Monica Bellucci - photo

Kristin Kreuk- picture

ELISABETTA GREGORACI- PHOTO

Ta' Ljun iwiegbu

B'referenza ghall-istorja "Id-dwejjaq tal-Istilla", qed nippubblikaw stqarrija mahruga mis-Socjeta Filarmonika Leone dwar l-incidenti msemmija u ohrajn li sehhew waqt il-festa ta' Santa Marija.
Din l-istqarrija deheret fuq il-website tas-socjeta www.leone.org.mt

L-istqarrija titkellem wahedha:

Is-Socjeta` Filarmonika Leone tiddeplora bil-qawwa kollha l-incidenti li twettqu fil-jiem tal-festa ta’ Santa Marija fejn intefghet sostanza nociva, x’aktarx ammonia, waqt li kien ghaddej il-marc minn Triq ir-Repubblika nhar l-erbatax (14) Awissu 2007 filghaxija. Dina s-sostanza intefghet mid-direzzjoni tal-Kazin tas-Socjeta` Filarmonika La Stella quddiem l-entrata u f’nofs it-triq ta’ quddiem l-istess Kazin waqt li dina kienet ippakjata bin-nies u wasslet sabiex numru ta’ nies li kienu prezenti, inkluz ukoll Pulzija, soffrew hruq f’ghajnejhom u fl-istonku u sahansitra anke qtugh ta’ nifs. Tali azzjoni kriminali ikkagunat paniku fost in-nies prezenti li seta’ wassal ukoll ghall-incidenti serji. Mumenti biss wara li sehh dan l-incident dirigenti tas-Socjeta` Filarmonika Leone ghaddew lill-ufficjali tal-Korp tal-Pulizija ghall-iktar investigazzjonijiet wiehed mill-bottijiet li intefghu, liema bottijiet normalment jinstabu biss fl-Isptar Generali ta’ Ghawdex.

Is-Socjeta` Filarmonika Leone tezigi li ghandha b’mod immedjat tinfetah inkjesta magisterjali biex jigi investigat dan l-incident serju u jkunu jistghu jittiehdu l-passi kriminali opportuni kontra min hu responsabbli u kif sostanza nociva li tinstab normalment fl-Isptar Generali ta’ Ghawdex spiccat biex intuzat bi skopijiet malinni u premeditati bl-intenzjoni cara li jigu kawzati incidenti waqt il-marc ta’ lejlet Santa Marija. Il-fatt l-iktar gravi jibqa’ pero` li fil-hin li sehh l-incident il-bieb tal-Kazin tas-Socjeta` Filarmonika La Stella kellu jkun maghluq skond is-sentenza tal-Qorti tal-Magistrati (Ghawdex) preseduta mill-Magistrat Victor Colombo ta’ l-1976. Mhux talli ma kienx maghluq izda talli kontra l-istess ftehim li kien intlahaq mal-Pulizija mill-organizzaturi tal-Festa ta’ Santa Marija, is-Socjeta` La Stella thalliet li tarma bar fl-entrata ta’ l-istess Kazin.

Dan biex ma jissemmix ukoll il-fatt li b’mod mill-iktar stramb il-bibien ta’ l-istess Kazin tas-Socjeta` La Stella inqalghu sabiex il-Pulizija tkun fl-impossibilita` li tordna l-gheluq tal-bibien ta’ l-istess Kazin. Is-socjeta` Leone tiddeplora wkoll id-daqq kontinwu ta’ qniepen mill-kampnari tal-Bazilika ta’ San Gorg waqt il-marc ta’ filghodu ta’ nhar Santa Marija, bl-iskop li jisfratta dan il-marc tant popolari.

Nittamaw li l-Pulizija jiehdu l-passi kollha necessarji sabiex jitressqu l-Qorti l-persuni kollha responsabbli minn dan l-agir kriminali kif fl-ahhar mill-ahhar gejna imweghda mill-ufficjali gholja tal-Korp tal-Pulizija f’laqgha li inzammet is-Sibt, hdax (11) ta’ Awissu 2007. Skond informazzjoni fil-pussess tas-Socjeta` Filarmonika Leone, il-Pulizija ma thallietx li ittella’ membri tal-Korp fuq il-bejt tal-Knisja ta’ San Gorg u ghaldaqstant wiehed ghadu ghaliex jikkonkludi li dan l-agir kien premeditat.

Minn barra r-responsabbilita` kriminali nippretendu wkoll b’responsabbilita` li l-Isqof Mario Grech, Isqof ta’ Ghawdex jiehu l-passi kollha necessarji kontra min hu responsabbli li halla proprjeta` tal-Knisja (qniepen) sabiex jintuzaw halli jigi sfrattat marc li kien ghaddej mill-inhawi bil-permessi kollha necessarji tal-Pulizija. Dan imur kontra d-direttivi dwar id-daqq tal-qniepen mahruga fil-wiehed u ghoxrin (21) ta’ Dicembru 1989 mill-Kullegg tal-Kappillani ta’ Ghawdex, b’mod partikolari klawsola numru tmienja (8) ta’ l-istess direttivi, sabiex f’solennitajiet il-qniepen ma jindaqqux iktar minn kwarta.

Ghaldaqstant dak li insista fuqu l-Isqof ta’ Ghawdex fil-Pontifikal tieghu ta’ nhar Santa Marija, fejn irrefera ghat-thassir u d-dekadenza li tezisti fis-socjeta` Ghawdxija, jassumi iktar importanza u b’mod immedjat id-Djocesi ta’ Ghawdex ghandha tindirizza dan it-thassir u dekadenza qabel xejn fl-istituzzjonijiet ekklesjastici taghha stess. Zgur li dan l-agir irresponsabbli u kriminali qieghed jaghmel ghajb mhux biss lit-tmexxija tal-Knisja ta’ San Gorg izda izjed minn hekk lill-istess Djocesi ta’ Ghawdex.

Ninsistu wkoll li l-Isqof jiehu passi sabiex il-website ta’ San Gorg ma tkomplix tintuza ghall-attakki konsistenti u persistenti kontra l-Parrocca tal-Katidral u s-Socjeta` Filarmonika Leone. Wiehed jippretendi li website ta’ parrocca tintuza biss ghall-skopijiet pastorali u mhux sabiex imxerred mibeghda u firda.

Barra minn hekk is-Socjeta` Leone tinsisti wkoll li l-Pulizija tinvestiga bis-serjeta` l-emails kollha ta’ theddid li gew cirkolati fil-jiem ta’ qabel il-festa ta’ Santa Marija, liema emails gew mghoddija wkoll lill-istess Pulizija. Fil-konfront ta’ dawn l-incidenti serji, is-socjeta` Filarmonika Leone tippretendi li ssir gustizzja kemm mill-awtoritajiet civili kif ukoll minn dawk ekklesjastici.

Is-Socjeta` Leone taghmilha cara li hija mhux sejra tieqaf hawnhwekk f’kaz li l-appelli taghha sejrin jaqghu fuq widejn torox.

Dr Michael Caruana LLDPresident

Joseph ApapSegretarju17 ta’ Awissu 2007

The Leone Philharmonic Society deplores in unequivocal terms the incidents that took place before and during the festivities of Santa Marija at Rabat-Gozo.On 14 August 2007, late in the evening, when the band march in Republic Street was arriving close to the La Stella Band Club, a noxious substance, probably ammonia, was thrown from the direction of the Club in the middle of the street in front of the entrance to the same club.At that moment, the street was packed to capacity, and this noxious substance caused severe eye and stomach irritations as well as considerable breathing problems to those who happened to be in the vicinity, including a number of policemen and many children. This criminal action caused a panic among those present and a crash downwards that could have had serious repercussions.

Moments after the incident, one of the containers with the noxious substance that was thrown at the public, was picked by a Committee member of the Leone Philharmonic Society and passed to the police for further investigation. This type of container is normally available only at the Gozo General Hospital.

The Leone Philharmonic Society requests the police to initiate a magisterial inquiry to investigate this serious incident and to take the necessary steps against the criminals involved. It should also investigate how a substance normally available only at the Gozo General Hospital found its way outside the hospital to be used with the manifest intention of causing panic and serious incidents during the band march on the eve of Santa Marija.

Another grievous fact is that at the time of the incident, the main entrance of the La Stella Band was wide open in breach of a Court Order handed down by Magistrate Victor Caruana-Colombo in 1976. Not only was it not closed, according to the Court order and contrary to an understanding reached by the organizers of Santa Marija with the police, but the La Stella Philharmonic Society was given permission to set up an open-air bar at the very entrance of the club.

It must be noted that the entrance door to the same Club was dislodged to make it impossible for the police to order its closure.

The Leone Philharmonic Society also deplores in unequivocal terms the continuous peeling of the bells from the Basilica of St George during the morning march on 15 August. This peeling of bells that went on until 2.00 pm was done with the manifest intention to disrupt this popular band march.

The Society hopes that the police take the necessary measures so that the persons responsible for this criminal action are taken to court. The smooth running of this march had in fact been promised by the police authorities themselves during a meeting with the Committee on 11 August in the morning. It has also come to the knowledge of the Society that the Basilica authorities refused to give permission to the police to go up on the roof of the Basilica and this makes it crystal clear that the disruption was planned beforehand.

The ringing of bells for such a long period of time and with the manifest intention to disrupt a band march is not only criminal, but is also counter to the rules and regulations on the ringing of bells issued on 21 December 1989 by the Council of Parish Priests of the diocese of Gozo and specifically to clause number (8) regarding the duration of the peeling of bells. The Ecclesiastical authorities of Gozo should take note of this and of the fact that some persons are using church property to cause trouble and sow hatred.

The Ecclesiastical authorities should also see that the official website of the Basilica of Saint George is not used to instigate trouble by consistent and continuous attacks against the Cathedral Parish and the Leone Philharmonic Society. Even His Lordship Mario Grech, Bishop of Gozo, received a scathing attack on the website on 15 August for his Santa Marija homily. The attack was posted just after midday and removed by the following morning. A website with supposedly pastoral purposes is being used to sow division and hatred.

The Leone Philharmonic Society also requests the police to investigate a number of intimidatory and fascist-style emails sent to various persons on the days preceding the feast of Santa Marija. The police have been handed copies of these malicious emails.In this planned attack against the celebration of the feast of Santa Marija, the Leone Philharmonic Society requests the civil as well as the ecclesiastical authorities to take the necessary measures.

The Society is determined to see that this chain of planned incidents are investigated seriously.

Dr Michael CaruanaPresident

Joseph ApapSecretary

17th August 2007

Id-dwejjaq tal-Istilla

Dawn is-siltiet li gejjin huma mehudha mill-website ufficcjali tal-parrocca ta' San Gorg - MHUX MINN WEBSITE TA' PARTIT JEW BANDA IZDA MINN WEBSITE TAL-KNISJA BIL-BARKA TAL-ARCIPRIET GARAWELLU.

Il-kummenti jixhdu d-dwejjaq li jaqbadhom dawn in-nies meta tasal il-festa nazzjonali ta' Santa Marija. Ma jifilhuhiex. Biex niftehemu mhux kullhadd huwa hekk. Kulhadd ghandu kull dritt li jkun ma' tal-Istilla jew ma ta' Ljun izda jien cert li hemm hafna stilel li, minghajr ma jissimpatizzaw ma' ta' Ljun, igawdu l-festa ta' Santa Marija u jkollhom tbissima sinciera fuq wicchom.

Mhux hekjk jista' jinghad ghal Garawellu u ta' madwaru. Ma niskantax li dan l-arcipriet missier il-gidba u fanatiku u fundamentalista jhalli affarijiet hekk johorgu fuq il-website ufficcjali imma NISKANTA KIF L-ISQOF IHALLI DAN KOLLU GHADDEJ QISU QATT MA' GARA XEJN. IL--HUTA MINN RASHA TINTEN U JEKK L-ISQOF MA JIEHUX AZZJONI HUWA KOMPLICI TA' DIN IL-PORKERIJA.

Insomma aqraw ftit dawn is-siltiet ha taraw id-dwejjaq u l-ugiegh ta' zaqq. Kif jghid il-Malti- "min ikollu zaqqu tugghu iboss". Veru website li minnha johrog l-ispirtu nisrani u ta' ghaqda !!!

Wednesday, August 15, 2007:Festive Santa Marija weekend

As on any other festive day, St George’s basilica is today a hub of popular concourse. People, including Midsummer Day trippers to Gozo, are flocking to Mass in keeping with the Catholic obligation of the day. Mgr Joseph Farrugia, archpriest, presided at solemn concelebrated Mass with the Collegiate Chapter and preached on the Christological, Ecclesiological and Mariological significance of the Assumption. The first Mass of the day was at 5.00am. Masses are continuing on the hour with the last one being late in the evening.
Meanwhile the festivities continue today with band marches and a procession with the titular statue of the Cathedral church. Magnificent fireworks displays are expected late into the night. These displays constitute what is perhaps the main attraction of these Gozitan festivities although a large number of Gozitans actually cross over to Malta to view the more sumptuous displays at Mosta and Mqabba.
The Santa Marija festivities end tonight. The external activities, organized by the Leone Band Club, had their real beginning when a crowd materialized in arterial Triq ir-Repubblika and It-Tokk late on Monday night and signaled the first activity of wide popular appeal connected with the festa.
While the splendour of the Cathedral church is in full display to the delight of the congregations that gather for the liturgical functions, the corresponding attractiveness of the external decorations is in fact distilled in the colourful though repetitive late night fireworks displays.
Cathedral priest Rev. George Mercieca, poet and fireworks aficionado, wrote in today’s The Sunday Times to invite people not to miss these displays.
The Administrative Council of St George’s is opening the roof of the Parish House for those who wish to view them from its unique vantage point.



Thursday, August 16, 2007:Commentary: Hilarious Times!

As the saying goes, “it takes all sorts to make a world”! One can say without any shadow of doubt that, “It takes all sorts to make a feast!”: the Victoria version of the “Santa Marija” one that is!
According to a The Times reporter, evidently labouring under the midsummer sun, which the Bard closely associates with “mental revelry” that, in simpler language for lesser mortals like ourselves, means madness, it has earned the enviable appellation of the “feast of snakes, budgies, horses, cabbages and (wonder of wonders) men”!
In this politically correct age, one would have expected the all-encompassing term “persons”! Could it be that the reporter was of the feminine kind, with eyes only for the strong strain of the human species?! Whatever the case, females have been mercifully spared the notorious association with snakes, this time round at least!
A splash of photos spread in the centre of Malta's prestigious English language daily and an accompanying backpage one says it all: well-behaved festa-outfit animal and bird species, riotous human species! After all, madness is the prerogative of the rational species, is it not?!
The photographer must have had a field day, as the results of the photographic endeavours show: gaping mouths, up-turned faces glistening with sweat, hands wide apart thrust as if in a gesture of total surrender (reminding me of the mediaeval mystic Margery Kempe under “a cloud of unknowing” – without the mystical connotations, of course), white and blue coloured balloons - all under the watchful gaze of a huge papier-mâché lion enjoying his moment in front of the bronze doors of St George’s basilica.
Chesterton’s famous lines pop to mind “Fools, I also had my hour” - with due apologies to the master of paradox and the humble donkey – “my finest hour, with swaying balloons in front of me, adoring crowd at my feet, frenzied shouting in my ears, and melodious pealing of bells over my head!”
What better way to enliven the torpor of “Santa Marija”, the midsummer holiday? Really and truly there’s never a dull moment. We had no livestock during this year’s agrarian show – at least not in literal terms. Precautions against the foot-and-mouth epidemic gripping the UK were wisely taken. Yet… Carry on with the goodies….

Zsuzsanna Ripli