The church is built over the ditch of the Roman city which also included a large part of Rabat. The church is also built over the grotto where according to tradition St. Paul was kept prisoner during his three months stay in Malta in 60 A.D. In 1336 bishop Hilarius refers to the church as ecclesia Sancti Pauli de crypta , and also mentions the cemetery and the Roman ditch. Several churches have been built on the site both by the diocese and the Knights of St. John. The present church was built with funds provided by the noble woman Guzmana Navarra on plans prepared by F. Bonamico. The church was completed by Lorenzo Gafà in 1683.
Parish Population: 14,000
Families: 3,100
Minor Basilica dedicated to Saint Paul
Dedication date: 21 September 1726
Archpriest
Rev. Louis Suban
Parish Office
37, Triq il-Kbira,
Rabat RBT 4013
Office Hours
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday:
9:00 am – 10:15 am
5:00 pm – 6:00 pm
Telephone
Office: 2145 4467
parrocca.rabat@maltadiocese.org
Website
Parroċċa San Pawl, Rabat
Parish Clergy
Can. Louis Suban, Archpriest
Can. Claude Mifsud, Vice Archpriest
Rev Joseph Fsadni
Can. John Buhagiar
Priest residing in the Parish
Mgr. Ġwann Azzopardi
Parish Pastoral Council
President: Can. Louis Suban, Archpriest
Chairperson: Ms Marlene Borg
Secretary: Ms Mary Buttigieg
Holy Masses
Sundays and Feast Days: 6:00, 7:30, 9:00, 10:30, 12:00 pm and 600 pm
Saturday Evenings: 4:30 pm, 6:00 pm
Weekdays: 6:00, 7:45, 8:30 am; 6:00 pm
Other Churches
St. Publius Church
Juen Benaguas, who came to Malta in 1630 built the first church over St. Paul’s grotto; the church became a collegiate church of the Order of St. John from 1620, and was rebuilt in 1713. In 1962 the church was annexed to the church of St. Paul.
Priest in charge
Archpriest
St Luke Pastoral Centre – Nigret
Due to the increased development of the tan-Nigret locality, the need of a new church was felt; until this church is built a pastoral centre is in use. Marriages may be celebrated in this church.
Priest in charge
Can. John Buhagiar
Address
St Luke Pastoral Centre
Nigret Road
Rabat RBT 4609
Telephone
2145 3347
Holy Masses
Sundays and Feast Days: 8:00, 9:30 am
Saturday Evenings: 7:00 pm
Weekdays: 7:00 am
St. Catald’s Church
The church is built over a crypt and a small catacomb; Masses are occasionally celebrated.
Priest in charge
Archpriest
St. Sebastian’s Church
The church was first built in 1477, rebuilt in 1519 and restored in 1751. The sisters of Charity take care of the church and marriages may be celebrated in it.
Priest in charge
Archpriest
Holy Masses
Sundays, Feast Days and Weekdays: 6.30 am
Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary (ta’ Qasgħa)
The church was built about 1550 by a certain Ċensu Qasgħa and was rebuilt 150 years later; a cemetery adjoins it.
Priest in charge
Rev. Can. Michael Attard
Ta’ Duna Church
The church was built in the sixteenth century and enlarged two centuries later; today the members of the Legion of Mary use it for their meetings.
Priest in charge
Archpriest
St. Bartholomew’s Church
The church was built in 1550 and restored at a later date; today it is used for the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between 9.00 am and 5.00 pm.
Priest in charge
Archpriest
Rural Churches
Baħrija – Church dedicated to St Martin of Tours
The church was built by Count Navarra in the sixteenth century. In recent years a larger church was built as the population of Baħrija had increased considerably. Marriages may be celebrated in the church.
Priest in charge
Rev Ray Francalanza OSA
Address
Dar San Martin
Triq Patri Tumas Xerri,
Baħrija, RBT 6025
Telephone
21454111, 79538289
Holy Masses
Sundays and Feast Days: 7.00am; 9.00am
Saturdays: 5.30 pm (Winter); 6.00pm (Summer)
Weekdays: 6.00 pm (Winter); 6.30pm (Summer)
Mtaħleb- Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary
The church dominates the valley and was built in 1687.
Priest in charge
Rev Joe Fsadni
Holy Masses
Saturdays and Eves of Feast Days: 6.00 pm (summer); 4.00 pm (winter)
Għemieri
The church is part of the Palazzo Gomerino.
Buskett – Church of St. Anthony the Abbot
The church was built in 1663 by Grand Master Nicholas Cotoner and is dedicated to St. Anthony the abbot. St. Nicholas is also venerated in the church. In 1975 the church was closed to the people of the locality, but was re-opened for their benefit in 1986. The Augustinian friars of Rabat take care of the church.
Priest in charge
Fr Raphael Abdilla OSA
Holy Massses
Sundays and Feast Days: 8:00 am
Saturdays: 7:00pm
First Friday of each month: 7:00pm
Tad-Daħla – Church of St. Catherine
Priest in charge
Archpriest
Holy Mass
Saturdays: 6:30pm
Wied Gerżuma – Church of the Immaculate Conception
Grandmaster De Paule wanted to built this church, but it was actually built by his successor Manoel de Vilhena. Marriages may be celebrated in it.
Priest in charge
Rev Ray Francalanza OSA
Holy Masses
Sundays and feastdays: 4:30 pm
Saturdays: 7:00pm
Tas-Salib – Church of the Nativity of the Virgin Mary
The church was built in 1550 and has remained closed for many years.
Priest in charge
Archpriest
Churches Run By Religious Congregations
Church of the Blessed Virgin (Dominican Friars)
The Dominican friars came to Malta in 1450 and built their first friary at Rabat over a cave where according to tradition the Virgin Mary had spoken to a sportsman who had taken refuge there. Marriages may be celebrated in the church.
Dedication date: 21 October
Priest in charge
Rev Christopher Caruana OP
Telephone
2145 4592
Address
St Dominic’s Square,
Rabat RBT 2521
Holy Masses
Sundays and Feast Days: 7:00, 8:30, 10:00, 11:15 am (in English)
Saturday Evenings: 6:30 pm
Weekdays: 6:00, 7:30 am; 12:15 pm (winter); 6:30 pm
Church of the Blessed Virgin (Franciscan Minors)
The Friars Minor came to Malta in 1492 and opened their first friary in Rabat. Grand Master L’Isle Adam had a room reserved for him in the friary. The church was enlarged in 1757 through contributions from Italy, Spain and Portugal. Marriages may be celebrated in the church. An oratory adjacent to it belongs to the confraternity of St. Joseph.
Dedication date: 31 October 1790
Priest in charge
Rev Martin Coleiro OFM
Telephone
2145 4594
Address
St Paul’s Street,
Rabat RBT 1245
Holy Masses
Sundays and Feast Days: 6:00, 8:30 & 11:00am
Saturday Evenings: 6:30 pm (summer); 6:00 pm (winter)
Weekdays: 6:35, 7:30 am; 6:00 pm (winter), 6:30pm (summer)
Church of St. Francis (Franciscan Conventuals)
The Conventual Franciscans came to Malta before the year 1347 and built their church and friary near the hospital of St. Francis, which later on came to be known as Santo Spirito hospital. In 1640 the friary was rebuilt as it was no longer a place suitable to live in; later on the church was also rebuilt by Lorenzo Gafà after being extensively damaged by the 1693 earthquake. In this church a devotion to Our Lady of Good Health developed and continued to increase even when a new painting of the Virgin took the place of the older one: people visiting their sick relatives at the Santo Spirito Hospital and at the Saura hospital used to visit the church to pray the Virgin requesting her help for their sick relatives. The painting was solemnly crowned on the 4th April 1949. Marriages may be celebrated in the church.
Dedication date: 22 September 1908
Sanctuary of Our Lady of Good Health
Guardian\Rector
Fr Provincial
Telephone
2145 4225
Address
St Francis Street,
Rabat RBT 1061
Holy Masses
Sundays and Feast Days: 6:30, 8:00, 930 am
Saturday Evenings: 6:15 pm
Weekdays: 6:45, 7:30 am, 6:15 pm
St. Mark’s Church (Augustinians)
The Augustinian friars came to Malta in 1383 and their first friary was situated outside the walls of Mdina. The friary was demolished in 1551 because of a Turkish attack on Mdina. In 1555 the Cathedral Chapter gave the friars the old church of St. Mark and the area adjacent to it to built their new friary. The present church and friary date from 1558. Marriages may be celebrated in the church.
Dedication date: 26 June 1906
Priest in charge
Rev David Cortis OSA
Telephone
2145 4111, 2145 9014
Address
St Mark’s Convent,
St Augustine’s Street,
Rabat RBT 1117
Holy Masses
Sundays and Feast Days: 7:30, 10:00 am
Saturday Evenings: 6:00 pm
Weekdays: 7:00am, 6:00 pm
From July – September the evening mass is not held
Annunciation Church (Carmelite Fathers)
The church and friary of the Annunciation were built in 1418 with funds provided by the noble Catherine d’Alagona and given to the Carmelites who had just arrived in Malta. In 1662 the friary was demolished and the stones were used to built the Carmelite friary in Mdina. In 1975 the Carmelites returned back to their first church and friary in Malta and built a retreat house near the old church. Marriages may be held in the church.
Priest in charge
Rev Amadeo Zammit O.Carm.
Telephone
2145 9021
Address
‘Lunzjata’ Retreat House
Lunzjata,
Rabat.
Holy Masses
Sundays and Feast Days: 4:00 pm
Wednesdays: 5:00 pm (winter); 600 pm (summer)
St. Agatha’s Church (Missionary Society of St Paul)
The church built in 1570 over a ancient crypt leading to a series of catacombs; it was enlarged in 1670. During this century the church was given to the Missionary Society of St. Paul soon after it had been founded by Mgr. Depiro; in 1932 the Society started building their Motherhouse adjacent to the church. Marriages may be celebrated in it.
Priest in charge
Rev Frankie Cini MSSP
Telephone
2145 4503
Address
The Motherhouse,
St. Agatha’s,
Rabat
Holy Masses
Sundays and Feast Days: 7:00 am
Weekdays: 6:30 am
Depiro Youth Centre
Priest in charge
Rev Karm Debattista MSSP
Telephone
21459222
Holy Masses
Sundays and Feast Days: 8:30 am
Female Religious Convents
Augustinian Sisters
8, Zondadari Street, Rabat RBT 1170
Tel: 2145 4121
St Dorothy’s Sisters
11, Alessandro Curmi Street, Tal-Virtù, Rabat RBT 2650
Tel: 2145 4429
Dominican Sisters
71, Alessandro Curmi Street, Tal-Virtù, Rabat RBT 2652
Tel: 2145 4893
Sisters of St Joseph of the Apparition
St Dominic Square, Rabat RBT 2523
Tel: 2145 92757 (Retreat House: Tel 2145 4612)
Sisters of Charity
23, Casa Santa Giovanna Antida, St Roque Street, Rabat RBT 2402
Tel: 2145 4627
Society of the Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart Convent, Tal-Virtù, Rabat, RBT 2604
Tel: 2145 4131
Daughters of the Sacred Heart
70, Mgr Pietro Pace Convent, G Borg Olivier Road, Rabat, RBT 9042
Tel: 2145 4314
Ursuline Sisters
70, Tal-Virtù Road, Rabat RBT 2602
Tel: 2145 4226
Adoration Chapel
St. Bartholomew’s Church
Address
Triq San Bartilmew, Rabat
Opening hours
Monday – Saturday
9:00 am – 5:00 pm