Mons Emanuel Galea (1891 – 1974): The third Bishop from Senglea        Emanuel was born in Senglea on the 10th March 1891. He was brought up in a good family. He was under the vigilance of his uncle Dun Stiefnu Camilleri, a Canon in Senglea and his other brother Frangisk, who later on became the Provost Canon of the Chapter of Senglea. Since he was very young one could see that Emanuel was a well behaved intelligent person. He was ordained as a priest on the 18th December 1915. Afterwards he obtained Bachelorhood in Literature and in the Laws of the Church and Doctorate in Theology from the University of Malta. Dun Manwel went to study at the Gregorian University in Rome where he obtained Doctorate in the Laws of the Church.

       Canon Dun Manuel Galea used to do his utmost to do all that was entrusted to him to the best of his abilities. He had a rare gift in that without saying much he could talk and teach in a clear simple profound way. He was the Secretary of the Chapter of Senglea during the time of the coronation of the statue of Marija Bambina. In 1930 Canon Emanuel Galea was chosen to become the Secretary of the Arch Bishop Caruana. It was an honour bestowed on Senglea by the Arch Bishop, but more so to Canon Galea himself who thoroughly deserved this position because of his goodliness, wisdom and practicality.

     In 1934 Mons Emanuel Galea wrote a popular hymn dedicated to Marija Bambina and was set to music by the conductor of music, Ferdinandu Falzon. This hymn is still sung with great enthusiasm in front of the statue of Marija Bambina it its Sanctuary. In 1940 Mons Galea was appointed Vicar General of Arch Bishop Caruana and on the 20^th April 1942 he was appointed titular Bishop of Tralles much to the joy of the people of Senglea. Unfortunately this happy event took place during the harsh war years and so the people of Senglea could not share their joy together with Mons Galea on his appointment. What the people of Senglea failed to do in 1942 was amply made up in 1972 when he celebrated his twenty fifth anniversary of his appointment as a Bishop.

     On the morning of the 21^st August 1974 the said news of the death of Mons Emmanuel Galea reached Senglea. He was eighty three years old. Mons Galea was buried in the cemetery of St Rocco in Zejtun but on the 5^th November 1990 his remains were transported to a marble grave in the side of the chapel of the Institute of Jesus of Nazareth in Zejtun. As a Bishop he was considered a Bishop of all the people and all Malta felt that Mons Galea was a person of excellent qualities. He never failed in attending for the feast of Marija Bambina. Mons Galea was loved by whoever had any reason to make contact with him. The priests saw in him a person in whom they could fully trust and who always gave good advice. Without doubt Mons Galea remains in the heart of all Maltese Catholic especially in the hearts of the people of Senglea. As a small reminder of the sterling service Mons Galea gave to Senglea in 1981 the family coat-of-arms was sculptured over the door which leads to the Sacristy at the Basilica.

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