Juan Ameen
Teacher wins contest for logo of Papal visit
The outline of a boat with its mast in the shape of a cross sketched in the Pope's official colours - yellow and white against a blue background - will be the official logo for Pope Benedict XVI's visit to Malta in April.
The winning logo, drawn by 26-year-old Mario Abela, brings out the significance of the Pontiff's visit, which will mark the anniversary of St Paul's Shipwreck almost 1,950 years ago, Mgr Charles Cordina said.
Speaking during a press conference, Mgr Cordina said the logo was very simple but also very touching.
It was chosen by a panel of judges from 24 designs submitted by 17 people. The winner, Mr Abela, is Gozitan and works as a teacher in St Tereża College, Birkirkara.
The Pope will arrive in Malta in the afternoon of April 17. He will go on to meet state authorities, followed by a visit to St Paul's Grotto in Rabat.
On Sunday morning, April 18, he will celebrate Mass at the Granaries in Floriana.
In the evening, young people will be given the chance to make their voice heard as a number of seats will be reserved for them during an open-air Papal activity at the Valletta Waterfront.
Fr Savio Vella said seats can be booked online closer to the event. The gates will open at 1 p.m. and rock bands, musicians and dancers will entertain the crowd until the Pope's arrival at 5.15 p.m.
St Monica's Choir, led by Sr Beniamina Portelli, was chosen to sing during the religious ceremony that will be held at St Paul's Grotto while auditions will be held to set up two separate choirs, of adults and children, for the Mass that will be celebrated on the Granaries.
The auditions for the adult choir will be held over two days, January 29 and 30, while those for the children's choir will be held on February 6.
Four official mementos, which include a DVD and a book, will be available to commemorate Pope Benedict XVI's visit, Fr Anton Portelli said. People will also be able to buy, or pre-book, a silver medal or a silver-plated one.
The Pontiff will arrive in Malta the day after his 83rd birthday and will leave the day before the fifth anniversary of his election to the Catholic Church's highest office.
He is expected to stay at the Apostolic Nunciature in Rabat, which is the official embassy of the Vatican's representative in Malta.
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CFarrugia
Jan 11th 2010, 08:29
by the way, the Maltese Embassy in Berlin, it is important to keep contact with them, they always helped me when I needed somethig. Especially in my first five years in Germany, where I had no contact with any Maltese here.
CFarrugia
Jan 11th 2010, 08:27
No I am not in Berlin, I do not like big cities. But unfortunately I am far from Nürnberg, in fact have never been there but it is renowned for the christmas market....
unfortunately not many meetings are organized for Maltese living in Germany, in my town we meet regularly, I try to keep in contact with fellow Maltese, but otherwise the big meetings are usually done in Berlin, although I never attended any
Jesmond Micallef
Jan 10th 2010, 21:46
C.Farrugia, I live in the beautifull city of Nürnberg. Do you live in Berlin ?
With my best regards.
Jesmond Micallef
Jan 10th 2010, 19:24
Further to my previous comment, I just wish to add that I have indeed some negatives towards German culture but then again, I do have the same towards the Maltese and British cultures too !!! I have lived in both. Should I be more "obedient" considering I come from a "small" dependent country.................??
I relate my criticisms to Democratic principles which are indeed VERY HARD EARNED. Malta and its proud citizens, as modern Europeans, should know that. Every nation has its own story to tell, including my own.
CFarrugia
Jan 10th 2010, 19:23
@Jesmond Micallef
pity I think we live far away from each other in germany, I would have liked to discuss a couple of things with you
Jesmond Micallef
Jan 10th 2010, 17:51
You might have a critical point, C.Farrugia, but since I do not need to prove myself to anybody ,I choose to stay in the Federal Republic of Germany as much as I want !!!
C.Farrugia, I did mention German Cars, if you have noticed, right. German Car Environmental Technology is indeed foremost on the planet, BUT THESE ENVIRONMENTALLY FREINDLY CARS ARE VERY EXPENSIVE TO BUY.
"Environmentaly Friendly Cars are made for who ? ............THE RICH !!!
The point in discussion was purely "MONEY RELATED", C.Farrugia.
CFarrugia
Jan 10th 2010, 09:40
@Eric Gahn
I agree with you 100%, I also made the same comment as you did, when there was the first article that the pope is coming to Malta, that I wondered if they would declare how much this "day visit" would cost us.
@Jesmond Micallef
As far as I know from what you write, you live in Germany , so you chose to leave your country, but you always make very negative comments about Germany. Why did you choose to live there if you think the German culture is so bad? Just go back to Malta and enjoy your religion there if you find that German's culture is just technology and money
M Mizzi
Jan 9th 2010, 22:55
The "logo", although appealing to the eye, is in no way simple and uses many effects . It will not work in any practical use of a logo.
Etienne Pavia
Jan 9th 2010, 19:49
Religion aside, very simple striking design...well done!
Jesmond Micallef
Jan 9th 2010, 19:02
Well done, Mr. Mario Abela. very nice indeed.
Jesmond Micallef
Jan 9th 2010, 18:59
Mr. Eric Gahn,
It seems to me that money in indeed wasted sometimes. Do I dare to mention Copenhagen !! Wasted time, energy, and so on on what ? Nice Posh Hotels, Nice Posh Cars, Private Aircraft and so on ..........
Malta is in 2010 indeed, just like the Federal Republic of Germany where technology is culture, right !!! In Malta, the religion of the Roman Chatolic Church is also culture if not an NATIONAL IDENTITY !!! In Malta we do not have icons like SIEMENS, MERCEDES BENZ, AUDI, VOLKAWAGEN, PORSCHE, you know the technological toys, some people seem to need to promote their social standing, if not FINANCIAL STATUS !!!!
Malta is looking forward to wellcoming his Holliness Pope Benedict XVI. Simple as that.
Have a good evening.
Franco Farrugia
Jan 9th 2010, 17:03
@ J Tonna ... Well ... there's the telly.
J.Tonna
Jan 9th 2010, 16:02
First of all I should congratulate Mario Abela for this logo.
@ Eric Gahan - The Pope is a head of state (the Vatican) so the Maltese goverment should do its best to give him the best possible welcome. Besides that he is the Head of the Catholic Church, so the Church will also give him the best possible welcome.
Then there are those who are not interested (except in their pocket?), they may ignore it and leave us to enjoy this visit. Enjoy seeing the Pope without having to go to Rome.
Eric Gahn
Jan 9th 2010, 14:08
@C Gerada
You are right: I did fail to acknowledge the artist's good work.
My concern in the post is that a lot of pomp is going to go into this visit using money that would otherwise be better spent on healthcare, roads, education, etc .... instead of just one sector of Maltese society since in 2010 not all Malta is catholic (not to say we are mostly secular).
Richard Grech
Jan 9th 2010, 13:57
I would like to congratulate my friend Mario for his outstanding work. The logo is truly a Mario brand incorporating a simplistic artistic design with a lot of meaning. Keep it UP!
Jessica DeBattista
Jan 9th 2010, 13:37
Very striking logo!
Well done Mario Abela!!!
edward bartolo
Jan 9th 2010, 13:07
Well done goes to the winner! Very nice and simple.
Jimmy Magro
Jan 9th 2010, 12:40
Congratulations to the artist to come out with such a simple but impressive logo. Good work and this confirms that Malta has talent too.
C Gerada
Jan 9th 2010, 12:09
You always find the usual person saying "I wonder how much it will cost us", anyway although the papal visit is not of any particular interest to me, I would like to congratulate the person who did the logo. Thus the turnout of participants seem to have been quite low, since we know that in Malta we have the "give and take" policy. In the article you should also mention the other participants and show their work as well!
renald williams
Jan 9th 2010, 12:08
May we visit daily our Lord’s New Testament: and the Epistles of His Apostle Paul;
so as to be surrounded more by Their words, as our focal point.
The Apostle Paul said –
So faith comes from hearing, and hearing by the word of Christ. Romans 10:17.
For we write nothing else to you than what you read and understand. 2 Corinthians 1:13.
When you read you can understand. Ephesians 3:4.
When this letter is read among you, have it also read in the church. Colossians 4:16.
I adjure you by the Lord to have this letter read to all brethren. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. 1 Thessalonians 5:27-28.
Sincere peace and health to all.
Eric Gahn
Jan 9th 2010, 11:53
I wonder how much this visit is going to cot us citizens, and is the Curia going to put out towards these expenses.
antoinette mascari
Jan 9th 2010, 11:09
Well done to all those who are paricipating in the Papal's visit to Malta. Congratulations to St Monica's Choir and to Mr Mario Abela the Logo designer. Very clever and the colours are most stunning and such a unique design so appropriate for the Maltese Islands. It depicts the Maltese Islands so well. I hope that the Maltese in Malta will represent us Maltese where ever we are around the continents. We will be with you in spirit and hope for the best Papal visit ever to Malta. I hope that you will all sing your hearts out with your beautifull voices. This will be a moment for all Malta to remember like we remember his visit in Australia during World Youth Day in 2009. May God bless all the organisations who are responsible for the planning and all those who will be participating together with the rest of the world for peace and hope in unity for the future. Let us all follow our Spiritual Masters in the foot prints of St Paul.
Helena Micallef
Jan 9th 2010, 10:30
We are really proud and honoured to have been chosen for such an occasion. Thank you
Helena Micallef on behalf of St.Monica Choir