Programme of the Feast of St Paul’s Shipwreck 2026 at the Pauline Collegiate Parish Church Valletta

-Tribute to Our People-

FRIDAY, 23TH JANUARY

7.00pm        Lecture, in collaboration with Fondazzjoni Paulus, by Prof. Timmy Gambin Searching for Paul in a cultic and archaeological landscape, held at  St Paul’s Collegiate Church.

 

SATURDAY, 24TH JANUARY

Opening of the feast

 9.30am        Blood Donation at the National Blood Donation Centre in Gwardamangia organized by the Għaqda tal-Pawlini.

6.00pm        Capitular Mass by the Archpriest Can. Fr David Cilia. At the end of the mass the antiphon Sancte Paule by Mro Dr Paolo Nani will be performed. Then the titular statue is taken out of its niche among Pauline hymns. The statue bearers are given the mandate for this year’s feast.

 

8.00pm        Dinner Dance organized by the Għaqda tal‑Pawlini.

 

SUNDAY, 25TH JANUARY

Feast of the Conversion of St Paul

10.30am      Activity for the elderly and the sick. During the mass the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick will be administered. Mass by the Can. Fr Stefan Galea, Vice Parish Priest of Floriana, and assisted by Archpriest Can. Fr David Cilia.

12.00pm     Mass organized by the Charity Confraternity, l‑Għaqda San Vinċenz de Paule and the Soup Kitchen OFM Foundation. Celebrated by Can. Fr Karm Busuttil, Archpriest of the Parish of Vittoriosa.

6.00pm        Capitular Mass for the Feast of the Conversion of St Paul, by Archpriest Can. Fr David Cilia. Sermon delivered by Fr Joseph Adami O.P., Prior of the Convent of Rabat.

 

MONDAY, 26TH JANUARY

6.00pm        Mass organized by the Ladies Circle. Celebrated by Fr Victor Paul Farrugia, Chapter Head of Ceremonies.

 

TUESDAY, 27TH JANUARY

6.00pm        Mass for the Cathecism children and TeenKlabb. Celebrated by Can. Fr James Saydon, Director of Vocations.

 

WEDNESDAY, 28TH JANUARY

6.00pm        Mass celebrated by Can. Fr Dillon Bugeja, Vice Parish Priest of St Sebastian Parish, Qormi. Invited all mass readers and ministers of communion.

 

THURSDAY, 29TH JANUARY

6.00pm        Mass for the members of the Parish Confraternities. Celebrated by Can. Fr David Torpiano, Capitular Chancellor.

 

FRIDAY, 30TH JANUARY

6.00pm        Mass in honour of St Angela Merici. Celebrated by Archpriest Can. Fr David Cilia.

7.00pm        Concert by the Società Filarmonica Nazionale La Valette in the Collegiate Church for the 150 years since it started participating in the Feast of St Paul.

 

SATURDAY, 31ST JANUARY

6.00pm        Mass for the members of the Legion of Mary, Charismatics, Neochatecumenal and MUSEUM. Celebrated by Mons. Can. Fr Antoine Borg, Director of Radju Marija.

8.00pm        Versatile in the City in aid of Puttinu Cares – an evening of popular and contemporary music by the Versatile Brass Band and several popular singers, in St Paul Street.

 

SUNDAY, 1ST FEBRUARY

12.00pm     Mass with the participation of Società Filarmonica Nazionale La Valette. Celebrated by Can. Mons. Mario Tong, Archpriest Emeritus of the Collegiate.

 

MONDAY, 2ND FEBRUARY

6.00 pm      Capitular mass of Candlemas. Celebrated by the Archpriest Can. Fr David Cilia.  During the celebration there will the blessing of the candles.

 

TUESDAY, 3RD FEBRUARY

6.00pm        Mass for which the Parish priest of Portu Salvu, St Augustine (Valletta) and St Publius (Floriana) together with the Rectors of the other churches and members of the Parish Pastoral Council are invited. Celebrated by Fr Alex Scerri O.Carm., Prior of the Basilica Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mount Carmel.

 

WEDNESDAY, 4TH FEBRUARY

6.00pm        Mass with the participation of the Minor Franciscan Friars.

 

THURSDAY, 5TH FEBRUARY

6.00pm        Mass organized by the Għaqda tal‑Pawlini. Celebrated by Can. Fr Peter Ellul.

7.00pm        Literary Musical Evening organized by the Pauline Cultural Academy of the Għaqda tal‑Pawlini.

 

FRIDAY, 6TH FEBRUARY

FIRST DAY OF SOLEMN TRIDUUM

5.30pm        Vespers by Can. Fr Charles Tabone O.P.

6.00pm        Solemn mass celebrated by Can. Fr Peter Ellul followed by the first triduum sermon delivered by Fr Sinclair Bugeja, Biblist. Hymn, Antiphon and Sacrament Blessing. Celebrated by Can. Fr Charles Cini, Archpriest of the Parish of Floriana.

8.00pm        Traditional Concert held at the band club of the Società Filarmonica Nazionale La Valette.

 

SATURDAY, 7TH FEBRUARY

SECOND DAY OF SOLEMN TRIDUUM

10.00am      Mass for children celebrated by Can. Mons. Claude Portelli, Archpriest of Mdina. At the end of the mass there will be the presentation of the babies.  This is followed by a manifestation with a smaller-sized statue of St Paul, accompanied by the Piccola Banda of Società Filarmonica Nazionale La Valette. The route is as follows: St Paul’s Street, Archbishop Street, Merchants Street, Old Theatre Street, Republic Street and St Lucy Street. At the end of the route the statue is raised on a pedestal overlooking St Paul’s Street accompanied by the cheering and enthusiasm of the Pauline youths and Juniors.

 5.30pm        Vespers by Can. Fr Karm Busuttil, Archpriest of the Parish of Vittoriosa.

6.00pm        Solemn mass celebrated by Can. Fr Vincenz Borg, Collegiate Emeritus Archpriest, followed by the second triduum sermon delivered by Fr Sinclair Bugeja, Biblist. Hymn, Antiphon and Sacrament Blessing follow. Celebrated by Can. Fr Charles Vella.

7.30pm       Traditional band march organized by the Għaqda tal‑Pawlini, with the participation of the Società Filarmonica Nazionale La Valette and Soċjetà Mużikali San Lawrenz Vittoriosa, starts from Republic Street, St John’s Street, St John’s Square, St John’s Street and St Paul’s Street and ends in front of the Collegiate.

 

SUNDAY, 8TH FEBRUARY

THIRD DAY OF SOLEMN TRIDUUM

10.30am     Mass with the Sacrament of Baptism.

2.30pm       Manifestation with the statue of St Paul with the participation of St Paul’s Band Safi and St Elena’s Band Birkirkara. The traditional band march starts from near the Collegiate Church, St Paul’s Street, Melita Street, Merchants Street, towards Pjazza la Valette, South Street, Republic Street to Great Siege Square. At the end of the route the statue will be raised on the pedestal in front of the Great Siege onument.

5.30pm        Vespers by Can. Fr David Farrugia, Archpriest of the parish of Dingli.

6.00pm        Solemn mass celebrated by Can. Fr David Torpiano, Capitular Chancellor followed by the third triduum sermon delivered by Fr Sinclair Bugeja, Biblist. Hymn, Antiphon and Sacrament Blessing. Celebrated by Can. Fr David Cilia, Collegiate Archpriest.

 

MONDAY, 9TH FEBRUARY

EVE OF THE FEAST OF ST PAUL’S SHIPWRECK

5.15pm        Solemn Translation, Vespers and Sacramental Blessing led by His Excellency the Archbishop Mons. Charles J. Scicluna, with the participation of the Chapter and Cappella Bel Canto.

7.00pm        Solemn mass of the eve of the feast led by His Excellency Mons. Joseph Galea Curmi, Auxiliary Bishop.

7.00pm       Traditional band march of the eve of the feast organized by the Għaqda tal‑Pawlini, with the participation of  the Società Filarmonica Nazionale La Valette and the Band of Għaqda Mużikali Leone, Victoria, Gozo. The Soc. Fil. Naz. La Valette starts from Republic Street, St John’s Street, Merchants Street, Melita Street, St Paul’s Street, St Christopher’s Street and ends near the Siege Bell Memorial. This will be followed by a fireworks display involving pyrotechnics in the Grand Harbour organized by the Fireworks Commission of the Għaqda tal‑Pawlini.

 

TUESDAY, 10TH FEBRUARY

FEAST OF ST PAUL’S SHIPWRECK

 7.00am        Mass celebrated by Fr Michael Camilleri O.P., Parish priest of Portu Salvu, Valletta.

8.00am        Mass celebrated by Can. Fr Robin Camilleri, Archpriest of the Collegiate of the Basilica  of the Nativity of Mary, Senglea concelebrated by the Archpriests of the parishes of the Harbour.

9.15am        Arrival of His Excellency the Archbishop Mons. J. Scicluna, and Her Excellency Dr Myriam Spiteri Debono, President of Malta.

9.30am        Pontifical mass presided by His Excellency the Archbishop Mons. Charles J. Scicluna including a panegyric by the Archbishop himself.

12.00pm     Mass celebrated by Fr Victor Paul Farrugia.

12.00pm     Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna will re-enact the old tradition of the shooting of a full-gun salute fired from the Saluting Battery at the Upper Barracca Gardens in Valletta, on the occasion of the 10th February, Feast of St Paul’s Shipwreck, Patron of the Maltese Islands.

1.00pm        Traditional and popular band march by Società Filarmonica Nazionale La Valette. The march will pass through St Paul’s Street, Archbishop’s Street, Merchants Street, Old Theatre Street, Republic Street, St John’s Street, Merchants Street, Melita Street and St Paul’s Street.

4.00pm        Mass in English for foreign visitors celebrated by Can. Fr Karm Busuttil, Archpriest of the parish of Vittoriosa.

4.45pm        Vespers by Can. Fr Stefan Galea, Vice Parish Priest of Floriana.

5.30pm        Synodal procession with St Paul’s statue (sculptured by Melchiorre Gafà) and relic. The procession will be led by Can. Fr Dun Anton Galea Scannura, Archpriest of St Catherine’s Parish in Żejtun. Accompanying the procession there will be the Soċjetà San Pawl Banda Konti Ruġġieru Rabat.

6.15pm      The Soċjetà Mużikali Beland Żejtun will play a band march from Republic Street towards St. John Square and will continue accompanying St. Paul’s statue from Merchants Street, Melita Street, St Paul’s Street up to the statue’s entrance in church.

7.00pm        Profession of Faith at St. John’s Square led by the Archpriest Can. Fr David Cilia.

9.30pm        End of the procession. Antiphon, Hymn and Sacramental Blessing.

During the procession there will be pyrotechnic displays organized by the Fireworks Commission of the Għaqda tal‑Pawlini.

 

SATURDAY, 14TH FEBRUARY

6.00pm                 Thanksgiving mass for the Feast. The Archpriest and the Chapter thank everyone who participated in making the feast a success. This is followed by returning of St Paul’s statue to its niche.

NOTES:

  • On the 24th January, Opening of the Feast activities, the orchestra will be invited by the Għaqda tal‑Pawlini.
  • The choir Cappella Bel Canto, under the direction of Mro Hermann Farrugia Frantz, will accompany all the liturgic functions at the mass of the opening of the Feast and from the first triduum day. The music accompanying all main liturgic functions will be compositions by Dr Paolo, Anton and Paul Nani.
  • After the Feast Opening till the 5th February, music will be with the participation of the Parish Choir Saulus under the direction of Mro Andrè Paul Huber. The Pauline Youths and TeenKlabb will animate the youth mass.

 

Pyrotechnic Programme

MONDAY, 9TH FEBRUARY

EVE OF THE FEAST

 9.45pm        Fireworks display show

10.30pm     Ground fireworks display accompanied by a pyrotechnic show with synchronised music in Mediterranean Street next to the Siege Bell Memorial.

 

TUESDAY, 10TH FEBRUARY

FEAST OF ST PAUL’S SHIPWRECK

 8.00am        Fireworks

12.00pm     Fireworks

5.30pm        The Fireworks Commission of Għaqda tal‑Pawlini salutes the artistic statue of the Apostle St. Paul Patron of the Maltese Islands with fireworks on its exit from the church and start of the procession. On its arrival at Merchants Street there will be a fireworks display until the procession arrives in front of the Co-Cathedral of St John for the Profession of Faith.

 

NOTE:

All the fireworks of the Feast are the work of the St Micheal’s Fireworks Factory Lija. The Fireworks Commission of the Għaqda tal‑Pawlini thanks all the benefactors that help all year round, financially but also for their participation during the activities.