Author: John Rush

For the second consecutive year the Club has organised an event to help the needy people in the Sliema area. The activity was to collect foodstuffs to be later packed as hampers and distributed to deserving people. The event organised on October 15 at SMART SUPERMARKET in B’Kara was a success. The idea of organising this event was first suggested by Lion Beat Hiestand-Zerafa. After the success of last year’s event, this year between Euro 800 and Euro 1000 worth of goods were donated by people who were shopping at Smart’s. Without the participation of Lions Alex Arena, Chris Borg Cardona (and his wife Vicky), Victor Borg Barthet, Maria Beaney, Lorna Farrugia, Margaret Frendo, Angela Hiestand-Zerafa, Joe Messina, Louis Sciberras, Vivienne Zammit and Club President John Rusher the event would not have been possible. Special thanks to Lion Louis who has offered to store the goods until they are made into hampers for eventual distribution at Christmas time.

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On September 25th Lions Club Sliema resumed with the cultural outing after the summer recess. 31 members and friends turned up for the visit to St. Paul’s Catacombs despite the inclement weather. The upgrade of the catacomb complex made the visit a safer place but also the new museum gives a good interpretation of the funeral process practiced by the Romans. The visit starts with an audio-visual show lasting about 20 minutes. Malta belonged to the Roman Civilization from 218 BC to around 535 AD. The museum panels depict the funeral procession which took place in honour of the dead person, making sure that the soul is given a respectful farewell to the next world. Both an inhumation and cremation burial was practice at the time. There are also artefacts in glass and pottery which were found in tombs at Rabat. From the museum we walked on to the Catacomb itself. On entering one can see a pair of Agape Tables around which the family partook of a symbolic meal in honour of the dead person about to be buried. This ceremony ended the office nine days of mourning.

These Agape Tables are of great archaeological and historical interest , as although there would have been several scattered around the Roman Empire, very few survive. From Pagan, Jewish and Christian symbols and graffiti found on pottery and on the walls it is evident that the burial site belonged to various religious denominations. Therefore there is no founded truth in the popular myth that Christians hid in these catacombs in times of persecution.

Lunch was held at Karrot & Co. We were served a delicious and generous meal. One could find no fault with the service and quality and quantity of food. It was difficult to leave the premises as we were all bounding and having a good time. We were pleased to welcome on the tour to the Catacombs Lion Mary Anne Abela (Chair person Lions Club Zone Malta) and her husband Lion Paul.

The tour was organised by Lion Bell Micallef and Lion Margaret Frendo. The sum of Euro 92.50 was collected in the form of participation donation towards the club. It is also to be noted (and encouraged) that Lions Chris Borg Cardona, Victor Borg Barthet and Victoria Muscat, all regular attendees of the tours, gave the donation although they could not attend the activity.

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The Club’s outgoing for October 2015 was held on Sunday 18th.

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Forty three members accompanied by family members and friends headed towards Fort St. Elmo for the “In Guardia” re-enactment parade which lasted 45 minutes. We were given a taste of the rigorous military training undertaken by the Knights and soldiers, on a regular basis, inside some military fortifications in Malta and Gozo during the time of the Oder’s period in Malta (1530- 1798).

Some fifty soldiers and Knights from the different detachments of troops, in various colourful period costumes, demonstrated their skill in sword fighting and the shooting of muskets and cannon. Such training was of utmost importance to fulfil the Order’s role of protecting Malta as well as Christainity in the Mediterranean.

Thanks to a discount on the entrance ticket by Heritage Malta the outing generated a donation of €93 towards the Club’s philanthropic funds. A big “thank you” to Lion Isabelle Micallef who booked lunch at the Valletta Waterfront Bistro 516 for an excellent lunch.

 

 

 

14th of June saw the last outing of the season to be organized by Lions Club Sliema

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The visit took us to the lost village of Hal Millieri, where one can still visit the chapel of the Annunciation.
The Chapel is one of the best remaining example of a Maltese Medieval Chapel. Its frescoes single it out as a unique surviving example. We also visited the nearby chapel dedicated to St John the Evangelist.
The Annunciation Chapel is looked after by Din L’Art Helwa. It was also Din L’Art Helwa which saw to its rehabilitation and restoration after years of abandonment.

 

 

Entertaining the residents at the home with music, tea and food.
All arranged by Lion Vivienne Zammit – Well done!

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Dr Borg (pictured) presented a compelling insight into the work performed.

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