Posts Tagged ‘bulettin’

  • WALKING WITH THE DEAD

    “As soon as they saw us approaching with our horses, some shop owners hurried to close their doors in order to show us that we were not welcome,” remembered 74 year old, Alfred Mifsud. “This happenned mostly in the villages of Ħal-Kirkop and Safi, and in other areas of northern Malta. It was more a reaction to the sense of disgust which people felt towards our job rather than because of any superstitious fear that we could attract death to their doorstep. In fact, those who did let us in their shops to drink a cup of tea, had a number of reserved cups for us, since other clients would refuse to use them.”

    In the old days, it was hard to be an undertaker. Work started from the early hours, when it was still dark, as it took long to prepare the horses and the carriages, and then to drive to church. The deceased was placed in a coffin and was generally carried on the shoulder, from his house to the chapel or church where mass was celebrated in the early morning, so that those who attended, could go to work soon after. In the meantime, the undertakers would stay outside, waiting to carry the coffin to the cemetery.

    Albert and Alfred Mifsud at San Nikola Cemetery (Photo - Fiona Vella) (2)“By that time, after travelling the long road on a hard seat in the cold, we would be yearning for a cup of tea. Yet there were moments when where it not for the kindness of the church’s sacristan, we would be bound to wait for hours before we could drink something warm.”

    Certainly, this was a minor discomfort when considering what the rest of the job entailed.

    “People might think that undertakers will eventually get used to death and will become numb to the pain which it brings with it. However, they are definitely mistaken because we are often saddened by the suffering, especially when children are somehow involved. How can you remain indifferent when you see parents burying their child or when you hear the cry of the young ones when they see their mum or dad being hauled underground?”

    A shudder ran through me and I wondered how anyone could withstand to do such a job.

    “You learn to accept death as part of the circumstances of life and consider your job just like any other. You do your duty as best as you can in order to see that everything will run smoothly and that your client is served well.”

    When Alfred was twelve years old, he was already assisting his dad, who was also an undertaker, to prepare the deceased for burial. He also gave a hand to other undertakers by helping them out in cemeteries. Even as a child, this work did not upset him and he was never afraid of dead people or burial grounds.

    “Our family has been doing this work for more than a century now. It was Lukardu Pace, my father’s uncle, who started a career in this sector, by carrying the dead in funeral carriages. After he died in a traffic accident, my father Fidiel, who is now 93 years old, took over this job, and he introduced us in this work. Eventually it was only me who became a funeral carriage driver besides being an undertaker. However my brothers opened another business which is related to funerals.”

    As Alfred began to show me some old photographs of the different funeral carriages that were available at the time, I realized that although death does not differentiate between the rich and the poor, nonetheless, affluent persons still insisted to distinguish themselves from others until the very end.

    Albert and Alfred Mifsud at San Nikola Cemetery (Photo - Fiona Vella) (1)“Prosperous families used the carriage known as ‘tal-prima’ which was very elaborate and richly designed with golden sculpture. It was made of mahogany and it was drawn by four black horses that were adorned with feathers and an elegant pall. Then there was ‘tas-sekonda’ carriage which was made of cheaper painted wood and was accompanied by two black horses. A carriage painted in white and decorated with flowers was utilized to carry dead children and teenagers. In this case, the black horses were dressed with a white pall which was embellished with golden embroidery. ”

    Alas, there was no pomposity reserved for the destitute ones, especially if they had no family. The same thing applied to those who were in trouble with the Church.

    “In the past, the Church had a much greater influence on the Maltese society. One was expected to receive the holy communion at least once a year, and a ticket known as ‘bulettin’ was given to those who adhered to this regulation. Those who did not, were not considered as part of the Church, and if they died, they became known as ‘ta’ bla preċett’. No priest would accompany them for their burial, and obviously, no mass would be celebrated. They would simply be carried away in a carriage and were buried in a particular section in the cemetery which was reserved for such people. I remember my father narrating how in such cases, the families of the deceased would insist with him to go and collect the dead relative during the night so that the neighbours will not see what was happenning. Then he would go and wait behind the cemetry’s door in order to be the first to enter once it opens, and hasten the burial before other people are around.”

    Alfred remarked that the tradition to celebrate a funeral mass started from the 1970s. Before that period, the family would only organize a short function prior to the burial. In fact, during this time, he used to manage to attend to three or four burials in a day. This was not anymore possible, once funerals included also a longer mass.

    “Along my 50-year career, I have witnessed many changes with regards to funerals. Amongst these, I remember many instances where the deceased was accompanied not only by family and friends, but also by members of a religious confraternity. There were also those who paid nuns and orphans from convents of charity in order to attend to their funerals.”

    Interesting information kept pouring out as Alfred recalled his long experience in this work. Although happily married to Mary, he still reminisces the difficulty in his youth to find a partner, as many girls considered his work repulsive. Many years have passed from then on and the situation has somehow mitigated. However, Albert, his 29 year old son, who has followed his father’s career, told me that he had the same problem too.

    Undertakers Alfred and Albert Mifsud (Photo - Fiona Vella)“I have been fascinated by my father’s work since I was five. Somehow, I was never afraid to help him out in cemeteries and I preferred to be with him than to go to school. Yet, I can understand the discomfort that other people who are not involved in this sector might feel in these circumstances.”

    “By now, I have learnt to take everything in stride, even when I notice some people making superstitious signs at me or at our hearses. There are moments when people make it embarassingly evident that they are uncomfortable with my presence. I remember clearly a particular instance when a person was so perturbed when he saw me waiting behind him in a queue, that he refused to take the rest of the money from the salesgirl and ran out of the shop.”

    Just like his father, Albert admitted that when death is always on the order of the day, this job could engulf you with turmoil. Yet throughout these years, he was diligently coached by his father in order to learn how to protect himself from excessive grief, particularly by recognizing the significance of his work in alleviating this burden from the mourning family. Nevertheless, the fear of death is difficult to overcome, even when one faces it so many times.

    “Instead of helping you to take death lightly, probably this work might make you perceive the end in a more dreadful way, since you know clearly what awaits you,” Albert said as he smiled nervously.

    (This article was published in ‘Man Matters’ Supplement issued with The Times of Malta dated 19th December 2015)

    2015.12.19 / no responses / Category: Times of Malta

  • JEKK MA TEMMINX X’JIBQA’?

    It-twemmin huwa l-verità miżmuma fil-moħħ; il-fidi hija n-nar fil-qalb… Joseph Fort Newton (1880 – 1950)

    Il-Papa Benedittu XVI ġie u mar. Għal uħud din kienet miġja li qanqlet ferħ kbir u bil-ġiri marru bi ħġarhom biex jilqgħuh. Oħrajn forsi kienu xi ftit aktar xettiċi u filwaqt li numru minnhom intefgħu f’xi kantuniera biex ikunu preżenti mal-folla, ammont ieħor qagħdu d-dar isegwu bil-kwiet minn fuq it-TV. Indubbjament kien hemm ukoll dawk li l-wasla tal-Papa urtathom u għall-ebda raġuni fid-dinja ma riedu jiddedikaw lanqas sekonda waħda biex jaraw dak li kien qed jiġri.

    Imma dik hija l-libertà tal-ħsieb u tat-twemmin u fl-opinjoni tiegħi kulħadd għandu d-dritt jaħsibha kif irid, basta ma jxekkilx lil ħaddieħor fid-deċiżjonijiet tiegħu. Għax wara kollox, x’inhi l-fidi? X’inhu t-twemmin? Min ser imeri lill-ieħor li hu żgur li qiegħed fit-triq it-tajba? X’ċertezza għandna dwar dak li ġejna mgħallma sa minn meta konna tfal?Finalment kollox jagħlaq fuq element wieħed li jorbot kollox – il-fidi.

    U hekk kif konna qed ngħixu dawn il-waqtiet, ħabib ġdid tiegħi laqqagħni ma’ wieħed illi għalih il-fidi tagħmel parti essenzjali minn ħajtu. Fil-fatt għal Neville Attard il-ferħ tal-wasla tal-Papa kompla Neville Attard jestendi ruħu meta ftit tal-ġranet wara kellha tiġi ċċelebrata l-festa liturġika ta’ San Ġorġ Megalomartri, qaddis u patrun ta’ Ħal-Qormi, li lejh huwa għandu devozzjoni qawwija tant li wasslitu biex jibda kollezzjoni vasta.

    “Niċċelebraw l-festa liturġika ta’ San Ġorġ fit-23 t’April, id-data ta’ meta jingħad li hu ngħata l-martirju. Ta’ min insemmu wkoll illi dil-festa tiġi ċċelebbrata f’diversi pajjiżi oħra madwar id-dinja li għandhom qima kbira lejn dan il-qaddis,” bdieli d-diskors Neville hekk kif fetaħ il-bieb tad-dar sabiex jintroduċili l-kollezzjoni tiegħu.

    Mal-ewwel feġġew l-ewwel oġġetti ddedikati lil San Ġorġ…“Tridx nibda billi nurik dawn ir-relikwi? Għandi tliet tipi: din hija fragment ta’ għadma ta’Waħda mir-relikwi bix-xogħol tal-monaster San Ġorġ u dik hija biċċa mill-ħwejjeġ tiegħu filwaqt li hawnhekk  għandi ċ-ċertifikati maħruġa mill-Vatikan biex jikkonfermaw l-awtentiċità tagħhom. It-tielet relikwa tikkonsisti f’biċċa żgħira mill-istandard tiegħu li hemm  fil-bażilika paleo-kristjana ddedikata lil San Ġorġ f’Velabro f’Ruma imma din akkwistajtha mingħand anzjan tal-post u m’għandix ċertifikat tagħha.”

    B’sengħa kbira Neville ħoloq speċi ta’ kwadri biex jilqgħu fihom dawn ir-relikwi prezzjużi. Huwa jinqala’ sewwa fl-arti u fejn ma jasalx hu, isib min jgħinu.

    “Nippreferi li dawn id-dekorazzjonijiet isiru bi snajja tradizzjonali għax jidhirli li huma l-aktar xierqa fejn jidħlu affarijiet konnessi mar-reliġjon u l-Knisja.

    Hawnhekk per eżempju, fejn qed tara dan id-disinn tal-weraq bil-perli u l-ħajt tad-deheb, huwa xogħol tal-monaster li ħadmitli waħda mara.  Ix-xogħol tal-monaster jixbaħ ħafna lil dak tal-ganutell u jinħadem billi jiddawwar ħajt tad-deheb, waħda ħdejn l-oħra mal-kartun sakemm jiġi qisu rakkmu.

    Eżempju ieħor huwa dan il-kwadru li rregalali ħabib tiegħi fejn did-darba l-ornamenti ġew maħduma bil-qulling li jsir permezz ta’ karti tad-deheb mibrumin.

    Imbagħad dan huwa kwadru maqtugħ bl-arkett li jien komplejt inżejjen. Din it-teknika kienet popolari ħafna fl-antik: fejn inti jkollok ritratt tal-qaddisin poġġut fuq l-injam u mbagħad tlibbsu. Niftakar li dan kien tahuli missieri u jien iddekorajtu bil-lewlu u l-lazzijiet tad-deheb, mentri x-xagħar ta’ fuq għonq iż-żiemel u denbu għamilthom bir-rix li qgħadt innittef mill-anġlu tal-fibre-optic tan-nanna!”

    Dlonk ħarbitli tbissima u fil-pront tajt daqqa t’għajn wara Neville fejn kont naf li hemm nanntu Vitorja Sultana qed issegwi kollox. Imma malajr serraħt rasi għax sibtha qed tidħak u tiggustah.

    “Żarmali dar sħiħa biex ramahieli kollha b’dawn l-oġġetti ta’ San Ġorġ. Kelli sett tal-kċina wkoll neħħiehuli għax daqs kemm akkwista affarijiet, kellu bżonn aktar spazju. Imma x’nagħmel jekk dan hu l-Vitorja Sultana qed turini l-bulettin tal-1956passatemp u l-għaxqa tiegħu? Minn dejjem niftakru jħobb il-Knisja, il-funzjonijiet tagħha u l-qaddisin. Ilu jġemma’ l-istatwi sa minn ċkunitu u fil-fatt l-ewwel statwa ta’ San Ġorġ tajniehulu jiena u żewġi Leli ftit qabel ma għamel il-preċett. Sfortunatament żewġi miet għoxrin sena ilu u għalija Neville huwa kollox fid-dinja. Barra minn hekk jiena Ġorġjana daqsu u allura nieħu pjaċir inkompli miegħu. Tant hu hekk illi ftit ilu għal egħluq sninu xtrajtlu dik l-istatwa mdaqqsa tal-fidda,” irrakkuntatli n-nanna hekk kif anki hi bdiet iddawwarni fil-kmamar tad-dar.

    Neville beda jgħidli kif bdiet din il-kollezzjoni.

    “Kif qaltlek nannti, ilni ħafna dilettant tal-istatwi u l-qaddisin. Imma lejn San Ġorġ minn dejjem kont inħoss devozzjoni speċjali. Jista’ jkun peress li jiena Qormi u noqgħod fl-inħawi ta’ San Ġorġ, tgħammidt fil-Knisja ta’ San Ġorġ, mort l-iskola primarja ta’ San Ġorġ, kelli lin-nannu fratell mal-fratellanza tar-rużarju u l-għeruq tal-familja kollha huma Ġorġjani. Ma setax jonqos allura li meta ġieni f’rasi li nibda kollezzjoni, ddeċidejt li niddedikaha lilu.”

    L-oġġetti li jagħmlu parti minn dil-kollezzjoni huma bla tarf u minn kollox.

    “Għandi statwi, kwadri, ikoni, kalċi, ritratti, pitturi, muniti, kalendarji, djarji, domni, pipa, keychains, ċikkulata,  platti, kikkri, fliexken tal-ilma u l-inbid li jġibu ismu, basktijiet, partijiet minn uniformijiet Parti mill-kollezzjoni fejn hemm l-aħħar statwa tal-injamta’ skejjel u kulleġġi ddedikati lil San Ġorġ, ingravati, flokkijiet, brieret, velu tan-nisa Eġizzjani, xugamani, tapiti, mousepad tal-kompjuter, kartolini, santi bil-bizzilla tad-deheb u dawk magħrufin bħala taċ-ċikwejra u dan il-bulettin tan-nanna li jġib id-data tal-1956. Hemm ħafna iktar affarijiet, kif qed tara, fostom dawn il-frieket, l-imgħaref u l-kuċċarini bid-disinn ta’ San Ġorġ. La mmut jien, dawn il-kuċċarini beħsiebni nħallihom lill-Knisja ta’ San Ġorġ sabiex jintużaw għall-inċens tan-navetta.”

    Daqstant ieħor huma varji l-materjali li dawn huma magħmulin minnhom.

    “Ara, l-affarijiet huma stivati skont il-materjal tagħhom. Għandi oġġetti maħduma mit-tafal, resin, kompożizzjoni ta’ rħam, ħġieġ 3D, injam varju fostom dak taż-żebbuġ, fidda, parċmina tax-xemgħa, cameo maħdum mill-qoxra tal-fkieren, antaċċjoli, lewlu rqiq u oħxon, cross stitch u anki biċċa xogħol mill-ifjen maqtugħa fil-madreperla.”

    Stagħġibt kemm jeżistu affarijiet varji għalkemm kollha relatati mal-istess qaddis!

    “San Ġorġ huwa wieħed mill-aktar qaddisin bikrin tal-Kristjaneżmu fejn f’dawk iż-żminijiet il-Kristjani kienu ppersegwetati ħafna u kienu jinħbew taħt l-art biex jaħarbu mill-Il-kollezzjoni magħmula minn oġġetti ta' diversi materjalimewt. Flimkien magħhom dawn min jaf kemm ħbew dokumenti, rikordji u relikwi tal-qaddisin tagħhom. Imma sfortunatament meta Neruni kien ħaraq Ruma min jaf kemm minn dawn it-tifkiriet ġew meqruda għal dejjem. Akkost ta’ dan, xorta waħda jekk tfittex, issib bosta oġġetti nteressanti u souvenirs minn diversi ħwienet. Barra minn hekk jiena nħobb insiefer ħafna f’pajjiżi konnessi mar-reliġjon fejn naf li ser insib ħwienet kemm irrid ibiegħu dawn l-affarijiet.”

    Fil-fatt tista’ tgħid illi dil-kollezzjoni sservi wkoll ta’ vetrina dwar kif pajjiżi differenti jesprimu d-devozzjonijiet tagħhom lejn dan il-qaddis permezz tax-xogħolijiet u s-snajja’ tradizzjonali tagħhom.

    “Għandi xogħol mill-Brazil, Barċellona, Spanja, il-Muntanja Tabor, l-Etjopja, Ġenova, Bulgarija, Ingilterra u Ruma fost l-oħrajn. Imbagħad dan il-bajd tal-injam impitter bix-xeni tal-qaddisin xtrajtu mir-Russja u dan il-pupazz jew trajbu tat-tiben xtrajtu min-Napli u libbistu biex ġibtu jirrapreżenta lil San Ġorġ. Din l-istatwa kbira tal-injam hija l-aktar waħda riċenti f’dil-kollezzjoni u xtrajtha mill-Ġermanja. Fl-art imqaddsa naturalment insib oġġetti bir-radam!

    Post ieħor li żort huwa l-Eġittu fejn l-insara Kopti għandhom devozzjoni kbira lejn dan il-qaddis. Hemm tradizzjoni li tgħid illi l-fdalijiet ta’ San Ġorġ kienu ħaduhom l-insara Kopti u li dawn jippossjedu wkoll il-ktajjen li kien marbut bihom waqt il-martirju. Dawn il-ktajjen jinsabu fil-Kajr u d-devoti jistgħu jilbsuhom bħala devozzjoni u qima biex jaqalgħu l-grazzja ta’ dal-qaddis – att li naturalment jiena għamilt minn qalbi.”

    Huwa żar ukoll il-qabar ta’ San Ġorġ li jinsab f’Lydda, qrib Ġerusalemm. Għal qalbu wkoll hija l-bażilika ta’ Velabro f’Ruma fejn jinsab il-kranju (il-qurriegħa) ta’ San Ġorġ.

    “Fl-1984 din ir-relikwa kienet inġabet Ħal-Qormi u niftakar li kienu saru festi kbar. Imbagħad fl-2003 reġgħet żaret il-gżejjer tagħna, did-darba f’Għawdex u konna tlajna narawha.”

    Kont kurjuża dwar xi dettalji partikolari ta’ dil-kollezzjoni u Neville weġibni minnufih.

    “L-aktar oġġett ċkejken fih 22mm u hu magħmul mill-metall. L-akbar wieħed jikkonsisti fi statwa ta’ 4 piedi li kienet saret fuq ordni tiegħi mingħand l-iskultur Austin Camilleri Cauchi. Ġimgħa qabel il-L-ikbar statwa ta' San Ġorġfesta f’Ħal-Qormi niċċelebraw San Ġorġ tat-tfal fejn issir purċissjoni mill-pjazza ta’ San Franġisk sal-Knisja. Il-membri tal-kumitat u l-arċipriet kienu talbuni din l-istatwa biex jerfugħa t-tfal waqt il-purċissjoni. Jien aċċettajt u did-drawwa baqgħet issir kull sena. Din l-istatwa l-kbira hija għall-qalbi ferm peress li kienet l-ewwel oġġett li xtrajt ta’ dak il-kobor.

    Madanakollu hemm statwa oħra għażiża għalija. Hija l-aktar waħda antika, peress li għandha iżjed minn 100 sena. Tahieli l-ħabib tiegħi Charles Scerri peress li jaf kemm għandi għall-qalbi dan il-qaddis, akkost li dik kienet l-uniku statwa li kellu tiegħu u li kien jgħożża ferm.”

    Fil-fatt innutajt illi Neville għandu bosta ħbieb li jirrispettawh ħafna u rakkont partikolari tiegħu aktarx ikkonfermali għaliex.

    “Mhux l-ewwel darba li sifirt ma’ xi wħud minn sħabi li għandhom l-istess devozzjoni lejn San Ġorġ. Darba minnhom fis-sena 2000 tlajt Ġerusalemm ma’ wieħed minn ħbiebi u minn Pittura li pinġa Neville Attardhemm xtrajt fonti ċkejkna tal-ilma ta’ dan il-qaddis. Sieħbi, li huwa kollezzjonista fervent bħali, iddeċieda li ma jixtrix waħda bħalha imma meta rritornajna Malta, kull darba li jiġi għandi u jaraha kien jgħidli “Ara naqra, għal one dollar iċċaħadt minnha u ma xtrajtx bħalha!” Għaldaqstant meta rġajt tlajt Ġerusalemm fl-2008 wegħdtu li nipprova nsiblu waħda bħalha. Imma x’issib? Mhux b’dik id-data u wara dawk is-snin kollha! Domt indur u niġri sa l-aħħar ġurnata u daqs kemm qtajt qalbi, xtrajtlu xi ħaġ’oħra. F’ħin minnhom hekk kif konna qed nippreparaw biex nitilqu f’ħanut nilmaħ kaxxa mfawwra b’souvenirs antiki u fostom nara l-fonti tal-2000 li xtaq hu! Kienet l-aħħar waħda li kellu u tgħidx kif ħtaftha f’idi mill-ewwel. Meta rregalajtha lil sieħbi u għedtlu l-istorja kollha ovvjament apprezzaha mmens.”

    Il-figuri ta’ San Ġorġ ma jistgħux ma jimpressjonawkx. Bosta jirrappreżentawh bħala suldat Ruman kuraġġjuż u kburi, riekeb fuq żiemel bajdani filwaqt li qed jissielet ma’ draguni ta’ kull xorta.

    “Hemm ħafna stejjer u leġġendi mdawwra ma’ San Ġorġ imma ħafna minnhom huma simboliċi. Iż-żiemel abjad jirrapreżenta liż-żiemel tal-apokalissi. Id-dragun huwa s-simbolu tal-ħażen. Il-prinċipessa li ġieli tidher fil-pitturi qed tiġi salvata minn San Ġorġ hija l-Knisja.”

    San Ġorġ huwa wkoll il-patrun ta’ diversi pajjiżi fostom ta’ Għawdex, tal-Ġorġja u tal-Ingilterra. Din tal-aħħar fil-fatt kienet li nediet il-premju tal-George Cross li jingħata lil L-ewwel statwa tal-kollezzjoninies ċivili bħala ġieħ għall-atti ta’ erojiżmu u kuraġġ waqt ċirkustanzi ta’ perikli kbar. Malta ingħatat dan il-ġieħ fl-1942 u sal-lum dan għadu jagħmel parti mill-bandiera Maltija.

    “San Ġorġ huwa wkoll il-patrun tal-iscouts hekk kif ġie deċiż minn Baden-Powell li kien il-fundatur. Huwa wkoll il-patrun tas-suldati, tal-kavallerija, tal-arċiera, tal-bdiewa, tal-morda bir-ras, il-leprożi, il-pesta u s-sfilide.”

    Staqsejtu għala jirreferu għal San Ġorġ bħala megalomartri?

    “Għax sofra aktar minn martirju wieħed sakemm finalment qatgħulu rasu u qatluh. Għaldaqstant jista’ jkun illi apparti li f’idejh tidher il-palma li tissimbolizza l-martirju, jidhru wkoll tliet kuruni bil-ponot li jfissru li kien martri ta’ Kristu u li għadda minn tliet martirji.”

    Ridt nara xi jfisser għalih it-twemmin u r-reliġjon?

    “Ifissru ħafna u nemmen li għandhom ikunu parti mill-ħajja tagħna lkoll. Jekk ma temminx x’jibqa’?”

    L-imħabba li hu għandu lejn dal-qaddis tissarraf ukoll fl-għajnuna li huwa jagħti fil-Knisja ta’ San Ġorġ fejn fostom flimkien ma’ sħabu huwa jgħin fl-armar, fir-restawrar u biex jinġabru l-fondi għal diversi xogħlijiet li jkun hemm bżonn. Neville huwa wkoll l-organista u jieħu ħsieb il-kor tal-istess knisja.

    “Iva, flimkien ma’ Charlene li tistudja l-vuċi u tidderieġi lit-tfal tal-kor nħarreġ lit-tfal biex ikantaw u jipparteċipaw fil-funzjonijiet tal-Knisja. Hekk kif fi tfuliti għamlu miegħi, jiena nħobb ukollStatwi ta' San Ġorġ nispjegalhom it-tifsira tal-kant u t-tiżjin fil-knisja sabiex dawn jifhmu aħjar is-sinifikat ta’ dak li jkun qed iseħħ. Aħna nkantaw kant tradizzjonali bil-Latin u għalhekk huwa importanti li jkunu jafu sewwa x’inhuma jgħidu. Nużaw mużika sagra ta’ Mons Marco Frasina, dik Gregorjana u anki dik magħrufa bħala ‘ta’ Lourdes’. Dawk it-tfal li jinteressahom jingħaqdu magħna nixtieq ninfurmahom illi r-rehearsals isiru kull nhar ta’ Ġimgħa mis-6:30pm sas-7:30pm mal-orgni wara l-artal.

    Barra minn hekk għandna wkoll ir-radju tal-parroċċa ‘Leħen il-belt Ġorġjana’ li jxandar fuq 105.6fm u li aħna kburin ħafna bih. L-għan ta’ dan ir-radju huwa li  jxandar il-funzjonijiet tal-knisja u xi programmi relatati bħal ‘Mill-Knisja ‘l ġewwa’. Ix-xandiriet tiegħu jibdew minn Ras ir-Randan u jieqfu wara jum il-festa l-kbira ta’ San Ġorġ f’Ġunju.”

    Meta komplejna nitkellmu sirt naf illi Neville huwa wkoll għalliem tax-xogħol tal-fuħħar u l-crafts fid-Dar tal-Provvidenza s-Siġġiewi. Huwa studja l-arti fil-Kulleġġ De La Salle il-Belt Valletta u anki fil-Kulleġġ tal-arti u s-snajja’ li kien jinsab Tarġa Gap il-Mosta. Fil-fatt fil-kollezzjoni stajt nara wkoll xi xogħlijiet u pitturi minn tiegħu li naturalment huma dwar San Ġorġ.

    Poġġejna bil-qiegħda mal-mejda fil-kċina mdawwrin minn kull naħa bil-preżenza ta’ San Ġorġ li saħansitra kienet titla’ sas-saqaf. Xtaqt inkun naf jekk ormaj Neville jaħsibx li għandu biżżejjed oġġetti u jekk wasalx biex jieqaf?

    “Xhiex? Nieqaf? Lanqas biss tgħaddili minn rasi. Jien l-hena tiegħi nintasab hawn inħares lejhom u naħseb kif u fejn ser nagħmel aktar xkafef biex inżid aktar. Beħsiebni nimla’ kull m’hawn!”

    In-nanna Vitorja għolliet ħarsitha ‘l fuq u ħadet nifs qawwi l-ġewwa. Fl-istess ħin ġabitilna platt pudina li ħadmet hi stess mill-biskuttelli. “Kulu, kulu,” ħeġġitna. Ma tantx kellha titħabat wisq biex tikkonvinċina nieklu biċċa. Il-pudina kienet ħelwa u bnina daqs in-nanna Vitor!

    (Dan l-artiklu ġie ppubblikat fit-Torċa tal-25 t’April 2010)

    2010.04.25 / 4 responses / Category: Torca - Perspettivi