Gannina Cutajar
The first Superior General of the Society of Christian Doctrine M.U.S.E.U.M. Female Section.
At number 44 Paola Square another child was born for Family Cutajar. On the 13th of February 1893 Angelo and his wife where blessed with a child and they gave her the name of Giannina. She was the only girl in the family and had two siblings , one of them with the name of Carmelo who had been enrolled with the same society of Christian Doctrine, that time known as ‘The Society of Papidi’ followers of the Pope.
Fr. George Preca used to visit the branch (Qasam) of Paola quite often as it was one of the first branches opened. When visiting the members of Paola Fr. Preca never missed the opportunity to visit Family Cutajar which was known as one of the wealthiest families at the time.
Angelo, Giannina’s father was a tradesman of wine. They had a massive house with two warehouses which lead to the other side of St. Monica Street. Fr. George had a dream and was thinking of making it come true with the help of Giannina. Therefore, Fr. George talked this over with Carmelo, Giannina’s brother, and told him about this dream, that is that female members start teaching cathecism to the girls. Giannina was only sixteen years of age at the time, and when her brother Carmelo told her about Fr. George’s proposal , she accepted and obeyed realizing that this was the will of God shown to her by means of Fr. George Preca.
Giannina was a simple young lady who was eager to learn. When Fr. Preca got to know that Giannina accepted the proposal he decided to go and talk to her personally. In the year 1909 Giannina stated in front of the Church’s authority ‘I was invited by Fr. George Preca to start teaching Catechism and to dedicate my life for this kind of apostolate.’ Fr. Francis Attard, parish priest of Tarxien had a close relation with the parish of Paola, and he gave permission to Giannina to start on this mission, that is teaching cathecism.
On the tenth of January 1910 the first female branch of the Society of Christian Doctrine was opened. The Paola Parish Priest knew Giannina to be of a very good character and thus he did not find any objections to give her the permission to start teaching catechism. On the contrary he gave a good helping hand and cooperated with Giannina to help this society to flourish in Paola, especially now that from July of the same year Paola was no longer attached to Tarxien parish.
Fr. George Preca found it a bit difficult to frequent the female branches that where increasing gradually, contrary to the male ones who flourished quite quickly. This is because it was already out of the ordinary to have lay people teaching catechism as this was attributed only to clergy more so having females teaching catechism. It was very hard to accept the fact that a woman take this role.
In the meantime Fr. Preca felt the need to give good formation to Giannina so that she will later give this formation to her fellow members. Besides he did not want to interfere much in the female section. Giannina was sure that she will receive the necessary help from Fr. George Preca, so she committed herself fully for this apostolate. She took it so seriously that later on the inquisitive commission (Kummissjoni ta’ l-inkjesta ) attributed the founding of the female section to Giannina and not to Fr. Preca. Giannina was the local superior of Paola as she herself declared “I started the branch in Paola and was it’s superior. The first female members did not have anywhere to meet except the warehouse of her father Angelo. New members where joining the society : these are some of them – Carmela Rizzo , Gulia Rizzo, Carmela Darmanin , Lizzie German , Vincenza Borg, Rebekka Gibson, Guzeppa Cutajar, Guzeppa De Giovanni, Giannina Caruana, Rosaria Sofia , Carmela Galea and Pawlina Abela . The meeting place that is the garage of Angelo was very small and uncomfortable, they did not even have chairs to sit on , so Giannina and her colleagues used to carry stone, on which they put a plank of wood to serve them as benches.
Giannina now is a mature young lady, who can be trusted as she proved to be responsible and dedicated with anything that she was entrusted. She lived her vocation with love and dedication. Giannina used to gather young girls to teach them during the week and then to take them to confession once a week. Her pleasure was when every now and then Fr. George Preca used to visit them and give them a talk to help them grow spiritually.
It was also a pleasure for Giannina to teach young children and it seemed that even the children who attended for her classes enjoyed the lessons they received from Giannina as they looked forward to go to the catechism lessons. Some of those girls who are still alive today say that they where so glad that they used to go out from class singing in the streets of Paola this rhyme.
‘Come let’s go to the MUSEUM
We go with gladness,
because we learn a lot of prayers
We go to Giannina where we learn catechism’
Of course in Maltese it rhymes very well ; it goes like this
‘Ejjew ejjew ejjew,
immorru l-Museum
Il-Museum immorru bil-qalb,
ghax nitghallmu hafna talb
Immorru ghand Gannina – biex nitghallmu d-duttrina.’
The number of children attending catechism classes where increasing, thus the warehouse that Giannina was using became small , therefore Angelo, Giannina’s father had a mezzanin in St. Monica Street and he rent it to the female section for little money. Children where now being prepared for First Holy Communion, and when they made their First Holy Communion Giannina used to give a small party for the children and during the same week she invited the parents to celebrate this great event. This she also did at Christmas time.
Giannina’s devotion to the Holy Eucharist, made her ask the parish priest to give them permission to have the Holy Sacrament in one of the rooms of this place which later on it was turned into a chapel , the members used to make adoration day and night. This chapel is still in use till today.
Elvira Ellul
Elvira twieldet fl-Isla fis-17 ta’ Dicembru 1904, fi Triq San Mikiel, nru. 7, minn Marietta nee' Soler u Andrea Ellul.
Nhar il-Hadd 1 ta’ Gunju 1958 migburin fid-Dar Centrali tal-Blata l-Bajda, is-Soci Bniet, taht il-Presidenza tal W.R. Mons. Prof. Carmelo Bonnici, Assistent Ekklezjastiku tas-Socjeta’, hatru bhala Superjura Generali tas-Socjeta’ kollha, Sezzjoni Femminili lil Elvira Ellul, ga Primarja tal-K.B.O. Il-kariga tas-Superjura Generali fis-Socjeta’ hija ‘ad-vitam’ . Tmint ijiem wara 8 ta’ Gunju fl-istess lokal saret ic-Cerimonja sabiha tal-hatra taghha immexxija mill-Fundatur, Mons. Gorg Preca.
Din ic-cerimonja li, kif inhi preskritta fil-Ktieb ta’ l-Assenjatur, saret l-ewwel darba minn mindu twaqqfet is-Socjeta’, kienet tassew kommoventi u impressjonanti. Ic-Cerimonja li fil-Kumpless taghha hija unjoni, giet immexxija minn tliet soci bniet mill-aktar anzjani.
Is-Superjura Generali ghamlet il-weghda sollenni taghha f’riglejn il-Fundatur. Wara dan huwa libbisha l-midalja u taha l-bastun tad-direzzjoni u d-dixxiplina.
Qabel intemmet l-Unjoni, il-Fundatur ghamel id-diskors ta’ l-okkazjoni u wara temmet ic-Cerimonja is-Superjura Generali l-gdida billi indirizzat lill-prezenti u appellat ghat-talb.
Is-Superjura Generali kellha laqgha kordjali ma’ l-Arcisqof Guzeppi Mercieca fil-Kurja Arciveskovili, il-Furjana, nhar it-Tlieta 9 ta’ Lulju 1985. l-Arcisqof ikkonferma l-hatra taghha. Prezenti ghal din il-laqgha kien hemm ukoll Mons. Lawrence Gatt, l-Assistenta Superjura Generali Vincenza Azzopardi u s-Superjura Gannina Pace, Segretarja ghal Ghawdex.
L-Isqof t’Ghawdex, Mons. Nikol Cauchi gie infurmat bil-ghazla tas-Superjura Generali permezz tas-Superjura Gannina Pace, Segretarja ghal Ghawdex u baghtilha l-Barka tieghu.
Is-Superjura Elvira Ellul li tat hajjitha lis-Socjeta’ sa minn ckunitha, wara li ghaddiet 29 sena bhala Primarja u 27 sena bhala Superjura Generali, issa, fl-eta’ ta’ fuq 80 sena, talbet lill-Korp Buon Ordni biex jaccetta r-rizenja taghha . Elvira kienet l-ewwel Superjura Maggura li spiccat mill-kariga mhux ghax mietet imma ghax talbet hi. Elvira halqet l-istorja fis-Socjeta’.Hasset li kellha tieqaf hi u tghaddi t-tmexija lil min hu iktar zaghzugh u iktar energiku. Kienet xena sabiha wisq meta s-Superjura Elvira tat il-paci lis-Superjura Generali l-gdida Hilda Chircop li allura kellha 53 sena.
Nhar il-Gimgha 24 ta’ Lulju, 1987, griet l-ahbar ma’ Malta kollha li kienet mietet Elvira Ellul ex-Superjura Generali tal-Museum. Din is-Superjura halliet b’wirt bosta xebbiet kuragguzi li fuq l-ezempju taghha iddedikaw hajjithom bhala ghall-imhabba u s-servizz ta’ Alla.
Hilda Chircop
Hilda Chircop twieldet f’Santa Venera fit- 28 ta’ Gunju 1932. Attendiet il-qasam ta’ Santa Venera u inkorporat Socja fl-24 ta’ Gunju, 1950. Qabel ma ntghazlet Primarja, fit-13 ta’ Gunju, 1958, hi okkupat il-kariga ta’ Servjenta Generali fil-Gunta Qagdat u ta’membra tal-Korp Buon Ordni. Hija kienet wahda mill-hames membri li ghaddew tliet xhur, minn Frar sa Mejju ta' 1985, fl-Awstralja fuq Sajda ghall-barranin u bhala ghajnuna ghad-disa’ Soci li hemm f’dak il-kontinent.
Nhar il-Hadd 7 ta’ Lulju, fid-Dar Generali l-Blata l-Bajda saret l-elezzjoni ghat-tielet Superjura Generali. Din kienet gurnata li fiha dehret l-ghaqda tal-membri kollha tas-Socjeta’ f’Malta, Ghawdex, l-Awstralja u l-Amerika.
F’Gunju ntbaghtu l-iskedi tal-voti lill-ghaxar membri fl-Awstralja u fl-Amerika. Huma vvutaw b’mod preferenzjali u l-voti taghhom waslu fil-hin biex setghu jinfethu fis-7 ta’ Lulju.
Madwar 60 membru Ghawdxin ghamlu sagrificcji kbar biex setghu kienu prezenti fid-9.00 ta’ filghodu ghall-votazzjoni.
Ghal din l-elezzjoni kien hemm organizzazzjoni perfetta mahsuba minn qabel mill-Korp tal-Buon Ordni u bil-ghajnuna tas-Sezzjoni Maskili. Fit-8.00am infetah il-bieb tad-Dar Centrali u bdew dehlin il-membri. Fil-kuritur kien hemm il-membri tal-Korp Buon Ordni meghjuna minn xi Superjuri biex jaghtu l-iskeda tal-voti lill-membri tal-Oqsma rispettivi taghhom.
Fid-9.15am il-membri kollha ngabru fl-Auditorium fejn tkantaw l-innijiet tal-bidu u l-‘Veni Creator’. Wara Mons. Lawrence Gatt ghamel diskors. L-Assistent Superjur Generali J. Formosa ta xi direttivi u mbaghad saret il-votazzjoni, li ntemmet fl-10.00a.m.
Mons.Gatt qara r-rizultat ta’ l-ewwel votazzjoni u habbar lil Hilda Chircop Primarja, giet eletta Superjura Generali. Kien hemm capcip mill-prezenti u b’hekk huma fehmu japprovaw din l-ghazla. L-Assistenta Superjura Generali Vincenza Azzopardi pprezentat lis-Superjura Generali l-gdida lill-membri, u hawn kulhadd qam bilwieqfa u ghamlilha inkin ta’ sottomissjoni. L-Assistent Ekklezjastiku u s-Superjur Generali ferhulha ghal dil-kariga gdida taghha.
Is-Superjura Generali l-gdida kellmet fil-qosor lis-soci u l-laqgha ntemmet bis-Sancta Trinitas u l-Innu tal-Fundatur.
Nhar il-Hadd 14 ta’ Lulju 1985, fid-Dar Centrali, il-Blata l-Bajda, saret ic-Cerimonja tal-konferma tal-Hatra ta’ Hilda Chircop, cerimonja li saret f’Quddiesa ccelebrata minn Mons. Lawrence Gatt, meghjun mid-djaknu Rev. Dr. Charles Scicluna L.L.D.
Ghal din ic-Cerimonja attendew mill-maghzulin il-fuq, inkluzi xi membri Ghawdxin. Kien hemm ukoll is-Superjur Generali u l-Korp Buon Ordni.
Phyllis Falzon
Phyllis Falzon twieldet fil 21 ta’ Dicembru ta’ l-1941 f’Birkirkara minn familja b’qalb nobbli u b’valuri insara li ghenuha tghix u tikber fl-imhabba t’Alla u tal-proxxmu. Dan kollu kien qieghed ihejji t-triq ghal din iz-zaghzuha li b’interess u mhabba kbira attentdiet ghat-taghlim tal-katekizmu.
Wara li ghamlet il-precett u l-Grizma ta’ l-isqof Phyllis baqghet tattendi ghall-klassijiet ta’ formazzjoni fejn trawmet fil-virtu’ u gharfet is-sejha li ghamlila il-Muelj ghall-hajja museumina.
Meta kellha sbatax il-sena igfieri fl-1958, flimkien ma’ seba' aspiranti ohra, irciviet il-kandidatura. Hija baqghet tikber u tghozz it-taghlim u l-gid li kienet tircievi mis-socjetà. Fis-sena 1962, propju xahar qabel miet il-Fundatur Dun Gorg Preca; meta kellha ghoxrin sena giet inkorporata mas-Socjeta’ u kienet taqdi l-vokazzjoni taghha fil-qasam ta’ Birkirkara.
Phyllis imbaghad bdiet tati servizz fuq livell centrali, kienet membru fil-Gunta tal-Kultura, illum Kummissjoni Formazzjoni flimkien ma’ sitt membri ohra li kienu jduru l-oqsma u jiehdu kura individwali tal-gruppi tat-tfajliet tal-formazzjoni.
Ghaddiet ukoll hafna snin tghin fil Gunta tal-Qaghdat flimkien mas-Superjura Kekina Briffa, illum il-Kummissjoni ghat-taghlim ta’ l-adulti.
Phyllis kienet membra fil-Korp Bonordni (illum il-Kunsill Ezekuttiv Generali) sa minn kmieni.
Fis-sena 1985 ma l-elezzjoni tat-tielet Superjura Generali Hilda Chircop, Phyllis Falzon giet nominata bhala il-primarja tas-Socjeta’ fejn damet taqdi dan ir-rwol ghall-erbatax-il sena.
Nhar il-Hadd 16 ta’ Mejju 1999 kienet gurnata memorabbli ghas-Sezzjoni Femminili tas-Socjeta’ taghna meta fl-awditorju tad-dar Generali fil-Blata l-Bajda saret quddiesa solenni li matulha saret ic-cerimonja tal-hatra tas-Superjura Generali l-gdida Phyllis Falzon. Mexxa c-celebrazzjoni l-Assistent Ekklezjastiku tas-Socjetà, Mons. Lawrence Gatt, u mieghu kkoncelebraw seba’ sacerdoti ohra. Ghal din l-okkazzjoni kien hemm attendenza kbira ffurmata mis-soci femminili, superjuri tas-sezzjoni maskili, familjari tas-Superjura Falzon u rapprezentanti ta’ diversi ghaqdiet u movimenti tad-djocesi. Ha sehem il-kor tal-Qasam ta’ Haz-Zabbar.
Wara l-omelija riflessiva ta’ Mons.Gatt, saret ic-cerimonja propja tal-hatra fejn is-Superjura Generali l-gdida weghdet li bil-grazzja ta’ Alla thabrek biex timxi skond ir-Regola u kif jitolbu d-doveri taghha. Imbaghad Mons. Gatt ta l-bastun tal-hatra lis-Superjura Generali l-gdida waqt li libbisha l-Insinji tal-kariga u ghaddiehla l-ktieb tar-Regola. Imbaghad hu pprezenta lis-Superjura Falzon bhala s-Superjura Generali lill-migemgha li approvat b’applawz twil. Wara saret il-qima tax-xbiha tal-Papa bhala sinjal ta’ fedelta’ tas-Socjetà lejn il-Kap tal-Knisja.
Fi tmiem il-quddiesa Mons. Gatt qara messagg tal-okkazzjoni li wasal minghand is-Segretarju ta’ l-Istat tal-Vatikan, Kardinal Sodano. Kulhadd capcap bil-qalb ghal din is-sorpriza sabiha.
Wara diskorsi ta’ ringrazzjament, l-Innu tal-Fundatur gab fi tmiemha okkazjoni memorabbli u li matulha nhass qawwi l-ispirtu tal-Fundatur taghna Dun Gorg.
Fis-sena 2004 wara l-Kapitlu Generali is-Superjura Falzon regghet giet ikkonfermata Superjura Generali ghall-hames snin ohra.