| 26th January
|
World Leprosy Day
- Annual General Meeting - Social Event.
The Grand Priory held its Annual General Meeting at the Topaz Hotel,
Bugibba where various activity and financial reports were presented by
the Council's officials and approved by the members.
The meeting was followed by an Illustrated Talk entitled "The
Maltese Welfare State in Hospitaller Malta" by Chev. Prof. C.
Savona-Ventura KLJ CMLJ.
The event was followed by a social
gathering for an informal buffet dinner at the Hotel.
|
31st
March
|
On
the 31st March, the Grand Priory members were invited to visit the
Private Exhibition of a large collection of sea-shells, fossils and
mineral rocks, from all over the world – some of which are extremely
rare. This collection has been amassed by Mr. Sammut over a 60-year
period and is considered to out-size the collection held by the Museum
of Natural History at Mdina, Malta. A collection towards the Order of
Charity was made to support the leprosy-directed activities.
|
| 9th
April |
During Easter Week, the
members of the Grand Priory were invited to visit the Exhibition of
Statutes depicting Christ’s Passion through the Stages of the Cross set
up by Grand Priory member Dr. the Chev. Victor Camilleri. The
exhibition has been slowly built up since 1997 and now contains 260
statutes. The statutes are in three different sizes, the smallest being
one foot high, the highest nearly two feet. There are 22 large statutes
depicting 18 biblical personages. The exhibition collects funds for
dedicated charities.
|
| March |
Presentation
of Paintings to the Addolorata Cemetery Chapel. In
March 2009, the Gozo Commandery representatives Chevs. Paul Banavage
and Joseph Griscti accompanied by the Grand Prior Dr. Chev. J.R. Pace
and the Chancellor of the Grand Priory Chev. M. Ciavola, presented
three paintings to Fra Lucian, curator of the Addolorata Cemetery
Chapel in Malta. These paintings, donated to the Commandery of Gozo by
Chev. Grixti, will adorn parts of the Chapel and Sacristy. |
| 3rd
May |
50th
Anniversary Celebration
The
Spiritual Prior of the Grand Priory Fr. Thomas Moore OFM Conv, BA (Ed.)
SChLJ, KMLJ celebrated his 50th Anniversary Mass on the 3rd May 2009 at
the Franciscan Conventual Church at Bugibba along with many of his
community of friars. The Eucharist Celebration was attended by a
sizeable group of members of the Grand Priory and of the Commandery of
Gozo. Fr. Moore has a very long association with the Grand Priory and
has regularly supported the spiritual activities.
|
19th
June
|
Wine
& Cheese Party—Fund-raising Auction. On the 19th June 2009, the
Grand Priory organized a fund-raising event at Torri Lanzun. Held in
this idyllic and historic environment, the event was a definite
success. All those who attended had a truly enjoyable time with good
food and wine being served throughout the evening. Since the catering
was in-house organized by individuals members and spouses of the Grand
Priory, a significant sum was collected from the collected proceeds.
The socializing was followed by an auction of several items that had
been donated by various members. The auction was managed expertly by
the Grand Prior who with great enthusiasm cajoled the guests to keep
increasing bids. The response was superb with a total of over €800
being collected for the Charity Fund.
|
| 9-10th
Septembwe |
The
grandmaster of the Order visited Malta as guest of the Commandery of
the Castello in order to be installed as Grand Commander in the Grand
Commandery of the Castello. A limited delegation were invited to attend
this investiture held at Torri Lanzon. The Council of the Grand Priory
and the Commandery of Gozo further had the opportunity to have a
working lunch with the Grandmaster Don Carlos de Borbón when
token gifts of a set of stamps issued by the Grand Priory commenorating
his investiture as Grandmaster last year, and a reprint of a 1673 poem
in French by
Jacques de Coras entitled Ode à la gloire des
chevaliers de l'ordre de Saint-Lazare de Jérusalem with a
historical commentary. The members of the Grand Priory and the
Commandery of Gozo had the opportunity to meet individually with
Grandmaster Don Carlos de Borbón during a
Gala Dinner organized jointly by the Grand Commandery
and the Grand Priory in honour of the Grandmaster.
|
17th
October
|
The Grand
Priory, Investiture this year is scheduled for the 17th October 2009.
This will be held at the Robert Sammut Hall at Floriana starting at
6.30 pm and will be followed by a Gala Celebratory Event.
|
