Society of Christian Doctrine (MUSEUM)

Tal-Mużew
Entrance to the mother-house of the society
Abbreviation	MUSEUM
Formation	March 1907
Founder	George Preca
Founded at	Ħamrun
Type	Religious
Legal status	Active
Purpose	Teaching about the Roman Catholic religion
Headquarters	Mother House, Societas Doctrinæ Christianæ, id-Dar Ġenerali
Location	Blata l-Bajda, 207, Saint George Preca Road, Marsa MRS 9010
Services	Doctrine
Fields	Theology
Official language	Maltese, English, Italian, Latin, Spanish and Albanian
Director General	Roberto Zammit
Affiliations	Roman Catholic Church in Malta
Website	sdcmuseum.org (Malta) precacommunity.org (Australia)
Remarks	Verbum Dei Caro Factum Est (The Word of God Became Flesh)[1]
Formerly called	Societas Papidum et Papidissarum (Society of the Sons and Daughters of the Pope)[2]

The Society of Christian Doctrine (Latin: Societas Doctrinæ Christianæ, Italian: Società della Dottrina Cristiana, Maltese: Soċjetà Duttrina Nisranija; abbreviated SDC),^[3][4] better known as MUSEUM, is a society of Catholic lay volunteers, made of men and women, teaching catechism in the Christian faith formation of children and adults.^[5] The society was established by George Preca in March 1907, in Malta.^[6] It has eventually spread around the world, first among Maltese migrants in Australia, then in Albania, in North Sudan, and other countries.^[7]

MUSEUM is the abbreviation for "Magister Utinam Sequatur Evangelium Universus Mundus" as meaning "Master, may the whole world follow the Gospel."^[4][7]

In Malta, the society has forty-six catechism centres for males and forty-three for females.^[8]

By 1961, the society spread in Gozo, and became successful after a visit for a fishing session. That same year catechism started for males, and in 1962 it was followed by the female branch.^[9] There are now^[when?] nine catechism centres for males and seven for females in Gozo.^[8]

The objectives of the religious society is catechetical work in the parishes.^[8] Members may participate in the activities in six days every week.^[8] The society often organises recreational activities for minors and educational courses for adults.^[8][10]

Members of the society are invited to participate for a meeting every Wednesday at the mother-house of the society, in Blata l-Bajda, Marsa.^[8] The mother-house is the prominent Church of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal.^[6] The main scope for teaching catechism is to religiously prepare individuals, generally minors, to receive the sacraments according to the Roman Catholic tradition.^[8]

This is a list of former and present superiors general of the society:

• Eugenio Borg (1911–1967);^[11]
• Francesco Saliba (1967–1983);^[12]
• Victor Delicata (1983–2009);^[12]
• Natalino Camilleri (2009–2021) and
• Roberto Zammit (2021–present)^[13]

History of the society:

• Rudolf, Uwe Jens (2018). Historical Dictionary of Malta. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 245. ISBN 9781538119181.
• Burns, Paul (2001). Butler's Saints of the Third Millennium: Butler's Lives of the Saints. A & C Black. pp. 188–190. ISBN 978-0860123828.
• Anthony Micallef, ed. (June 2010). "Blessed George Preca" (PDF). The Maltese Wellingtonian. 11 (3). Wellington, New Zealand: 14–16. ISSN 1179-4828. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 March 2017. Information from "Blessed George Preca". vatican.va. Archived from the original on 3 June 2007.
• Marcelino Micallef, ed. (3 June 2007). "Benedict XVI Canonised 4 Saints: Calls Them Trinity's "Masterpieces"" (PDF). L-Aħbar (125). OFM Malta: 3. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 March 2017.
• Farrugia, Massimo (28 May 2007). "Tal-Muzew feared as some sort of sect". Times of Malta. Archived from the original on 26 September 2015.
• "Dun Gorg - San Gorg Preca". Museum San Giljan. 2006. Archived from the original on 29 July 2013.
• Bonnici Calì, Rafel (August 1982). "Drawwiet li spiċċaw jew inbidlu" (PDF). L-Imnara (in Maltese). 1 (5): 130.

• Żgħażagħ Azzjoni Kattolika
• Religion in Malta