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 Henry
Born was born at Kalkara on the 23rd of May 1910 and
studied at the Christian Brothers and the Lyceum. He
joined the Dominican Order 1926 and was given the
name of Wistin. He studied philosophy and theology
at St. Thomas Aquinas College, Rabat and was
ordained priest in 1933. Although he had an uncommon
intelligence, he could not continue his studies
because of a health problem, but through
correspondence in 1965 he got the degree of Ph. D.
Fr. Born is one of Malta's outstanding writers of
plays for stage and radio. About 1200 episodes of
his serials were broadcast on Rediffusion, including
such unforgettable ones as Il-Familija Maltija,
Wara l-Hitan tas-Sejjieh, and Spiru Cefai
wara l-Gwerra. Born had an exceptional skill of
weaving some useful point or another in each of the
episodes so that he could teach while entertaining.
He was also prolific in writing plays for the stage,
the result of his fertile and productive mind. Born
directed his own plays at the De Porres hall in
Sliema, which he was instrumental in having built
and of which he was nominated director.
Fr. Born also wrote many article in local news
papers and journals. His books include Is-Saliba
tal-Fidda (1939); Mard bla Fejqan (
1962); As a novelist, Born opens his inner eye to
social themes and the intricate behaviour of the
human soul that manifests both base and noble
sentiments and motives. In his able hands the novel
becomes an architecture of character and action but
he includes moralistic overtones because it was his
avowed purpose to teach and instil good values
through literature. His novels contain a realistic
attitude expressed in natural sounding language. Fr.
Born also edited the periodical The Maltese Rosary,
taught at St. Edward's and St. Albert the great
College, and was rector of the preparatory classes
of St. Albert the great College.
Fr. Born also did not neglect his religious calling
as a preacher. This aspect of the activity was
especially noticeable during World War II when he
showed a position he retained after the war. His
popularity as a preacher was the result of his
ability to make his point with original ideas. For
this contribution, the Dominican Province bestowed
on his the title of preacher general.
Fr. Winston Born passed away on the 21st of August
1986. |
