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And the winner is...

Video: Mark Zammit Cordina

Mgarr’s statue of the Assumption will this evening be carried by a group involved in parish work represented by Kevin Vella, who just after the stroke of midday made the highest offer to win the honour.

In line with a tradition dating back to 1922, four men, egged on by a crowd of parishioners, met by the side of the church where the offering was made.

‘Bids’ started from €2,000 with Mr Ellul submitting the highest, of €8,100, on behalf of his group.

The highest bidder gains the honour of carrying the statue during the procession which starts at 7 p.m. The money goes towards the upkeep of the church.

This tradition started the year the statue was made, when the benefactors who contributed to the purchase of the statue and the rest of the items that went with it were given the right to carry the Assumption.

The statue of the Assumption, made in Marseille, France was restored last year. It had cost £60 and 16 shillings.

Before last year’s restoration, it was last restored in 1958 but that intervention had altered the skin colour and the other hues including those of the drapery.

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Patrick Sacco

Aug 27th 2010, 21:41

That is exactly what will happen, Mr. Sacco.

Only time (ironically) will rid us of this mediocrity.

Wait and see!

And by the way, very nice surname, Sir!

sandra pace

Sep 7th 2010, 21:22

dear ms miggiani who are you to call us hypocrites what i do i dont show it on the media have you ever heard of the saying of li taghmel idejk il leminija thallix ix xellugija tkun taf !!! of course li naghmlu karita one thing i ask you show us with proof fejn tmur il karita??. so who is the hypocrite now???.

sandra pace

Aug 24th 2010, 21:38

icelebrawa il festa ma nahsibx li ghandha x taqsam lghira jirraguna hekk min jara affarijiet materjali hekk tfisser il festa ? li taghti flus biex terfa l-vara? kemm hemm nies li ghandhom bzonn?. Fuq kollox qed naraw aktar kemm il festi huma materjali mhux din biss kull wahda li issir bdan il mod. xi tfisser il festa? traddizjoni li tghati l flus it tlellix u kollox ileqq? vera li kulhadd ghandu dritt jaghmel li jrid pero ftakkru li kristu ma ghazilx tlellix twieled gol faqar biex jghati ezempju. u zgur dawn lezempji ma ahniex nehduhom ghax kollox materjali.

Stefan Sacco

Aug 25th 2010, 08:28

Ms Camilleri, m'ghandi l-ebda dubbju li l-Mgarr ghandkom festa sabiha....imma huwa insult ghalikom l-imgarrin li qed tigu impengija li jekk ma taghmlux dan l-irkant il knisja ma tlehhaqx mal-ispejjez. Il Parocci l-ohra KOLLA ta Malta ilehhqu...intom tridu tirrikoru ghal dan biex tigbru il flus??? Hemm bzonn timbarazzaw il Knisja darba fis sena ghax it tradizzjoni?? Jekk fi 1920 kienu isiru zwigijiet bil hotba ghandhom jibqu isiru bil fors? Min irid jaghti ghandu kull dritt imma mhux nirkanta lill min jerfa il Madonna !!

Patrick Sacco

Aug 27th 2010, 21:32

Kindly wake up Ms./Mrs. Camilleri. We are living in 2010 and no, we are not envious of your worthless piece of wood/stone.

sandra pace

Aug 24th 2010, 12:29

vera li min ghandu l flus ha jroxxhoom u int miss cassar of course ghamel bihom li trid flusek laqwa li mhux flusi ghalmenu niftahar jekk naghmel karita ma nmin ghandu bzonna anke l kristu bieghu ghal flus. paganizmu kbir and i fully agree with you mr patrick sacco. you are 100% right.

Abela J

Aug 24th 2010, 00:36

Min imissu jisthi, ezattament, Tscerri?

ray sacco

Aug 23rd 2010, 14:55

@jason borg:
so what is it exactly that you're saying:
that tourists come to malta to see the mgarr church???????????????!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Jason Borg

Aug 23rd 2010, 15:17

No. What I am saying is that in our country, churches are considered as a major tourist attraction. Take Mosta Rotunda as another example. Over 400,000 tourists visit it annually, and enter for free. So what is wrong if money is collected, even through auctions, for their upkeep? Are those who came all out against this practice ready to dig into their own pockets to provide the necessary funds?

Stefan Sacco

Aug 23rd 2010, 15:42

But there goes the answer Mr Borg....Did the Parish Priest of Mosta resort to this type of shame to collect money??? Why try to find any type of excuse even if silly as it can be just to defend what is terrible wrong!!

ray sacco

Aug 23rd 2010, 18:49

grazzi kugin

Jason Borg

Aug 24th 2010, 14:41

Maybe the 2 cousins can substitute the money collected by digging in their own pockets. Mill-kliem ghall-fatti.....

Stefan Sacco

Aug 24th 2010, 15:30

For whom and when shall I dig in my pocket is none of your buisness I guess. Li Taghmel l-id il leminija m'ghandiex tkun tafu ix xellugija (gieli smajtha habib??) Facts are that the church in Malta does a lot of good things and yes expenses have to be met but this tradition is mighty wrong and has to be stopped sooner rather then later as it puts the Church in an awkard situation.Qisna xi subbasta tal Qorti !!!! If they want to donate money so be it but not payment against who will carry Our Mother's statue!! SHAMEFUL..... PUNTO E BASTA

A Galea

Aug 24th 2010, 16:50

Ok so if Mgarr church needs the money for its upkeep give it by all means. You can do this anonymously. But to pay for the rights to carry the statue on feast day is by no means charity for the church. What about the poor people of Imgarr, they will never get this opportunity. I do not care to believe in a church that falls to this mediocrity. Jesus Christ would have driven them all away as he did at the temple in Jerusalem had he been there.

CVella

Aug 24th 2010, 09:02

@ DBorg

U ghamel pjacir lilna jekk ma tifhimx x jigri tigix hawn u tikteb kummenti bhal dawn minajr ma taf xinu il-process. Ghal informazzjoni tieghek avolja il vara tinghata lill-aktar persuna li toffri flus din xorta tghati cans lil persuni ohra jerfaw il vara . Din is-sena stess wihed min nies li prova jihu il vara u ma rebahix xorta kellu ic cans li jerfa ghax xorta inghata ic cans mir-rebbieh. Jigifiri nies bhalkom li ma tafux kif jigru l affarjiet taqbdux tigu hawn u tiktbu erba paroli fil vojt minajr ma tafu xejn. Meta taraw xi haga hekk tigu tiktbu u tahsbu fil-fqar. Il-parrocca tal-Mgarr dejjem tghat sehema biex tghin il-ohrajn izda din hija tradizzjoni antika li baqet tintuza maz-zmien u li sa fej naf jien ma hu qed tamel hsara lil hadd. Fuq kollox dawn il-flus imorru ghal parrocca stess ghax min ximkien l-ispejjez iridu jithalsu u hadd ma qed jisforza il dawn in nies biex jaghtu id donazzjoni taghhom. Dawn jamluha bl inizzjattiva taghhom u ghaliex vera iridu.

axuereb

Aug 24th 2010, 14:44

Prosit!Mhi xejn hlief fanfarunati biex nuru kemm ghandna flus! Jekk il-kapillan ghandu bzonn jirranga n-nicca jaghmel gabra jew xi coffee morning, mela jghamel auction fuq il-vara tal-Madonna! Ahjar il-flus tawhom lil morda jew xi karita. Il-Madonna m'ghandiex bzonn nicca sabiha biex tkun aktar komda! Min jaf x jghid Gesu fuqha din il-haga kieku qieghed fostna! U l-Arcisqof ma jghid xejn fuqhom affarijiet bhal dawn!

GVella

Aug 23rd 2010, 11:49

In an interview on Super 1 TV, the Mgarr parish priest stated that the money collected will NOT be going to charity but will be used to build a new niche to house the statue of the Virgin.

Charles Busuttil

Aug 23rd 2010, 12:19

The crux is that there is discrimination towards those who cannot afford such exorbitant sums of money to carry the statue, and yet wish very much to do so. Because of this 'tradition', their wish may never materialise.

Stefan Sacco

Aug 23rd 2010, 13:33

Well said Mrs Cassar. Sunday after the 15th August seems like will always be the Sunday of Shame for the Church I belong to. It really beats me why Mg Gouder ( for whom I have great respect ) did not put down his foot on this. This hurts ....believe me..it does hurt...and to be honest I tought something was goinf to be done this year.

Abela J

Aug 24th 2010, 00:41

Spot on Mrs. Cassar / Mr. Sacco..

Two weights - two measures

Alexia Vella

Aug 23rd 2010, 10:06

joe black it's rich of you to compare betting shops which are destroying our families and the Mgarr tradition.

Joe Bonnici

Aug 23rd 2010, 09:50

joe borg flusek ghamel li trid bihom u ahna naghmlu li rridu bi flusna.

H Zammit

Aug 23rd 2010, 09:51

Mhux se nikkummenta fuq il-festa tal-Imgarr. Miniex minn hemm u nahseb qatt ma mort ghal din il-festa. Pero dwar il-kumment tieghek rigward il-flus li jmisshom intbatu karita nistaqsik. INT x'ghamilt din is-sena ghal dawn il-pajjizi inqas ixxurtjati minna? Kemm il-elf ewro baghtilhom. Issa qabbel dak li ghamilt int ma dak li ghamlet u ghadha qed taghmel il-knisja Kattolika bil-missjunarji, lajci ikel, flus u medicini li tibghat. Imbaghad tkellem. Ghax facli tghid lil haddiehor x'ghandu jaghmel bi flusu specjalment meta dan haddiehor hija l-knisja. Nista naqbel jew ma naqbilx ma kif jaghmlu l-festa l-Imgarr, izda b'daqshekk ma ttinix awtorita biex niehu l-opportunita (probabbli minnhabba xi haga ohra li m'ghandha x'taqsam xejn mall-festa tal-Imgarr) nghajjar lill-knisja.

David Torpiano

Aug 23rd 2010, 09:35

Taqax ghar-ridikolu...Il-flus imorru ghall-ispejjez tal-festa. Ovvjament huwa forma ohra ta' gbir ta' fondi biex dak li jsir jithallas. Hadd ma jisforza lil hadd biex jaghti l-flus sa fejn naf jien. Ghandek kull dritt li ma taqbilx ma' dan imma m'ghandekx dritt takkuza ingustament li qed l-Kattolici qed jirkantaw il-Madonna. Taf meta tirkanta il-Madonna? Meta titfa' t-tajn fuq uliedha, hemmhekk tirkanta l-Madonna!

m vella

Aug 23rd 2010, 08:44

J Camilleri you said , Huma biss jifhmu.. taghhom biss tajjeb, you are talking about the church right :)

J.Xuereb

Aug 23rd 2010, 00:42

Good one!!! yeah that's the truth, and the church contradicts her own bible!!

F.Muscat

Aug 23rd 2010, 03:46

"Do not judge, or you too will be judged.
Matthew 7:1

m.ellul

Aug 22nd 2010, 22:40

or maybe apart from going to a hike, we can go to Mexico, right.

m vella

Aug 23rd 2010, 08:23

Mr Azzopardi,we will mind our own business but not when our children are watching this BLASPHEME on our TV.

Joe Borg

Aug 23rd 2010, 09:53

m vella since when have you become competent to judge what is blasphemy or not? Who appointed you judge of your brothers and sisters?

sandra pace

Aug 22nd 2010, 20:05

Very disgusting that the church permits such more disgusting bidding to carry the statue. Does the church know how many people are in need? this is puuuureeee paganism and again disgusting and disgrace. The money should go to charity my god €8100.

Melanie Cassar

Aug 23rd 2010, 09:56

sandra pace who are you to tell me and others what to do with our money? If I want to burn my money or use it top eat and drink I will do as I please and no one including you is going to interfere. You do what you like with your money and I do whatever I like because frankly it's none of your business.

axuereb

Aug 24th 2010, 14:50

@ Melanie Cassar.
Qatt smajt bil-Puttinu Cares?Taf kemm tista tferrah tfal b somma bhal dik?Minn kliemek tidher li ghandek flus x tahraq, ghalhekk forsi tiftakar f dawn it-tfal darb ohra. Zgur li l-Madonna tiehu hafna gost bik jekk flusek ittihom lil dawn it-tfal minflok taghmlilha nicca.Grazzi.

A. Catania

Aug 22nd 2010, 19:50

Actually there's a lot of difference from the 'traditional' donation envelope. In this case, the church is giving priority to those who have money. The church's decision of who is to carry the statue depends only on the amount of money offered by those interested! Double faced!!

Peter Korsten

Aug 23rd 2010, 08:46

Well, they do contribute, don't they? The upkeep of a church is not cheap. They had a serious fund-raising problem in my parents' village (in the Netherlands, so it's largely secular, even in the south) where the 15th century Gothic St. Lambert church needed several very costly restorations. There was a restoration from 1997 to 2002, and only recently they finished refurbishing the spire.

Grace Vassallo

Aug 23rd 2010, 09:58

azzopardi joseph int ghamel li trid bi flusek u ahna naghmlu li rridu u mhi affari ta' hadd x'naghmlu ahna.

lilian azzopardi

Aug 22nd 2010, 17:57

Well said R.Borg. This misinterpretation of this tradition and even confusing it with divorce is such an ignorant act. Come tonight and see what a wonderful religious feast we have. There are piques from local bands as we have none. If someone wants to give money to the church for the feast, who are you to judge us.

Stefan Sacco

Aug 22nd 2010, 19:43

Who are we to judge you....we are the church....ALL of us...the church is not building...its us....and I am ashamed that nobody has the guts to stop this shameful ridiculous act. ...Ahh Sorry I forgot...TRADITION hux??? We cannot stop it....ghax ila min 1920!! hemm bzonn kappillan ta vera li ghandu some guts f'dar rahal!! Il Bzonnijiet tal irhula l-ohra jintlehqu minghajr il bzonn ta irkant ta Ommna Marija !!

m.ellul

Aug 22nd 2010, 20:13

@lilian azzopardi if you are referring to my post, I am not confusing, I am comparing the acts and that is called reasoning, and none is judging anybody here whether he or she wants to donate money or not, referring to myself, I am disgusted by the instigation with which is used to make people to donate money, is it that much difficult to understand, and what religious feast...aaah yeah based on gambling.

martin saliba

Aug 22nd 2010, 20:42

The occasion is intimately connected with a very important Marian Liturgy and the Church should not allow 'malicious' interpretation. Please tell us what is so important that pagan betting is allowed. There are some people who are so blind that they would find some excuse to defend the church even if it church were to start worshiping satan himself.

J Pace

Aug 22nd 2010, 21:23

Rather than not inviting the press, why not dig deeper inside your pocket throughout the year to avoid such embarrasment!!!!

ray sacco

Aug 22nd 2010, 21:34

as long as there is financial profit, all is ok for the catholic church, mr,mompalao!

Jason Borg

Aug 22nd 2010, 17:58

It always amazes me how many people have never ventured out of tiny Malta or at least read a newspaper article about what goes abroad.

martin saliba

Aug 22nd 2010, 20:52

What goes on abroad ..... , Divorce , euthenasia , proper roads , accountability and much more. I didnt add abortion to the list as i am against it , but it to is abroad.

Jason Borg

Aug 23rd 2010, 07:23

Yes, as soon as you venture out of Malta, you start walking on holy land.

P. Borg

Aug 23rd 2010, 10:28

Does it mean that if I do not have the money to pay the church tax you named, god will love me less than those who pay it?

Come on, this is totally non sense. Jesus was poor and yet loved everyone and this is the only thing that church should live by. Money are just something invented by humans to divide society into classes and be able to destroy some categories of people. Be sure that if our church imposes some church tax, many fanatic christians will probably leave. Some so called Christian maltese go to church only because it's free.

The church is well known for trying everytime to take money from our pockets in favour of its' preaching while the least one that practices it is the same church. These people are giving away their money because they want to and that's fair enough. But I hope that they are not the first to moan against utility bills. If they have so much money to throw away in favour of tradition they should have enough to pay the bills easily. God will still love and protect all no matter how money they give.

Jesmond Micallef

Aug 23rd 2010, 15:02

P. Borg. Your comment has valid arguments. I was only highlighting a different perspective to the negative comments here. God loves everybody. Giving or donating money has allways been a strength as far as social solidarity is concerned. Whats the problem with this sort of "auction" here ? Its a little bit of fun for a good cause really, and it does show that people still want to participate in the village's Christian Celebration. I tend to prefer such contributions which benefit the whole spiritual community rather then spending money on booze while watching popular collective football, for example !! I do have my own views about certain aspects of the Church but, I strongly believe that the Church does alot of good in society too.

Jason Borg

Aug 22nd 2010, 16:40

Mr. Expert - this tradition takes place in Malta not in Gozo.

Mario Borg

Aug 23rd 2010, 08:23

Mr Expert,

What about an apology to us Gozo Residents ?

Jason Borg

Aug 23rd 2010, 12:44

Lanqas biss jaghraf id-differenza bejn l-Imgarr ta' Malta u ta' Ghawdex u jrid jippontifika....

A Callus

Aug 22nd 2010, 14:39

You worry too much about things that do not effect you. If you are 'ashamed to have been baptised into this organisation' go to the Curia tomorrow and ask to resign as a member of the Church, you will not be the first but at least you will not need to live in such a hypocritical state.

Your comments are so out of point and it is obvious that you try to find any opportunity to attack the Church and the traditions of our country. You too are getting carried away by the plague of liberalism that is trying to erode the values and identity of our nation.

Raphael Vassallo

Aug 22nd 2010, 15:00

'You too are getting carried away by the plague of liberalism that is trying to erode the values and identity of our nation'

Well said, A. Callus. As exemplified by the above article, the 'values and identity of our nation' are founded on... MONEY.

Azzopardi Lilian

Aug 22nd 2010, 15:02

@ Maria Vella

It is an honour for the people of Mgarr to give an offer for the carrying of the statue. It is a tradition that has been with us since the statue was made. As Mr. Callus rightly said you are worryng too much about something that does not effect you.

Jason Borg

Aug 22nd 2010, 15:04

What should shame you is the fact that you are firing unfounded accusations at people whom probably you do not know anything about and who have done you no harm.

M Grima

Aug 22nd 2010, 15:07

@A Callus..all this has nothing to do with God and everything to do with idolatry aided and abetted by a Church who very often seems to worship lucre more than than the Deity Himself.

As to the skin hue's of the Statue,whatever they were before or originally or are now.If the Lady was from the middle east,you can be sure she was dark skinned with hair too match and not svelte and blond like some would have her.

M Galea

Aug 22nd 2010, 15:15

Vera hawn hafna problemi f'dan il-pajjiz. Imma ejja ma nghidux hmerjijiet l-ahwa ta, ghax kultant (jew dejjem?!) tohrog tradizzjoni ohra maltija... dik li ngergru fuq kollox!

Joe Vella

Aug 22nd 2010, 15:18

Who are you to tell anyone what to do with their hard earned money. I, for one wouldn't not bey one red cent for such a cause. However, if there are individual out there that are ready to do so, who the hell are you and I to tell them otherwise?

James Galea

Aug 22nd 2010, 16:02

Maria
You can leave the church when ever you want. But then please don’t go fashion parading in the church when you are invited for a baptism, a first communion or a wedding for the eyes of those who can look. People like you criticize the church because it is safe to do so and it so handy cause it does not reply back to you comments. If you read about the Maltese traditions you will learn that the Maltese always cherished their churches and always made huge sacrifices to keep them in good conditions. This is an agreement by the Mgarr’s community so that the money would go for the upkeep of the church. I do not think that anyone from Mgarr ever protested over this agreement and I do not think that you should do so yourself

Mike F Abbot

Aug 22nd 2010, 16:10

@Azzopardi Lilian

the church is taking money for no reason.... of course it effects people - it effects everyone. The church is supposed to teach moral values - not encouraging people to bid, to dig deep in to their pockets and the the pockets of their families to win the honour of doing something they love.

It teaches that money trumps all. (There are a few stories in the bible about that) The richer you are, the more money you can show, the more valued you are. Twist and argue it which ever way you like, and i'm sure many will... The lesson here though is simple. Money = honour.

I mean, come on, if it's all about love and respect, couldn't the church award the honour to members of the community that have contributed to the church or the community through effort and energy they've put in over the past year. People who have worked to improve the lives of others. That would be setting an example to follow.

And no, because something is a tradition, it does not make it right.

Grace Vassallo

Aug 22nd 2010, 18:09

Maria vella is it anyone's business what I do with MY money? What if I want to burn it, use it for drinking, eating, go on holiday or do whatever I want to do with it? Is it not MY money? You and the others attacking this practice simply want to attack our tradition and the Church, but whatever you do you shall not succeed. We shall keep our tradition and you shall not succeed in eliminating the Church.

C.Abela

Aug 22nd 2010, 18:14

I think everyone who is 'searching for ‘inner’ paths and this is a dynamic, that our forefathers, we and future generations will still be doing , will feel let down, when presented with this popular religiosity. Is this ‘popular’ way, due to our manner of expressing faith as Latin people? At times this is genuinely felt. However, our Island’s persistent, grave cultural limitations are a handicapped in making that ‘quality leap’. We are always risking stagnation and mediocrity. May I humbly suggest an alternative to this gloomy scenario, click taize', or jerusalem.cef.fr, on your pc, you will be relieved, at the bout of real fresh air.

Melanie cassar

Aug 22nd 2010, 18:19

Mike F Abbot who are you to question our tradition? If you don't like it too bad for that is what it was, is and is going to continue be. No one asked you for your money. We do with our money as we please.

Mike F Abbot

Aug 22nd 2010, 19:51

@ Melanie cassar i couldn't care less what you do with your money, Melanie. It's the way the church chooses to promote the value of money that i have an issue with. The church is supposed to be a community leader which means it is in a position to influence thousands of people and in my humble opinion should not be advocating things payment for honour. This is not about what an individual or group of people does with their money. It's about how community leader chooses to lead. And, by the way, if i want to question a tradition in my country, i damn well can do.

JOe VELLa

Aug 22nd 2010, 20:13

@Maria vella Boy did you get a mouth full from those who feel different! I must say if it is their money they are entitled to spend it as they see fit, if they want to work all year and blow it in a minute it is their concern. As it is if they want to help other instead or spend it to impress. It is written in 2 Timothy 4:5. But be you vigilant; labour in all things; do the work of an evangelist, fulfill thy ministry. Be sober.

Melanie Cassar

Aug 22nd 2010, 22:24

Mike F Abbot did the Church or anyone ask you for your money? You questioned this tradition and got your answers. This year it was €8,100. Next year it will be more whether you like it or not.

Mike F Abbot

Aug 23rd 2010, 07:57

@Melanie Cassar

clearly you are not reading what i am writing. I'm not concerned about the money, something that many people here supporting the church seem obsessed with. The church hasn't asked me, you are right but it HAS challenged people to publicly show their riches.

I'm concerned about the way the church promotes wealth. The richest get the honour. If it's so important to everyone - then €8000 is not hard to raise by simple asking for donations and including EVERYONE by allowing them to contribute what they feel they can afford. You might find those who contribute less, contribute far more.

And the honour for carrying the statue is still left intact.

oh by the way... the bible has a good lesson Matt 6:2

Charles Zammit

Aug 23rd 2010, 10:04

Mike F Abbot if the Church has asked the people and they agreed who are you to challenge that agreement? No one is forcing them to do so. They are happy with their agreement and they abide with it. Full stop.

Mike F Abbot

Aug 24th 2010, 08:12

Charles Zammit - the church is not asking, the church is challenging. It's providing a trumpet for wealth display. Read what i wrote - i have no issue with what people do with their money. It's what the church does to get it that bothers me. What is so hard to understand?

Mike Shortino

Aug 24th 2010, 10:29

SCANDALOUS!! The Church still uses practices to gain money it used to in the past. By brainwashing people into believing they are doing an honorable thing. Probably in the 1920s they were promised direct access to heaven when they pass away!! If they need money, which they should be using for the greater good rather then restoring the church, they could easily sell some the the riches the posses! The church has been one of the most successful businesses out there, creating stories and brainwashing us to be able to control us and make money. It makes me happy to see them getting exposed in this way.. because the time has come were people stand on their own feet and see the truth...

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