Basilica bell-tongues chained to balustrades

A Zammit

Aug 16th 2008, 12:31

When the bells ring, its bad!
When the bells don't ring, seems its bad as well.....

COULD YOU MAKE YOUR MIND UP PLEASE???!!!!

D Fenech

Aug 16th 2008, 08:44

I agree with S Bugeja! These incidents yes do present a section of Maltese society which is made up of children who only grew up physically! But they DO present the humourous side of Maltese society. They are very descriptive to say the least. If only our problems were limited to these incidents!
The perpetrators do have a vivid imagination!
The image of the 30 policemen and asst com marching to release bell tongues had me in stitches!

Joseph Ellis

Aug 16th 2008, 01:16

I wonder why whenever this kind of incidents occurs, several commentators indulge in anti-Gozitan diatribes as if this parochialism is only peculiar to Gozo. Besides the fact that similar instances of parochialism recur in various parts of Malta (wasn't it only a couple of days ago that 15 persons were arraigned in court after the Hamrun feast ?), politics at a national level often play out not that differently from the parochial level.

This is not to justify these incidents. It is unfortunate that past attempts that were made in the to bridge the divide between the two band clubs in Victoria have been unravelled by the strident partisan behaviour of a particular archpriest who fanned the dying flames of rivalry in his flock. We are back to square one because of the decision of a weak bishop who ought to have known better and should have resisted the calls to appoint someone whose pastoral activity has often been mired in polemics.

Joseph W. Galea

Aug 16th 2008, 01:05

These are probably the same people who used to tie up the cane chairs in church so that when the sacristan tries to pile them up for the next mass, they all fall in a heap. :-)

Nenu Cassar

Aug 15th 2008, 21:07

I was really surprised to see about 30 police officers under the command of an
Asssistant Commissioner barging their way into St. George's side door at around 11.45am today. At least, there are still policemen in Gozo - after all, none are ever seen on the streets or anywhere else in Gozo. To be fair, the only time one sees policemen is if one drives in front of the Victoria Police Station, as there are always about three or more policemen idling and talking among themselves. Another sure way is to visit the bars near the same police station. On the other hand, no policeman is ever seen patrolling the main streets of Victoria such as Main Gate Street or St. Francis Square. These two places are notorious for illegal parking. Some one told me that a policeman is posted throughout the day at St. Francis Square - perhaps these police officers have been issued with uniforms that make them invisible.

Reno Muscat

Aug 15th 2008, 20:35

I think that the name of the archpriest should read Mgr Paul Cardona not Cremona.

Noel Cutajar

Aug 15th 2008, 19:01

When are these people going to learn!!! They are just what they are...bunch of children pretending that they are adults...close their shops!!! ban them from having feasts as they just what they are a feast for rivalry and stupidity!!! Viva San Gorg or whatever Saints they celebrate over there!! This is what paganism is and nothing else...if they want to practice Christianity they are just too far away...and for those who claim that this is part of our tradition...it is *******. I heard persons chanting during a local feast that the patron saint of the opposite rivals as being Saddam Hussein!!! Blimey, I really hope that we do not have St. George Bush over here!! Away with feasts and show your true beliefs if you have any.

s.bugeja

Aug 15th 2008, 18:35

AH thank god for these rare amusing moments provided by the jokers in our society. These capers are a breath of fresh air in a world so full of ugly news. Keep them coming.

M Borg

Aug 15th 2008, 18:04

@M Zammit
I would like to rest M Zammit's mind that it was not my intention to impress with my writing. I was only voicing the opinion of so many people about this morning march. Perhaps it would be interesting for M Zammit to indicate how many minutes the march stays in front of the Leone Band's rival's club, the La Stella, on the eve of St Mary's Feast, and whether this is also the result of some other agreement between the 'organisers and the authorities'!

Chris Borg

Aug 15th 2008, 16:40

Reminds us of Don Camillo indeed....and of Malta in the Sixties........

M. Zammit

Aug 15th 2008, 16:17

@ M. Borg.
I refer to a part of your contribution where you said, "or else limit the time the revellers stay in St George's Square." Kindly be informed that fhe march in question does not stay more than 20 minutes after entering the mentioned square at 1.00pm. This practice has been existing for a number of years after an agreement between the organisers and the authorities was establised.
So please next time check the facts before trying to impress with your writing.

Joe Scerri

Aug 15th 2008, 15:44

Reminds of the Don Camillo stories.

P. Buttigieg

Aug 15th 2008, 15:42

“…at round 5 p.m. yesterday, archpriest Mgr Paul Cremona (Cardona) filed a police report that the bells had been tied with thick chains …”. The job must then have been done in the afternoon … while the church is usually closed. And although most readers are imagining opponents from the other parish climbing up into the belfries to put chains on bells and prevent them from being rung and used to disturb a band march to be held 24 hours later, it looks more like an inside job, a protest, perhaps, against “…the Church authorities, in agreement with the police, (who) issued instructions for the bell-ringers to limit the church bell ringing to just a few minutes at noon …”. If you dare to censure me on a feast day, you might as well silence me on the eve as well ...

P. Buttigieg

Aug 15th 2008, 15:41

@ Messers. Farrugia and Bugeja.
It seems as if your knowledge of Gozo and Gozitan feasts is hackneyed, a cliché. Most of the Gozitan villages celebrate their feasts in ‘peace and order’. Trouble seems to flare up only in Victoria and the reasons are notorious. But at least it`s two different band clubs, rivals, organizing festivities in two different parishes. Perhaps you think that these two band clubs could be as open minded and modern and religious as some of their counterparts in Malta, rival band clubs who, within one same parish organize feasts in honour of different saints, or perhaps, using the same parish church, have rival festivities in honour of the one and same saint.

Joe Tabone-Adami

Aug 15th 2008, 15:22

To those who know Gozo and its people, no explanation is necessary. To those who simply don't, none is possible!

M Borg

Aug 15th 2008, 13:59

I fully agree with F Williams. Where's the religious spirit of this feast? I'm surprised why the Bishop has never condemned and took action to curb such obscenities! The solution to all this is simple! Either re-route this march or else limit the time the revellers stay in St George's Square to a minimum. It's inconceivable why the Police allow such provocations and oscenities year in year out in such critical spots for such a long time when it's their reponsability to ensure that provocations are curbed to reduce the risk of trouble. All competent authorities should take the bull by the horns and take decisive action to ensure these things are stopped once and for all!

cgatt

Aug 15th 2008, 13:06

Gozo, we love you!! We miss you!!
Please continue to provide us with a glimpse of a funnier, simpler and more genuine way of life. Who else would have the time to climb into a bell fry with heavy thick chains to give new meaning to term tongue-tied (or is it in fact the origin of that phrase??)
One for the books!

Alexander Cortis

Aug 15th 2008, 12:50

Under no circumstances must anyone take the law into once's own hands as that means adopting the same attitude of the law-breakers, whether civil law or ethical law.
The clergy must understand that not everyone likes their loud and prolonged bell ringing and should learn to be more subtle in their approach, as this way they don't entice people towards the Church but rather repel them due to the blatant lack of respect for others. Instructions/orders on their proper behaviour towards the population must come from the Curia with sanctions against those priests who disobey.
An alternative would be to invest in melodious, gentle carrillons which are pleasing and never so loud. Like everything in Malta, nothing and no one is subtle! The bells are huge for local purposes giving rise to abuse of power over others. Moreover they are invariably out of tune, no matter what any campanologist might say, unless the latter are merely rope-pullers and have no knowledge of music, or ear for it. True campanologists should have a degree in music as an absolute minimum.
While on the subject of noise, the Church should ban the use of petards during feasts.

F.Williams

Aug 15th 2008, 12:45

From my experience of this particular feast, it is far better to hear the bells rather than the obscenities that are hurled during the morning band march. These incidents have ruined the true spirit of a feast.

M.Debono

Aug 15th 2008, 12:41

LOL ... this is surely an interesting piece for Don Camillo film series!!!:)))))

Chris Borg

Aug 15th 2008, 12:33

Meta ha nikbru?

J. Micallef

Aug 15th 2008, 12:02

Since we are talking about Gozo I want to add my piece although nothing new.
Gozo is the Island of the three prices, a price for the locals, a price for the Maltese and a price for the tourist.

s.bugeja

Aug 15th 2008, 11:38

@ P.Buttigieg
while it is true that there are religious fanatics in Malta, Gozo has more than its fair share. Everything in Gozo revolves round some church, statue set of bells, archpriest or bishop. they even have a boxing league going on between priests!

Franco Farrugia

Aug 15th 2008, 11:31

@ Mr Buttigieg - True, here in Malta, we have our problems, but in Gozo, problems abound. The difference between the two islands is that here in Malta, we try to control the prolems, while in Gozo, the problems are just put under the carpet or simply ignored!

J. Schembri

Aug 15th 2008, 11:13

Rabat is in crisis!

Joseph W. Galea

Aug 15th 2008, 11:11

:-0) Only in Mal.....hmmmm Gozo. Maybe the culprit should be sentenced to stand next to the bells as they are rung. :-)

P. Buttigieg

Aug 15th 2008, 11:05

@ S. Bugeja ... the usual idiot quick on the draw. "Hamrun revellers arrested and arraigned". That was news just a week ago, in Malta. Cleary, it`s not only Gozo and the Gozitans. Wake up, Mr. Bugeja, and grow up.

Paul Barrett

Aug 15th 2008, 10:56

Tongue tied !!! I am just speachless :-)

Ramon Casha

Aug 15th 2008, 10:39

Sorry to all enthusiasts of St. George's basilica but.... hahahaha!!

s.bugeja

Aug 15th 2008, 09:07

Only in Gozo! Why don't you grow up and enter the 21st century? There's more to life than bells, statues and village feasts and rivalries.