SAINT GEORGE PRECA and the SOCIETY of CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE

Saint George Preca, the Founder of the Society of Christian Doctrine, entrusted to the laity, through prayer and formation, the divine command to teach the Gospel to all nations. He left a legacy in the Society of Christian Doctrine, founded in 1907, an Apostolic Society of Men and Women, who are dedicated to catechesis.

Saint George Preca, had been concerned with the fragile basis of religious teaching of the poorer Maltese. He was also aware that the Catholic faith in Malta needed to re-equip itself for the 20th century. Malta was then a British colony, and it was experiencing the pain of rising nationalism.

As a deacon, George used to visit the Grand Harbour area and talk to the crew of different nationalities from the visiting ships and lead them into religious dialogue. He was also in contact with a group of young people whom he met in the open fields around St Cajetan church, Hamrun.

The first group of young people, whom he met at Hamrun, were formed through constant pastoral care and personal initiative. That was his mark from the very beginning. He joined them as they returned from work, and in their spare time befriended them developing fruitful and providential relationships. As a newly-ordained priest at twenty-six years of age, this contact with the young people from Hamrun, presented to him a wonderful opportunity to crystalise a deeply held concern for the formation of the laity.

From the group, he eventually chose Eugenio Borg (1886-1967), who was to benefit mostly from Fr Preca"s guidance. Fr Preca used to spend hours with Eugene reflecting on God's Word from the Bible, especially St John"s gospel.

Fr Preca soon realised the need for some intensive reflection and those near to him noticed that after his daily morning Mass, he would retire for long periods in the upper part of his home. He had also been very ill with a respiratory complaint which nearly prevented him from being ordained.

Reflecting on this later on in life, he said that he would go up to the house loft and stay there recuperating which enabled him to meditate and reflect from the Bible, especially the Gospels. He remained devoted to this biblical reflection until his death and was able to disseminate biblical and spiritual tracts widely all through his life by means of the SDC.

George Preca was eager to teach and catechise. Throughout his life he would say that this was his particular mission: to instruct God"s people in the way of truth and justice. On 7 March 1907, after a long personal preparation, Fr Preca and his group of men began to meet regularly at a rented room in St Joseph High Road, Hamrun. He slowly nurtured them into informed Christians and awakened in their hearts a strong and daring love for Jesus Christ. After some time, he gathered the group and suggested that those present who were married should focus on that commitment and they would be provided for spiritually through a different path. All Members were to be celibate and have a greater availability for the work ahead. In 1910 Fr Preca started a section for women – which flourished under the leadership of Giannina Cutajar.

This in essence was the beginning of the Society of Christian Doctrine - M.U.S.E.U.M. He strongly resisted the idea that he was the "Founder", attributing this to St Paul. Fr Preca said that he was inspired by St Paul"s words to Timothy: "Everything you have heard me teach in public hand on to reliable people so that they in turn will be able to teach others." (2 Tim 2:2). The SDC enjoyed the physical and active presence of its Founder for fifty-five years - until his death in 1962. His was indeed a daring vision: entrusting a teaching ministry to the laity with a system of a regular association for all Members which provided the opportunity for proper formation. This life-style in the Church occurred at the beginning of the 20th century, and later ratified by Vatican II.

The first years of the SDC were difficult in many ways, but finally in April 1932, the Archbishop of Malta, Dom Maurus Caruana, granted diocesan approval to the Society of Christian Doctrine. By that year, the SDC had 24 Centres for men, each Centre averaging between 100 and 300 children. The same can be said about the 22 Centres for women. This represented most parishes in Malta.

For the first three decades of the last century, the SDC missioned among working class people in Malta. Fr Preca was deeply concerned about the religious education of the people and their children. Most of the first Members were dockyard or manual workers. This, of course, highlights even more his inspirational genius: he was able to translate theological language to ordinary people, and then train the dedicated among them to teach others. He translated parts of the New Testament into Maltese and then pass them on to the Members who hand-copied them and learnt their contents, and shared this knowledge with fellow workers.

Biblical and sound theology formed the backbone of all of Preca’s initiatives and devotions. He had a sincere devotion to Mary. The internal prayer life of the SDC, which he drew from many catholic traditions, was without popular sentimentality. The people responded marvellously to Fr Preca"s appeal. His sermons, or open-air religious talks, still known as Sajdiet in Maltese (from the Gospel image of the fishing-net), drew hundreds of people from all walks of life. He was at the service of the people, hearing confessions, giving conferences, providing spiritual direction and comforting people. His guidance was sought from people of all levels of society.

He devoted long hours to writing mainly in order to provide the Members with pedagogical material and texts for teaching the young. He also produced many spiritual manuals, as well as documents as a means to impart his spirit to his followers. He wrote without the modern comforts of electricity or word processing! His books, all written in Maltese, except two in Latin, are solidly biblical and orthodox. He meditated upon the Bible thoroughly, which resulted in 600 meditative and practical Bible studies for group use. Some of the writings of Fr Preca, from around 150 works, are today available in English.

Untiringly, Fr Preca continued his apostolic mission until the age of eighty-two years. He was confined to his bed during the last six months and died on 26 July 1962. He never claimed any special favours and his humility and holiness were never in doubt. The Cause for Canonisation, officially began in 1975. Pope John Paul II presided over his beatification ceremony in Malta on 9 May 2001.

The catechetical work in the parishes is still the main direction of the SDC through its Centres around Malta and Gozo. The SDC has also other works in Malta and elsewhere, which are very relevant to its charism: secondary colleges, a trade school, bookshops, theological library and a printing press which specialises in and helps promote religious publications.

Outside of Malta, the first successful overseas Centres of the Society of Christian Doctrine were those of Australia which started in the 1950s when Fr Preca asked for volunteer Members to go to this continent which was receiving thousands of Maltese immigrants at that time. Then in 1983, a surge of missionary activity was actively promoted by the central administration of the SDC, resulting today in centres in Albania, Cuba, Kenya, Peru, Poland and the United Kingdom.

This ideal of Fr Preca urges the dedicated lay men and women of the SDC to gradually put on Christ Jesus instead of the old self. Thus they will have the spiritual stamina to oppose the world"s vanity by their presence there without being of the world. With that Gospel motivation clear in their hearts, they strive to share Christ"s love and incarnate message in the world, according to the M.U.S.E.U.M. mission statement: Magister Utinam Sequatur Evangelium Universus Mundus - Divine Teacher, may the whole world follow the Gospel.

The canonisation of George Preca on 3 June 2007 is indeed a wonderful testament to his vision and commitment. And now he is not only “Malta’s saint”, but a saint for the whole world.

Further Information:

Society of Christian Doctrine
Australian Regional Centre
Preca Centre
82 Westmoreland Road, North Sunshine Victoria 3020
Phone and Fax: (03) 9360 0199
Email: sdcpreca@optusnet.com.au
www.sdcprecaoz.org