During the Second World War, the Parish of Kalkara was the only Parish in Malta that completely lost its titular statue when the previous Parish Church was totally destroyed on 10th April, 1942. A few years after this tragic event, Ġużeppa Vella expressed the desire to commission a new statue of Saint Joseph as a vow she had made during the war. The parish priest, Monsignor Carmelo Xuereb, informed Archbishop Monsignor Mikiel Gonzi of this wish and decided to oversee the order for this statue. He commissioned Chev. Vincenzo Bonello, curator of the Museum of Fine Arts in Valletta, to create a design for a devotional statue with considered symbolism. The design was approved by the Pontifical Commission for Sacred Art in the Vatican, and this statue was carved in wood in the village of Ortisei in the province of Bolzano, Italy, by the sculptor Ferdinando Stuflesser.
The new statue of Saint Joseph arrived in Malta in December 1948 and was kept at the Teresian Convent in Bormla. Seventy-five years ago, on 13th March, 1949, the statue was triumphantly brought from Bormla to Kalkara through a pilgrimage. In this statue, Saint Joseph is depicted with the Child Jesus by his side, resting his hand on his shoulder, while in the other hand he holds a symbol of the Vatican pressed to his heart, reflecting the declaration that he is the Patron of the universal Church. Over time, the statue was gilded, a wooden sculptured plinth was made, along with an ornamental baldachin to be placed underneath it. Monsignor Archbishop Mikiel Gonzi bequeathed his pectoral cross to this statue.
Preparations for the celebrations, which were to culminate in 2024 on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the arrival of the titular statue of Saint Joseph in Kalkara, began in 2021 when Assoċjazzjoni Wirt il-Kalkara formally asked the parish priest, Father Brian Gialanzè, to manage the logistical and financial aspects of the project for the restoration and re-gilding of the pedestal of the titular statue of Saint Joseph. Immediately after the 2021 feast, shortly after the decree was issued by the Archdiocese of Malta, the project officially commenced. The pedestal was taken to Gozo to begin the professional intervention required by gilders Mario, Ruben, and Austin Camilleri Cauchi, along with artists Michael and Adonai Camilleri Cauchi, who also worked on the complexion of the faces. The company Ciantar Woodworks, with the help of artist Michael Camilleri Cauchi, worked on the sculpture of the four wooden corbel scrolls. To fund this project, Assoċjazzjoni Wirt il-Kalkara established a fundraising scheme from devotees and parishioners of Kalkara, while APS Bank made a donation to the Parish for this project. A year later, on Monday, 11th July, 2022, during the Mass for which the statue is taken out from its niche, the restored pedestal was inaugurated and blessed.
The second phase of the project began exactly the day after this inauguration. After the artist Adonai Camilleri Cauchi completed and presented the highly detailed designs for the new gilding of the statue of Saint Joseph, Assoċjazzjoni Wirt il-Kalkara formally requested once again to the parish priest to oversee the restoration and new gilding of this statue. While the preparatory work took an entire year, the Association launched a second fundraising scheme. After the 2023 feast, shortly after the decree was issued by the Archdiocese of Malta, with great enthusiasm, a delegation from Assoċjazzjoni Wirt il-Kalkara, along with parish volunteers, transported the titular statue of Saint Joseph to the island of Gozo, where the restoration, renovation, and new gilding of this statue began. The gilding and renovation works were carried out by artists Ruben, Austin, Mario, Michael, and Adonai Camilleri Cauchi, while the restoration was done by restorer Semira Bugeja. The silver lily blossom along with the silver staff, as well as the silver sandals of the two statues, were extensively restored by Gold Lady Jewelers, where the sandals were also gold-plated. Throughout this year, the Association once again continued another fundraising scheme to finance the entire project. There was significant logistical coordination between the parish priest, Father Brian Gialanzè, and Assoċjazzjoni Wirt il-Kalkara throughout the entire process. Then, on Sunday, 14th July, amidst great emotions among the people of Kalkara, the completed project of the titular statue of Saint Joseph was inaugurated.
The celebration on Sunday, 14th July, coordinated by the Parish of Kalkara and the parish priest, Father Nicholas Pace, reached its climax at 5:30 in the evening when the restored and newly gilded statue of Saint Joseph crossed the Grand Harbour of Malta via a sea voyage from Marsa to Kalkara. It was accompanied by the regatta boats of Kalkara, as well as a number of other vessels. As the statue approached the horizon of the Sant’ Angelo peninsula, the bell of the same fort rang, a salute and other fireworks were set off, and as the statue descended onto the Kalkara quay, it was greeted by the two Kalkara bands, the Banda San Ġużepp and the Banda Sagra Familja, which, through a march along the waterfront, escorted the titular statue of Saint Joseph back to the Parish Church where the antiphon and the popular hymn were played.
The Assoċjazzjoni Wirt il-Kalkara wishes to thank all those who, in one way or another, helped throughout this entire three-year process, resulting in the completion of the project. Special thanks go to the former parish priest, Father Brian Gialanzè, all the artists who worked on this project, and all those who made donations to fully cover the expenses.
