An online petition appealing to the government to safeguard the silent atmosphere offered by Mount St Joseph Retreat House has hit the 10,000 mark, while the signatures gathered through the printed version of the same boosted the number to 12,000, the Jesuit Province said.
It said in a statement the petition came as one of several strong responses to the announcement that the government was in the final stages of negotiations with a developer who intended to build a shooting complex in Busbezija, limits of Mosta.
The proposed complex includes six shooting ranges over 70,000 square metres of ODZ land including 5,300 square metres pocket of government owned land. The proposed ranges include a trap and skeet range, a 300m rifle range and several other ranges. The border of the 300m rifle range extends to just 110m away from Mount St Joseph Retreat House’s boundary wall.
‘The house, run by the Jesuits together with a team of lay people, is used by some 10,000 people every year and it has, for the past fifty years, had a very specific mission - to offer a naturally silent atmosphere which is ideal and conducive for personal reflection, contemplation or prayer. The house is there for use by anyone who seeks its therapeutic silence, including adolescents, school children and vulnerable persons,’ communications officer Alison Vella said.
‘Our appeal is being made on behalf of the whole Maltese nation,’ she said.
Jesuit Provincial Fr Patrick Magro emphasised the social nature of the house’s mission.
“We are at the service of the Maltese people. Mount St Joseph retreat house runs at a loss and yet we continue to offer this space to the thousands who visit each year because the need is so great. While we have no objection to the idea of a shooting range in itself, we are totally against it being located in an area where it will cause disturbance to anyone.
“The type of noise will be disturbing to people using Mount Saint Joseph as well as nearby residents. Even noise abatement measures will reduce the sound volume the constant, irregular and impact nature of gun-shot sounds is extremely annoying, especially if you are specifically seeking a place of quiet. It is like trying to concentrate on a very sensitive issue while a neighbour somewhere close-by is hammering nails all the time - not loud, but extremely distracting and annoying,” he said.
“While we can understand the passion a number of people have for the different shooting disciplines which will be catered for in the proposed shooting range, we will continue with our efforts to try to make them understand the nature of the service offered by Mount St Joseph to the public, and therefore the unsuitability of the location chosen for the shooting range. We appeal to everyone to do their utmost to protect what belongs to us all - Mount St Joseph offers an invaluable oasis of peace and tranquility accessible to all. Conserving all that this place means for Malta is crucial,” Fr Magro said.
The petition can be signed here.