Starting on Wednesday 17 up till Sunday 21 January, Birkirkara will commemorate the 75th anniversary of the arrival and the hoisting up into the basilica’s west belfry of the church’s big bell back in 1932.

This was the third attempt on the part of the Karkarizi to have such a bell in their town’s church. The first two, which were commissioned locally, proved unsuccessful. This one was cast in the Barigozzi Bell foundry of Milan on 24 September 1931. It arrived in Malta on 12 January 1932, and was carted to the outskirts of Birkirkara on the same day. On Sunday 17 January it was ceremoniously taken to the church square and placed on the basilica’s parvis.

Five days later on Friday 22 January, “Helena” as this bell was appropriately called, was solemnly blessed by the Bishop of Malta Dom Maurus Caruana, and two days later it was hoisted up to its place in the church steeple. It was rung for the first time the following day, 25 January, the feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul.

During the above-mentioned days there will be an

exhibition of photographs and other contemporary documentary material. This will be set up in the first chapel as one enters the basilica from the door underneath the bell itself.

Saturday 20 and Sunday 21 January will be open days where the general public can view the basilica’s campaniles and bells. Visitors will also have the opportunity to see the 18th century clockworks housed halfway up the church tower. Opening hours will be: Saturday from 9am till noon and from 4.30 to 6pm; Sunday from 9am till noon.