The monument foundations being laid.

The archives at the Mother House in Rome show that several attempts were made during the 19th century to establish the Institute of the Christian Brothers in Malta. However, it was mainly as a result of the Cambes Law (on the separation of the Church and State) in France that the Brothers actually came to Malta.

Sir Charles Mansfield Clarke, 3rd Baronet, Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Malta (1903-1907), in 1903 authorised Bro. Arbon François to open a Lasallian school on the island. The premises which housed De La Salle College at Cospicua in 1903 were at 96, Strada Buongiorno. Prior to the arrival of the Brothers, these premises were initially used as a government school and later by the Sisters of St Joseph before the opening of their Sliema school.

The first day of school was on November 3, 1903. The Brother Director and founder of De La Salle College in Malta was Bro. Benoit Constant (1903-1905).

The first decade of the college was very unstable as the school population fluctuated from month to month. Under the new director, Arbon François (1907-1912), extracurricular activities became an integral feature of the college. These activities included the annual celebration of the patron saint, the yearly First Holy Communion, choir singing, prize-giving ceremonies and social evenings. “A tribute of praise… is due to the Rev. Superior… and to all other Freres, who do not fail to take advantage of every opportunity and to do their utmost to impart a good, sound education to the boys attending their school.” (Malta Herald, 1907)

From 1915 to 1918, the student population increased slowly but steadily. During this period, the first scholarships at De La Salle College were launched and successful candidates joined the Dockyard course. The entrance examination to the Dockyard, which consisted of three papers in arithmetic, English and knowledge of the British Empire, was highly competitive. Some 400 candidates from all over the island sat for this examination twice a year to fill an average of 30 to 40 places each time.

On August 18, 1916, Brother Alphonsus Leo was put in charge of the Dockyard course and under his direction, students obtained very successful results in the Dockyard examination. Owing to this success, the chronicler, Bro. Felix Tarile, reported in the Historique that “immediately the college started to emerge from the sad depths of the early days; pupils flocked to us from all quarters. These fruitful years allowed us to liquidate the debt of the first 12 years”.

The monument slowly takes shape.

These years marked the Brothers’ determination to move to a more suitable place. Their old premises had grown too small for the needs of the community and a fast-developing college. In July 1935, a plot of land was found. It was owned by Carmelo Pace of Vittoriosa. On obtaining approval from the Superior General, Brother Lambert, the director (1929-1935), signed a provisional agreement on July 18, which was confirmed on August 12, between Carmelo Pace, the proprietor, and Dr Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici, on behalf of the Brothers.

After eight months of anguish, and of patient and prudent efforts, the Brothers in June 1936 could start building without any further delay. On March 29, 1937, the foundation stone of the new De La Salle College was laid. Dr Joseph Damato was the chief architect. The cramped conditions of Strada Buongiorno gave way to spacious grounds and open spaces. 1938 was the last year at Strada Buongiorno.

On January 3, 1939, 370 students assembled at the grande salle of the new De la Salle College at Vittoriosa. Bro. Tarile Felix, director (1935-1941) and chronicler of the school reported this occasion with an unmistakable tone of great elation and satisfaction to which Prof. Victor Mallia Milanes, in Volume 1 Study in Growth, adds: “It was a grand moment. The students, gathered in the new hall, could now be asked to look back with a mixture of pride and pathos. De La Salle College had a past, a tradition, entirely its own.”

Over a period of 50 years, De La Salle prepared excellent candidates for entry into the Dockyard. Several of these workmen became the backbone of the foremost industrial enterprise on the island

No sooner had the Brothers and the students ended the year’s work, World War II broke out. The air raid of Saturday, July 6, 1940, caused damage to the Brothers’ property. With the Dorset Regiment manning the anti-aircraft guns on the Verdala Bastions overlooking the college, the Brothers, reluctantly and against their own wishes, decided to ask the Stella Maris Community at Gżira for accommodation. The following day they left De La Salle College and were welcomed by their confreres in Gżira.

From left: The mosaic being installed, guests gathered for the inauguration ceremony and the monument dedicated to St John Baptist De La Salle, the founder of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.

Concern for the education of their students and financial matters were the two primary issues at stake. The Brothers decided to contact the Missionary Society of St Paul for the possible use of the oratory at Birkirkara as a temporary school. On August 21, 1940, it was school as usual at Birkirkara. De la Salle was opened again for business at Tal-Ħawli 43 months later.

Suffice it to say that during the war years, the Brothers were literally living from hand to mouth. Though reeling under the impact of war, they tried to put that distressing experience behind them, so as to start planning ahead and face the challenging task of reconstruction. From then on, the Tal-Ħawli 10-acre plot, acquired on perpetual lease, has grown into the national institution it is today.

Over a period of 50 years, De La Salle prepared excellent candidates for entry into the Dockyard. Several of these workmen became the backbone of the foremost industrial enterprise on the island. For 16-year-olds to have passed their Dockyard entry examination was an achievement and, doubtless, these teenagers knew they owed their success to their excellent preparation at De La Salle. These youngsters, on the threshold of manhood, and flushed with the prospect of earning a salary while still learning a trade, responded generously to two principal appeals made by the Brothers.

Students who were successful in the 1949 Dockyard examination contributed their first weekly salary towards the purchase of the statue of Our Lady and that of Bernardette. The lapidary inscription reads: “A group of successful candidates/H.M. Dockyard apprentices examination 1949/Thankfully erect a statue to Our Lady.” These statues were placed in a grotto, which stands on the high ground facing the main entrance. This project was unveiled on May 6, 1950.

In 1951, the 1,500 schools and colleges of the De La Salle Order spanning the five continents celebrated the third centenary of the birth of their founder, St John Baptist De La Salle. Festivities and commemorations took place to record this historic event. It was in that year that the college students, who were earnestly preparing themselves to enter the Dockyard, thought of honouring the patron saint of their Alma Mater in a most fitting and original way.

Like their predecessors, they resolved to donate their first weekly salary towards the erection of a statue of the saint if they too were successful in their Dockyard entrance examination. Their proposal was met with general approval and between the centenary year and 1959, about 450 grateful Dockyard apprentices generously contributed the sum of £860 to a special fund.

The question of having the statue made was tackled three years later. The organising committee lost no time in contacting various local and foreign sculptors in an attempt to find someone to whom to commission the work. It soon became obvious that the amount collected was insufficient to cover the cost of the statue and pedestal.

From left: Superior General Bro. Charles Henry Buttimer, College Director Bro. Edward Galea and Prof. Emvin Cremona.

Consequently, at an extraordinary meeting held on June 17, 1962, it was agreed to contact Chev. Emvin Cremona, fresh from his imposing Pauline exhibition, and seek his advice. He was asked to produce sketches for a monument that would not involve too great an expense. The renowned artist first suggested that the monument be done as a basso rilievo. However, this original plan was discarded for a full-length portrait of the founder in colourful mosaic which would be more original and impressive.

It was 1967, the year in which the Brothers held worldwide celebrations in honour of their new saint, Brother Benild, who in 1937 had been the director of their school in Sauges, France. The canonisation was held in Rome on Sunday, October 29, 1967.

There was, in 1967, yet another great celebration at De la Salle: the visit of Brother Charles Henry Buttimer, Superior General (1966-1976). On May 23, he was greeted at Luqa Airport by college students and Brothers. Three days later, in the presence of 800 people, among whom were the highest ecclesiastical authorities, government ministers, members of the diplomatic corps, many parents and relatives of the Brothers and a host of Old Lasallians, the Superior General unveiled the monument of St John Baptist De la Salle. Archbishop Michael Gonzi blessed this act of love towards the Brothers.

The monument, which lends an aura of majesty to the equally impressive entrance to De La Salle College, stands on a circular base 7.3m in diameter, in the centre of which rises a 10.6m concrete column, 2.4m wide and 1m thick.

The side facing the college drive is covered with mosaic and represents St John Baptist De la Salle. He is seen holding an open book with the words: In Pvero Spes (there is hope in youth). On his left, there are two apprentices. One has his eyes raised to the founder while the other is observing four tools and symbols – a hammer, a set square, a lightning bolt and a cogwheel – all representing the various trades practised at the Dockyard.

The elongated figures, made up of some 100,000 pieces of mosaic, blend together into 120 colourful hues, and combine to create an atmosphere of splendour which never fails to affect onlookers. This especially happens when the rays of sunset strike as evening falls. This was an aspect taken into careful consideration by Prof. Cremona, who spent quite some time in the neighbourhood observing the path of the sun, leading him to decide to build the monument at a slanting angle, that is, not directly facing the main driveway.

This mosaic work was executed by Messrs Ferrari e Bacci of Lucca, Italy. On the other side of the column, an inscription reads: To honour St John Baptist De La Salle/College students H.M. Dockyard/1951-1959.

A parchment containing the names of all the contributors, 475 in all, was enclosed in a hollow especially built within the block itself. The bulk of the whole structure in white imitation granite was the work of Gregory Schembri of Siġġiewi and of Messrs Paul Sammut, mosaic contractors of Lija. The artistic bronze decorations on and around the monument were made in the brass foundry of Messrs Francis Abela & Sons of Hamrun, while Mr L. Micallef was responsible for the installation of electricity and Mr J. Bezzina for digging and laying the foundations.

All former Lasallians feel proud that the dream of the 1951-1959 student groups has been given substance in this original work of one of our foremost Maltese artists

“Monuments serve to keep alive the memory of persons and events. Our island-home is full of them and we are about to add one more to this imposing collection.” With these words, Bro. Edward Galea, director of the college (1963-1968, 1971-1974), introduced his address to the gathering. He added that the monument was by no means the first of its kind as, spread all over Malta, there were 12 other reminders of St La Salle and of his beneficent work. Eight were buildings, such as De la Salle College, Stella Maris College, and St Michael’s Training College. The other four, historic because of their age, were the De La Salle Palace in Republic Street, Valletta (built c. 1600) and three De La Salle memorial slabs in the pavement of St John’s Co-Cathedral.

Bro Edward said: “It was in 1961 that Professor Emvin V. Cremona was approached and invited to execute the work. There were setbacks; the original idea of a statue or a relief had to be sacrificed because of the expenses involved. From discussion, a solution emerged: Professor Cremona suggested the present grandiose monument and helped vigorously in its execution. And each youngster at De La Salle College from now onwards ‘by the vision splendid is on his way attended’.”

All former Lasallians feel proud that the dream of the 1951-1959 student groups has been given substance in this original work of one of our foremost Maltese artists. Not only have past students of the college honoured their patron’s memory and embellished the grounds of the college, they have also enriched their island with a work of national importance. The site on which the college is built no longer deserves the name Tal-Ħawli (the ‘barren land’). Art, culture and vision have prevailed.

This very contrast between barrenness and art is perhaps symbolic of the saint and his brotherhood’s achievement. He undertook his most delicate work of art, that is, the moulding of a child’s soul, and those who were fired by this ideal and followed his example did not spare themselves. Actually, they turned ‘the desert into a garden… joy and gladness shall be found there, thanksgiving and the voice of melody’ (Is. 51, 3).