A small gathering at the City Hall yesterday witnessed the presentation of gifts to Gibraltar’s newly ordained Bishop Ralph Heskett from donations raised by the people of Gibraltar. In total £14,253 were raised. At the City Hall Mayor Olga Zammitt, who had led the fundraising committee, presented him first of all with an engraved Silver Gilt chalice with a dedication at its base which read: “presented to Bishop Heskett by Olga Zammitt JP, Mayor, on behalf of the people of Gibraltar, 27th July, 2010.”

He was also presented with the car keys for his new Hyundai which was waiting for him in John Mackintosh Square – the key ring of Our Lady of Europe was also inscribed with the words “from the people of Gibraltar”.

 

Present at the City Hall were members of the committee which had helped raise the funds, as well as Deputy Mayor Tony Lombard, his Deputy Mayor Julio Alcantara, and local priests Father Stuart Chipolina, Father Charles Bruzon, Father Danny Hernandez and Father Derek Alvarez.

The chalice, a replica of the Silos Chalice, had been selected by the committee, the same model presented to Bishop Rapallo, and dating back to the 11th Century. The model is named after Silos, a Benedictine Abbey in the North of Spain. Images of the Apostles are depicted all the way around the cup.

Handing over the gifts, Olga Zammitt hosting her final reception and function as Mayor in the City Hall (she hands over to Tony Lombard this Friday), paid tribute to her excellent committee which she said had worked superbly.

“I want to record my thanks and appreciation to them publicly, not only for agreeing readily to help but also for the huge amount collected,” she said.

She however, emphasised, that a very big thank you had to go to the people of Gibraltar for raising the amount which allowed for these gifts to be bought.

She said they had “yet again shown their great generosity in this warm welcome to Bishop Heskett.”

As he took the chalice in his hands, Bishop Heskett seemed quite moved by the moment, and as he was presented with the keys to his new car, obviously humbled by the generosity of those in his new home.

As Mayor Zammitt accompanied Bishop Heskett down to the centre of John Mackintosh Square, where his car awaited him, he seemed overwhelmed with all the attention. He even admitted had never driven in Gibraltar before but soon got in behind the wheel nonetheless. But there was a slight hesitation as he first opened the door on the right side of the car quickly realising the drivers seat was on the other side. However, once behind the wheel he seemed very much at ease.

He told the Chronicle with a smile on his face, “I have been coming here for 30 years and I have never risked driving in Gibraltar, so I was terrified I was going to be asked to drive it away now in front of the police station.”

But he said he would have to get into the car soon enough and have a go on Gibraltar’s roads, and would take up the Mayor’s suggestion, of first driving around on a Sunday afternoon when there were less cars on the road.

He said: “the car, my goodness. People have been so, so generous. The important thing, in particular, is that these gifts are from the whole of the community in Gibraltar, not just the Catholic community, but the people of Gibraltar, and that makes it even more special. I am delighted.”

Of the chalice, he said: “it is a beautiful, beautiful chalice, and I am so delighted to receive it.”

Bishop Heskett added that in his short time as Bishop words could not describe the way in which he had been received into this community.

“ People have been extraordinarily kind and generous in their welcome. I could not have asked for a better introduction,” he stated.

The car was blessed by Father Stuart Chipolina.