The presence of the Dominican friars in Birgu

Abstract

When one takes a walk through the streets of Birgu, or shifts through a historical book about the city, one is bound to come across the Dominican Friars living there. Theirs is a presence that has been intertwined with the development of the city for the past five hundred years. Yet very few people are able to narrate and appreciate the historical background to this development and how the presence of these friars has helped to etch the city as it is today. Unfortunately as with every other male Religious Order on the island, their presence and influence is diminishing as time goes by since very few novices desire to put on the habit. The result is that nowadays the number of friars in these convents rarely exceeds ten and to make matters worse the average age of these friars is increasing at a very fast pace. Today, dedicated lay persons are continuously supporting the friars' work in order to sustain their influence in the area. These lay persons spend most of their free time working to carry out innumerable works mostly related to cultural activities so as to preserve the Dominican spirit. This study on the presence of the Dominican friars at Birgu is divided into three sections. In the first part, a brief history of the Order's stay in Birgu is outlined.The difficulties and turmoils that the friars had to face during these past five centuries especially the destruction that the Second World War caused on this community. In the second part, the religious and educational aspects are highlighted together with the most prominent friars and provincials that managed to elevate the importance of this community. In the last section of this study the influence of the friars amongst the people of Birgu together with the piques and differences that have characterised life in this city for the past seventy years. There are also included a few interviews with some prominent friars and lay persons who have actually spent a good part of their lives living at Birgu and who share their anguish about the future of these friars at Birgu.