Parish Church of
Our Lady of Lourdes in San Gwann
Home to the Capuchin friars, the church and convent were originally conceived by Mr Felic Borg, who, together with the friars, started preparing the plans necessary just after the war.
Designed by the architect Guze Columbo and based on the general outline of Rome’s Basilica of St Paul outside the Walls, the foundation stone was laid on the 13th September 1953. It was blessed by Bishop Mons Emanuel Galea.Six years later, on the 20th December 1959, Fr Krispin Galea conducted the first mass and blessing. The official consecration was held on 12th May 1962 by the Bishop, Mons. Mikiel Gonzi.
Decorating the ceiling of the church was always going to be problematic, requiring specialized equipment, but finally work began in August 1981.Tasked with the job of covering the 21-metre-high vault which stretched out 30 metres long and 11 metres high, was the interior designer and decorator Guzeppi Galea.Galea would choose colour intonations to match the white stone that made up the interior walls of the church. The work itself was carried out by the Italian firm ‘Societa Artistica Decorazione Interne’ based in Vicenza. Work on the ceiling took just over a year and was completed on the 17th June 1982.
The main altar is the work of the Italian firm Pietra Santa, based in Luca.
It was placed in position in October 1961. Decorating its front face are ten medallions depicting prophets and biblical figures.Set in the middle of the altar is the tabernacle, made of bronze, and covered with silver sheets.On the parish feast day, candelabras are brought out. These too are made of silvered bronze, and sculpted into each of the three facets of the legs, are symbols related to Our Lady and St Francis.The surname ‘Micallef’ is also etched into the legs, this being the surname of the benefactor who paid for them. The statues of the apostles which accompany the candelabras are made of wood, and were made in Milan, Italy.These were originally housed in the Bormla Parish Church and have since been layered in silver. The altar was consecrated by the Bishop Mikiel Gonzi on 12th May 1962.
The Titular Statue of Our Lady of Lourdes arrived from Italy on 17th June 1960 and was blessed in the Basilica of Birkirkara by the Provost Archpriest, Mons. Emmanuel Vella. Over the years, a silver halo with twelve stars, a garland made of filigree, four silver flowerpot stands, a dark blue valance, and a further crown embellished the statue.Finally, in August 1978, two golden roses were added at the foot of the statue.