The small St Anthony Chapel of Marsalforn in Gozo is offering sterling religious service to the community who live in Marsalforn for a short stay or for the whole summer. From the information that I have got, this small chapel was bequeathed to the Franciscan Community by a family who, according to my sources, wanted this chapel to remain as a chapel to help the church of St Paul to meet the spiritual needs of the residents of Marsalforn.

Word is getting around that during the yearly close down of this chapel (from October to May) it is to be demolished and replaced by a block of apartments. According to my sources there is no room for a replacement chapel in the new project.

I feel that the authorities in the Franciscan Community could be not appreciating enough the importance of the services this chapel is offering to the holidaying community. This chapel is small, but by no means poor in attendance. The energy driving the priests taking care of the spiritual needs of the congregations frequenting this small chapel is second to none and due praise should be given where it is due.

My appeal goes to the Provincial General of the Franciscan Community in the Maltese islands to re-evaluate the decision taken, if he is still in time. The Franciscan Community should feel proud that it is giving such a sterling contribution to the people on holiday at Marsalforn and should feel it is its duty to give even more. Apartments come and go, but a chapel, if it is done away with, will surely leave a lot of important religious work undone.

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