Żurrieq

Żurrieq (Maltese: Iż-Żurrieq [ɪl zuːrɨːʔ]) is a town in the Southern Region of Malta. It is one of the oldest towns in the country, and it has a population of 11,823 inhabitants as of March 2014.[1] The first documentation about it being a parish dates back to 1436 dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria. The island of Filfla is administratively a part of the town. The town stretches from in Nigret to Ħal Far respectively in old times the town was a border with Żejtun. There are a number of villages forming part of Żurrieq.

Żurrieq

Iż-Żurrieq

Zurrico
St Catherine of Alexadria Parish Church, as viewed from Mattia Preti Square
Flag
Coat of arms
Motto(s): 
Sic a cyaneo aequore vocor
Mill-Baħar iżraq ismi
(From the Blue Sea my Name)
Coordinates: 35°49′45″N 14°28′33″E
Country Malta
RegionSouthern Region
DistrictSouth Eastern District
BordersBirżebbuġa, Kirkop, Luqa, Mqabba, Qrendi, Safi
Government
  MayorRita Grima (PL)
Area
  Total10.5 km2 (4.1 sq mi)
Population
 (Jan. 2019)
  Total10,962
  Density1,000/km2 (2,700/sq mi)
Demonym(s)Żurrieqi (m), Żurrieqija (f), Żrieraq (pl)
Time zoneUTC+1 (CET)
  Summer (DST)UTC+2 (CEST)
Postal code
ZRQ
Dialing code356
ISO 3166 codeMT-68
Patron saintSt. Catherine of Alexandria
Day of festa1st Sunday of September / 25 November
WebsiteOfficial website

Żurrieq is part of the Fifth political District and votes for the local council every five years. The council is made up of nine members, one of them is the Mayor of the town. The present Mayor of Żurrieq is Rita Grima. The parish Arch-priest being Rev. Karm Mercieca, helped by Rev. Raymond Cassar, Rev. David Torpiano and Rev. Karm Camilleri.

Churches and chapels

Parish Church dedicated to Saint Catherine of Alexandria

Bubaqra Chapel dedicated to the Assumption of Mary

Nigret Chapel dedicated to the Immaculate conception of Mary

Chapel of the Annunciation, Ħal-Millieri

Chapel of Saint John the Evangelist in Ħal-Millieri

Chapel of St Leo, Żurrieq

The chapel serves as the official cemetery chapel of Żurrieq. It is the only such chapel dedicated to Pope St Leo I in Malta. This chapel was closed in 1658 and reopened twenty years later, after the necessary restoration had been carried out. In this chapel one could also find an old painting on wood that from 1343 to 1575 was in the chapel on Filfla. Today this painting is found in the parish church of Zurrieq.

Chapel of St Agatha

The original church which stood on the site of the present church was built sometime in the 16th century. However it was deconsecrated by the Bishop of Malta, Balaguer on 24 November 1658. The present church was built by Cikku Grixti as a fulfillment of a vow made by a woman. It was blessed by the vicar general Philip Amato on 27 February 1859. The church served as a spiritual base for British soldiers during World War II. In 1952 the church was enlarged and decorated with necessarily items such as the Via Crucis and new vestments. The painting depicting St Agatha was restored by R. Bonnici Cali.

Chapel of St James

Chapel of St Bartholomew

Chapel of St Andrew

St Andrew's was first mentioned in the reports recounting the visit of Bishop Pietro Dusina in 1575. However, the chapel was rebuilt in 1634 as mentioned in other pastoral visits. The chapel was deconsecrated in 1658 by Bishop Balaguer. The church remained in disuse until 1690 when the chapel became the property of the parish church of St Catherine.

Chapel of St Luke

The origin of the chapel of St Luke dates back to the 15th century. It was donated by its benefactor Luqa Zammit in his will dated 1460 as revealed in the notary documents of Luqa Sillato. However, the present structure dates from 1814 when the church was rebuilt on the initiative of Reverend Gwann Zammit.

Laboratorju tal-Paċi

In 1971 Fr Dionysius Mintoff O.F.M. took over an Air Force Hangar to use as a centre of peace activities, dedicating it to Pope John XXIII. The area was later on developed as a Peace laboratory.

Feasts

  • Saint Catherine of Alexandria
  • Our Lady of Mount Carmel
  • Our Lady of the Rosary
  • Saint Joseph
  • Saint Rocco
  • Santa Clementina
  • Sacred Heart of Jesus, celebrated in the Parish Church and also in Nigret.
  • Corpus Christi
  • The Assumption of our Lady, Celebrated in Bubaqra

Bands and clubs

  • Għaqda Karmelitana Banda Queen Victoria, Żurrieq
  • Soċjeta Mużikali Santa Katarina V.M.

Streets showing Roman Catholic Faith

  • Misrah Santa Marija(Saint Mary Square)
  • Misraħ San Ġorg (Saint Georges Square)
  • Misraħ il-Karmelitani (Carmelites Square)
  • Triq Santa Katarina (St. Catherine's Street)
  • Triq il-Benedittini (Benedictines Street)
  • Triq il-Karmnu (Our Lady of Mount Carmel Street)
  • Triq il-Kunċizzjoni (Immaculate Conception Street)
  • Triq l-Isqof Alpheran (Bishop Alpheran Street)
  • Triq San Bartilmew (St. Bartholomew Street)
  • Triq San Luqa ( St. Luke Street)
  • Triq San Bastjan (St. Sebastian Street)
  • Triq San Ċiru (St. Ciros Street)
  • Triq San David (St. David Street)
  • Triq San Ġorġ (St. George Street)
  • Triq San Ġwann (St. John Street)
  • Triq San Iljun (St. Lion Street)
  • Triq San Luqa ( St. Luke Street)
  • Triq San Pawl (St. Paul Street)
  • Triq San Mark (St. Mark Street)
  • Triq San Lazzru (St. Lazrus)
  • Triq Sant Antnin (St. Antony Street)
  • Triq San Nikola (St. Nicholas Street)
  • Triq San Pietru (St. Peter Street)
  • Triq San Gwann (St. John Street)
  • Triq San Mikiel (St. Michael Street)
  • Triq San Martin (St. Martin Street)
  • Triq San Iljun (St. Lion Street)
  • Triq San Bastjan (St. Sebastian Street)
  • Triq Sant Agata (St. Agatha Street)
  • Triq Sant Porfilju
  • Triq Santa Fawstina
  • Triq Sant Andrija (St. Andrew Street)
  • Triq Santa Katerina tal-Bakkari
  • Triq Monsinjur Pietru Pawl Saydon
  • Triq Monsinjur Pullicino
  • Triq il-Kanonku Balzan
  • Triq l-Immakulata ( Immaculate Conception Street)
  • Trejqa l-Iben il-Ħali ( Prodigal Son Street)
  • Sqaq il-Karmnu Nru.1 u Nru.2 (Our Lady of Mount Carmel Alley No.1 and No.2)
  • Sqaq il-Kunċizzjoni (Immaculate Conception Alley)
  • Sqaq San Anard (St. Leonard Alley)
  • Sqaq San Bartolimew (St. Bartholomew Alley)
  • Sqaq San Ċiru (St. Ciros Alley)
  • Sqaq San Edwardu (St. Edward Alley)
  • Sqaq San Ġakmu (St. James Alley)
  • Sqaq San Ġużepp (St. Joseph Alley)
  • Sqaq San Ġwann (St. John Alley)
  • Sqaq San Martin (St. Martin Alley)
  • Sqaq San Patrizju (St. Patrick's Alley)
  • Żona Tal-Bambina (The Nativity of Our Lady Area)
  • Triq Santa Katerina tal-Baqqari

Zones

  • Bubaqra
  • Nigret
  • Xarolla
  • Tal-Bebbux
  • Tal Gawhar
  • Ta' Xaqqa
  • Tal-Għerien
  • Taċ-Ċantar
  • Tax-Xewki
  • Tal-Ġibjun
  • Tal-Baqqari
  • Ta' Taħt iċ-Ċint
  • Ħal-Millieri
  • Ħal-Lew
  • Ħal-Far
  • Ħal-Manin
  • Wied Ganu
  • Wied Żurrieq
  • Wied Babu
  • Wied Ħallelin
  • Wied Basasa
  • Wied Żnuber
  • Wied Fulija
  • Għar Ħasan

Twin towns – sister cities

Żurrieq is twinned with:[2]

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References

  1. "Estimated Population by Locality 31st March, 2014". Government of Malta. 16 May 2014. Archived from the original on 21 June 2015.
  2. "Town Twinning". zurrieqlocalcouncil.com. Żurrieq. Retrieved 18 September 2019.
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