Candlemas and Awards Ceremony
Candlemas is a Christian Holy Day commemorating the Feast of the Presentation of Our Lord Jesus and the Feast of the Purification of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
The celebration started with the members of the Order processing from the sacristy of St John’s Co-Cathedral to the Oratory, and after a prayer, the candles were lit and blessed.
The members then processed to the main altar where Holy Mass was celebrated by Mgr. Lawrence Gatt.
The Awards Ceremony was held in the Oratory after the Mass.
Decorations of the Order pro Merito Melitensi, were bestowed by His Excellency The Lieutenant of the Grand Master and the Sovereign Council, further to the Maltese Association’s own recommendation, in recognition of their work within the activities of the Association.
The ceremony started with the blessing of the insignia by Mgr Lawrence Gatt.
Gran Croce pro Merito Melitensi
The Most Noble Baron Igino Trapani Galea Feriol
Croce ‘pro piis meritis’ pro Merito Melitensi
The very Reverend Mgr Paul Carmel Vella
Croce pro Merito Melitensi
The Most Noble Countess Amalia Bugeja Fontani
Dr Kevin Dingli
Mr Christopher Galea
Dame Karen Miller
Dr Dane Munro
Medaglia D’Argento pro Merito Melitensi
Mr Leone Sciberras
Mr Joseph Mangion
The Order’s Medaglia di Benemerenza – Pellegrinaggi a Lourdes for the participation, as volunteers, in the Order’s annual pilgrimage to Our Lady’s Sanctuary in Lourdes for at least six times, was also awarded to the following:
The Rev Canon Antoine Borg
Mr Michael Camilleri
Mr Joseph Philip Farrugia
Mr Radu Gheorghe
Ms Helen Micallef
Mrs Clara Testaferrata Moroni Viani
Mrs Theresa Zammit
Dr Therese Zammit Lupi
Refreshments were served at Casa Lanfreducci after the ceremony.
All the photos of the event are availabe here: Photos
