Restoration of the facade of the Oratory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Mosta
The first person in Malta to think of an oratory for children was Dun Karm Gauci. Inaugurated on 7th June 1914, the Oratory of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was originally in Eucharistic Congress Street. 1 After moving location several times, land was purchased from the Augustinian Fathers in what was later named Oratory Street, where the foundation stone of the new building was laid on 11 November 1928. 2 The architect of the project was Annetto (Nettu) Mifsud Ellul, and the work was carried out under the supervision of master builder Salvu Zahra.
The oratory included a chapel, classrooms for catechism lessons, a playground and a theatre. The building was inaugurated by Archbishop Don Mauro Caruana on 8 June 1940. 3 Over the years, it welcomed various social and religious organisations from Mosta, while also serving as a shelter for refugees during the Second World War. On 19 January 1942, a bomb fell in front of the oratory, causing damage, destroying nearby buildings, and claiming six lives. 4
This oratory remained a very important place for the people of Mosta not only for religious instruction but also as a community, social and learning centre for the community.5
Restoration Works
The project sought the restoration of the façade of the oratory and the statues. 6 The works comprised the removal of the paint, the cleaning of the masonry fabric from biological growth (by poulticing) and other superficial deposits, the opening of defective joints and their flush pointing with a lime-based mortar, and the repair and replacement of consumed and deteriorated masonry. The works also involved some minor repairs on the timber apertures. Two stone statues of Saint Tarcisius and Saint Maria Goretti, sculpted by Gianni Bonnici in 1968, were cleaned to remove the sealer. 7
More extensive works were carried out as well on the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is made out of concrete and was sculpted by Giovanni Spiteri Sacco. 8 The hands of Spiteri Sacco’s statue had to be reconstructed using fiberglass.
References:
- Vassallo, M. T. (2016). Għalfejn u kif beda kollox. In L-Oratorju Qalb ta’ Gesù tal-Mosta : bl-istorja u l-istejjer tiegħu. Mosta : Parroċċa Marija Assunta. Mosta : Soċjetà Filarmonika Santa Marija.
- Vassallo, L. (2016). L-Oratorju u l-kappella tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesu : opra ġo oħra t-tnejn irnexxew … Annwal [festa Santa Marija, Mosta,] 2016
- Vassallo, L. (2016).
- Camilleri, Anthony (1990), L-Oratorju Qalb ta’ Ġesù, Mosta, Mosta: ippubblikat fil-forma ta’ faxxikli f’Il-Mosta.
- Vassallo, L. (2016).
- Restoration and Preservation Department. (2024). Restoration Works Scheme for Local Councils. Projects Undertaken by the Restoration Directorate.
- Vassallo, M. T. (2016).
- Vassallo, M. T. (2016).