Pauline history, culture and faith

Pauline devotees will be heading to Valletta in the coming days for a programme of activities the Għaqda tal-Pawlini will be holding on the occasion of its 40th anniversary that coincides with the 1,950th anniversary of St Paul’s arrival in Malta.

The highlight of the activities will be an exhibition themed History, Culture And Faith, which aims to shed light on the Pauline association’s history. The association is the main drive behind the annual February 10 celebrations marking St Paul’s shipwreck on the island. Its history is intimately intertwined with the Pauline cult in the island, which cannot be separated from the faith that moulded the national identity.

On display will be a collection of articles from various societies around the archipelago that share the same affinity to the missionary apostle. The main attraction will be a set of designs by artist and master Emvin Cremona done on the occasion of the 1960 centenary celebrations. The designs are being loaned to the Għaqda tal-Pawlini for the occasion by the Catholic Institute of Floriana.

The archpriest, Canon Alfred Camilleri said the 1,950th anniversary of St Paul’s shipwreck was a striking moment for the Church in Malta because it reminded everyone that throughout the unfolding of centuries the Maltese unabatedly continued to treasure their Christian heritage. “This anniversary reminds us that the shipwreck of St Paul on our shores is intrinsically a tragic episode turned into a gift of grace through divine intervention. What appeared to be a misfortune for the shipwrecked people became our gain. What seemed a potentially great loss translated into an immense fortune,” Canon Camilleri said.

The programme of events kicks off on Sunday when the statue of St Paul will be carried out of its niche and placed under the central arch of the main church aisle.

Sung Mass will be celebrated at 10 a.m. followed by the inauguration of a plaque marking the 1,950th anniversary of the shipwreck.

Monday is dedicated to children. Mass will be said at 6.30 p.m.

The exhibition will be opened at the premises of La Valette band club in Republic Street, Valletta by Paul Asciak, founder-president of Għaqda tal-Pawlini.

Fr Marcello Ghirlando OFM will give a talk themed 1950 Years Since The Arrival Of St Paul In Malta – An Event Guided By Divine Providence, A Blessing For The Islands at 7 p.m. on Tuesday and celebration of the Eucharist in the Byzantine rite will take place on Wednesday at 6.30 p.m. It will be conducted by the rector of the Greek Orthodox Community, Archimandrite Mgr George Mifsud Montanaro. A concert by the brass band of the philharmonic society St Sebastian of Qormi at the La Vallette band club will be held on the same day at 8 p.m. A Eucharistic adoration will be held on Thursday and Mass will be held on Friday at 6.30 p.m. animated by the members of the Neo-Catechumenal Group of Valletta followed by a performance by the La Valette band at its premises at 8 p.m.

Outdoor celebrations kick off at 10.30 a.m. on Saturday when the band of the Society Our Lady of Mount Carmel of Balluta holds a march in Valletta. In the evening, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech leads a Eucharistic celebration together with the Reverend Chapter of the Collegiate. This will be followed by a social activity in front of the church.

Celebrations reach their climax on October 17, the commemoration day of the 1,950th anniversary of the shipwreck. Archbishop Paul Cremona will lead a pontifical celebration at 9.15 a.m. A solemn procession with the artistic statue of St Paul which, for the first time in its history will follow a route completely within the confines of the parish, starts at 5.30 p.m. When the procession reaches the Great Siege Bell Monument, the statue will be placed near the bell facing the entrance of the Grand Harbour and the archpriest will conduct a ceremony which, since its inception, has been referred to as “the solemn declaration of faith”.

The ceremony will come to an end by an aerial fireworks display over Grand Harbour.