kien bniedem li jitlob parir, jiddjaloga u jikkollabora. Semma wkoll li kien ta spinta kbira biex il-Knisja tiddjaloga mas-soċjetà. “Nibqgħu niftakru l-mod sabiħ ta’ kif il-poplu Malti laqa’ lil Patri Pawl bħala l-Arċisqof il-ġdid tiegħu wara l-episkopat twil u intensiv ta’ Mons. Ġużeppi Mercieca.” Mons. Scicluna rrikonoxxa l-bidla li ġab il-predeċessur tiegħu fl-istruttura tal-amministrazzjoni tal-Kurja. Kompla jsemmi kif kulħadd jiftakar li Mons. Cremona kien preżenti f’ambjenti differenti. Mons. Scicluna li kien ukoll Isqof Awżiljarju ta’ Mons. Cremona semma kif il-ġurnata tiegħu kienet tkun mimlija b’ħafna laqgħat, u kien iħobb li jkun man-nies. Sejjaħlu wkoll bħala “bniedem ta’ karità kbira.” “Nammiraw l-umiltà tiegħu li meta ma baqax jiflaħ għall-piż tar-responsabbiltà ta’ Isqof, talab lill-Papa sabiex jirriżenja.” L-Arċisqof Emeritu jiddomina l-gazzetti tal-Ħadd L-Arċisqof faħħar lil Mons. Cremona għas-sens ta’ realiżmu kbir li kien kapaċi jagħraf il-limitazzjonijiet tiegħu. Huwa temm il-kollegament b’talba għal ruħu bl-interċessjoni ta’ San Ġużepp hekk kif l-Arċisqof Emeritu ħalla d-dinja għal għand il-Missier ħames minuti biss qabel il-jum tad-19 ta’ Marzu – Solennità ta’ San Ġużepp. F’messaġġ separat lill-midja, l-Arċisqof Charles Scicluna qal li “huwa dover ta’ mħabba, li aħna nsellmu l-memorja għażiża ta’ Monsinjur Pawl Cremona, fil-jum li smajna bl-aħbar tal-mewt tiegħu”. Qal li Mons. Cremona miet proprju ftit qabel bdiet il-festa solenni ta’ San Ġużepp, liema liturġija tfakkarna fil-qaddej fidil u għaqli, li l-Mulej tah missjoni – fdalu l-messaġġ tas-salvazzjoni. “Hekk għamel ukoll il-Mulej fil-ħajja ta’ Patri Pawl, li mbagħad sar l-Arċisqof tagħna. Kien iħobb jippreżenta ruħu bħala reliġjuż, Dumnikan. Din il-vokazzjoni tiegħu kienet u baqgħet għażiża. Fih rajna eżempju sabiħ tar-Ragħaj it-Tajjeb, bniedem ġwejjed, għaref u umli li ħabb lill-poplu tagħna. Ta ħajtu għall-poplu tagħna.” Semma kif l-Arċisqof Emeritu “kellu wkoll l-umiltà jaċċetta l-mard, jilqa’ s-sitwazzjonijiet diffiċli li għadda minnhom. L-eżempju tiegħu jfakkarna fil-kelma ta’ tama li nsibu f’Salm 23: “Il-Mulej hu r-ragħaj tiegħi, xejn ma jonqosni… imqar jekk nimxi f’wied mudlam, ma nibżax mill-ħsara, għax inti miegħi. Il-ħatar tiegħek u l-għasluġ tiegħek, huma jwennsuni.” newsbook.com.mt/mons-cremona-jibqa-mfakkar-bhala-raghaj-gwejjed-li-habb-bumilta-l-arcisqof/
Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Nadur, Gozo Sunday 16th June: 5:30 pm Pontifical Mass at the Sacred Heart Church. With the participation of the Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul.
Mass for the Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul 27 June, 2023 Basilica of St. Peter & St. Paul Nadur, Gozo. Malta.
Mass for the Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul 27 June, 2023 Basilica of St. Peter & St. Paul Nadur, Gozo. Malta. Group photo: The Knights and Dames of the Confraternity with the Archpriest Mons. Jimmy Xerri and the Clergy of the parish.
l-ewwel jum tat -tridu
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
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
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.
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.