• On the occasion of the feast of St Calcedonius, the Archbishop’s Curia in Floriana will open its doors to the general public on Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 July 2019. The public is invited to visit the Curia premises, previously known as Casa Manresa, and the restoration works currently in progress.

    The visitors will be able to admire the Baroque architecture and several works of art that are located in the refectory hall, in the corridors, sacristy and in the chapel dedicated to Our Lady of Manresa, where the relics of St Calcedonius are venerated. Guiding of the visitors will include talks on the history of the Archbishop’s Curia, the paintings that are being restored, and on the pastoral and administrative work of the Archdiocese of Malta.

    During these two days, concerts will be held in the central courtyard, while in the sacristy 16th century documents from the Diocesan Archives will be on display in an exhibition called ‘Fragments of Faith’. On the first floor, 15 paintings by the artist Joseph Calleja will be on show in an exhibition called ‘Sacrifice of the Lambs’. Visitors will also be able to participate in a treasure hunt based on the history, the building, and the paintings in the Curia.

    Originally known as Casa della Madonna di Manresa, the Archbishop’s Curia, is an integral part of the ecclesiastical and social history of Malta. It was built by the Jesuits in the 18th century to serve as a retreat house and continued to be used by the Jesuits for seventeen years. When the Jesuits returned to Malta in 1860, Casa Manresa was the provincial curia of the Province of Sicily for seven years. The Order eventually stopped occupying the building in 1918. From 1858-1910 and from 1921-1977, the building served as the seminary of the Diocese. It is now occupied by the Archbishop’s Curia as its central administration.

    Casa Manresa will be open to the public on Saturday, 20 July 2019 between 5pm-9pm, and on Sunday 21 July 2019 between 9am-1pm. Mass will be celebrated on Saturday at 7pm and Sunday at 10am in the Chapel of Our Lady of Manresa. The programme of the Open Weekend, listing the activities on the hour, will be available online on the website www.church.mt.

    Entrance is free. Donations towards The Archbishop’s Charity Fund will be appreciated.

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