Naxxar

Nativity of Our Lady Parish Church

Naxxar was one of the ten parishes existing in 1436. St.Agatha, St Leonard and the Assumption were three chapels mentioned by Inquisitor Dusina in his 1575 report, which said that all three almost adjoined the Parish Church. He decreed that the site then occupied by the Assumption was to be re-used as a cemetery. His orders however went unheeded as this church continued to function. In 1594 it was rededicated to the Nativity of Our Lady. However it was later rededicated to 'Sancta Maria Arcus'. The old parish church, dedicated to the Nativity of Our Lady, was rebuilt in a cruciform shape on the plan of Tumas Dingli and was duly completed by 1636. Early in the 20th century side aisles were added and a new facade was built. Its dedication date is the 11th Dec 1729. 

Annunciation Had Dghif

In 1575 Andrea Sammut was bound to provide for the celebration of the feast of this church. Bishop Balaguer decreed its canonical deconsecration in 1659.

Assumption Had Dghif

The 1575 records of Mons.Dusina state that Lorenzo Cauchi was in charge of this church, which was afterwards closed for worship by Bishop Balaguer in 1659. 

Assumption Xaghra

Also called Our Lady of Grace, this church was built around the year 1500. Tradition says that the Knight Xara had made a vow to build a church dedicated to the Virgin Mary if he survived a shipwreck. The grace was granted and he was true to his vow. In 1588, Maria Bonello provided an endowment for the celebration of its feast. The Knight Pietro de Blacas presented a new altarpiece when the church was rebuilt sometime around 1653. It was rebuilt in 1690 with funds provided by pilgrims who were continually visiting it.

Chapel

After their centre was finished, the male members of M.U.S.E.U.M. lowered the basement of the building and made space for a modern chapel.

Chapel

At the Peace Band Club premises.

Divine Mercy Tat-targa

The Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in San Pawl tat-Targa, for the first time, celebrated various sacraments in April 2009. The shell of the church was blessed in 2003 and the San Pawl tat-Targa / Birguma community, which counts about 1,000 families, was formed. The complex also includes a parish centre. It celebrates its feast of Divine Mercy, on the Sunday after Easter. This shrine is the only church dedicated to this devotion on the Maltese islands.

Holy Family Palazzo Parisio

A chapel of this dedication lies in the Heritage building of Palazzo Parisio. The 17th century wooden altar was built for Grandmaster Nicholas Cotoner and bears his coat-of-arms. The palace is the venue for high class and civil weddings.

Holy Family Sghajtar

This Church was blessed by Bishop Mercieca on 8th Dec 1998 together with an adjacent pastoral centre used for Spiritual retreats, Catechism and seminars. 

Immaculate Conception Had Dejf

The people of Naxxar did their best to have this church built in their parish, while Ignazio Galea provided what was needed for this enterprise particularly through a bequest recorded in the acts of Notary Thomas Cauchi on the 2nd November 1706. The relics of St.Fidelis, brought from Rome in 1839, are venerated in the church.

Nativity of Our Lady 

In 1486, Leo Ebejer left monies for the erection the church of the Assumption. In 1575 the parish priest of Naxxar was its procurator. From 1588 onwards this church had its dedication changed to the Nativity of Our Lady. On Her feast, there is a procession, which starts from the Parish Church to this church. It was rebuilt at the request of the people between 1618 and 1628. Paolo Schembri defrayed the expenses involved in its rebuilding. Around 1694 some changes were made to it and to the adjacent church of St Lucy. 

Our Lady of the Way Loyola Novitiate

In 1945 Marquis Scicluna gave the house he had in Naxxar to the Jesuits to use as their novitiate. Between 1950 and 1954 they enlarged the building and dedicated a chapel on the premises to Our Lady of the Way. In 2012 this chapel was refurbished.

Resurrection - 

Chapel in Hilltop Gdns retirement home 

St.Aloysius

An Oratory of this dedication was raised on the rear part of the site of a would be much bigger Parish church when in the early 20th century it was decided not to build a new enormous church but enlarge the existing one.

St.Basil

Mentioned by Mons Dusina in the then Naxxar precincts in 1575 when it was already in ruins and he declared it deconsecrated.

St Catherine (ta' Xewki)

According to A Ferres, a church of this dedication and nickname existed in 1780 but when he was writing his book in 1866, the church did not exist any more.

St.Catherine of Alexandria Wied il-ghasel

Mons Dusina mentioned the existence of a church of this dedication here in 1575. In 1602, a newer chapel was built on the foundations by Mariano Mangion but it was deconsecrated in 1659 by Bishop Balaguer together with nine others in the Naxxar area because of insufficiencies and state of disrepair. From documents of 1716 on, we find it again in regular use. It was falling into disuse during the last century but lately was restored to a fair standard. Inside it contains a number of stuccos, which cannot be completely restored. 

St.George

Mons. Dusina, in his 1575 report, listed a church of this dedication near the place called Tat-Targa.

St.James

The church was built in the 16th century but was closed by Bishop Balaguer in 1659. Twenty years later it was opened again after being refurbished. Its Heraldry and coat of arms were defaced by French troops in the very late 18th century. 

St.John Baptist

Built in 1575, this church was closed by Bishop Balaguer in 1658. It was rebuilt in the 18th century in an octagonal shape. In WWII it housed refugees and for a time, St.Gorg Preca held conferences in it.

St Lucy

This chapel existed already in 1500. It lies adjacent to the chapel of the Nativity of Our Lady. Both these chapels were rebuilt in the 17th century.

St.Margaret Tal-wied

Built in the 15th century, this church was demolished in the 1950's to make way for a new road.

St.Paul tat-Targa

Built in 1538 and rebuilt in 1696 legend has it as the spot where St.Paul preached and was heard as far away as Gozo. 

St.Sebastian

Built in the 16th century and deconsecrated by Bishop Belaguer, this church was also demolished in the 1950's to make way for a road. 

Visitation

In 1608 a Visitation church was recorded in the Naxxar jurisdiction somewhere close to Maghtab.