Addolorata Cemetery Chapel closed

Victor Vella

Jan 12th 2011, 17:37

HAWN TANT NIES QIEGHDA POSSIBLI MA JSIBUX LIL XI HADD JIEHU HSIEB DIN IL-KAPPELLA.. HASRA!!!!!!!

Joan Mifsud

Jan 11th 2011, 23:24

I was very sad learning about the closure of this very beautiful chapel. It brought me memories of my father's funeral 4 years ago which was held in this very chapel. Although it was a very sad moment for us we all agreed that the athmosphere created by the stained glass behing the altar was one of peace and serenity. It really would be a shame if it is left closed to deteriorate.

victor rodenas

Jan 11th 2011, 21:11

This Chapel belongs to the whole of Malta ,people from all Towns and villages make use of it when there is a funeral so there should be a special collection from all Churches for its needs .A committee would be set up to see to its needs,fund raising events should be done and there would be a reasonable fee that one pays when there is a funeral.During November there can be some activity in the Chapel which also can raise some money.Dedicated persons from the area can help with its outgoing,the Church and the Govt. have to give their share too.Worth a try.

Francis Farrugia

Jan 11th 2011, 21:09

Meta ser nibdew nuzaw il-`MANPOWER` tan-nies li qeghdin fic-centru ta`korrezzjoni ta` Kordin.
Dawn in-nies ghamlu xi zball xi darba u qeghdin ihallsu ghalih billi jinzammu maghluqin f`kordin.Pero qeghdin ihallsu u anke jithallsu billi jinzammu maghluqin.Dawn Huma it-tip ta nies li jistghu jghatu kontribut l`hawn u l`hemm fejn ikun hemm bzonn. U propju jistghu jigu mqabbda inadfu tindiffa ic-cimiterju ta` l-Addolorata li fl=opinjoni tieghi bhal issa huwa l-aktar post mahmug u mimli haxix f`Malta.

Martin Pace

Jan 11th 2011, 20:19

About two winters ago I attend a funeral service in this chapel. The night before a gale force hit the island and on approaching the chapel everyone noticed that small to medium stone gothic part of slabs felt off the roof of this chapel. Also damages are being caused to private graves by overgrow roots of hundred or so years old trees. I am not a cemetery fan member, but we should first and foremost preserve this consecrated site and a government Ad Hoc committee will be set up to preserve and protect this historical cemetery, which is one of a kind in our island. I wish to give thanks for the service rendered by OFM Chap.

Eugenio Baldacchino

Jan 11th 2011, 16:39

Hija hasra li kappella hekk sabiha tigi maluqa u probabilment traskurata ukoll.Ghax ma nafx ghaliex tezisti telqa fic-cimiterji taghna,fejn kullhadd ghandu xi qraba,ezempju car huwa ic-cimiterju ta'Braxia tal-Pieta.Manafx kif jista ikun haddiem wiehed jista ilahhaq ma'l-indafa tal-post.Il-gvern zgur ghandu haddiema li jistaw jitqabdu jghamlu dan ix-xoghol,ghax bil haxix li hemm l-anqas loqbra ma'tara'.

K Vella

Jan 11th 2011, 14:09

This should fall under the Curia responsability. Then it is up to them on how this chapel will be administered and the goverment will look after the maintenance costs and upkeep of the surrounding grounds.

Adrian Wirth

Jan 11th 2011, 13:13

@ Joseph Ellul - Sydney -
Vocational training schemes involving senior persons with practical skills and experience in a trade twinning/partnering apprentice trainee scheme has been practiced in a number of European states. I believe at one time there were EU funds available for the setting up and running of such schemes. Whether EU funds remain available or not is another matter. The economic and social awareness benefits for the unemployed trainee are inestimable but so also are the personal welfare and health benefits for the elder person. This suggestion should be recommended.

J Caruana

Jan 11th 2011, 12:05

Perhaps a bit of history. The Santa Maria Addolorata cemetery was totally funded by the then British colonial office for fear of an epidemic. Hence the Gothic English style. An English village church in Malta.

Evarist Saliba

Jan 11th 2011, 11:04

" maintaining the place"
Such a condition seems unreasonable unless the premises are run as a business enterprise, even a non-profit one. Giving service is one thing; maintaining a historical building is another.

F. Abela

Jan 11th 2011, 10:00

The Addolorate Cemetary and the Chapel are a gem. The cemetary is in a sorry state and surely some funds could be dedicated to its restoration and proper maintenance. If government does not have the funds it may be an idea for companies to come out and sponsor its repair.

Peter Korsten

Jan 11th 2011, 08:28

It looks remarkably similar to the 15th century church from my native village:
http://www.toeristeninformatie.nl/user/locales/268f24000a.jpg
(except that it's much smaller).

R Borg

Jan 11th 2011, 08:23

such a pity :(

victor rodenas

Jan 11th 2011, 08:01

I am sure that the authorities knew that the Franciscan Order were going to leave ,so what is going to happen now, and who is taking over should have been seen to before,and not now.

GIOVANNI RIZZO

Jan 11th 2011, 05:34

SO NOW IS THE TIME TO GIVE THE CHAPEL A GOOD STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE.
SUCH A EUROPEAN 18TH CENTURY GEM OF A CHAPEL BY ARCHITECT GALIZIA SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN LEFT IN THAT CONDITION.
THANKS TO THE FRANCISCAN ORDER FOR THEIR WORK AND DECISION WHICH MIGHT WAKE UP THE AUTHORITIES.

Joseph Ellul - Sydney

Jan 11th 2011, 00:00

Malta is the epitome of historical buildings. Starting with neolithic and ending with more recent such as the cemetary chapels. The government has a very big responsibility to maintain such places and the cost is phenominal compared to the GDP of the Maltese Islands. I would suggest that there are some seniors who would be willing and able to volunteer time to help in restorations. the government can get involved in this by supplying expenses and also integrating young apprentices to help and learn from the wise old men and women who have the knowledge of the ages in their heads but no one to hear.

Jonathan Cini

Jan 10th 2011, 22:28

Grazzi lill-Patrijiet u l-Brothers Frangiskani Kapuccini tad-dedikazzjoni u l-impenn kbir li dejjem urew fil-qadi ta' dmirijiethom. Min imiss maghhom, jibqa jghozz bhala tezor il-gid li jnisslu fil-bniedem; qatt ma jista jinsa l-hidma taghhom fil-komunitajiet fejn jinsabu. Certament li n-nuqqas taghhom f'dan ic-Cimiterju se jinhass, pero' wiehed irid jifhem ukoll li bl-impenji kbar li ghandhom, meta tqis in-numru prezenti tal-Ahwa z-Zghar Kapuccini, illum qed isir inqas possibli li jlahhqu daqs qabel. Il-Bambin ikompli jbierek hidmiethom u jaghtihom is-sahha u l-kuragg li ghandhom bzonn, halli jkomplu jxerrdu l-paci u l-gid.

H Zammit

Jan 10th 2011, 22:25

Beautiful photo.

Conrad Thake

Jan 10th 2011, 22:06

Signs of the times! The state of the Addolorata Cemetery leaves much to be desired. Contrast this with the impeccable way the Commonwealth Graves Foundation maintains the local military cemetery. A visit to our 'national' cemetery is heart wrenching witness several poorly maintained funerary chapels, broken pathways and retaining walls, and incompatible modern intrusions ....
The Addolorata chapel and the cemetery is the architectural masterpiece of Emanuele Luigi Galizia (1830-1907). It is a sad reflection of our times that we have little finance or effort to spare on the conservation of this architectural monument and also to honour the final resting place of thousands of Maltese.

Geoffrey Mifsud Farrugia

Jan 10th 2011, 21:31

On reading the heading, i thought that the chapel was closed for much needed restoration!

I sincerely hope that this chapel is taken care of..the chances that it will deteriorate further are now bigger than before. it has served its purpose well for so many years and I guess most people in Malta have been there at some time or another..it is a great pity if we leave this gem to fall to pieces.

ray pace

Jan 10th 2011, 20:31

The Franciscan Cappucins will be sorely missed. THanks to all that have served at the Addolorata Cemetery over the numerous years especially to Fr Charles Cardona who spent a good part of his life there till the end of a chapter. God Bless you all.

Adrian Wirth

Jan 10th 2011, 20:08

Recently I attended a Missa Requiem at the chapel and was greatly impressed with the sympathetic attention given by the Franciscan fathers. Thanks and an appreciaton for their care and attention over the years is well earned. Very noticable was the widespread evidence of rainwater ingress in the chapel's roof structure. One hopes the appropriate authority will investigate the cause and somehow find the probably significant funding the comprehensive restoration of the fabric of this historic building requires.