Birkirkara (St. Helen)

Collegiate Parish Church of St Helen

Birkirkara is one of the ten parishes which existed in 1436, the year of the Rollo drawn up by the bishop of Malta, Senatore Mello. The parish was dedicated to St Helen, and this was also the titular saint of the church built in the 18th century and still existing today. The church became a Collegiate church in 1630 and a Minor Basilica on the 18th January 1950.

Dedication date  20 October 1782

Provost Archpriest

Rev Can Anton Cassar

Parish Office

4 Sanctuary Street,

B’Kara BKR 2304

Office Hours

Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays

10.00 am – 12.15 am

05.00 pm – 07.00 pm

Telephone

21444725 Office

21442225 Home

21445540 Fax

Website

www.bazilikasantelena.com

E-mail

parrocca.b’kara.se@maltadiocese.org

Parish Population: 11,000

Families: 3,500

Collegiate Chapter

• Rev Can Anton Cassar, Provost Archpriest
• Rev Can Anton Mallia Borg
• Rev Can Anton Mallia
• Rev Can Joseph Micallef
• Rev Can Paul Gauci
• Rev Can Rev Michael Borg
• Rev Can Joseph Debono
• Rev Can Carmelo Calleja
• Rev Can Carmelo Busuttil
• Rev Can Charles Gauci
• Rev Can Etienne Sciberras
• Rev Can Vincent Demicoli

Honorary Canons

• Rev Mikiel Agius
• Rev Carmelo Attard
• Mgr Rev Carmelo Aquilina
• Rev Joseph Fenech
• Rev Simon Sciberras

Holy Masses

Sundays and Feast Days: 6.00, 7.00, 8.00, 9.15, 10.30, 12.00 am and 6.30 pm

Saturday Evenings: 5.30, 6.30 pm

Weekdays: 6.00, 7.00, 7.45, 9.00 am and 6.30 pm

Other Churches

Sanctuary of Our Lady Tal-Ħerba

The sanctuary was built in 1610 in an area where an old church had existed; it was dedicated by Bishop Labini on the 23rd March 1783. In 1923 the building was enlarged and today hardly anything remains of the 1610 church. The image of Our Lady was crowned on the 7th August 1910. Marriages may be held in the sanctuary.

Priest in charge

Provost Archpriest

Holy Masses

Sundays and Feast Days 7.15 am

First Saturday of the Month 4.30 pm

Weekdays: 6.30 am

Victory Church

Priest in charge

Rev Can Charles Gauci

Tel: 21440416

Holy Masses

Sundays and Feast Days 6.45 am, 10.15 am (every forthnight)

Saturday Evenings 6.00 pm

Weekdays 7.00 am, 6.00 pm

St Roche’s Church

The first church dedicated to St Roche was built in 1593, but Bishop Balaguer closed it in 1659 it was rebuilt after the 1676 plague and rebuilt again in 1863. Today St Rita of Cascia is venerated in this church.

Priest in charge

Provost Archpriest

Holy Masses

Sundays and Feast Days 8.30, 10.00 am

Mondays to Saturdays: 5.30 pm

Wed, Thurs and Fri 10.00 am

Thursday 7.00 pm

Church of St. Anthony and St. Catherine

The church was built in 1571 but was closed by Bishop Balaguer in 1659; rebuilt again in 1828 it is today a centre for the Eucharistic apostolate.

Priest in charge

Rev Can Anton Mallia Borg

Tel: 21448035

Holy Masses

Weekdays 9.30 am

Eucharistic Adoration

Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays till noon

St Paul’s Church

In 1538 a church was built in an area where, according to tradition, St Paul had preached; the church was rebuilt in 1852.

Priest in charge

Rev Can Joseph Micallef

Tel: 21488234

Holy Masses

Sundays and Feast Days 7.00 am, 8.30 am

Saturday Evenings 7.20 pm

Weekdays 7.15 am, 7.20 pm

St Francis of Assisi Church

The Franciscan Conventuals during the war, in 1941 opened a small chapel in a villa in Msida Road, for the benefit of the many refugees who had settled in Birkirkara. In 1953 they started building the present church and friary and a collage for their students. Marriages can be celebrated in this church.

Priest in charge

Rev Francis Deguara OFM Conv

Telephone

2144 1928

Holy Masses

Sundays and Feastdays: 6.30, 8.00, 9.30, 11.00 am and 6.30 pm

Saturday Evenings: 6.30 pm

Weekdays: 6.30, 7.30 am and 6.30 pm

Public Holidays during the week: 6.30, 7.30, 8.30 am and 6.30 pm

St Dominic Savio’s Oratory

The Oratory was built in 1910 by Rev Michael Sammut. His benefactors were Michael and Guilia Casolani as well as Alphonse Maria Galea and originally it was run by the Salesian Fathers. These were followed in 1912 by the Christian Brothers (Freres) who stayed on for three years. In 1927 the Fathers of the Missionary Society of St Paul took over the running of the Oratory. Marriages may be celebrated here.

Priest in charge

Rev Nicholas Schembri MSSP

Telephone

2144 1917

Holy Masses

Sundays and Feastdays: 9.30 and 10.00 am

Weekdays: 7.00 am and 6.00 pm

Blessed Nazju Falzon Chapel

c/o Frate Francesco Home, 55 Mannarino Road, Birkirkara.

The chapel serves as a pastoral support for the youths residing in the Home as well as for the inhabitants of the area. The chapel, dedicated to Blessed Nazju Falzon was officially inaugurated on the 30th May 2001 and is the first chapel dedicated to a Maltese declared “blessed” by the Church. Today Frate Francesco Home is known as “Dar il-Qawsalla” (Rainbow House) and is run by the Vincenzo Bugeja Consortium for Family Refugees.

Priest in charge

Rev John Azzopardi OFM

Telephone

2144 6643

Holy Masses

Sundays and Feastdays: 9.00 am

Mondays to Saturdays: 5.30 pm

First Friday of the month: 8.30 am and 5.30 pm