The Archpriest still loved by the people of Vittoriosa
When I was young I used to visit my maternal grandmother Rożina, who lived in Vittoriosa. I used to love looking at the wedding photos on display in her showcase, of all our relatives’ weddings celebrated by the archpriest Rev Paul Galea.
Fr Paul Galea was born in Vittoriosa on 17th December 1906. He first underwent an apprenticeship course at the school of The Admiralty School, Malta, then he entered the Seminary in Gozo, to study to become a priest. In 1927 he sat for his matriculation exams and entered the University of Malta where he obtained his Bachelor degree in literature and philosophy. He later obtained a doctorate in theology.
In 1934 he was ordained a priest and soon after celebrating his first solemn Mass in the church of St Lawrence in Vittoriosa, he became Canon of this same Collegiate, on 6th December 1934. He was one of the first who made use of the benefice founded by the Deacon Mons. Joseph Cassar. In addition to the duties he performed, Fr Paul used to hear many confessions and celebrate daily mass in the church of St Lawrence.
When war reached the Maltese shores, Fr Paul remained in Vittoriosa, and on the 4th of October 1940 he was appointed Vicar Curate of the parish by Archpriest Farrugia, who had been appointed Canon to the Cathedral of Mdina. Although these were very difficult times for Vittoriosa, since the city had been left devastated and many streets demolished by the bombs of the Luftwaffe, Fr Paul remained in the parish, performing his duties as archpriest for the few inhabitants who remained living in the shelters.
On the 16th of January 1941 an attack on the HMS Illustrious outside the harbour took place and Father Paul nearly lost his life when the sacristy roof of St Lawrence caved in and many people died. Father Paul escaped the ordeal as he was giving absolution to a crowd of people who had gathered elsewhere in the church.
On the 8th of November 1941, Archbishop Mons. Mauro Caruana OSB, held an exam for a new parish priest in Vittoriosa. Fr Paul Galea was chosen to become the new archpriest on the 2nd February 1942. Archbishop Caruana exempt Archpriest Galea from every ceremony that was customary when taking possession as an archpriest. Thus on 14th February 1942, Canon Paul Galea was invested as archpriest of the Collegiate of Vittoriosa through a private function at the hands of the Vicar General Mons. Paul Galea, in the Oratory of Stella Maris Parish Church in Sliema.
During the Feast of the Solemnity of Corpus Christi in 1944, the Church of St Lawrence in Vittoriosa was reopened for the public. On this day a solemn sung Mass was held, and once again the Blessed Sacrament was carried from the church in a procession that took place to bless the streets of Vittoriosa that were nearly demolished and required rebuilding.
It is interesting to note that on the 30th of July in 1944, Archpriest Galea, along with the Chapter, clergy and the parishioners, gathered in the Parish Church of Cospicua where a pilgrimage to St. Lawrence Church in Vittoriosa was held to mark the start of the festivities in honour of St. Lawrence, the protector of this city.
Although the war was over, there was still a lot of hard work to be done by Archpriest Galea. The church had suffered much damage and had lost several valuable items. Together with Canon Lawrence Micallef, they worked together to obtain, the finances needed to rebuild and furnish the church of St. Lawrence once again, through the War Damage Commission.
On 25th May 1950, Archpriest Galea was appointed Parish Priest of the Order of the Knights of Malta and on the 19th of April 1964 he took possession of the Cathedral of Mdina as Canon. Although he eventually became a Monsignor of the Cathedral, Archpriest Galea still held Vittoriosa close to his heart and everyday would celebrate the first Mass in the Collegiate Church of St. Lawrence where he had been parish priest for over twenty years. He continued his pastoral service in Vittoriosa and would give the Sacramental blessing everyday in the church of the Benedictine nuns, known as Santa Scholastica.
In his later years, he began to celebrate daily mass in St. John’s Co Cathedral in Valletta and after in the old church of St Mary in Birkirkara where he used to live. The final period of his life was spent in the house of the Clergy in Birkirkara where he passed to eternal life on the 29th of March 1995. He is buried in the cemetery of Santa Maria Addolorata in Paola.
Let us pray for him and thank him for all he did for the people of Vittoriosa, during hard times in their lives.