Social and Personal

FORMOSA. On November 11, CARLO of Sanremo, Italy, passed peacefully away, comforted by the rites of Holy Church. He leaves to mourn his loss his wife Ginetta, his sister Phyllis, his brother Francis, sister-in-law Pina, his nephews and nieces, other relatives and friends.
The funeral took place yesterday in Sanremo. - R.I.P.

In Memoriam

ALBANESE. Treasured memories of JOSEPH on the 23rd anniversary of his death. His family.

AQUILINA. Cherished and unfading memories of POLLY, a dearly beloved mother and grandmother, on the 22nd anniversary of her death. Always in our thoughts, hearts and prayers. Alex, Martin and families.

AZZOPARDI - JANETHA. In ever loving memory of a dear mother and sister-in-law, today the 22nd anniversary of her death. Forever in our thoughts and prayers. Noel, Angela, Inez and John.

BORDA PARIS - GEORGE. In loving memory of my dear father on this 23rd anniversary. Lillian.

COPPOLA - PATRICK. In loving memory of a caring husband and a loving father, today being the sixth anniversary of his death. Always cherished and remembered by his wife Antoinette and his daughters Claire and Annmarie.

CRAIG - EDWIN. In loving memory of a dear father and grandfather on the sixth anniversary of his death. Sadly missed by his children Malcolm and Christine and his grandchildren Joanna, Mark and Natasha.

FARRUGIA. In sweet remembrance of our dear PEPPINO on the 20th anniversary of his death. Sadly missed by his children Tony, Herman and Marie, in-laws and grandchildren.

MICALLEF - JOSEPH. Treasured memories of a very special husband, father and grandfather called to eternal rest 16 years ago. A prayer is solicited. His wife Carmelina, daughters, in-laws and grandchildren.

NORRIS - INEZ MARY, 15.11.'96. Always in our thoughts and prayers. Her niece Hermione and close family friend Mary Scicluna.

PULLICINO. In ever loving memory of FRANCIS, a devoted father and grandfather, on the 26th anniversary of his death. His family.

XERRI - JOSEPH F. In loving memory of a beloved husband and father, today the 22nd anniversary of his death. Always in our thoughts and prayers. Winnie, Margaret, Miriam and Agnes, in-laws and grandchildren. O Lord, grant him eternal rest.

Oriental Canteen By Dynasty

By request now open Saturday and Sunday for lunch. Special set menu daily, Lm5 for two persons. Enquiries phone 21220176/21335800.

Malta Chamber Of Commerce

The annual general meeting of the members of the healthcare trade section will be held today at 5.30 p.m.

The annual general meeting of the members of the financial services trade section will be held today at 6.30 p.m.

Mellieha Holiday Centre

Open for Sunday lunch for continental and Chinese buffet. Also dinner daily. Phone 21573980, 21335800.

Gozo Cultural Tours

The Gozo heritage society Wirt Ghawdex has been commissioned by the Astra Theatre to organise daily cultural tours as part of the Mediterranea Festival which is to be held between November 22 and 29.

The tours will take participants around the major historical and cultural attractions of Gozo. Activities which will be held every morning between November 24 and November 29 will include visits to fortifications, churches, museums, archaeological landmarks and panoramic sightseeing.

A highlight of these activities will be a lecture focusing on the prehistoric era of Gozo which will held in the historic Palazzo Palina at Ta' Cenc.

Bookings are to be made through the Astra Theatre on tel. 21550985.

Forum on adolescents

How to reduce the risks faced by adolescent children will be the theme of a forum for parents that Caritas will be holding at the Coastline Hotel in Salina tomorrow between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m.

The keynote speakers will include Caritas director Mgr Victor Grech, sociologist Charles Tabone, and Rosie Higgins, a UK government consultant.

Further information may be obtained from the Caritas Prevention Education Awareness Unit on tel. 25906600 and through prevention@caritasmalta.org.

CPA Vacancy

The Commonwealth Parliamentary Association is seeking to recruit a director for development and planning.

The director will be responsible for initiating and organising seminars, workshops and similar programmes on contemporary issues in parliamentary democracy.

The appointment will be for a five-year contract from November 1, 2003.

Details may be obtained from the CPA website www.cpahq.org. Applications have to be submitted by December 31.

Equal Partners Foundation seminar

A seminar by the Equal Partners Foundation entitled "Ragazzi in Gamba! Stepping Out into the Adult World" is to be held at the University of Malta today and tomorrow.

The speakers at the opening, to be held at 2.30 p.m., will be Joe Camilleri of the National Commission Persons with Disability, Mgr Lawrence Gatt, director, Dar tal-Providenza, and foundation president Colin Galea.

Beatification cause

Mgr Charles Scicluna, the postulator of the beatification cause of Mgr Isidor Formosa, the founder of the Maltese Ursuline Sisters, is to celebrate Mass at the Loreto Church in Msida on Sunday at 6 p.m.

During the Mass, the official declaration on the cause will be read out.

Lupus Support Group

The Lupus Support Group is meeting at the Catholic Institute in Floriana tomorrow at 10 a.m. The speaker for this monthly meeting will be kidney specialist Emanuel Farrugia.

Cana Family Day

The Christian Family Groups of the Cana Movement is to hold a family day at the Tal-Virtù Seminary in Rabat on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 4.30 p.m.

Traffic Diversion

St Paul Street in St Paul's Bay will be closed to traffic today from 9 a.m. to noon. Traffic will be diverted to the bypass.

Local Councils

Today's meetings
1.00 p.m. Pembroke.

Appreciation - Sr Agnese Zammit Maempel

Sr Agnese Zammit Maempel has passed away at the venerable age of 86. We knew her as a teacher, Mother Superior, and community member, and will remember her with a sense of nostalgia mixed with a deep feeling of peace and serenity.

I first knew Mother Zammit, as we called her then, when I was in Form 2 at St Dorothy's at Mdina. As a child, I thought she was the only sister who understood us, because during needlework she would allow us to listen to a story while we worked at our tray-cloth, tea-cosy or table cloth. It was a lesson we all looked forward to, because it gave us a break from the academic routine of our school day.

When I joined the Sisters of St Dorothy as a sixteen-year-old, Sr Zammit was responsible for the "Postulants", as we were called. In this role too, she was goodness personified. Besides trying to keep discipline and order with our boisterous group, she made sure that, above all, she was sensitive to all our needs. She was indeed a sister with refined and delicate sentiments, and a deep spirit of humility and religiosity.

A couple of years later, during my final year of teacher's training at Ta' Giorni, Sr Zammit was my Mother Superior and, here again, she gave an examplary witness. Being in authority was not her cup of tea: the 'ranks' made her somewhat strict, as she felt a deep responsibility for the sisters. I remember her emphasising the importance of punctuality, and of never leaving the convent after dark. She was adamant about the latter point especially with the young sisters, as we sought adventure whenever and wherever we could. Yet Sr Zammit also knew how to accept a joke, and her good humour enhanced a sincere sisterly spirit.

As a community member she was exemplary. She had a deep spirit of service and, when the door bell or telephone rang during awkward hours, she would always be the first to leave her place to see to the caller. In all circumstances, she knew how to forget herself in order to reach out to others disinterestedly.

During these last years, when she spent most of her time tending to all the pupils, parents and friends who called at the Sliema school, one would naturally stop to greet her because she was always the first to acknowledge any caller.

Her simple and friendly smile made everyone feel welcome and, because of her dedication to her work, she insisted on being in the entrance every day, come rain or shine, as she did not want to cause any inconvenience to others by her absence. The love of our Foundress, St Paula Frassinetti shone through Sr Zammit's simplicity and spirit of sacrifice. Like Paula she gave all her life for others, until the very end.

by Sr Doreen Cuschieri

President's Engagements Today

10 a.m. The President attends thanksgiving Mass on the occasion of the graduation - 2002 of the University of Malta at St John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta.

Noon The President receives participants of the Euro-Med Information and Training Seminar hosted by the Mediterranean Academy for Diplomatic Studies at the Palace, Valletta.

4.30 p.m. The President delivers the closing speech of the meeting of the Social Cohesion Committee and conference on Access to Social Rights at Radisson SAS Baypoint Resort, St Julian's.

6 p.m. The President receives Mr Dimitris L. Avramopoulos, mayor of Athens at The Palace, Valletta.

7 p.m. The President receives delegates of the European Conference of Christian Radios (CERC) at The Palace, Valletta.

What's On Today

Exhibitions
9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. at the Mdina Cathedral Museum, exhibition of documents and designs marking the 300th anniversary of the consecration of the cathedral in Mdina.
9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Corte Capitanale, Mdina, exhibition of recent paintings by Lawrence Buttigieg.
9 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Mediterranean Conference Centre, Valletta, art exhibition by Carmel Bonello.
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. at Manoel Theatre courtyard, exhibition of works by Stephen Saliba.
At National Museum of Fine Arts, Valletta, member artists' exhibition as part of Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce anniversary.
At the Archaeology Museum, Valletta, exhibition on "Lost Arts of the Ancient Goldsmiths".
At the Russian Centre for Science and Culture, Valletta, exhibition of colour photos and documents dedicated to the anniversary of the Russian Ministry for Foreign Affairs.
Big Blue Restaurant, Crowne Plaza Hotel, Sliema, exhibition by French artist Ran Gazit.
At Cleland and Souchet, Portomaso, exhibition of oil paintings by Nickie Sultana.
At St James Cavalier, exhibition by contemporary artists to mark the 150th anniversary of the Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce.
At the National Labour Centre, Hamrun, exhibition of paintings by Alex Dalli.
At Bank of Valletta head office foyer, Sliema, retrospective exhibition of works by Pawl Carbonaro.