Gozo Bishop to set up commission on fireworks in feasts

Dr Joe Brincat

Sep 10th 2010, 21:22

Joe Fenech, earlier on, made a sensible suggestion. Why not have a religious feast of the patron saint and a distinct village feast ? Some may be up in arms for such a suggestion, but it makes so much sense.

A village feast would be intended for the mundane things that unite the villagers, and possibly to project cultural aspects to visitors. In Italy they have the "festa del villaggio" and "la festa del Santo Patrono".

Dr Joe Brincat

Sep 10th 2010, 19:55

@Mgrech. naqbel hafna. Hemm il-Milied u l-Ghid u hadd ma jghaddilu wisq minn mohhu li jaghmel in-nar. In-nar kultant aktar ghall-piki bejn rahal u iehor, bejn kazin u iehor. U ftit zmien wara kollox jintesa' u l-bahh. U wara jintesew ukoll ir-romol u l-ulied bla genituri li jridu jittrabbew b'firda li tkun giet fuq taparsi glorja lill-qaddis. Jibqa' marka f'mohhi l-kaz ta' meta lanca tas-suldati kienet sejra tarmi nar illegali, u sploda fuq il-lanca. Mietu n-nies. Fosthom missier zghir ta' familja. L-armla u l-ulied tharbtu, u ghadhom bi trawmi sal-lum. U din is-sena z-zaghzugh ta' Hal-Qormi li lejliet kont qed ninbxu fuq il-festi u li kien bniedem kwiet u bil-ghaqal. L-ebda twemmin jew tradizzjoni ma jista' jiggustifika mwiet bhal dawn, ghax ikun hemm min hu dilettant u ghandu drittijiet. U dan meta suppost qed issir festa religjuza. X'kontradizzjonijiet ? Sewwa li ma jsir xejn halli jkun hemm kollox bil-limiti tas-sewwa u tar-raguni ?

M. Grech

Sep 10th 2010, 19:12

Il-kredibilta' tiirikjiedi li l-knisja tara u tifli sew fuq: 1) Ir-religjosita' u qima tal-festi. Smajna l-Erbgha li-ghadda bil-mod sollenni kif giet iccelebrata l-festa tal-Bambina fix-Xaghra qisu xi haga ta' barra min hawn. Hekk ghandhom jigu ccelebrati l-festi kollha skond kif titlob l-qima religjuza mhux bil-mod pagan kif qed jigu iccelbrati bi briju bla sens religjuz biex ma nghdix skandaluz ukoll. Ifakkruk fl-ghogol tad-deheb ta' zmien Mose'; 2) In-nhar ma jghogobx lil kullhadd specjament l-murtali tal-bomba u jdejqu hafna niex, tfal, xjuh u annimali. 3)Trid tara kif festa religjuza tispicca f'idejn kumitat ta'Banda jew simili fejn il-knisja ftit ikolla say kif isiru l-affarijiet u l-knijsa tbaxxi rasha ghal dawn il-kimitati, kif gara meta l-kumitata tax-Xaghra ddecieda li jkompli bil-festa. Dan juri tmexxija dghajfa tal-knisja f'affarijiet religjuzi; 4)Il-piki bejn il-baned u anke parrocci ("taghna aqwa min taghkon........") 5)L-ispejjes esagerati li jintefqu fin nhar u litteralment fid-duhhan (smajna tax-Xaghra madwar E70,000, u anke parrocci lfuq min E100,000 nefqu ssemmew) meta tista issir karita kbira (ez dawn l-flejjes jwasslu ilma lil kominitatjiet fqar u neqsin jew jinbnew djar ghat-tfal!?!) Zgur li l-qaddis tar-rahal jiehu pjacir izjed kieku. 6)Il-knisja trid taghti kaz ukoll tal-membri taghha li humas mxebbghin bil-paganismu fl-hekk imsejha festa tar-rahal.

Dr Joe Brincat

Sep 10th 2010, 07:39

@ John Azzopardi. X'ifisser dan ? Qisni qed nifhem li hu principju ta' religjon li tkun favur il-murtali. Jekk tkun kontra, tkun anti-Church ? Liema Knisja ? Minn dak li ktibt hija knisja fejn l-isqof ghandu ma jindahalx, u jehda b'xoghlu. U li tkun kontra l-isqof anke b'mod personali huwa sewwa. Jekk isqof jitkellem kontra l-esagerazzjonijiet tan-nar ikun qed jikser kmandament ta' dik ir-religion specjali li qed nisma' biha ?

John Azzopardi

Sep 9th 2010, 11:31

The issue is safety not the fireworks alone. Fireworks are set off the world over and everyone loves a good display. This is not a church issue alone, and lo directive on fireworks, etc will help eliminate the risks. This is government responsiblity. IT's up to the government that safety regulations are put in place. Leave fireworks alone and address the issue of safety and stop being anti church. And the bishop should mind his business as well and stop controlling the populace. He already is not popular because everyone sees him as a dictator. And those are the facts.

Lawrence Darmanin

Sep 9th 2010, 00:01

We all love fireworks and therefore we are all partly to blame for this recent tragedy in Gozo and that also includes the church because as was rightly, said by the Gozo Bishop - "Fireworks are associated with village feasts". If there were no feasts there would hardly be any need to have fireworks and therefore no such accidents would happen!

What we have witnessed lately was the direct effect of a fireworks accident (the last in a serious of 5 this year alone). What we are not seeing directly is the serious effects on our health from the tonnes of toxic gases like sulphur and nitrogen dioxides which greatly contribute to asthma ailments especially in children. Accumulative heavy metals like strontium, arsenic, manganese, copper etc which are found in the fallout from colourful fireworks and end up being inhaled or deposited on our summer fruits and vegetables as well as in our soil. To add to all this then there is the noise pollution - all in the name of our village patron saints. All I ask is: Are all these risks and deaths really worth it?

Dr Joe Brincat

Sep 8th 2010, 22:42

I have been pushed to say it. But it is absolutely unfair on Bishop Grech to say that he woke up today about these problems. He has repeatedly denounced in public, during times when there were no accidents, that feasts should take a more religious aspect, that religion is not the outward almost pagan show, and only last Sunday, at 12.15 a.m. he was saying that religion in Malta comes too cheap.

Emanuel Farrugia

Sep 8th 2010, 21:46

Bhala ulied il-Knisja, jehtieg li naghtu aktar importanza lill-purcisjonijiet li jsiru. Jekk nixtiequ li l-festi taghna jkunu jissejhu festi nsara, dawn iridu jkunu espressjoni tal-ghaqda tal-poplu ta' Alla, u okkazjoni ta' rikonciljazzjoni vera ma' Alla u mal-bnedmin.

Jehtieg li l-festi ma neqirduhomx ahna stess.

Emanuel Farrugia former Executive Secretary Mtarfa Local Council

patricia azzopardi

Sep 8th 2010, 20:13

To all respect!!, as much as i hate hearing these things, what happened here is lack of health and safety!! some people think that by doing things their own way its fine, but they don't think that they can hurt others! what was the woman doing there?? did she have a licence to be there and andanger her baby?? the feasts in malta are the highlight of our maltese summer, and with all respect it won't be the same without fire works. these accidents happen all over the world and we don't hear about. but these people that do the fireworks knows the risk!! they go on their own will, we don't tell them to go!! so if they are not carefull they know they are gone in one big bang!!

Pamela Hansen

Sep 8th 2010, 19:19

C Bussutil told us "Fireworks are made according to EU standards regarding their chemical composition...As some gentleman reminded you (me) years ago explosives are used in stone quarries not fireworks!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ". My reply to that is that's why they keep exploding and killing and maiming people and destroying families.

Dr Joe Brincat

Sep 8th 2010, 18:39

What some readers may forget is that the committees who collect money and order fireworks, or who run factories, are very independent entities. And they are proud of their independence, sometimes in defiance of one and all.

Jeremy J Camilleri

Sep 8th 2010, 18:05

He couldnt resist an anti abortion dig, but regarding the victims, its clearly a case of the show must go on.

People say that agnostics and atheists are the Maltese Church's greatest threat, but Id say the greatest threat to Catholicm in Malta is its leaders.

J. J. Borg

Sep 8th 2010, 17:46

So how many commissions, boards of inquiry and investigations is that by now? The most important decision that needs to be taken is the confiscation of all fireworks and related materials until it can be determined why we have had so many accidents this year.

R.Camilleri

Sep 8th 2010, 17:42

Halluhom bi kwiethom lil Arcipriet tax- Xaghra u lil isqof. Bizzejjed ikollhom inkwiet fil-hajja ta' kuljum.Nuru ftit rispet, ghax flok ghaqda aktar firda nkunu qedien noholqu. U minn ma' jizbaljax f' din id-dinja, ahna ma ahnhiex infallibli u xi kultant haga toghgob lil wiehed u lill - iehor le. Anke fl-ikel issibha din go familja ahseb wara go kummunita. Ara kieku kien xi 'Buffet' forsi le ghax ghandek l-ghazla. Nahseb ahjar nuru solidarjeta bit-talb milli paroli xi kultant fil-vojt.

MG Buttigieg

Sep 8th 2010, 17:26

Ms. Hasen
It is you who have jumped on the band wagon. The commission that the Bishop had in mind is not about giving chemistry lessons. Reading the Bishop's Sta. Maria pastoral letter about solidarity and sobriety I believe it would make recommendations enlightened by those principles.
And you should note that those recommendations mentioned by you are not applicable to the Diocese of Gozo because both dioceses have their particular policies.

Pamela Hansen

Sep 8th 2010, 17:03

The bishop of Gozo is always ready to jump on the publicity bandwagon.
The Curia had already set up a Commission when Archbishop Mercieca was in situ. It was very thorough and had issued a booklet explaining all the toxic and explosive ingredients that go into making the fireworks and a list of recommendations , if I remember correctly. What I do remember correctly is that nothing came of it.

S Vella

Sep 8th 2010, 16:57

Quote "He also greeted the Parish Priest of Xaghra and the parish community who had made 'significant gestures' that showed their sensibility for what had happened, particularly by having created a fund to show solidarity with the victims and those who suffered damages"
Unquote..Hallina Monsinjur!!!!! Urew solidarjeta billi gabru ftit Ewros. Dak hu ir rispett lejn il hajja li tippriedka; Possibbli daqsekk tiswa il hajja ghalik; daqsekk tiswa id dinjita tal bniedem li hu l-isbah holqien ta alla? kont namlek iktar serju billi twaqqaf il festi esterni kolla

Manuel Mangani

Sep 8th 2010, 16:31

The Bishop of Gozo, a priest I much admire, is not appreciating how scandalously insensitive the Church appears to be in this case when it accepts to collaborate with the selfishness of those for whom the celebrations of external festivities overrides all human and humane considerations. A collection of 13,000 insults to the memory of the dead and the pain of their relatives and friends only a dimension of sordidness, rather than solidarity, to the whole situation.

One rather suspects that the Church would prefer that there should be no external celebrations, but has deemed it inappropriate to create a rift with those in Xagħra for whom the feast is the centre of their existence. Perhaps the Bishop would have been better advised to state publicly something in this sense.

Sibyl Barbu

Sep 8th 2010, 16:28

Colin Schembri
Six people died so it's not exactly a story that can be forgotten so quickly and of course people are going to continue to talk about it. Also everyone with a heart is hurt by what's happening so will continue to talk, read and write about it for days to come. You really don't have to read it.

Franco Farrugia

Sep 8th 2010, 16:28

This bishop is always ready to push the victim-button.

A.Busuttil

Sep 8th 2010, 16:28

Ghalkemm l-Eccellenza tieghi ghamel bhas soltu priedka nteressanti u li tqanqlek.....imma nifqu hemm, il bqija bahh fix xghari. l-isqof ukoll ma hasx li l-festa b'xi mod tigie kontrollata imqar b'inqas nar. skond timesonline dawn qali l-l-vittma ghamel pjacir u zamm in nar tax xaghra ghandu. TAFU li dan sa issa sewa l-hajja ta 6 persuni. L-aqwa li nhar is sibt nghamlu show fil funeral.

R.Camilleri

Sep 8th 2010, 16:25

Qabel xejn nibda biex naghti l-kondoljanzi lil familjari tal-vittmi tat-tragedja u nitolbu ghalihom kif ukoll naghtuhom support anke fiizikament jekk ikun il-bzonn. Nghidilhom kuragg itolbu lil Madonna Bambina ghall dawk li hallewna, biss jien nghid li din ga laqathom fi hdana. Ghamlu sew l-isqfijiet li ma' waqhux ghal certu kummenti li dehru fil-blogs ghax anqas ma' tghid anqas tisbalja. Ghamlu gest tajjeb fil-festa tax-Xaghra, kemm f'dak li hu talb (li l-aktar hu importanti) kif ukoll is- support bil-gbir ghal dawn il-familji. Madonna idhol ghalina u isma talbna.
Viva il-Madonna tal-Vittorja' u xewqat sbieh lil kulhadd.

Joseph Brincat

Sep 8th 2010, 16:25

Idolatry and pique is what you are all after. You still think that the people are the same of the 1950/60's.
Look what happened at Paola.
Christ the King was the only feast celebrated. All of a sudden a small church was built and another feast cropped up. This year a court case was instituted against Christ the King Parish Priest by a new band club because this new club was being ignored in the celebrations, So, you see, the more pique the more people involved become important.
By the way, nowadays there are at least three statues of Christ the King all wishing to be hoisted on the main square column.

D. Muscat

Sep 8th 2010, 16:20

Kummissjoni tal-knisja dwar in-nar! Verament BANALI U x'se taghmel din? Tanalizza l-materjal f'laboratorju fil-kurja t'Ghawdex?!?! Tidhol fuq dik tal-gvern maghmula minn Chemists?!?! X'konfusjoni mentali!

Ernest Vella

Sep 8th 2010, 16:16

Mons. Gouder m'ghandux x'jaqsam ghax dak mad-Djocesi ta' Malta qieghed...id-divorzju huwa hazin...u l-esagerazzjonijiet fil-festa huma hazin u jistghu ikunu perikoluzi...Imma hija verita li l-festa Maltija, festa socjo-religjuza hija parti min kultura mediteranja li iva bla nar ma tkunx l-istess...imma bla nar mhux b'esagerazzjoni ta nar

x'kien qed jaghmel dak in-nar kollu gewwa l-mahzen...u l-iskorta ma rathiex illegali l-bicca...ma nistghux inhalltu l-affarijiet.

Il-Kumissjoni dwar in-nar mhux ser tghid lil tan-nar x'jaghmlu ghax m'humiex taht l-awtorita tal-Knisja...li jista biss jara li ma jinxtarax iktar milli mehtieg u jwissi lil dawk li jahdmu dan in-nar

Karl Consiglio

Sep 8th 2010, 16:06

Colin Schembri,

Le ghajjejtuna intkom blis-storbju barbaru tal-fireworks, hanna kull dritt nibqaw nikkomentaw.

martin chetcuti

Sep 8th 2010, 16:05

Bil Malti u nahseb ukoll bl'Ghawdxi nghidu '' Kapell ma jmejjilx Kapell iehor'' u hekk kien x'tistenna.

Mark Spiteri

Sep 8th 2010, 16:05

Mela qomna issa ! ?

Ronald Cauchi

Sep 8th 2010, 16:02

So according to Mons Gouder its a sin for someone to vote for divorce even if he/she is a widowed pensioner with no axe to grind, but if you contribute to the death of innumerable people by stating that" fireworks are associated with religious feasts" and that these deaths "blemish religious feasts" then its all perfectly all right and the church bears no responsibility for these deaths. How Machiavellan can one get?

Colin Schembri

Sep 8th 2010, 15:55

Issa qatawha ta, anke inthom tat-times. L-istess storja u l-istess kummenti. aqbdu sugett iehor ghax ghajjejtuna. Grazzi.

chris cachia

Sep 8th 2010, 15:52

I am impressed with the support by the Gozo Bishop for the Xaghra parish priest! No wonder things don't change within the church! It seems that the feast was more spiritually important than the soliderity with the victim's family ... but no they where not from Xaghra so no need to cancel anything...but we did organise a collection - very mpressed! Why doesn't the church encourage each parish to source out fireworks from another parish. This way all factories are busy anyway, but if there is another tragedy it's outside the parish, so the "holy" feasts will not be cancelled. A collection will be encouraged!

Finally, why is the Gozo church setting-up it's own commission? Can't the church at least agree on having one united commission to study ALL situations and creat some common directives, if any!

R.Borg

Sep 8th 2010, 15:45

Mhux biex naqtghalek qalbek, Eccellenza, imma ma taghmel xejn lanqas jekk titwaqqaf kummissjoni mhallta mal-Arcidjocesi ta' Malta.
Ma rnexxilux il-Perit Dom Mintoff jikkontrollahom hu meta kien Prim Ministru ta' Malta wara tragedja simili se jikkontrollawhom l-Isqfijiet ta' Malta u Ghawdex.
Ghandkom cans.
Hemm hafna 'issues' involuti.
Pero' hemm soluzzjoni li tidher 'far-fetched': in-nies ma jaghtux aktar flus ghan-nar.
'WISHFUL THINKING AND PLANNING'.
In-nies ha tgerger fuq il-kontijiet tad-dawl u tal-ilma, ha tgerger fuq iz-zieda tal-hobz, ha tgerger fuq iz-zieda tal-gas - hwejjeg essenzjali ta' kulljum - imma mbaghad ikomplu jaghtu ghan-nar anke jekk jafu li jistghu jmutu n-nies.
ARAW X'GHAMA!
Libera nos Domine!

Roger Eler

Sep 8th 2010, 15:34

"The bishop expressed appreciation for the dedication and love shown by the parish priests of Fontana and Xewkija, where the victims lived. ."

Wow nice way the parish priest of Fontana showed the appreciation.. "yeah... let's do the feast just the same ... who cares if these guys died because they were storing our fireworks.. " DISGUSTING!