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 11th June 1940: the first bombs of World War II hit Malta. The
friars of the Valletta
community were exhorted to leave the capital. They found refuge in
Birkirkara in a house called "Villa Maria" in Msida street,
donated to them by Joseph Pace. The convent of Valletta was
shortly after damaged by the war and the friars delayed in
returning. In the meantime they remained in Birkirkara for three
and a half years having contacts with people and doing some
pastoral work.
In 1944 they left the "refugee place" and moved back to Valletta.
But the people, who got used to the friars, protested against this
change and wanted that the community remains at Birkirkara. The
provincial of that time, Fr. Saviour Tabone, in accordance to this
wish decided to form a small community in the town. Fr. Seraphim
Fenech was elected guardian and together with Fr. Hilary Dimech,
Fr. Augustine Magro e Fr. Pacifico Zammit constituted the first
community of B’Kara. In this way the community was born in
Birkirkara, which today is the largest town of Malta counting over
25.000 people.
Shortly after a garage was used as a provisional church and a new
convent began to be built. In 1945 the community left "Villa
Maria" and entered the new small convent. Two years later the
Provincial Chapter decided to buy the land site near the garage
for the construction of the church and the convent. Today the
convent is accompanied by a beautiful church dedicated to
Saint
Francis of Assisi. In this locality an extensive pastoral work
is carried on by the friars. In the last Sunday of May a
devotional feast in honour to
Saint Anthony of Padua takes place.
This community constitutes a
formation equipe and hosts the formation house of the
Conventual
Franciscans. Besides the five friars, there are also two
youths (postulants) who are doing their pre-novitiate period,
preparing themselves to enter in religious life.
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Weekdays: 6.30am, 7.30am, 6.30pm
Saturday:
6.30am, 7.30am,
6.30pm
Sunday: 6.30am, 8.00am, 9.30am, 11.00am, 6.30pm
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