As they have been doing since 1994, the Maltese Center in Astoria, Queens, New York City, celebrated the Feast of St. Paul’s Shipwreck last Saturday.

Fr. Ivan Sant, a Maltese priest from Birkirkara, who studied for the priesthood and was ordained in the neighboring state of New Jersey and who is presently serving in the parish of St. Anthony of Padua in Union City, NJ, celebrated Mass in Maltese with Ghana music.

The Mass was celebrated in the Lower Hall, which was packed with people standing in the back of the Hall. Everyone enjoyed singing along with the ghana music during the Mass and at the conclusion, they all sang the Innu Malti.

The Mass was dedicated in honor of Fr. Lawrence Gellel, who is presently retired in Malta. Fr. Gellel served as Chaplain to the Maltese Center for many years, who, although having a heavy work schedule in the various parishes he served in, always found time to cater to the religious needs of the Maltese-American community in the tri-state area of New York, New Jersey and Connecticut.

Coffee, cake, trifle, qaghaq, pastizzi were served afterwards and there was an atmosphere of festa at the Center.

Photo shows from top left, Fr Ivan Sant, Fr. Lawrence Gellel, Maltese Centre St Paul Statue and the Maltese Centre’s Feast of St Paul’s Shipwreck 2012.

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