Fr Hermann Duncan, O. Carm, looks at how the church dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel in Fleur-de-Lys was founded and how the Santa Venera suburb became a parish.

When World War II broke out, many Maltese were looking for shelter, especially those from the Cottonera area. Many sought refuge in Rabat, Birkirkara and Santa Venera.

The Dominican friars of Vittoriosa also had to relocate during the war as they lost their priory. They moved to Fleur-de-Lys where they were allowed to stay in a marble factory owned by a certain Bonavia (today it houses the Augustinian sisters). From here, the friars started performing their apostolic work.

The facade of the parish church of Fleurde- Lys dedicated to Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The parish feast was held last weekend.

This area formed part of the Santa Venera parish but the Carmelite friars were concerned that very few of the parishioners were attending Mass in Santa Venera. Thus, the parish priest at the time, Fr Alfons Zammit, started looking for a piece of land where they could build a church to satisfy the pastoral needs of these people.

As the number of people in Fleur-de-Lys started to increase, Fr Zammit laid his eyes on an area where two mezzanines were going to be built. These already had their foundations set but work had stopped due to the war. The war indeed caused many complications and financial problems, yet work on the construction of the new church was soon under way.

The first stone of the church was placed on January 14, 1945, by the Prior Provincial, Fr Peter Dimech. Ġużè D’Amato made the plan of the church and Ġużè Falzon and his son Antonio constructed the building. Since the side walls were already built, it took only two years for the church to be completed. Until then, the friars used a garage in the southern part of Fleur-de-Lys road, close to the King George Bar, where they could carry out pastoral exigencies and hold Liturgical celebrations.On December 31, 1946, the Prior Provincial, Fr George Borg, blessed the church. The official opening was held on January 1, 1947, and it was celebrated with a procession with the Blessed Sacrament from the Santa Venera parish church to the new church in Fleur-de-Lys.

Mass began to be celebrated there the next day. Many benefactors helped the Carmelite friars, especially in the construction of the main altar, that was consecrated by Archbishop Michael Gonzi on May 14, 1948.

The first stone of the church was placed on January 14, 1945

Bonavia donated the marble for the altar which was placed by C. Spiteri Sacco. Modesta Delakaye paid for a beautiful tabernacle, while the main altar painting depicting Our Lady giving the scapular to St Simon Stock was created by artist Anthony Caruana. On the sides of the titular painting, there are two other paintings of St Alfons Maria de Liguori and St Albert of Jerusalem, who was the legislator of the Carmelites.

One also finds a beautiful statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel which was brought from Rome in 1948 together with a statue of St Joseph. There is also a statue of Our Lady of Sorrows and a Crucifix made by sculptor Augustine Camilleri Cauchi. Recently, the titular statue of Our Lady of Mount Carmel was restored and was placed in a new niche.

Fleur-de-Lys becomes a parish

There were many people who wished Fleur-de-Lys to become a parish. On June 28, 1974, during a meeting of the Provincial Council, the Prior Provincial, Fr Ġustin Sant, informed his council that Archbishop Michael Gonzi intended to make the church of Fleur-de-Lys a parish.

Thus, the Prior Provincial went to speak to the Carmelite community of Fleur-de-Lys on the boundaries of the new parish, as well as the choice of parish priest for the new parish. The Archbishop’s Curia told them that by August 16, the Act of Convenience needed to be signed, as the following Sunday the new parish would be announced officially.

After a long discussion, the plans on the new parish limits were approved. The decree of the establishment of the parish was signed on January 18, 1975, by Archbishop Gonzi with effect from the January 25, 1975. It is worth noting that on February 5, 1991, a decree was issued for the enlarge-ment of the parish boundaries by Archbishop Joseph Mercieca.

The first parish priest was Fr Amadeo Zammit, followed by Fr Mawrizju Mizzi, Fr Anthony Parnis, Fr Michael Farrugia, Fr Mawrizju Mizzi, Fr Joseph Saliba, Fr Ivan Scicluna and Fr Martin Schembri, the present parish priest. There were also two parish administrators.

Today, in this parish, one finds the Carmelite Family Centre which was blessed on April 16, 1994, by the Prior General Fr John Malley, O.Carm. Many associations and parish entities meet in this centre such as the Altar Boys, the Christian Families group, the Charismatic prayer group God Loves You, the Divine Mercy prayer group, the Eucharistic Community, the choir Flos Carmeli, the Legion of Mary, the Bible group, the Social Club for the elderly, the third Carmelite Order and pastoral parish council.

Besides the above, some other parish organisations and entities meet in other places. There are also three communities of sisters, two Augustinian communities and the sisters of the Daughters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

The parish of Fleur-de-Lys is a very active one and we hope that it continues to supply us with many new vocations. The parish priest, Prior Fr Martin Schembri, and the friars are commended for doing so much work among the parishioners. May the hard-working lay people of this community keep striving to make this parish a beautiful one.