Din l-Art Ħelwa hosted an enthusiastic audience, at Sarria Church, on the occasion of the presence in Malta of Rotary International President, Ravi Ravindran, and Rotary District 2110 (Sicily-Malta) Governor, Francesco Milazzo. Also present were members of Rotary Club La Valette, Rotary Malta, and Gozo joined by Sicilian Rotarian friends from various clubs as well as a contingent of Rotarians from Club Riviera dei Cedri in Calabra, Fr. Lino Spiteri and Fr Joe Borg.

Catalyst for the evening was Dott Sante Guido’s presentation of the on-going work on Mattia Preti’s Santa Rosalia, one of 7 paintings by Mattia Preti, Il Cavaliere Calabrese, that are found in Sarria Church, Floriana.

Din l-Art Ħelwa has undertaken to restore these precious art works during its jubilee Year and is therefore in search for sponsors. Santa Rosalia, being the patron Saint of Palermo, has been sponsored by the three Rotary Clubs in Malta in collaboration with 19 clubs from the Palermo area.

Maria Grazia Cassar, Executive President Din l-Art Ħelwa, thanked the sponsors explaining that coming to the rescue of S. Rosalia, known in Palermo as La Santuzza, was most generous of these Rotary clubs and a much appreciated joint project. She presented The Rotarian VIPs and restorer Sante Guido with a copy of Heritage Saved, the publication issued in celebration of 50 years of work in favour of our heritage and environment by Din l-Art Ħelwa.

pic 1Rotary International President Ravi Ravindran and Rotary District 2110 Governor, Francesco Milazzo, join the Presidents of Clubs La Valette and Riviera dei Cedri for an exchange of banners in front of the Mattia Preti Santa Rosalia painting.

pic 2

Din l-Art Ħelwa Executive President, Maria Grazia Cassar, presents ‘Heritage Saved’ book to RI President Ravi Ravindran.