Special Feature

DUN GORG PRECA  By Fr. Alexander Bonnici O.F.M.Conv. H.E.D., S.Th.L., Ph.B.

Gorg was born in Valletta on 12th February 1880 to Vincent Preca and Natalina (nee' Ceravolo). Shortly, they passed to live at Birkirkara, and then they passed definitely to Hamrun, where on 2nd August 1888, George received the sacrament of Confirmation. At ten, he became an altar boy and joined the choir of St. Cajetan Parish Church. In his boyhood, he studied at the Lyceum in Hamrun. Feeling a strong attraction towards the priestly vocation, he passed to the diocesan seminary. At that time, Gorg started shedding his over shyness. On 22nd December 1906, Dun Gorg, though very weak, was consecrated a priest.

Dun Gorg meant to dedicate himself to the teaching of catechism (a summary book about the Catholic religion). He had many contacts with youngsters but fixed his special attention on Eugenio Borg. In 1907, a small house rented in Fra Diegu street, Hamrun gave birth to a religious society, destined to spread all over Malta and abroad. Many frowned at the idea that laymen were teaching theology. But the houses of catechism multiplied rapidly throughout the Maltese islands. The female section originated at Paula, where the young Giannina Cutajar offered help. Boys and girls were regularly receiving, separately, a sound instruction. Their centres began to be called M.U.S.E.U.M, which is formed from the first letter of a sentence that declares the society's aim: Magister utinam sequatur Evangelium universus mundus: "Master, may the whole world follow the Gospel".

In 1909, Archbishop Pietro Pace condemned the Society. Dun Gorg began to close the centres, but the Archbishop's order was retracted. In 1916, Archbishop Mauro Caruana ordered the holding of a severe inquiry about the Museum. The commission concluded that much good was being done among children through the teaching of catechism, but new centres were not to be opened without the parish priest's concern. Ever since 1917, when Dun Gorg placed the words Verbum Dei caro factum est on his dying father's chest, those words remained indelible. They mean The word of God took flesh.

The years 1917-1932 saw the beginning of a transformation. Dun Gorg insisted on the permanent instruction of his "soci" (members). He wrote 135 books in order to give them a solid formation. Then, on 12th April 1932,
Archbishop Caruana issued the decree of the canonical (legal) erection of the Society. From then on, Dun Gorg led his Society with greater serenity. Unfortunately the Second World War affected the society adversely. It was very difficult to carry on with the regular teaching of the catechism. The Society had also the branch of the "Interni", who were founded in 1918. Dun Gorg lived with them in Zebbug during the war.

In 1952, the Museum arrived in Australia. In the same year, Pope Pius XII nominated Dun Gorg a Papal Secret chamberlain, with the title of a Monsignor. But he did not feel glad about this nomination. He kept on working up to the very end. At that moment in his life he was visibly sick.

In 1961, after a whole lifetime in Hamrun, Dun Gorg had to leave for Santa Venera, due to much trouble about his Hamrun residence. He was mentally conscious to the very end of his life where he breathed for the last time on the 26th of July 1962.

In 1999, Dun Gorg Preca was declared "venerable". On the 9th of May 2001, Pope John Paul II is expected to declare him "Blessed".