Fr Giles Ferriggi OFM

Fr Giles Carmelo Ferriggi was a Maltese Franciscan Priest. Although not officially part of the archdiocese he spent so many years in Adelaide and was so involved in the life of the archdiocese and especially the Maltese Catholic Community that he deserves recognition.

Early life

Carmelo Ferriggi was born in Sliema, Malta on April 27, 1911, the son of Michael and Evangelista (nee Zammit). He joined the Franciscan Order in Malta on September 29. 1927 and after the completion of his Philosophical and Theological studies was ordained priest on July 29, 1934.

His Superiors saw him as a very promising priest, and after a few years he was appointed parish priest of the only Franciscan Parish in Malta, that dedicated to Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Sliema. When World War II broke out, he immediately offered his services to serve as a Military Chaplain on the Island.

Malta, being a British colony, served as a strategic base for Allied forces during World War II. When the war ended Malta and the Maltese were physically and economically under a heavy stress. Malta was overpopulated and unemployment was very high. Therefore, between 1948 and 1973 a large number of Maltese paid the Australian Government 10 pounds, sold up their belongings and took ship for Australia under the Malta-Australia Passage Scheme. Approximately, 1500 Maltese settled in South Australia between 1947 and 1961 and by 1966 there were 2258 Maltese South Australians.

Life in Australia

At the conclusion of World War II, Fr Giles volunteered in accompanying the thousands of Maltese people who migrated to Australia. His desire was fulfilled and he left the shores of Malta on April 23, 1948 on the ship "Asturias", and arrived in Adelaide, SA on May 20, 1948. After attempting to settle in Farleigh, Queensland, the then Archbishop of Adelaide convinced him to stay in Adelaide. His services were badly needed in this State to accompany the Australian arrivals and to assist them with spiritual guidance and at the same time help them through with the trials and tribulations that beset these early migrants. His previous experience acquired as parish priest and army chaplain well qualified him, at the age of 38, to deal with most of life's problems. Thus Fr Giles can be looked upon as a pioneer in being the first chaplain to an ethnic community in South Australia.

When he arrived here, he was guest at the Bishop's Residence on West Terrace, in Adelaide. The first thing he did was to borrow money to purchase a large parcel of land on Henley Beach Road, Lockleys and establish the first Maltese Franciscan Residence. The then Archbishop of Adelaide, Matthew Beovich, in front of a large congregation made up of Maltese, Italian and Australians blessed the House on March 7, 1951. There was also an urgent need for a parish church in the area at this time.

Fr Ferriggi commenced services and officiated in the newly acquired priests' house, known as the Friary, which of course was far too small. He then purchased an Army disposal Nissan Hut to care for his growing number of multicultural parishioners. His ability to speak three languages was more than helpful – it was an absolute necessity. Fr Ferriggi could see that his already growing population was going to increase still further as the post-war building boom took off in the Lockleys' area.

Building a parish church

Undeterred by the huge cost, he put forward his plans to build a modern Catholic Church, large enough to house the increasing number of parishioners. He wanted the new Church to be a War Memorial in honour of those who showed their faith and loyalty to their country by their great dedication and sacrificing their lives.

Even though his hands were full with various responsibilities, Fr Ferriggi entered the Australian Military Forces as an army chaplain for the experimental atomic base at Maralinga and also at the army training camp at Woodside. For these services to the Defence Forces he was awarded the Efficiency Decoration to add to his previous awards of the Malta Star, 1939-1945 War Medal, Italy Star, Africa Star and General Service Medal.

In 1961, the magnificent new Church dedicated to Christ the King was officially blessed and opened and a financial plan was organised among the parishioners to defray the cost. Since 1963 the building of a parish school had been on his mind, as at that stage he had some 160 children in his parish whose parents wished them to have Catholic education.  Subsequently, within four years a Catholic school (St Francis of Assisi) catering for 400 students was built close to the church on church land; thus another problem was solved.

Prior to building the School, Fr Giles had tennis courts built for sporting and recreation purposes of parishioners and their children and these were also made available to the school to share besides the beautiful lawn playing fields the school already possessed.

Though heavily laden by the debt already incurred by these projects which were being supported financially by the grateful parishioners, he decided a community hall was necessary for social purposes. He succeeded in pushing ahead with this project and so in 1980 a modern community hall with all facilities was built at the rear of the church.

Further expansion

One would think that this was enough and that further growth would have to cease; but this ambitious parish priest did not stop here. He wanted the Lockleys parish to lack nothing and wanted to make good use of a parcel of land still available and unused. He saw a need for a home for the elderly, so plans were drawn and permission granted to commence building. These vacant grounds, adjacent to the original Friary, where handed over to the Maltese Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, who immediately undertook the arduous job to find the necessary funds to build and erect the St Raphael's Home for the Aged. With the backing and encouragement of Fr Giles, this was completed and declared open in 1987.

Fr Ferriggi was indeed a remarkable man who surmounted many an obstacle to achieve his goals – truly a remarkable achievement. He adopted South Australia as his new home. Lockleys, indeed South Australia, acknowledge the remarkable work carried out by this dedicated priest. In a country where most people strive and live on honours, medals and awards, Fr Giles never sought any. It was only a year before he died, through the intervention of some old parishioners and members of the Maltese community, that he was decorated with the West Torrens Council Citizen of the Year Award.

We have to acknowledge, however, that all through his enterprises, Fr Giles was always assisted by a nice number of Maltese Friars, young and middle-aged, who came over from Malta. Their services were mostly directed towards the benefit of the Maltese community but also gave their utmost in assisting in the ever-increasing services being rendered to the surrounding parishes and religious communities in the area. In fact, another parish, that of Taperoo, was offered to the Maltese Franciscan Friars in 1965, which they retained until 1975, when due to lack of personnel they handed over to the Australian Franciscan Province.

Retirement

In 1993 Fr Giles was granted permission from his Superiors in Malta to retire and remain in South Australia. Through the assistance of some influential Italian parishioners, he managed to acquire residence at Villa St Hilarion, a Home for the Aged established by the Italian community at Fulham. There he continued to work as the resident chaplain, conducting services seven days a week and performing weekly visits to those who have been hospitalised.

He passed away peacefully at his Unit, on Friday, January 21, 2000. On January 27, he was given a most-befitting funeral at St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral in Adelaide, and was laid to rest in the Friars tomb at Centennial Park Cemetery.

May he rest in peace.