Karl Stennienibarra
The Planning Authority has given the Church permission to erect a 30-storey high-rise basilica in Mġarr.
The PA’s board members voted unanimously this evening in favour of the Basilica of Saint Joculus of Myrth project, which will be built on 14,000 sq.m. of land in the rural Żebbiegħ area.
Aside from the main church building itself, the Archdiocese also plans to create a large lake (‘divinity pool’) in front of the basilica, as well as a 5-star rectory to attract high-end clergymen from around the world.
The ambitious project, due for completion in 2022, is the centrepiece of the Church’s new strategy to reverse the drop in holy mass attendance over the past few years.
“In olden times, a city’s church or cathedral was the highest building in the land, and served as a constant reminder of the awesome majesty of God,” Archbishop Charles Scicluna told Bis-Serjetà.
“But now with all these towers and skyscrapers, it’s hard to get our message across that He is still a really big deal. So we’ve decided to up our game, literally.”
The Archbishop said the basilica itself would include state-of-the-art worshipping facilities, including climate-controlled pews, the latest immersive religio-visual technology, and an automated collection basket that accepts contactless payment.
However, the PA turned down the Church’s proposal to turn the basilica’s 200-metre steeple into a block of residential flats, citing the lack of windows as a possible source of discomfort to potential occupants.
Instead, there will now be one small, sound-proofed room at the top of the tower, which the Archbishop says will be used by priests for “quiet prayer.”
Aside from covering pristine agricultural land, the project will also involve the destruction of the 6,000-year-old Skorba Temples.
“I mean, let’s be honest, it’s just a pile of old stones where primitive people used to worship some kind of fertility goddess. How ridiculous is that?” the Archbishop laughed.
Addressing concerns about the development, PA Chairman Johann Buttigieg said, “the land in question may be outside the Development Zone, but it is in the Lord’s zone.”
Buttigieg strongly denied claims that he and the rest of the PA’s Board had been granted plenary indulgences by the Church in exchange for their rubber-stamping of the project.
“Let’s face it, God may be infinitely merciful but that’s still not enough forgiveness to cover the things we’ve done to Malta,” he said.
Follow Bis-Serjetà on Facebook
