Dun Gorg Preca

My grandfather Crispin Mangion of Sliema was a close associate of Fr Gorg Preca, a Maltese priest who was beatified by Pope John Paul in 2001. Fr Preca created an organization which has now grown into the Society of Christian Doctrine M.U.S.E.U.M. with around 110 Centres and 1100 celibate male and female members. From a profile published on Malta Today:

The Church in Malta felt the need for this society but feared that its members were not sufficiently trained to teach children. 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 But soon the curia's order was retracted.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 but still it 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 actually left the document which conferred on him the title, on the Archbishop’s table and never bother to claim it back.

Wealth and worldly things never attracted him. He lived a simple life with spartan means. In fact he only got electricity installed in his house in 1958, when one of the Society members took the initiative to have it done for him. 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 by his simplicity, humbleness and meekness. His words to the Society were "Teach, teach and teach, something of it will remain."

Watch the broadcast of Fr Gorg Preca's 1962 death plus other links (real player)

Hear the voice of Fr Gorg Preca

Pope John Paul's speech about Fr Gorg Preca