Society of Christian Doctrine

The Society of Christian Doctrine (Latin: Societas Doctrinæ Christianæ, Italian: Società della Dottrina Cristiana, Maltese: Soċjetà Duttrina Nisranija; abbreviated SDC),[3][4] better known as MUSEUM, is a society of Catholic lay volunteers, made of men and women, teaching catechism in the Christian faith formation of children and adults.[5] The society was established by George Preca in March 1907, in Malta.[6] It has eventually spread around the world, first among Maltese migrants in Australia, then in Albania, in North Sudan, and other countries.[7]

Society of Christian Doctrine (MUSEUM)
Tal-Mużew
AbbreviationMUSEUM
FormationMarch 1907
FounderGeorge Preca
Founded atĦamrun
TypeReligious
Legal statusActive
PurposeTeaching about the Roman Catholic religion
HeadquartersMother House, Societas Doctrinæ Christianæ, id-Dar Ġenerali
Location
  • Blata l-Bajda, 207, Saint George Preca Road, Marsa MRS 9010
ServicesDoctrine
FieldsTheology
Official language
Maltese, English, Italian, Latin, Spanish and Albanian
Director General
Roberto Zammit
AffiliationsRoman Catholic Church in Malta
Websitesdcmuseum.org (Malta)
precacommunity.org (Australia)
RemarksVerbum Dei Caro Factum Est (The Word of God Became Flesh)[1]
Formerly called
Societas Papidum et Papidissarum (Society of the Sons and Daughters of the Pope)[2]

Name

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MUSEUM is the abbreviation for "Magister Utinam Sequatur Evangelium Universus Mundus" as meaning "Master, may the whole world follow the Gospel."[4][7]

Centres

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In Malta, the society has forty-six catechism centres for males and forty-three for females.[8]

By 1961, the society spread in Gozo, and became successful after a visit for a fishing session. That same year catechism started for males, and in 1962 it was followed by the female branch.[9] There are now[when?] nine catechism centres for males and seven for females in Gozo.[8]

The objectives of the religious society is catechetical work in the parishes.[8] Members may participate in the activities in six days every week.[8] The society often organises recreational activities for minors and educational courses for adults.[8][10]

Members of the society are invited to participate for a meeting every Wednesday at the mother-house of the society, in Blata l-Bajda, Marsa.[8] The mother-house is the prominent Church of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.[6] The main scope for teaching catechism is to religiously prepare individuals, generally minors, to receive the sacraments according to the Roman Catholic tradition.[8]

Superiors General

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This is a list of former and present superiors general of the society:

  • Eugenio Borg (1911–1967);[11]
  • Francesco Saliba (1967–1983);[12]
  • Victor Delicata (1983–2009);[12]
  • Natalino Camilleri (2009–2021) and
  • Roberto Zammit (2021–present)[13]

Further reading

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History of the society:

  • Rudolf, Uwe Jens (2018). Historical Dictionary of Malta. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 245. ISBN 9781538119181.
  • Burns, Paul (2001). Butler's Saints of the Third Millennium: Butler's Lives of the Saints. A & C Black. pp. 188–190. ISBN 978-0860123828.
  • Anthony Micallef, ed. (June 2010). "Blessed George Preca" (PDF). The Maltese Wellingtonian. 11 (3). Wellington, New Zealand: 14–16. ISSN 1179-4828. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 March 2017. Information from "Blessed George Preca". vatican.va. Archived from the original on 3 June 2007.
  • Marcelino Micallef, ed. (3 June 2007). "Benedict XVI Canonised 4 Saints: Calls Them Trinity's "Masterpieces"" (PDF). L-Aħbar (125). OFM Malta: 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 March 2017.
  • Farrugia, Massimo (28 May 2007). "Tal-Muzew feared as some sort of sect". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015.
  • "Dun Gorg - San Gorg Preca". Museum San Giljan. 2006. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013.
  • Bonnici Calì, Rafel (August 1982). "Drawwiet li spiċċaw jew inbidlu" (PDF). L-Imnara (in Maltese). 1 (5): 130.

See also

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References

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  1. ^ John 1:14
  2. ^ Gale, Thomson (2003). New Catholic Encyclopedia: A-Azt. Vol. 1. Catholic University of America. p. 636. ISBN 9780787640057.
  3. ^ "Only registered NGOs to benefit from funding". Times of Malta. 3 October 2015. Archived from the original on 6 October 2015.
  4. ^ a b Rountree, Kathryn (2016). Crafting Contemporary Pagan Identities in a Catholic Society. Routledge. p. 22. ISBN 978-1317158684.
  5. ^ Andreassi, Diane Gale (2011). Maltese in Detroit. Arcadia Publishing. p. 57. ISBN 978-0738583372.
  6. ^ a b Santaro, Nicholas J. (2011). Mary In Our Life: Atlas of the Names and Titles of Mary, The Mother of Jesus, and Their Place in Marian Devotion. iUniverse. p. 104. ISBN 978-1462040223.
  7. ^ a b Lanfranco, Guido (2000). "It-Taghlim tad-Duttrina fil-Gzejjer Maltin; Ftit ta' l-Istorja" (PDF). L-Imnara (in Maltese). 6 (3). Rivista tal-Għaqda Maltija tal-Folklor: 107. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 April 2016. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |agency= ignored (help)
  8. ^ a b c d e f g "Malta and Gozo". Society of Christian Doctrine. 2010. Archived from the original on 13 March 2017.
  9. ^ "Socjeta tad-Duttrina Nisranija M.U.S.E.U.M. (L-Iben t'Alla Sar Bniedem)". Xaghra Parish. Archived from the original on 15 March 2017.
  10. ^ "Is-Soċju tal-Mużew jingħata l-liberta' proviżorja". Net News. 2 September 2014. Archived from the original on 5 April 2017.
  11. ^ Borg, Eugenio (1963). "Eugenio Borg 1886-1967". Preca Calling. Archived from the original on 27 November 2003.
  12. ^ a b "MUSEUM Superior General resigns". Times of Malta. 15 May 2009. Retrieved 10 May 2017.
  13. ^ Camenzuli, Mark (8 August 2021). "New Superior General for the MUSEUM Society". Newsbook.