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Retreat houses in Malta

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There are several places for spiritual retreats in Malta.[1] The first retreat house in Malta was San Calcedonio in Floriana. It was constructed by the Jesuits and inaugurated in 1751. The diocesan clergy administered it after the Jesuits' expulsion in 1768. Today the structure forms part of the Archbishop’s Curia.[1][2]

List of retreat places in the Maltese Islands

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The following is a list of retreat places in the Maltese Islands:[3][4]

Malta
Name Location Run by Capacity
Christ the Shepherd Tal-Virtu, Rabat Archbishop’s Seminary 98 *
Mount St Joseph Retreat House[1][5][6] Targa Gap, Mosta Jesuits 78
Dar il-Ħanin Samaritan[7] Santa Venera M.U.S.E.U.M. 60
Retreat House[8] Tas-Silġ, Marsaxlokk Discalced Carmelites 55
La Salle Centre[9] Mellieha De La Salle Brothers 54 *
Rivotorto Retreat House[10] Birkirkara Centru Animazzjoni u Komunikazzjoni (ĊAK)

Conventual Franciscans

47
ŻAK House & Flatlet[11] Birkirkara Żgħażagħ Azzjoni Kattolika (ŻAK) 44
Savio College Dingli Salesians 37
Chapel of Christ Our Saviour [12]

(Kappella ta' Santu Kristu)

Għaxaq Ghaxaq parish 30 *
Lunzjata Retreat House[13] Rabat Carmelites 30
St Joseph Retreat House[14] Rabat Sisters of St Joseph 28
Sala Marija Ewkaristika Żebbuġ Fergha Ewkaristika 26
Gozo
Name Location Run by Capacity
Manresa Retreat House[1][15] Victoria Jesuits 48
Stella Maris House Żebbuġ Missionary Society of St Paul 37
Dar Madre Teresa Spinelli Għajnsielem Augustinian Sisters 32

Mount St. Joseph Retreat House Shooting Range Controversy

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Mount St. Joseph Retreat House, located in Mosta, became the focal point of considerable controversy following a proposal to construct a shooting range nearby.[16] The proposal faced significant resistance from the local community and environmental organisations, reflecting broader concerns about development practices in Malta under the Labour Party's administration.

Mount St. Joseph Retreat House is a Jesuit-run facility known for its serene environment, offering a conducive environment for contemplation and spiritual retreats for roughly ten thousand people annually, since 1964.[1][6][17][16] In 2015, a consortium named U-Group proposed to develop a shooting range at a disused military installation in Tal-Busbesija, Mosta. The project intended to repurpose the derelict site for target shooting activities. The initiative swiftly incited resistance from the Jesuit community and local residents expressing concerns regarding the noise and disruption the shooting range would generate, undermining the tranquillity of the retreat house and nearby residential areas.[16][18][19] The Mosta council conducted public meetings and hearings, during which citizens expressed their complaints.[20][21][22][23]

The controversy underscored growing concerns about environmental issues and corruption in Malta.[19][24] Public demonstrations and appeals for planning reform intensified, as citizens insisted on measures to safeguard Malta's environment and guarantee transparent development practices.[25][26] The proposal for the shooting range near Mount St. Joseph Retreat House was ultimately dropped, marking one of the few victories for the local community and environmental advocates.[27][28][29][30][31][32]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e Malta, Times of (2015-05-24). "Mount Saint Joseph retreat house: an evolving religious, social reality". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  2. ^ Malta, Times of (2019-11-24). "It happened this month: The foundation of the University of Malta in 1769". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  3. ^ "Retreat Houses". Archdiocese of Malta. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
  4. ^ "Retreat Houses". Archdiocese of Malta. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
  5. ^ "Mount St Joseph Retreat House". Centre for Ignatian Spirituality, Malta. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
  6. ^ a b Malta, Times of (2012-10-02). "Mount St Joseph Retreat House in Mosta". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  7. ^ "Dar il-Ħanin Samaritan | Ċentru tal-Konferenzi". Dar il-Ħanin Samaritan. 2014-05-30. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
  8. ^ "Tas-Silg ‹ Order of the Discalced Carmelites Malta". Retrieved 2025-02-10.
  9. ^ "Mellieħa Retreat Centre". la salle malta. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
  10. ^ "Rivotorto". www.cakmalta.org. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
  11. ^ "ZAK House". ZAK Malta. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
  12. ^ Ciantar, Noel. "GXQ Santu Kristu". www.kappellimaltin.com. Archived from the original on 2025-01-25. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
  13. ^ "Dar tat-Talb «Lunzjata»". Karmelitani. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
  14. ^ "Retreat Houses – Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition". Retrieved 2025-02-10.
  15. ^ "Manresa House". Centre for Ignatian Spirituality, Malta. Retrieved 2025-02-10.
  16. ^ a b c Micallef, Keith (2015-04-30). "Shooting range will 'undermine' peaceful retreat house at Mount St Joseph - Jesuits". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  17. ^ "Mount St Joseph Retreat House". Centre for Ignatian Spirituality, Malta. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  18. ^ Cordina, John (2015-06-26). "Opponents to planned shooting range in Busbesija area of Mosta organise themselves". Malta Independent. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  19. ^ a b "Reaction to the proposed shooting ranges complex at Busbesija in Mosta". Archdiocese of Malta. 2015-06-17. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  20. ^ Xuereb, Matthew (2015-05-24). "Council 'has no position' on shooting range". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  21. ^ Camilleri, Ivan (2015-05-29). "'No' to firing range at community hearing". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  22. ^ "Uproar in Mosta about shooting range | Daphne Caruana Galizia". Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  23. ^ Malta, Times of (2015-06-26). "Mosta residents set up group to oppose shooting range". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  24. ^ "Front warns Mosta shooting range 'prejudicing MEPA's future decisions'". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  25. ^ "12,000 sign petition 'to save the mission of Mount St Joseph retreat house'". Malta Independent. 2025-06-19. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  26. ^ Zammit, Mark Laurence (2023-05-27). "'Xebbajtuna': Crowds fill Valletta to demand end to development greed". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  27. ^ "Mosta shooting range: Government does not specify which aspect of due diligence U-Group failed - The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  28. ^ "Updated | Mosta shooting range plan shelved • Russian developers 'not informed' of decision, council hits out at 'inexistent' communication". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  29. ^ Muscat, Caroline (2015-07-05). "Shooting range plan has been shot down". Times of Malta. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  30. ^ "Government confirms that plans for shooting range in Mosta have been scrapped - The Malta Independent". www.independent.com.mt. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  31. ^ "Shooting range plans collapse on due diligence failure | Daphne Caruana Galizia". Retrieved 2025-05-01.
  32. ^ "ODZ hotel proposed in Mosta on land transferred by parliament in 2020". MaltaToday.com.mt. Retrieved 2025-05-01.
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