If that famous baseball song were based on real life "Take me out to the ball game (for $1,400 a ticket) Take me out with the crowd (plus $60 for parking) Buy me some peanuts ($18) and Cracker Jacks (don't forget the credit card processing fee) I don't care if I never get back (because I clearly work at Goldman Sachs and can afford this admission to the water park at American Dream and throwing out my Stanley Cup after each use)!" Going to a sports game in 2024 can be expensive. A seat at the World Series, however, is worth the splurge — especially with the Yankees back in the championship for the first time since 2009 skip the ballpark dogs and fluorescent cheese nachos Here are five places to eat near Yankee Stadium before (or after) our hometown sluggers destroy the Dodgers Bullpen DeliIf grab-and-go comfort food is what you're after in your baseball game experience (which, given the MLB's tendency towards frankfurters and fries, you probably are), Bullpen Deli has got you covered the hole-in-the-wall grub shop is known for its loaded sandwiches house-made meat platters and extensive salad bar with over 15 varieties of chicken Opt for the River Road sandwich with chicken cutlet jerk chicken and chipotle mayo-topped Above Beyond Chase any of those hefty meals with a slice of the shop's decadent crumb cake and you're walking out — stuffed —for less than $20 Go: 66 E. 161st St., Bronx; 718-585-8627, instagram.com/bullpen_deli Massive portions and bold flavors are the name of the game at Kumasi Restaurant; an African-Caribbean homestyle eatery 0.4 miles from Yankee Stadium's 164 Street Parking Garage Though it has barely any internet presence no social media profiles and isn't yet listed on Yelp the hidden gem has an excellent reputation amongst those who are in-the-know Visit the spot and indulge in Awakye Rice and Beans Dibi Lamb or Tilapia with Banku (corn and cassava dough paste) if you're totally sold on the idea of baseball and peanuts Try the team's Peanut Butter Stew with Rice; a West African specialty that'll put those shell-on stadium snacks to shame Hook & Reel Cajun Seafood is a small restaurant chain known for its Southern-spiced seafood boils getting down and dirty and eating with their hands" — and the Bronx outpost Start your meal with a mountain of smothered Crabmeat Fries or sweet and crispy Coconut Shrimp Follow those small plates with a dozen cold oysters (or a tropical cocktail) before taking on a fiery cajun steamer pot Go: 236 E. 161st St., Bronx; 718-293-0388, hookreel.com Nothing says New York City like Italian food, and dishes of the genre are getting a whole new look at Porto Salvo; chef Luigi Ghidetti's nautical-themed European tavern Boasting exceptionally high user ratings on Google the upscale-yet-affordable spot serves modern takes on old Italian classics Try the Ravioli di Zucca e Salvia for a sage-infused rendition of butternut squash ravioli or Frittelle di Cavolfiore for lightly breaded cauliflower zeppole be sure to accompany them with a specialty cocktail because the restaurant prides itself on its next-level beverage service Go: 424 E. 161st St., Bronx; 929-376-7866, portosalvobronx.com if you're really broke from buying those tickets There's a Taco Bell on River Ave Go: 880 River Ave., Bronx; 347-963-4445, tacobell.com the Carabinieri also found 200 grams of TNT with a trigger and a homemade explosive device The Carabinieri of the Melito Porto Salvo company have carried out an important operation against the illegal possession of weapons and drug trafficking following careful patrolling and monitoring the Carabinieri discovered a large arsenal and a significant quantity of cocaine ready to be released into the drug dealing areas The searches focused on two separate plots of land: one abandoned and without fences who were subsequently reported at large for illegal possession of weapons and narcotics The operation led to the discovery of war weapons ammunition and narcotics meticulously hidden in conditions that preserved their operational effectiveness the following were seized: an AK-47 Kalashnikov automatic rifle with a stamped serial number complete with two empty magazines; three pistols two of which with stamped serial numbers; over 500 cartridges of various calibers including some war cartridges; approximately 500 grams of pure cocaine with an estimated value of approximately 150.000 euros; two precision scales used to divide the drug into doses Much of the material was hidden in water pipes and disused wooden structures similar to chicken coops carefully wrapped in cellophane bags and placed in cases demonstrating a sophisticated concealment system designed to evade police checks the Carabinieri also found 200 grams of TNT with a trigger and a homemade “paper bomb” device weighing 1,2 kilos both hidden inside an iron pipe buried under soil and gravel Among the material seized in this area were also three pistols a 20-gauge over-and-under shotgun and 165 other cartridges of various calibers The explosive material and the homemade device were detonated on site by the anti-sabotage bomb disposal experts of the Reggio Calabria Provincial Command The entire arsenal and the narcotics were placed under criminal seizure and made available to the Judicial Authority to allow ballistic and technical-scientific investigations checks will be carried out to establish their possible provenance from criminal episodes or thefts Read also other news on Nova News Click here and receive updates on WhatsApp Follow us on the social channels of Nova News on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, Telegram Read today's Portuguese stories delivered to your email A fire broke out today at 1:15 pm in a bush area near Tagus Park, in Porto Salvo, Oeiras, but “it is giving way to resources” and there are no homes at risk, according to a source from civil protection supported by 13 land resources and one air resource” the operations commander of the Lisbon Sub-Regional Command within a short time we hope to have it under control” We appreciate that not everyone can afford to pay for our services but if you are able to we ask you to support The Portugal News by making a contribution – no matter how small You can change how much you give or cancel your contributions at any time “it is giving way to resources" must be straight translation from Portuguese Send us your comments or opinion on this article Reaching over 400,000 people a week with news about Portugal the most well-known being that of St Peter’s located in the square of the same name Another Basilica is that of San Paolo Fuori Le Mure built on a neo-classical style in the fourth century which was torn down by the emperor Constantine This is the tenth largest Basilica in the world and in Malta at the moment there is the conductor and organist from this Basilica We met with him as he was preparing for the organ concert to be held at the Basilica of St Dominic and Porto Salvo in Valletta he explained the versatility of the instrument The Organ Music is a very particular instrument it is the king of instruments and in the organ you search sounds and instruments it is an orchestra and when you play the organ Almada will be performing a number of works by classical composers such as Bach and Marcel Dupré a leading composer of organ music at the beginning of the 20th century The popular anthem of St Dominic composed by Maestro Gużeppi Caruana will also be performed during this concert The Maltese Ambassador for the Vatican state Frank Zammit said that the concert complements the historic organ which is found at the Basilica and while a number of change were made to it over the years it is still a prestigious organ and when the Maestro saw it he was very happy that he would be giving a concert on it The concert will be held on Monday 27 August at 7pm hosted a preview of the 7th Annual “Savor the Bronx” Restaurant Week at Porto Salvo Bronx a newly-opened Nautical Italian Cookery & Wine Bar in the South Bronx produced by the Bronx Tourism Council and co-hosted by the Bronx Overall Economic Development Corporation (BOEDC) showcases the borough’s best eateries by offering special values and discounts “We have some of the best eateries and food producers in the world right here in The Bronx,” said Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr “Our annual ‘Savor The Bronx’ Restaurant Week event is a great opportunity for foodies from all over the region to sample the epicurean delights our borough has to offer If you love great food you’ll love The Bronx and there’s no better time to enjoy our many flavors.” “There are over 200 eateries in this great borough Savor The Bronx Restaurant Week offers just a small sampling to help Bronxites and visitors discover their new favorites,” says Olga Luz Tirado executive director of The Bronx Tourism Council which runs from November 6th through November 17th and is the perfect opportunity to explore your taste buds at a various restaurants around The Bronx The preview event featured samples from some of the borough’s top eateries and food producers the Chelsea Craft Brewing Company and Delicioso Coco Helado Borough President Diaz and The Bronx Tourism Council also unveiled the two latest installments in the “Savor the Bronx” video series which highlights Bronx restaurants and other borough culinary businesses The Confraternity of the Blessed Sacrament established at the Porto Salvo parish church of Valletta is marking the 450th anniversary of its foundation with a solemn Pontifical concelebrated mass at St Dominic parish church on February 19 at 6.15pm The main celebrant will be Mgr George Frendo OP Archbishop Emeritus of Tiranë-Durrës, Albania assisted by the Dominican friars and other priests The Confraternities of the Blessed Sacrament whose main aim was to honour the Blessed Sacrament became important after the Council of Trent since their role was to implement the teaching of that council on the Blessed Sacrament These confraternities were introduced in Malta during the Apostolic Visitation of Mgr Pietru Duzzina He established confraternities in every parish The main feast that these confraternities celebrate is the Corpus Christi But the primary aim was of transporting the Blessed Sacrament to sick people in their homes please register for free or log in to your account Frazione Pentidattilo, Melito di Porto Salvo Street viewInterestedMultiple eventsArmonie D'Arte FestivalAug 2, 2024 Last update: Sep 1, 2023 2:38 PMContent owned by the Calabria Region | Tourism and Commerce Department issued under CC-BY License Download OFFICIAL TOURIST INFORMATION SITE © 2022 Calabria Region Tourism and Commerce Department it will be connected by bike paths not only to the Paço de Arcos station but also to two other urban parks - the Poetas and Perdizes parks The municipality of Oeiras has a new Urban Park Stay in Vila Friain the parish of Porto SalvoIn the near future it will be connected to the Business Cycle path and the Paço de Arcos railway station but also to the well known Parque dos Poetas The Urban Park of Vila Fria has about 22,000 square meters for strolling Representing an investment of 898.8 thousand eurosThe Vila Fria Urban Park offers 810 meters of pedestrian paths and also an open-air gymnasium - all surrounded by a lot of greenery and recreational areas The Park is inserted in a land that was available in the urban mesh of Vila Fria presenting an irregular plan because it was forced to surround the SIMAS installations the intermunicipal water and sanitation company of the Oeiras and Amadora counties The Park was inserted in a terrain where Nature already grew freely and the species that made sense for the project were kept and others were planted The space has a small wood where several native (autochthonous) species of our country can be found which are therefore adapted to our dry climate in summer requiring little maintenance and little water consumption if a part of the Park has a more natural aspect other areas are landscaped and have vegetation watered by an automatic system and herbaceous plants along the pedestrian paths help define them and also hide the built environment Some vegetation also plays an important role in the sloping areas of the Park The Urban Park of Vila Fria has several resting areas There is also a chapel that already existed in the area of the park and was integrated into it The pedestrian connections of the Urban Park with the surrounding area are ensured as in the case of the connections with Rua Carlos Paião (this is the main entrance and there are two bus stops for Carris Metropolitana) Rua Ary dos Santos and the connection to Rua Rui de Mascarenhas Almost the entire Urban Park is accessible to all people except the viewpoint areaThis is behind the chapel and where a swing for children and adults has been placed It is in this area that you will find a walkway we tried to place a equipment that looks like it is made from natural materials that you would find in a forest The space for gymnastics and fitness is developed in one of the central nuclei of the park are the two main dynamizing and attraction poles of the Vila Fria Urban Park the Business Cycle Path will connect the three business parks in the municipality to the Paço de Arcos train station and it will pass through three green areas in the territory: the Parque dos Poetas the Parque das Perdizes and now the Vila Fria Urban Park the municipality of Oeiras currently has 770 hectares of green infrastructures and aims to reach 1000 hectares by 2050 which requires less maintenance and is less demanding in water consumption The inauguration of the Vila Fria Urban Park took place on Friday morning Director of the Municipal Works Department among other members of the Oeiras Council."A garden And at the same time it is a repository of representative species of Mediterranean vegetation Whoever does these pedestrian circuits sees species that are scattered everywhere and that are concentrated here."commented Isaltino Morais "We also have a fitness park and a viewpoint here that allows us to enjoy the beauty of a significant part of the Oeiras territory but we also see the Sintra Mountains in the background." it is also possible to appreciate a "harmony in terms of spatial planning"This is a development that already integrates some towers "We are working to have more towers in our county"because "towers are one of the best ways to preserve the environment and safeguard land that would otherwise be waterproofed" the mayor of Oeiras said that "it's very hard for anyone not to like it here" and that this new leisure area is the result of "study Isaltino Morais wanted to leave another note: "The more city is made the greater the investment of the municipality whether with quality buildings or with intervention in the urban space explaining that "the investment that was made here will have threefold repercussions" in the housing around the Urban Park "If we make an investment of one million euros here this will have a reflection of three million in all those buildings Which means that an apartment that costs 250,000 will cost 300 this park will increase the value of all the buildings that exist here." But the municipality itself will also have a return on investment "in the long run" with the "IMI growth"because "What counts is not only the property; it is also what is around it it is the urban image; everything counts for the valuation of the property". this is a system of communicating vessels." MB Way: 933 140 217 (indicar “LPP”) Ou clica aqui Podes escrever-nos para [email protected] O LPP / Lisbon For People é um jornal local dedicado à cidade e à área metropolitana de Lisboa editado de forma totalmente independente e sem fins lucrativos ' + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.webview_notification_text + ' " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_title + " " + scriptOptions._localizedStrings.redirect_overlay_text + " The feast of Our Lady of the Rosary will be celebrated by the Dominican community together with the Archconfraternity of the Holy Rosary followed by mass with homily by Fr Prior Paul Gatt followed by vespers and concelebrated mass The procession with the statues of Our Lady of the Rosary and St Dominic along the main streets of Valletta will leave the church at 7.15pm The Archconfraternity of the Holy Rosary was founded under the auspices of the Dominican Order around 1575 and was associated with the church of St Mary of Porto Salvo and the Dominican Priory in Valletta where the confraternity’s chapel is located Members of the archconfraternity dedicated themselves to the ministry of those condemned to capital punishment in Malta among other charitable activities Last update: Aug 12, 2023 6:22 AMContent owned by the Calabria Region | Tourism and Commerce Department issued under CC-BY License 770 homes for affordable rent and a large urban park covering 12 hectares This is how the reconversion of the land of the former Algés Radionaval Station is characterized - a project that represents the largest affordable public housing project in the municipality of Oeiras 770 affordable homes and a large 12-hectare urban park This is how the reconversion of the land of the former Algés Radionaval Station a project that represents largest affordable public housing project in the municipality of Oeiras The investment will be carried out in partnership between the Oeiras City Council and the Institute for Housing and Urban Rehabilitation (IHRU) So these are houses that people can afford" during a ceremony held in Algés on December 20th a collaboration protocol was formalized between the Oeiras municipality and the institute he heads Gil Leitão emphasized the importance of the steps taken so far including the decision to use vacant state property to build public housing "whenever possible The President of IHRU also emphasized the need to "articulating specific wills and interests within the state itself" throughout this process the Algés Radionaval Station allowed the Portuguese Navy to communicate by radio between Lisbon and the distant Asian territory of Macau the buildings and the 32-hectare plot of land are abandoned and have been given over by National Defense for the construction of housing - it is the first of eight former military infrastructures that Defense will use to build affordable housing The conversion of this former naval radio station into affordable public housing will cost 185 million eurosof which 15 million will be for public use infrastructure such as the new 12-hectare urban park e possible cultural facilities The launch of the international public tender for the design and construction of the first 430 homes this week This procedure will be carried out (and will be the first) by the Public Construction a state-owned company that was reborn from the old Parque Escolar the experience gained from renovating schools will now be applied to building housing This project is funded by PRR - Recovery and Resilience PlanThe work on the first phase - the 430 homes - is due to start next year and be ready by the end of 2026 The former Algés Radionaval Station - which is actually located on the border between Linda-a-Velha and Algés - is part of a pool of vacant or unoccupied state properties to be transformed into public housing "hundreds of properties"According to the President of the IHRU It is supported by a recently established legal regime that basically facilitates the allocation of land and buildings for this grant The ceremony to present the affordable housing project at the Radionaval Station took place on December 20 the Mayor of Oeiras highlighted the municipality's ability to dream noting that the municipality has done a "exemplary path in housing" Isaltino recalled the end of shantytowns in the municipality a promise he made in 1986 when he was first elected Mayor and which came to fruition later with the PER - the Special Rehousing Program which involved the construction of several municipal neighborhoods with decent housing conditions "It was the dream of 1986 and the courage and determination of the 1993 government that made it possible to implement a solid and serious housing policy for the first time in Portugal would give dreams and futures to thousands of people The success of that time is not unrepeatable; on the contrary it can and must happen again"said Isaltino since the governments of Aníbal Cavaco Silva (who was Prime Minister between 1985 and 1995) that "no government has refocused its attention on housing" as António Costa's recent governments have done since 2018 The mayor - who began his political career with the PSD but has been running on independent lists since 2005 - harshly criticized the "Troika government" for having promoted the "the law of soil crystallization" In this way potentially developable agricultural land is kept away from housing production "This limitation of one of the main building factors "condemning an entire generation to the nightmare of shacks overcrowded houses and suffocating credit" this soil law also "it has stifled the growth of cities" the absence of humanism that eradicated the right to housing from the government agenda"he also said where "nobody spoke" public housing and in which it was felt that the "the housing problem used to be left to the private sector" "leading us to the biggest housing crisis since April 25" "without housing there is no room for hope to sprout"and that this first right is "condition for other dreams and rights to come true"The most important issues are education "The housing problem has to be solved through action by local councils and with support from the state"he said "I think I'm completely independent to say that the Prime Minister has given the country back the right to a decent home and housing for all." was in the room listening to the Mayor of Oeiras is helping the country to increase its share of public housing which currently stands at 2-3% with "around 123,000 fires" The public housing stock is meager compared to that of other European countries which were forced into gigantic reconstruction operations after the Second World War and which today have 20-30% of public housing Portugal will have "3.2 billion euros in non-repayable grants" for housing in the PRR "It means increasing the entire public housing stock built over decades by almost 25%"Costa said that this work is being done in partnership with local authorities European funds always excluded financing for housing there began to be the possibility of doing some tricks of using some energy efficiency funds to make some repairs to public housing But never building from scratch"criticized the Prime Minister the Radionaval Station project is the largest to date in terms of affordable housing but it's not the only one underway with PRR money at affordable rents and is the result of an investment of 12.8 million euros There are also 16 houses under construction in Parque da Junça and 12 in Quinta dos Aciprestes The municipality is launching 96 houses in Leceia These projects join many others; the aim by 2026 is to provide 746 new homes at affordable rents in a total of 12 developments spread over four parishesThis will consist of an overall planned investment of 130 million eurosof which 115 million is PRR funding and 15 million is from the municipality In addition to these investments in increasing public housing in the municipality Oeiras City Council has the requalification of 19 municipal districts underway with interventions in 410 buildings and 3,131 houses for a total investment of 77 million euros; the aim is to improve the comfort and energy performance of the buildings and the surrounding public space The municipality also has its Youth Housing program which consists of acquiring and restoring properties in the old parts of the municipality to provide housing for young people between the ages of 18 and 35; since 2006 16 of which have already been rehabilitated and 10 of which are in the planning stage - a total investment of more than 19 million euros Podes escrever-nos para [email protected] Restoration and conservation works are taking place all over Malta The Basilica of Our Lady of Porto Salvo in Valletta is no exception Apart from the conservation of the building structure itself a number of other conservation and restoration projects are ongoing inside with numerous others listed and planned for the future Every restoration and conservation project is a particular time of study.  Every artefact or work has its particular history and presents situations in sets of varying parameters each with diverse interlocking complexities This becomes possible only with the pooling in of specific professionals who are assigned with specific tasks And the conservator becomes the orchestrator who liaises with his conservation and documentation team scientists and others in the gaining of as much information as possible.  This will aid in the execution of the most holistic conservation project possible.  Apart from giving strength to an artwork for future posterity through the process of conservation and restoration historical elements that may have been lost through time are sometimes revived Detail of a damaged area in Calì’s painting of ‘The Heavenly Glory of St Dominic’ This is exactly what happened during the conservation and restoration project of Giuseppe Calì’s apse paintings in the side chapel dedicated to St Dominic at the basilica the damage was immediately evident.  The materials that Calì had applied to Maltese globigerina limestone had suffered from extensive and extreme detachments sometimes with losses mainly due to movement of the fabric (possibly during the war) and through water infiltration.  It was also evident that the palette of the artist was now partially hidden under thick layers of dark carbon dust and grime Documentation and professional photography were essential pillars for immediate study testing and posing numerous questions were necessary for a relative scientific investigation A specific treatment was tailored to strengthen the painting structure with the least invasion possible The team worked with great verve and satisfaction while structural works of consolidation and adhesion proved totally successful during the process of cleaning some areas revealed a particular gray that was somewhat transparent but seemed to hide original details underneath.  In such instances one is tempted to remove whatever is hiding or masking the original but a conservator’s immediate reaction is to stop and think profoundly A better understanding needed to be reached Calì’s wall paintings in the chapel of St Dominic during treatment The materials had suffered from extensive and extreme detachments Close examination of the high quality digital photographs shot before the start of the project showed signs of the presence of the gray layers even if not immediately evident Physical examinations further indicated that the layer was original.  So we turned to historical research which eventually did shed some light with regard to Calì’s technique In Giuseppe Cali’ 1846-1930  by E they quote from an article in La Gazzetta di Malta of July 28,  1909 where the artist is defined as an expert colourist especially with regard to gaining optical effects Cali’s perspective was not gained with just design but also with colour the question of the gray layer came all together and it made sense transparent layer was part of the artist’s original manufacturing technique in his defining of aerial perspective It was found present in areas the artist wanted to visually send back (as the group of people behind the kneeling Pope) It was one of his numerous methods for setting his compositions in space While it was mainly hidden before conservation it became all the more evident after the cleaning treatment The polychromy at the hands now presents the same flesh tone as that in the face giving an overall aesthetic integrity to the statue looking further into the artist’s technique became significant One could easily define how his strength in colours and shadows varied depending on prominence and space with the figures nearer to us having stronger and deeper interpretations Standing in front of the apse showing ‘The Heavenly Glory of St Dominic’ one can admire the recovered beauty of the artist’s palette and the reasserted dimensionality It is enough to compare and contrast the angel on the far right of the painting with the group of angels flanking Our Lady to understand these factors… factors that although subtle define the true spirit of the artist that could have easily been lost if treated insensitively especially considering that in old school conservation it was acceptable to darken shadows just so the painting is made stronger Removal of the upper layers of hard and brittle overpaint uncovers a more subtle polychromy at the hands showing a blusih tinge at the veins and a pinkish tinge at the knucles An area of previous damage in the hand that had been infilled with wax was also uncovered Considering the above findings one can understand the complexities encountered during any conservation project It is an area where investigation is crucial The same can be said of the current restoration and conservation project of the titular statue of St Dominic.  Looking at the work through a conservator’s eye immediately imparts a lot of information A look at the statue’s face reveals that it is a great work in polychromed wood of the 17th century having glass eyes showing tiny bubbles of air (typical of the period) The proportions and carved details are impeccable.  And the polychromy at the face leaves one in awe the sideburns have been interpreted by the application of a greenish paint (probably terre verte) underneath the somewhat transparent flesh tone leaves a lot to be desired.  It is obvious that the hands still have a number of overpaintings applied during previous restorations It is known that in the 1960s the statue was restored by Oscar Testa Testa was seen removing paint from the face of the statue using cotton wool dipped in a mixture This fits in place with a saying that the statue had a darker look and a darker moustache pre-1960s in contrast to the current fine lighter flesh tone The 17th-century statue of St Dominic before conservation treatment something that he would have been well capable of doing considering that he had worked in Rome as assistant to Prof Ridolfi in the execution of arduous and delicate work in restoring paintings of world famed artists the type of finish of the current layer at the face is so finely finished that any layers applied after would not have been able to bond and adhere well thus making it easy to remove later This has been proven with tests executed at the hands where the upper layers are not well adhered to the possibly original underlayers The statue of St Dominic has been documented and representative samples have been taken for investigation The restoration team is currently in discussion with a team of Spanish polychrome statue-makers and restorers with a vision of clarifying verifying and identifying factors pertaining to the original technique Both the statue and the pedestal are undergoing treatment and will be finished in time for the feast of St Dominic to be celebrated in Valletta next Sunday I would like to thank parish priest Michael Camilleri the members of the Foundation of Porto Salvo and St Dominic Valletta and all the volunteers for their valuable work in the upkeep of the church documentation and scientific team for their input in this grand project Conservation works on the main dome of Our Lady of Porto Salvo and St Dominic Basilica in Valletta have been concluded.  The public has been invited to see the unveiling during an inauguration ceremony on Monday at 7.30pm.  The dome paintings are regarded as some of the best by painter Giuseppe Calì They are a cycle of eight paintings representing the seven virtues of hastity They were originally inaugurated in 1898 but suffered extensive deterioration due to water infiltration.  Agatha Grima Conservators began work in late 2018 They used methods including high-resolution imaging to understand the original manufacturing technique the fragile condition of the works and the previous interventions by Calì’s son This information helped the team tailor specific treatment directed towards the structural strengthening of the original work the removal of any foreign damaging materials and the aesthetic presentation as defined through Calì’s original his works have been brought back to life and now complement the decorative stucco work in the dome that has itself been restored.  Flimkien għal Ambjent Aħjar is organising a series of events which include exclusive tours and trips to bring fresh information to light Vince Zammit will lead an Easter- themed tour including behind-the- scenes rituals and traditions at the church of Our Lady of Porto Salvo and the oratory of the Blessed Sacrament Work on the marble flooring at St Dominic parish church in Valletta has been completed prior and parish priest Fr Michael Camilleri and the Porto Salvo and St Dominic Foundation will be holding a solemn Mass on Saturday The King’s Own Philharmonic Quartet will take part the Dominican community of Valletta started a project which had been waiting for long – the restoration and changing parts of the marble floor of the Basilica of Our Lady of Safe Haven and St Dominic After the extensive restoration of the interior and exterior of the church The restoration and the replacement of marble slabs and the preparatory work needed involve a considerable amount of money we made use of European funds specifically directed to such projects I wish to thank all those who helped us acquire these funds and those volunteers who helped in the execution of the project,” Fr Camilleri said European funds supported 80 per cent of the total expenditure while the remaining 20 per cent were to be forked out by the parish Benefactors and friends are now being urged to support another project – the attachment of bench stoppers to avoid damage being done to the marble church goers are being urged not to wear stilettos when attending church services The marble work was carried out by Halmann Vella Ltd A festive atmosphere prevailed in Valletta on Sunday morning and hundreds of people turned up for the arrival of the new titular statue of St Augustine in the Old Bakery Street parish church dedicated to the saint the work of sculptor Chevalier Alfred Camilleri Cauchi and his son Aaron was brought out of the parish church and basilica of Our Lady of Porto Salvo and St Dominic and was carried processionally through the main streets of the capital until it entered its new home – the parish church of St Augustine – for the first time At this point the statue was blessed and a commemorative plaque unveiled Four bands took part in the celebration: the King’s Own Band of Valletta the Spinola Band of St Julians and the De Paule Band of Paola This parish is run by the Augustinian friars At one point in this morning’s procession parish priest Fr Deo Debono joined the statue bearers and helped to carry the new statue https://www.tvm.com.mt/mt/news/statwa-titulari-gdida-ta-santu-wistin-ghal-parrocca-fil-belt/ Bdiet l-esperjenza fil-ġurnaliżmu ma' gazzetta lokali fl-2010 Fl-2016 bdiet taħdem għas-sit elettroniku ta’ TVMnews The Women’s Media Center’s research and reports shed a light on the underrepresentation and misrepresentation of women in the media More » WMC publishes original reporting and commentary on headline stories and underreported topics More » WMC Live with Robin Morgan is a weekly radio show and podcast in 110 countries around the globe More » WMC SheSource is an online database of media-experienced women experts who we connect to journalists More » The Women’s Media Center (WMC) media training and leadership programs seek to elevate women’s voices through media training More » WMC Speech Project is dedicated to raising public and media awareness about online harassment More » Learn more about topics like these by signing up for Women’s Media Center’s newsletter The Confoederatio Oratorii Sancti Philippi Nerii (Congregation of Oratories of St Philip Neri) was founded in Rome in 1575 by Philip Neri It is a pontifical society of apostolic life of Catholic priests and lay brothers who live together in a community bound together by no formal vows but only with the bond of charity Malta was fortunate enough to enjoy the presence of the first community of priests following the method and spirit of the saint and subject to the bishop’s jurisdiction six members of the clergy from Senglea made a formal request to Bishop Miguel Balaguer Camarasa to found an oratory in their hometown following the example of the Vittoriosa community which still hangs in the sacristy of Porto Salvo church Born in Senglea to Giovanni Maria and Isabellica née Bonnici Simone was baptised at Senglea parish church on November 4 entrusted him to his paternal uncle Fr Tommaso Schembri taught him how to read and the rules of grammar Discerning that he was called to serve God in the priesthood Simone studied philosophy at the Jesuits’ College While his mother provided his ordination patrimony in 1655 most probably he was ordained abroad in 1661 The fact that the Oratorian congregation had opened a house in Vittoriosa at a time when Schembri was in that town studying at the Dominican priory influenced him to set up a similar congregation in Senglea Schembri not only intended to have a church and a retreat house in Senglea but also to invest strongly in education which he foresaw as the key to religious success and the cultural growth of his fellow townsmen strongly embedded in the Tridentine precepts of education and pastoral work not only intended to have a church and a retreat house in Senglea while remaining part of the secular clergy the Spanish Roman Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Malta from 1635 to 1663 deacons Don Giuseppe Lamagna and Don Orazio Mifsud Schembri sought permission from Bishop Balaguer to set up an Oratorian community in his home town according to the norms of St Philip Neri’s institute Their request was approved on the sole condition that the priests of this new congregation could maintain themselves economically Don Simone was chosen as the first provost A decree, signed by the bishop on March 28, 1662, handed over to this community the church of Our Lady of Porto Salvo and an adjacent house. The Oratorians promised to enlarge the church and to give the house the character of a convent. The said church was situated at the far end of Senglea, in the heart of a popular the factual problem was the religious and social ignorance that poverty was bound to create Schembri’s aim in setting up this congregation in that specific area was to establish within its limits a centre of learning The popularity of the Oratorians was immediately felt Schembri’s aspiration was not only noble but also full of foresight Just a few decades after being taken under the pastoral care of this congregation the locale around this church became one of the preferred places in Senglea The church of Our Lady of Porto Salvo at the tip of Senglea started to be constructed under the supervision of the Senglea-born capomastro Carlo Vella While the church was designed in the shape of a Latin cross the preferred post-Tridentine plan for churches the planned convent had to consist of a small garden and several modest rooms Don Simone Schembri’s involvement was not exclusively restricted to financial contributions He also participated in the actual manual labour of the construction of the new church parishioners also worked for free and contributed largely to the construction of the church This further strengthened the church as the symbol of parish identity including parish priest Don Francesco Azzopardi the building project suffered a severe setback From the pastoral visitation report carried out by Bishop Joaquín Canaves in 1715 one concludes that works relating to the construction of the church were still in progress The dome of the church was not yet constructed The main nave of the church of Our Lady of Porto Salvo Although donations from the people of Senglea are recorded in the account books of the congregation these were clearly not sufficient since Don Simone Schembri sponsored most of the construction project through his own means He exclusively financed entirely the project of the sculpture of the chapel of St Philip Neri a copy of the chapel in Santa Maria in Vallicella in Rome its outline made it a distinctive landmark it rivalled parish churches in rural areas the building began to be known as the church of St Philip which in itself attests to the popularity that the church began to have in spite of the fact that it still remained dedicated to Our Lady of Porto Salvo Don Simone applied for the post of lecturer in philosophy at the Collegio Urbano di Propaganda Fide in Rome following an examination held on September 19 After this unsuccessful attempt to insert himself in the ecclesiastical academic field he dedicated the rest of his life to the spiritual and pastoral welfare of the Maltese diocese where he was held in high esteem Bishops Miguel Jerónimo de Molina and Davide Cocco Palmieri chose him co-visitor of pastoral visits Being a well-known preacher with a doctorate in theology Don Schembri preached the so-called missions that preceded pastoral visits These missions were introduced in the pastoral life of the Maltese diocese in 1671 and could have been the result of Don Simone’s intervention Apart from being a testimonial to his preaching ability the fact that he preached them throughout a considerable number of parishes he preached these missions in the parishes of Attard He subsequently remained involved in these missions during the 1685-1687 pastoral visit he delivered the missions also in St George’s parish in Rabat and Xewkija Apart from the said important contributions in the Maltese diocese he stipulated his last will in the deeds of notary Giovanni Antonio Saliba He left almost all his personal assets to the Senglea Oratory This legacy consisted of half of his immovable property which bore a considerable amount of annual revenue This income was intended to subsidise those priests who decided to retire to the oratory on account of health reasons it also aimed to provide for the celebration of masses for the repose of their souls after their death The main altar of the right transcept of the church dedicated to St Philip Neri commissioned and financed by Don Simone Schembri The canvas is by Don Pedro Nunez de Villavicencio a knight of St John and disciple of Mattia Preti The other half of these assets was to cater for certain legacies he established in his last wishes There included the feast of the Holy Trinity which was to be celebrated annually on St Philip Neri’s altar as well as the feast of the Immaculate Conception All surplus that remained from this second half was to benefit priests who retired in the oratory a letter from the Congregation of the Holy Office in Rome informed Inquisitor Antonio Ruffo that Don Schembri had been granted the right of Giubilazione which meant he was relieved from the normal duties connected with his commitment at the Holy Office in Malta but was entitled to continue enjoying the indulgences and privileges granted to the personnel attached to it He had been giving his service to this during the previous 60 years he frequently gave advice to Grand Master Fra Marc’Antonio Zondadari either by letter or in person at the Grand Master’s Palace Provost Don Simone Schembri died in Senglea on August 20 1723 – 300 years ago – leaving behind an almost completed complex comprising of the church While acknowledged for his integrity of life civil prudence and compassion towards the deprived he was celebrated for the righteousness with which he fulfilled the duties of preacher and confessor There are simply friendlier places in Italy to visit or The Dispatch (named after Joseph Pulitzer’s muckraking 19th-century St “And that power means that no one talks much about what happens here which is immensely helpful to the ‘Ndrangheta which then gets a pass.” The Iamonte crime family’s grip is apparently unbreakable even though many members of the patriarchy are in jail including the boss Remingo Iamonte and his favorite son The latter stands accused with six other local men of orchestrating the repeated gang rape of a girl who was 13 when her ordeal began in late 2013 and attempting to blackmail her with intimate photos she took of herself So strong is the Iamonte influence that many in the community knew about the blatant abuse and did nothing to stop it “People saw [Giovanni] Iamonte pick her up at school under her house—in clear distress,” Cordova says of young gangsters were well-known to law enforcement but because the victim did not come from a powerful crime family The gang rapes allegedly started when Maddalena Maddalena’s parents were separating and the young girl was especially easy prey Schimizzi had convinced Maddalena to send him provocative photos of herself which local investigators say he then used to blackmail her when he decided to share her sexually with his friends threatening to distribute them via social media where she would be condemned for her “libertine” behavior which is particularly frowned upon in small communities of conservative Calabria but then she will calm down.”— Davide Schimizzi scorned boyfriendWhen Maddalena refused to go along with the threats and tried to leave the relationship which she did for a short time during which she apparently texted another boy he allegedly set up a series of forced sexual encounters with Iamonte and five of their friends: Daniele Benedetto and Lorenzo Tripodi Schimizzi wrote to the other young men on Facebook Messenger Schimizzi was apparently not directly involved in the rapes but rather directed them both in person and remotely She was made to pose for sadistic pornographic photos which they then shared among themselves and she was forced to succumb to what the court describes as acts of “extreme sexual perversion” on the part of the seven men she wrote about the abuse in a creative writing essay for her English teacher who cannot be named because she is under protective custody who were not exactly amicably separated at the time The teacher says Maddalena’s father was indignant warned against denouncing the powerful Mafia families involved instead helping comfort and clean his daughter’s wounds when she came home from the rapes The father had first approached Iamonte and Schimizzi in early 2016 to warn them to stop abusing his daughter or he would go to police that nothing would come out of a complaint from such a weak man when he could no longer stand by to watch his daughter suffer and the seven men were arrested for aggravated rape and torture of a minor which opened behind closed doors last year only to be suspended pending various legal acts filed by the seven suspects’ lawyers to try to free them from jail During the initial phases of the investigation police checked various historical wiretaps of the Iamonte crime family and found that the crime boss Remingo Iamonte apparently had been in a consensual sexual relationship with Maddalena’s mother in the years before he went to jail in 2010 the crime boss’ son and lead instigator of Maddalena’s alleged gang rape vendetta also in a carnal relationship with Maddalena’s mother although investigators are skeptical that this is true The younger Iamonte’s defense has been to claim a case of mistaken identity that he was actually involved with the mother Maddalena’s mother denies such a relationship “Townspeople have blamed Maddalena for ‘getting involved with such a family’ and for ‘wearing miniskirts’ and ‘taking pictures of herself.’”During the preliminary hearings to determine if there was enough evidence to go forward with a trial asked Iamonte if he had known his own father had a relationship with the woman he claims to have slept with himself despite the fact that Iamonte and the others were seen multiple times picking up Maddalena to take her to the countryside to torture her the townspeople are largely too afraid to testify in court against any of the seven men on trial There are still plenty of members of the Iamonte crime family free to exact revenge who has covered the gang rape case from the beginning told The Daily Beast that instead of supporting the victim the townspeople have blamed Maddalena for “getting involved with such a family” and for “wearing miniskirts” and “taking pictures of herself.” The local Calabria channels of Italy’s state-run broadcaster RAI did a short story on the case in which it asked a dozen or so local residents what they thought instead offering comments like “things like that happen everywhere” and “it was the girl’s fault.” The trial continues in Calabria on April 13 and is expected to reach a verdict by the end of the year Got a tip? Send it to The Daily Beast here has reported from Italy for Newsweek since 1997 and for The Daily Beast since 2009 She is also a CNN Contributor and frequent writer for Scientific American Christopher Dickey, a veteran foreign correspondent, was The Daily Beast’s World News Editor, and the author of seven books, including Securing the City and, most recently, Our Man in Charleston: Britain’s Secret Agent in the Civil War South inicia sessão ou cria uma Conta SL Benfica Criar conta › Under-19s | Images from the national title win Estoril-Benfica: extended highlights (1-2) The celebration of the five-time champions at Benfica Campus Conservator Agatha Grima gives a glimpse of what was involved in the restoration and conservation of Pietru Pawl Caruana’s apse painting in the choir area at the Basilica of Our Lady of Porto Salvo (Our Lady of Fair Havens) also known as the church of St Dominic in Valletta Apart from Giuseppe Calì’s paintings on the vault of the Basilica of Our Lady of Porto Salvo the choir area includes the largest of the painted surface areas in the whole church – the main apse painted by Pietru Pawl Caruana (1793-1852) The apse runs along a concave horizontal base following the total width of the main aisle measuring around 11 metres in width and 6.35 metres in height The painting portrays an allegorical representation of the church’s title of Our Lady of Porto Salvo The work is a show of Caruana’s artistic talents showing numerous allegorical and iconographic representations all woven into a wonderfully orchestrated composition Our Lady with Child Jesus are surrounded by saints who call for the Virgin’s intercession in the cause of humanity and all its troubles It is here represented by a galleon in distress Numerous details were hidden under layers of carbon soot and grime White stains from residues of salt were further hindering the overall readability of the painting the main female figure on the left is the personification of the Catholic Church She stands tall as she holds plans for a new church and points at the island across the waters on the far right that shall offer a safe harbour – the place where the new Dominican church is to be built She holds the cross that dictates that the new church dedicated to Our Lady of Porto Salvo will be a basilica while in the central area a nobleman (said to be Chevalier Romegas) kneels in prayer Just below Caruana’s signature lies the name Oscar Testa and the date 1960 – the primary evidence of the restoration the latter executed in that year Preliminary studies immediately revealed that the apse was suffering from salt damage resulting from infiltration of rain water Numerous areas of the painted surface were tainted with a white haze of the salt crystals inside and on the surface of the paint layers others were practically insoluble and ingrained inside the paint structure grime and carbon soot further darkened the painting It was proposed that the overpaintings should be removed whose spirit had been partially hidden for such a long time underneath layers of [restorer] Testa’s paint study of photographic documentation and preliminary studies help one to get to know the artwork better specific multispectral examinations revealed that large areas of the painting had been overpainted indicating that Testa himself might have tackled large areas of damage Detail of St John the Baptist (kneeling on the Virgin’s right side) Examinations under the infrared wavelength reveal the original paint layers underneath What kind of damage had the painting suffered Had large areas of the painting been lost or had Testa himself combated with salt stains a quest for such knowledge is of ultimate importance because it will be used as a base for tailoring further treatment decided that further investigations were needed since they might give an indication as to what remains of the original paint layers underneath Examinations under infrared gave no indications of extreme losses Private communication with people of the community revealed stories of how the painting had been suffering from the same problem of salts even then and how large patches of white efflorescence could be seen on the surface before Testa had started with the work And it made sense that the painting would have revealed the same deterioration phenomena along the years especially since the source of the damage had not been well tackled before Giuseppe Calì’s main painting on the vault of the basilica during (above) and (right) after restoration So it was decided to conduct specific cleaning tests at representative areas This ensured that Testa’s overpaintings now covering the original could be removed safely This gave further indications as to the state and condition of the original paint layer underneath it became clear that during the restoration of the 1960 Testa also found large areas of salt damage across the apse painting He would have cleaned the painting but most probably he did not have the capacity to specifically pick up salts from the paint layer as modern conservators do today it would not have been acceptable either for him as a restorer to have the finished painting presented with large white stains of salt So Testa solved his problem by overpainting especially since the restorers themselves would have been artists Specific cleaning was executed to remove remains of salts The problem with this method is that in order to make their overpainted areas fit into the scheme they would have had to continue painting on and on sometimes changing details drastically and adding highlights as had happened in this specific case with Caruana’s apse Considering that in specific areas the overpaintings were changing Caruana’s original interpretation and that they could be removed safely to uncover a relatively healthy original paint layer it was proposed that these overpaintings should be removed whose spirit had been partially hidden for such a long time underneath layers of Testa’s paint the major part of the project included not only cleaning specifically the removal of the dark layer of grime and the picking up of ingrained salts but also the removal of hindering overpaintings some of which were found to be on top of an old varnish layer The restored apse painting has regained an aesthetic integrity and acquired a higher sense of drama The central area of Caruana’s painting before (above) and after (below) treatment – overpainting applied in the 1960s restoration had turned an agitated sea into a flat mass Its removal uncovered a surging wave and the artist’s original interpretation Now a wave is seen coming towards the galleon as it gains in height shedding a stronger light on the Maltese islands while the clouds underneath the group of saints have gained their original depth the sail is now clearly seen billowing in the wind once hidden underneath the large yellow circle of paint But maybe the sweetest changes have been gained by the Child Jesus who has shed Testa’s highlights to regain his original facial features Multispectral examinations – Examinations under diverse wavelength give different information whose face is hidden underneath a mask of overpaint The overpainting around the Virgin was hiding a smaller halo while highlights on the face of Child Jesus were hiding sweet original features The conserved choir paintings were inaugurated on February 2 The author would like to thank parish priest Michael Camilleri the members of the Foundation of Porto Salvo and St Dominic Valletta and all the volunteers for their work inside the church Special thanks also go to all involved and the conservation team for their dedication and invaluable input in the work The titular statue of St Dominic at the basilica known as Porto Salvo in Valletta is among the oldest in Malta Research carried out by restorer Agatha Grima on the statue showed it was the work of a Spanish artist and during the years its originality was lost due to various interventions “We studied the complexion and realized that the hands had layers of paint which probably were hiding the layer which is possibly the original” The restoration has now brought the image of St Dominic which the statue had when work on it was carried out in the seventeenth century St Dominic’s face took a different image during the years until it was restored in 1960 In the sixties the statue was restored by Oscar Testa the Dominicans of Valletta received assistance through a Government’s fund for good causes for another restoration project in the church Parish priest Fr Michael Camilleri said the restoration in the church respects the original style in order to preserve this cultural heritage The police are investigating a priest who allegedly stole a ‘relic’ from a church in Senglea last Saturday Fr Andrew Borg allegedly stole a silk beret that is considered by many as a relic of St Philip Neri from the sacristy of the church of Our Lady of Porto Salvo a Curia spokesperson said on Tuesday the priest has been put on administrative leave while procedures are ongoing “The archdiocese has been informed that a member of the clergy was questioned by the police in relation to an alleged theft at the Porto Salvo church in Senglea,” the spokesperson said which was enclosed in a glass box and exhibited in the sacristy of the church dates back to the early 1900s and came in contact with a relic of St Philip Neri who was born in Florence in the 16th century and declared a saint in 1622 Fr Borg allegedly left the sacristy with a bag containing the glass box with the beret in it placed it in his car and went to have dinner with a group of people who had just attended the religious service An individual at the church realised the artefact was missing and immediately alerted the Salesians Sources said the beret was found in the car shortly afterwards and a report was filed with the police who was in charge of a small church in Ħamrun The pastoral care has now been entrusted to the archpriest of St Cajetan parish the priest has been offered access to the support structures made available by the archdiocese to clergy “The archdiocese has also extended its full cooperation to the authorities.” Times of Malta is aware that the Curia received multiple complaints about Fr Borg over the past years mostly over misconduct and insubordination Several sources noted that his behaviour was frequently irrational and his actions considered absurd and illogical then-PN election candidate Emma Portelli Bonnici as a “satanist Portelli Bonnici filed a complaint with the police, which she later withdrew after the Curia asked Fr Borg to remove the comment and after he had publicly apologised to her Times of Malta attempted to reach Fr Borg for comments on the phone via Facebook and text message to no avail by the time of writing The Salesians were also contacted but preferred not to comment The police said they cannot confirm or deny whether they were investigating.  The incident happens just a few weeks after the parish priest of Marsaxlokk, Fr Luke Seguna was taken to court and faced charges of misappropriating half a million euros over a 10-year span The Church of Our Lady of Porto Salvo in Senglea The beret was always considered and venerated as a third-class relic because it was in contact with the body of the saint or with objects and clothes that he owned when the Vatican issued new rules that technically stripped the artefact of the sanctity of a relic the Catholic Church had three classifications for relics Parts of the body of the saint were considered as first-class relics Objects or clothes which the saint wore or frequently used were considered as second-class relics And any other object that was in contact with a first or second-class relic was considered a third-class relic the Congregation of the Causes of the Saints at the Vatican abolished third-class relics reserving the title to parts of the saints’ body and their possessions many devotees see the beret as no less than an authentic relic of their saint St Philip Neri probably wore it a lot in his day The church of Porto Salvo contains another relic of St Philip Neri: a post-mortem mask that was shaped out of wax on the saint’s face a few moments after he died Items from the exhibition Valletta and the Dominicans: a Common Journey are complimenting the Basilica of St Mary of Porto Salvo and St Dominic church Some of the artefacts on exhibit can be appreciated for their liturgical purpose and religious value after they were transferred to the church for the occasion of the feast of St Dominic being celebrated this weekend Valletta and the Dominicans: A Common Journey narrates how the story of Valletta has often intertwined with that of the Dominican community in the capital vestments and curious paraphernalia from the national and parish collections to narrate Valletta’s Dominican imprint that will bring Maltese and Dominican history together is organised by Heritage Malta and the parish of St Mary of Porto Salvo and St Dominic The exhibition is open daily from 10am to 4pm until October 7 at the Dominican Priory in Valletta On the occasion of the festivity of St Dominic opening hours are extended until 8pm today and tomorrow The most amazing thing about Malta’s churches is that almost each and every one of them is a historical and cultural haven Apart from being places of worship that are in active use with almost all containing artistic riches that ought to be appreciated these buildings are veritable works of art artisans and artists adorned the inside and exteriors of these churches with intricate decorations stone sculptures and paintings depicting saints these churches are a reflection of the Maltese islands’ deep religious roots In the Three Cities of Cottonera one must visit Senglea’s parish church dedicated to the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary and be fascinated by the titular statue of Maria Bambina sculptured in wood and donated to the parish in 1618 Devotees who visit this collegiate church are very often enthralled by the facial expression of the statue of Jesus the Redeemer for centuries a major focus of national devotion Many are charmed by the large amount of objets d’art in this basilica Senglea’s Porto Salvo church is another gem of artistic heritage Although its red painted dome is very evident and dominates the Grand Harbour panorama it is often overlooked by some and downgraded by others But this building alone offers endless fascination to people who appreciate history St Julian’s church in Senglea was constructed in 1539 Just 15 years after it was declared a parish Senglea witnessed the building of a third church in 1596 was dedicated to the visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to St Elizabeth This Marian devotion was introduced in Malta during the second half of the 16th century and was exlusively centred on the Grand Harbour area Members of the Order of St John as well as other seafaring inhabitants in the area sought the special protection of Our Lady to guide them safely in harbour after the perils they had to face in the many sea voyages they had to face as required by the Order’s Rule or to gain their daily sustenance One of a set of four freco paintings (two in each trascept) showing episodes from the life of St Philip Neri A significant number of local mariners contributed towards the building which was large enough to hold four altars under the supervision of Senglea-born architect Carlo Vella all adorned by unique sculptured front elevations were dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel The main altar of the right transept was dedicated to St Philip Neri and that of the left was dedicated to St Andrew it took almost until 1690 to complete the construction work which as from 1662 was administered by the Oratorions of St Philip Neri was consecrated by Bishop Vincenzo Labini on April 22 It is adorned with interesting works of art The main altarpiece is an impressive work by Stefano Erardi (1630-1716) painting around 1690 Valletta-born Stefano Erardi is Malta’s most important native-born painter in the period between the second half of the 17th century and the first two decades of the 18th He started his artistic career in an outmoded late mannerist style possibly by studying paintings in Maltese churches and collections who was held in high esteem in both government and ecclesiastical circles benefitted from various opportunities that helped his artistic talents to flourish the connections between the Order and the Church with Sicily Naples and Rome were crucial for Erardi’s formation Our Lady of Porto Salvo is depicted pouring her blessings upon the Grand Harbour she is seen accompanied by four other saints: St Paul and St Agatha and St Elmo and St Catherine of Alexandria the view of the Grand Harbour portrayed in the lower half of the painting can be actually seen from the interior of the church when its main door is open The scene of the Nativity of Jesus Christ by Pietro Paolo Caruana the first altar on the right is dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel an early prior general of the Carmelite religious order as a reformer in the Carmelite Order, eventually led to the establishment of the Discalced Carmelites founder the Society of Jesus and its first superior general a companion of St Ignatius of Loyola and co-founder of the Society of Jesus being one of the first seven Jesuits who took vows of poverty and chastity at Montmartre This painting is the work of Alessio Erardi (1669-1727) it appears Alessio understood the principles of the Neapolitan artistic trends of the 17th century many of his works were attributed to the former Alessio helped in preparing the ground for the more emotional and flamboyant Baroque style that was to develop later in the 18th century The second altar on the right of the nave is dedicated to the mystery of the Incarnation Caruana started his studies with Michele Busuttil and Giorgio Pullicin In 1819 he was sent to Rome on a government scholarship together with Giuseppe Hyzler he became a pupil and a close friend of Tommaso Minardi Caruana was the first Maltese to have a lithograph machine Apart from being the first artist in Malta to print lithographs The nativity scene found in Senglea’s Porto Salvo church considered to be one of Caruana’s best paintings takes its inspiration from the accounts of the birth of Jesus in the gospels of St Matthew and St Luke At the centre of the painting is the infant Jesus Radiant light emanates from the newborn child illuminating everything around it – a symbol of the message he brought to the world every single figure in the painting is affected by the light from the newly-born Christ Perhaps the most eyecatching feature is the expression on Mary’s face: she and seems unaware of anything else. Joseph gazes at the new life The shepherds crowd around and angels hover overhead While one is holding a thurible with burning incense another holds a banner that proclaims Gloria in Excelsis Deo (Glory to God in the highest) It is worth noting that this altar was originally dedicated to St Leonard of Noblac patron saint of those shackled in the bonds of slavery which was indeed a common sight for all those who earned their living either through pirateering and similar exploits or as a result of their employment as sailors on the Order’s galleys the altar’s dedication portayed a social insight into the hardships of Senglea’s population The first altar on the left of the nave is dedicated to St John the Baptist It was built by Rocco Buhagiar (c.1725-1805) Together with Antoine de Favray and Giuseppe Grech Buhagiar is one of the best exponents of Baroque art in its final phase in Malta he settled in Valletta. Although his art lacked imagination he was more competent than his master and much more prolific This is evident in the numerous works found in Maltese churches Being considered the most popular painter after the death of Senglea-born Francesco Zahra Buhagiar spent his last days living with the monks of Santa Theresa in Cospicua. There he died and was buried in the crypt of the same monastery stands in the river Jordan while John the Baptist The scene illustrated by the painting includes the figure of God the Father with open arms and the dove of the Holy Spirit with its wings widely spread Two angels are holding Jesus’ clothes This depiction conforms to the biblical narrative of the baptism of Jesus found in the first three Gospels While Christ was being baptised by John the Baptist in the Jordan and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove with whom I am well pleased’” (Matthew 3: 16-17) The second altar on the left of the nave is dedicated to St Michael the archangel who acts as defender of the Church a copy of the original one paintied by Mattia Preti Some of the hidden histories of the Dominican order in Malta are set to see new light with the opening of a new Blackfriars Museum in Valletta Occupying parts of the Dominican Priory and the Church of Porto Salvo in Valletta run in collaboration with the friars by Hidden Valletta will exhibit new artefacts and stories from compelling figures throughout the order’s history in Malta The titular statue of St Dominic on display in its niche at the Church of Porto Salvo in Valletta Silver altar decorations that are only mounted during feast celebrations A brooch that is traditionally affixed to St Dominic’s head to represent the holy light of wisdom The first parish to be established in Valletta after its founding the priory has cultivated a rich history that is intertwined with that of the country One such story is that of an Ottoman prince who was captured by the knights as a boy and was given to Dominicans in Valletta who went on to raise him.  The prince converted to Catholicism and later became a gifted and scholarly friar himself But while the ties to his royal bloodline lay dormant and when the Catholic Church sought to increase its influence in the East he was called upon to play a role that could have seen him wield far greater influence on history His is one of the stories that can be uncovered through the museum’s exhibits The exhibition space will also delve into the histories and charitable acts of the Fraternities of the Rosary and the Blessed Sacrament both of whose chapels have been lovingly restored as part of the church’s long refurbishment project The Fraternity of the Rosary had a history of doing charitable work among the families of prisoners who were sentenced to capital punishment and were left destitute by the loss of their providers The interior of the newly restored Chapel of the Fraternity of the Rosary Items related to the charity work carried out by the Fraternity of the Rosary with prisoners sentenced to death the fraternity took to concealing their faces in hoods so that the public would not know who was behind the charitable acts their history indicates that there were even instances where the person who had handed down the death sentence had then gone on to provide aid to the family of the prisoner The museum also shares some of the compelling history of the Fraternity of the Blessed Sacrament particularly its commitment to delivering communion while the plague was devastating large swathes of Malta Hidden Valletta director Albert Dimech told Times of Malta that part of the museum’s goal is to preserve and share this knowledge that tends to slip from collective memory as time passes “Our connection to this knowledge as time passes is getting more tepid But once you start immersing yourself in the details and it exposes the gaps in your knowledge,” he said to that which is hidden and continue to create consciousness for the many different elements of what makes us Maltese.” While parts of this historic building have been commercialised the utmost respect and care has been taken to maintain its role as a place of worship- Hidden Valletta director Andre Imbroll Fellow director Andre Imbroll said that while parts of this historic building have been commercialised the utmost respect and care has been taken to maintain its role as a place of worship “The reality of today is that to make these properties sustainable there needs to be a certain amount of commerce to be able to be kept at this level,” he said and a lot of money was spent on an extraordinary restoration and obviously this needs to be maintained at a certain level.” for this to happen the place is being opened as a museum to the public with a huge respect towards the religious functions and its history its significance and the religion that made it what it is today and we remain focused on this kind of activity.” The Dominican Friars of Valletta have em-barked on a project to restore the interior and exterior of their parish church dedicated to Our Lady of Porto Salvo (Our Lady of Fair Havens) in Merchants Street Extensive work is being carried out on the exterior of the dome to stop rainwater seeping in The work is being done by the Government Restoration Directorate and with the help of Parliamentary Secretary José Herrera A study exercise is also under way to seek funds for the restoration of the church’s façade and belfries Preparations to start restoring the church’s paintings by Maltese artists Pietru Pawl Caruana and Gużeppi Calì and his son Ramiro are progressing Volunteers have been carrying out cleaning painting and restoration works on the side chapels as well as the doors of the church and the entry to the sacristy Funds are needed to restore the church façade A volunteer cleaning the church’s interior the friars intend to set up a museum near the sacristy where various artistic and priceless objects belonging to the church and the convent will be exhibited The first stone of St Dominic church was blessed on November 25 urge companies and entities who have Malta’s heritage at heart to come forward to offer their help in safeguarding this national monument While Valletta is commemorating the 450th anniversary since the city’s foundation stone was laid the Dominican friars of Valletta are celebrating the 200th anniversary since the church of Our Lady of Porto Salvo and St Dominic was honoured with the title of minor basilica The Dominican Order is also celebrating its 800th anniversary Dominican presence in Valletta dates back to 1566 when the Dominican friars of Vittoriosa used to cross the harbour to spiritually assist the numerous workers who were working around the clock to transform the Xiberras peninsula into a splendid and iconic city Grand Master Pietro del Monte granted a piece of land to the Dominican friars to build a chapel and a convent in Valletta The Dominican friars were the first religious order granted permission to build a church in Valletta where a small community of friars could live and offer their spiritual services to the first residents of the city the chapel became too small to cater for the increasing population of the city so the friars decided to build a bigger church Architect Gerolamo Cassar was commissioned to design the building and the first commemorative stone of the new church was laid on April 19 Pope Pius V granted the church under construction the title of principal parish church At that time it was unusual to grant parishes to religious orders so the move created a controversy among the local Church hierarchy The friars went to Rome to defend their parish while del Monte also gave his consent in the establishment of the first parish of Valletta dedicated to Our Lady of Porto Salvo The church took 40 years to be completed and after some time it developed structural defects after a series of earthquakes in 1693 part of the church had to be closed down due to damage caused by heavy rainfall and gale force winds Grand Master Manuel Pinto de Fonseca ordered the friars to close down the church as it was a danger to the faithful The friars sought a short-term solution and transformed the convent’s refectory into a chapel This provisional arrangement lasted 19 years during which the friars had to face political turmoil when the Knights of St John had to leave Malta due to the French occupation Archbishop Vincenzo Labini blessed the first commemorative stone on November 25 of the same year but in 1813 the bubonic plague reached Malta and work on the church had to stop abruptly and his community had to move to the Jesuits church in Merchants Street to continue with their work until the new church was completed The friars made every effort to assist those who fell victim of the plague When the new church was inaugurated on March 25 Pope Pius Vll honoured the church of Our Lady of Porto Salvo with the title of minor basilica in recognition for the friars’ hard work during the plague the same Pope honoured the Dominicans of Valletta by giving them the unique privilege of wearing a black muzzetta (small cape) with white piping The new church was solemmly blessed by Bishop Ferdinando Mattei on May 15 To mark these anniversaries the Valletta council and the Dominican community is organising a concert at St Dominic parish church in Valletta on Saturday at 7.30pm will be held at St Dominic parish church on May 31 at 6.15pm Mgr Scicluna will bless a new basilican umbrella The design is by Silvio Pace and the work was carried out by Gamma di Felisi firm of Lucca The umbrella to replace the existing one will be carried processionally during the feast of St Dominic and other special occasions in Valletta It features the emblems of the Dominican Order Bishop Ferdinandu Mattei and parish priest Vincenz Portelli This year’s Malta International Organ Festival has delighted audiences from Malta and beyond offering a vibrant showcase of world-class music in some of the most beautiful and historic settings Three remarkable concerts remain as the festival draws to a close the new organ at the basilica of St Dominic and Our Lady of Porto Salvo in Valletta will take centre stage for an evening of great music Acclaimed Italian organist Marco D’Avola will perform alongside the young trumpet sensation Filippo Lombardi whose talent has already earned him collaborations with some of Europe’s most prestigious orchestras the focus shifts to emerging talent at the Mosta basilica This special concert will spotlight the next generation of musicians providing them with a platform to share their artistry Internationally renowned organist Johannes Skudlik Audiences can expect a fresh and inspiring event celebrating the potential and passion of young performers December 7 with a grand finale at Christ the King basilica in Paola Internationally renowned organist Johannes Skudlik will perform on the basilica’s new including Bach’s iconic Toccata and Fugue in D minor Widor’s celebrated Toccata from Symphony No 5 and the powerful Concerto Opus 100 for Organ and Orchestra by Marco Enrico Bossi For more information about the remaining concerts, visit www.maltainternationalorganfestival.com Peter Farrugia reviews Eucharistic Treasures of Malta commemorating the centenary of the International Eucharistic Congress in Malta courtesy of the Archconfraternity of the Blessed Sacrament – Porto Salvo Palazzo de Piro in Mdina is currently hosting Eucharistic Treasures of Malta a celebration of the 100th anniversary of the 24th International Eucharistic Congress in Malta in collaboration with the Cathedral Museum and the Metropolitan Cathedral the exhibition features a unique selection of artefacts images and audio-visual material associated with the administration and veneration of the Eucharist in Malta Among the first in a planned series of temporary exhibits the central theme commemorates the Eucharistic Congress between 1913-2013 with a curious array of Catholic paraphernalia Palazzo de Piro is still finding its feet when it comes to putting on an exhibition and this selection (while charming) could have used more explanatory material alongside the objects themselves The space is intimate and the items are arranged with an eye for aesthetic choices but sometimes with little to directly relate to them – making the need for curatorial action all the more important Visitors with an interest in Maltese heritage and ecclesiastical history will certainly enjoy themselves exploring items handpicked from parishes across Malta with emphasis on Mdina Revolving exposition throne with silver motifs applied on velvet Although activities were held all over Malta in 1913 Mosta found itself at the heart of the Eucharistic Congress Processions wound down Via Congresso Eucaristico more than 50 archbishops and over 2,000 guests The General Assemblies of the Congress were held at the Mosta Rotunda was greeted with cheers by an enthusiastic crowd of locals It’s interesting to consider just how different we have become as a nation in terms of devotion and cultural Catholicism Especially eye-catching objects in the exhibition include a crystal monstrance from central Europe etched in delicate patterns and overlaid in precious stones and metals playing a five-minute collection of photos from the congress provides a rare look at Malta in full swing before the catastrophic effects of war A sedan chair used by clerics sits at the centre of the room beside a case with a fascinating object used to deliver the Eucharist to people with the plague the exhibition features original drawings for the construction of the Eucharistic Congress street decorations and podium along with photographs as well as a maquette of the Christ the King monument in Floriana created by sculptor Antonio Sciortino following the Congress The exhibition gives visitors an opportunity to reflect on just how integral the changes to Maltese culture have been since the 1900s A music concert on the Floriana granaries attracts many thousands of people but would a religious celebration generate a fraction of that number Especially one that is quite literally a sober affair boasting none of the drunken revelry associated with local festi The Eucharist Congress persists in other countries (it was held in Dublin last year and is planned to take place in the Philippines in 2016) bringing together people from all backgrounds and encouraging reverence and devotion to the most vital Catholic mysteries Its impact on Malta seems to be mitigated by a culture that no longer clearly allies itself with the Church Whether that has more to do with the local hierarchy or the faith in general is difficult to say the exhibition at Palazzo de Piro offers glimpses of Malta as it once was a heartfelt closeness between the Church and the people and the expression of that sympathy in some very beautiful works of great art I focused on the demographic characteristics of the parish of Porto Salvo in Valletta between 1870 and 1875 Due to the voluminous data found in the church archives it gives us a taste of the capital city’s human aspects: births Births under review (1870-1874) at Porto Salvo (St Dominic) parish church show that the year with the largest number of births was 1872.. Around 2,432 births occurred in the parish of Porto Salvo between January 1870 and December 1874 When one looks at the number of births that took place every year one sees that in the first three years the number was practically the same with the number of births going down from 519 to 458 in 1873 and increasing to 468 the following year The year with the largest number of births – 519 in total – was in 1872 In February of that year there were 53 births – 50 in May and 55 in November the largest number was registered in February 1870 with 57 births whereas the lowest number of births was registered in June 1873 Birth numbers in these two months vary between 23 to 38 From this data one concludes that Valletta residents were more sexually active in the summertime than in winter the highest numbers of births was recorded in winter Though the number dwindled in the last two years it was never below 30 and was still high when compared with the other months The baptismal font at the parish church of Porto Salvo When one looks at the number of births by gender while in the last year girls surpassed boys once again The least number of births by gender was eight boys in September 1873 The season registering the least number of births was summer of 1873 Examining the number of baptism certificates recorded day by day it becomes clear that the celebration of baptism at Porto Salvo church was held every day Baptisms were even celebrated on important feasts like Christmas or the feast of Our Lady of Victories The Dominican priests who carried baptismal duties at the time were parish priest J while from March 1872 these duties were carried out by parish priest T Younger families resided in Old Bakery and St Joseph streets (pictured) than in Kingsway Street due to the high number of births The study also shows that there were months like December of 1870 during which baptisms took place over 24 days There were times when even seven and eight newborns were baptised in one day This shows the high rate of fertility among the families of Port Salvo parish.  In many instances the same family had two or three babies during the five-year period as there were families who had three and even four in five years The godfathers were Joannes and Guillielmo Bonello while the godmothers were Virginia and Maria Anna Bonello The latter two appeared to be unmarried and sisters of the children’s father 1874 respectively – practically a newborn every year while the others were born at number 31 in Strada Forni This family appears to have been somewhat wealthy This can be seen from the title before the breadwinner’s name the family moved to a better abode in Strada Forni In another case Saverio Marchet and Carmela Schembri The first three were born at numbers 14 and 18 in Strada Genio Joanne Maria Attard and Salvatore and Carmelus Vassallo these were not related to Saverio Marchet’s family This shows that probably those who were less affluent seemed to seek a more stable godfather to safeguard their loved ones in case of an early death Another detail that stands out in this study of baptismal records is the geographical street distribution of families The bastions surrounding the city received official names before the streets were built The streets which extended from one bastion to another were named after those fortifications they leaned on Other streets in the city were given names recalling old memories of the Order of St John during the British period many of these names were changed Valletta residents were fond of designating most of the city quarters in their own way the part of Strada San Cristoforo lying between Strada Reale and Strada San Paolo was commonly called It-Triq tas-Siġġijiet (Chairs Street) owing to the number of chair factories that were found there Source: Battesimi di Porto Salvo 1870-1874 It becomes clear that the celebration of baptism at Porto Salvo church was held every day Strada San Giuseppe was known as the street of the French – It-Triq tal-Francizi The part of Strada San Nikola between Strada Reale and Strada San Paolo was known as Id-Due Balli (later corrupted in the Maltese version Diju Balli) after two large and ornate cannon balls found in the area The birth certificate registers are kept under lock and key at the convent of the Dominican Friars Access to them is only given with the permission of the parish priest or his assistant The eastern end of Strada Forni was known as Tal-Funtana after an old water fountain erected in the 16th century The upper part of Strada Zekka was known as Iz-Zenqa (The Lane) The eastern end of Strada Reale was known as Fuq l-Ixprun named after the spur or outwork (sperone in Italian) that crosses the St Elmo rampart The fact that the entrance of the Court of Justice (Castelania) was in the sloping side of Strada San Giovanni caused this part of the street to be called In-Nizla tal-Calzrati (The Prisoners’ Slope) and the northern end of Strada Santa Lucia most probably because of some ancient rock tomb found there when the first houses were built or the name may have referred to the top of the Manderaggio Some of these designated names given by the residents are still popular today The Porto Salvo parish had 50 streets under its jurisdiction One has to bear in mind that not all offspring were born in the streets belonging to the parish There were cases when babies born outside the boundaries of the parish were baptised at Porto Salvo church Sometimes this even happened with babies born outside Valletta two certificates reveal that the babies were born in the Government Palace Eighty-two children were born at Il-Kamerata in Merchants Street These belonged mostly to British and Irish families Il-Camerata was the Royal Navy barracks of the British garrison The highest number of births was registered in the Manderaggio – 291 Strada Reale with 176 and Strada San Giuseppe having 169 births According to the 1871 Census two of these areas In the Manderaggio there were 1,591 people in Strada Forni there were 779 inhabitants younger families resided in Strada Forni and Strada San Giuseppe than in Strada Reale due to the high number of births There were no births recorded in 1871 in Strada Vittoria and Strada Biaggio Only one family resided in Strada Vittoria and two in Strada Biaggio There were a few streets in which the number of births was also small due to their size and the small number of inhabitants These were Strada Cavaliere – two births; Strada Carri – three; Strada San Michele –four; and Strada Soccorso – two births There were children who were born outside Valletta but baptised at Porto Salvo parish two in St Julian’s and another two in Kalkara born on the Kalkara shoreline on November 10 Six babies were born in forts – four at Fort St Elmo one at Fort San Andrea and another at Fort Manoel Eighty-two children were born at Il-Kamerata in Strada Mercanti These belonged mostly to British and Irish families who formed part of the British garrison 1857 in England – was baptised at Porto Salvo church on April 24 There was another case of a child born in Apulia He was the son of Federico Brant from Switzerland and Clementia Fragetti from Apulia The child was also baptised at the parish church of Porto Salvo              YouTube streamer Darren "IShowSpeed" was taken aback when he received a prompt response from Portuguese football club Leões de Porto Salvo after he expressed his concerns on Instagram about one of their players later revealed to be a former member of the under-15 team had sent offensive and racist remarks to the YouTuber just a day before The chat log was streamed live on September 20 after which Darren checked out the boy's profile which linked to the football club sharing evidence of the racist messages the individual had sent: the streamer received an unexpected response from the official Instagram account of the club They issued an apology on behalf of the boy and informed the streamer that they had contacted the boy's parents The Portuguese sports club Leões de Porto Salvo swiftly acknowledged IShowSpeed's complaints made a day earlier about one of their team members it was later revealed that the individual had not been part of the club for a year Despite receiving racist and problematic remarks IShowSpeed felt a sense of guilt and concern for getting the boy in trouble inquiring if he could contact the boy's parents to help resolve the situation: Are you stuck on today's Wordle? 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