|
Dedicated his entire life to his native village, Dun
Karm Cassar was heavily involved in many areas which
shaped Ghajnsielem in the 20th century including the
Ghajnsielem Parish, St Joseph Band, Ghajnsielem Football
Club, the Catholic Action Youth Center, Krucjata Ewkaristika
and Circolo Virgo Lauretana.
Dun Karm Cassar was born in Ghajnsielem in the 14th of
September 1921, the son of Salvu Cassar and Marie Pawla
nee’ Costa, the last of seven children. He was baptised
the following day by Parish Priest Dun Frangisk Mizzi.
He received his primary education at the Ghajnsielem
Primary School which back then it was situated in Hamri Street.
At a young age, he already began to show considerable
interest in the vocational life and at eight he became
an altar boy. In 1929, Dun Karm joined the so called
‘Kavallieri ta’ Sant Antnin’, a vocational group formed
by Ghajnsielem’s Franciscan community. In 1933 Fr.
Bernard Hersey formed the Ghajnsielem Sea Scouts and
Dun Karm together with his brother Anton joined this
group. |
 |
During this period, Dun Karm began to develop an interest in
music and started to play clarinet with the St Joseph Band. He
later also learned the piano and played the Church’s organ for
almost 40 years.
He pursued his secondary education at the Sacred Heart Seminary
in Victoria, Gozo where later, in 1942, he joined the ‘Camera
dei Grandi’ or as we know it today, the major Seminary. On the
16th of April 1949 he was ordained priest by Gozo Bishop, Mons
Joseph Pace and he celebrated his first Solemn Mass at
Ghajnsielem’s Old Parish Church on 1st May 1949.
Here he is seen leaving
his house in Fawwara Street before celebrated his
first Solemn Mass at Ghajnsielem’s Old Parish Church on 1st May 1949.
Although he was heavily involved in his pastoral works, Dun Karm
joined Ghajnsielem’s branch of the Malta Catholic Action (Azzjoni
Kattolika) where he started to work more closely with the
adults, youths and adolescents. This group was called ‘Circolo Virgo Lauretana’ and during this period was led by Dun Guzepp Galea
Rapa. In October 1949, Father Galea Rapa passed the mantle to
the energetic Dun Karm Cassar who immediately started a
different style of catholic and spiritual formation by
introducing an element of indoor and outdoor sports including
football, tennis, quiz, ‘silent and sound’ films and many other
activities.
In the 1950’s and 60’s, young players were being introduced into
the Ghajnsielem F.C. team at a fast rate. The steady supply of
promising players was all due to the Ghajnsielem’s Catholic
Youth Center under the leadership of Dun Karm Cassar. Dun Karm
also worked hard to secure a large piece of land adjacent the
new Parish Church where he later inaugurated the Ghajnsielem
Football Ground, today named after him.
Thanks to Dun Karm’s initiatives, the ‘Virgo Lauretana’ secured
a larger premise where the group started to function more
efficiently. Unfortunately, due to personal reasons Dun Karm
left the Catholic group after 26 years of service. This led to
‘Virgo Lauretana’ being dissolved with all its assets passed to
the ecclesiastical authorities.
Dun Karm was also Spiritual Director of the Legion of Mary, an
association with a spiritual formation programme, director of
the Ghajnsielem Altar Boys, the ‘Xirka ta’ l-Iben
t’ Alla’ and also for two periods, the Diocesan Director of the
altar boys 'Piccolo Clero' which was founded by Mons Joeph Delia
who was the National Director. He also taught Catholicism at the
Christian Doctrine
(also known as MUSEUM) for 38 years.
He started researching historic information about the village of
Ghajnsielem. Beside contributing several articles with
historical information to local publications (such as the
magazine ‘Ghajnsielem’), Dun Karm is also the editor of the
Annual Feast Magazine which is published yearly by the St Joseph
Band Club.
In his late
seventies and early eighties, Dun Karm started to learn and
practicing the computer - a sign that this work and contribution
to Ghajnsielem has not finished yet. In fact during the end of
1990's and early 2000 he started publishing a monthly newsletter
with a spiritual message aimed for the youths. He is currently
the spiritual director of ‘Il-Krucjata Ewkaristika’, a religious
youth group which was founded by him in the early ninties.
 |
 |
In 1995, he was awarded the 1st Edition of the 'Premju
Gieh Ghajnsielem' for his outstanding contribution towards the
development of the Ghajnsielem community. The St Joseph Band
also recognized his work and dedication by choosing him as
Honorary President, a position he still holds today.
In
December 2008, a new set of 10 candleholders were displayed for
the first time in the Chapel of the Blessed Sagrament for the
Christmas Eve midnight Mass. These candleholders were donated by
Dun Karm was behind this project for ordering, acquiring and
sponsoring these gothic style set of candleholders and donating
them to the Ghajnsielem Church. Now, this chapel is embellished
with a nice set of French Gothic style candleholders that fully
compliment the Holy Eucharist Tabernacle, also in gothic design,
which has been already in place for some years. The whole
village community should be very appreciative of the efforts
made by Rev. Fr. Karm Cassar, for his genuine ideals to see the
Ghajnsielem Church well embellished with the right artistic
treasures that makes it look nicer, pleasant and very attractive
as a sign of respect and praise to God, Our Lord.
On
the 16th of April
2009, Dun Karm Cassar celebrated his sixtieth
ordination anniversary with a special program on Radju Lauretana.
On Sunday 3rd May, the Ghajnsielem Parish Church concelebrated a
thanksgiving mass in honour of Dun Karm Cassar. After the mass,
several members of the congregation walked up the main aisle and
one by one expressed their best wishes.
Ghajnsielem.com wishes him many, many years of continued good
health. Ad Multos Annos!
|
