This year marks the 425th anniversary since the locality of Tarxien was declared a parish.

It was on May 29, 1592 that Bishop Thomas Gargallo dismembered the village of Tarxien from its mother church of Bir Miftuħ. The people of Tarxien had asked the bishop several times to declare Tarxien a parish.

After the death of the parish priest of Bir Miftuħ, Fr Barth-olomew Mangion, which happened on May 23, 1592, Bishop Gargallo issued a decree pronouncing Tarxien a parish.

The first parish priest was Fr Sebastian Cuscusu. One of the chapels in the locality, that of the Annunciation of Our Lady, was made parish church.

Some of the highlights held to mark the anniversary are a solemn Mass by Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona OP on March 24, a pilgrimage of thanksgiving on March 26; a pontifical Mass by Archbishop Charles Scicluna on May 27; the village feast on May 28; a pilgrimage to the church of Bir Miftuħ, on July 9; a soiree lyrique on October 22 and, in conclusion, concelebrated mass on December 8.

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