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Joe Rapa was awarded the 17th
edition of the 'Premju Ġieħ
Għajnsielem' for his contribution
towards our community, in particular
his voluntary work in Ghajnsielem
Football Club where he was secretary
for 15 years and also the first
editor of the 'Blacks & White'
and 'Għajnsielem'
magazine.
Joe Rapa was
born in Ghajnsielem on the 5th of December 1949, son of
Carmel and Carmela Rapa. Joe Rapa
received his primary education at the Ghajnsielem
Primary School in Hamri Street from 1954 to 1960 and
continued his secondary education at the Gozo Sacred Heart
Seminary.
n 1969, Joe
started a two years course for teacher, starting his career
in 1971 with the Education Department. In 2002 he was
appointed Acting Head at the Zebbug Primary School and than
at the Xaghra Primary Schoool before retiring in 2010 after
a long career of 39 years in education.
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IIn 1989 Joe
married Giovanna neeŽ Buttigieg and together they have
four children, Paul, Miriam, Esther and Simon. He forms
part of a family which always contributed to thier
native village of Ghajnsielem.
In fact, it is worth noting that
his father Carmel was awarded the 'Ġieħ Għajnsielem' on
1996 thus being the first time that two members from the
same family were given this honourable award.
Joe Rapa was
a very active member with the Ghajnsielem Football Club.
He is the longest serving secretary of the club, a term
stretching 15 seasons from 1971 till 1986. Joe was also
a player with the same team, playing from 1965 with the
minors to 1973 with the first team.
He was the
first editor of the 'Blacks & White' magazine with the
first edition of this magazine published in 1970 to
commemorate the 1969-70 season. Joe
will certainly be remembered for being part of the
administration during the club's golden years.
Joe Rapa was
also heavily involved in the Ghajnsielem parish. In
fact, he was also the first editor of the Ghajnsielem
parish magazine 'Għajnsielem' was responsible for
introducing the 'Neocathecumenal Way' prayer group in
Ghajnsielem and together with his wife Giovanna he is
currently responsible for this prayer group on a
regional level. Joe was also an extraordinary minister
of Holy Communion in Ghajnsielem for several years. When
Radju Lauretana was born back in 2007 Joe Rapa hosted a
religious program 'Il-Liturġija tal-Kelma' - a program
which still forms part of the current radio station's
schedule. On a diocesan level, Joe Rapa is currently
serving as secretary of the 'Pastoral Diocesan Council'
and a regular corrispondent of the 'Il-Ħajja f'Għawdex'
magazine.
Joe Rapa is also a
long-time serving bandsman with St Joseph Band Club playiong
clarinet. He started back in 1968 when a young generation of
students led by Mro. Joseph Farrugia gave the St Joseph Band a
new life after it was dissolved for a number of years.
On the 2nd of December 2011, Joe
Rapa was awarded the
the 17th edition of the 'Premju Ġieħ
Għajnsielem' for his contribution
towards our community.
Ghajnsielem Mayor Francis Cauchi
handed the award during a special ceremony
held at the Grand Hotel banquet hall. During his speech, the
Mayor thanked Mr Rapa for his services especially when
considering that being the secretary of a football club involves
a lot of responsibility and dedication. On his part, Joe Rapa
recalled the golden years when together with together with the
Mayor Francis Cauchi, Joe Scicluna, Mons Joseph Zerafa and Peter
Caruana, the Ghajnsielem Football Club had an administration
which took the club into its golden years and obtained records
which are still unbeaten.
Mr Rapa
thanked his family for their continues support and urged today's
youth to get more involved, more loyal and
more dedicated to
Ghajnsielem.
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