The Church and Gozitan culture

Abstract

Culture, broadly defined, refers to that which enables human beings to develop and refine their mental and physical abilities. The term is sometimes given a more narrow meaning, and associated with masterpieces of literature and art. Whatever the meaning attached to it, culture, always refers to man who learns, or to man at work, in a social context. In this chapter, I shall attempt to show that the Church in Gozo, by its various activities, has offered in the past, and is still offering at present, a valuable contribution to the local culture. I shall dwell mostly on the contribution that the Church has made through education, performed and visual arts, music, conservation of the cultural heritage, and publications. I shall not delve on the impact that religion and religious activity has had on the Gozitan population, due to space constraints. This aspect is dealt with in another chapter in this volume, authored by H. E. Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, President of Malta.