As the church commemorates two saints Peter and Paul which are the pillars of the Christian faith, the Augustinian community celebrated another important event. Patri Feliċ Buttigieg, the prior at the Augustinian Monastery in Victoria Gozo, celebrates the 50th anniversary of priesthood. It is indeed a blessing to have people who dedicate their lives to God and its followers. Patri Feliċ through these fifty years, did his best to give good advices and examples with his modest life. As H. E. Mgr. Mario Grech said in the homily, Patri Feliċ tried to live like the ‘good man’ of the gospel, always with the aim of helping mankind find the Lord who continuously gives us infinite love. The thanksgiving mass started at 6pm at St. Augustine’s Church in Victoria. The church was packed with relatives, friends and neighbours who are close to Patri Feliċ.
Many priests and friars attended too, some even crossed over from Malta. He was assisted by the actual Provencial Friar Emanuel Borg Bonello and by the previous Provencial Fr. Luciano Borg who travelled from Cuba for the occasion. Schola Cantorum Jubilate is closely associated with the Prior and the Gozitan Augustinian Community and was requested to animate the High Mass. They performed ‘Missa de Agnelis’ with SATB alteration by Terenzio Zardini and other hymns and motets. For the introit, the choir performed ‘Sacerdos in Æternum’ with the ‘Dixit Dominun’. Gabrieli’s ‘Allelulia’ followed. During the offereings, the choir performed ‘Ave Verum Corpus’ (Mozart) and during the communion, Bass Albert Buttigieg who happen also to be the nephew of Patri Feliċ, interpreted the ‘Our Father’. The other eucharistic hymn was the ‘Panis Angelicus’ (Franck) which was performed by the choir’s soprano Marouska Attard accompanied by the choristers. At the end of the mass Fr. Feliċ had his hands kisses by the congregation as sign of respect towards the consacrated hands which are allowed to touch the Lord. During this symbolic gesture, the choir performed Rutter’s ‘The Lord Bless you and keep you’. Organist Joseph Camilleri continued playing the organ till the very end, interpreting special sacred pieces on the organ. A reception followed in the Monastery’s gardens. The choir donated an icon of the Blessed Vergin with the chid to Patri Feliċ on this special occasion.
Ad Multos Annos Parti Felic.
