M.U.S.E.U.M. Kirkop
21, St.Roque Street
Kirkop ZRQ10
Malta

Tel: (+356) 21 68 91 85

Email: kirkop@sdcmuseum.org

The first seeds of the Society of Christian Doctrine, commonly known as MUSEUM, in Kirkop were sown by Pio Cassar, one of the society’s members from Siggiewi, when in 1950 he encountered a sixteen year old Kirkop chap, Salvu Debono. He persuaded him to start attending catechism sessions at the society’s centre in the nearby village of Gudja. Salvu started attending regularly and even attended the general gatherings of the society being held in the church of Saint Catherine of Italy in Valletta. It was during one of these gatherings that Salvu was introduced to the founder of the society, the Blessed George Preca. Some time later the thirteen year old Leonard Farrugia joined Salvu on his trips to Gudja, and in a short time the number quickly rose to fifteen. These trips to Gudja continued for around two years.The Kirkop Parish Priest, Father Michael Spiteri, was very enthusiastic about the idea, when Matthew Pace, another member of the society, told him that the society had plans to open a centre in his parish. Several attempts were made to find a place and in the end one was acquired from Carmela Schembri nee Grech, who proved herself to be a great benefactress of the society. The place was situated at 41 Saint Roque street.

These were difficult times for the centre. Gerald Schembri from Zabbar and other members together some helpers, worked hard to repair the place, which was more like an old farmhouse, and make it a decent place to accept catechism lessons. Finally, on the 10^th February 1952 the place was inaugurated and blessed by his Grace the Archbishop Sir Michael Gonzi. Gerald Schembri was chosen as the first Superior of the centre. On the 10^th July of the same year the founder of the society, the Blessed George Preca visited the centre for the first time and on the 10^th August the first children prepared for the first time at the centre, received their First Holy Communion.

 
As time passed, the members felt the need to give the place a general face lift and make it more suitable for modern pastoral needs. So in 1967 works were initiated to rebuild the centre. The first foundation stone of the new building was laid and blessed by his Grace, Bishop Emanuel Gerada on the 28^th January 1968. However due to various reasons these works took till 1979 to be completed, tough at no time did the centre stop functioning. In early 1970 the centre passed from one of its most difficult moments, when four of its members left the society and another two went to work for the society in Australia. Four members from Siggiewi came to give a helping hand and Mr. Louis Vella who hails from Qrendi was chosen as the new superior of the centre. During a ceremony for fourteen new elect youngsters held in October of that same year, the Parish Priest Fr. Angelo Vella inaugurated and blessed the new chapel.

It is a point to note that although the centre encountered some difficult times, however these gave fruit. Several religious vocations were the result of the spiritual formation received at the centre. Also in 1985 and 1991 the centre provided the church with two lay missionary vocations when firstly Mr. Paul Farrugia went to Sudan and then Mr. Joe Cassar left for Kenya were they are still giving their service to the church and the society. Let us all pray that the centre remains a means to spread the good news of the Lord and help the church in the difficult task of building the kingdom of God.