Wednesday, the 28th of November is the 150th anniversary of the birth of the Servant of God Madre Margherita De Brincat, foundress of the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Mother Margherita De Brincat passed away on January the 22nd 1952.

She was baptised at St George’s parish, and this is where her new religious congregation was also born.

An event that occurred in Gozo and left its mark on many parts of the world, was the foundation of the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus in 1880. This congregation had its origins in the Association of the Twelve Stars of the Heart of Jesus, initiated in Victoria by a group of young girls whose spiritual director was Fr Joseph Diacono, at that time assistant Parish Priest at St George’s.

Fr Diacono, then, committed himself in transforming this association in a diocesan religious congregation, first with the name of Franciscan Tertiaries and later, Franciscan Sisters of Malta.

As time passed, this congregation was given Papal approval and to express its charism better, the name was changed to Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus.

In the Constitutions of this Congregation, while Fr Joseph Diacono initiated the congregation, there was also Mother Margerita, who through a divine disposition, led it on, cultivated it, and brought it to maturity. Mother Margherita, born Virginia Debrincat in Kercem, was trained at Fr Diacono’s school.

Virginia De Brincat was baptised at St George’s Parish Church, Victoria, on 28 November 1862, exactly hundred and fifty years ago. At the age of 27, inspired by the Holy Spirit, she decided to run the congregation and managed to overcome the crisis that had almost brought it to an end.

Today, the congregation is still strong and on the 22nd of January 2000, the end of the diocesan informative process for the Beatification of Mother Margherita was celebrated, which had been started on the 4th of July 1988 in the Diocese of Gozo. This process is now being continued in Rome.

A miracle through the intercession of Mother Margherita is the next step that will lead to her beatification.

Today, November the 28th, the birth and baptism of this Servant of God has been commemorated by a Pontifical Concelebration, which took place this morning, presided by Bishop Mario Grech at St George’s Basilica and attended by children from the St Francis’ Primary School, Victoria, as well as their parents.

After the reading of the Gospel, a short play about Mother Margherita was presented and after the Bishop’s Homily, the Baptismal Promises was renewed at the place where, near the Baptismal Font, Mother Margherita was baptised one hudred and fifty years ago.

Another commemorative celebration, consisting of a Pilgrimage of Faith from the house where Mother Margherita was born in Kercm up to the Parish church and then a Pontifical Celebration led by Bishop Grech, is taking place this evening.

To mark the event, as from last weekend, small banners carrying information about Madre Margherita’s life and her religious congregation stand on the various side altars of St George’s Basilica. A bookmark with a short Eucharistic prayer penned by the Servant of God has been printed for the occasion.

Permalink: 150th birthday of Madre Margherita being celebrated today