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M.U.S.E.U.M.
Gudja
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| About Us | ||
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The M.U.S.E.U.M. at Gudja The first MUSEUM branch at Gudja was opened way back in 1914. Up until that time, sixteen centres had since been opened. The details of the opening of Gudja Branch no. 17 are not known; what we do know however is that from March of that year, some SDC Members from Luqa, amongst them architect Andre` Micallef (1884-1966) and teacher Ganmari Ellul (1891-1942), used to come to Gudja everyday at Door no. 8 Triq l-Annunzjata to teach doctrine. In a few time, some youths from Gudja joined these SDC members and in Christmas of that year, fifteen young men from Gudja joined the Society. Gaetano Grixti, a tailor and a well-educated person, was appointed as the first superior of this new branch. Apart from the teaching of children, conferences for adults (¬¬¬which proved to be very popular) used to be held every Sunday. After some time these SDC members hired another place (where today stands the La Stella Band Club) to serve as a branch. But due to various circumstances, these members at Gudja branch were leaving the Society. In 1920, Superior Grixti went to America and the four remaining SDC members were faced with various difficulties until the branch had to close in 1926. |
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Opened again About nine years had now passed and some youths from Gudja wished to join the Society and to open a branch again in this village. On the 21st January 1936, Gakomin Gatt asked Superior General Eugenio Borg about this possibility, but the answer from Superior General was that those who wished to join the Society should for the time being attend the Ghaxaq branch, and then see what could be actually be done.
About two weeks later, St George Preca himself came to Gudja where he held a meeting in St Catherine’s Chapel. After some days, St George came again and this time he only gathered unmarried men at the house of a notary Door no. 37, Triq il-Kbira. After the meeting he promised those who wished to join the SDC that he was to send Guzeppi Maniscalco, from Bormla to set up a new branch. Superior Maniscalco began to come to Gudja together with SDC members Cikku Micallef and Guzzeppi Mizzi from Birgu. |
The new branch was opened by St George Preca himself on the 12th February 1936 (the date of the founder’s birthday) and two months later the branch was given number XXXIII. The members used the outer room of Notary Frangisku Farrugia to hold their meetings. But although the members weren’t liable to any hiring payment, the place didn’t have enough space and so after some time, they hired a house in Door 167, Triq il-Kbira. There the upper classes of SDC were organised and on the 15th November 1936 the first ceremony of the Maghzulin class and Candidates was held. After some time, the branch was transferred to Door no. 15, Triq Santa Katerina. It was here that the doctrine for young children preparing to receive the First Holy Communion began to take place. |
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War Time Superior Maniscalco saw that the cab (karozzin) wasn’t serving him well and so he decided to buy a car (something which was very rare during that time apart from it being expensive to buy). But a few time after the commencement of the war, all cars were collected, including Superior Maniscalco’s car. Consequently the three SDC members attending at Gudja coming from other villages couldn’t attend any more.
Besides that, the house that was used as a branch was taken by the goverment as a place for refugees coming from Cottonera. One of these refugees was SDC member Guzeppi Mizzi, who came here together with his family. There were also SDC members Felice Dalli from Tarxien and Wenzu Dingli from Birgu.
Guzeppi Mizzi in 1940 was appointed superior instead of Guzeppi Maniscalco.
During the war, Gudja branch contnued with its work as best as it could. During the week, the meetings were held at the Annunciation Chapel while on Sunday members used to gather at SDC member Gakomin Gatt’s house. |
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After the War After the war was over, in 1944, SDC members that were refugees returned to their respective villages. Replacing these members came Guzeppi Camilleri and Ganni Zammit from Paola. Gakomin Gatt, from Gudja, was chosen as the new Gudja branch superior. In November 1944, lessons for children resumed as usual at Door no. 12, Triq Santa Marija and in January 1945 conferences for male adults began to be held every Sunday. In 1952, Superior Gakomin Gatt retired for some time due to personal reasons and meanwhile Guzeppi Camilleri acted as superior till 1954, when Gakomin Gatt was again Gudja’s branch superior. |
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The Present Premises In 1952, the building of a public primary school was finished and so, when the premises no. 23, Triq Santa Marija, that used to serve as a school was now empty, SDC hired this place to be used as a branch, since this place was bigger than the previous one. On the 11th October 1952, at 7am, mass was celebrated at the new branch by Dun Gwann Briffa Brincati where children and benefactors attended. After mass, the parish priest Dun Gerald Frendo, consecrated the branch to the hearts of Jesus and Our Lady. At 5.30 pm the new branch was blessed and inaugurated by his Eccelency Mgr Bishop Emmanuel Galea. Superior Francesco Saliba (who had then to become the Second General Superior) addressed his Eccelency. |
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Celebrations at the 25th anniversary from the opening of Gudja Branch Between the 16th and the 23rd of April 1961, a week of activities was held to commemorate the 25th anniversary from the opening of Branch no. XXXIII. On Friday 21st April St George Preca gave a lesson to the public. The program of activities was concluded with the Te Deum and the Sacramental Blessing at Gudja Parish Church on Sunday in the afternoon. |
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New Superior Superior Gakomin Gatt retired from his post in 1963 and he was chosen as Honorary Superior. Guzeppi Vella KBO (Kunsill Buon Ordni, today known as the Executive Regional Council) was chosen as a delegate superior until on the 23 July 1964, Superior General appointed Guzeppi Azzopardi from Gudja as a provisional superior. He ran the branch for 14 years. The premises of the branch donated to SDC Another important story in the history of Gudja branch took place on the 22nd August 1974, when the owner of the premises, Mr Salvatore Victor Zammit, who was living in Australia, donated the place to SDC for catechetical purposes. A commemorative placard was placed on the outer walls of the premise which was inaugarated and blessed by Parish Priest Vincent Balzan on the 29th September 1974. |
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New superiors On June 1977, Superior Azzopardi was chosen as a KBO Superior and Emanuel Farrugia from Gudja was chosen as the new superior. Since now the premises were property of MUSEUM, various construction works took place. On August 1982, Superior Farrugia resigned due to personal reasons, with Superior Michael Angelo Spiteri, again from the same village, replacing him. Work on a new chapel started until it was inauguarated on August 1985. Various construction works were also held. In 1986, the branch celebrated its 50th anniversary with various activities being held in September of that year, including a thanksgiving mass at the Gudja Parish Church. On 23rd September 2007, Superior General appointed Carmel Farrugia from Zurrieq to serve as a new superior. |
