Pubblikazzjoni Preca għadha kif ippubblikat il-ktieb Gilbert Simiana: Fuq il-Passi ta’ Ġesù (Gilbert Simiana: Fil-passi ta’ Ġesù). Riċerkat u mfassal minn Stephen Zammit, membru tas-Soċjetà tad-Duttrina Nisranija, dan il-ktieb jirrakkonta l-ħajja taż-żagħżugħ Malti Gilbert Simiana (1982-1998).
Gilbert twieled fl-1982. Trabba f’familja verament nisranija, attenda l-Museum tar-Rabat u studja fil-Kulleġġ San Alwiġi. Meta kellu 10 snin ġie djanjostikat b’tumur fil-moħħ li biddilu ħajtu drastikament. Madankollu, il-qalb ġeneruża tiegħu, il-fidi soda tiegħu, il-personalità tajba tiegħu u l-ferħ Kristjan tiegħu ma ġewx affettwati minn din il-marda. Il-qraba u l-ħbieb tiegħu dejjem baqgħu mistagħġbin bl-attitudni tiegħu, it-tbissima tiegħu u bil-fatt li qatt ma gerger jew lissen kliem ta’ niket. Permezz tan-Nunzju Appostoliku Monsinjur Sebastian Laboa, anke l-Papa San Ġwanni Pawlu II sema’ dwaru u wera x-xewqa tiegħu li jiltaqa’ miegħu personalment, kif fil-fatt ġara.
Fil-funeral tiegħu, Mons Laboa sejjaħ lil Gilbert “San Domenico Savio ta’ Malta” u ħeġġeġ lil kulħadd biex jimita l-virtuwijiet tiegħu.
Gilbert huwa ta’ ispirazzjoni għal kull Malti u jixraqlu li jkun magħruf minn kulħadd.
Il-bijografija l-ġdida dwar Gilbert Simiana tista’ tinkiseb mil-Librerija Preca, Blata l-Bajda, u fil-biċċa l-kbira taċ-ċentri tal-Museum madwar Malta.
Minn Stephen Zammit
Gilbert Simiana: In the Footsteps of Jesus
Preca Publications has recently published the book Gilbert Simiana: Fuq il-Passi ta’ Ġesù (Gilbert Simiana: In the Footsteps of Jesus). Researched and penned by Stephen Zammit, a member of the Society of Christian Doctrine, this book narrates the life of the Maltese youth Gilbert Simiana (1982-1998).
Gilbert was raised in a Catholic family, attended the SDC Centre in Rabat and studied at St Aloysius College. When he was 10 years old, he was diagnosed with a brain tumour which changed his life drastically. Nevertheless, his generous heart, his strong faith, his kind personality and his Christian joy were unaffected by his illness. His relatives and friends were always amazed with his attitude, his smile and with the fact that not once did he utter bitter or unkind words. Through the nuncio H.E Mons. Sebastian Laboa, even Pope John Paul II heard about him and expressed his desire to meet him personally. At his funeral, Mons. Laboa called Gilbert the “Domenico Savio of Malta”.
Gilbert is an inspiration for every Maltese person and deserves to be known by everyone. The new biography about Gilbert Simiana is available at Preca Library, Blata l-Bajda, and in most SDC centres around Malta.
By Stephen Zammit