Each year a commemoration event is held for the four women and unborn child who tragically lost their lives in WWII when the village of San Lawrenz came under attack.
During the night of the 5th and 6th of August, a group of ‘Lawrenzjani,’ Nazzarena Attard who was pregnant, Carmela Farrugia, Guzeppa Farrugia and Marija Farrugia, members of the community who literally “lived for God and died for their land,”on their way to take shelter from enemy attacks, were hit in a bombing raid by a German war plane. This was to be their last journey; they never made it to the nearby shelter.
This year marks the 80th anniversary and the San Lawrenz Local Council, which organisers of the commemoration, said that this year it wanted to “not only recall this ugly moment and the women, but also wanted it to be a moment in which different religions were brought together in order to pray to God for peace.”
Father Diionsius Mintoff on behalf of the country’s Catholic community and Daniele Pariente on behalf of Malta’s Jewish community shared prayers and thoughts for peace with those present.
These prayers were made during an evening animated by Keith Demicoli, as well as musical interventions by Soprano Dorothy Baldachino accompanied by harpist Jacob Portelli. There was dance by Martina Cassar and Lara Farrugia.
At the beginning of the vigil Josette Gonzi together with Francesco Pio Attard recounted the event as it happened and also called out the names of those who lost their lives in this attack.
This evening was held with the support of the Ministry for Gozo and under the patronage of the Speaker of the House of Representatives Dr Anglu Farrugia.
At the end of this vigil speaker Anglu Farrugia, together with the representatives of religions lit the flame of peace at the foot of the memorial commemorating the victims.
Photos: CVC media – James Scicluna