In 1943, the parish of Żabbar providentially passed into the hands of Fr Joseph Zarb, a 31-year-old priest, who was considered both a dreamer and charismatic leader.

In his first publication in 1947, Fr Zarb had shown the great impact Dun Xand Cortis’s enthusiastic words had left on him with regard to the crowning of the titular painting of Our Lady of Graces by Alessio Erardi. His predecessor, Mgr Leopoldo Farrugia, also encouraged him to move in this direction.

Fr Zarb immediately embarked on a programme of decorating the Żabbar sanctuary with paintings, sculptures and stained-glass windows. At the end of each year he would publish the annual balance sheet of the parish and announce new projects for the following year while mentioning the outstanding graces received throughout the year. This en­couraged the people to donate even more generously.

Besides looking after the ex-votos in the old sacristy, the young parish priest committed himself to further research. His most outstanding discovery was the 14th-century fresco of Our Lady of Graces, flanked by two saints, which is the earliest known painting in the area. The fresco was found at Santa Domenica chapel, which had been almost dilapidated after the war. With the help of experts and friends, he saved this fresco, which has great value for the way it is painted and how it has withstood the passage of almost six centuries. Today it is one of the most important items at the parish museum.

In the meantime, Fr Zarb and the local clergy showed great pastoral commitment for a much-required revival after World War II, especially through confraternities andlay associations.

An ex-voto painting at Żabbar parish museum showing the battle between Christian and Ottomans forces in Sfax, Tunisia, in 1631. It is the earliest dated ex-voto known to exist in Malta.An ex-voto painting at Żabbar parish museum showing the battle between Christian and Ottomans forces in Sfax, Tunisia, in 1631. It is the earliest dated ex-voto known to exist in Malta.

After long years of preparation, the great occasion of the crowning of the image of Our Lady of Graces was set for September 2, 1951. It was led by Archbishop Michael Gonzi, assisted by five other bishops.

The annual pilgrimage of motor cyclists, which has been organised since 1951, and of cyclists, which began four years later, were unique events for Malta. They are still held annually with increasing enthusiasm and interest both by the thousands of participants and people all along the route. It began to mark Pope Pius XII’s 1949 declaration of Our Lady of Graces as patron saint of cyclist and motor cyclists.

The building of Żabbar parish museum, the first edifice of its kind to be built specifically as a museum in Malta, bears witnesses to the centuries-old devotion to Our Lady. Fr Zarb later added the parish centre and hall and the Holy Family Institute. The source of his inspiration and strength was the hour he used to spend praying alone in the church in front of the titular painting of Our Lady after a day’s work.

The source of Fr Zarb’s inspiration and strength was the hour he used to spend praying alone in the church in front of the titular painting of Our Lady after a day’s work

In the 1950s, Wied il-Għajn, which till then was only a summer resort for the people of Żabbar, Żejtun and Cottonera, started quickly developing. After having been established as a vice-parish in the 1920s, in 1949 it was erected as a parish on its own with Fr Tarcisius Agius as its first parish priest. Today it has developed almost beyond recognition. In 1964, the new Carmelite parish of Fgura was formed from areas on the outskirts of the Żabbar, Paola, Tarxien, and Cospicua parishes.

The titular statue of Our Lady of Graces, made by Mariano Gerada in 1802, will today be carried in procession through the main streets of Żabbar.The titular statue of Our Lady of Graces, made by Mariano Gerada in 1802, will today be carried in procession through the main streets of Żabbar.

Over the past 50 years, pastoral zones started to develop on a diocesan level. Żabbar was no exception. All parish priests worked wholeheartedly to make them a great success. At present there are five very active pastoral zones: Xgħajra, dedicated to St James; the housing estate, dedicated to the Holy Family; Sant’Andrija or Is-Salib Imqaddes; Maria Bambina; and Santa Marija.

The church of Santa Maria ad Nives, which was restored and opened to the public in 2014, passed under the full administration of Żabbar parish. Today it serves as the Chapel of the Word for meditation on and celebration of the Word of God; meanwhile the church of the Annunciation on Main Street serves for adoration of the Holy Eucharist all day.

Over the past 70 years and more, liturgical renewal has been very much at heart of the local clergy. When the Mass was still celebrated in Latin, Fr Zarb published a booklet Il-Quddiesa mas-Saċerdot in 1946.

Traditional Catholic associations like the Society of Christian Doctrine (MUSEUM), the Catholic Action, the Legion of Mary, and others have remained very active. New movements and communities were established, as in most other parishes. Young people and families as well as other groups were looked after with zeal and interest. Some of the leaders of these groups offer their service and experience in diocesan commissions. The old, the sick, and people with special needs were also looked after by the parish Diaconia Commission. The Notre Dame Parish Choir has served the parish well in all major celebrations, besides participating in national events.

October 14, 1975, was a very memorable day for all the people of Żabbar. The RAF Vulcan XM645 bomber that crashed in Żabbar could have destroyed half of city, including the sanctuary, hundreds of households, and only God knows how many people could have died. The accident claimed the lives of Vinċenza Zammit and the five personnel on board and injured 20 others.

Żabbarin believe that Our Lady had shown once more that she was still protecting her people. They claim it was Mary’s hand that steered the plane away from the school and guided it so perfectly only a few feet from either side of Sanctuary Street, damaging the least possible number of houses. “If there are miracles, this is one of them,” remarked Air Commodore (Malta) A. G. Steele a few days later after a special thanksgiving prayer service in Żabbar.

Dr Kevin Dingli, Hospitaller of the Maltese Association of the Order of St John, on February 13, 2016, lighting the votive candle and presenting it to Our Lady of Graces in the name of the Grand Master of the Order to continue with the tradition of the Order’s devotion to Our Lady at Żabbar.Dr Kevin Dingli, Hospitaller of the Maltese Association of the Order of St John, on February 13, 2016, lighting the votive candle and presenting it to Our Lady of Graces in the name of the Grand Master of the Order to continue with the tradition of the Order’s devotion to Our Lady at Żabbar.

When Fr Kalċidon Vassallo came to Żabbar in 1991, he committed himself to strengthen the family spirit in a united parish. In all the celebrations, his messages, homilies, and above all, in his daily very informal meetings with all categories of people, he sustained the spirit of ecclesial communion everywhere. He encouraged the two local band clubs to work hand in hand on a formal agreement to celebrate together the annual feast of Our Lady of Graces, the mother of all the parish.

Żabbar sanctuary at night on the feast day. Photo: Raymond GialanzéŻabbar sanctuary at night on the feast day. Photo: Raymond Gialanzé

In 2003, Żabbar parish museum, which had been opened in 1954, was completely refurbished during the term of Fr Anton Cassar. Under Fr Sebastian Caruana, the façade and the external part of the sanctuary were renovated and restored to their original splendour. A new set of bells for the Ave Maria clock were installed in 2009.

To celebrate the 50th anniversary of the solemn crowning of Our Lady of Graces, the Erardi painting was adorned with a 12-star silver diadem. Parish priest Fr Anton Cassar and the pastoral council described the 12 stars as 12 works of mercy, including helping those in need, evangelisation, reconciliation, looking after the environment, and the imitation of Mary’s life and virtues.

Since 1909 the Society of Christian Doctrine has been very active in Żabbar, with catechism classes for children and teenagers. Together with the Catholic Action, it had a major impact on the number of priestly  and religious vocations in the 1950s and 1960s. Men from the city have joined the Capuchins, the Jesuits, the Dominicans, the Carmelites and the Augustinians, as well as the De La Salle Brothers.

Several women also found their vocation with the Franciscan Sisters, the Ursulines, the Sisters of St Joseph, the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary, the Augustinians, the Daughters of the Sacred Heart, the Dominicans and the Little Sisters of the Poor.

Żabbarin believe Mary’s hand steered the plane away from the school and guided it so perfectly only a few feet from either side of Sanctuary Street

Besides working in local schools, hospitals and other institutions, many of these priests and sisters have gone to the missions. Fr Leone Abela was the first regular superior of the Capuchin Mission in North India, which in 1954 developed in the Jhansi diocese. Without doubt, the most outstanding Żabbar missionary is Mgr Paul Darmanin, OFM Cap, who in 1984 became the first bishop of Garissa in Kenya, and who celebrated the golden jubilee of his priestly ordination last Friday.

The crowning of the painting of Our Lady of Graces by Archbishop Michael Gonzi on September 2, 1951.The crowning of the painting of Our Lady of Graces by Archbishop Michael Gonzi on September 2, 1951.

Women from Żabbar have also opted for the cloistered life with the Poor Clares at St Julian’s, St Theresa at Cospicua and the Benedictines at Vittoriosa. Others joined cloistered communities abroad.

The missionary spirit was kept very much alive by Fr Sebastian Caruana, who spent two years as a parish priest in Albania before coming to Żabbar parish. As parish priest, he used to lead a group of parishioners there every two years. The preparation and enthusiasm of these groups kept the love and interest for the missions alive in the parish.

Other youngsters have entered the Seminary. At present, besides new ordinations in recent years, seven parish priests have been chosen from among the Żabbar clergy. Four are now working in the parish after years as parish priests elsewhere, while others are carrying out their duties in Tarxien, Qrendi and Marsascala.

To mark the fourth centenary, Archbishop Charles Scicluna decreed during the titular feast last year that Żabbar’s parish priest will be be­stowed the title of archpriest. A decorated parchment of the decree is held at the parish museum together with the 1951 decree of the crowning of the Erardi image and the declaration of the Sacred Congregation of Divine Worship of Our Lady of Graces as patron of cyclists and motor cyclists.

Throughout all this year, the parish council, led by archpriest Fr Evan Caruana, is organising an outreach programme entitled Il-Missjoni ż-Żgħira, together with the Mission of the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary of the Archdiocese. Besides trying to reach out  to all parishioners, several priests are always available for home visits, confessions, spiritual assistance in the sanctuary and in the various parish zones.

The titular painting by Alessio Erardi carried in procession on June 14, 2015, to commemorate the 300th anniversary of its completion in 1615. Photo: Daniel CiliaThe titular painting by Alessio Erardi carried in procession on June 14, 2015, to commemorate the 300th anniversary of its completion in 1615. Photo: Daniel Cilia

Much has been done during the past 400 years thanks to all of Żabbar’s 29 previous parish priests, the clergy, the religious, and the laity. Much has been achieved but still a lot more needs to be done.

The present and future are challenging. Pope Francis has given a clear message about this in his apostolic exhortation The Joy of the Gospel: “If the parish proves capable of self-renewal and constant adaptability, it continues to be, quoting St John Paul II ‘the Church living in the midst of the homes of her sons and daughters’ and becomes ‘a sanctuary where the thirsty come to drink in the midst of their journey, and a centre of constant missionary outreach’.”

With God’s help, under the maternal guidance of Our Mother of Graces, Żabbar parish will continue to bring Christ closer to the people and the people closer to Christ.

Concluded

Acknowledgements
The author wishes to thank Archpriest Fr Evan Caruana, Raymond Gialanzé, Marquis Chev. A. Cassar De Sain, George Apap and Daniel Cilia.

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