Senior Times (December 2018)

SENIOR TIMES DECEMBER 2018

Malta’s monthly newspaper for the elderly

when words don’t come easy...

Non-verbal activities can be louder than words.

SEE PAGE 6

modern nativity We can be the angel and announce Christ’s message of hope and love.

SEE PAGE 8

A Maltese crib

milied jew rigali?

SEE PAGE 4

SEE PAGE 15

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SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMbER 2018

EDITOR’S WELCOME

IN THIS ISSUE

Equals is the sum

Y

ou can tell how deep a person’s pockets are by going through their Christmas wish list. The longer the list, the poorer the person. Which means that a list that includes a palatial pile hung with crystal chandeliers and dripping in thick drapes and dictator-style gold was written by someone who probably considers an empty cardboard box in the garden as an extension to the house.

The inverse is true – an empty list belongs to someone who has too much of everything and couldn’t make up his mind on what he wants for Christmas because, well, he already has it.

Winning the lottery would address the balance. In theory, it could – but in practice, it would probably alienate all your friends because, as Aristotle once wrote, friendship is based on equality. And you cannot fly the banner of equality if you are sporting a platinum card while your friends are still squeezing cents from a student account.

What does address the balance is Christmas.

Of course, we celebrate Christmas differently. For some, Christmas is a spread of foie gras and rare champagne, while for others, a midnight takeaway is the treat.

Most people watch the lights come on at the Rockefeller Plaza on the telly. Richer folks watch the lights from the balcony of their Manhattan apartment. Others own the Rockefeller Plaza.

True, we may celebrate Christmas differently and with unequal budgets. But that doesn’t mean we cannot celebrate it as equals.

Merry Christmas and a sparkling start to 2019.

Stanley

4. All the lights...

SENIOR TIMES DECEMBER 2018 EXECUTIVE EDITOR Stanley Borg E-mail: seniortimes @timesofmalta.com CONTRIBUTORS Carmel Baldacchino Tonio Bonello Tony C. Cutajar Dun Jonathan Farrugia Christine Galea Louis Gatt Ramona Portelli Charlotte Stafrace

Christmas preparations and decorations from around the world.

6. When words don’t come easy…

Non-verbal communication and activities can be louder than words, says Charlotte Stafrace.

8. A modern-day nativity In a modern-day nativity, we can be the angel and announce Christ’s message of hope and love this Christmas, says Christine Galea from the Cana Movement.

9. L-Antikrist Mattew Silta mir-rumanz ġdid ta’ Tony C. Cutajar.

PUBLISHERS Allied Newspapers Limited Triq L-Intornjatur, Mrieħel BKR 3000 www.timesofmalta.com DESIGN Christian Busuttil SALES & SUBSCRIPTIONS Amanda Gauci Tel: 2276 4332 E-mail: amanda.gauci @timesofmalta.com © 2018. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission of the publishers is prohibited.

10. For whom the bell tolls From time immemorial, churches have dominated the architecture and life of Malta’s towns and villages. Senior Times and Bay Retro listen to the bells of the past.

14. Proposta konkreta: qassmu mhux armu Minn deni jista’ joħroġ ftit ġid, jgħid Tonio Bonello.

15. Milied jew rigali?

Ir-rigal tal-Milied hu li permezz ta’ Ġesù nistgħu naraw iddinja bl-għajnejn ta’ Alla, jgħid Dun Jonathan Farrugia.

16. Noti għoljin Il-mużiċisti Alexei Galea Cavallazzi u Marvic Baldacchino b’kollaborazzjoni sħiħa ma’ mużiċisti Taljani ser joffru serata unika, Tgħid Ramona Portelli.

18. ‘A legend in his lifetime’ Gejtu Psaila ‘Il-Ħaċċa’ made history not only by becoming Malta’s first professional footballer, but also because of his legendary exploits, says Carmel Baldacchino.

20. Oh no he isn’t… Oh yes he is Louis Gatt concludes his examination of panto in Malta in recent times.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMBER 2018

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NEWS

Solidarity this Christmas T he festive season is another opportunity to spend quality time with our loved ones. We visit our parents and grandparents, not just for a quick visit, but to make plans for Christmas shopping and upcoming festivities.

Throughout 2018, the Parliamentary Secretariat for Persons with Disability and Active Ageing launched an initiative to encourage the elderly to make use of digital technology. With such initiative, elderly can connect with their family members living abroad this Christmas.

While digital technology has increased connectivity, warm face-to-face greetings are still received much better than online interactions, especially to our parents and grandparents alike, who are more traditional than the younger generations.

No matter how many awareness-raising is done in the

hope of enhancing connectivity, and to ensure that nobody is left alone at Christmas time, a few elderly in our society will still be abandoned by their families.

To address this reality, the Parliamentary Secretary for Persons with Disability and Active Ageing, Anthony Agius Decelis, developed two innovative initiatives for this time of the year.

The first is Let’s Dance, which involves entertainment by local singers, comedians, musicians and magicians. The second edition of this series of activities will reach around 1,400 elderly in 23 different elderly residential homes and active ageing centres.

Also for the second consecutive time, a Christmas lunch was organised for approximately 80 elderly residing in the long-term care facility, St Vincent de Paul, whose family members do not visit them.

These may be small initiatives with a huge impact, initiatives that our society craves, initiatives which allow for the values of solidarity, respect and dignity to flourish.

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SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMbER 2018

ChRIstMAs

Competitors wait at the start line of the Liverpool santa Dash. Photo: ReuteRs

ALL THE the mechanical crib at the Jesus of Nazareth Institute in Żejtun. Photo: MAtthew MIRAbeLLI

LIGHTS...

Christmas preparations and decorations from around the world.

A giant Christmas tree stands in the middle of the Galeries Lafayette department store in Paris, France.

Photo: ReuteRs

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMbER 2018

An artistic crib exhibition by the St Andrew’s Musical Society, Luqa is showcased at the Maltese Parliament building.

PHOTO: MATTHEW MIRABELLI

A Christmas tree at the Old Town Square in Prague. PHOTO: REUTERS A diver dressed as Santa Claus feeds fish inside a tank at the Sea Life aquarium in Berlin, Germany. PHOTO: REUTERS

People gather as fireworks explode over an illuminated Christmas tree in Beirut, Lebanon.

PHOTO: REUTERS

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SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMbER 2018

CARE

When words don’t come easy…

Non-verbal communication and activities can be louder than words, says Charlotte Stafrace.

I

In silence, or sometimes even with a small gesture, you can learn about and connect with someone.

t is said that 93 per cent of all communication is non-verbal. For many people living in care facilities, the means to communicate verbally has become limited or lost due to dementia or some other medical diagnosis.

So the question is: how do we keep connecting?

I meet a large spectrum of non-communicative older adults in care. This might include persons living with dementia, or else those who have suffered a stroke, those recovering from surgery, or others with general ill health.

When I embark on a new session where I am not familiar with the group, I try to spend quite a bit of time observing the small signs, in a bid to get closer and see how best I can try to communicate.

It is not an easy feat, but if you get this groundwork in, you will open opportunities both for yourself as a practitioner, and for your participants.

The first thing that I try to keep in mind is my challenge of that day: trying to connect, in whatever way, in that hour or hour and half session. Tuning in to listen and understand body language and interpersonal

NoN-verbal commuNicatioN

Activities with non-communicative elderly living with dementia.

Hand massage This is so therapeutic. First ask if your client can have some hand cream or natural oil rubbed on. You do not need to be a masseur, but everyone can use their hands to provide touch and even warmth on a cold day. This can even inspire some words, or even just a smile, but perhaps the best achievement would be to connect, albeit for a short while, and to make a therapeutic difference to an otherwise solitary day.

photos or mementoes shown in an unhurried way. Being there in absolute stillness with your client can create the smallest of movements or perhaps the flicker of a smile.

Making a scent bag I once took around some bags filled with mint and lavender. Although we were not able to hold a whole conversation about the actual smell, I could tell that some smells were more welcoming than others. One lady remarked on smelling mint, how she used it for fish broth.

Reading Sometimes I have read something familiar – like a childhood poem – to my clients and the difference it makes, in even a small way can be quite remarkable. At eye level, I remember once reading out a childhood poem to a non-verbal lady. All of a sudden she was laughing. When I read it the second time, she was mouthing some words silently. We ended the session with a clap. Sometimes it can just result in a lift of the eyes or neck. Even that can mean a connection. You just have to be aware of the signs and perhaps relish every little moment.

Puppetry You can create a non-verbal story using puppets. I have successfully created interaction with persons with dementia, when they were given a puppet or a choice of puppets. Notice how your participant is holding the puppet, any change in expressions, any interaction they might choose to adopt and improvise accordingly. You could even make your puppet dance to music. Don’t be scared to use sounds or a song instead of words.

Creating a memory box or a scrapbook Even with late stage dementia, participants can still relate to having their

Balloons, bubbles and colourful props Moving a balloon or blowing a bubble can create movement and enjoyment.

Once familiarity through repetition is achieved, it can even tap into long-lost memories. I have also used gym ribbons and colourful umbrellas with effectiveness due to the inherent beauty of colour and a welcome change from the familiar.

Music This is perhaps the best way of connecting and communicating when conducting a session with non-verbal older adults. I have played favourite tunes to persons with late stage dementia, and you can still detect a sense of enjoyment – it can alleviate challenging behaviour or just soothe.

I have come across many cases where persons who are non-verbal, can still mouth the words, or indeed find a voice to sing again. You can also add handheld instruments to create additional interest if you sense that it can add to the moment.

Active listening Even if a person is sitting slouched, seemingly uncommunicative from weeks on end of being ‘ignored’, except for being bathed, fed and put in bed, we can still try to connect.

Active listening is all about paying attention to not just the words being used, but also the nuances, the differ-

ence in posture, maintaining eye contact and even nodding from time to time.

▪ Find the best way of facing a person that shows attention ▪ Keep your posture open to show sincerity and a willingness to listen ▪ Lean towards a person to demonstrate your focus ▪ Eye contact shows you are interested and receptive to whatever your participant wants to convey ▪ Try to be relaxed as this will help make the participant feel at ease Reflective listening This is when you are listening and acting upon any messages which are being communicated. You can ask if you have heard and understood correctly. Most importantly is to improvise according to any slight movement or change in behaviour.

When a person has lost the ability to communicate verbally, it can significantly impact self-esteem. There is a high parallel between communication difficulties and poor mental health, so it is up to us to find the best way to keep trying to connect in order to provide only the best in person-centred care.

Keep yourself informed and keep looking at possibilities to connect and the outcomes can bring a welcome change to all around.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMbER 2018

communication and acting upon it is the basis of delivering effective tailor-made activities to seniors in care. Often because we see a person who is uncommunicative we think they are not receptive. But on the basis of many sessions, I’ve been proven otherwise. Many persons even with late stage dementia can still hear. One has to try and remember – in the face of seeking communication in an unconventional setting – that behind the disease, every person has a history.

What I have come across that really makes a difference when seeking non-conformal communication is eye contact, voice or sounds, active listening, body language, posture, but also silence. In silence, or sometimes even with a small gesture, you can learn about and connect with someone.

Ideally before you start any activities, you can get some background information about your client. It is important to know what they liked to do, their interests, jobs and family circumstances. But if this is difficult, you will just have to compile your own list, and make it grow from day to day or week

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Sometimes I have read something familiar – like a childhood poem – to my clients and the difference it makes, in even a small way can be quite remarkable to week. That will not just make communication better but it will also provide you – as the practitioner – with a wide set of skills to keep things moving and interesting.

But before one starts, one has to provide the right ambiance and space. Just because a person has become non-commu-

nicative, they can still get distracted by noise and unfriendly environments. If the TV is blaring in the background or there is a busy atmosphere, any endeavours towards communication will be futile.

Here is a list of tried and tested activities that I have conducted, primarily with non-

communicative elderly living with dementia. They don’t always work in the same way, all the time. One has to bear in mind that your client might have had a bad night, or that there is progression in his condition, or that they might simply not feel like it. That doesn’t mean one stops trying.

Charlotte Stafrace runs Active Age Malta which delivers creative sessions in the Ageing Community. She currently also runs Making Memories, a project with persons with dementia in day care centres, funded by the Malta Community Chest Fund Foundation.

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SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMbER 2018

OPINION

A modern-day nativity I ST

IN E

GA LE

T

he Christian world is full of powerful symbols that represent various elements of the faith.

Throughout the liturgical year, many are the feasts that are celebrated by the believers with much joy and enthusiasm. Christmas is no exception. The nativity is probably one of the most recognisable symbols of this beautiful season. The word ‘nativity’ comes from the Latin ‘nativus’ which means ‘arisen by birth’. The first nativity was created

by St Francis of Assisi at Greccio in 1223. This iconic symbol of Christian hope celebrates one of the most important events in the history of mankind.

In an effort to promote the true meaning of Christmas and worship of Jesus Christ, St Francis re-created the scene of the birth of Jesus so as to promote the true spirit of Christmas.

Some nativities are truly works of art: ceramic models, wood carvings, and even sometimes live demonstrations depicting the night of the birth of Jesus. These scenes generally contain the same elements as described in the Gospel according to St Luke. Baby Jesus in the manger, flanked by His mother, Mary, and His earthly father, Joseph. There are also the ox and the ass who kept him warm; the angel; the shepherds who announced his birth, surrounded by a large array of sheep; and three kings or wise men.

Cultural influences are also evident in some nativities. For example, in Malta it is customary to place a statue of the ‘għageb’ (the simpleton), standing right in the middle of the crib in a familiar kneeling posture. This astonished shepherd who was so marvelled by the beauty of the Baby Jesus became a Christmas legend, and local cribs are not complete without him.

One of my favourite live tableaux is the one which is presented annually by a group of extremely talented artists at the Bethlehem Village in Għajnsielem, Gozo. Every year, my grandchildren and I cross from one island to the other on Boxing Day, in order to spend a few hours at this delightful place, which serves as a timely reminder that Baby Jesus was born into a humble, poor, but loving environment.

The aim of St Francis in creating the first nativity was to remind people of how Christianity has never been about material richness. He felt that the Catholics of his day were missing the message of the gospel because they

The aim of St Francis in creating the first nativity was to remind people of how Christianity has never been about material riches.

were ensnared in materialism. I would venture to reflect, is it any different so many centuries later?

If Jesus had to be born this year in our modern society, would his parents find accommodation at any of our inns? I doubt it: probably on December 24 they’d all be full of party-goers, too intent on having a good time to notice the fact that Mary was about to give birth.

And none of the locals would probably have a spare room to offer either, because of the problem that people in some countries are currently facing

Modern-day Mary represents so many unmarried mothers, all struggling to offer their children a decent living

with high rents. With any luck, they might be casually directed to a churchrun food bank or to a centre for the homeless.

Modern-day Mary represents so many unmarried mothers, all struggling to offer their children a decent living, only with the assistance of poor social benefits, while Joseph would probably be desperately looking for work in a job-saturated market. Or they could be two of the many asylumseekers who reach the Mediterranean shores in droves, which would likely result in more hardship for them, as well as cruel discrimination by those who fail to acknowledge that their fear of being persecuted in their own homeland is well-founded.

Shepherds are a dying breed in the land of Jesus’ birth, so it is unlikely that there would be a great number to welcome his birth. Modern-day settlements are taking valuable water and cutting off land which is required for the sheep to graze upon. Shepherds need to buy more and more food for their flock to eat, making it difficult for them to make ends meet. What about the animals? Well, most of them have probably been taken out of their natu-

ral habitat and slaughtered for food.

The kings, or wise men, carrying precious gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh, were originally said to hail from three different continents. Today, I wonder what the border guards at most airports would have to say about three bearded men carrying suspicious packages. Surely they would be stopped at their point of entry and placed under sweeping suspicion of terrorism or some similar accusation.

Which leaves the angel. The task of the angel in the first nativity was to announce the amazing birth of Jesus and to show the shepherds how they could recognise Him in a very crowded town. This crowded town is the true image of our world of today, fraught with injustice, distractions, struggles for power (not unlike the time in which Jesus was born).

The most important thing about the nativity scene is its message, the message which was announced by the angel, “Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom His favour rests”. We can be the angel in this modern-day nativity, but only if we are bold enough to announce Christ’s message of hope and love this Christmas.

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In a modern-day nativity, we can be the angel and announce Christ’s message of hope and love this Christmas, says Christine Galea from the Cana Movement.

C HR

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMbER 2018

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RUMANZ

L-Antikrist Mattew Silta mir-rumanz ġdid ta’ Tony C. Cutajar.

L

-Isqof Dusini kien ħabrieki ħafna għax minbarra li kien lewwel inkiżitur ta’ Malta, huwa rċieva ordni millPapa Gregorju XIII biex jagħmel viżta pastorali li baqgħet tissemma’ sal-lum.

Il-Gran Mastru La Cassière wissa lil kulħadd biex jiġi milqugħ tajjeb – viżta li damet sejra kważi tliet xhur sħaħ. Ta’ enerġija kbira, Dusina kien iħobb il-kumpanija ta’ dawn ilħbieb li magħhom seta’ jitkellem bil-libertà kollha u mingħajr ma joqgħod iqies kull kelma, kif jagħmel is-soltu.

Ma setax jonqos li waqt l-ikla l-kliem din id-darba waqa’ fuq is-saħħar Falsun.

“Imma dan x’tip ta’ bniedem hu?” staqsa lill-Isqof wieħed mill-mistednin. “Veru li hu saħħar?”

“Jien ma nemminx fissħaħar,” wieġeb l-Isqof, “u lanqas min għandu rasu flokha. Nittama li intom bħali taħsbuha...”

“Imma m’għedtlix x’tip ta’ bniedem hu?” reġa’ staqsa listess wieħed.

“Huwa bniedem stinat, mimli bih innifsu u ma ddawwarlux l-opinjonijiet tiegħu kif ġieb u laħaq, għalkemm fil-bidu wriena li kien se jibda ħajja ġdida.”

“Il-Maltin jgħidu li min jitwieled tond ma jmutx kwadru.”

“Jien ma naqbilx, Pierre. Ilbniedem kapaċi jikkonverti u jbiddel ħajtu, dment li jkun hemm rieda tajba.”

“Imma dan ma kienx nidem u wiegħed li ma jkomplix fliżbalji tiegħu?” staqsa wieħed mill-Kavallieri.

“Faċli twiegħed u turi li tkun indimt minn dak li tkun għamilt, iżda meta tippersisti tkun qed tagħmel appostasija. Aħna lkoll għalhekk immorru nqerru, mhux hekk? L-importanti hu li meta taqa’ terġa’ tqum.”

“Għalhekk il-Knisja dejjem lesta li taħfer, hux hekk, Eċċellenza?”

“Iva, dejjem, iżda ċerti dnubiet fejn jidħol l-iskandlu, mhux faċli taqbad u taħfer. Fuq kollox, niftakru x’qal San Pawl

lill-Galatin, ‘Imqar jekk aħna stess jew anġlu mis-sema jħabbrilkom Evanġelju ieħor li mhuwiex dak li ħabbarnielkom aħna, ikun misħut!’ Kliem qawwi dan, mhux hekk?”

“Iva, ħafna. Imma l-bniedem dejjem jista’ jiżbalja...”

“Iva, dejjem, Alessandro, u lKnisja dejjem taħfirlu imma dak li jippersisti fid-dnub ikun qed jidneb kontra l-Ispirtu sSantu. U dak huwa dnub li ma jinħafirx...”

“Serja ħafna din...” “Ħafna, Injazju. Ħa nfakkarkom x’qal Ġesù millVanġelu ta’ San Mattew: ‘Ngħidilkom li d-dnubiet kollha u d-dagħa kollu jinħafrulhom lill-bnedmin, imma dagħwa blIspirtu s-Santu ma tinħafirx...’”

“Imma...”

“Għadni ma spiċċajtx ilkliem ta’ Ġesù, Marco. Kompla jgħid, ‘Jekk xi ħadd jgħid xi ħaġa kontra Bin il-Bniedem tinħafirlu, iżda min jitkellem kontra l-Ispirtu s-Santu ma jkollox maħfra, la f ’din iddinja u lanqas f ’li ġejja’.”

“Dan huwa kliem qawwi ħafna li żgur jimbotta lil ċerti nies, Eċċellenza.”

“Jekk irridu nkunu Nsara vera jkollna nżommu ma’ din id-duttrina u nżommu ‘l bogħod minn dawn id-dnubiet. Nittama li tafu liema huma d-dnubiet kontra lIspirtu s-Santu...”

“Donnok qed tagħmlilna xi eżami...” qabad jgħid Pierre.

“Imma tafuhom? Ħa nara.”

U kulħadd beda jsemmi xi wieħed jew tnejn mid-dnubiet kontra l-Ispirtu s-Santu – disprament, preżunzjoni talħniena t’Alla, reżistenza għallverità, għira għat-tajjeb ta’ ħaddieħor, stinazzjoni fiddnub, impenitenza.

“Bravi,” qal l-Isqof hu u jidħaq.

“Kollha għaddejtu mill-eżami.

Issa tafu tgħiduli għaliex ilKnisja qabdet ma’ dan Luteru?”

Kien hemm ħafna tweġibiet u kważi kollha kienu tajba.

“Huwa kien jaħseb li hu biss kien fehem l-ittri ta’ San Pawl,” ikkonkluda l-Isqof. “Kien waqa’ fil-kontradizzjoni meta qal li kollox kien jiddependi mir-

Mattew Falzon jidher quddiem l-inkiżitur.

raġuni u xejn iżjed. U għalhekk hu u min jemmen fit-tagħlim tiegħu jaqa’ fl-apostasija.”

“Kif kien spiċċa Luteru, Eċċellenza?” “Ġie skomunikat mill-Papa u rnexxielu jaħrab milli jiġi arrestat u kkundannat għallereżiji tiegħu. Huwa għex ħajja mqallba u kollha kontradizzjonijiet u miet jattakka l-Papa sal-aħħar nifs ta’ ħajtu.”

“Huwa beda bħala patri Kattoliku u spiċċa billi dawwar ħafna nies kontra l-Knisja.

Kien bniedem ribelluż, hux, Eċċellenza? X’kien jgħid kontra l-Knisja Kattolika?”

“Imissek staqsejtni x’ma kienx jgħid, Marco. Ma kienx jemmen fit-tagħlim tal-Papa, fil-qassisin, fil-qaddisin, fissagrament tal-qrar u fil-purgatorju. Kien jgħid li l-Bibbja tinterpetaha kif trid int. Barra minn dan, kien kontra l-Lhud u ried li djarhom jiġu mkissrin, is-sinagogi maħruqin u flushom konfiskati. Fuq kollox, meta l-bdiewa qamu kontra l-gvern, huwa ried li jiġu lkoll meqruda. Insomma, kien bniedem negattiv għalkollox.”

“Ma nafx għaliex jiġbed tant nies warajh meta kien bniedem daqshekk kontradittorju.”

“Injazju, min ikollu kontra lKnisja malajr isib kenn fi bniedem bħal dan li dejjem ħadha kontra t-tagħlim tal-Knisja, allavolja kien teologu u bniedem intelliġenti.”

“Eċċellenza, fil-bidu qbadna nitkellmu fuq is-saħħar li għandek maqful isfel,” qal Pierre. “Inti għedt li ma temminx fis-sħaħar iżda jien smajt b’każijiet li ġabuli għajnejja wara widnejja.”

“Jien iktar ngħid li dawk ikunu kumbinazzjonijiet jew ħeffa tal-idejn jew anke qerq fil-wiċċ.”

“Jista’ jkun ukoll. Iżda fejn jidħol ix-xitan fis-sħaħar?”

“Hekk mod ieħor. Ix-xitan kapaċi ħafna iktar mill-bnie-

dem. U hemm hi l-kruha tasseħer. Mhux ta’ b’xejn li lKnisja tikkundanna kull kuntatt max-xitan.”

“Taħseb li dan Mattew Falson jaħdem max-xitan, Eċċellenza?”

“Ma nafx ngħidlek, Alessandro. Huwa ġie kkundannat fuq l-ereżiji tiegħu u mhux fuq il-maġija.”

“Dan għandu xeħta ta’ saħħar?”

“Kif tkun ix-xeħta ta’ saħħar, Marco?”

“Mara saħħara nimmaġinaha mara xiha għakka, b’imnieħer kbir, suf ma’ geddumha, felula daqsiex ħdejn imneħerha u b’dik id-daħqa mxajtna...”

Kulħadd qabad jidħaq.

“U saħħar raġel kif timmaġinah?” staqsieh wieħed millKavallieri.

“Naħseb li jkun bil-ħotba, kollu mkemmex, b’xagħru mqanfed, b’leħja twila u b’nuċċali fuq xifer imnieħru.”

“Mela dan Mattew mhuwiex saħħar,” qal l-Isqof. “Ħalli narawh, Eċċellenza.

Għandi kurżità kbira biex nara x’tip ta’ bniedem hu.”

“Le, ma tarax! Ma rriduhx jaħseb li aħna qed nieħdu pjaċir bih. Huwa bniedem ta’ min jistmerru...”

“Għaliex le? Tazza nbid nistgħu nagħtuh u żgur li ma jgħidx le.”

“Mix-xeħta l-inbid qed jagħmel tiegħu, Injazju.”

“Lanqas xejn. Immur xi ħadd minna jgħidilhom itellgħuh ftit hawn fuq, Eċċellenza?”

“Ma naħsibx li jiddejjaq, liktar jekk nagħtuh tazza nbid.

Imma tħalluhx jikkonvertikom u jagħmilkom Kalvinisti bħalu. Infatti ma rridkomx tirreferu għar-reliġjon.”

“Irid ikun tassew saħħar prim biex jirnexxilu.”

“Alessandro, trid tmur int?”

Alessandro qam minn postu u ħareġ mill-kamra. Wara ftit reġa’ daħal flimkien ma’ wieħed

mill-għassiesa u Mattew marbut bil-ktajjen. Kulħadd baqa’ b’ħalqu miftuħ kif rah għax xejn ma kien kif stennewh. Kien ġuvnott sabiħ għalkemm wiċċu mgħotti b’daqna sewda, twil u rqiq u ma kellux iktar minn 30 sena. Baqa’ jħares lejhom b’ħarsa sarkastika sakemm offrewlu tazza nbid.

“X’kien m’intomx tidħku bija?” qalilhom. “Stennejtkom se taqbdu tidħku u żżommu żaqqkom bid-daħk. Ma tantx fini x’tara, hux?” Qabad ittazza u xorobha f ’nifs wieħed.

“Jaqaw l-inkiżitur reġa’ bdielu u se jaħfirli?”

“Inti ġibt is-sentenza fuq rasek, Mattew,” wieġbu l-isqof.

“Konna diġà ħfirnilek kif ħfirna lil missierek. Iżda int webbist rasek, ma ridtx tisma’ minna u rġajt għalli kont.”

“Allura xi tridu minni, sinjuri? Il-proċess tiegħi diġà sar u iktar minn darba.”

“Tidher li taf titkellem sewwa u m’intix xi wieħed injorant,” qallu l-Kavallier Injazju.

“Missieri tal-flus u dejjem ħallasli għalliem biex jiġi d-dar u jgħallimni naqra u nikteb.

Mingħandu li tgħallimt dak kollu li naf, anke dwar dak li intom issejħulhom l-ereżiji ta’ Luteru. Huwa intom li bqajtu fl-injoranza bl-iskola kollha li tafu. Għalkemm lili rbattuni b’dawn il-ktajjen, jiena bniedem liberu ħafna iktar minkom. Ħa ngħidilkom x’qal Luteru: ‘Ħaġa waħda biss hija neċessarja għal ħajja Nisranija – il-ġustizzja u l-libertà’.

Imma intom la intom ġusti u lanqas liberi...”

“Veru li int saħħar?” staqsieh Marco biex bħallikieku jwaqqfu milli jagħmlilhom xi priedka.

Din is-sena huwa l-40 anniversarju minn meta l-awtur Tony C. Cutajar ippublika l-ewwel rumanz tiegħu, Id-Dubbien l-Abjad (Klabb Kotba Maltin).

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SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMbER 2018

PHOTOS

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For whom the bell tolls From time immemorial, churches have dominated the architecture and life of Malta’s towns and villages. Senior Times and Bay Retro listen to the bells of the past.

PHOTOS COURTESY OF BAY RETRO

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SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMbER 2018

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7 1. St Helen’s Basilica in Birkirkara, 1916. PHoto: Sally Buck; 2. the old St Mary church in Birkirkara more than a century ago; 3. Balluta church in the 1870s, when St Julian’s was still a sleepy fishing village; 4. the Mosta dome dominates this aerial photograph of Mosta in the 1920s. PHoto: Morag Bailey; 5. tarxien church more than a century ago. PHoto: Mario ScHeMBri; 6. the Dominican church of Jesus of Nazareth on the unrecognisable Sliema front. PHoto: alBert caligari coNti; 7. a vintage view of Mellieħa church; 8. the centre of cospicua is devastated during an enemy bombing raid in 1941.

PHoto: NorMaN ScHeMBri; 9. Floriana in the 1950s; 10. Msida in the 1950s.

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SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEM BER 2018

CRYPTIC CROSSWORD 1

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30.Decree (6) 31. Loosen (4) 32. Lump (8) 33.Series (6)

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EASY CROSSWORD

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ACROSS 1. Suitable supporter, it seems (6) 7. In the minority, but capable of due anger (5,3) 8. The early bird (4) 10. Soldiers holding a sailor back for nothing (6) 11. More than double (6) 14. Allowed out of jail, etc. (3) 16. In the desert, it’s refreshingly different (5) 17. Show sign of life in prison (4) 19. It’s silly for an agent to be out of work (5) 21. German town orchestra (5) 22. How to complain of overheating? (5) 23. A growing boy (4) 26.The driver will help fix it (5) 28.Sound sheepish (3) 29.Surly fellows Charlie chucks (6) 30.The cat gets us more upset (6) 31. Fit to return from Elba (4) 32. Musical characters born with the gift (8) 33. Concealing the fact that a good one can hurt (6) DOWN 1. Quietly persuades to make drastic eliminations (6) 2. Horse taking dad round the corner (6) 3. Dashes for the ladders (4) 4. What a fresh girl could give a jilted suitor (3,4) 5. French airs arranged for piano (5) 6. Town in fertile Wessex (5) 8. Welshman accepting an apprentice painter (4) 9. Point to it as something clever (3) 12. He sounds a note (3) 13. When detectives need some beer, will this do? (5) 15. Is she apt to be prickly? (5) 18. Set fire to the church on the hill (5) 19. Rested, being not quite up to the task (3) 20.Work with wood? (3) 21. Errors of crying children? (7) 22. Mother’s? (3) 23. Not easily drawn (6) 24. Simplicity of the centrepiece of a teaset (4) 25. Fetch out an article for stripping (6) 26.Not much to read, just a letter (5) 27. A rotten shade of red (5) 28.As a hanger-on, he’s a swinger (3) 30.Sham, maybe, but tasteful (4) NOVEMBER ISSUE SOLUTIONS: ACROSS: 4. Gi-vin-g 7. Pass-over 8. Ed-itor 10. Dress 13. Re-in 14. Sash 15. (Preston-)Pans 16. Sly 17. O-pen 19. Oboe 21. Break-away 23. Cats 24.

LI-NG 26. To-y 27. The-N 29. Eves 32. Lead 33. Bligh 34. C-over-t 35.

Cardigan 36. Starch.

DOWN: 1. Spuds 2. A-she’s 3. Sobs 4. G-reen 5. Va-I-n 6. Noodle 9. Disow-n 11. Ra-y 12. Short 13. Ra-n-kled 15. Pea 16. Soy 18. Pe-St.-er 20.

Bagel 21. Bay 22. Ain 23. Co.-ho.-Rt 25. Peg 28. Hat-ch. 30. Virgo 31. ShunT 32. Lear 33. Beds.

ACROSS 1. Language (6) 7. Recovered (8) 8. Singing voice (4) 10. Empty (6) 11. Front (6) 14. Female pig (3) 16. Savaged (5)

17. Northern Briton (4) 19. Sacked (5) 21. Frogman (5) 22. Doomed (5) 23. Pace (4) 26.Dairy product (5) 28.In favour (3) 29.Throaty (6)

DOWN 1. Curved structures (6) 2. Vote (6) 3. Boast (4) 4. Traveller (7) 5. Javelin (5) 6. Appended (5) 8. Too (4) 9. Pull (3) 12. Fish (3) 13. Thick (5) 15. Metal fastener (5) 18. Egyptian capital (5) 19. Suitable (3) 20.Colour (3) 21. Girls (7) 22. Distant (3) 23. Joining alloy (6) 24.Threesome (4) 25. Announcing (6) 26.Pursue (5) 27. Keen (5) 28.Amusement (3) 30.Mats (4)

NOVEMBER ISSUE SOLUTIONS: ACROSS: 4. Nudist 7. Ambrosia 8. Solace 10. Close 13. Cant 14. Hero 15. Half 16. Cad 17. Fair 19. Oars 21. Mandatory 23. Sort 24. Cute 26. Bop 27. Heat 29. Noah 32. Lens 33. Eagle 34.

Resume 35. Menswear 36. Snappy.

DOWN: 1. Hatch 2. Abhor 3. Joke 4. Nasal 5. Dolt 6. Such as 9. On foot 11. Lee 12. So far 13.

Caracas 15. Hid 16. Cry 18. Anthem 20. Arena 21. Mop 22. Tut 23. Solemn 25. Pal 28. Enemy 30. Ogles 31. Heart 32. Lump 33. Erse.

WORD SEARCH

Aborigine Acrid Astute Atoms August Bedtimes Biking Buying Cavort Cheat

Cheek Chore Citing Coral Crutches Cures Differentiates Drift Embed Feeble

Firms Flung Gamut Gasped Gears Glimpses Highway Ingest Liked Nudge

Recants Rescues Selected Spoon Sprig Stands Trunk Walks Whose Wrists

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMBER 2018

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Ngħidu kelma

COMPETITION

QWIEL MALTIN U XI JFISSRU Ix-xħiħ bħal dbigħ il-ħanżir, il-werrieta ferħana se’ ttir!

When a miser dies, it’s like the slaying of swine for food, the inheritor is extremely happy.

The One You Really Want

by Jill Mansell

Tgħoddx erbatax fi xkora qabel ma jkunu erbatax fi xkora.

Don’t count fourteen in a sack before there are actually fourteen in a sack.

Min fit-triq jiekol figolla ‘l żewġu jsibu qalb il-folla.

She who eats an Easter pastry on the way (to a feast), will find her spouse in the crowd.

Tisħetx il-qamar fl-art għax itik niket u mard.

Don’t curse the moon on earth or it will give you grief and disease.

The Unexplained Plus

by Vanessa Macdonald

It-tfal bħal ħabaq, jimirdu u jgħaddilhom malajr.

Children are like basil, the get sick quickly and recover quickly too.

Historic Times This month, we are giving away three bestselling paperbacks. To win, tell us the date when this The Sunday Times of Malta front page was published. Send your answers via e-mail to seniortimes@timesofmalta.com or by post to ‘Senior Times Competition’, Allied Newspapers Limited, Triq L-Intornjatur, Mrieħel BKR 3000. The first three correct answers we receive win a paperback each. Last month’s winners are Charles Cirillo, who wins a copy of Previous Convictions by A. A. Gill, Joseph Borg, who wins a copy of The Leader by Guy Walters and Angela Camilleri, who wins a copy of The Lie by Oliver Friggieri. The correct answer was November 4, 1957.

SUDOKU

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9

Fill in the grid so that every row, every column and every 3x3 box contains the digits 1 through 9

8 3 4 1 9 5 7 6 2

7 1 9 3 2 6 4 5 8

5 6 2 8 4 7 3 9 1

9 2 5 6 8 4 1 3 7

4 7 1 5 3 2 9 8 6

3 8 6 7 1 9 2 4 5

1 5 3 9 7 8 6 2 4

6 4 7 2 5 3 8 1 9

2 9 8 4 6 1 5 7 3

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Iż-żejt dejjem jitla’ f ’wiċċ l-ilma.

Oil in water will always surface.

Towelhead

by Alicia Erian

6 8 1 4 9 4

7 3 2 1

9 3 6 1 6 3 2 7

7 6 8 9 1

Qabbilli waħda Elf zalzetta Hawn raġel, qrajt darba f’gazzetta, li jiekol kuljum elf zalzetta.

U mbagħad xarba nbid, u jorqod mhux ftit, u jonħor bil-ħoss ta’ trumbetta.

Pizzi pizzi kanna Pizzi pizzi kanna, Dolores ta’ Sant’Anna, Sant’Anna tal-Morina, ħabba biċċa pellegrina.

Mgħaref tal-fidda, bandiera tal-ħarir, noli kannoli, insara qaddisin.

Sinna Basinna Sinna basinna, bajda ħalib.

Oqgħod fil-qasrija, meta mmut niġi għalik!

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SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMbER 2018

OPINJONI

PROPOSTA KONKRETA: qassmu mhux armu Minn deni jista’ joħroġ ftit ġid, jgħid Tonio Bonello.

P

eter Lloyd hu attivist ta’ entità tal-karità f ’pajjiżna. Fil-fatt Lloyd hu t-teżorier ta’ St Andrews Scots Church fil-kapitali Valletta. Fil-5 ta’ Novembru 2013 Lloyd ressaq proposta quddiem il-Gvern bilgħan li konsenji ta’ kuntrabandu li jinqabad f ’Malta ta’ oġġetti utili bħal ħwejjeġ u żraben, flok mal-qorti tordna li jinqerdu, dawn jingħataw lil dawk l-aktar fil-bżonn.

Hu fatt magħruf li waqt li pajjiżna ekonomikament jinsab miexi fid-direzzjoni ttajba, il-popolazzjoni qed dejjem tikber u dawk imsejħa “firriskju ta’ faqar” għal raġunijiet diversi qed jikbru wkoll.

Fost dawn hemm tfal u żgħażagħ ta’ kull eta, familji, kif ukoll anzjani.

Lloyd għamel din il-propostà fid-dawl ta’ deċiżjoni tal-qorti xahar qabel is-sejħa tiegħu lil gvern ċentrali meta l-Qrati talĠustizzja kienu ordnaw li jiġu distrutti xejn anqas minn 52,000 par żarbun, kif ukoll ma’ kważi 3,000 oġġett ieħor ta’ ħwejjeġ sportivi.

Interessanti li Lloyd ma bbażax l-argument tiegħu fuq sempliċi premessa ta’ proposta iżda ssostanzja l-każ b’fatti attwali. Lloyd semma’ kif il-proposta tiegħu diġà qed tiġi attwata fl-Ingilterra permezz tal-entità karitattivà msejħa HISchurch.

Jingħad li HISchurch irnexxielha tasal fi ftehim mal-kumpaniji l-kbar tad-ditti mondjali biex oġġetti bittikketti tagħhom, iżda mhux oriġinali, dawn jitħallew jingħataw lil persuni vulnerabbli flok ma jinqerdu. Dan ilftehim naturalment jorbot miegħu termini u kundizzjonijiet, fosthom superviżjoni retta u kostanti fi proċess meqjus bħala elaborat bilgħan li l-kumpaniji ewlenin ikollhom sodisfazzjon li dak li qed jiġri fil-fatt hu tassew b’għan nobbli.

Fil-kummenti tiegħu Lloyd spjega kif fil-rejaltà ammont

daqstant kbir ta’ aktar minn 52,000 par żarbun mhux meħtieġa kollha f ’pajjiżna u f ’dan ix-xenarju spjega kif dawk li jibqa’ minn tali konsenja setgħu jintbagħtu barra lejn pajjiżi tat-tielet dinja.

Minn dan l-appell ta’ Lloyd għaddew ħames snin. Matul dan iż-żmien, pajjiżna kompla jesperjenza aktar dħul ta’ immigranti rregolari, flimkien ma’ persuni, anke Maltin, fosthom forsi anke anzjani li, minn proposta tali setgħu ibbenifikaw u l-ħajja tagħhom, anke jekk ftit, tjiebet.

Waqt li d-dinja kollha qed tagħmel appell wara ieħor biex inkomplu nibżgħu għallambjent, niddisponu millanqas skart ta’ kull xorta, kif ukoll, nirriċiklaw, tali proposta għandha tgħin ħolistikament, kemm f ’kuntest ambjentali, pero’ wkoll fiddimensjoni umana.

L-appell tiegħi ma jiqafx hawn. Hawn ħafna anzjani fostna li hekk kif jilħqu ċerta eta, jieqfu milli jkomplu jsuqu per eżempju. Illum il-gvern ħaseb biex hawn skemi anke għal min jagħti l-karozza qadima tiegħu għall-iskrap u dawn huma kunċetti tajbin. Però huwa fatt ukoll li ċerti anzjani, il-vetturi li jkollhom ikunu għadhom f ’kundizzjoni tajba, tant li faċilment jistgħu jkomplu jinstaqu fit-triq.

Fid-dawl ta’ dan, forsi ta’ min allura bl-istess qies iniedi skema sabiex persuni, partikolarment

Għaliex ma naħsbux f ’dawk ta’ madwarna u forsi anke dawk bogħod minna

HISchurch irnexxielha tasal fi ftehim mal-kumpaniji l-kbar tadditti mondjali biex oġġetti bit-tikketti tagħhom, iżda mhux oriġinali, jingħataw lil persuni vulnerabbli flok jinqerdu.

anzjani, li jkunu jridu jiddisponu mill-vettura tagħhom, sakemm din tkun għada tajba għat-triq, li din tkun tista’ tingħata lil xi familja fil-bżonn jew persuni li jinħtieġu xi mezz ta’ trasport għax ma jistgħux jagħmlu użu mit-trasport pubbliku.

Ninsabu hawn, f ’din il-ħajja biex nirċievu u naqilgħu. L-

Ingliżi jħobbu jgħidu, ‘Give and take’. Għaliex ma naħsbux f ’dawk ta’ madwarna u forsi anke dawk bogħod minna u naraw kif nistgħu nagħmlu għażliet ġusti li, permezz tagħhom jista’ jgawdi pajjiżna, pero’ wkoll dawk l-aktar persuni vulnerabbli madwarna.

Tonio Bonello hu l-editur media kif ukoll information and communications executive responsabbli millcorporate-wide media and communications fl-Uffiċċju tas-Segretarju Permanenti fi ħdan il-Ministeru għallFamilja, Drittijiet tat-Tfal u Solidarjetà Soċjali.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMbER 2018

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RELIĠJON

Milied

jew rigali?

Meta m’aħniex kapaċi napprezzaw dak li jingħatalna, mela probabbli ma nistgħux nifhmu sewwa l-ikbar rigal tal-Milied.

Ir-rigal tal-Milied hu li permezz ta’ Ġesù nistgħu naraw id-dinja bl-għajnejn ta’ Alla, jgħid Dun Jonathan Farrugia.

D

al-ġranet kont qed naqra storja ta’ żewġ subien differenti minn xulxin ambjentata fi żmien il-Milied li tista’ tgħinna nifmu xi ftit aħjar xi jfisser il-Milied.

Kien hemm għalliema li għall-Milied ħeġġet lit-tfal biex jagħmlu borża tal-Milied b’xi ħelu, ġugarelli u affarijiet oħra bżonnjużi biex imbagħad imorru jagħtuha lill-familji fqar.

U kulħadd ikkollabora, hekk li qabel bdew il-vaganzi tal-Milied it-tfal tal-klassi kellhom borża kbira u mimlija kull wieħed biex ituha lil xi tifel ieħor. Lgħalliema rringrazzjothom talġenerożità tagħhom u tat lil kull tifel u tifla indirizz ta’ tfal oħrajn biex matul il-vaganzi jmorru jtuhom il-borża.

Wieħed mit-tfal, li kien ġej minn familja sinjura u li kien jismu Jack messu jmur għand familja fejn kieneu joqgħodu tlett itfal. Xi jumejn qabel ilMilied, Jack telaq ma’ ommu u marru jsibu d-dar skond l-indirizz li kienet tatu l-għalliema tiegħu. Meta sabuha ħabbtu u fetħitilhom l-omm. Fid-dar kienu joqgħodu hi u t-tliet uliedha – żewġha kien ilu li telaqhom.

Jack ħares madwaru u millewwel induna bid-differenza bejn id-dar fejn kien joqgħod hu

u din id-dar. Fil-waqt li d-dar ma kien jonqsu xejn u anke kien hemm ħafna għamara biex iżżejjen, hawn ra biss dak li hu essenzjali – anqas twapet biex inaqssu l-kesħa ma kien hemm!

L-omm u t-tfal ferħu ħafna bilbasket rigali li ħadilhom Jack.

Kien hemm wieħed mit-tfal li fittex fil-basket sakemm sab borża b’ismu fuqha, ħariġha u fetaħha.

Fih kien hemm ħafna ħelu, toothbrush u mobile tal-logħob.

It-tifel qabad it-toothbrush u beda jifraħ biha waqt li qagħad jgħid lill-ommu, “Ara mama’ għandi t-toothbrush tiegħi!”

Tant kienu fqar li ferħu b’dak li qalulhom l-anġli u laqgħu dak li kellhom bżonn – it-tama li ġab magħha ttwelid ta’ Ġesù

Jack ma setax jifhem talferħ kollu fuq biċċa toothbrush, u għalhekk l-omm spjegatilhom li l-ftit flus li kellha kienet tonfoqhom f ’ikel u ħwejjeġ u li affarijiet bħal toothbrushes, xugmani u affarijiet hekk kellha sett wieħed u kulħadd kien juża lilu.

Mela wasal il-Milied u Jack kien mal-familja tiegħu għallpranzu għand in-nanna. Din daret fuqu u qaltlu, “X’ġablek sabiħ Father Christmas” U hu, b’geddum sa l-art weġibha, “Xejn!” Ommu daret lejh u qaltlu “Kif xejn? Dik l-Xbox xinhi mela?!” U hu sħun sħun qabeż u qallha “Imma jien il-Ps4 ridt!” Żewġt itfal minn żewġ sitwazzjonijiet differenti: wieħed minnhom jagħmel għaġeb għax irċieva xi ħaġa tant sempliċi u komuni li aħna forsi anqas biss nagħtu każha, u lieħor li mhux kapaċi jifraħ b’rigal sabiħ u lussuż dakollu għax ma kienx dak li ried.

Aħna xi ppjanajna li naqilgħu għall-Milied? Jew inkella, aħjar, nifhmu sewwasew x’jagħtina l-Milied? Nifhmu xi tfisser li Alla ġie fid-dinja bniedem bħalna?

Jekk naħsbu ftit malajr nagħrfu li minkejja li Alla jista’ kollox, ma jista’ jagħmel xejn għal dawk li huma bħal Jack.

Meta ma jkun jonqosna xejn, spiss ikun diffiċli jew impossibbli li nagħrfu x’għandna bżonn! Meta m’aħniex kapaċi napprezzaw dak li jingħatalna, anke jekk ma jkunx dak li rridu, mela probabbli ma nistgħux nifhmu sewwa l-ikbar rigal tal-Milied. Meta, iżda, nifhmu l-faqar tagħna, nibdew nifirħu b’kull ħaġa żgħira li naqalgħu, anke daqsxejn ta’ toothbrush.

Dawn iż-żewġ itfal it-tnejn insibuhom fil-ġrajja tal-Milied li naqraw fl-evanġlji. Tifel minnhom jirrapreżenta lil dawk li tant kienu moħħhom f ’dak li jridu li anqas biss indunaw x’kien qed jingħatalhom. Huma riedu sultan qawwi li jerġa’ jqajjem saltna bħal David, allura ma ferħux bit-twelid ta’ dan it-tifel li twieled f ’għar minkejja li niżlu l-anġli jkantaw bil-ferħ.

It-tifel l-ieħor jidher f ’dawk li tant kienu fqar li ferħu b’dak li qalulhom l-anġli u laqgħu dak li kellhom bżonn – it-tama li ġab magħha t-twelid ta’ Ġesù.

Jekk inħarsu lejn il-ħajja ta’ Ġesù malajr nindunaw min hu Jack u min kien it-tifel l-ieħor.

Lil Jack narawh f ’Erodi, filqassinin tal-Lhud, fl-għorrief tal-liġi – f ’dawk kollha li ma laqgħux lil Ġesù ghax derhilhom li jafu aktar minnu.

It-tifel l-ieħor narawh firrgħajja ta’ Bethlehem, fil-fqar, fil-morda u fil-midinbin li għarfu f ’Ġesù it-tama li huma wkoll kienu maħbubin minn Alla. Huma xtaqu li jkunu jafu li Alla jagħti każhom, u mhux talli rċevew dan, imma talli Alla stess iltaqa’ magħhom bħal wieħed minnhom. Ġesù twieled f ’belt żgħira li jisimha Bethlehem fejn kienet teżisti industrija waħda – dik tal-ħobż. F’Bethlehem kien isir il-ħobż għal Ġerusalemm u għall-irħula tal-madwar, fil-fatt bl-Ebrajk Bethlehem tfisser “dar il-ħobż”. Alla għalhekk għażel li jitwieled f ’din il-belt mhux b’kumbinazzjoni, imma biex jurina li hu ġie fid-dinja biex jitmagħna, biex itina dak li verament għandna bżonn.

Ir-rigal tal-Milied hu li permezz ta’ Ġesù nistgħu naraw id-dinja bl-għajnejn ta’ Alla. Ġesù ma kienx il-messija li nnies riedu, imma kien il-messija lid-dinja kellha bżonn.

Dawk fostna li għadna ma ġejniex mirduma mill-konsumeriżmu ta’ żmienna nistgħu niftħu għajnejna u nibdew napprezzaw dak li rċevejna f ’Ġesù – l-imħabba ta’ Alla. U għalhekk aħna msejħin minn dan l-istess Alla biex inwasslu lil ta’ madwarna dan l-istess rigal: l-imħabba.

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SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMbER 2018

MUŻIKA

Noti għoljin Il-mużiċisti Alexei Galea Cavallazzi u Marvic Baldacchino b’kollaborazzjoni sħiħa ma’ mużiċisti Taljani ser joffru serata unika, tgħid Ramona Portelli.

R

iċentament skoprejt li bħalissa għaddejjin l-aħħar preparamenti ġmielhom sabiex fil-ġimgħat li ġejjin jittella avveniment għallfamilja kollha – Opera Evening.

Filfatt sabiex insir naf aktar dwar dan l-avveniment, tkellimt mad-direttur mużikali f ’Dar il-Mediterran, Alexei Galea Cavallazzi, kif ukoll massoprano Marvic Baldacchino.

Minn informazzjoni li ksibt qabel ma mort għal din l-intervista kont naf li f ’Dar ilMediterran għall-Konferenzi b’kollaborazjoni ma’ Zarattini International u European Foundation for Support of Culture ser jippreżentaw Opera Evening flimkien mal-Philharmonic ta’ Nissena, mill-Italja, baritonu Salvatore Salvaggio, mill-Italja wkoll, kif ukoll ilMaltin soprano Marvic Baldacchino, u l-konduttur Alexei Galea Cavallazzi għal programm sħiħ b’mużika minn

ta’ kompożituri popolari.

Galea Cavallazzi kien ingħata l-medalja prestiġġjuża Union Federation mill-Parlament Russu għall-kontribut kulturali tiegħu, dderieġa rRussja ‘l fuq minn ħames orkestri u jiġi misteden ta’ spiss mhux biss ir-Russja, iżda f ’pajjiżi oħra.

Mhux hekk biss, iżda fuq kollox Galea Cavallazzi huwa apprezzat hawn Malta. Fi kliemu stess: “Aħna Dar ilMediterran ħloqna proġetti li huma ta’ kwalita unika għal Malta. Wieħed mill-proġetti li huwa ta’ kollaborazzjoni fittul bejn Malta u r-Russja huwa l-proġett tal-Kappella ta’ St Petersburg, waħda mill-aktar orkestri tajbin fid-dinja.”

Galea Cavallazzi huwa wkoll pianist u direttur orkestrali.

Għandu degree minn Oxford fil-Musikoloġija, fil-pjanu minn Moska u studja d-direzzjoni orkestrali fi Dresden ilĠermanja.

Ta’ min jgħid li opra huwa ġeneru ta’ dramm mużikali li oriġina fi prinċipalitajiet, fosthom dak ta’ Firenze li aktar tard ingħaqdu biex saru l-Italja.

Huwa ġeneru fejn il-kelma u lmużika jingħaqdu biex ikun hemm ‘storja’ li tiġi spjegata jew imżejjna bil-mużika.

L-evoluzzjoni ta’ opra bdiet bl-idea li jimitaw il-mużika antika Griega u aktar speċifikament bl-invenzjoni tar-reċitativ.

Madanakollu l-quċċata talpotenzjal tagħha l-opra bħala ġeneru laħqitu permezz talmużika ta’ Richard Wagner u lkompożituri ta’ warajh bħal Alexander von Zemlinsky u Richard Strauss u oħrajn. Dan ifisser li l-opra laħqet il-potenzjal tagħha bil-mużika ta’ Wagner u ta’ dawk li kienu taħt linfluenza tiegħu.

Peress li kont naf li s-serata Opera Evening ser tkun tikkonsisti f ’mitt minuta opera, ridt inkun naf aktar dwar din lattivita u tkellimt aktar ma’

Soprano Marvic Baldacchino

Maestro Alexei Galea Cavallazzi

Galea Cavallazzi. Filfatt infurmani li kull min jattendi ser ikunu qed jisimgħu siltiet minn opri ta’ Puccini, Verdi, Rossini u Mozart u siltiet vokali u orkestrali ta’ mużika popolari klassika.

Mhux hekk biss, talli għal din is-serata ser jattendu xi mużiċisti Taljani, fosthom ilbaritonu Salvatore Salvaggio. Ħallejt f ’idejh sabiex jgħaddili aktar informazzjoni dwar linvolviment tagħhom f ’din lopera u kif jikkolaboraw flimkien bħala tim wieħed.

“Salvaggio huwa baritonu baxx ta’ livell għoli ħafna u b’esperjenza. L-orkestra Nissena hija orkestra li ġiet mistiedna ċ-Ċina u pajjiżi oħra għasservizzi mużikali tagħha, filwaqt li Marvic Baldacchino hija soprano Maltija żagħżugħa, mhux biss promettenti, iżda għandha x’toffri minn issa b’vuċi sabiħa minn natura u intelliġenza mużikali,” sostna Galea Cavallazzi.

Il-Filarmonika ta’ Nissena

Ħadt ukoll xi kummenti mingħand is-soprano Baldacchino. Din bdiet tistudja lvuċi u l-kant klassiku meta kellha madwar 13 il-sena mal-mezzo-sopran Claire Massa ġewwa l-iskola talMużika Johann Strauss. Studjat ukoll ma’ bosta kantanti kemm f’Malta, kif ukoll fir-Renju Unit.

Illum il-ġurnata tistudja malmezzo-sopran Massa fi ħdan lUniversita’ ta’ Malta, kif ukoll mas-sopran Miriam Cauchi ġewwa l-Iskola tal-Mużika.

Din it-tip ta’ mużika minn dejjem kienet togħġobha u listil klassiku huwa dak li jixraq l-iktar għall-vuċi tagħha.

Ridt inkun naf b’liema mod qed tħejji ruħha u x’tip ta’ preparamenti qed ikollha ssegwi għall-vuċi u affarijiet oħra.

“Irrevedejt il-mużika li ser inkanta kemm waħdi kif ukoll

L-istil klassiku huwa dak li jixraq l-iktar għall-vuċi tagħha

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMbER 2018

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NEWS

Minister for Health visits Hilltop Gardens

H

mas-sopran Cauchi waqt il-lezzjonijiet tal-kant. Inħobb naħdem ma’ pjanisti kollaborattivi jew repetiteur qabel serata bħal din, billi ħafna drabi, meta tkun ilek ma tkanta biċċa mużika tinsa xi affarijiet mużikali jew interpretattivi żgħar. Meta taħdem ma’ repetiteur, terġa’ ġġedded ilmemorja u b’hekk tkun iktar preparat għall-provi malorkestra. Inħossni ppreparata u ħerqana ħafna għall-provi mal-orkestra li ser isiru ġewwa Catania,” qaltli Baldacchino.

Kompliet tgħidli li s-serata tal-Opera Evening ser tikkonsisti f ’kunċert varjat b’siltiet minn opri u repertorju fi stil operistiku. Fost oħrajn, ludjenza ser ikollha l-opportunita’ tisma xogħlijiet ta’ Mozart, Puccini u Rossini li jinżlu tajjeb ħafna mal-Maltin.

“Għażilna mużika li hija faċli biex tismagħha. Bla dubju dan huwa avveniment ideali mhux biss għall-familja kollha, iżda ukoll għal individwi li jixtiequ jiskopru aħjar dan il-ġeneru ta’ mużika”, sostniet miegħi.”

Ma’ Baldacchino, ddiskutejt l-enerġija tal-orkestra meta tkun qed tkanta magħha. Filfatt spjegatli li l-enerġija talorkestra tvarja skont x’ikun jixtieq id-direttur.

SERATA UNIKA Opera Evening ser tkun imtella fir-Republic Hall, Mediterranean Conference Centre, l-Belt Valletta nhar il-Ħadd, 20 ta’ Jannar 2019 fis-6pm. Lorkestra flimkien mal-konduttur ser jinterpretaw operiski mużikali mill-aqwa repertwar. Fl-istess kunċert ser nisimgħu wkoll xogħolijiet vokali u orkestrali oħra li ser ikunu nklużi minħabba l-popolarita’ tagħhom.

Dar il-Mediterran għall-Konferenzi qed tkun issaportjata minn Zarattini International Limited u millEuropean Foundation for Support of Culture. Bla dubju din hija attivita għall-familja kollha, kemm għal dawk il-mużiċisti professjonali u anke għal dawk li japprezzaw il-mużika. L-attivita ser iddum għaddejja mitt minuta b’mużika varjata, u l-biljetti ser ikunu €10 jew €15. Aktar informazzjoni billi ċċemplu fuq 2559 5750 jew www.mcc.com.mt

“Ġeneralment inħossni tajba nkanta m’orkestra għax mużikalment inħoss li l-vuċi tkun appoġġjata bil-ħoss talistrumenti wkoll u nkun qiegħda nkanta l-mużika flarranġament kif xtaq il-kompożitur, mhux ma’ pjanu biss. Ċerta li l-Maestro Galea Cavallazzi ser joħroġ effetti sbieħ ħafna mill-istrumenti u jagħmel minn kollox biex ilviżjoni tal-kompożituri ssir realta,” tbissmet tgħidli.

Fl-aħħarnett Baldacchino xtaqet tħeġġeġ lill-qarrejja ta’ din il-gazzetta sabiex jattendu għal dan il-kunċert.

“Is-siltiet li sejrin jiġu ppreżentati huma fost ilfavoriti tan-nies li jħobbu l-opra u huma faċli biex tismagħhom għall-ewwel darba jekk forsi m’intix midħla tal-opra. Għalhekk nemmen li dan il-kunċert hu opportunita’ tajba għal min jixtieq jipprova xi ħaġa ġdida,” temmet tgħidli.

ealth Minister Chris Fearne was greeted by AX Group Chairman Angelo Xuereb, CEO Michael Warrington and general manager Charmaine Attard as he visited Hilltop Gardens on Thursday, December 6. A number of residents residing at Hillltop Gardens gathered in the lobby to welcome Dr Fearne, with some recounting to him memories from their past.

Mr Xuereb explained that Hilltop Gardens will be celebrating its third anniversary this December as the first luxury retirement village to be developed on the island.

With great pleasure Mr Xuereb also announced to the Minister for Health that all apartments and penthouses within the village are leased or rented. The village has in fact slowly but surely turned into a community of people who want to make the best out of their later years.

Ms Attard believes that in these past three years Hilltop Gardens, together with Simblija Care Home, which is the care home within the village, have been at the forefront to deliver high standards of service and personalised care to all residents.

“At Hilltop Gardens, it is not about selling an apartment but all about lifestyle. We want to offer the best for people in their later years. Hilltop Gardens offers a continuum of care from independent living to assisted living to full care if needed at Simblija Care Home. It is about offering the client a smooth journey in this transition of care, based on our philosophy of care, compassion and competence.”

Dr Fearne was led through the premises spread over 17,000 square metres of land ranging from the lounge bar to the large pool terrace and the state-of-the-art water chapel situated in the heart of the village. Dr Fearne also visited Revive, the Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation centre, which offers tailor-made physiotherapy services to residents and the general public on land and in water.

The purposely-equipped gym and hydrotherapy pool also offers a wide range rehabilitation services.

The tour ended with Dr Fearne visiting Chic Physique Gym and Sanya SPA which also form part of Hilltop gardens and offer bespoke services within the village.

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SPORT

‘A legend in his lifetime’ Gejtu Psaila ‘Il-Ħaċċa’ made history not only by becoming Malta’s first professional footballer, but also because of his legendary exploits, says Carmel Baldacchino.

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ejtu Psaila ‘il-Ħaċċa’ was born in Ħamrun on January 31, 1893. Great players are hard to come by in a small country like ours, but Psaila would be in any short-list of great Maltese footballers. Many old-timers ranked Psaila a close second to his contemporary ‘Żibġa’ Friggieri’ as the greatest-ever Maltese footballer.

He started his career in 1910, the same year that Ħamrun Spartans were formed. He was without any doubt the superstar of the club at a time when ‘Ta’ Werwer’ – as the Spartans were known because of their black shirts – were the terror of the land. He led the club through many great encounters against service and civilian teams alike and he was adored by his numerous admirers.

Psaila played for the Spartans for eight seasons helping them to win the

league championship in seasons 191314 and 1917-18. He became a legend in his own lifetime. There was no better centre-half in Malta and this was at a time when the game was blessed with many great personalities. Many were the stories told by old-timers of his exploits for both Ħamrun and the MFA XI. It is even said that in one game he scored 10 goals in a league game.

Unfortunately this feat cannot be verified because the records for this period are very sketchy and a lot of information is missing.

The mere mention of his name still makes the heart of every true Ħamrun supporter beat rapidly. His headwork was legendary and his artistic flicks with either foot were the envy of many modern-day football stars.

During World War I he took the King’s shilling and joined the King’s

Ħamrun Spartans shortly after they were formed in 1910. Seated on the left is the great Gejtu Psaila, popularly known as ‘Il-Ħaċċa’, and squatting second from right is William McAllister, star of the great pre-World War I Spartans team.

Own Malta Regiment forming part of the famous Militia team. In those days the KOMRM were the best team on the island, service teams included. The Services in those days were full of British professional players who, because of the war, were drafted into the services. The KOMRM challenged and defeated every Service team on the island. Psaila with his studious play at

The King’s Own Malta Regiment of Militia 1914-19. Together with Ruġġieru Friggieri, Gejtu Psaila was the heart and soul of the great Militia team which challenged the might of the British Services during World War I.

centre-half was always the heart and soul of the team.

In season 1920-21 he joined the newly formed club of Marsa United, leading the team to the runner-up position in the Civilian Football League. At the end of the season he left the army and joined the Malta Police. His career seemed to be at an end because the police at the time were not allowed to play football for civilian clubs but, together with other famous Maltese footballers of that era, he formed the Malta Police Football Team.

Psaila was the star of the 1921-22 season. He captained the team from the centre-half position, which, in those days, was the most important position on the field. A centre-half needed to be big, strong, and skilful because he had to attack with his forwards and also defend when needed. During his career he filled this position to perfection, although he was equally at home at centre forward, full-back, or half-back.

In 1922, he made football history when he became Malta’s first professional footballer. Psaila was brought out of the Police to play full-time for Floriana. He was also required to train the team of

Psaila played football in an era when the game was dominated by individuals

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMbER 2018

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Gejtu Psaila Junior.

boys representing the Floriana Primary School in the Government Schools Football Competition which was held for the first time in season 1922-23.

During the same season, Ruġġieru Friggieri ‘Iż-Żibġa’ also signed on as a salaried player with Sliema Wanderers at the same time also getting a job as the grounds-man at the brand-new Empire Sports Ground. For Friggieri, possibly the greatest Maltese footballer of all time this was not the first professional engagement. Before World War I, he played in the Italian League for Palermo on a professional basis where he was described by the Italian press as the ‘Piccolo diavolo Maltese’.

Psaila spent three happy seasons with Floriana, winning the league championship in season 1924-25 and the Cassar Cup in 1923. It is a pity that the records for this period are very sketchy and we can never be sure of how many first-class matches Psaila played in his illustrious career. He was given the VIP treatment at Floriana.

His son Romeo once told me that a karozzin was sent on match days to pick up his mother and take her to the Empire Stadium, where a seat was reserved for her in the VIP area.

Psaila was one of the 11 players who represented Malta in the first-ever representative match played at the Mile End Sports Ground in 1912. He played at right-half for the MFA League XI against the Infantry Brigade football team. The service team won the game 4-2. Psaila was picked five times to represent Malta in prestigious matches against the best service teams of the era.

The football played in Psaila’s era was dominated by individuals. Skills and a

certain amount of star quality were the main ingredients of a great footballer. He had both in abundance and there are no players of his calibre nowadays. That’s why his memory will live on forever. He died on Thursday, March 14, 1968.

His two sons, Gejtu Junior and Romeo, both played professional football in the late 1940s and 50s.

Gejtu Junior first made his bow in Maltese football with Luqa St Andrew’s in 1949-50 forming part of the famous team which beat Hibernians in the Scicluna Cup ‘B’ final. The next season he signed for Ħamrun Spartans, making his debut for the Spartans on October 8, 1950 against Valletta. He celebrated his debut for his new team with a goal.

Between 1950 and 1958 he played 94 league games for the Spartans and scored 30 goals. A bustling type of centre-forward typical of his era, he played up to the 1958-59 season when he immigrated to Australia.

Romeo was perhaps the more skilful of the two brothers. A touch-line hugging outside left he could dribble his way past defenders with easy and centre the ball with great accuracy.

He could also score goals with a lethal left-boot which often left goalkeepers gaping. He made his debut for Ħamrun Spartans in the FA Trophy against Luqa St Andrew’s on April 1, 1951.

From then on, he made the number 11 jersey his own and up to 1957 he had played 60 league games for the Spartans and scored 18 goals. In 1960 he joined St Patrick’s FC but he only played seven First Division league games for the club from Zabbar before he was forced to retire because of a recurring injury.

Gejtu Psaila, ‘Il-Ħaċċa’ was one of the greatest-ever Maltese footballers. He was the most famous player to come from Ħamrun where he is still remembered fondly.

Romeo Psaila

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SENIOR TIMES ‒ DEcEMbER 2018

CHRISTMAS

Oh no he isn’t…

Oh yes he is Louis Gatt concludes his examination of panto in Malta in recent times.

D

uring the late 1970s, throughout all of the 1980s and well into the 1990s the annual Manoel Theatre pantomime was the exclusive preserve of the MADC. However, during the last decade of the 20th century a number of new – and for the most part – excellent theatre companies began to spring up in Malta.

Probably the best of these were Anthony and Veronica Bezzina’s Masquerade and Edward and Marika Mercieca’s FM Productions. Both were given dates at Teatru Manoel and both delivered high quality productions in their own particular genres.

Masquerade produced an eclectic mix of plays and musicals, while FM went for totally commercial stuff. Inevitably there came a time, in the early 2000s, when both began to angle for the biggest fish of all: the Christmas panto.

It was around this time that other smaller companies began to take an interest in putting on light Christmas entertainment. The Catholic Institute has for some years hosted a panto-style show in Maltese, often starring Hector Bruno in drag. I understand that these performances have really quite high production values and this can only be a positive development.

I’m told that the three companies who were after hiring Teatru Manoel for their own panto productions came to some sort of compromise, whereby they were to share the venue over three years concurring. This arrangement was ultimately telescoped into a two-company arrangement, when the MADC decided to decamp to Ta’ Qali in order to produce their Christmas show.

Another welcome development concerning these comparatively new

panto production companies is the fact that they bring with them new performers, writers and ideas. Among the better writers are Malcolm Galea and Edward Mercieca.

Mercieca is also an extremely able pantomime dame. He is a big chap and when in panto drag he dominates the stage. If I’m not mistaken his first panto was way back in the 1980s. It may well have been Robinson Crusoe, where he had the very small role of a native on Crusoe’s desert island. These days his dames are gaudy, larger-thanlife characters that totally conform to the proscribed image of the pantomime dame as a bloke in a frock.

A very important panto element has always been the baddie or villain. The eventual triumph of good over evil is one of the most important features of most pantos.

Every panto has a vil-

lain and one of the most impressive seen locally was a female baddie. This was the wicked witch of Puss in Boots and as played by the late Madeleine Attard Montalto, a star in her own right. A panto villain, while being thought of as evil to be overcome at all costs, also has to be not too unpleasant. Attard Montalto’s repulsive, cackling witch walked the line brilliantly between extreme malevolence and comic iniquity. She was aided and abetted in her wickedness by her sidekick, the wonderfully named Galahad, a hideous one-eyed mutant, played by that fine actor Harry Borg.

Any mention of panto villains would have to include the very talented Michael Tabone.

To my knowledge he has played just two panto baddies, the demon king in the MADC’s production of Mother Goose and the evil Rashid in their version of Ali Baba and the 40

Alan Montanaro in Treasure Island.

Thieves, both productions staged back in the 1980s.

Apart from anything else, both of his interpretations were hysterically funny – even more so for his extraordinary ability to keep a straight, nay poker face throughout.

I mentioned Malcolm Galea earlier. He really has become the Mr Panto of the new millennium, ably succeeding John Crabtree, who kicked the whole thing off. He also frequently takes on the role of dame, something which, in my humble opinion, he is less successful at. Nonetheless his writing has, in a few short

A very important panto element has always been the baddie or villain

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMbER 2018

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Malcolm Galea in Puss in Boots.

Edward Mercieca in Robin Hood and the Babes in the Wood.

PHOTOS: DARRIN ZAMMIT LUPI

years, made him indispensible to the local Christmas entertainment scene.

There has been a tendency, in recent years, to broaden the scope of Malta’s pantos by latching onto subjects that differ from the traditional ones.

Some people I know have disliked this trend, but I think, why not? The whole concept of the pantomime has evolved from its original Italian roots in the commedia dell’arte back in the 18th century to what we have today.

And I can see the genre metamorphosing further in the coming years. For instance, I wonder when we’ll see the first super-hero panto, or one set in outer space? Or even maybe the whole thing will revert back to its roots – who knows? But whichever direction it veers off into I’m willing to bet that however far you care to look into the future, panto in some form will still be around and, hopefully, still thriving in Malta.

This month, we are rewarding one lucky reader with a Sunday carvery buffet lunch for two at The Orchard Restaurant.

TO WIN, ANSWER THE FOLLOWING TWO QUESTIONS CORRECTLY 1. Where is The Pilates Studio by Laura situated?

Provide full address.

2. What number should one dial to book a session at The Pilates Studio by Laura?

Send your answers via e­mail to seniortimes@timesofmalta.com or by post to ‘Senior Times Competition’, Allied Newspapers Limited, Triq L­Intornjatur, Mrieħel BKR 3000.

The first correct answer that we receive wins. (Terms and conditions apply)

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SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMbER 2018

NEWS

Min qatt beża minn tarbija?

Mons Valent Borg, direttur nazzjonali, Missio

F

il-bidu tal-Avvent, erba’ ġimgħat ta’ tħejjija għall-festi sbieħ tal-Milied, il-Knisja għamlet tagħha l-kliem tal-profeta Iżaija u talbet lil Alla: “Mhux li kont iċċarrat is-smewwiet u tinżel minn hemm.” (Is. 63:19) Alla sema’ din it-talba u tassew ċarrat is-smewwiet billi l-Iben ilwaħdieni tiegħu tnissel bilqawwa tal-Ispirtu s-Santu fil-ġuf ta’ Marija, u sar bniedem (Ġw. 1:14).

Bil-miġja ta’ ibnu fostna, Alla tassew tqarreb lejna l-bnedmin, u min-naħa tagħna l-bnedmin tassew tqarribna lejn Alla. Issa, għalhekk m’hemmx aktar ilħtieġa li bħall-poplu Lhudi nitolbu lil Mosè biex jitkellem hu għall-poplu, għaliex beżgħu mid-dehra ta’ Alla (Dt. 5:5).

Min qatt beża’ minn tarbija?

Mhux ilkoll inħossuna

miġbuda lejn il-ħlewwa u ċċokon ta’ tarbija? Alla ried li jsir ċkejken tarbija biex jiġbidna lejh u wkoll biex kulħadd iħossu ‘komdu’ quddiem ‘ix-xejn’ tiegħu.

Alla sar bniedem bħalna biex

jurina ‘wiċċu’ (Ġw, 14:9), u wkoll biex jitkellem bil-lingwaġġ tagħna. Min-naħa tiegħu, Alla ried li jgħallimna l-lingwaġġ tiegħu.

X’inhu dan il-lingwaġġ?

Alla huwa mħabba (1Ġw. 4:8),

hekk li wasal biex jagħtina lil Ibnu l-waħdieni sabiex “Kull min jemmen fih ma jintilifx, iżda jkollu l-ħajja ta’ dejjem” (Ġw. 3:16). Din il-verità għandha ddawwal tassew lil ħajjitna, tgħinna biex nagħrfu min aħna,

u x’inhu l-iskop tal-eżistenza tagħna fuq wiċċ din l-art. Din ittarbija ta’ Bethlehem, għalkemm tidher bħal kull tarbija oħra li titwieled, fl-istess waqt hija għal kollox differenti.

Alla sar bniedem biex b’dak kollu li għallem u għamel, għallimna kif għandna nġibu rwieħna fiċ-ċirkostanzi kollha ta’ ħajjitna.

Alla, f ’Ibnu l-waħdieni tana dak kollu li fl-omnipotenza tiegħu jista’ jagħtina, tana kollox, tana lilu nnifsu kollu kemm hu. Kemm aktar aħna għandna nippruvaw nagħtu lilna nfusna billi nkunu ta’ servizz għal xulxin? Niftakru li ġurnata Alla ser jistaqsina jekk għamilniex dak li qalilna biex ikun jista’ jagħtina dak li wegħedna. IlMulej, li jistenna mingħandna hu li nħennu, li ngħinu u li nħobbu lil xulxin bħalma jagħmel hu magħna (Mt. 25).

F’dan iż-żmien tal-Milied, aktar minn żminijiet oħra, infittxu li ngħinu minn qalbna lil kull min hu f’xi bżonn.

Nirrikkmandalkom li tiftakru f’dawk kollha li jgħixu fl-artijiet tal-missjoni, ħalli permezz tagħna jagħrfu u jħossu tassew li Alla jħobbhom.

Christmas cheer starts early at Casa Antonia

C

asa Antonia Nursing and Residential Home shares Christmas cheer from early December with its residents through a variety of festive activities. The home, which this year is celebrating its 15th anniversary, is organising traditional and entertaining activities to provide enjoyment to both residents and their families.

Getting into the Christmas spirit started off with the craft and cooking sessions during which residents enjoy lending a hand. Hands on activities are part of Casa Antonia’s ongoing initiative for active and healthy ageing with homelike comforts and companionship.

“Engaging our residents in the right leisure activities helps to keep their interests alive. Preparing together for this festive season make it easy for residents to enjoy companionship with other residents, families and staff,” said Casa Antonia’s general manager Sarah Cassar.

“We emphasise on holistic quality care, that is nurturing for the mind, body and spirit of our residents,” Dr Cassar added.

The activities started with a Christmas reminiscent session, led by Maria Pace, on past and present Christmas traditions. Various children’s choirs are visiting the home to present their festive concerts with traditional Christmas carols. Visiting beautifully decorated places for the season is another aspect that is appreciated by the residents as they get to feel part of the communitys.

The activities reach a high point in the coming days with a Christmas party for residents and their family members. On Christmas Eve, residents will be treated to a special Christmas lunch with live music and presents.

Christmas Eve mass, including the traditional priedka tat-tifel (child’s sermon), will start at 6pm. Afterwards, mulled wine, Irish coffee and Christmas traditional sweets including imbuljuta tal-qastan (hot chestnut drink), imqaret (date filled pastries), and mince pies will be served.

Another special festive lunch will be prepared on New Year’s Eve. The residents’ family members are invited to

Christmas at Casa Antonia feels like home. Photo shows Theresa Mifsud putting a final touch on the Christmas tree.

join the pre-lunch reception with prosecco and canapés.

“At Casa Antonia, we make the festive season feels like home for both our residents and staff. We love to celebrate such important times during the year

with a festive spirit and charm as this is much appreciated by our residents,” added Dr Cassar.

For enquiries or more information on Casa Antonia call on 2149 6277 or e-mail info@casa-antonia.com.mt.

SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMBER 2018

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SENIOR TIMES ‒ DECEMbER 2018

PETS

Kind gestures for the MSPCA

Every animal deserves a second chance to have the right loving family.

YOUR LEGACY We depend on voluntary donations from kind people like you. Leaving us a gift in your will helps us continue the work we do and is extremely important for our mission.

By leaving us a gift in your will, you will help us make the difference. The best way to support us in your will is to leave us an unrestricted gift, which we can then use for the most urgent matters.

However, you can also specify how your gift should be used by leaving us a restricted gift.

Your gift will help us rescue, rehabilitate and rehome animals that have been abused or neglected. Let your love of animals live on with a gift in your will. A legacy is a gift which assists every animal entrusted to our care, our long-term viability and something which will be remembered.

MSPCA CHARITY SHOPS Who doesn’t like a good bargain? And when the money goes to a good cause, then there is even added value to your purchase.

Whether you are looking for something specific or just bargain hunting we have lots to offer. Of course this wouldn’t be possible without people’s donated goods and the wonderful team of volunteers who sort, pick and organise our stock. We would like to thank everyone who has been part of our successful charity retail outlets.

Our three charity shops are in Naxxar Square, Naxxar, Triq il-Greċja, Naxxar, and Ġorġ Borg Olivier Street, Sliema. Our charity shop in Naxxar Square will remain open until December 24, as it is relocating to Constitution Street in Mosta.

The Mosta shop will be open as from December 10.

Check out our FB page to find latest stock, offers and updates.

HELPING US HELP ANIMALS

LOVE LIVES ON Many people wonder what will happen to their beloved pets when they pass away or are no longer able to care for them.

Friends and family may not be able to take on the added responsibility. As a responsible owner, you want to be sure your pets are well taken care of.

Apart from leaving us a gift in your will, you can also include provisions for your pets in your will. We can take care of your pets after you pass and will make sure to find them a loving home through our rehoming centre.

For more information call us on 9921 1208 or e-mail president@spcamalta.org.

We do not receive any funds from Government. We manage to sustain our mission thanks to our hardworking volunteers, our three charity shops, fundraising initiatives, and funds from a combination of private donors and Dogs Trust International which has a long-standing relationship with the MSPCA. We also depend on your kind donations. You can help us by sponsoring: ▪ the organisation of one of our major fundraising events ▪ the annual rent for the opening of a new charity shop ▪ a kennel ▪ the MSPCA annual report ▪ yearly internet and landline services; a cat pen; the salary of an animal care and adoption officer ▪ yearly cost of one of our three vans ▪ yearly food supply for a dog or a cat ▪ yearly veterinary care for a dog or a cat ▪ urgent projects that pop up from time to time.

For further details contact our Business Development Manager on businessdevelopment@spcamalta.org.

EVERY SECOND COUNTS: HOW TO BECOME AN MSPCA VOLUNTEER ▪ Do you love animals and have some free time?

▪ Would you like to meet new people and make new friends?

▪ Would you like to help make a difference to our cats and dogs?

If you answered yes to any of the above, we would love to hear from you.

We have three busy charity shops in Sliema, Naxxar and Mosta that generate much needed funds to cover the cost

of neutering, microchipping, rehoming and for the protection and care of the animals entrusted to our care. We urgently need volunteers for a variety of tasks. If you would like to find out more and or want to apply to join us: ▪ visit our website: https://www.maltaspca.org/volunteer or e-mail volunteer@spcamalta.org for more information. Call us on 2123 0468 (Wednesday to Sunday) if you would like to know more.

▪ if preferred, we can arrange delivery of a volunteer application form. Contact our manager on 7923 0468.

Malta Society for the Protection and Care of Animals, St Francis Ravelin, Floriana, FRN1231, Malta.

For more information visit www.maltaspca.org