Parish Church of Our Lady of Fatima in Pieta

On 17 July 1944 the Provincial of Dominican Friars, Fr Joseph Gauci, spoke of his desire to open a new Dominican house on top of the hill in Guardamangia.

A few years later, on the initiative of Fr Edmond Klimech, the Provincial of Dominican Friars during the years 1952-56, the preparations for the construction of a large convent and sanctuary began.

The foundations of the church were blessed on the 8 of December 1953, and on 28 March 1954 blessings and the laying of the first stone of the sanctuary by Archbishop Mikiel Gonzi.The building work was managed by architect Roger Degiorgio and the contractor Gerald Spiteri.

On 8 December 1954, the church was blessed, and the first Mass was celebrated on the new premises. Works continued to be carried out in 1961, and included a marble gate, two marble fonts for holy water, a cross for use during processions, and a vestibule door behind the main church door. The consecration of the major altar took place on the 1st May 1955, and on 29 May 1978 the church was consecrated by Archbishop Joseph Mercieca.

In January 1968, Archbishop Mikiel Gonzi issued a Circular declaring the church a Parish. The first parish priest appointed was Fr Vincent Portelli OP.

As soon as the church gained its Parish status, plans to hold a procession on the titular feast started being made. Also the need arose for a statue of Our Lady of Fatima to be carried during the procession.  The first feast was held on 13 October 1968, and for many years the feast continued to take place on that same date to commemorate the day of the last appearance of Our Lady in Fatima.  In 1972 it was decided that the feast be held on the Sunday after the 13th of October of every year. 

 

The statue of the Saint, made of wood and standing at about three metres, arrived in the church on 1 May 1956 from Fatima in Portugal and found its rightful place on the main altar. It has twice been moved from this church: Once in 1967, when it was displayed on a pilgrimage which marked 50 years since the Madonna’s appearances in Fatima, and the second time, in the early 2000’s, when it was taken to be restored.

Another statue in this church, used only for the festive celebrations, can be found in a niche in the sacristy. This was crafted by Glormu Dingli in 1971.