San Pawl tat-Tarġa church holds first feast

The Sanctuary of Divine Mercy in San Pawl tat-Tarġa will for the first time be celebrating various sacraments this month: the first baptism, the first wedding and the first feast, scheduled for Sunday.

The church has come a long way since this time last year, following a promise that it would be open and functioning by now, said Fr Michael Agius.

About a year ago, Fr Agius had celebrated the first Mass, following which the church was closed for works to continue until last December when it was reopened for service.

The shell of the church was blessed in 2003 and the San Pawl tat-Tarġa/Birguma community, which counts about 1,000 families, has been formed. The complex also includes a parish centre.

It is now complete and will be celebrating the feast, always held on the Sunday after Easter, with a solemn adoration, followed by Mass, at 5 p.m.

The feast of the Divine Mercy is celebrated in 120 churches in 70 parishes in Malta and Gozo, where adoration is organised once a week in honour of the Divine Mercy.

However, the San Pawl tat-Tarġa shrine is the only church dedicated to this devotion, which has a strong following.