The Ghajnsielem Local Council recently celebrated Ghajnsielem Day, a day dedicated to everyone from the community of Ghajnselm living both locally and abroad, with a ceremony which included the presentation of ‘Gieh Ghajnsielem’ award which this year was given to Paul Zerafa.
Paul Zerafa was born in 11th February 1946 from of family of eight siblings. He spent a few years working with the Government, however, he spent the majority of his life working on a voluntary basis in Ghajnsielem.
From the young age of ten, Paul was already a feast enthusiast. He used to give a helping hand in the feast decorations by preparing the earth holes for the flags and banners in the old parish square and surrounding streets. He also used to assist John Debono in raising funds for fireworks through a small lottery which they used to organise.
Later he also accompanied the fireworks from Mtarfa to Hondoq ir-Rummien where they were then unloaded and taken in a secure place.
Together with his brother Loreto, they collected donations for the fireworks used in demonstration march. At the age of 20 he started to manufacture fireworks together with his friends including the coloured rockets and salute shells.
Paul is still responsible for the fireworks displayed on the roofs surrounding the main square during the entrance of the titular statue at the end of the procession.
However, he takes the most pride for his contribution on the construction of the new Parish Church mostly under the direction of Archpriest Dun Espedito Tabone and later with Archpriest Dun Guzepp Zerafa.
Paul practically gave a helping hand in all what was required, however he will be remembered mostly for the works on the belfry. In fact, all leafs decorating the imposing tower were made by him by mixing cement with honey colored stone in a plastic mould.
The most dangerous part was the upper part of the belfry which was built in hard-cement to withstand the weather elements thus more difficult to decorate it. Paul had the arduous and dangerous task of climbing on tiny wooden planks elevated almost two hundred feet above ground all by himself in order to throw cement from a small bucket.
Ghajnsielelem Day celebrations first started following the formation of the Ghajnsielem Local Council back in 1994.
Ghajnsielem also celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Loreto. The Parish celebrated with a procession on the eve of the liturgical feast. For the first time this took place inside the Ghajnsielem Parish Church where the Joseph Band Club played festive and Marian marches as the statue of the Black Madonna was carried by several youths around the temple. The procession was also broadcast live on Radju Lauretana.
The Black Madonna was taken out for the procession for the first time in 2007. The statue was acquired in Rome and paid for by Frangisk Mizzi in 1924.
The building of the new parish church has been under its protection, it was taken inside the old church on 13th September 1924, on the eve of the laying of the foundation stone of the new church.
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