Dominican Master to meet Archbishop

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.