Rev. Mons. Profs. Carmel Sant
Born in 1921 and died in 1992. Dun Karn as he was known, was a prolific writer. He was the one that translated to the Maltese Language the Holy Scriptures from the original languages.
Born in Tarxien and was educated at the Primary school of Tarxien and afterwards at the Lyceum, afterwards he entered the Royal University of Malta.
Rev Carmel Sant when still a student translated the Papal Letter 'Rerum Novarum' written by Pope Leo XIII.
After he became a priest in 1946, he went to continue his studies in Rome and when he returned back, one of his many jobs given to him was, the editorialship of the Clerical Journal 'Lucerna' and nominated a member in the 'Ghaqda Kittieba tal-Malti', (Writers of the Maltese Language Group).
In 1964 Rev Carmel Sant was nominted Professor of the Holy Scriptors at the Royal University of Malta. He founded the 'Ghaqda Bibblika Maltija' (Maltese Biblical Group), to deliver and teach the Word of God to all the Maltese. He with others gave us the Bible in Maltese by publishing the Biblical Journal 'Sion" which the Group started publishing.
Rev. Sant for the first time published the modern text of the New Testament of the Holy Bible, the most written text ever to be published in Maltese. He has written in many Journals like 'Lehen is Sewwa', The Sunday Times of Malta, 'The Bulletin and many others, Maltese and international.
Rev. Carmel Sant, we should say, gave a great contribution to the Maltese Literature and Language and above all in Biblical text. He died on the 23rd September 1992 and was buried in their private tomb at the 'Risen Christ Cemetery' of Tarxien known as 'Cimiterju ta' l-Erwieh'.
A street and the Primary School of Tarxien were named in his Honor.
Vincent Battistino - mill-ktieb, 'TARXIEN'
KELINU CACHIA
Kelinu Cachia was a very popular person in Tarxien. He worked at the Malta Dry Docks as a draughtsmen. He was a member of the MUSEUM Society (a doctrine entity), member of the Parish Council, a member of the Feast Committee, for many years as it’s secretary, co-founder of the Civic Council and the Editor of the ‘TARXIEN’ journal.
One must see Kelinu with the lens of a writer. He was a member of the Malteses Literary Society (Għaqda Letterarja Maltija), and also a member of the Maltese Poets Association (Għaqda Poeti Maltin). Perhaps it was he poem that Kelinu loved most.
In fact the number of poems that he wrote in honor of Tarxien and Maria Annunziata are many. He has written several poems including a poem for Mons Rev Dun Karm Sant celebrating his first Mass (1946), another when the two new bells, Pawlina and Giuzeppina, were blessed, when Rev Dun Anton Rapa celebrated 10 years as parish priest (1962), when the Annunciation Band Club celebrated 100 years of it’s existance(1962), a poem for the inauguration fo the new playing fields (1966), A poem when the Tarxien Rainbows FC were promoted to the Fist Division (Today’s Premierre League) (1983), Another poem when the church inaygurated the Dome after renovation in it (1986). He wrote another poem for the celebration of the 100th year Old of the biggest bell we have in our parish church.
But the most two subjects that Kelinu wrote about were Our Lady under the title of the Annunciation and His native village of Tarxien. Poems like Maria Annunziata (Lil Marija Annunziata – 1951) and I love Tarxien (Ghaliex inhobbu - 1962).
He died in 1995, (9th December 1995).
Vincent Battistino - mill-ktieb, 'TARXIEN'
Rafel Bonnici Cali
The Knight Rafel Bonnici Cali was born in Tarxien on 11th June 1907 his father Alfred Bonnici and mother Carmela Cali, both from Vittoriosa and they married in Tarxien and bought a house and they came living here, in Tarxien. He is another personality who made great honor to his native village in cultural areas such as paintings, and refurbishing/restoring of paintings and in many writings. He learned under his uncle, the famous Guzeppe Cali and later in 1925 under Guzeppe Cali’s Son Ramiro Cali, after Guzeppe became very sick.
Work which honored Bonnici Cali is the publication of interest in books on the history and art in Malta. Other writings of Rafel is in Maltese folklore dating back to before World War II and appeared in several journals, including ‘Leħen is-Sewwa', ‘ Il-Ħaddiem', and ‘Il-Ħajja', 'Times of Malta ',' Il-Berqa’, and other periodicals, such as the 'TARXIEN’, l-‘Imnara’ and the 'Pronostiku Malti’. All these writings, Rafel Bonnici Cali published them in the book ‘Kitbiet Imżewqa’, (Publication of Leħen is-Sewwa, 1987).
As a reminder of the Marian Jubilee Year launched by Pope Saint John Paul II, Raphael published a book entitled, ‘Tpinġijiet tal-Madonna’ (Guttenberg Press, 1988) which include a collection of interesting and important episodes from the Life of Our Lady.
In terms of poetry, we find that the first work written by Rafel was ‘Marija Santissima’, (Most Holy Mary - Pronostiku Malti - 1929). Other poems of Rafel are 'Rerum Novarum', (Pronostiku Malti - 1929) and ‘Ir-Raħal Tiegħi’, (My Native Village, ‘TARXIEN’, May-June 1988), about his native village and he left this as his will about Tarxien.
Among other writings, Bonnici Cali wrote on Maltese architects, painters and sculptors whom he knew personally and gave us a history of English art of the Twentieth Century.
Among his many paintings in churches and for private collection he painted three paintings for the Tarxien Parish Church ‘The Council of Ephesus’ in-the Chapel of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, when the Queen of Heaven was declared as the Mother of God, ‘The Second Vatican Council’ in the Chapel of Our Lady of The Holy Rosary, when Our Lady was declared the Mother of the Church, and the last one above the main door of the church is a historic allegory of the Magnificat which St Mary sang after the Annunciation by Archangel Gabriel.
For his work in aid of art Bonnici Cali was appointed a member of L'Histoire d'Accademja Internationale of Paris, 'Accademia di S. Brigida di Svezia per le Lettere e, le Scienze e le Arte of Naples . Moreover he also earned the honor of 'Citta di Valletta’ prize, by the Għaqda Poeti Maltin, (Maltese Poets Association). In 1982 he was awarded the Gold Medal from the Society of Arts, Manufacture and Commerce and in 1985 he was appointed Knight of Majisterial Grace by the Knights of St John of Jerusalem, Rhodes and Malta.
He died on the 6th August 2002 and was burried at the ‘All Souls Cemetery’ in Tarxien.
Vincent Battistino – From the book ‘TARXIEN’
Ghaqda Maltija tal-Folklor (Maltese Folklore Society – Interview with the Editor
From the Book, ‘Il-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ Hal Tarxien’ – 1973 (Written by Rafel Bonnici Cali )
Translated - Charles Garcia
