eminent Maltese Jesuits
Delia, Ġużč (1900-1980)
Jesuit Superior, Poet. Fr. Delia was born on April 1st 1900 in Siġġiewi, Malta. After studying at St. Aloysius' College, in Birkirkara, he joined the Society of Jesus in 1917. Delia was ordained priest in 1930 in Dublin, Irland, and professed his Final Vows in 1935.
Fr Delia shouldered the responsibility of government for 33 years, as Rector of St. Aloysius' College (1934-47), Vice-Provincial (1947-53) of the newly erected Maltese Vice-Province, Rector of the Novitiate in Naxxar(1956-62), and twice as superior of the Jesuit community in Senglea (1963-66, 1969-72).
As Rector of St. Aloysius' College during the outbreak of the Second World War, Delia managed to save the College from confiscation by the British authorities. The College had been classified as "enemy property" - the Maltese Islands then for part of the Jesuit province of Sicily. Fr Delia obtained letters from Father General Ledochowski that put the College and the Society's only residence in Malta under the direct jurisdiction of Father General, thus saving them from expropriation.
Fr Delia is also well known as a poet. He wrote several poems in Maltese, on traditional lines, mainly on religious or partiotic themes. He also wrote, in verse, a number of legends (17 in all). Fr Delia's contribution to Maltese literature, earned him the National Prize for Literature on three different occasions.
Fr Delia died on the 29th September 1980.
Further reading
- "Delia, Ġużeppi", in Diccionario Histórico de la Compańia de Jesús II, 1077. Roma & Madrid, 2001.
Mallia, Salv.
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