 |
| Fr. Paul Pace, S.J. |
The new website puts control of all content into the Jesuits’ hands, so fresh content can be placed online very easily to keep the website fully updated at all times. Fr Pace’s favourite aspect of the website is its dynamic image of the Jesuits and their work, its user-friendliness and the fact that it has brought most of the Jesuits’ works together under a single roof.
APS Bank was set up in 1910 as the Cassa di Risparmio dell’ Appostolato della Preghiera by a small group of people led by Jesuit Fr Michael Vella. Right from the start its main aim was to assist workers to save, and throughout its long history this objective has remained unchanged.
The only time in recent years that we experienced an attack on the property of a religious order was just a few years ago. A number of cars owned by the Jesuit St. Aloysis College were burnt. I don't think that anyone blames the Muslims for that. It is up to the Muslim community to decide whether or not they need to build or open more mosques in Malta. However like Cardinal Tettamanzi I believe that the Catholic community should be concerned if the Muslims or any other religious community cannot get the places of worship they need.Read the full story of what is happening in Malta go (here)
The back wall of the sacristy.
One cannot help being grateful to the civil authorities for the improvements that have been made in Valletta in recent years. It is important, however, to keep in mind that there is more to the city than Republic Street and Merchants Street, to say nothing of most other streets and pavements, such as St Christopher Street and a good part of Archbishop Street, where urgent attention is required. Those in authority would do well sometimes to try and walk on them instead of driving.
I wish to draw attention to the sad state of the Jesuits' church in Merchants Street, which was erected in 1592 and has been government property since the time of Grand Master Pinto.
It is often referred to as the University Church, having been planned as one complex and is used to this day for graduations and other important occasions.
While its beautiful interior has been restored and seen to several times, its very structure, as one can see from the outside, has now reached such a state of dereliction, that urgent steps need to be taken to prevent further harm to the building and even the danger of total collapse.
The accompanying pictures should give an idea of the real state of things. The progressive dilapidation of both the dome and the bell tower, which unfortunately cannot be seen from the streets below, will invariably lead to more serious harm to the whole structure, not excluding the possibility of a total collapse of both. This has already happened to the lantern on top of the dome, which is no longer there.
Link (here)
My experience in EthiopiaA wish I had since I was a little girl became reality this year, at age 62. This was thanks to Fr Joe Cassar S.J. who organised and led, with the help of Br Anthony Mifsud SJ, a group of 12 aged between 19 and 31 and myself in our adventure helping the missions in Ethiopia. It was a beautiful, but not an easy experience.
Our main work was to be of service to the residents at the Mother Theresa Home for the Dying in Addis Ababa. Sometimes, we also worked with children and babies.
When we were shown the place on our first day, I asked myself "Where have I come?" The smell bothered me, there were all types of diseases including malaria, leprosy, AIDS, TB and cancer and many open wounds.
We used to start our day with Mass followed by breakfast and a 20 to 25 minute walk to where we had to work with patients.
On arrival, we used to greet the 1,200 patients. Our work was with the men. We used to do our utmost with the sick who, once we had seen to them, looked at us with pleading eyes and thanked us, smiled and showed us they were happy even though their only possession was illness.
When one sees the love between them and how they try to help each other, one has no option but to stop and think.
They waited for us daily and remembered our names, and we became their family for that period.
After treating our patients, we would talk to them.
After giving them food, we would return home, eat and rest and then walk back to work. On Sundays we used to sing to them and they waited happily for us.
Although tired, I would feel real love and happiness which are not felt in everyday life.
Sometimes, we worked with babies or the children being cared for by Monica Tonna-Barthet, a 72-year-old Maltese woman who sold all her belongings to buy land and set up a home for sick street boys in Addis Ababa.
Before dinner, we used to pray and share our experiences, another beautiful moment of a group of different ages. We became a family.
Well done to the young people who, with courage, love and sincerity, take up such work.
Link (here)
After hundreds of years on the walls of the Jesuits’ Church, the last ten years of these paintings’ history were a story of failure, as government has been trying to have them restored since 1999, but repeatedly failed to bring back these public works of art to their original splendour.One of the paintings, probably the oldest one, which was located in the church’s chapel dedicated to St Agatha and St Lucia, is in urgent need of conservation, as art restoration experts who had the chance to view it, confirmed to this e-newspaper. Its back is now almost completely deteriorated, and is covered in mould. Also the paint layer seems to be too brittle. Ninu Zammit stopped the restoration “The three paintings are currently stored face down on makeshift scaffolding which had been used for construction work, in a top floor room with direct sunlight entering from large windows” said one of the art experts who saw the paintings, “There is no control of the excessive humidity, light, or heat, which are further damaging the three lunettes. Since it is a top floor room with no form of protection, it is very hot in summer and very humid in winter, and these extreme conditions are the last thing the paintings need.” The Infrastructure Minister Ninu Zammit, who is responsible for the restoration of these national treasures, was well aware that they need urgent attention. In May 2007, his officials even issued a call for tenders for their restoration. But Zammit decided to cut short the tendering process half-way. Sources at the ministry confirmed that the decision was taken because the cost involved, possibly in region of €60,000, was considered to be “unaffordable”. This was the second time that these paintings were abandoned before proper restoration and conservation had been completed. Two of the lunettes were taken off the church’s walls back in 1999, when Minister Francis Zammit Dimech, then responsible for similar works of art, contracted a Maltese restorer to work on them (Advert 41/99).
But for the next eight years, the two lunettes remained in the Jesuit Church’s oratory awaiting completion. It seems that soon after a Maltese restorer started working on them, however the work was soon abandoned and never returned to. In the meantime, a third lunette, featuring St Lucia’s martyrdom, fell from the wall where it was hanging in the church.Then the inexpert government workers did something which continued to damage the work – they wrapped it up in plastic sheeting, and concequently it got covered in mould and became even more fragile. In 2007, the Jesuits asked government to take action, to no avail. They contended that not only were the paintings subjected to further damage, but they were also taking up precious space in the oratory. Thus Heritage Malta were called in to supervise their transit to Cottonera. From then onwards, the paintings were left to abject neglect.
Notte Bianca: Amadeus Chamber Choir and Orchestra at the Jesuit Church
