Main Events of the Life of

Eugenio Borg

April 22, 1874
The parents of Eugenio, Salvatore Borg and Carmela Mirabelli, were married in St Publius Parish Church, Floriana, Malta.
July 24, 1886
Eugenio was born at the house of the Borg family at Our Lady of Sorrows Street, Senglea. He was baptised on the same day in the parish church dedicated to The Nativity of Our Lady. Eugenio was fondly called as Ġeġè by his family members.
1894
The Borg family left Senglea and moved house to 110a, Strada Reale (later renamed Saint Joseph High Road), Ħamrun.
May 8, 1902
At the age of 16, Eugenio started his apprenticeship at the Dockyard where he learned the trade of a pattern maker and worked until he was 57.
1904/5
Eugenio and some of his companions came into contact with the seminarian George Preca where they used to meet and play football in a field known as “Ta’ Luċtu”, just opposite St Cajetan Parish Church in Ħamrun.
1905/6
Eugenio used to go for a walk to Santa Venera with Fr George. There, in the shade of a carob tree, Fr George would explain to Eugenio the prologue of the Gospel according to St John.
February 2, 1907
Fr George, now a priest, gathered this youth group at Ta’ Nuzzu Church in Ħamrun.
March 7, 1907
Fr George rented the house No. 6, at Fra Diegu Street, Ħamrun, the first premises to be used as a centre for the formation of the group.
1908
Eugenio became seriously ill, but after the much-needed treatment, he recovered.
1908
Eugenio opened the first centre of the Society outside the Ħamrun area in St Michael Street, Cospicua.
1910/11
During a visit by Archbishop Pietro Pace to the Ħamrun Parish, Eugenio Borg and two other companions were introduced to him by Parish Priest Fr Joseph Muscat as members of the Society of Christian Doctrine. Days later, Fr George performed the Incorporation Ceremony on Eugenio Borg and appointed him as the first Superior General of the Society.
1911
Eugenio opened an SDC centre in Floriana at number 3, New Street.
1916
Eugenio was called to the Curia to testify in the inquiry being conducted by Archbishop Dom Mauro Caruana OSB about the Society.
1926
Fr George dissolved the administration of the Society so that it would be elected by members. Eugenio was re-elected as Superior General by 176 votes out of 200.
1930
The year Eugenio’s parents died: his mother on August 11 and his father on November 1.
October 1931
Eugenio discovered he was diabetic. He suffered this condition with resignation throughout his life.
May 27, 1943
At the age of 57, Eugenio retired from the Dockyard and joined the Community of Internal Members at Ħaż-Żebbuġ.
1958
Archbishop Michael Gonzi presented Eugenio Borg with the title Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice at the Mother House of the Society in Blata l-Bajda. Present on this occasion were Fr George Preca, Ecclesiastical Assistant Mgr Carmelo Bonnici, and all members of the Society.
July 24, 1962
Eugenio Borg visited Fr George Preca on his deathbed. It was a difficult moment for Eugenio, and he could not resist crying. Fr George gave him his final blessing while telling him: “In you I bless the whole Society.” Preca died two days later, on July 26.
July 30, 1966
Fr Anton Azzopardi SJ, nephew of Eugenio Borg, celebrated a thanksgiving Mass at the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal on Eugenio’s 80th birthday.
March 12, 1967
Eugenio Borg died at St Luke’s Hospital at 1.30 a.m.
March 12, 1997
The Archdiocese of Malta opened the cause for the beatification and canonisation of Eugenio Borg.
March 20, 2001
The exhumation of the remains of Eugenio Borg was carried out at the Addolorata Cemetery, with the remains being transported to the Chapel of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal in Blata l-Bajda.