Archbishop Paul Cremona recently declared Swatar a parish church after two years since his predecessor confirmed Swatar as an autonomous pastoral zone. The new parish brings the total number of parishes in Malta to 70.
The areas known as Swatar and Il-Qattus originally formed part of Msida and Birkirkara. These areas became increasingly popular and several people took up residence in the new area known as Swatar. This development prompted the Church authorities to focus on the pastoral care and guidance that was lacking in this area.
Canon Karm Busuttil took the initiative to get the ball rolling. In 1989, he started celebrating Mass in the Museum centre and in some private houses until the pastoral centre, which included a chapel, was built. This ambitious project was completed in 2004.
In 2005, Archbishop Joseph Mercieca had entrusted Fr Gordon Refalo to start the process to eventually turn the chapel into a fully-fledged parish. Fr Gordon, as he is affectionately known by his many parishioners, worked wholeheartedly to ensure that this mission was accomplished. His works were several. However, the most significant is the unity he has managed to foster within the community and the introduction of a procession to honour Our Lady on All Sorrows Day.
The Swatar church does not only attract parishioners from the locality but several others who drive all the way from nearby villages to hear Mass there.
The church is very plain and simple: no sculptures, no works of art or special adornments. Its simplicity makes this church a special place of worship for many. And the big attendances during all Masses on Sunday bear witness to this.
In 2001, when Fr Gordon ended his pastoral work at Ta' l-Ibraġ parish, in a letter to The Times, I described him as the "good shepherd" who instilled a sense of spiritual belonging among his "flock". Once again I can utter the same words on the sterling work he is performing at Swatar.
The new parish brings also another important aspect - it was named after the first Maltese saint, St Ġorġ Preca. In this way, Dun Ġorġ Preca's legacy will continue to live on in a community that is considered as young - something which was synonymous with Dun Ġorġ and his works.
The new parish community, led by Fr Gordon and his deputy, Can. Busuttil, ought to be proud of this achievement.
On November 8, the inauguration of the new parish by the Archbishop and the installation of Fr Gordon as the first parish priest of St Ġorġ Preca parish in Swatar will seal the work that has been carried out during the past two decades.
I augur that the vision St Ġorġ Preca had within the Church, as evidenced in a simple but significant prayer he wrote, will continue to live on within the community of Swatar: "God the Father, I offer you the divine wounds of Christ, your Son, for our Church that you may increase the number of the faithful and of labourers and that you may continually refresh her with the spirit of charity and meekness".