The sight of smartly dressed young men and women standing in an organised manner in the grounds of the Salesian’s oratory greeted anyone who looked in yesterday morning, during the presentation of the new colours to the Salesian Brigade.

The Salesian Boys Brigade celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, marking a 100 years since the first official parade on 23 October 2010. Back in 1911 it was the first company to affiliate itself with the Catholic Boys Brigade of Great Britain.

Through the years the Brigade has continued to expand, and in 1989, when it was struggling to continue its work among young people, the decision was taken to enhance the group with the integration of girls.

In 2009 the Brigade’s chaplain, Fr Eric Cachia, together with the officers and young adults, decided that it was time to change the movement’s name again, to become the Salesian Brigade.

The event started with the national anthem, following the entrance of Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi and his wife, Kate. The Prime Minister, flanked on either side by Commanding Officer Joe Giorgio and Fr Cachia, went on to inspect the Brigade.

Following this, a Brigade member walked out with the old colours for the last time. The new flag was then unravelled and laid on the drums piled in the centre, where Fr Cachia proceeded to bless the flag, calling it “the new symbol of our identity as a Brigade”.

Dr Gonzi, speaking after the inspection, said he was struck by the symbolism of the event. It was the fifth time that such an event was taking place, he said, and this shows that the Brigade has succeeded in keeping itself up to date with the times.

It had not remained stagnant in 100 years, but kept working to face the challenges which arose. Its motto was another important symbol, Dr Gonzi said, as it encouraged members to be strong and never give in to wrong.

Dr Gonzi said he doubted if there was ever a challenge which rang so true, particularly in today’s world. Theirs was a story of a Brigade which had always stuck by this motto, he said, and kept the values they inherited from their founder, Don Bosco.

Although it might be true that many families in Malta are strong, Dr Gonzi said, we could not ignore those who had problems, and the Salesians didn’t.

In the final parade the Brigade was joined by a number of old boys who joined in the marching on this occasion, many of whom, Dr Gonzi said, had contributed to society in a variety of ways.

Fr Cachia said that this event invited them to look back at the various people who had together formed the identity of the Brigade. The Brigade was committed to instilling in its members a balance between being honest citizens and good Christians, he said.

He referred to when Dr Gonzi recently said that he cherished the idea of a family with an indelible tie between the parents, and said that this was for the good of the children, whose right it was and because everyday they encountered the marks this left on the children.

Fr Cachia mentioned a man who has loved the movement in an extraordinary manner, Fr Joseph Borg, who, at the age of 90, was present yesterday.