Basilica of Christ the King, Paola

The Basilica of Christ the King is a Roman Catholic parish church located in Paola, Malta.

Basilica of Christ the King
Il-Bażilika ta' Kristu Re
35°52′18″N 14°30′30″E
Location	Paola, Malta
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Status	Active
Dedication	Christ the King
Consecrated	3 June 1967
Architecture
Functional status	Parish church
Architect(s)	Ġużè Damato
Architectural type	Church
Groundbreaking	1924
Completed	1959
Specifications
Length	90 metres
Number of spires	2
Administration
Parish	Christ the King
Archdiocese	Malta
Clergy
Rector	canon Marc Andre' Camilleri
Priest in charge	Marc Andrè Camilleri

History

The parish of Paola or as it more commonly known as Raħal Ġdid, was created in 1910 by Archbishop Pietro Pace. The 17th century St. Ubaldesca Church was chosen as the parish church. Plans were made for a larger church to be built. In 1924 the cornerstone was laid by the stone mason Vincenzo Costa who lived in Rangu Street at the nearby village of Hal Luqa, and thus construction commenced. Sometime in the late 1920s or early 1930s, stonework was being done by Manuel and his brother Carmnu Cassar. Photographs exist showing Manuel and Carmnu Cassar erecting the arches. The formwork and the hoist to erect the arches are still in the basement of the church. Manuel Cassar was the son of Joseph Cassar also a stone mason and builder who built many houses in Paola. Joseph Cassar was from the neighbouring town of Tarxien. Manuel Cassar was married to Carmena who was from the town of Mellieha. They lived in Triq il-Qalb ta Ġesù; an adjacent street to the church. Manuel and Carmena Cassar had seven children, Maria Cassar being the eldest heard many a story from her father about what was going on during that time and until the war started. The church started to be used as the parish church 1936. The church was consecrated and dedicated to Christ the King on June 3, 1967 by Archbishop Mikiel Gonzi.[1][2]

On 5 April 2020 a decree was signed in the Vatican, by virtue of which this Church was raised to the dignity of a Minor Basilica.

This affresco painted by Manuel Farrugia depicts God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, a stream of water with some sheep drinking from it representing the pilgrim Church drinking from the water of life emanating from the Trinity, St. John the Baptist, St. Joseph, St. Mary, some angels, St. Paul who brought the faith to the Maltese Islands, and an allegorical figure representing the Eucharistic Congress of 1913 when the Paola residents of that time decided to dedicate the Parish to Christ the King instead of St. Ubaldisca as it had been dedicated up to that time.

References

1. "Il-Knisja ta Kristu re taghlaq 50 sena mill-Konsagrazzjoni". Retrieved on 23 June 2017.
2. "Paola (Raħal Ġdid) (Christ the King)", Archdiocese of Malta. Retrieved on 23 June 2017.