Dun Karm Cassar (1921 – 2015): Ghajnsielem is mourning the loss of one of its most beloved sons – a person who dedicated his entire life to his native village.

Dun Karm Cassar was heavily involved in many areas which shaped Ghajnsielem in the 20th century including the Ghajnsielem Parish, St Joseph Band, Ghajnsielem Football Club, the Catholic Action Youth Center, Krucjata Ewkaristika and Circolo Virgo Lauretana.

Dun Karm Passed away in the early hours of Friday, the 12th of June, Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

His funeral will be held on Tuesday, the 16th of June, with live transmission on Radju Lawretana.

The programme is as follows:

– 2.30pm his body will be laid at the Old Parish Church for public’s homage and prayers.

– 4.00pm Vespers for the Dead.

– 4.30pm Coffin will be solemnly carried to the Ghajnsielem Parish church accompanied by the St. Joseph Band

– 5.00pm Bishop Mgr. Mario Grech will preside the solemn Mass

Dun Karm Cassar will certainly be remembered for his inspiration, dedication and love towards the Ghajnsielem community. He was a role model for many youths and NGOs and Ghajnsielem will certainly be reaping the fruits of his hard work for many years to come.

Biograph of Dun Karm Cassar

Dun Karm Cassar was born in Ghajnsielem in the 14th of September 1921, the son of Salvu Cassar and Marie Pawla nee’ Costa, the last of seven children. He was baptised the following day by Parish Priest Dun Frangisk Mizzi.

He received his primary education at the Ghajnsielem Primary School which back then it was situated in Hamri Street. At a young age, he already began to show considerable interest in the vocational life and at eight he became an altar boy.

In 1929, Dun Karm joined the so called ‘Kavallieri ta’ Sant Antnin’, a vocational group formed by Ghajnsielem’s Franciscan community. In 1933 Fr. Bernard Hersey formed the Ghajnsielem Sea Scouts and Dun Karm together with his brother Anton joined this group.

During this period, Dun Karm began to develop an interest in music and started to play clarinet with the St Joseph Band. He later also learned the piano and played the Church’s organ for almost 40 years.

He pursued his secondary education at the Sacred Heart Seminary in Victoria, Gozo where later, in 1942, he joined the ‘Camera dei Grandi’ or as we know it today, the major Seminary.On the 16th of April 1949 he was ordained priest by Gozo Bishop, Mons Joseph Pace and he celebrated his first Solemn Mass at Ghajnsielem’s Old Parish Church on 1st May 1949.

Although he was heavily involved in his pastoral works, Dun Karm joined Ghajnsielem’s branch of the Malta Catholic Action (Azzjoni Kattolika) where he started to work more closely with the adults, youths and adolescents. This group was called ‘Circolo Virgo Lauretana’ and during this period was led by Dun Guzepp Galea Rapa.

In October 1949, Father Galea Rapa passed the mantle to the energetic Dun Karm Cassar who immediately started a different style of catholic and spiritual formation by introducing an element of indoor and outdoor sports including football, tennis, quiz, ‘silent and sound’ films and many other activities.

In the 1950’s and 60’s, young players were being introduced into the Ghajnsielem F.C. team at a fast rate. The steady supply of promising players was all due to the Ghajnsielem’s Catholic Youth Center under the leadership of Dun Karm Cassar. Dun Karm also worked hard to secure a large piece of land adjacent the new Parish Church where he later inaugurated the Ghajnsielem Football Ground, today named after him.

Thanks to Dun Karm’s initiatives, the ‘Virgo Lauretana’ secured a larger premise where the group started to function more efficiently. Unfortunately, due to personal reasons Dun Karm left the Catholic group after 26 years of service. This led to ‘Virgo Lauretana’ being dissolved with all its assets passed to the ecclesiastical authorities.

Dun Karm was also Spiritual Director of the Legion of Mary, an association with a spiritual formation programme, director of the Ghajnsielem Altar Boys, the ‘Xirka ta’ l-Iben t’ Alla’ and also for two periods, the Diocesan Director of the altar boys ‘Piccolo Clero’ which was founded by Mons Joseph Delia who was the National Director. He also taught Catholicism at the Christian Doctrine (also known as MUSEUM) for 38 years.

He started researching historic information about the village of Ghajnsielem. Beside contributing several articles with historical information to local publications (such as the magazine ‘Ghajnsielem’), Dun Karm is also the editor of the Annual Feast Magazine which is published yearly by the St Joseph Band Club.

In his late seventies and early eighties, Dun Karm started to learn and practicing the computer – a sign that this work and contribution to Ghajnsielem has not finished yet. In fact during the end of 1990’s and early 2000 he started publishing a monthly newsletter with a spiritual message aimed for the youths. He was the spiritual director of ‘Il-Krucjata Ewkaristika,’ a religious youth group which was founded by him in the early nineties.

In 1995, he was awarded the 1st Edition of the ‘Premju Gieh Ghajnsielem’ for his outstanding contribution towards the development of the Ghajnsielem community. The St Joseph Band also recognised his work and dedication by choosing him as Honorary President, a position he still holds today.

In December 2008, a new set of 10 candle holders were displayed for the first time in the Chapel of the Blessed Sagrament for the Christmas Eve midnight Mass. These candle holders were donated by Dun Karm was behind this project for ordering, acquiring and sponsoring these Gothic style set of candle holders and donating them to the Ghajnsielem Church.

Now, this chapel is embellished with a nice set of French Gothic style candle holders that fully compliment the Holy Eucharist Tabernacle, also in Gothic design, which has been already in place for some years.

On the 16th of April 2009, Dun Karm Cassar celebrated his sixtieth ordination anniversary with a special programme on Radju Lauretana. On Sunday, the 3rd of May, the Ghajnsielem Parish Church concelebrated a thanksgiving Mass in honour of Dun Karm Cassar. Following the Mass, several members of the congregation walked up the main aisle and one by one expressed their best wishes.

As his health declined, he passed the first few months of 2015 at the old people’s home adjacent the Gozo Hospital. Dun Karm Cassar passed away in the early hours of Friday, the 12th of June, Feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. His funeral will be held on Tuesday, the 16th of June.

May he rest in peace and God grants him the eternal life.

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