St. Martin's Church - Baħrija - Malta.
Welcome to our site. We hope that you will find it useful and we invite you to visit us again so that you can see all our activities and information of our community.
Among the many beautiful churches we have in our Maltese Islands, of several historic times, undoubtfully, one of the modern ones is the Baħrija Church. Baħrija situated on the outscares of Rabat Malta is a village in the one of the most beautiful country sides our land has given to us. The Church is dedicated for St. Martin Bishop of Tours. The feast of the Saint is celebrated on November 11. The procession and external celebrations are celebrated on the nearest Sunday to the date. It is the tradition that on that Sunday a fair will be held to commemorate the feast. The Turkeys' Fair originally took place in 1953, when the rector at that time Can. Saverin Bianco started the fair as a fund raising for the building of a new church since the chapel that was being used was becoming small for the faithful community attending the religious venues. In this fair one can find several things for sale such as vegetables, plants, maltese honey and maltese wine, and there will be also lotteries going on all day where sinonimous with the feast there will be turkeys and lambs as a prize for the winners. A bag will be distributed to the kids present which will include: nuts, almonds, figs, snacks, fruit and some sweets among all things.
The Church while being built
The present rector of our community is Rev. Timon Merċieca. He is the fifth rector of the zone since 1942. The first rector in 1942 was Fr. Thomas Xerri O.P. from the Order of Preachers known better as the Dominicans. He was replaced then by Can. Saviour Bianco - the mind after the new church. Fr. Bianco during his religious mandate teached Chatecism to Daniel Caruana - a teenager born and resident in the village. Daniel from the first ages has shown interest to a religious vocation. In fact in 1955 he joined the Order. After 19 years he was ordered priest by Archbishop Michael Gonzi on the 20th July, 1974. It was also commemorated the 50th anniversary of the named Archbishop of his First Mass. In that Eucharist Celebration he ordered 50 priests - (the number of years he served God to date). Daniel changed his name to Martin (since at that time religious persons had to change their original name to another after taking their vows). Martin was chosen by him for the Saint that warmed all his life, in his brith-place Baħrija. He then could give a hand more than before to the Rector Fr. Bianco. They both worked hand-in-hand to push the Authorities to issue the permits for the building of the new Church.
Fr. Thomas Xerri O.P.
Can. Saverin Bianco
Fr. Martin Caruana O.P.
Can. Paul Raggio
Rev. Timon Mercieca
Fr. Bianco finished his service in the community on the 1st January, 1980 where he was then replaced by Fr. Martin Caruana O.P. Fr. Martin worked hardly in the village throughout all the community. He was loved by everyone and he always shown charisma and helped all the persons in all their needs. He was the person that after all the difficulties reached the top of his and all the community's dream - The Building of the New Church. The first stone was placed on the 21st July, 1984 by Archbishop Joseph Mercieca. The date also commemorated the 10th anniversary of Fr. Martin's Ordination as a priest.
Fr. Martin served the village until November 25, 2000 since he died suddenly after going to the Motherhouse in Rabat after he finished his service in Baħrija. He died in the presence of his Dominican Brothers near the Sacristy of the Convent dedicated to Our Lady of the Grotto where he lived. He was succeeded by Can. Paul Raggio on December 7th, 2000. Fr. Raggio continued to do all his upmost for the community and the new church. He started several projects that led to changes to a better view for the House of God. Fr. Raggio served the community until 2005.
Fr. Timon Mercieca - the present rector - took his place and as his previous rectors he showed interest in the community itself and the village ingeneral. The church today shows all the good work all the rectors worked for them. Fr. Mercieca has done the most recent changes in the building such as the New Picture of the Saint situated at the back of the altar. He changed the previous benches to modern chairs and finished all the marble-layed floor of all the church. Other projects are being discussed for the coming weeks.
The Choir of the Church is "Dilectio Pauper" meaning lover of the poor. At the time being the Choir forms of 16 persons mostly females. The Choir is directed by Gordon Debono and meets every Monday after the Mass in the same church. As a Choir it was framed on November 03rd in the presence of Mgr. Joseph Mercieca Archbishop Emeritus. On the date the choir launched for the first time a new song dedicated for the Saint in the week of the Feast. It was written in Latin and orchestrated by Mons. Lawrence Mifsud.
Choir Dilectio Pauper
- The Official Choir of St. Martin's Church, Baħrija - Malta -
Baptism, First Holy Communion, Confirmation, Weddings and Funerals etc. can be celebrated in our Church.
If you wish to make any comments, leave messages, order photos or celebrate religious functions and services in our church, we will be more than pleased to satisfy your needs at your highest expectations. Please do contact us through the telephone numbers underneath or through e-mail: info@sanmartinbahrija.com.
Mass Hours
Monday to Friday - (Winter): 18.00 - (Summer): 18.30
Saturday - (Winter): 17.00 - (Summer): 17.30
Sunday - 06.00 a.m. and 09.00 a.m.
Address: Rev. Timon Mercieca
"Dar San Martin"
Triq Patri Tumas Xerri O.P.
Baħrija - RBT 6052
Malta
(+356) 2145 4108
(+356) 2745 4108
Office Hours:
Tuesday to Friday: 16.30 to 17.30
Other dates and times by previous appointment.
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