04/10/2026
Mill-Birgu tal-Imgħoddi, fl-Arkivju tas-Soċjetà Nru. 105
It-Tieni Parti
SAN FRANĠISK, IL-FRANĠISKANI U L-BELT VITTORIOSA
Is-sena 2026 tfakkar anniversarju ta’ importanza kbira għall-Knisja Kattolika u għall-familja Franġiskana madwar id-dinja: it-800 anniversarju mill-mewt ta’ San Franġisk ta’ Assisi, li seħħet fit-3 ta’ Ottubru 1226. Fl-okkażjoni ta’ dan iċ-ċentinarju importanti, qed naqsmu magħkom tagħrif dwar id-devozzjoni lejn San Franġisk ta’ Assisi fil-Belt Vittoriosa u r-rabta tal-familja Franġiskana mal-istess belt.
Il-Patrijiet Kapuċċini fil-Birgu
Ir-rabta tal-familja Franġiskana mal-Parroċċa tal-Birgu kompliet tissaħħaħ fis-seklu tmintax bil-preżenza tal-Patrijiet Kapuċċini, li għal aktar minn seklu u nofs kellhom il-kunvent tagħhom fit-territorju parrokkjali tal-Birgu, fil-post magħruf bħala tal-Għasli.
Kien il-benefattur Ġużeppi Valerju Abela li, bejn l-1736 u l-1737, għadda lill-Patrijiet Kapuċċini l-art deskritta fid-dokumenti bħala fuori le mura della Vittoriosa, sabiex fuqha huma jibnu l-knisja u l-kunvent tagħhom. L-għażla ta’ dan il-post kienet konformi mat-tradizzjoni tal-Kapuċċini li jwaqqfu l-kunventi tagħhom barra miċ-ċentri urbani, f’ambjent aktar adattat għall-ħajja ta’ ġabra, sempliċità u talb. Fil-fatt, is-sit kien jins-ab tefgħa ta’ ġebla ’l bogħod mis-swar tal-Birgu u minn dawk tal-Kottonera.
Il-Bini tal-Kunvent u tal-Knisja
Il-pjanti tal-kumpless li kien jinkludi l-knisja u l-kunvent ġew imfassla minn Fra Ġużepp, reliġjuż Kapuċċin. Fid-disinn tiegħu, huwa żamm sħiħ mal-ispirtu tal-Ordni: arkitettura nieqsa minn tiżjin żejjed, imsejsa fuq is-sempliċità, is-sobrjetà u l-ġabra.
Nhar 26 ta’ April 1736 ingħata bidu solenni għax-xogħol tal-bini tal-kunvent il-ġdid. F’dik il-ġurnata, purċissjoni telqet mill-Knisja Matriċi u Parrokkjali ta’ San Lawrenz tal-Birgu lejn is-sit magħżul għall-fondazzjoni l-ġdida. Il-purċissjoni kienet immexxija mill-Inkwiżitur Carlo Francesco Durini u mill-Kappillan tal-Birgu, Dun Gian Paolo Pace. Matul il-mixja, il-Kappillan ġarr salib li, mal-wasla fuq il-post, tqiegħed fuq is-sit fejn kellu jinbena l-kunvent. Ix-xogħol mexa b’ritmu mgħaġġel, tant li fit-30 ta’ Diċembru tal-istess sena, l-ewwel komunità ta’ patrijiet setgħet tidħol tgħix fil-kunvent il-ġdid. Dan kien it-tieni kunvent tal-Kapuċċini f’Malta.
Fl-istess żmien kien għaddej ukoll il-bini tal-knisja, li l-ewwel ġebla tagħha tqiegħdet mill-Isqof Paolo Alpheran de Bussan fit-18 ta’ Ġunju 1736. Il-knisja ġiet iddedikata lil Santa Barbara, b’tifkira ta’ omm il-benefattur Ġużeppi Valerju Abela, li kienet mietet ta’ età żgħira waqt il-pesta tal-1676. Il-bini tal-knisja tlesta f’Awwissu tal-1743, meta l-Gwardjan tal-kunvent, Patri Ġużepp Grech, berikha u fetaħha għall-kult pubbliku. Erba’ snin wara, fit-18 ta’ Ġunju 1747, l-istess Isqof li kien qiegħed l-ewwel ġebla tagħha kkonsagraha.
Ir-Rabta mal-Knisja Matriċi ta’ San Lawrenz
Il-preżenza tal-Kapuċċini fit-territorju parrokkjali tal-Birgu ma kinitx limitata għall-ħajja fi ħdan il-kunvent tagħhom biss. Bil-mod il-mod, il-patrijiet saru parti mill-ħajja reliġjuża tal-parroċċa u bdew jieħdu sehem f’diversi purċissjonijiet li kienu joħorġu mill-Knisja Matriċi ta’ San Lawrenz. Din il-parteċipazzjoni baqgħet ħajja anke meta, lejn tmiem is-seklu dsatax, inbidlu l-konfini parrokkjali tal-inħawi.
Fil-fatt, fil-11 ta’ Diċembru 1897, permezz ta’ digriet maħruġ mill-Palazz Arċiveskovili fil-Belt Valletta, il-Kalkara twaqqfet bħala parroċċa awtonoma, mifruda mill-Matriċi tal-Birgu. B’din il-bidla fil-konfini parrokkjali, il-Convento dei Cappuccini fuori le mura della Vittoriosa, li għal 161 sena kien jinsab fit-territorju tal-Parroċċa tal-Birgu, mil-lat territorjali, issa beda jagħmel parti mill-parroċċa l-ġdida tal-Kalkara.
Madankollu, il-bidla fil-konfini parrokkjali ma qatgħetx ħesrem ir-rabtiet li kienu nħolqu matul is-snin. Il-kunvent baqa’ għal xi żmien magħruf bħala tal-Kapuċċini tal-Birgu, fil-waqt li l-patrijiet komplew jieħdu sehem fil-purċissjoni tal-festa titulari ta’ San Lawrenz.
Il-preżenza tagħhom fil-purċissjoni ta’ San Lawrenz ma kinitx sempliċement waħda okkażjonali, iżda kienet marbuta ma’ obbligu li l-komunità Kapuċċina kellha li tak-kumpanja l-purċissjoni. Din it-tradizzjoni baqgħet għaddejja sal-bidu tat-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija, meta ċ-ċirkostanzi straordinarji tal-gwerra wasslu għall-interruzzjoni tagħha. Wara l-gwerra, il-Kapuċċini reġgħu bdew jieħdu sehem fil-purċissjoni ta’ San Lawrenz. Madankollu, din il-parteċipazzjoni eventwalment intemmet madwar is-sena 1960.
Għaldaqstant, il-preżenza tal-Patrijiet Kapuċċini għal aktar minn seklu u nofs fil-Parroċċa tal-Birgu kienet kapitlu importanti fil-ġrajja spiritwali u soċjali tal-Belt Vitto-riosa. Tul dawn is-snin, il-Kapuċċini rabtu mill-qrib il-ħajja u l-ħidma tagħhom ma’ dik tal-parroċċa u tal-poplu Vittoriosan, u ħallew warajhom wirt għani ta’ fidi, ħidma pas-torali u devozzjoni. Għaldaqstant, ir-rabta tal-Kapuċċini mal-Birgu baqgħet minquxa fl-istorja tal-Birgu u fil-memorja kollettiva tal-poplu tiegħu.
Żewġ Kunventi tas-Sorijiet Franġiskani
Bejn l-aħħar tas-seklu dsatax u l-aħħar tas-seklu għoxrin, il-Parroċċa tal-Birgu kienet imbierka bil-preżenza ta’ żewġ kongregazzjonijiet ta’ Sorijiet Franġiskani, li waqqfu l-kunventi tagħhom hawn u, għal b***a snin, taw sehem importanti fil-ħajja reliġjuża, edukattiva u soċjali tal-komunità parrokkjali. Dawn kienu s-Sorijiet Franġiskani Missjunarji tal-Qalb Bla Tebgħa ta’ Marija u s-Sorijiet Franġiskani tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù.
Is-Sorijiet Franġiskani Missjunarji tal-Qalb Bla Tebgħa ta’ Marija
L-ewwel li ġew kienu s-Sorijiet Franġiskani Missjunarji tal-Qalb Bla Tebgħa ta’ Marija, kongregazzjoni mwaqqfa mill-Beata Madre Maria Caterina Troiani. Dawn is-sorijiet magħrufa popolarment f’Malta bħala “is-Sorijiet tal-Eġittu”, filwaqt li fil-Birgu kienu magħrufa wkoll bħala “is-Sorijiet tal-Karmnu”, minħabba li l-kunvent tagħhom kien jinsab biswit il-Knisja tal-Madonna tal-Karmnu.
Is-Sorijiet fetħu l-ewwel kunvent tagħhom fil-Birgu fl-1886, bil-bieb prinċipali tiegħu jagħti għal Triq San Lawrenz. Aktar t**d fetħu wkoll skola, u għal aktar minn mitt sena l-preżenza tagħhom saret parti mill-ħajja ta’ kuljum tal-parroċċa u tal-komunità Vittori-osana. Il-ħidma tagħhom kienet marbuta b’mod speċjali mal-edukazzjoni tat-tfal, permezz tal-iskola li kienu jmexxu, kif ukoll mat-tagħlim tal-katekiżmu, partikolarment fost it-tfal u l-familji fl-inħawi tal-Ħawli.
Il-preżenza tagħhom fil-Parroċċa tal-Birgu ntemmet fis-sena 2000, wara aktar minn seklu ta’ ħidma u servizz. Tul dan il-perjodu twil, ir-rabta tagħhom mal-Birgu kompliet tissaħħaħ ukoll permezz ta’ għadd ta’ tfajliet Vittoriosani li ħaddnu l-vokazzjoni reliġjuża fi ħdan din il-kongregazzjoni.
Is-Sorijiet Franġiskani tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù
Rabta oħra tal-familja Franġiskana mal-Belt Vittoriosa nsibuha fis-Sorijiet Franġiskani tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù, kongregazzjoni mwaqqfa minn Dun Ġużepp Diacono u Madre Margherita De Brincat fir-Rabat, Għawdex, fl-1880.
Il-miġja tagħhom fil-Birgu kienet marbuta direttament mal-qasam tal-edukazzjoni. Kien fuq talba ta’ Dr Albert V. Laferla, Direttur tal-Edukazzjoni, li s-sorijiet ġew il-Birgu sabiex jagħtu s-servizz tagħhom fit-tagħlim fl-Iskola Primarja tal-Gvern. Fis-17 ta’ Settembru 1929, huma fetħu Dar il-Bambin ta’ Praga, fi Triq il-Palazz tal-Isqof, li kienet it-22 dar tal-Kongregazzjoni.
Minn din id-dar, is-sorijiet bdew kapitlu ġdid ta’ ħidma Franġiskana fil-Birgu. Il-missjoni tagħhom kienet marbuta b’mod partikolari mat-tagħlim u mal-formazzjoni tat-tfal, u għal għexieren ta’ snin taw is-servizz tagħhom lil ġenerazzjonijiet ta’ tfal Vittoriosani, kemm fl-iskola ż-żgħira kif ukoll fl-iskola tal-Armerija. B’hekk, l-ispirtu Franġiskan fil-Birgu sab espressjoni konkreta oħra fil-qasam edukattiv, permezz ta’ ħidma mibnija fuq il-formazzjoni tat-tfal.
Il-preżenza tas-Sorijiet Franġiskani tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù fil-Parroċċa tal-Birgu ntemmet lejn l-aħħar tas-snin disgħin tas-seklu għoxrin, wara diversi għexieren ta’ snin ta’ ħid-ma u servizz. Ir-rabta tagħhom mal-belt, iżda, kienet waħda aktar profonda mill-preżenza tal-kunvent innifsu, għaliex matul is-snin għadd ta’ tfajliet Vittoriosani ħadd-nu l-vokazzjoni reliġjuża fi ħdan din il-Kongregazzjoni, u komplew huma wkoll, bħala wlied il-Birgu, il-mixja ta’ servizz fl-ispirtu Franġiskan.
It-Terz Ordni Franġiskan
Ir-rabta tal-familja Franġiskana mal-Birgu kompliet tissaħħaħ permezz tal-preżenza tat-Terz Ordni Franġiskan, li permezz tiegħu l-ispiritwalità ta’ San Franġisk sabet postha wkoll fost il-lajċi Vittoriosani. It-Terz Ordni twaqqaf fil-Knisja ta’ San Filippu u, fil-bidu, kien jaqa’ taħt il-ġurisdizzjoni tal-Patrijiet Minuri. Wara għadd ta’ kwistjonijiet, il-ġurisdizzjoni tiegħu għaddiet għand il-Patrijiet Franġiskani Kapuċċini tal-Kalkara, biex aktar t**d reġgħet marret f’idejn il-Patrijiet Minuri tal-Belt Valletta. Din il-preżenza hija xhieda oħra ta’ kemm l-ispiritwalità Franġiskana, matul is-snin kienet minsuġa fil-ħajja reliġjuża tan-nies tal-Birgu.
Fost il-lajċi Vittoriosani li ħaddnu din l-ispiritwalità bħala terzjarji nsibu lil Lorenzo Por-sella Flores, Terzjarju Franġiskan ferventi u marbut mill-qrib mal-Kunvent tal-Kapuċċini ta’ Santa Liberata fil-Kalkara. Il-fidi tiegħu ma kinitx waħda magħluqa fil-ħajja personali, iżda kienet tissarraf f’impenn konkret fi ħdan il-komunità. Fil-Birgu kien attiv fit-tagħlim tal-katekiżmu fost it-tfal. Madwaru nġabar grupp ta’ żgħażagħ li fl-1908 beda l-mixja biex titwaqqaf l-Unione di San Luigi, approvata s-sena ta’ wara.
Għall-ewwel kienu jiltaqgħu fl-Oratorju tal-Kunċizzjoni, anness mal-Knisja ta’ San Lawrenz, iżda maż-żmien il-ħidma tagħhom infirxet fost it-tfal tal-parroċċa. Huma kienu jiġbru lit-tfal, jgħallmuhom id-duttrina u jħejjuhom għas-sagramenti tal-Preċett u tal-Griżma, filwaqt li kienu jikkollaboraw ukoll mal-qassisin tal-parroċċa fil-formazzjoni Nisranija tagħhom.
Aktar t**d, taħt it-tmexxija ta’ Porsella, il-grupp sab dar akbar f’Palazzo Pirotta, fi Triq l-Irlandiżi, li ngħatat l-isem ta’ Mons Domini. Hemmhekk l-imseħbin bdew jgħixu forma ta’ ħajja komunitarja, fuq regola ispirata minn dik tal-Kapuċċini u tat-Tereżjani. L-influwenza Kapuċċina kienet tidher ukoll esternament, għaliex meta kienu miġbura fil-Mons Domini, l-imseħbin kienu jilbsu l-libsa franġiskana ta’ Terzjarji Kapuċċini, b’salib tal-bronż fuq sidirhom. Il-ħidma tagħhom ma baqgħetx limitata għat-tagħlim reliġjuż. Maż-żmien bdew ukoll jgħallmu snajja liż-żgħażagħ, u b’hekk il-formazzjoni Nisranija ngħaqdet ma’ għajnuna konkreta li setgħet tħejjihom aħjar għall-ħajja u għax-xogħol.
Din il-ħidma turi kif il-preżenza Franġiskana fil-Birgu ma kinitx magħluqa biss fil-kunventi jew fil-ħajja tal-patrijiet u s-sorijiet. Permezz ta’ lajċi bħal Lorenzo Porsella Flores u sħabu, l-ideal Franġiskan ta’ talb, fraternità, edukazzjoni u servizz niżel fil-qalba tal-komunità Vittoriosana u ħalla l-frott tiegħu fil-formazzjoni ta’ ġenerazzjonijiet ta’ tfal u żgħażagħ.
San Franġisk fl-Arti
Ir-rabta tal-Birgu mal-ispiritwalità Franġiskana, matul is-sekli, ħalliet ukoll il-marka tagħha fil-wirt artistiku u reliġjuż ta’ din il-belt. Għalkemm parti sostanzjali minn dan il-wirt għadu jeżisti, sfortunatament kien hemm xi opri oħra ntilfu matul it-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija.
Fis-sagristija tal-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’ San Lawrenz insibu l-pala d’altare ta’ San Franġisk, li bħal ma għidna qabel, fl-imgħoddi kienet meqjuma fuq l-artal tal-kappella ddedikata lill-qaddis fl-istess knisja. Fil-knisja Parrokkjali nsibu wkoll ventartal tal-injam u missal bil-fidda, it-tnejn imżejna bl-arma Franġiskana.
Fil-Mużew Parrokkjali jinsabu żewġ xbihat impittra ta’ San Franġisk. Waħda minnhom, f’għamla ta’ sottoquadro u li fl-imgħoddi kienet tappartjeni lill-Knisja ta’ San Filippu, filwaqt li l-oħra, ta’ għamla rettangolari, aktarx kienet tappartjeni lill-Knisja tal-Karmnu. Fl-istess mużew insibu wkoll l-abbozz oriġinali u kopja fotografika ta’ kari-katura tas-seklu tmintax li turi patrijiet Kappuċċini jakkumpanjaw il-purċissjoni ta’ San Lawrenz.
Fis-sagristija tal-knisja tal-Monasteru ta’ Santa Skolastika hemm ukoll kwadru żgħir li juri lil San Franġisk flimkien ma’ San Ludoviku IX, Re ta’ Franza, u Santa Eliżabetta tal-Ungerija. Il-preżenza flimkien ta’ dawn it-tliet qaddisin għandha tifsira partikulari fil-kuntest tat-Terzjarji Franġiskani li kienu jiltaqgħu kemm fil-Knisja ta’ San Filippu kif ukoll f’dik tal-Monasteru ta’ Santa Skolastika.
Fost ix-xbihat importanti ta’ San Franġisk li sfortunatament intilfu fil-gwerra kien hemm dik li kienet tifforma parti mill-medaljun ċentrali tas-suffett tal-Knisja tal-Lunzjata, xogħol ta’ Lazzaro Pisani. Il-kompożizzjoni kienet tirrappreżenta r-rebħa ta’ San Duminku fuq l-ereżija u d-demonju. Fiha, Pisani kien poġġa b’mod prominenti lit-Trinità Qaddisa mdawra bl-anġli, filwaqt li lil Kristu urieh lest biex jagħmel ġustizzja mad-dinja minħabba dnubietha. Fl-istess waqt, iżda, il-Verġni Mqaddsa tidher titlob ħniena għall-ġens uman, filwaqt li San Duminku u San Franġisk jidhru bħala dawk li, permezz tal-ħidma u l-missjoni tagħhom, saru strumenti tal-ħniena divina.
Ir-rabta bejn iż-żewġ qaddisin fundaturi għadha tidher fil-Birgu sal-lum. Matul il-jiem tal-festa ta’ San Duminku, fuq iz-zuntier tal-knisja tintrama statwa ta’ San Franġisk, xogħol l-istatwarju Michael Camilleri Cauchi.
Ma’ dawn irridu nżidu wkoll statwi u pitturi oħra ta’ San Franġisk li kien hemm fiż-żewġ kunventi tas-Sorijiet Franġiskani. Għalkemm dawn l-opri ma għadhomx jiffurmaw parti mill-patrimonju artistiku li wieħed jista’ jara fil-Birgu llum, it-tifkira tagħhom tkompli tgħinna nifhmu kemm il-preżenza Franġiskana kienet mifruxa fil-ħajja reliġjuża, soċjali u artistika tal-Belt Vittoriosa.
Konklużjoni
Matul is-sekli, ir-rabta bejn San Franġisk, il-familja Franġiskana u l-Birgu ħadet diversi suriet. Uħud minnhom għadhom magħna sal-lum, filwaqt li oħrajn intilfu mal-mogħdija taż-żmien. Flimkien, iżda, jirrakkontaw kapitlu sabiħ mill-istorja reliġjuża tal-Birgu u jixhdu kif l-ispirtu ta’ San Franġisk ta’ Assisi ħalla marka dejjiema fuq din il-belt u fuq il-poplu tagħha.
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The Capuchin Friars in Birgu
The bond between the Franciscan family and the Parish of Birgu was further strengthened during the eighteenth century through the presence of the Capuchin Friars, who for more than a century and a half had their friary within the parochial territory of Birgu, in the area known as tal-Għasli.
It was the benefactor Giuseppe Valerio Abela who, between 1736 and 1737, granted the Capuchin Friars the land described in contemporary documents as fuori le mura della Vittoriosa (“outside the walls of Vittoriosa”), on which they were to build their church and friary. The choice of this location was in keeping with the Capuchin tradition of establishing their friaries outside urban centres, in surroundings more conducive to a life of recollection, simplicity and prayer. Indeed, the site lay only a stone’s throw from the fortifications of Birgu and the Cottonera Lines.
The Building of the Friary and Church
The plans for the complex, comprising the church and friary, were drawn up by Fra Giuseppe, a Capuchin religious. His design remained faithful to the spirit of the Order: an architecture free from excessive ornamentation and characterised by simplicity, sobriety and recollection.
On 26 April 1736, work on the construction of the new friary was solemnly inaugurated. On that day, a procession made its way from the Parish Church of St Lawrence in Birgu to the site chosen for the new foundation. The procession was led by the Inquisitor Carlo Francesco Durini and the Parish Priest of Birgu, Dun Gian Paolo Pace. During the procession, the Parish Priest carried a cross which, upon reaching the site, was erected on the spot where the friary was to be built.
Construction proceeded rapidly, so much so that on 30 December of the same year, the first community of friars was able to take up residence in the new friary. This was the second Capuchin friary in Malta.
At the same time, work was also under way on the church, whose foundation stone was laid by Bishop Paolo Alpheran de Bussan on 18 June 1736. The church was dedicated to St Barbara, in memory of the mother of the benefactor Giuseppe Valerio Abela, who had died at a young age during the plague of 1676.
The church was completed in August 1743, when the Guardian of the friary, Fr Giuseppe Grech, blessed it and opened it for public worship. Four years later, on 18 June 1747, it was consecrated by the same Bishop who had laid its foundation stone.
The Connection with the Church of St Lawrence
The presence of the Capuchins within the parochial territory of Birgu was not confined to life within their friary. Gradually, the friars became an integral part of the religious life of the parish and began participating in various processions that departed from the Church of St Lawrence. This participation continued even after the parish boundaries of the area were reorganised towards the end of the nineteenth century.
Indeed, on 11 December 1897, by means of a decree issued from the Archbishop’s Palace in Valletta, Kalkara was established as an autonomous parish, separated from the Mother Parish of Birgu. As a result of this alteration to the parish boundaries, the Convento dei Cappuccini fuori le mura della Vittoriosa, which for 161 years had stood within the territory of the Parish of Birgu, now became territorially part of the newly established Parish of Kalkara.
Nevertheless, the change in parish boundaries did not abruptly sever the bonds that had developed over the years. For some time, the friary continued to be known as that of the Capuchins of Birgu, while the friars continued to participate in the procession of the titular feast of St Lawrence.
Their presence in the St Lawrence procession was not merely occasional, but was connected with an obligation incumbent upon the Capuchin community to accompany the procession. This tradition continued until the outbreak of the Second World War, when the extraordinary circumstances of wartime brought it to a halt. After the war, the Capuchins resumed their participation in the procession of St Lawrence. Eventually, however, their participation came to an end around 1960.
The presence of the Capuchin Friars for more than a century and a half within the Parish of Birgu therefore represents an important chapter in the spiritual and social history of the City of Vittoriosa. Throughout these years, the Capuchins closely intertwined their life and ministry with those of the parish and the people of Vittoriosa, leaving behind a rich legacy of faith, pastoral service and devotion. The bond between the Capuchins and Birgu thus remains firmly inscribed in the history of the city and in the collective memory of its people.
Two Convents of Franciscan Sisters
Between the end of the nineteenth century and the end of the twentieth century, the Parish of Birgu was blessed with the presence of two congregations of Franciscan Sisters, who established their convents here and, for many years, made an important contribution to the religious, educational and social life of the parish community. These were the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary and the Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus.
The Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary
The first to arrive were the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, a congregation founded by Blessed Mother Maria Caterina Troiani. These sisters were popularly known in Malta as the “Sisters of Egypt”, while in Birgu they were also known as the “Sorijiet tal-Karmnu”, since their convent stood next to the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.
The Sisters opened their first convent in Birgu in 1886, with its main entrance on St Lawrence Street. They later also opened a school, and for more than a century their presence became an integral part of the daily life of the parish and the Vittoriosa community. Their work was particularly associated with the education of children through the school they administered, as well as with the teaching of catechism, especially among the children and families of the Ħawli area.
Their presence in the Parish of Birgu came to an end in 2000, after more than a century of work and service. Throughout this long period, their bond with Birgu was further strengthened by a number of young women from Vittoriosa who embraced the religious vocation within the congregation.
The Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus
Another link between the Franciscan family and Vittoriosa is found in the Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus, a congregation founded by Fr Joseph Diacono and Mother Margherita De Brincat in Victoria, Gozo, in 1880.
Their arrival in Birgu was directly connected with the field of education. It was at the request of Dr Albert V. Laferla, Director of Education, that the Sisters came to Birgu to provide their services as teachers at the Government Primary School. On 17 September 1929, they opened Dar il-Bambin ta’ Praga in Bishop’s Palace Street, which became the Congregation’s twenty-second house.
From this house, the Sisters began a new chapter of Franciscan service in Birgu. Their mission was particularly centred on the education and formation of children, and for several decades they served generations of Vittoriosa children, both at the Skola ż-Żgħira, housed in the Bishop’s Palace building, and at the Primary School, housed in the former Armoury of the Knights of St John. In this way, the Franciscan spirit in Birgu found another tangible expression in the field of education, through the Sisters’ dedicated service to generations of children.
The presence of the Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus in the Parish of Birgu came to an end towards the late 1990s, after several decades of work and service. Their bond with the city, however, extended far beyond the physical presence of their convent. Over the years, a number of young women from Vittoriosa embraced the religious vocation within this Congregation and, as daughters of Birgu, continued the path of service inspired by the Franciscan spirit.
The Franciscan Third Order
The bond between the Franciscan family and Birgu was further strengthened through the presence of the Franciscan Third Order, through which the spirituality of St Francis also found a place among the lay people of Vittoriosa. The Third Order was established at the Church of St Philip and was initially under the jurisdiction of the Friars Minor. Following a number of disputes, its jurisdiction passed to the Franciscan Capuchin Friars of Kalkara, before later returning to the Friars Minor of Valletta. This presence provides further evidence of how deeply Franciscan spirituality became woven into the religious life of the people of Birgu over the years.
Among the lay people of Vittoriosa who embraced this spirituality as tertiaries was Lorenzo Porsella Flores, a fervent Franciscan tertiary who was closely associated with the Capuchin Friary of Santa Liberata in Kalkara. His faith was not confined to his personal spiritual life but found practical expression in his commitment to the community. In Birgu, he was actively involved in teaching catechism to children. Around him gathered a group of young men who, in 1908, began the process that led to the establishment of the Unione di San Luigi, which received approval the following year. Initially, they met in the Oratory of the Immaculate Conception, adjoining the Church of St Lawrence, but in time their work spread among the children of the parish. They gathered the children together, taught them Christian doctrine and prepared them for the sacraments of First Holy Communion and Confirmation, while also collaborating with the parish clergy in their Christian formation.
Later, under Porsella’s leadership, the group found a larger home at Palazzo Pirotta, in Irish Street, which was given the name Mons Domini. There, the members began to live a form of community life according to a rule inspired by those of the Capuchins and the Teresians. The Capuchin influence was also outwardly visible, for when gathered at Mons Domini, the members wore the Franciscan habit of Capuchin tertiaries, with a bronze cross upon their chest. Their work was not limited to religious instruction. In time, they also began teaching trades to young people, thereby combining Christian formation with practical assistance that could better prepare them for life and work.
This work demonstrates that the Franciscan presence in Birgu was not confined to convents or to the lives of friars and sisters. Through lay people such as Lorenzo Porsella Flores and his companions, the Franciscan ideals of prayer, fraternity, education and service reached into the heart of the Vittoriosa community and bore fruit in the formation of generations of children and young people.
St Francis in Art
Over the centuries, Birgu’s association with Franciscan spirituality also left its mark on the city’s artistic and religious heritage. Although a substantial part of this heritage still survives, unfortunately a number of works were lost during the Second World War.
In the sacristy of the Parish Church of St Lawrence is the altarpiece of St Francis which, as mentioned earlier, was formerly venerated on the altar of the chapel dedicated to the saint in the same church. The Parish Church also preserves a wooden antependium and a silver-bound missal, both decorated with the Franciscan emblem.
The Parish Museum houses two painted images of St Francis. One of these, in the form of a sottoquadro, formerly belonged to the Church of St Philip, while the other, rectangular in form, most probably belonged to the Church of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The same museum also preserves the original sketch and a photographic copy of an eighteenth-century caricature depicting Capuchin friars accompanying the procession of St Lawrence.
In the sacristy of the church of the Monastery of St Scholastica, there is also a small painting depicting St Francis together with St Louis IX, King of France, and St Elizabeth of Hungary. The depiction of these three saints together has particular significance in the context of the Franciscan tertiaries, who met both at the Church of St Philip and at the church of the Monastery of St Scholastica.
Among the important representations of St Francis that were unfortunately lost during the war was the one forming part of the central ceiling medallion of the Church of the Annunciation, painted by Lazzaro Pisani. The composition represented the triumph of St Dominic over heresy and the devil. Pisani prominently depicted the Holy Trinity surrounded by angels, while Christ was shown ready to pass judgement upon the world because of its sins. At the same time, however, the Blessed Virgin was shown pleading for mercy on behalf of humanity, while St Dominic and St Francis appeared as those who, through their work and mission, became instruments of divine mercy.
The bond between the two founder saints remains visible in Birgu to this day. During the days of the feast of St Dominic, a statue of St Francis, the work of artist Michael Camilleri Cauchi, is erected on the parvis of the church.
To these must also be added other statues and paintings of St Francis that once adorned the two convents of the Franciscan Sisters. Although these works no longer form part of the artistic heritage that can be seen in Birgu today, their memory helps us appreciate the extent to which the Franciscan presence permeated the religious, social and artistic life of Vittoriosa.
Conclusion
Over the centuries, the bond between St Francis, the Franciscan family and Birgu took many forms. Some of these remain with us to this day, while others have disappeared with the passage of time. Together, however, they tell a fascinating chapter in the religious history of Birgu and bear witness to the enduring mark that the spirit of St Francis of Assisi left upon this city and its people.
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Parroċċa San Lawrenz - Il-Birgu
Kunvent Dumnikan tal-Lunzjata, il-Birgu
