Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1428470
3 LETTERS & EDITORIAL maltatoday | SUNDAY • 14 NOVEMBER 2021 Mikiel Galea Letters & Clarifications Dominicans in Albania TO commemorate the 25th anniver- sary from the arrival of the Maltese Dominicans in Albania, a Pontifical Solemn Mass was held at St. Dominic's Dominican Parish in Durrës. The mass was presided over by the Maltese Do- minican Archbishop of TiranëDurrës, Mons. George Frendo OP. Also present were Mons. Giovanni Peragine, Bishop of Southern Albania, Maltese Dominican Provincial, Fr. Vincent Micallef OP, the members of the Maltese Dominican community in Albania, and other members of the Maltese Dominican Province. Before the Pontifical Mass a representation of the final moments of St. Dominic's earthly life was performed. This was given by some youths of the parish directed by the Dominican Sister of Blessed Imelda, who help in the parish ministry. At the end of the Pontifical Mass, Mons. George Frendo blessed a new reliquary holding the relic of St. Dominic. The reliquary was sculpted in wood by a local artisan. This moment of prayer was conclud- ed by the prayer of the Jubilee being celebrated this year marking 800 years of St. Dominic's death, founder of the Dominican Order. It was followed by singing of the O Spem Miram by Charles Gounod. The Dominican presence in Albania hails back to 1240. During these early years of the Order, the Dominicans were already at work amongst the Cumans, as St. Dominic himself desired. However, their ministry had to come to a halt at the end of the 15 century, due to the invasion of the Ottoman Empire. In 1996, the Dominicans re- turned to the people of Albania some 400 years later, when the Maltese Dominicans opened their first house in Sukth. Today the friars administer two parishes and several other pastoral centres. Fr. Alan J. Adami OP Birgu Mons Frendo blessing the new reliquary