OUR LADY & ST GEORGE SEMINARY

INTRODUCTION

St.Paul’s Pro Cathedral and the Congregation of Our Lady and St George Gozo seek to worship God living together authentically and sensitively with a lively and challenging faithfulness to Word and Sacraments. Welcoming all who seek the direction of the Church of England, we pledge to uphold the Christian Values of humility and honesty, determined to find Christ’s way for us and all within the family of the Diocese in Europe in an ever changing world.

OUR LADY AND ST GEORGE GOZO SEMINARY

Anglicans and other English speaking Christians have been meeting together on Gozo for many years. Around the 1970’s, Miss E. Sevenoaks saw a need and went to see the Chancellor of St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral, resulting in a regular Anglican monthly weekday service. By the 1980’s Mrs Hilda Robinson was playing a leading role maintaining services on Gozo. Mr Arthur Walsh, a licensed Reader, came to holiday on Gozo in 1978 and he took part in Anglican services held at Manresa House. In 1993, Arthur aided by Robert (Steve) Stevenson, a Lay Assistant, and encouraged by the Chaplain, Canon Philip Cousins, started a regular “Songs of Praise”, and Steve also started an Anglican Carol Service, both at the Calypso Hotel in Marsalforn. Around this time, Bishop Coleman, a Canadian, was also able to help with Anglican services.

Fr Victor Albutt a retired priest living on Gozo, held a Lenten  series in his home in 1989. From 1991 more regular services were held for the first time in the Chapel of the Roman Catholic Sacred Heart Seminary in Victoria. At first the Eucharist was celebrated monthly, and then fortnightly, and assistance was initially given by Fr Victor Albutt. Throughout these years regular and occasional visitors joined the “resident Anglicans” and attendances grew to a point where there was a need for weekly services. From Lent 2003 the Eucharist has been held each Wednesday and with additional services at special occasions, by the Chaplains from Malta. From September 2007 an additional service of Compline-Night Prayer was introduced on the first Sunday of the month at Manresa Retreat House Chapel.

The Dedication in 2005 of this, the third congregation of the Anglican Church in Malta and Gozo was promoted and supported by the Senior Chaplain & Chancellor of St Paul’s Pro-Cathedral – Canon Tom Mendel (2004 – 2008). A Warden’s Staff was donated to mark the dedication 23rd April 2005 and was blessed during the Eucharist service in the Basilica of St George, Victoria.

On the first Anniversary 23rd April 2006, a Diptych of Icons, were blessed during the St George’s Day Patronal service at Gharb Basilica.They were purchased from donations, and were made and painted by Marianne Hacquebard, a Dutch artist, with close ties to Gozo. On the fifth Anniversary of the dedication in 2010 Bishop David Hamid, the Suffragan Bishop of Europe, celebrated Mass in St George’s Basilica for a large Congregation in the presence of the Archpriest of St. George’s and his predecessor. A celebratory luncheon followed. On the 22nd April  2015 with the kind permission of the Archpriest of St George’s Basilica and the Bishop of Gozo, both of whom were present, a 10th Anniversary Mass was celebrated by the Chancellor of St Paul’s Pro- Cathedral  and an Anniversary Lunch followed with Mons Mario Grech the Bishop of Gozo and many friends .The Ecumenical dimension of the Chaplaincy is of great importance to Gozo Anglicans and we  take every opportunity to attend events on the Islands. A recent example being a Service of ” Opening the Doors of the Metropolitan Cathedral” to celebrate the Extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy instituted by HH Pope Francis .Members of the congregation were expressly asked to participate and attend. The Congregation in Gozo is under the prayerful protection and watchful patronage of Our Lady The Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint George The Martyr.

OCCASIONAL SERVICES

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WEDDINGS

Weddings, marriage blessings and renewal of vows can be arranged in our Churches.
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BAPTISIMS

Baptisms can be carried out in our churches.
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FUNERALS

Funeral and memorial services can be carried out in our churches.

SAFEGUARDING

We would like to remind you that within our Chaplaincy we take Safeguarding very seriously. The Chaplaincy of Malta and Gozo is committed to ensuring we follow all guidance to provide a Safer Church. The safeguarding Officer is Mrs Susan Warner and she may be contacted if you have any concerns about the safeguarding of a child or vulnerable adult.

Email: safeguardingmaltagozo@gmail.com or by calling (00356) 79074152  Full details of the Diocese Safeguarding policy can be found at www.europe.anglican.org  You may also contact the Diocesan safeguarding team on europe.safeguarding@churchofengland.org or phone 0044 (0) 207898 1163 out of hours call 0044(0) 303 003 1111 if it is an emergency call the police on 112

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SERVING THE COMMUNITY

  • Chancellor:
  • Church Warden: Mrs Judith Pugh 
  • Chaplaincy Council Member: Tony Wright

VISITORS' & FURTHER INFORMATION

The Anglican Community in Gozo do not have a church building but use the Seminary Chapel by the kind permission of the Bishop of Gozo and the Rector.