Band club attempts to spearhead culture dissemination drive

Ask the majority of parishioners in any local town or village for details of the life of their patron saint and you'll probably end up with a blank stare.

This is the concept behind a symposium on the Cult of St Philip in Malta which the 12th May Band and Social Club of Zebbug will be holding.

The activity, at the club's Sala Agira in Sciortino Street, Zebbug will be held over two sessions, one on November 13 at 6 p.m. and the other on November 14 at 8 a.m. The Sunday session starts with Mass at the Zebbug parish church dedicated to St Philip.

This is thought to be the first such activity to be organised by a band club in Malta.

The symposium, which will bring together a host of leading speakers, could be the beginning of a process through which other band clubs could, apart from their musical and social role, spread culture and information on national heritage, symposium organiser Tony Cortis said.

The aim of the symposium is to throw more light on the titular saint, Mr Cortis said, adding that it would hopefully encourage other clubs to hold similar activities.

The main speaker at the symposium will be Cesare Pasini, vice-prefect of the Biblioteca Ambrosiana of Milan who will talk on St Philip Of Agira - History and Legend.

Eugene Montanaro will speak on the paintings by Francesco Zahra adorning the Zebbug parish church; Mario Buhagiar will deal with the historical background to St Philip's cult in Malta; Fr Gino Gauci will dwell on the Iconography of St Philip; Mgr George Mifsud Montanaro will focus on St Philip as a Siculo-Greek Saint and Frans Sammut will speak on the cult of St Philip within the historic and linguistic context.

A publication by Mr Sammut on the life and cult of St Philip had sparked controversy over the dates related to the saint's life.

Prof. Fr Peter Serracino Inglott will act as symposium moderator.