IEOP Malta 2025

This year the Maltese Dominican Province hosted the Inter-European Meeting of the Order of Preachers (IEOP), which takes place every year in the week after Easter. The meeting this year fell between 22 and 26 April, with the meetings taking place at the Raġġ it-Tajjeb Centre within the Archbishop's Seminary, in Rabat.

This meeting brought together more than 20 provincials from a wide range of regions, including Scandinavia, the United Kingdom, Iberia, Central and Eastern Europe, and the Mediterranean. They were also attended by the two associates of the Master for Europe, Fr. Thomas Brogl OP and Fr. Pavel Syssoev OP, together with Fr. Juan Manuel Hernández OP, the associate of the Master for Fraternal Life and Formation.

The provincials discussed various themes that affect the mission, work and administration of the Order in Europe as well as the challenges they are facing on the continent. Among others, governance was discussed. For one of these sessions, the Rev. Profs. Paul Galea was invited. For another session, on governance, Archbishop David Macaire OP made an online intervention.

Other topics were discussed, such as collaboration in the apostolate, in which the Master's associate, Fr. Florentino Bolo OP, participated online.

Another important discussion was on formation and interprovincial collaboration in this regard. This session was particularly attended by some of those responsible for postulants and prenovices. Fr. Llewellyn Muscat OP, responsible for the Maltese Dominican Province, made an intervention and took part in the discussion.

As is done every year, the IEOP participants also had a half-day tour. The tour, on Thursday 24 April, took the contingent to Valletta where they visited the Co-Cathedral of St. John. Here two guides took the provincials around the Cathedral and listed the various precious works of baroque art that enrich this sanctuary. For this purpose, Mr. Anthony Casha, from the St. John's Co-Cathedral Foundation, gave a tour of part of the group, while the other group was given a tour of the Co-Cathedral by Ms. Wiebke Micallef Eynaud. It could not fail to note that this tour was crowned with a visit to the works of Caravaggio in the Oratory of the Co-Cathedral. The contingent also had the opportunity to visit the Caravaggio Experience, recently opened in the same Oratory.

After the Co-Cathedral, the group headed towards Merchant Street and continued down to the Church of Porto Salvu where they were welcomed by the Prior, Fr. Pawl Gatt OP, Fr. Joe Ellul OP and Fra Mark Sciberras OP. Fr. Joe Ellul then gave an artistic and theological explanation of the works of art that enrich the church of Porto Salvu. Afterwards, the group passed through the sacristy, where they were able to admire the silver works, and continued down to the Convent where, apart from continuing to admire the works exhibited in the Museum, they were also able to spend some time in fraternity. Here, the Master of the Order also congratulated Fr. Kostantin Mamo OP, who was celebrating the 60th anniversary of his Priestly Ordination.

After leaving the Convent, the contingent passed through Republic Street and continued on to the Barrakka, where they were able to admire the panorama of the Grand Harbour and, after descending to Lascaris Quay by the Barrakka lift, crossed by boat to the Three Cities. Needless to say, the spectacular scenes of Fort St. Angelo, the Victorious City and Senglea did not fail to leave a very good impression on all the participants.

After a lunch at a restaurant on the Birgu waterfront, the contingent walked up from Birgu Square and headed towards the Lunzjata hill, where they found the church open and members of the community ready to welcome them. There were the Pirjol, Fr. Aaron Zahra OP, Fr. Dennis Maquiraya OP, Fr. Jeremy Realubit OP and Fra Ryan Theuma.

Fr. Alan J. Adami OP gave them an explanation of the theology behind the titular image of the Annunciation, a work by Maltese artist Emvin Cremona.

On Friday 25 April, then, following the morning discussion sessions, some provincials, after dinner, visited St. Paul's Grotto in Rabat and the Wignacourt Museum where they were welcomed and given a detailed tour by Archpriest Dun Joe Mizzi. The provincials had the opportunity to pray in St. Paul's Grotto and sing the Pater Noster together.

In the evening, after the entire group had visited the Rabat convent museum, a mass was held for the entire Maltese Dominican Family at 6:30pm, in the Church of Our Lady of the Cave, Rabat. This mass was led by the Master General of the Order, Fr. Gerard Francisco Timoner III, and for it, together with the present associates and the European provincials, a good number of brothers concelebrated. The large congregation also had a good representation from all the Branches of the Dominican Family, with sisters, lay people, friends, relatives and benefactors. The singing, by the large choir of the St Paul Choral Society, further embellished this celebration with a beautiful selection of Easter hymns.

After the mass, a reception was held in the convent cloister where everyone continued to share in a moment of fraternity.

The organization of the IEOP was in the hands of a team, appointed by the Provincial Fr. Vince Micallef OP, which also included Fr. Alan J. Adami, Fr. Ivan Attard, Fr. Christopher Caruana and Fr. LLewellyn Muscat. In addition, all the students helped with the liturgical service, while Fra Antoine Gauci, together with Fra Matthias Buhagiar, assisted in the transport of the Provincial to and from the airport.

For this occasion, as a souvenir, a set of stoles bearing the Order's cross combined with the Maltese cross were made.

The meeting came to an end after lunch, on Saturday 26 April.