Our Lady of Mercy church in Xewkija This chapel stands on the - TopicsExpress



          

Our Lady of Mercy church in Xewkija This chapel stands on the spot where the Xewkija-Qala and the Victoria-Mgarr roads cross. According to Achille Ferris, as far back as the year 1397 there was a church on this spot dedicated to St.Bartholomew. It must have been neglected and collapsed because there is no mention of it in Mgr.Dusinas report of 1575. Yet, the historian Agius de Soldanis states that it is mentioned in old documents to be still standing in 1597. It was rebuilt in 1643. In 1735, the painting of St.Bartholomew was replaced by one showing Our Lady with St.Bartholomew and the souls in Purgatory, the work of Gian Nikola Buhagiar. Since then the chapel has been known by the name of Our Lady of Mercy. In 1870 the painting was restored by Busuttil. In 1933 the church was enlarged and began to be used more intensively in the pastoral work of the parish. In 1944 the Dominican nuns took over the management of the chapel and still oversee its functioning nowadays. In 1955 it was enlarged again, and in 1967, Bishop Pace blessed the church and the school opened by the nuns.
Posted on: Tue, 14 Oct 2014 09:43:48 +0000

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