|
 Dun
Gorg is one of the outstanding figures of Catholic
Malta. His greatest merit is the vigorous effort in
the Christian education of boys and girls through
his Society of Christian Doctrine know as MUSEUM.
Preca was born in Valletta on the 12th Feb, 1880 of
Vincent Preca and Natalina Ceravola. From Valletta,
his family moved to Birkirkara and then to Hamrun.
Preca was educated at the Lyceum and the Seminary
and on 22nd December 1906 he was ordained priest.
Still a seminarian, Dun Gorg had many contacts with
young people. On 7th March, 1907 he opened, at
number 6 Fra Diegu Street, Hamrun (see Fra Diegu on
this page) the small house for the teaching of
catechism to youngsters. His right hand men were
Eugenio Borg and Gannina Cutajar who respectively
became the first general superiors for the male and
female branches of his society, which was soon
called MUSEUM - MUSEUM represent the first letter of
Magister Utinam Sequatur Evangelium Universus
Mundus which in English means Master would that
the whole world follow the gospel.
The co-workers of Dun Gorg were called "Papidi",
"Apostles", and then "Soci". The first years
were difficult. Dun Gorg directed a society of
laymen who while teaching catechism needed to be
instructed themselves. Dun Gorg, In order to give
them a hand, began to write several books which in
due course were revised and printed.
The Church in Malta felt the need for this society
but feared that its members were not sufficiently
trained. In 1909, Dun Gorg was ordered to close down
all his houses . But soon the curia's order was
retracted. After many years in 1932 Archbishop Mauro
Caruana approved the Society. After that date, Dun
Gorg guided his Society with greater calm. Everyone
revered him as a saint.
World War II affected Dun Gorg and the Society
adversely by the Society eventually continued to
expand. In 1952 it spread to Australia. That same
year Dun Gorg was nominated a Papal Secret
Chamberlain with the title of monsignor. But he
never donned a monsignor's vestment and never
bothered to have his nomination firmed.
Till the end, Dun Gorg continued to teach in all
towns and villages of Malta and Gozo. Many were
enchanted by his words and deeds. In 1961, after a
whole lifetime in Hamrun, he was constrained to move
to St. Venera where he died in the same house named
"St. Gajetan" In Cannon Road, Archbishop Michael
Gonzi, on 24th June 1975, issued decree starting of
the process leading to Dun Gorg's canonization.
Fr George Preca died at St Venera (Malta) on 26 July
1962. His mortal remains are preserved close to the
Society’s Motherhouse at Blata l-Bajda. The Cause
for his Beatification was initiated in 1975, and he
was declared Venerable in June 2000.
Dun Gorg Preca was beatified on May 9th, 2001 by
Pope John Paul II. |
