PILGRIMAGE ONE
Valletta & Floriana

Fr Preca’s loyalty to the Church

This first part of the pilgrimage leads us to reflect upon Fr Preca’s love for the Church.

The sites here remind us of the intimate relationship, of the love and the submission he had vis-avis the Church. Here he was baptised, received Holy Orders, and was “betrothed to the Church”. We see him heartbroken when the ecclesiastical authorities ordered him to close down the Centres he had just opened and when in 1916, the Archbishop himself ordered an investigation on the Society. But it was also here that he rejoiced when on 1 May 1932 a Te Deum was sung in the Jesuit’s Church to thank God for the canonical approval of the Society which had been granted in that same year. It was at Floriana that John Paul II declared Fr Preca “Blessed”.

May the loyalty and love that Fr Preca had for the Church be ours as well!

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The Grand Harbour area where St
George Preca would talk to the
crew of different nationalities from
the visiting ships.
1
West Street, Valletta
Situated on the western side of Valletta, West Street almost overlooks Marsamxett Harbour. In this street, a few metres away
2
The Church of Our Lady of Pilar, Valletta
An imposing baroque church dedicated to Our Lady of Pilar whose devotion originated in Saragossa, Spain. The church was built
3
The Church of St Dominic, Valletta
This church, built by the Dominicans and dedicated to Our Lady of Porto Salvo, is a sumptuous baroque temple adorned
4
The Lyceum, Valletta
The Lyceum formed part of the Old University which, though formally instituted in 1769, owes its origins to the Jesuits
5
The Jesuit Church, Valletta
This is the church of the Old University where graduations and religious functions were held. It takes its name from
6
The Jesuit Oratory
This oratory, an annex to the Jesuit Church, is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. Here, towards the end of January
7
The Greek Catholic Church, Valletta
This church meets the spiritual needs of the small Catholic community of the Greek Rite. Until 1530, this community had
8
The Archbishop’s Curia, Valletta
A magnificent palace in Archbishop’s Street. Until a few years ago it served as the Archbishop’s Curia. Here, most probably
9
St John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta
This temple was built by Grand Master La Cassiere as the Conventual Church of the Order in the new city.
PILGRIMAGE ONE - Valletta & Floriana
1
West Street, Valletta

Situated on the western side of Valletta, West Street almost overlooks Marsamxett Harbour. In this street, a few metres away from the Carmelite Friary and the Anglican Cathedral of St Paul, in a house then numbered 53, George Preca was born on 12 February 1880, at 11.15 am, to Vincent, a sanitary inspector, and his wife Natalina Ceravolo. The Precas were a well-off middle class family with nine children and George, named after his paternal grandfather, was the seventh child. We are not sure if the photographed house is the same where the Founder was born.


Let us pray

O Lord, grant that we may spend our life in your sweet service, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

2
The Church of Our Lady of Pilar, Valletta

An imposing baroque church dedicated to Our Lady of Pilar whose devotion originated in Saragossa, Spain. The church was built to serve the adjoining Auberge d’Aragon. In the whereabouts, George, then a five year old and accompanied by Philomena, the family maid, met a young man in uniform who gave
him a golden watch. George was never able to account for this watch. When he grew up, he became convinced that it was the symbol of The Watch (the SDC book of prayers) and that the officer was none other than St Michael.


Let us pray

O Lord, grant that we ceaselessly raise our hearts towards you so that prayer eventually becomes our
life-giving breath, through Christ our Lord. Amen

3
The Church of St Dominic, Valletta

This church, built by the Dominicans and dedicated to Our Lady of Porto Salvo, is a sumptuous baroque temple adorned with many works of art. The painting on the ceiling and some of the titular paintings are of the renowned Giuseppe Calì who was baptised in this church. Here one finds an altar and a handsome statue of St Vincent Ferrer, the “prophet” of the MUSEUM Society. On 17 February 1880, in this parish church, the seventh offspring of the Preca family was baptised by the vice parish-priest Vincent Cousin. The child was given the names of George, Paul, Emmanuel, John and Pius.


Let us Pray

O Lord, grant that we, who through our baptism have died to sin and rose to life, may live as true children of God, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

4
The Lyceum, Valletta

The Lyceum formed part of the Old University which, though formally instituted in 1769, owes its origins to the Jesuits and Bishop Gargallo (1578-1614). It is the oldest public secondary school in Malta and the cream of the Maltese intelligentia received its education there. George Preca was a Lyceum student from 1892 till 1896. During school breaks, the young George used to go down to the wharf in the Grand Harbour to teach cathecism to the Italian and Greek sailors.


Let us Pray

O Lord, grant that your calls will receive generous response from young hearts so that they may bear fruit in abundance, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

5
The Jesuit Church, Valletta

This is the church of the Old University where graduations and religious functions were held. It takes its name from the Jesuits who for years administered the university. Here, on Sunday, 1 May 1932, Archbishop Dom Mauro Caruana, celebrated a thanksgiving mass to mark the canonical approval of the Society. It was a day of great joy for Fr Preca and the Members because after 25 years, the MUSEUM was approved by the Maltese Church. On that day, Fr Preca told Eugenio Borg, “Ìe©è, have you ever wondered what the Lord had in store for the Society!”


Let us Pray

O Lord, grant that we may always live in a spirit of faithful submission and love towards our Holy Mother Church and be of service to its bishops, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

6
The Jesuit Oratory

This oratory, an annex to the Jesuit Church, is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. Here, towards the end of January 1907, the young Fr Preca, just after confession, asked his confessor Fr Louis Attard whether he should proceed with his plans to teach young men so that they would in turn cathecize others. Fr Louis replied, “Proceed and make means.” This is exactly what Fr Preca did. If Fr Louis had advised him to do nothing, he would have refrained from doing anything.


Let us Pray

O Lord, grant that we seek spiritual direction to discern the spirits that motivate us so as to fulfil God’s will always and in everything, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

7
The Greek Catholic Church, Valletta

This church meets the spiritual needs of the small Catholic community of the Greek Rite. Until 1530, this community had its church in Vittoriosa but, upon the building of the new city, it sought to have its church in Valletta. Destroyed during World War II, this church was subsequently rebuilt. Here one can find the crowned icon of Our Lady of Damascus brought from Rhodes by the Knights. Fr Preca, a great devotee of the said icon, was a frequent visitor to this church and delivered several sermons here. It is often said that Fr Preca, who knew Greek, carried out liturgical functions in the absence of the Papas.


Let us Pray

O Lord, grant that we learn to imitate Mary, our Mother, so that through her example, we will dedicate our life to you, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

8
The Archbishop’s Curia, Valletta

A magnificent palace in Archbishop’s Street. Until a few years ago it served as the Archbishop’s Curia. Here, most probably in 1909, Mons Salv Grech, the Vigar-General, ordered Fr Preca to close down the Centres of his Society. In 1916, when Archbishop Caruana ordered an investigation on the Society, Fr Preca, Eugenio Borg and Giannina Cutajar were summoned to the Curia to give evidence. This was a hard time for the Founder and the two Superior Generals.


Let us Pray

O Lord, grant that we be always docile and obedient to the authority of those whom you have chosen to lead us to eternal pastures, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

9
St John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta

This temple was built by Grand Master La Cassiere as the Conventual Church of the Order in the new city. Today it enjoys the status of a Co-Cathedral. It is dedicated to St John the Baptist, the patron saint of the Knights. Its most alluring features are the exquisite pavement which displays several funerary slabs and the magnificent vault frescoes painted by the Calabrian painter Fra Mattia Preti. Here, Fr Preca received his minor orders, his sub-diaconate (17 December, 1904), his diaconate (23 December, 1905) and finally Holy Orders (22 December, 1906) from the hands of Bishop Pace.


Let us Pray

O Lord, grant that all bishops be faithful to their ministry and ready to lay down their lives for their flock, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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1
‘Il-Biskuttin’, Floriana
‘Il-Biskuttin’ is that spacious area between the Mall Gardens and the Tritons Fountain, just outside Valletta. Flanked on both sides
2
Christ the King Monument, Floriana
This impresive masterpiece by Antoinio Sciortino was inaugurated in 1917 to commemorate the 1913 International Eucharistic Congress which had been
3
The Mall, Floriana
Built by Grand Master de Vilhena for the honest recreation of the Knights, the Mall is a public garden in
4
Sarria Chapel, Floriana
Built in 1678 by Balì Sarria to honour a vow, following his being cured of the plague, this rotunda, designed
5
The Seminary, Floriana
This huge and imposing building, located on the western side of the suburb of Floriana, was built in 1751. At
PILGRIMAGE ONE - Valletta & Floriana
1
‘Il-Biskuttin’, Floriana

‘Il-Biskuttin’ is that spacious area between the Mall Gardens and the Tritons Fountain, just outside Valletta. Flanked on both sides by palm trees, ‘Il-Biskuttin’ is dominated by the majestic monument of Christ the King, a masterpiece by Antonio Sciortino. In the vicinity, on 17 December, 1904, having just received his sub-diaconate from the hands of Bishop Pace in St John’s Co-Cathedral, Fr Preca, travelling in a horse carriage with his father, heard a voice calling, “Today, I have betrothed you to the Church!”


Let us Pray

O Lord, grant that we feel with the Church, to weep and rejoice with her, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

2
Christ the King Monument, Floriana

This impresive masterpiece by Antoinio Sciortino was inaugurated in 1917 to commemorate the 1913 International Eucharistic Congress which had been held in Malta. The Society participated in this Congress by marching in the still famous grand procession. Its Members walked behind a banner, improvised for the occasion, depicting the image of St John the Baptist. The public could not figure out who were these men with their short hair cut but Fr Preca scorned them, insinuating they had turned up simply to show off. In this Congress, Fr Preca was selected as a French interpreter, but for some reason, was never asked to perform such duties.


Let us Pray

O Lord, grant that we be found worthy labourers in the spreading of your Kingdom, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

3
The Mall, Floriana

Built by Grand Master de Vilhena for the honest recreation of the Knights, the Mall is a public garden in Floriana facing the Christ the King monument. It houses many monuments honouring prominent people in Maltese history. In the early years of the twentieth century it was still enclosed by a wall. In the vicinity of this garden, George Preca, still a young Lyceum student, encountered his teacher Fr Ercole Mompalao who told him these remarkable words, “Preca, you will grow up, and people who fear God will become your friends and you, theirs. Through them, you will find your good fortune, and they will find theirs through you…”


Let us Pray

O Lord, bless the Church and the Society of Christian Doctrine with the spirit of fellowship and communion so that the world will believe in your Son whom you have sent, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

4
Sarria Chapel, Floriana

Built in 1678 by Balì Sarria to honour a vow, following his being cured of the plague, this rotunda, designed by the renowned Lorenzo Gafà, contains a titular painting of the Immaculate Conception executed by Mattia Preti. Other paintings of Preti adorning this chapel include those of St Sebastian and St Roche, patron saints of the plague-strickened, St Nicholas and St Mary Magdalene. For some years, because of its central position, this chapel was used by Fr Preca to convene the Members for the Wednesday general meeting. Here, in 1955, the Founder chose six Members for the apostolate in Australia.


Let us Pray

O Lord, enkindle the missionary spirit in the Members of the Society of Christian Doctrine so that they will be willing to go out to the whole world and proclaim the Good News to all creation, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

5
The Seminary, Floriana

This huge and imposing building, located on the western side of the suburb of Floriana, was built in 1751. At present it houses the Archbishop’s Curia but until a few years ago it served as the seminary of the Archdiocese. Here George Preca studied and trained for the priesthood. He became a seminarian in September 1898. He was an external student; this meant that every day, after lectures, he returned home in Hamrun


Let us Pray

O Lord, grant that Christ’s sheepfold will never lack saintly priests, through Christ our Lord. Amen.

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