Għajnsielem archpriest briefs parishioners on church’s big projects, needs
Parish church's bell tower in focus
The management of Our Lady of Loreto parish in Għajnsielem recently organised a public meeting during which its major projects for the coming years were presented in detail.
This was an opportunity for parishioners to listen, participate and gain a better understanding of the work that has been completed, is currently under way or being planned for the future. An overview of the financial situation associated with these projects was also given.
The meeting was addressed by archpriest Joseph Hili, who thanked all those who have dedicated and continue to dedicate their time and energy to the parish church.
In recent days, a significant part of the necessary maintenance work on the church roof has been completed. The project included the removal of damaged waterproof membrane, protective treatment of the roof using a liquid membrane and the application of a new protective roof covering. All this was carried out voluntarily by parishioners.
Fr Hili also outlined a project requiring immediate attention: the church’s bell tower. He said this was not a minor issue. Since being entrusted with responsibility for the parish, he had been informed that the bell tower had significant structural defects that needed seeing to. In fact, an application process had begun in 2024 with the Planning Authority to obtain the necessary permits.
Over the years the condition of the bell tower has been continuously monitored by technical experts and plans for the required works have been studied. The severe weather conditions last winter further aggravated the damage, with the situation rapidly deteriorating from March.
The first interventions recommended by experts in the field are mostly measures to ensure public safety. For this reason, an assessment is currently being carried out to determine which parts of the church forecourt should, for the time being, have restricted access.
One of the decisions that had to be taken has been to stop the church bells from ringing and to secure the bell tower with scaffolding.
This was done for safety, as although the bells are supported by a separate structure, their vibrations must have some kind of impact on the condition of the bell tower.