FEAST OF ST ANNE AT PWALES CHAPEL
Every month of July brings with it a heightened pitch of
preparations for the Association of Lyceum Past Students to
celebrate the feast of St Anne at the chapel in Pwales Valley.
It is the fourth such celebration since the Council of Administration
took over the maintenance and functioning of the chapel in
April 2001, and every year has seen the introduction of new
aspects to make the celebration bigger and better.
This year is certainly no exception. The restoration of the
chapel proper has now been completed, including the laying
of a new floor of franka flagstones and the polishing of the
floor. A new pedestal has been commissioned for the statues
of St Anne, St Joachim and the little Virgin Mary. Since the
events are falling during the 10th anniversary year of the
Association, the Council of Administration has also commissioned
a plaque to commemorate the completion of the restoration
works and the anniversary.
The feast will be held on Saturday 17th July
– as usual, two weeks before the actual liturgical date
so that it does not coincide with the feast of Our Lady of
Sorrows at St Paul’s Bay.
ALPS members, families and friends are cordially invited
to assemble at the bottom of the slope leading to the chapel
for a procession with the banner of St Anne at 6 p.m. Holy
Mass will start at 6.30 p.m. with the participation of the
Choir of the University of the Third Age, conducted by Joe
Fenech. Following Mass the new pedestal and commemorative
plaque will be blessed, and the latter will be unveiled by
ALPS Acting President George Stagno Navarra and Minister Francis
Zammit Dimech, under whose ministry the restoration works
were carried out and who personally paid for the polishing
of the new floor.
The evening will then switch to a performance by the Choir
of the University of the Third Age, who will sing some lively
music pieces, following which there will be light refreshments
for all present. The latter will include the Lyceum Scouts
Group, whose members have spent a whole weekend cleaning up
the area leading to the chapel and its surroundings.
It promises to be a beautiful evening, so please make a note
in your diaries …
DOUBLE RATION OF SUCCESS
At the risk of repeating the “double ration”
part in the heading, it is arguably the best way to record
the truth. Both occasions laid on in June by the Cultural
Activities Commission of the Association – the tour
of San Anton Palace and Private Gardens at Attard on 5th June
and the visit to the Impossible Exhibition of Caravaggio’s
works in the Caraffa Stores at Vittoriosa on 19th June –
were patronised by possibly the two biggest groups that have
ever attended an ALPS cultural activity, except for the 10th
anniversary celebrations earlier this year.
The highly-gratifying outcome of the two events was helped
along in no small way by the knowledgeable guides we had in
attendance: Brigadier Claude Gaffiero at San Anton and Fr
Marius Zerafa at the Caravaggio exhibition.
Such interest shown by ALPS members, families and friends
puts paid to the efforts of the Council of Administration
and augur well for the Association’s continued exposure
of the best that the Maltese Islands have to offer.
VISIT OUR WEBSITE
The ALPS website on www.ALPSmalta.com continues to bring
forth new readers, in Malta and overseas, who are not only
visiting and leaving their comments but also contacting old
schoolmates to tell them about it. It is especially gratifying
when these contacts among friends yield new contacts with
the Association through the website or otherwise – including
sending old pictures of class groups and asking for help to
fill in some “blank” names.
Work is underway to use these pictures both on the website
and in the forthcoming special anniversary edition of The
Chanticleer, the Association’s magazine for which material
is currently being assembled. Any Lyceum past student who
has the time or the idea to pen something for The Chanticleer
(or even some old unpublished piece) will be more than welcome
to let us have their works for publication. Preferably this
should be done by e-mail attachment to the Chairman of the
Communications & Publications Commission, Laurence Vella,
on vellfam@vol.net.mt.
OF HELP AND HELP
There are still a number of ALPS members who have not yet
renewed their membership for 2004. While it is almost certain
that this is the result of slippery minds under the modern
burden of too much to do and too little time to do it, the
fact remains that besides the social activities at certain
times of the year, membership is the only regular revenue
for the Association. So please, each unpaid member scramble
for that chequebook (before you forget again!) and make your
Lm3 payable to ALPS Treasurer Joseph Mallia, “Daffodil
Court”, A/3 St George’s Street, St Venera HMR
18.
That’s the first kind of Help referred to in the title.
Now here comes the second kind of Help.
If you are a proud and satisfied member of ALPS, especially
one who comes along to most cultural and social occasions
and knows the value and joy of meeting friends old and new,
why not make this clear to former schoolmates you meet whom
you have not seen in ALPS activities? Better still, why not
ask any member of the Council of Administration for some blank,
self-explanatory membership forms that you could dish out
to friends who really mean to use them?
HELP YOURSELF TO A
7-DAY TOUR OF
SARDEGNA
(and you’ll be helping ALPS
in the process)
The ALPS tour departure and return dates
will be 11th and 18th September 2004.
Prices per person are Lm243 in a single room,
Lm199 sharing twin, Lm196 in triple and Lm195 in quadruple,
with Lm35 per person in taxes and service charges.
The price includes Air Malta return flights Malta-Alghero-Malta,
7 nights’ accommodation in a 4-star resort on half-board
basis
(including wine and water), return transfers and tour leader.
Excursions: Alghero by Night (Lm11);
Corallo Beach and Capo Caccia (adult Lm23, child Lm12);
Costa Smeralda (Lm15); Street Market Day at Stintino (Lm13);
Islands of La Maddalena and Caprera (adult Lm20, child Lm10);
Bosa and Monte Minerva (adult Lm24, child Lm13).
You could have the added pleasure
of being with former schoolmates
or new friends you have met
at ALPS activities.
Book your tour with Alex Borg
(tel./fax 21 386812 or 21 376387)
or with Joe Fenech
(tel. 21 410632).
FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED!