On Republic Day each year, the President, on behalf of the government and people of Malta, pays public tribute to a number of Maltese citizens who distinguish themselves in different fields of endeavour.

During the ceremony, President George Vella appointed eleven members to The National Order of Merit. Seven other individuals were awarded the Midalja ghall-Qadi tar-Repubblika.

In a ceremony that respected social distancing guidelines, appointments were made to The National Order of Merit or to the Xirka Gieh ir-Repubblika, or by awarding them the Midalja ghall-Qlubija or the Midalja ghall-Qadi tar-Repubblika.

In Gozo, those honoured were, Cardinal Mario Grech, who was bestowed with honour of National Order of Merit Companion. Mons Joseph Vella Gauci as member of the National Order of Merit and The Tramps with the Midalja ghall-Qadi tar-Repubblika.

Nationals of other countries may also be conferred with honorary membership of the Order or the Xirka or awarded the Midalja ghall-Qadi tar-Repubblika on an honorary basis.

President George Vella, in his speech at the investiture and medal award ceremony, said, “I am confident in the capabilities of the People of Malta and Gozo, to rise on their own two feet in no time. I am also confident that the important lessons we learned during the pandemic will be retained, utilised, and valued.”

He went on to say, “I would like to see us maturing into a more considerate and empathetic society, particularly with the elderly, the more vulnerable, our children, and one that fully acknowledges how crucial their education is.”

“We also have to ensure that more women make it to leadership roles and ascertain that no category in our society gets discriminated or gets sidelined. This is the only path to achieve harmony and social peace.”

Today’s Investiture Ceremony again took place at The Palace, Valletta, immediately following the customary ceremonial parade held at the Palace Square.

HONOURS AND AWARDS 2020 NATIONAL ORDER OF MERIT COMPANION

HIS EMINENCE MARIO CARDINAL GRECH KOM

Mario Grech was born in 1957 in Qala. After completing his secondary studies in the Victoria High School in Gozo, in 1977, he started studying philosophy and later theology at the Gozo Major Seminary. After his ordination in 1984, he was sent to Rome where he obtained the License in utroque iuris, both Canon and Civil Law at the Pontifical Lateran University. In the following years, he also obtained the Doctorate in Canon Law from the Pontifical University S. Tommaso d’Aquino (the Angelicum).

When he returned to Malta, he exercised the ministry at the Cathedral of Gozo; in the National Shrine of Tá-Pinu; and later, he was appointed parish priest in the parish of Kercem. He also held the offices of Judicial Vicar of the Gozo diocese and member of the Metropolitan Court of Malta.

Grech was Elected bishop of Gozo, in November 2005 and subsequently consecrated in January 2006. While he was heading the Gozitan Diocese, various initiatives and commissions were set up. Among the reforms Bishop Grech carried out, he spearheaded the reform of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal in Gozo.

Mario published 20 pastoral letters as Bishop of Gozo, 34 pastoral letters with the bishops of Malta and delivered hundreds of homilies. He attended three Synods of the Bishops.

On October 2, 2019, he was named Pro-Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops. He remained as apostolic administrator of the Gozo diocese until the Pope named a new bishop. In July 2020, he was named member of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity.

Mario Grech was created cardinal deacon during the consistory of November 28, 2020.

MONS DR JOSEPH VELLA GAUCI MOMBorn in 1964, Joe Vella Gauci started his studies in Philosophy and Theology at the Sacred Heart Major Seminary in Victoria, at Fareham Tertiary College and the Open University in the UK. He was then ordained a priest in 1988.

After his ordination, he furthered his studies at the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London where he was awarded a BA (Hons) in Politics and Religious Studies in 1990 and then a Masters in Oriental and African Religious Studies.

He then obtained a Ph.D. in Islamic Studies from the Birmingham University in 1996. In 1995, he was chosen as Parochial Vicar of the Cathedral in Victoria, Gozo and in 1996 he was appointed as Archpriest of the Cathedral until 2007.

In 2010, Joe Vella Gauci, was appointed Senior Adviser in International Relations and Religious Freedom at the Commission of the Bishops’ Conferences of the European Community (COMECE) Secretariat, in Brussels.

In 2013, he was appointed Malta’s Ambassador and Permanent Delegate to UNESCO as well as the Maltese Government’s official representative at the International Centre for the study of the Preservation and Restoration at Cultural Property (ICCROM) in Rome.

Joe Vella Gauci is also one of the founders and chairs the Board of Directors of Fondazzjoni Kenn u Tama which inaugurated Dar Emmaus in Victoria Gozo in 2014, serving as the first residential emergency shelter on the island.

Mgr Vella Gauci chairs the Emergency Response and Rescue Corps (ERRC) which is a voluntary, charitable and non-profit organisation based in Gozo that helps people in crisis, assists in emergency situations, offers water rescue service, ambulance services and first aid posts during public events.

THE TRAMPS MQRThe Tramps was a Gozitan pop group composed of the late Dominic Grech, Spiro Sillato, Joe Cassar and Carmel Portelli. They achieved their prominence in the 70s with their hit songs Xemx and Inti Djamant. Xemx has remained popular and Inti Djamant is also used as the signature tune for TV programme Ghawdex Illum.

Both songs became probably the most locally covered songs, featuring in most live concerts. Other hits include Sinjur Gib Il-Paci, the winning song of the 1st International Malta Song Festival, in 1981, and Kif Qatt Nista’ which are today still considered classics.

In 1976 and 1978 The Tramps performed for the Maltese communities in Toronto, New York, Melbourne and Adelaide.

Other Award Recipients

MIDALJA GHALL-QADI TAR-REPUBBLIKA

PROF CARMELO AGIUS MQR, MGR PROF EMMANUEL AGIUS MQR, MRS REBECCA CREMONA MQR, PROF ALAN DEIDUN MQR and MR RAYMOND FARRUGIA MQR.

MEMBER

MAESTRO PAUL ABELA MOM, PROF CHARLES BRIFFA MOM, MR ANTHONY CASSAR DARIEN MOM, PROF STEPHEN MONTEFORT MOM and MR JAMES HENRY PEARSALL MOM.

OFFICER

DR CHRISTOPHER BARBARA UOM, BRIGADIER JEFFREY CURMI UOM, PROF CHARMAINE GAUCI UOM and DR CHARLES MALLIA AZZOPARDI UOM.

Photos: Matthew Cutajar

Permalink: Cardinal Mario Grech among those to receive honours on Republic Day