M.U.S.E.U.M. Rabat
MUSEUM, Triq ic-Caghki,
Rabat RBT06
Malta

Tel: (+356) 21 45 54 40

Email: rabat@sdcmuseum.org

The Society of Christian Doctrine started its activities at the Rabat locality in the beginning of the 1930’s. Up to then we had no MUSEUM presence in Rabat.  Rev . Anton Buhagiar was nominated parish priest in Rabat in 1930. He was very keen on religious education. Catechism classes were not so much organized, but with the help of the clergy and some lay catechists he did what he could to prepare young children for the sacraments. He was encouraged by some to get the services of the Society of Christian Doctrine, which was founded over twenty years before and was already spread in about twenty three parishes in Malta. At first he seemed to hesitate, perhaps, due to the fact that he had some problems with the Society of Christian Doctrine before he came to Rabat, when he was parish priest at Lija.

But the turning point came, when he was encouraged by the archbishop himself to open a MUSEUM branch. It was the year 1930 or 1931 when Mons. Mauro Caruana , then archbishop of Malta, came to Rabat to administer the sacrament of Confirmation. After the ceremony Rev.Buhagiar spoke to him about various problems of the parish, amongst which, the lack of catechists and hence catechism. The archbishop asked him if he had a MUSEUM in his parish and since it was not so, then Mons. Caruana encouraged the parish priest to make arrangements to have one.

The society was about to have the Church’s  approval. This encouraged the Rev. Buhagiar much more. They decided to contact the society. The bishop was to write to the then Superior General Eugenio Borg, and the parish priest was to contact Fr. Goerge Preca, the founder of the society. And so it was done. Some time later, the Superior General, went to the society’s branch at Siggiewi, which was established about three years before, in 1928.  Here he choose three members Carmelo Bonnici, Guzeppi Azzopardi and Carmelo Bezzina and told them that as from the day after, they were to go to Rabat to open a MUSEUM branch there. They were highly surprised by the news, but they obeyed. Bonnici was to be the superior. These three members were from Zebbug and they were the founding members of the society in Siggiewi. In fact Carmelo Bonnici was then local superior.

We don’t know exactly when they began to come to Rabat. Although the official opening of the first MUSEUM was on the 7^th of February 1933, they were already here in 1932. One of our late members, Nazju Azzopardi, who was then a boy attending the first activities of the society at Rabat, recalls that he  attended the ceremony at the Jesuit church in Valletta, in which the Archbishop gave the approval to the Society, which was held on May 1^st 1932. At first they had no place were to meet and hold regular activities. As it was usual for those days, the initial activities of the Society in a particular locality, consisted of public talks to adults and children in various places such as  the parish church and small chapels and this was also the case in Rabat. The small chapel of St.Sebastian was regularly used for such needs. It was nearly empty, rarely used. Benches were brought in and taken back on a horse ridden chart to accommodate people and children who came for talks. Carmelo Callus, the then assistant superior general, was a great helping hand to the members. He used to go around Rabat to bring children and youths to cathecism. The encouragement of the parish priest, Rev. Anton Buhagiar was never lacking. Things were not easy in those days. One has to remember that the only means of transport for the members was the bicycle. They used to come from Zebbug, everyday, after a day’s work with this means of transport and they had to return home in late evening, in pitch darkness in the same way.

A house was found which was to serve as the first official  MUSEUM premises in Rabat. It was in St. Paul’s street, number 58. The owner was from Hamrun, Mr. Anton Psaila who gave this house to the society for a  yearly rent of £17. The house was blessed by the parish priest, in the presence of the three members and an altar boy, Gaetano Galea, who was to become the local superior about thirty years later.

The parish priest announced the date in the church, and the branch was officially opened on the 7^th of February 1933, in the presence of the General Superior Eugenio Borg, and other personalities and the number XXVI was given to the Rabat branch. The boys were divided in several classes and as time passed more children began to attend. The parish priest used to urge parents not to neglect the religious education of their children, especially now, in view of the fact that they had a well organised museum branch. The children increased. More members had to come to Rabat, especially from Zebbug and Attard to give a helping hand since members from the locality were still not available. The catechism classes were well organised according to age groups from infants to youths.

In 1934, a new house for the branch was sought, and a much bigger premises was now available. It was found  in 9, Vicolo Catacombe, an area in Rabat known as “Dar Hanzira”. It was the residence of the rector of St. Paul’s Grotto, but at that time it was abandoned. The members of the society took it by rent and it was used as a branch from 1935 till June 1940, when war struck Malta. At first it was used for refugees and as a temporary hospital. Later it was taken by the regional protection officer who coordinated social assistance in wartime. To our misfortune, this house was given  to the same officer, after the war, and the society had to find another residence after the end of the war. War brought total havoc in every aspect of Maltese life and the members of the Society of Christian Doctrine had to suffer as well. By the time the war began, there was a number of adult members from the locality. Due to grievances of war, the members from Zebbug stopped attending the Rabat branch. There were many refugee members at Rabat from all about Malta, one of whom was John Schembri from Senglea, who acted as superior in those difficult times. The members did their duties as much as they could. They continued to organise catechism classes as where and when possible depending on circumstances. But activity never totally ceased and new activities such as catechism for children and adults  began in countryside churches  in the limits Rabat, where it was much more safe to gather people.

The war ended and  a problem arose. The MUSEUM members had to find another residence as the premises they had before the war was not to be available to them anymore, because it was given to somebody else. With the help of then archbishop himself, Mons. Micheal Gonzi, they were given permission to use a large old building near the parish church as the premises for activities.  This building is known as il-Kullegg  (the College).In the early sixties the members decided to have a new premises and after the acquisition of land from  the church authorities,  they built  a new branch in an area known as “Tac-Caghqi”, which was ready to be used in the early seventies and is still being used today.  This museum branch in Rabat was always the site of various activities… catechism classes to boys in preparation for sacraments of Holy Communion, Reconciliation and Confirmation.  Besides, a good number of adolescents and young people attend our centre on a regularly basis. Our centre holds regular formation meetings for parents of boys attending our classes. A number of other activities are held during the summer period…sports activities, outings, bar-b-q’s etc…besides the usual formation classes which are held even during the summer period. The annual Christmas programme is held at the Parish Hall.  The programme usually includes Christmas carols, a play and prize giving ceremony to all boys.  This programme is very well attended. During the month of September a programme of one-week conferences is held.  It is attended by a large number of adults who include parents.  This activity, which is basically religious formation sessions, is held in our centre’s yard.

 
During the last couple of years we have lost some of our members due to old age or illness.  Let us remember them in our prayers…Carmelo Bonnici, Paul Galea, John Schembri, Louis Meilaq, Gaetano Galea, Paul Sammut, Joseph Vayarella, Saver Aquilina and Nazju Azzopardi.  Gilbert Simiana (15 years old) died on February 27^th 1998 after a long illness.  Many still treasure the good memories of his witness of Christian life that he gave to those who knew him.