Gozitan Liceo students hold 50th anniversary reunion
Remarkably, nine students of class Form VB (1974-1975) became priests
A group of former students of the Liceo secondary school, Victoria, recently got together to celebrate the 50th anniversary since they last shared the same classroom – Form VB during 1974-1975.
The class, made up of 25 students, had been together throughout their secondary school years, from 1971-1972 to 1974-1975. At the time, neither end-of-year examinations nor ‘streaming’ were in place, allowing the same group of students to remain together for four consecutive years. The experience forged lasting friendships and cherished memories that have stood the test of time.
Remarkably, nine students of the class became priests, including Fr Fabio Attard SDB – the former rector major and the 11th successor of St John Bosco, Fr Anthony Mifsud, Mgr John Muscat, Fr Vince Pavia, Fr Franz Refalo, Fr George Cordina, Fr Marcel Tabone, Apostolic Nuncio to Morocco Mgr Alfred Xuereb and Mgr Joe Zammit.
Nineteen of the 25 students were able to attend the reunion, while others residing abroad, sent their best wishes from afar. The group was joined by several of their former teachers from five decades ago, including Joe W. Psaila, Joe Camilleri, Joe M. Attard and Saviour Farrugia.
The get-together started with mass celebrated by Mgr Xuereb and Fr Refalo at the old parish church of Għajnsielem. Following the mass, each attendee received a copy of My Days with Benedict XVI, authored by Mgr Xuereb. The book is a unique personal insight into the life of Pope Benedict XVI, drawn from Mgr Xuereb’s time as the pope’s private secretary.
Afterwards, the group, including their teachers and their families, gathered for a commemorative dinner at the Country Terrace restaurant in Għajnsielem. The proprietor, Joseph Mercieca, ensured that the evening was both memorable and meaningful, marking half a century since the students bid farewell to their school days at the Liceo.