Bro Henry Grech, FSC: a religious educator in love with the Maltese language
Brother Henry Grech, FSC, was a very simple man, humble in his ways, and the very last thing anybody could call him was sophisticated. Yet he was a man of integrity, an uncompromising religious, a dedicated teacher, a devoted community man and a real scholar who fell in love with the Maltese language in his youth, a romance which lasted all his lifetime.
He was born Emmanuel Grech in Sliema on December 18, 1919, the eldest of five siblings. His parents, Felix and Grace, made sure that from an early age he attained a solid academic and Christian formation, first at home, and then at the local State school, and later (1930-31) at Stella Maris College, Sliema.
[attach id=808666 size="medium" align="right" type="image"]Emmanuel Grech, aged 13. Photo taken from his passport application found at the National Archives, Rabat.[/attach]
At the latter school, under the beneficent influence of the ‘sons’ of St John Baptist De La Salle, Emmanuel felt the urge to join their ranks. In this endeavour he was greatly helped by Brother Walter Joseph Borg Coster, FSC.
In August 1934, young Emmanuel, thrilled by the prospect of going abroad but realising at the same time the sacrifice his parents...