Hajja Salesjana Apr-June 2019

5 H AJJA S ALESJANA In 1991, Fr. Francis Zammit started the Volontari CDB in Malta. Other such groups were started by other three confreres and a VDB, at the same time. This occurred in Italy, Venezuela, Paraguay and San Salvador. The Rector Major, Fr. Egidio Vigano’, received the vows of the first seven members, two of whom were from Malta. The Profession Ceremony was held in 1994 at the Pisana, in Rome. In 1993, a small group of Volunteers of Don Bosco (VDBs), was also formed by Gozitan girls studying at the University of Malta. They were helped by Fr. Francis Ûammit. The group is attached to the VDB groups in Sicily. There are now a few Gozitans who are perpetually professed VDBs. The VDB group is the latest addition to the Salesian Family in Malta and Gozo. The Cooperators were in Malta before the Salesians arrived. They took root in Sliema, while in 2009 Fr. Sandro Camilleri established a group in Dingli called the Da Costa Salesian Cooperators. The first Maltese Salesian Sister, Veneranda Ûammit, was in Tunis as a postulant in 1899. There were already 12 Maltese Daughters of Mary Help of Christians in a number of countries before they opened their first house in Gozo. The Past Pupils Association was organised in Sliema in 1955. The ADMA was officially formed at St. Patrick’s in 1928. Hence, one can say that the Salesian Family in Malta is quite well established! In 1996, thanks to their benefactor Rev. Can. Vincent Azzopardi, the Salesians acquired a large house in Balzan which in 2008 started being used as a Home for young people: the first of its kind, setting the standard for all other such residences in the Maltese care scene. “Don Bosco House”, as it is called, is attached to St. Patrick’s community. The large basement of this same house in Balzan is now used by the Salesian Pastoral Youth Service (SPYS). Founded in 1995, SPYS seeks to develop and implement a program of holistic formation for young people. It has been involved in the training of its own volunteers and young people on Salesian missions locally, in Europe and in third world countries. SPYS is a member of DBYN and is currently an elected member on the DBYN General Executive Body's Administrative Board. In 1998, the serving Provincial Delegate, Fr Alfred Sacco received the Medal of Merit of the Republic of Malta in acknowledgement for the great contribution that the Salesians of Don Bosco gave to our country. Over a number of years, the Salesians inherited small, and not so small houses, very useful for their mission locally, such as in Birzebbugia, St.Julian’s and in Gharb.