Dominican Master to meet Archbishop

Fr Carlos Aspiroz Costa, the head of the Dominican Order, yesterday visited the King's Own Band Club in Valletta. On the right is Ivan Grixti, club president, and on his left is the band club's secretary Vincent Piccinino. Photo: Matthew Mirabelli.

The head of the Dominican Order, who is on a short visit to Malta, is expected to meet Archbishop Paul Cremona, also a member of the Order, today.

The Master of the Order of Preachers, Fr Carlos Aspiroz Costa, will be visiting he five Dominican convents in Rabat, Valletta, Vittoriosa, Guardamangia and Sliema.

He visited the King's Own Band Club in Valletta yesterday when he was greeted by newly-elected president Ivan Grixti. The club is affiliated to St Dominic's church in Valletta.

This is Fr Carlos's first visit to Malta since he was appointed as head of the order in 2001. He is the 87th successor of St Dominic of Gusman, the founder of the Order.

The Order is made up of a number of convents and provinces, including Dominican friars and cloister nuns. There are also Dominican nuns affiliated to the order, who form part of the Dominican family although they do not fall directly under the Master's jurisdiction.

The nuns include the Sisters of Gozo's Lourdes Home, which is at the centre of a controversy after revelations about abuse of some children who used to reside there.

Comments

EMANUEL BUSUTTIL-DOUGALL (2 weeks, 2 days ago)

The Master of the Order of Preachers, Fr Carlos Aspiroz Costa, also visited the Prince of Wales Own Band Club in Vittoriosa yesterday when he was greeted by the President Lauro Abela , Honorary President and Ex President Emanuel Busuttil-Dougall, Honorary President Bro. Simon Cachia OP, Spiritual Director and Prior Fr Joseph Bonnici OP, the Provincial Fr Paul Gatt OP and other Committee Members. The club is affiliated to St Dominic's church in Vittoriosa. He also visited the the Dominican Community of Vittoriosa at the Convent and the Annunciation Church of the Dominican Order of Vittoriosa.

The nuns of Gozo’s Lourdes Home, which is at the centre of a controversy after revelations about abuse of some children who used to reside there do not fall under the Master of the Order of Preachers jurisdiction. The Dominican sisters and the Dominican friars are two autonomous congregations. The Dominican friars and cloister nuns only fall directly under the Master of the Order of Preachers jurisdiction.