The Catenian AssociationAnnual ConferenceFriday 13th to Sunday 15th May 2016

The Catenian Association is grateful to the Malta TourismAuthority for sponsoring the printing of this brochure.

2 THE CATEnIAn ASSoCIATIon AnnuAL ConFEREnCE 2016

PRoGRAMME

Friday 13th May, 2016

WelcoMe eventradisson Blu hotel, St Julian’sdreSS: Lounge suit

20.00hrs Welcome to first time attendees and their wives20.30hrs Informal gathering for all20.30hrs Welcome and entertainment21.00hrs Informal social gathering22.30hrs Return transport to hotels

Please note that food will not be provided at this event.

Saturday 14th May, 2016

9.30hrs-12.30hrs annual conFerenceradisson Blu hotel, St Julian’sdreSS: Jacket and tieTea and coffee will be served during the interval

ladieS’ tourS (Please see details elsewhere in this brochure)

18.30hrs-19.30hrs Grand Banquetradisson Blu hotel, St Julian'sHosted by Grand President David and Eileen Rowley in the presence of HerExcellency the President of Malta.dreSS: FormalCost £36/€50, to include drink on arrival, 1/2 bottle of wine p.p., glass of port,soft drink.

18.30hrs-19.30hrs carnival Ballcorinthia Palace hotel, San antonHosted by Grand-Vice PresidentdreSS: FormalCost £36/€50, to include drink on arrival, 1/2 bottle of wine p.p., glass of port,soft drink.

Sunday 15th May, 2016

12.00hrs-12.30hrs SoleMn hiGh MaSSMdina cathedralPrincipal celebrant: Archbishop Charles J. SciclunadreSS: Jacket and tie

14.30hrs (approx) FareWell lunchMediterranean conference centre, valletta

Tony Goddenchair, maltaconference planningcommitteeand past grandpresident

It has been my privilege towork with the Maltese Cateni-ans for the past 10 years andKelly and I cordially invite youto attend the Annual Confer-ence in Malta in May 2016.

Malta in May is a good time to visit the Maltese Islands and the ConferencePlanning Team, consisting of able and enthusiastic Brothers from all fiveMaltese Circles, is working hard to ensure the success of the Conferenceand to make sure you have a wonderful visit.

Put “Malta in May” in your diaries now and remember to book yourflights early. You will receive a great Maltese welcome and a Conference toremember.

H.G. Mgr Charles J. Sciclunaarchbishop of malta

May I extend a warm welcome to the island of St Paulto all Brothers of the Catenian Association and theirspouses who will be attending the 2016 annualconference. As a Catholic men’s organisation you willcertainly find yourselves in congenial surroundingshere: Malta and Gozo have a long Catholic tradition,evidenced by the large number of churches and theimportant role which the faith has played, and to acertain extent still does, in the history and life of thepeople of these islands.

In this age of secularism and materialism, though,the Church needs tobe fuelled withChristian witness ofthe kind which the Catenian Asso -ciation has alwaysfostered by pro -moting the spirit ofbrotherhood andupholding familyvalues. May yourannual conferencehere succeed inachieving its aimsand may your stayamong us be apleasant andfruitful one.

David Rowleygrand vice-president

I would like to extend a warm invitation to the Malta An-nual Conference in 2016.

In many ways this is “more than a confer-ence”. There is a great opportunity to takethat May holiday in Malta and, at the sametime, attend the Annual Conference andsocial events. I am also very keen toencourage younger members of theAssociation who are working tocome for a long weekend.

I am very grateful to the Brothersof the Malta Circles who are workingextremely hard with the MaltaTourism Authority to make the wholeexperience a truly memorable one.

Please join Eileen and me – hope-fully in the sun!

THE CATEnIAn ASSoCIATIon AnnuAL ConFEREnCE 2016 3

MESSAGES

H.E. Marie-Louise Coleiro Precapresident of malta

I extend my heartfelt greetings to all members of theCatenian Association, here in Malta and throughoutthe world. In a world full of wars and persecution,injustice and intolerance, that bring so much suffering,it is indeed a blessing to know that there are men andwomen who uphold values, social justice and respectfor human dignity.

I particularly extend a warm welcome to allCatenians and their families on the occasion of theAnnual International Conference being held here inMalta. To all of you attending the conference, I wishyou a most pleasant stay in our beautiful country, anda most successful and fruitful conference. I hope thatyour visit here will inspire you further to continue tomake your voice heard in favour of peace, to spreadlove instead of hatred and to bring unity among allpeople.

Joe Caruanamalta and gozo areavice-president

on behalf of all the Brothersof the Malta and Gozo Area,my wife Avril and I are verypleased, indeed privileged, toextend a truly warm Maltesewelcome to all our CatenianBrothers, wives, widows andfriends, visiting our tiny islands for this historic Conference being held forthe first time ever outside the uK and Ireland.

Most of you will be spending ‘more than the Conference’ in our midst,having arrived a few days before and leaving a few days after the end ofthe Conference itself. The Maltese archipelago has a lot to offer, from vari-ous neolithic temples scattered around the two main islands, all predatingStonehenge by a thousand years, to an extravaganza of 365 beautifulbaroque churches.

Do enjoy your time here with us, and as you cannot possibly see andexperience all that our islands have to offer this time round, do come backanother year to see more.

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ACCoMMoDATIon

radisson Blu hotel St Julian’s-St George’s BayW. www.radissonblu.com/stjuliansresort-maltat. (00) 356 2137 4894e. info@stjulians@radissonblu.comThe nominated Conference Hotel. overlooking thesparkling Mediterranean Sea, this five-star hotel has 252stylish rooms and suites with relaxing terraces andbalconies that provide unforgettable sea views.Additional services include an upscale spa, outdoorpool, indoor heated pool, two tennis courts and a fitnesscentre. During the Conference, the hotel will host theWelcome Reception, Conference and Banquet.

le Meridien St Julian’s hotel,Balluta BayW. www.Iemeridienmalta.comt. (00) 356 2311 0000e. infolmsj@lemeridien.comThe five-star Le Meridien St Julian’s Hotel & Spacombines the charm of a boutique hotel and the relaxingfeel of a spa resort. The hotel has 276 bedrooms andsuites and is of contemporary design, integrated in thestunning architecture of Balluta Bay. The hotel has a spaand tropical indoor pool.

cavalieri art hotel, St Julian’s BayW. www.cavalierihotelmaltat. (00) 356 2318 0000e. info@cavalierihotel.comA four-star hotel set in a quiet and unique locationdirectly overlooking the popular and picturesque StJulian’s Bay. The property is also located on thedoorstep of the Portomaso Yacht Marina within easywalking distance to the most important points ofinterest. The Cavalieri Art Hotel faces south and is located on the water's edge. The style iscontemporary, with comfortable furnishings andattractive decor and consists of well-appointed hotelrooms with full sea views of St Julian’s Bay or thePortomaso yacht marina.

corinthia Palace hotel & Spa, San antonW. www.corinthia.com/Palace-Hotel-Spat. (00) 356 2144 0301e. sananton.palace@corinthia.comA five-star hotel which is the venue for the CarnivalDinner Dance. Surrounded by the Three Villages ofAttard, Balzan and Lija and situated opposite thePresident's Palace and adjacent San Anton Gardens.Located just minutes from the medieval ‘Silent City’ ofMdina and the cultural ambience of Valletta, theCorinthia Palace Hotel & Spa is the gateway to the heartof historic Malta. An ideal location if you choose to hire acar to explore the island with ample free parkingavailable.

My hotelS MaltaW. www.myhotelsmalta.comThe following three-star smaller, comfortable hotels areowned by the family of a local Brother and offer budgetaccommodation. All hotels are located in the StJulian’s/Balluta Bay area on the sea front.

1. Marina hotel2. carlton hotel3. St Julian’s Bay hotelPlease consult the Hotel Booking Form for room rates, bookingprocedures and terms and conditions.

radisson Blu hotel

le Meridien

cavalieri art hotel

corinthia Palace hotel & Spa

THE CATEnIAn ASSoCIATIon AnnuAL ConFEREnCE 2016 5

FLIGHT InFoRMATIon

U.K.Limited block bookings have been negotiated on scheduled Air Malta flights from the followinguK airports: London Heathrow and Gatwick, Manchester, Glasgow, newcastle, Birmingham,norwich, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter, securing the following group fares:

London Heathrow (Daily) £160 plus £65 taxes ppLondon Gatwick (Daily) £140 plus £49 taxes ppManchester (Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays) £140 plus £51 taxes ppGlasgow, newcastle and Birmingham (Tuesdays only) £160 plus £49 taxes ppnorwich, Bristol, Cardiff and Exeter (Tuesdays only) £160 plus £57 taxes pp

other airlines that operate at the time of the Conference are Easyjet and Ryanair from regionalairports and British Airways from Gatwick. Please visit their website for availability and fares.

Similar arrangements have been negotiated with Emirates for flights from Australia, Indiaand Africa. Indicative prices quoted to us for return flights are as follows:

AustraliaSydney, Melbourne and Perth to Malta return from Malta or any airport in Europe €1,250 inclusive of taxes (approx. Au$1,826)Conditions:1. Minimum 10 persons per airport from Australia. This condition does not apply on the return

flights to Australia2. Flights to Malta are via Dubai.

IndiaMumbai to Malta return from Malta or any airport in Europe€940 inclusive of taxes (approx. InR 72,300)Conditions:1. Minimum 10 persons per airport from India. This condition does not apply on the return

flights to India.2. Flights to Malta are via Dubai.

Africa1. harare to Malta return from Malta or any airport in Europe

€1,250 inclusive of taxes (approx. uS$ 1,550)2. Johannesburg to Malta return from Malta or any airport in Europe

€770 inclusive of taxes (approx. uS$ 955)3. Flights to Malta are via Dubai.

Flights and Airport Transfers

taxes quoted are attoday’s rates and canchange at any time.However, once a ticket isissued following fullsettlement, no increasecan be effected; the priceand seat thus beingguaranteed and secured.

airport transfers to andfrom the officialConference Hotels forthose Brothers using theabove flights are £8 perperson return.

important: For furtherinformation please contact Bro. Gordon Ransley onwarl@fastnet.net.mt

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TOUR 2

San antonGardensThis garden has beenopen to the publicsince 1882 and it wasbuilt by Grand MasterAntoine de Paule tocomplement hissummer residence,San Anton Palace,which today is theresidence of thePresident of Malta.Several walkways takeyou through thegardens where you will discover ponds, fountains, monuments, as well as trees fromall over the world, some of them over three centuries old.

Garden of reposeThis early burial ground, used from1806 to 1857, and well developedgarden contains important neo-classical monuments that are rareexamples of British funerary artseldom found in theMediterranean. It is located in theheart of the 17th centuryfortifications between Valletta andFloriana which were built by theKnights of St John as outerdefences of Valletta.

6 THE CATEnIAn ASSoCIATIon AnnuAL ConFEREnCE 2016

LADIES’ TouRS

TOUR 1

Palazzo ParisioThis stately home is a place of wonder. It showcases theintricate nuances of Malta’s historic nobility and theirenchanting way of life from the Grand Ballroom, the detailedFamily Chapel and the fabulous Gardens and orangery.

Ladies’ SaturdayMorning Tours

GettinG aroundthe public bus service on Malta and Gozo is a good way to get around as buses serve the major tourist areas, go practicallyeverywhere and are inexpensive and efficient.

renting a car is a good option if you want to get to the farther reaches of the island. All the road signs are in English and drivingis on the left. Major international brands and local car hiring firms are located on Malta and Gozo with daily rates of €16-€28.International and national driving licences are accepted. A number of internationally based car hiring firms as well as localgarages also offer the services of chauffeur-driven cars.

the white taxi service can pick up passengers from anywhere, except bus stops. Taxi services from Malta International Airportand the seaport terminal to all localities in Malta are based on a fixed tariff.

TOUR 3

Palazzo FalsonThe former home of Capt olof FrederickGollcher, oBE (1889-1962), the son of aprosperous shipping merchant ofSwedish descent.  Gollcher was an artist,scholar and philanthropist, but also adiscerning collector of objets d’art andhistorical objects.  Palazzo Falson inMdina was not only his home, but also asetting for his works of art and antiques.Here he spent many happy yearsconstantly adding to it and rearranging it.

THE CATEnIAn ASSoCIATIon AnnuAL ConFEREnCE 2016 7

FuLL-DAY TouRS

Tours during non-Conference daysFuLL-DAY TouRS (EIGHT HouRS)

TOUR 1

Gozo: the sister island of Malta, also known as the Island of theThree Hills. Gozo is the legendary abode of Calypso, daughter ofAtlas. After the ferry crossing to Gozo we will visit the Ġgantijatemples, the Citadel, Ta’ Pinu Basilica and Dwejra. Included in the tour: ferry tickets, Ġgantija entrance fees andlunch.

TOUR 2

three citieS 1. The tour will drive through Cospicua, a doubly-fortified

harbour and the largest of the Three Cities in Grand Harbour,facing Valletta.

2. We will then visit Vittoriosa, also known as Birgu, for a walkingtour through the narrow streets and will also visit theInquisitor’s Palace, a museum situated in the heart ofVittoriosa. The palace was erected as the civil law courts of theorder of St John between the 1530s and 1571 then becamethe Inquisitor’s residence from 1574 until 1798.

3. Senglea, known as L-Isla in Maltese, is a fortified city which,like Vittoriosa, bore the brunt of the Turkish attacks during theGreat Siege of 1565 and heavy aerial bombing in World War II.

MarSaxloKK MarKetThe idyllic fishing village with its colourful luzzi (large fishing boats)has a unique character. The market is interesting and attractive as

many different items aresold such as honey,jams, local sweets,handicrafts, embroideryand souvenirs.The tour includesentrance tickets to theInquisitor’s Palace andlunch.

TOUR 3

MoSta, Mdina, dinGli cliFFS1. The Mosta Church of the Assumption of our Lady, commonly

known as the Rotunda, has the fourth largest unsupporteddome in the world and the third largest in Europe. Itmiraculously survived a direct hit during the war: a replica ofthe 400-lb bomb which pierced the dome but failed to explodecan be seen in the sacristy.

2. Mdina, Città Vecchia, or Città notabile, is a fortified city in thenorthern Region of Malta. It served as the island’s capital fromantiquity until 1530, when the capital was moved to Birgu, andlater to the new city of Valletta. It houses fine palaces belongingto the nobility and a magnificent cathedral rebuilt after a 1693earthquake in nearby Sicily destroyed a good part of the city.

3. Dingli Cliffs offer a majestic sight, particularly if viewed from aboat while cruising, but also from the top – the views arebreathtaking, overlooking the small terraced fields below, theopen sea, and Filfla, a small uninhabited island. The cliffs canbe seen as natural forts, since no attacker can approach theisland from the west, given their impressive height.

The tourincludesentrancetickets to theMdinaCathedral andlunch.

TOUR 4

ĦaĠar qiMThe 5,000-year-old ĦaġarQim temple is the best-preserved of several ancienttemples in Malta. Ħaġar Qimis located about 2 km fromthe village of Qrendi insouthern Malta and just ashort walk from the Mnajdratemples.

MarSaxloKK MarKetThe idyllic fishing village withits colourful luzzi (fishing boats) has a unique character. Themarket is interesting and attractive as many different items aresold such as honey, fruit jams, embroidery and souvenirs.

verdala PalaceVerdala Palace is the official summer residence of the Presidentof Malta. It was built by Grand Master de Verdalle in 1586 on a sitesurrounding the woodland of Buskett, which was used by theKnights for game hunting. Verdala Palace is surrounded by astone ditch, and was embellished by several Grand Masters overthe years. The building is spread over two floors and at eachcorner there are towers five storeys high.The tour includes entrance to Ħaġar Qim and lunch.

HaLF-day touRS

SPonSoRS

TOUR 1

the UPPERBARRAKKAGARDENS are apublic garden inValletta, full of monuments to variouspersonalities, including WinstonChurchill. It is twinned with the LowerBarrakka Gardens, next to which is theSiege Bell Memorial. Both offerpanoramic views of the Grand Harbour.

the magnificentST JOHN’S CO-CATHEDRAL,located in theheart of Valletta,was built by theKnights of Malta between 1573 and 1578,as the order’s conventual church. Itsbarrel vault is decorated with paintingsby Mattia Preti. Caravaggio’s masterpiece,The Beheading of St John the Baptist,hangs in the oratory while his St Jeromecan be seen in the Chapel of Italy.the tour includes entrance fees.

TOUR 2

the GRANDMASTER’S PALACEhas been theadministrativecentre of Malta foralmost three and ahalf centuries. theoriginal palace,built in 1571, later, during the Britishcolonial period, served as the Governor’spalace. today it is the office of thePresident of Malta. the palace houses thearmoury of the Knights.

the NATIONALMUSEUM OFARCHAEOLOGYin RepublicStreet, Valletta,houses uniqueprehistoric artefacts and temporaryexhibitions.the tour includes entrance fees.

TOUR 3

the smallmuseum of theDOMUSROMANA justoutside the walls of Mdina, is built aroundthe remains of an aristocratic family’sRoman townhouse which wasaccidentally discovered in 1881. althoughvery little remains of the house itself, theintricate mosaics which have survived aswell as the artefacts found within theremains are testimony enough of thebuilding’s original richness.

ST PAUL’SCATACOMBS area typicalcomplex ofinterconnected,undergroundRoman cemeteries that were in use up tothe fourth century ad. they are locatedon the outskirts of the old Roman capitalMelite (today’s Mdina), since Roman lawprohibited burials within the city. StPaul’s Catacombs represent the earliestand largest archaeological evidence ofChristianity in Malta. the tour includes entrance tickets.

TOUR 4

CASA ROCCAPICCOLA inValletta is aninterestingattraction, often described as a ‘livingmuseum’. this beautiful palace is ownedby the Marquis de Piro, and is the onlyprivate palazzo open to the public inValletta. on your visit you will be able towalk through twelve palatial roomsincluding the two dining rooms, a fourposter bedroom and a private familychapel.

the NATIONALMUSEUM OFFINE ARTS inValletta houses acollection ofworks by Maltese

and foreign artists mainly representing themajor European artistic styles. the tour includes entrance fees.

TOUR 5

Valletta’s MANOELTHEATRE, built in1732, is one ofEurope’s oldesttheatres andhouses performances of opera, concerts,recitals, plays and ballet. It is named afterthe Portuguese Grand Master antonioManoel de Vilhena, who commissioned it.

THE MALTAEXPERIENCE is anaudio-visual showthat tells thedramatic story ofthe islands’ 7,000-year history. Educational, informative andentertaining, the show runs through theturbulent history of a small island nationthat has overcome almost unimaginableodds to survive and prosper.the tour includes entrance fees and showtickets.

TOUR 6

the tour includes a‘CAPTAINMORGAN’ GrandHarbour cruisewith majestic seaviews of thefortifications ofValletta and the three Cities.tour includes cruise tickets.

Tours during non-Conference daysHaLF-day touRS (FouR HouRS)

ST JULIAN’S CIRCLE100TH MEETINGSt Julian’s Circle 346 is holding its100th meeting celebration onWednesday, 11th May, at 19.30hrs atthe Radisson Blu Hotel St Julian’s.DRESS: Lounge suit