Hajja Salesjana September October 2017

25 First among them were Peter Paul Galea, Fr. Isidoro Formosa, Mr. Annibale Preca, Fr. Aloysius Farrugia, the first Director of the Salesian Cooperators in Malta, Fr. Spadaro from Zabbar, Mr. Sant Fournier, and Mr. Michelangelo Maria Mizzi, and many others, also from the sister island of Gozo. In 1878, Fr. Isidoro Formosa started his monthly publication ‘Il-Bon Pastur’, always full of articles and information about Don Bosco and appeals for financial help. Referring to himself Fr. Isidoro wrote “We have the privilege to be recommended by Don Bosco to propagate his works and to be counted as a member in his Congregation. Whoever wishes to become a Salesian Cooperator let him write to us.” Then he would forward the list to Don Bosco. Another point worth mentioning is the appeals for financial help for Don Bosco to build the Church of the Sacred Heart in ‘Stazione Termini’, Rome. In 1878, Frere Joseph Emiliani looked after Don Bosco while in France to open the first Salesian house there. The same Frere Joseph in that same year warmly welcomed as one of his boarding students the 17-year-old from Malta, Alphonsus Maria Galea. A year later, Frere Joseph took Alphonsus to Marseilles to show him Don Bosco’s Oratory there. In 1878, Annibale Preca wrote to Don Bosco asking him to send his Salesians to Malta. Don Rua replied that Don Bosco had thought of Malta already many years ago, but for the moment there were no Salesians available. The same request was made by Fr. Isidoro and others over the period of Don Bosco’s lifetime. (to be continued...)