This year marks the 125th anniversary since the establishment of the St Julian’s parish in 1891, separating the territory from the jurisdiction of the Birkirkara parish.

Numerous initiatives are being held to mark this milestone, all of which will culminate in August, when the locality celebrates the titular feast of its patron saint.

Today, a procession will be held with the statue of St Julian from the current parish church to the old one, known popularly as Lapsi church, the place where the parish was established 125 years ago. The statue will remain exhibited in the church for the veneration of the faithful until August 20, when another procession will be held in the historic centre of St Julian’s, which will take it back to the parish church.

The programme today kicks off with Holy Mass celebrated at 7pm at the parish church with the participation of the St Julian’s Choral Group. Afterwards, the statue, made by Carlo Darmanin in 1893, will be brought out of its niche and taken in procession to the old parish church, accompanied by the parish confraternities and the Salesian Boys Brigade. It will then be greeted with the antiphon Beate Juliane, composed by Mro Paolo Nani. The statue’s entrance in the church will be followed by the Eucharistic benediction.

For more information, please write to parrocca.san.giljan@maltadiocese.org or call 2138 0270.