Fr Henry Born OP

George Bezzina (July 3) asked if Patri Wistin Born and Fr Henry Born are the same person.

Dominican preacher Fr Henry Born, known mainly as Fr Harry or Patri Wistin, was born on May 23, 1910 at Kalkara and studied at the Christian Brothers' and the Lyceum. He joined the Dominican Order in 1926 and was given the name of Agostino. Fr Born pursued further studies in philosophy and theology at St Thomas Aquinas College of Rabat and was ordained to the priesthood in 1933. Although he had an uncommon intelligence, he could not continue his studies because of a health problem, but through correspondence in 1965 he managed to get a PhD.

Fr Born was one of Malta's outstanding writers of plays for stage and radio. About 1,200 episodes of his serials were broadcasted on Rediffusion, including such unforgettable ones as Il-Familja Maltija, Wara l-Hitan tas-Sejjieh and Spiru Cefai.

Fr Born had an exceptional skill of weaving some useful point or another in each of the episodes so that he could teach while entertaining. He was also prolific in writing plays for the stage, the result of his fertile and productive mind. Fr Born directed his own plays at the De Porres Hall in Sliema, which he was instrumental in having built and of which he was nominated director.

He also wrote many articles in local news papers and journals. His books include Is-Saliba tal-Fidda (1939) and Mard bla Fejqan (1962). He also edited the periodical The Maltese Rosary, taught at St Edward's College and St Albert the Great College in Valletta where he served also as Rector of the preparatory classes.

Fr Born also did not neglect his religious calling as a preacher. This aspect of the activity was especially noticeable during World War II and he retained the position after the war.

His popularity as a preacher was the result of his ability to make his point with original ideas. For this contribution, the Dominican Province bestowed on him the title of Preacher General.

Fr Harry Born passed away on August 21, 1986 and his funeral Mass was celebrated at Dominican Jesus Nazarene's church in Sliema. His remains are found buried in one of the 12 vaults the Maltese Dominican Province has at the Sta Maria Addolorata Cemetery, Paola. In 1986, another Dominican friar passed away due to a stroke he suffered while descending the staircase of Vittoriosa's Priory, the Rev. Jordan Scicluna.