Carmelite Fathers' contribution

The feature on the Carmelite church and priory in Mdina (The Sunday Times, January 7) was more about the historical aspect of these fine buildings. Having been born and bred in the Silent City and having lived there until I was 21, I would like to touch on the human contribution by the Carmelite Fathers to this wonderful city.

The priests were instrumental in strengthening the Catholic ties of the many families who lived there over the years. I specifically remember the Fifties and Sixties when the familiar figures of various friars would walk the narrow, winding streets. There were many of them who spent hours in the confessional, others visited families regularly, while others still mixed easily with people.

How can I forget people like my confessor, Fr Avertano Saliba or the tall, athletic English language teacher Fr Alfred Tabone?

Two members of the community who were extremely popular were the brothers Romeo and Indri who acted as sacristans, cooks and even reared chickens and rabbits in a yard at the back of the priory. They were two extremely colourful characters loved by all.

I can remember so many pranks I took part in as an altar boy. We used to pinch oranges from the garden which were so jealously guarded, on a number occasions we downed the wine which was meant to be consecrated during the Mass whenever one of the older priest was ill and so did not celebrate Mass, or when we drove Brother Romeo mad when we set his chickens free and he and a few others had to comb the streets to return them to their makeshift coop!

The church itself is an architectural masterpiece and the statue of Our Lady is beautiful. The Madonna's face has an expression of immense beauty and calmness. She has protected Mdina over the centuries and will continue to do so despite the fact that the services of her Order's priests will be extremely limited.

I must thank all the past and present Carmelite members for the spiritual service they have given not only to Mdina but continue to provide to the nation through the four parishes they run.