Malta - Hamrun

Parish Church of San Gejtanu:

On the 13th of June 1869, the foundation stone was laid for a new and much needed Parish Church. The architect was Dr.Giorgio Costantino Schinas. It was blessed and opened by Bishop Count Carmel Scicluna on 11th July 1875. Actually it was the previous Bishop Gaetano Paceforno who wished to dedicate it to San Gejtanu, his namesake. The parish church was consecrated on 26th September 1930 by Bishop Don Mauro Caruana. But the dome only started to be built on the 13th April 1953 when the first stone was laid to the plan of Chev. Joseph D'Amato and it was finished in 1956.

The church is built on neo-gothic lines, cruciform and with two side aisles. The apse is a little bit short for this kind of style but that had to be the case because of the confines of the plot. The two steeples in front are the highest in Malta and can be seen from miles around.

The titular picture over the main altar showing San Gejtanu’s vision is by Pietro Gagliardi and was brought from Rome in 1882.

Two narrow paintings by Prof. G.Briffa, one showing the Saint being tortured and the other receiving the Brief from Pope Clement used to hang one on each side of the titular but are now at the back of the side aisles in the church.

In 1932 the Kav. Raphael Bonnici did The Agony of San Gejtanu which now lies in the parish hall and is exhibited in the church during the feast days.

Instances from the life of San Gejtanu are shown on the paintings around the dome. These, with others on the ceiling, are by Chev EmVin Cremona.

Together with Gagliardi's titular painting, the pride of the church is the statue of the Patron, San Gejtanu. The titular statue that is taken out in procession on the feast day was done by Karlu Darmanin between 1885 and 1888 and cost 100 scudi.

First Centenary of the Parish church

In 1981, on the occasion of the first Centenary of the church becoming a Parish church, The Theatines (Order founded by Gejtanu) of Italy were invited over for celebrations. (A year before they had celebrated the fifth Centenary of San Gaetano's birth). For the Hamrun festivities, they brought with them relics of the Saint including an original framed letter of his, one of his molar teeth and part of the cane he used in his lifetime. A solemn Mass concluded the festivities and after speeches by Fr.Tucci the General superior of the order, Fr.Giugliani from Naples and our Archbishop, greetings were exchanged and a last hymn of thanksgiving sung.

Other locations showing the Saint in Hamrun:

Church of 'Our Lady of Atocia' (Tas-Samra):

A sizeable statue, a scaled down copy of the titular of Karlu Darmanin, has its place in a niche near the main altar.

St Cajetan Street:

Close to the Atocia church in a corner of an intersection is a niche with the Saint's effigy, which though crudely done, shows him in priestly garb holding a cross in one hand and with an open book in the other.

St.Joseph's High Road

Corner with Villambrosa Street is another niche with a statue of San Gejtanu . This statue is done in limestone and the figure is often mistaken for that of St.Joseph. This location is barely half a block from the Parish church dedicated to the Patron.

St.Fidele Street.

A smaller box-like niche also exists on this street. This one contains a small replica of the statue of the parish church.

St.Gaetan Band Club:

In these premises we find his likeness in different areas. The entrance ceiling is painted with San Gejtanu in priestly garb kneeling in front of the Blessed Trinity and with Mary right behind him. In one of the upper rooms there is also a life size statue of him holding Baby Jesus, and the club also has an elaborately crafted banner with his likeness. In another room, another statue, a small replica of the one in the parish church.

St Joseph Band Club:

Even though this is a band club dedicated to St.Joseph, the members celebrate the feast of San Gejtanu in grand style. For use during His feast, they have a huge banner with San Gejtanu's figure during his vision.

M.U.S.E.U.M.:

In the male section premises on San Gejtanu Street, there is a set of modern paintings in a row by Salvu Mallia, one of which represents San Gejtanu.

Elsewhere:

In Hamrun there is a Hobby club whose members are interested in making Models of churches, statues and paraphernalia connected to the church. Various sizes of San Gejtanu statues can be found at their exhibitions.

From the same Hobby club comes this model of the San Gejtanu Parish Church of Hamrun made out of thousands of Matchsticks.

Gozitan artist Michael Cutajar Zahra’s 2012 statue of San Gejtanu’s vision acquired by Ian Pintley for his collection of San Gejtanu objects.

In the Spanish Theatine publication Mundo Teatino of the 7th June 2007, there was an article about the Canonization of the first Maltese Saint, Gorg Preca, a priest from Hamrun Malta. There is also a picture of a painting by Paul Camilleri-Cauchi, commissioned by Gaetano Bugeja of Hamrun, depicting his son being consecrated to Mary and Jesus by St.Gorg Preca during his First Holy Communion. On the other end of the painting is San Gaetano whom St.Gorg loved to imitate. San Gaetano is shown kneeling in front of Mary and Jesus and in the background one can also see a rendition of the Hamrun Parish Church dedicated to him. A large canvas copy of this painting is hung on the balcony of the St Cajetan Band Club on the feast of St Gorg Preca.

The Feast of San Gejtanu in Hamrun:

For this occasion held on the Sunday following the 6th August lights are strung across the streets, on the facade of the Church and other prominent places.

The streets are decorated with flags and papier mache’ statues of angels and saints including some of San Gejtanu.

A statue of the young Gejtanu with his mother (done by K Darmanin who also made the titular) is one of these feast decorations.

Made in 1997 by artist Chev. Alfred Camilleri Cauchi on the occasion of the 450th anniversary of San Gejtanu’s death is another with our Saint serrounded by cherubs.

Originally there was a statue depicting the Saint's triumph over the teachings of Martin Luther who, in the statue lay upside down shown like a devil under San Gejtanu’s feet. With post Vatican II rapprochement between the Catholics and Lutherans, this depiction was now out of place and Luther was replaced by the colours of the Band Clubs.

San Gejtanu in glory: A new statue also forming part of the outside decorations, was unveiled for the 2008 festa. It shows a number of figures including the Blessed Trinity, Mary, An angel and of course San Gejtanu. The stand has a tiny niche with a bas-relief-statue of the Saint being carried by two angels. This statue for the feast is installed outside near St Paul’s square. Made in 2007 by artist Ramon McKay from Hamrun on the 460th anniversary of San Gejtanu’s death.

Again another of San Gejtanu in priestly garb was created recently for another anniversary.

The two band clubs play sets of specially composed marches through the streets, and also perform special programs and hymns to the Saint, with soloists and choirs, on a stand near the Church.

On Sunday morning, Solemn Mass is celebrated in the decorated Church, and in the evening a procession with the Saint's statue makes its way from the Church around the town. On its return the statue is carried up the flight of stairs of the parvis in a traditional run while fireworks are let off from the nearby roofs, crowds cheer and a band plays a hymn to San Gejtanu. After the statue is taken into the Church, a solemn antiphon is sung and Benediction with the Blessed Sacrament is given.

Hamrun marks saint's anniversary with morning procession (Christmas 2017)

The San Gejtanu parish of Hamrun held a morning procession with the statue of its patron saint for the first time in its history on Sunday, marking the 500th anniversary of mystic appearances experienced by the saint during prayer at Sta Maria Maggiore basilica in Rome.

Hundreds of people turned up for the start and the end of the procession. Representatives of various parishes around Hamrun took park in the procession, along with the locality's bands.

A recently built monument close to St Paul’s square showing both San Gejtanu and San Gorg Preca, the first Maltese Saint.