Late this summer, the Grand Chapter in Malta of the Confraternity of the Knights of St Peter and St Paul celebrated the 25th anniversary of the chapter’s foundation on the islands. Among those present for the celebrations were the founder and Grand Master of the confraternity, Chev. Peter Paul Portelli, GC and his spouse, Dame Mary Portelli.
The confraternity is a registered (in Australia) charitable body committed to support the Church and the needy. It aims to maintain, at the highest level, the honour and name of saints Peter and Paul, its patron saints and the pillars of the Catholic Church.
Portelli, who is from Nadur but emigrated to Melbourne, Australia in his early adulthood, started the Order of the Knights of St Peter and St Paul – as it was originally called – in Melbourne in November 1996.
The first investiture of knights and dames took place on July 6, 1997. This was during a mass celebrating the feast of St Peter and St Paul organised by the Australian Nadur Association Incorporated, of which Portelli was then president. During the event, messages from Nadur archpriest Salv Muscat and Jeff Kennett, then premier of the State of Victoria, were read.
On July 1, 2007, the Order became independent from the Australian Nadur Association and began operating as a separate legal entity as an incorporated association. On that day, a mass was held in honour of St Peter and St Paul and an investiture of new knights and dames was held.
In March 2010, at the suggestion of the Archbishop of Melbourne, the Council of the Order decided to change the name from ‘order’ to ‘confraternity’. Today, it has spread to many countries, including Malta, Italy, Germany, Portugal, Malawi, the Philippines, Brazil and Spain.
The confraternity in Malta is a Grand Chapter and has its headquarters in Nadur. Apart from knights and dames from the Gozitan village, there are others from around Gozo and from Malta, as well as many supporters of its work. Among the members of the confraternity are 24 priests and bishops from around the world.
Members of the chapter during a donation to the Life Network Foundation in May 2024.Past events
On the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the confraternity (1997-2017), a Congress was organised in Malta. It coincided with the celebration of the feast of St Peter and St Paul in Nadur. Knights and dames from many countries, including Australia, Italy, Malta, Portugal, Germany and Bulgaria, participated.
On Saturday, June 24, 2017, the late Mgr Emmanuel Barbara, OFM Cap, Bishop of Malindi in Kenya, celebrated mass for the confraternity at the Nadur basilica during the days of the novena of the feast of St Peter and St Paul. He was later presented with a donation of money to support his mission and charity.
Four days later, a conference for the confraternity was also at the city hall in Nadur, where members discussed proposals to grow and strengthen the confraternity. It was opened by the Grand Chancellor Chevalier Joseph Coleiro and led by Portelli. Following the meetings, in the evening, the members took part in the procession of the Holy Relics of St Peter and St Paul from the church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus to the basilica of St Peter and St Paul. The procession was led by the clergy and then Bishop of Gozo, Mario Grech. Later, the confraternity members joined in the vespers in the basilica.
Celebrations of the 25th anniversary of the founding of the Confraternity of St Peter and St Paul (which fell in 2022) were held in 2023. A small convention was organised in Malta where knights and dames from various countries around the world converged in Nadur for the occasion and took part in the liturgical celebrations of the feast of St Peter and St Paul. It has been the practice of the confraternity that, every year, on the eve of the feast or close to it, an investiture ceremony takes place for new members.
The Grand Chapter in Malta of the Confraternity of the Knights of St Peter and St Paul.Charitable work and publications
The Confraternity of the Knights of St Peter and St Paul in Malta is active in its support of the needy and the Church. It organises various activities throughout the year, primarily to help missionaries and do charity with those families in need. Every year, food and other items are collected and distributed to these families, such as hampers at Christmastime. Every month, soft drinks and ravioli packages, among other things, are distributed to the Gozo seminary, Dar it-Tama, Dar Ġużeppa Debono, Fondazzjoni Arka, the Franciscan Sisters of Nadur and various parishes in Gozo.
In Australia, the confraternity supports various charitable organisations and needy persons and causes. These include the Royal Children’s Hospital Good Friday Appeal, the Peter Macullum Cancer Hospital, the Royal Women’s Hospital and the homeless, to name a few. It helps those in need, especially young patients in children’s hospitals, and women with special needs.
For example, in 2020, the state of Victoria in Australia suffered a major bush fire. There was much devastation and personal suffering. Among the victims was a Maltese man who lost everything, including his home. The confraternity helped him and his family with donations of money, food and other support.
The confraternity published two volumes about its history to coincide with its 25th anniversary. Titled Confraternity of the Knights of St Peter and St Paul, these two volumes note its history, members and where its work is located.
The first volume includes the years 1997 to 2017 and the second volume, 2017 to 2022. They were written by Grand Master Portelli and his personal secretary and Grand Chancellor Coleiro and can be found in public libraries, including at the University of Malta. They were also presented to various dignitaries and personalities.
The confraternity is a registered charitable body committed to support the Church and the needy.Carmel Saliba is Grand Prior for the Chapter of Malta.
Interested individuals who have a genuine commitment to charitable work, especially working to support the Church and the needy, are invited to contact the confraternity through Carmel Saliba at: carmelsaliba@yahoo.co.uk or Grand Master Portelli at: grandmaster.knightsstpeterpaul@gmail.com.