The restoration and conservation of the façade of the Parish Church of St Cajetan in Ħamrun have been completed.

The restoration work, amounting to €200,000 with 80% co-financing from European Union funds, was inaugurated by Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi and Parliamentary Secretary Chris Bonett. Also present for the inauguration were the Administrative Secretary of the Archdiocese of Malta, Michael Pace Ross, and the parish priest, Fr Walter Cauchi.

Thanks to this project, which was partly financed by the parishioners’ contributions, works were carried out on the external façade of the church to address deterioration resulting from exposure to pollution and natural elements. The restoration included cleaning, desalination, stone replacement, pointing, fixing of stepped cracks, and the removal of electrical fixtures and metal inserts. Wooden and metal apertures, some of which had cracked glass, were also restored or replaced.

Bishop Galea-Curmi thanked all those who contributed to these restoration works. He said that the work carried out should help the church building remain in very good condition, so that the church, which is the house open to all, can welcome all who accept the invitation to gather within it as part of the people of God. The church of St Cajetan can still be seen from various places, which is a blessing considering that certain high-rise buildings do not permit us to appreciate the beauty of buildings that are everyone’s heritage. The Bishop appealed for a concerted effort to protect our cultural patrimony that helps us recognise our identity as a nation.

Parliamentary Secretary Chris Bonett said that thanks to the European Fund for Regional Development, €4,000,000 are being invested in restoration projects being carried out by the Archdiocese of Malta in 33 churches in Malta, in order to conserve, protect and promote ecclesiastical, cultural heritage.

“This is another investment, carried out through European funds, thanks to which the Ħamrun Parish has restored the façade of this church that is so dear to the Ħamrun community, in line with this government’s work towards restoring the cultural heritage of our country,” Bonett said.

Mr Pace Ross thanked Vaults who carried out restoration works, architect Ramon Gauci, and EMCS for their consultancy services.

The church of St Cajetan was opened for worship in 1875 and became a parish church in Ħamrun in 1881. This is one of a number of churches in Malta that are benefiting from the European Fund for Regional Development 2014-2020.