Parents petition to save Msida MUSEUM as they warn of impact
Founded by St George Preca, MUSEUM is run by lay volunteers and provides Catholic education to children.
Parents of children attending the Society of Christian Doctrine (MUSEUM) in Msida are urging authorities to overturn a decision to shut down the centre, warning that its closure would harm the youngsters who have formed close friendships and developed strong values there.
Founded by St George Preca, MUSEUM is run by lay volunteers and provides Catholic education to children. While its primary focus is on catechism, the centres often serve a broader community role.
Natalia Prokopenko’s son has been attending MUSEUM daily for the past three years.
“My son could not stop crying when he found out the news,” Prokopenko said,
“For these children, MUSEUM doesn’t just provide religious lessons but is also a centre where they learn strong Catholic values which are important for everyday society. The MUSEUM is also part of Malta’s cultural heritage, and if it closes, we will lose a part of our identity.”
She added: “Before he passed away, his father would talk about all the happy memories he had as a boy growing up and attending MUSEUM, and it was my son’s dream to go and experience the same thing. He doesn’t just benefit from religious lessons, but also learns so much about the community, about values and culture,” she explained.
On July 22, Prokopenko went to pick up her son after his MUSEUM lessons, only to find her son and other children crying.
“I saw him coming down the staircase sobbing; he could not even speak. I saw another child also crying, and an older boy with red eyes, tearing up. I didn’t speak to anyone at the MUSEUM, as my priority was to comfort my son, to understand why he was so upset.”
The centre is part of our children’s life
Later that same evening, after speaking to other parents, Prokopenko found out that the children were told the MUSUEM was closing, without any further information on when and why.
The same night, she reached out to the directorate of the centre to ask for an explanation, to which she received a reply that the “decision was difficult”, but nothing else could be done. She was informed the parents will receive an official letter with further details, yet the parents are still waiting for a proper explanation.
“The centre is part of our children’s life,” Prokopenko explained, and highlighted how she was informed that neither the local council nor the archpriest of Msida parish was aware of the decision.
“We have no information as to why the centre is closing and when, and we continue to ask these questions until we receive an answer.”
Parents have now started a petition calling the decision to close the boys’ centre “unfair and shortsighted” and that it fails to understand the impact the MUSEUM has on the youths in Msida.
“We are ready to support, collaborate and explore sustainable solutions that ensure this essential institution can continue to serve future generations.”
When questioned, the Society of Christian Doctrine (MUSEUM) said it “has no comment on this, other than what has been communicated to the parties involved”.