Archbishop Paul Cremona OP opened the Last Supper Display in the Vilhena Hall at police headquarters in Floriana yesterday.
The Archbishop was met at the gate by Commissioner John Rizzo and Parliamentary Secretary Carmelo Mifsud Bonnici.
After Mgr Cremona had been led into the Vilhena Hall he was briefed by Superintendent Raymond Vella Gregory, who acts as PRO for the group that sets up the display. The Archbishop then proceeded to bless the exhibition, but took extra care not to sprinkle holy water on the displays – which are made of salt and semolina.
Superintendent Vella Gregory introduced him to Sergeant Mario Ebejer and Constables Pierre Bugeja and Mario Muscat, who since the beginning of Lent have been busy creating replicas of famous Caravaggio paintings in coloured salt.
The exhibition includes a replica of the Last Supper table according to Jewish custom, with miniature statues of the apostles, and a coat of arms of each apostle is placed on the table. The statuettes were sculpted by PC Bugeja.
At the very end of the hall is a representation of Golgotha, with three crosses, a ladder and Roman army paraphernalia, and in a room at the side, there is a replica of Christ’s tomb. At the centre of the hall is a fibreglass statue of the Ecce Homo made by PC Muscat.
Mgr Cremona praised the artists’ talents, especially their salt creations and the realistic Roman symbols which are, in fact, made from recycled cardboard. He said he was also very pleased with the religious zeal of the police force and he hoped that visitors appreciated the talents with which the force is endowed.
Commissioner Rizzo said the police force is made up of ordinary human beings who feel and have talents. He stressed that the police do a tough job but activities such as the exhibition helped bring out their talents.
He pointed out that the exhibition has become so popular with both Maltese and tourists that last year over 80 trips had been organised to the headquarters.
Police chaplain Raymond Bonnici, OFM Cap pointed out that visitors can also visit the Altar of Repose set up in the headquarters’ chapel.
The display is open to the public from today until Wednesday between 8am and noon and 5 and 9pm. On Maundy Thursday, the exhibition will be open from 8am to midnight, on Good Friday from 8am to 8pm, on Easter Saturday from 8am to noon and 5 to 9pm and on Easter Day between 8am and noon. Organised groups should contact the police on 2122-4001.
Visitors are requested not to touch the salt plates, as they are not glued and are extremely fragile.