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| TOP NEWS | Sunday, 12 August 2007 Rector wants a ‘Gozitan Lourdes’ in Ta’ Pinu The Church wants to turn the Ta’ Pinu shrine in to an “oasis of peace for pilgrims” and a “centre for religious tourism”, Rector Rev. Michael Galea told MaltaToday. But the proposed development risks ruining another Gozitan open space to make way for parking spaces and new facilities for the shrine, in an area which lies entirely outside development schemes.
Last week, Rev. Galea presented an outline application to construct a visitors’ centre, a monastery around the shrine itself, three retreat houses, a library, and parking areas for coaches and 101 private cars on the surrounding agricultural land around the shrine. The proposal also includes a premises for the local council and a police station. A tunnel will link the church parvis to the area occupied by the retreat houses and the car parks. The area earmarked for this development is mostly agricultural land owned by the church. The only existing building on the site is a public convenience, a tourist information shop next to the toilets, and a small, old building. MEPA had issued a permit for a building at the back of the sanctuary in 2005. Now, the church wants to develop a monastery which will surround the sanctuary. The shrine has attracted pilgrims since 1883, when Karmela Grima, a 45-year-old spinster, heard a call while passing by a rural chapel on her way back home from the nearby fields. She claimed that the voice which had come from the image of the Blessed Virgin in the same chapel. In the 1920s, a decision was taken to build a monumental sanctuary to accommodate the crowds, and in 1932 the new Church was blessed and opened to the public. Rev. Galea made it clear that the development will respect the natural characteristics of the place, which is designated by MEPA as a bird sanctuary. “It’s not our aim to have too many buildings and our plan is to replace an existing room,” Galea. Galea’s dream is to turn Ta’Pinu in to a Gozitan version of Lourdes. “We want to give visitors an audiovisual experience with which they take the religious message with them.” But he made it clear that his aim is purely spiritual, and not commercial. “We do not want to sell souvenirs. We want to enrich people spiritually.” The development will include a retreat house for up to 25 visitors who will spend their days in spiritual reflection. Galea admits that the project would cost a lot of money. “We aim to finance it through fundraising,” Galea said. Gozitan priests who talked to MaltaToday were irritated by the proposal. “Priests are being ignored completely on such an important issue that costs so much money, and takes so much space. Wouldn’t the ideas of all be better than the ideas of a select few?” one priest told MaltaToday. But getting a permit for such a project will not be an easy feat for the developers. The existing sanctuary is a potential Grade 1 listed building by virtue of its importance and function as a landmark. Structure Plan Policy UCO7 sets out that Grade 1 listings shall refer to “Buildings of outstanding architectural or historical interest that shall be preserved in their entirety. Demolition or alterations which impair the setting or change the external or internal appearance, including anything contained within the cartilage of the building, cannot be allowed.” An application for an extension of the church at the back of the building was rejected by MEPA in 2003 as it was found to be incompatible with the environmental characteristics of the area. It was only approved after the plans were amended after the application was approved for a reconsideration. Rev. Galea acknowledges that the project will not be approved soon. “This is a long-term project which will take years. At this stage we are not applying for a full permit but only for an outline application.”
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NEWS | Sunday, 12 August 2007 PN support in Gozo in free-fall Bortex fires Maltese, hires Chinese Forget the bedpans, let’s talk travel plans… ‘Our pharmacy licences are now safe and more valuable than ever’ AFM calls off search for missing migrants Musicians give hope to immigrants Mangion stands by Pender Place sale Mangion stands by Pender Place sale European gays appoint Maltese activist as policy officer Ostreopsis not an alien species Rockers, relax – cult programme will be back MMA official bluffed with junior to corrupt him Mistake paves way for Marsa hazardous waste incinerator PBS schedule ‘turned into auction’ UTV fracas: Former director to sue priest for libel To Gozo, and beyond Rector wants a ‘Gozitan Lourdes’ in Ta’ Pinu The road to Smart City – over 600m of tarmac through arable land |