Senglea (L-Isla)

The Parish Church of Senglea, dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, was most probably built by architect Vittorio Cassar in 1580 as a monument to the Victory after the Great Siege of 1565. Senglea became a parish in 1581 and was consecrated on the 20th October 1743 by Bishop Paolo Alpheran de Bussan. Pope Pius VI on the 21st May 1786 declared the church to be a “collegiata insignis”, while Pope Benedict XV on the 3rd January 1921 honoured the church with the title of Basilica; after the crowning of the statue of the Virgin Mary on the 4th September 1921 the church became a sanctuary of the Virgin Mary. The church was destroyed by bombs in 1941, but was rebuilt and consecrated by Mgr. Michael Gonzi, on the 24th August 1957.

Parish Population: 2,700

Families: 1,100

Dedication date: 15 October 1943; 24 August 1957

Can. Robin Camilleri

27, St Lawrence Street

Senglea

ISL 1113

Mondays and Fridays:

4.30 – 6.00 pm

N.B. The Parish Office is closed every first Friday of the month

2182 7203

parrocca.senglea@maltadiocese.org

www.sengleaparish.org

Can. Robin Camilleri, Archpriest

Parish Pastoral Council

Parish Economic Council

Sundays and Feast Days: 7.00, 8.00, 11.00am; 6.00pm

Saturday Evenings: 6.00pm

Weekdays (except Fridays): 6.30, 7.45am; 6.00pm

Fridays: 6.00, 7.45, 10.00 am and 6.00pm

The church was built for the first time in 1311 and for the second time in 1539.  On 19 February 1575 it became Vice-Parich Church of Vittoriosa.  In 1710 it was built for the third time following plans laid by architect Lorenzo Gafa.  Marriages may be celebrated in it and it is used as a Chapel for Perpetual Adoration.

Archpriest

The church, dedicated to Our Lady of Safe Haven (the Visitation), was built in 1596. It is known as the church of St. Philip Neri as it was given to the Oratorians priests who rebuilt it in 1690. Biship Vincenzo Labini consecrated this church on 22 April 1781. Don Angelo Raggio, the last Oratorian died in 1928 and with him the Oratorian presence in Malta came to an end. From this date the Archpriest of Senglea became responsible for the church. During the cholera epidemic (June 1837) this church and the friary adjacent to it served as a hospital, and when Senglea parish church was destroyed by bombs during the last war, St. Philip’s church served as the parish church. The Jesuits took over the administration of the church in 1957. In 2007 the Curia invited the Salesians of Don Bosco to set up a community in Senglea and they moved into St Philip’s on the 20 of October 2008.

Fr. Antoine Farrugia S.D.B.

Sundays and Feast Days: 7.00; 9.30am

Saturday Evenings: 6.00pm (winter); 6.30pm (summer)

Weekdays: 8.00am; 6.00pm (winter); 6.30pm (summer)

21827327

Kappillan Azzoppardi Street

Monday to Friday: 9.30am

Sundays and feastdays: 9.00am

St Julian’s Street, Senglea

Everyday: 8.00am – 8.00pm