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Malta Week
The Centenary Visit to Malta
T
wo coach loads of Catenians with
wives and widows travelled to
Malta in November to join in
the centenary celebrations – and what
celebrations they were. The organising
Malta Week Committee led by George
Portelli and supported by the Area
Council led by Area President Joseph
Gauci Maistre and others had worked
hard to ensure the Centenary would be
celebrated in style.
After arriving safely on the Saturday we
enjoyed a lively reception in the evening
which broke the ice. New acquaintances
were made and the speeches were
Some of the party in relaxed mood
succinct. It was good that one of the
Maltese participants in the Public In the evening the brothers attended the interview which helped to publicise the
Speaking competition was there to four circles meeting. The four circles are Catenians.
welcome us. Mensija founded in 1981, Valetta founded The rest of us toured the island taking in
On the Sunday we all attended Mass in 1989, Victoria founded in 1994 and St the Silent (thinly populated) City of Mdina
at Gharghur Parish Church. The Mass Julians founded in November 2007. Two and the “Three Cities”. We were fortunate
was concelebrated by the Chaplains of new members had the honour of being in having excellent guides in Stephanie
the four Maltese circles and the homily enrolled at the meeting. After the meeting Stilon and Margaret Frendo, both wives of
on a modern version of the Gospel of the our ladies joined us for a gala dinner, Maltese brothers.
ten bridesmaids was most apposite. This hosted by Valetta and Mensija Circles, On Thursday morning the rain bucketed
was followed by a relaxed buffet lunch, whose presidents are James Marwick and down and we had some trepidation about
hosted by St Julians Circle, whose Joe Caruana, at the end of which there the planned harbour cruise. But as we
president is Edwin Camilleri. We returned was time for some enjoyable dancing. arrived at the harbour the clouds parted
to our hotels in the early evening – some On the Tuesday the golfers arose early and we had a trouble free tour. The
lunch! only to find that the heavy rain had harbour is extensive with a number of
On Monday we enjoyed a tour of waterlogged the course and so no play wide creeks and one could easily see why
Valetta, the capital of Malta. It really did was possible. Quite a number took the its shelter was so important astride the
show the benefit of planning a city from opportunity to travel into Sliema to explore Mediterranean shipping routes. And shelter
scratch which started after the great siege further and hit the shops. was important as St Paul was shipwrecked
of 1565. The city is named after the Knight In the evening we were all home-hosted. on Malta on his way to Rome and started
of St John who masterminded the islands’ The brothers and wives of the four circles the strong Catholic Faith on the island.
defences to withstand the siege by the each entertained the visitors with some That evening we participated in a truly
Turks. The visit to the Co-cathedral of St travelling to the island of Gozo for the uplifting part of the celebrations. This was
John was stunning, with an experience. And what an experience! In a High Mass at Mdina Cathedral
unprepossessing exterior which revealed such small groups around a table we all concelebrated by His Grace Monsignor
a magnificent Baroque style interior. got to know one another more intimately – Paul Cremona OP, Archbishop of Malta,
Without a doubt the paintings by and the food and wine was most enjoyable Archbishop Joseph Mercieca, Archbishop
Caravaggio are magnificent, with the as well. Emeritus of Malta and the Papal Nuncio,
Beheading of St John the Baptist as the On Wednesday, Grand President David Mgr Tommaso Caputo, with the Bishop
centrepiece. We all felt in awe of his Taylor, accompanied by Grand Secretary and Emeritus Bishop of Gozo and many
portrayal. Jim Quinn met the press for a televised priests. The total numbers of clergy
celebrating the Mass was a number close
to 100, one for each year of the
Association’s existence. Over 300 of us
sat down at the celebratory dinner hosted
by the Area Council. The speeches by the
Archbishop and Grand President reflected
the milestone in the Catenian’s history –
and the Archbishop requested a copy of
Grand President’s speech.
On Friday we travelled to the island of
Gozo and immediately toured the island.
We marvelled at the substance of the oldest
free-standing building in the world at Ggantija
and enjoyed the sun and sea at the Azure
Window cliff arch in Dwejra. On reaching
our hotel a number of the hardier souls
Touring the islands played an important part on the trip
even found time to swim in the sea.
14 CATENA
Malta Week
In the evening we attended the final
formal dinner hosted by Gozo circle,
whose president is George Portelli, which
was a memorable event to close the
celebrations. The tributes to the many
people who had worked hard to make the
celebrations so successful were warmly
welcomed.
On Saturday we started to wind down
with a return to Malta and continue with
the sightseeing before returning to the UK
on Sunday.
We can now reflect on the week and
savour the experience. A truly fitting
centenary event: the Masses reflecting our
Faith, the hosts and guests our Families
and the warmth of the experience our
Friendship – and a great deal of fun.
John Rayer
Director Province 7 Grand President David and Kathleen with distinguished guests at the end of Mass
Royal Evening in Arundel
Arundel Circle hosted a very special evening at the White seminary of Kraków, run by the Cardinal, then Archbishop of
Swan Hotel, Arundel on 26th November 2008. After their Kraków.
normal monthly meeting 68 brothers, their wives and After the Second World War, John Paul continued his studies
guests held a dinner with their honoured guest, Her in the major seminary of Kraków, once it had re-opened, and in
Serene Highness Princess Renata Sapieha. Canon Tim the Faculty of Theology of the Jagiellonian University. He was
Madeley of Arundel Cathedral was also present. ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Sapieha in Kraków
Princess Renata spoke of the work of the Friends of Lisiecki on 1st November, 1946. Shortly afterwards, Cardinal Sapieha
Homes in Poland (FLHIP) which looks after children up to the sent him to Rome where he worked under the guidance of the
age of 18 in many parts of Poland. This Sussex based charity French Dominican - Garrigou-Lagrange. He returned to Poland
founded by Princess Renata supports a network of day and in 1948 and was a priest in various parishes in Kraków as well
residential homes giving young people in Poland a second as chaplain to the University.
chance and relies totally on the generosity of its friends and Cardinal Sapieha died on 23rd July 1951; his death was quickly
supporters to enable it to continue this much needed care. followed by a Polish National demonstration, since the then
Renata is also given a lot of support by both the Polish Communist authorities did not think he needed a state funeral.
Ambassador in London and the Polish Community in the UK. He was subsequently buried with full state honours and was
President of Arundel Circle Jim Edwards presented a cheque put to rest in the Royal Wawel Cathedral of Kraków. Stefan
for £400 for the work of FLHIP to continue. n
Wyszy´ ski was subsequently appointed Cardinal on the 12th
A small part of Renata Sapieha’s Family history January 1953, by Pope Pius XII, and assumed the title of Primate
Renata’s father-in-law was the first Polish ambassador to the of Poland, and guided the Poles through the era of Communism.
UK after WW I, when Poland first regained its independence,
and he was also Foreign Minister and signed the Treaty of
Riga. During WW II he spent two years under sentence of
death in the Lubianka Prison in Moscow and was only
released when General Anders formed the 2nd Polish Army.
He finally ended up in Kenya in charge of the Polish Red
Cross. Historically, the Sapieha family have always been
involved in charity works of some kind.
Her late husband’s cousin, Cardinal Sapieha, was born in 1867
in the castle of Krasiczyn to a family of nobles. He was the
youngest of the seven children of Prince Adam Stanislaw
Sapieha-Kodenski. His mother was Princess Lubomirska, as
was Renata’s mother-in-law.
During World War II, Cardinal Sapieha was the head of the
church in Poland and one of the main leaders of the nation.
From the first days of the occupation, he was an independence
activist, strongly working with the Polish government-in-exile.
Most Polish people consider him to be mentor to Pope John
Paul II, since in 1942, when John Paul II became aware of his Pictured from Left to Right: Canon Tim, HSH Princess Renata,
call to the priesthood, he began courses in the clandestine Arundel Circle President Jim Edwards
CATENA 15
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