We have just celebrated the 40th anniversary from the foundation of the Saint Joseph the Worker Parish of Birkirkara, an important anniversary in the life of this young parish and one which was celebrated as it should be.

The activities related to this anniversary were launched during the feast of Our Lady of the Holy Rosary last October.  During this feast, the official logo of this anniversary was launched.  Also, on this occasion the very first person who got baptised in this parish 40 years ago lit up a torch to mark the launch of these celebrations.  However, the peak of these celebrations was in April and May.  During these months we celebrated the titular feast of Saint Joseph the Worker, as well as the actual anniversary of the foundation of the parish.

Besides the normal activities, during the week of the titular feast, we had the performance of the musical "Jien Guzeppi" in the parish church.  The parish church was literally packed with people. We also had the participation of the confraternities dedicated to Saint Joseph and of the Holy Chapter of the Collegiate of Saint Helen during this feast week.

On the day of the titular feast the statue of Saint Joseph the Worker was carried around the streets of our parish.  This statue had been designed by Chev. Emvin Cremona and was sculptured in wood by the firm Vincenzo Moroder in Ortisei, Bolzano.

Immediately after the titular feast, the work for the commemoration of this anniversary gained momentum.  There was the representation of the "legend of Saint Joseph" in our Parish Centre.  Soon after everyone started working for the organisation of the exhibition about Saint Joseph.

This exhibition, themed "The Carpenter of Nazareth", was organised by the parish’s Exhibitions Society (Ghaqda Wirjiet).  Participants in this exhibition included a number of societies, festa committees, band clubs, parishes, churches and individuals who exhibited various items related to Saint Joseph, patron saint of our parish and of the universal church. Among the items exhibited were statues, paintings (some of priceless value), flags, pictures, publications, feast decorations and various sacred and old items related to the saint.

This exhibition was appreciated very much by the general public as well as from the various distinct personalities that visited this exhibition, including the President of the Republic and the Archbishop.

One week before the actual anniversary, an open-air concert was organised with the participation of the De Rohan Band Club of Haz-Zebbug and our parish choir. This concert was held in front of the parish church.  During this activity, the band played hymns dedicated to Saint Joseph and which are the property of our parish.  Also, a new hymn, composed by Mro. Ronnie Debattista specifically for this anniversary was played for the first time during this occasion.  A short feature about the history of our parish was also shown and poems and other literature related to Saint Joseph were read to the public who attended this activity.

On  the actual day of the anniversary, Sunday 26 May,  a solemn mass was concelebrated in the parish church by Archbishop Paul Cremona O.P., with the participation of the present parish priest, the parish priests who previously served in our parish, parish priests serving in the other parishes in Birkirkara and various other priests. After this solemn mass, they visited the exhibition in the parish centre and which was in its last day.

As one can see, these were two highly demanding months.  However, they were also two beautiful months that will remain in the memory of all those who attended these celebrations.

We would like to thank all those who took part in these celebrations. In particular we would like to thank all the parish priests who have served in our parish throughout this walk of 40 years.  Special thanks go to the current parish priest, Fr Josef Mifsud, for all the support he gives us and for these successful celebrations that will surely remain in the memory of all the parishioners.

May we have the opportunity to celebrate similar occasions in the future.

CLAYTON JOSEPH MIFSUD