Saturday, 16th August 2008
Bells add discordant note to feast of Assumption in Victoria
Assistant Commissioner Josie Brincat attempts to calm down what seemed to be a volatile situation in Victoria, yesterday. Photo: Jason Borg
Santa Marija festivities in Victoria yesterday nearly got out of hand when a group of La Stella Band Club members attempted to remain inside their parish church, St George's Basilica, during the march by the rival Leone Philharmonic Society of Victoria.
Their action was intended as a sign of protest against whoever tied the Basilica's bells with chains on Thursday.
Sources said the matter was soon resolved after the police intervened.
Traditionally, parishioners in Victoria, belonging to the Cathedral and St George's and their respective band clubs, Leone and La Stella, taunt each other, often with innovative but underhand means when the feasts of their patron saints, the Assumption and St George are celebrated.
The police reacted promptly, entering the sacristy of St George's Basilica and talking to a La Stella Band Club representative. Assistant Commissioner Josie Brincat attempted to calm down what seemed to be a volatile situation.
The protest was in reaction to the St George's Basilica church bells having being chained the day before by unknown individuals, in order to stop them ringing on the feast of the Assumption, sources said. Last year the bells at St George's were rung in such a manner as to disrupt the march by the Leone band.
During the commotion, a La Stella Band Club spokesman referred to a request they had submitted to the Curia related to the matter but did not give further details.
The spokesman said that the supporters would not move from the church until they received a reply from the Curia.
As the debate went on between the band club representative and the Assistant Commissioner, The Times reporter and photographer were told to leave the sacristy by individuals who said "this is a private matter".
The door leading to the sacristy was kept under watch by between four to eight police officers.
The situation was resolved soon after, sources said.
During the Santa Marija march, which passed by the Basilica, supporters of the Leone Philarmonic Society could be seen waving a teapot-sized hand-held bell about, ringing it continuously, most probably to taunt the La Stella Band Club supporters with the incident of the day before. Leone Band Club activists attempted to stop supporters from waving the bell around, with little success, however.
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Comments
I also suspect that among native Gozitans, the vote is more like 50%/50% like the rest of the country.
A post-script : why are some contributors allowed not to disclose their first name. Who is G. Grech or s.bugeja, for example ? Let's grow up and be not afraid to state what we think or want to put forward. I think the place of residence should also be included so as everyone's identity is clear.
For those who think that Leone supporters went inside the basilica to tie the bells...I think he reads a lot of fairy tails...
..and last comment is about the article: the real truth is not there...the real truth is that a group of people from St George's parish church (including couple of priests) are trying to make St George's archpriest's life hell so that can easily use the church for their own agenda...it's sure a tough job for Bishop Grech who thought that by changing archpriests the problem will be resolved... far from it.
First of all thanks for your sweeping statement! Who are you who dictate us what to do? Have you ever attended for a festa? Or you are just coming out from the so called rally at Astra? If is the latter then I have no further comments... However, if not I would like to remind you that Santa Marija festa organisers know how to separate band club activities from church activities. The marches are organised by the band club and are a sole manifestationof the club....GThe procession is the climax of the festa and the hundreds waiting on the cathedral steps at the end is enough proof. of what we really beleive in....if not we would just not attend..
You don't know the situation and should not comment about it.
Ever asked why no incidents happen during St George's feast: because nobody bothers about it from the other side. They leave the La Stella supporters alone without provocation. In fact many go to M'Forn or to Malta on the day and do not stay in town and do childlike actions like this one.
BTW I enphasize that this year's action was not against the Leone supporters but was one against the Bishop's and Archpriest's authority....so much of your comments are nonsense in this context. For the sake of history I appeal to Nestor Laiviera and to the Times Editor to check the facts before publishing.
This situation applies at a lesser degree in Malta in a couple of places where there exists a certain political environment . Why do I pass these remarks. Because I cannot conceive people with certain mentality to behave in such a way in similar(sic) circumstances
How much I will be glad to be proved wrong.
In MY view, as the Maltese saying - il-huta minn rasha tinten! - the problem lies with the clergy, the so-called Monsignori and the so-called Canons! Once you have been able to control these so-called dignitaries, you have half the problem solved. Use the vow of obedience!
Then, force the two religious entities - Basilica and Cathedral - to disentangle themselves and detach themselves from their respective bandclubs. Disown them!
Suspend the respective feasts - at least, religious - for a year or two.
Then, start again.
NB. As a person who is absolutely alien and neutral to this farcical situation, why should Sta Marija go in procession inside the square of the Basilica? This is tantamount to provocation, isn't it? After all, this square leads nearly to nowhere ... it is a closed street, almost a cul de sac. How come the Police give permission for this??
Blasphemous.
Ref: 1st Commandment :-)
this March should be dedicated to Saint Mary...not against St George...St Mary deserves more than this
This report is not misleading, it's simply unbelievable. All this is done in honour of your patron saints, right?
@ Mario Cassar: "Why should the Leone band march stop passing from St.Georges square? "
I think the band should stop leaving the doors of its club.
Shameful, disgusting acts by so called "catholics".
Don't elect me as your Bishop - you'll regret it.
Does'nt Mr. Saliba know that what he is suggesting is anti costitutional? Since when can a part of Victoria be declared as 'a non go area' for a particular group of Victoria persons?
Mr. Saliba should know that the provocation he mentioned always came from those who were not 'tal-festa' and who think that St. George's Square is theirs and that others do not have a right to go through it.
Mr. Saliba should note that if one is to take heed of his suggestion then the marches that are organised during the days before the feast of St. Maria, in particular the one on the eve of the festa, which all passes from in front of the premises of the other rival band club, should then also be abolished.
Had S. Saliba been present yesterday and during the other days of the festa, he would have noticed that everything went smooth and as planned. But the only difference this year was that the necessay steps by the authorities were taken. And this was thanks to assistant commissioner Mr. Brincat and superintendent Mr. A Grech who left no stone untured when prepearing for this year's feasta of Santa Maria.
I would not call the incidents - or, rather, those who cause the them - "immature". I would call them 'primitive', 'pre-historic' , 'criminal' and 'downright savage' - no matter what individual supporters, or their tribe, prefer to. Is this collective paranoid schizophrenia?
He has to come to terms with his moral responsiblity in Gozo and he has to take the bull by the horns, so to speak, and take important, if very difficult, decisions.
It's no use pontificating against today's moral standards, against divorce, and in favour of the Church's right to be heard.
First, you have to put your house in order - and make your house really appear as the House of God, and not similar to the Temple in which Jesus Christ lost his cool. Remove the hypocrites from within your House, and fill it with the right people.
You need to take important measures, Bishop. This will not do at all!!!
Brilliant..one feast after another...What next?
I don't think that with every reported incident that takes place in Malta, Gozitans are making sweeping statements to denote that all the Maltese are all trouble-makers. I don't know who needs to grow up here!!
The Leone Supporters have always behaved and this is proved by the way the police handle both feasts.
Imagine, just imagine if an unpleasant incident like this, created by hot heads, happened during an MLP manifestation. Imagine how the right wing bloggers would have come out attacking the whole party as an institution and putting all the blame on Labour’s doorsteps. Very rightly so nobody is blaming the Church for the fracas- but why should it be different in different occasions? What a hypocritical nation we had become!
I cannot wonder why we taxpayers have to pay for the police to be present for these war games when they can do a better service on the beat running after the big fish.
Marco Masini would have enjoyed singing his popular song on this occasion.
For your info the La Stella Society is organising a rally tonight in their club to take action and protest against the Archpriest and the Bishop. In fact yesterday they switch off their club's facade lights once the Santa Marija statue went past it as a sign of protest against Bishop Grech who was marching behind. This truly does not tally with the reaction of the same society when Bishop Grech replaced Victoria's parish priests last September.
First of all such taunting NEVER happens during the feast of St. George. Everybody has their own feast to enjoy. And I for one firmly beleive that everybody has their own right to enjoy it IN PEACE. Go check with the police department and you will easily get a confirmation. As usual La Stella supporters doing their best to be noticed during the feast of Santa Marija.
Secondly I have my doubts on why people were protesting in the church sacristy. For God's sake how can a Leone supporter get into the basilica, find the same chains used for the Basilica's Good Friday procession, find his way up to the bellfry, and tie up the bells. Grow up please.... similar fanatics like when the wings of St. Michael were stolen in the 1950's.
A Maltese Don Camillo affair!
Only, we are in the 21st century.
The Church in Gozo should take immediate action in this matter, if it is to be taken seriously!
However, to avoid all this the police should not allow the march of Santa Marija to pass from St George's square. It is pure provocation. The Gozo Curia should have the courage to stop all this tragicomedy. In such occasions Gozitans prove to have less Christians values in their festas than the Maltese!
I always feel sorry for Assistant Commisioner Josie Brincat who always seem to find himself in the midst of every commotion that happens on the Island.
The hammallizmu that we see in some parishes is a clear sign that we still have many idiots roaming around.
Go and wave and scream "viva" when your hearts are full of hatred. hypocrites!!!