Fonds - 005: Pia Opera Della Grande Missione Del Prezioso Sangue Di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo (GM)


Variations: Grande Missione; Missione Grande; Pia Opera della Missione del Prezziosissimo Sangue, Il-Missjoni l-Kbira; Il-Missjoni tad-Demm Prezzjuż ta' Sidna Ġesù Kristu, The Great Mission

The Missione Grande knows its origins in 1645 when a priest from Qormi founded a Mission and endowed it with his personal property. However, by the passage of time, this Mission became defunct until it was revived in 1813 when Rev. Filippo Calleja from Ħaż-Żebbuġ, encouraged by his friends Rev. Bartolomeo Attard and Rev. Gian Nicola Camilleri endowed the Mission with his property so it could continue with its objective to work in villages and hamlets away from the cities by conducting preaching and the administration of confession.

Both Rev. Filippo Calleja at the age of 35 years and Rev. Bartolomeo Attard died during the Plague Epidemic of 1813. Rev. Gian Nicola Camilleri who survived took the oath as a fiduciary to erect and administer the Pia Opera Della Grande Missione Del Prezioso Sangue Di Nostro Signore Gesù Cristo on 15 July 1815. From 1815 until 1925, the Grande Missione was administered by nine fiduciaries. Each fiduciary continued to administer the Grande Missione until his death. Prior to his death, he would nominate a new fiduciary to take his place through a notarial act. After 1925 an election was held to elect the administrator of the Missione.

From 1820 onwards, a Superior was chosen to organise the logistics of each mission and to see for the needs of the priests taking part in the mission.

In the 19th century a similar mission was established in Italy by Saint Gaspare del Bufalo under the protection of the Precious Blood of Christ, which inspired the local Mission who also had contact with the mentioned saint.

The Grande Missione was canonically erected and had its statutes approved on 23 January 1925 by a decree issued by Bishop Mons. Mauro Caruana.

Reference for Rev Filippo Calleja: Balzan, Philip, Evelyn Pullicino, Joseph Ciantar, Għaqda Każin Banda San Filep, Għaqda Ħbieb Tal-Arkivji Nazzjonali, and Fondazzjoni Wirt Ħaż-Żebbuġ. Speciosa Citta' Rohan : Ħaż-Żebbuġ : Aktar Fuq ġrajjietu U Niesu. Żebbuġ: Għaqda Każin Banda San Filep, 2021. pp. 115-118, 123