HISTORICAL

HISTORICAL DATES

1800 —*Dun Vincenz Cachia, provost of St.Philip, became the 2nd. Archpriest of Senglea.

1804 —*The statue of the Immaculate Conception, was solemnly taken to the parish church. It was done by Mariano Gerada.

1807 —*27th. September — Mons. Ferdinand Mattei, was nominated as Bishop of Malta.

1813 —*During the Great Plague, the Parish of Senglea vowed, that if the City be spared from the plague, they will do three processions annually. One with the statue of il-Bambina, one with the statue of Jesus the Redeemer, and the other one with St. Rocco. The city was spared, and the processions are still done to-day.

1814 --- * 17th.July -- A statue of Our Lady was erected in the middle of Senglea, as

thanks given to Our Lady from sparing the city from the Plague. It was paid for by Salvatore Debarro.

1822 —*1st. May Archpriest Cachia was nominated as a Monsignor of the Cathedral Chapter.

*2nd. May Can. Leopoldu Fiteni was elected as the 3rd. Archpriest of Senglea.

1834 —*Glormu Darmanin was born. He also became known for his statues, one of which is that of St.Joseph, for the Senglea parish.

1837 —*During the Cholera Epidemic, Governor Bouvarie, took the Convent and Church of St.Philip, and turned them into a hospital.

1840 —*Sculptor Antonio Chircop, sculptured in wood the statue that represent the Holy Trinity. Frangisku Cini paid for it.

1852 —*31st. August — Archpriest Fiteni dies.

1853 5th. September — Dun Alwig Mizzi, became the 4th. Archpriest.

1861 —*10th. October — Archpriest Mizzi dies.

*22nd. October — Can.Frangisk Colombo, took over as the 5th. Archpriest.

1864 —*The Silver Altar Front for the High Altar was ready. Vincenzo Bonnici was the architect.

1879 —* Archpriest Colombo, terminates his office, as he was appointed Mons. Of the Cathedral Chapter.

*5th. September — Can. Anton Cordina, became the 6th. Archpriest.

1882 —* Painter Guzeppi Bonnici painted the dome of the Parish Church.

1890 —* Archpriest Cardona was nominated as Monsignor of the Cathedral Chapter.

1891 —* 17th. January —Can. Guzepp Tagliaferro, became the 7th. Archpriest of Senglea.

1899 —*Mons. Salvinu Gaffiero, was consecrated Bishop of Silimbrija. Thus

he became the 2nd. Bishop from Senglea.

1902 —*11th. September —Arch. Tagliaferro terminates his office as Archpriest.

1903 —*6th. June —Can. Frangisk Briffa, was nominated as the 8th. Archpriest of Senglea.

*The local Band Club “ LA VINCITRICE “, changed its name to “ QUEEN’S OWN BAND CLUB “ as homage to Queen Alexandra.

1906 —*8th. December —Bishop Gaffiero dies.

1908 —*24th. April —Arch. Briffa dies at the age of 46.

*29th. October —Can. Guzeppi Adami, became the 9th. Archpriest.

1920 —*1st. May —The Rescript for the Coronation of the Statue of Il-Bambina was published.

1921 —*3rd. January —The Collegiate of Senglea was bestowed with the title of Basilica Minor, by Pope Benedict XV.

*4th. September —The statue of Our Lady of Victories ( Il-Bambina ) was crowned with a Golden Crown, full of precious jewels, donated by the people of Senglea. Thus it became the first statue in Malta to be crowned.

1926 —*10th. December—Arch. Adami was nominated as Mons. of the Cathedral Chapter.

1927 —*21st. June—Can. Guzeppi Bonanno, became the 10th. Archpriest.

1928 —*Dun Angelo Raggio, Provost of St. Philip died.

1937 —*Permission was granted, so that Mass will be said on the Altar of Il-Bambina, when it will be in the church, for the veneration of the people, during Festa time.

1938 —*An Silver Altar Front, the work of Architect Antonio Sciortino, was made for the altar of Jesus the Redeemer.

1939 —*8th.September—As War broke up, the Procession with the Statue of il-Bambina was done in form of a Pilgrimage.

*29th. November—Arch. Bonanno, also became a Mons. Of the Cathedral Chapter.

1940 —*13th. April —Can. Manwel Brincat, was nominated as the 11th. Archpriest of Senglea.

*11th. June —First AIR RAIDS.

*8th. September—The feast was only done in the church, as outside celebrations were not allowed, because of the War.

1941 —*16th. January —Heavy Bombardment by the Luftwaffe on H.M.S. Illustrious. As a result Senglea was severely damaged and several casualties and deaths were registered.

*19th. January —More heavy bombing by the Germans. More damage to the church and Senglea. All of the precious articles in the church were taken out of Senglea, to safer places.

*8th. September — The Senglea Chapter, celebrated the Feast at Naxxar.

1942 —*9th. April —In another raid by the Germans, the Dome was hit, and it

was demolished. Damage was also done to the Oratory of the Holy Crucifix. Not to say to Senglea also.

             *20th. April —Mons. Emm. Galea was appointed Bishop of Tralles.

             *8th. September—The Rev. Chapter celebrated the Feast in Birkirkara.

             *18th. October —A ceremony of the Awarding of the Gorg Cross, like

the one done earlier in Valletta, was done at the

Senglea Marina.

1943 —*20th. June —King GEORGE VI, visited the devastated city, and praised the city’s gallantry. He was taken around by Archpriest Brincat.

*8th. September —This time the Procession was done in Senglea. When the Procession was at the marina, it was announced that ITALY had surrendered. That meant that the hardships of War were over. Everybody cried with joy. From then on the procession continued as a thanks given pilgrimage.

1945 —*Begins the construction of the Parish Church.

1947 —*28th. September —Arch. Brincat, was appointed Archpriest of Zejtun

1948 —*18th.January —Can. Gwann-Karl Burlo’, became the 12th. Arch.

1954 —*First issue of the “ INVICTA “ was published.

1957 —*24th. August —Archbishop Gonzi consecrated the new church.

*25th. August —Opening of the Parish church, and transportation of the statue of il-Bambina from St. Philip’s church.

*20th. October —The Church and Convent of St. Philip, passed in the hands of the JESUIT ORDER.

1966 —*November —Arch. Burlo became Mons. Of the Cathedral Chapter. Can. William Bailey was nominated Archpriest, but because of ill health, renounced the job.

1967 —*12th. February —Can. Gwann Sladden became the 13th. Archpriest.

*May —First issue of the PARISH BULLETTIN.

1971 —*Great Celebrations to commemorate the 50th. Anniversary of the Crowning of the Statue of il-Bambina was done. On the 4th. September, Cardinal Giacomo Lercaro, put a Golden Rose at the feet of il-Bambina, after it was blessed by Pope Paul VI.

1974 —*Bishop Emm. Galea dies at Zejtun.

1985 —*Because of ill health, Arch. Sladden was relieved from Archpriest.

*27th. October —Can. Vincent Cachia was appointed as the 14th. Archpriest of Senglea.

1987 —*30th. June —Reopening after a total refurbishment of St. Anne’s home for the elderly. The new home, built on the former “OSPIZIO” site, now accommodate 30 old people.

1990 —*26th. May —Pope John Paul II, visits Senglea. This was a historical moment in the already rich history of the city.

1991 —*On the 50th. Anniversary of the ill fated day in Senglea’s history, that of the 16th. January 1941, a Monument to commemorate the local dead was unveiled.

1994 —*The first Local Council of the city of Senglea was constituted, following an election held on March 19th. 1994. The first Mayor was Mr. Stephen Perici.

1996 —*Great celebrations to mark the 75th. Anniversary of the Coronation of the Statue of il-BAMBINA.

1998 —*Senglea Day was commemorated for the first time on the 8th. of May (The day the Foundation Stone of Fort St.Michael was put, which is considered the first step for Senglea, to assume the structure of a walled city).

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