Corpus Christi Church, Għasri

The Corpus Christi Church is a Roman Catholic parish church in Għasri, in Gozo, Malta. It forms part of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gozo. It is under current administration of the V.R. Mgr Edward Xuereb. [1]

Corpus Christi Church
Corpus Christi Parish Church
Il-Knisja Parrokkjali ta' Kristu Ewkaristiku Salvatur
The façade of the parish church.
Corpus Christi Church
36°03′31.8″N 14°13′34.8″E
Location	Għasri, Gozo, Malta
Denomination	Catholic (Latin Rite)
Website	Għasri Parish on Facebook
History
Status	Active
Founded	16 December 1921 (as a parish)
Dedication	Corpus Christi and Christ the Saviour
Dedicated	1916
Consecrated	1916
Relics held	Piece of the Holy Cross of Our Lord
Architecture
Functional status	Parish church
Architect(s)	Rev. Mgr. Archpriest Ġużepp Diacono
Architectural type	Church
Style	Baroque
Years built	1903–1916
Groundbreaking	6 September 1903
Completed	9 January 1916 (consecration)
Specifications
Number of domes	5 (1 large dome and 4 small ones)
Materials	Limestone
Bells	4 (1930)
Administration
Parish	Corpus Christi Parish
Metropolis	Metropolitan Archdiocese of Malta
Diocese	Diocese of Gozo
Province	Malta
Clergy
Bishop(s)	Mario Grech (Apostolic Administrator)
Priest in charge	Very Rev. Mgr Dr Edward Xuereb
Assistant priest(s)	Rev. Mgr Dekan. Michael Mintoff
Laity
Music group(s)	Lauda Sion
Servers' guild	Abbatini tal-Parroċċa tal-Għasri (Għasri Parish Altar Servers)

Elevation to Parish Church

By a decree issued on 19 May 1921, Pope Benedict XV authorised the formation of the Corpus Christi Parish - one of the newest parishes in the diocese - with the Corpus Christi Church as the parish church.

Artwork

The Chancel

Main article: The Last Supper (Pisani)

The Main Altarpiece

The titular altarpiece is The Last Supper by Lazzaro Pisani and is located in the choir. It was commissioned by the then-curator and vice-parish priest the Rev. Fr. Carmelo Caruana. The painting was installed in 1917. By 2007, due to the weight of the canvas itself, creases were forming in the painting and it was getting unstuck from its frame. BOV sponsored the restoration.[2] The restoration was carried out by Emanuel Zammit, from Żejtun following his other works in the Cathedral of the Assumption in Gozo.[3]

The decorator Antonio Agius is responsible for the frame, which was done a year later. This, and his other works in the parish church are considered to be his climax.[4]

Parish Priests

Pastors of the Parish Church

	Name	Date of Birth	Date of Death	Date of Installment	Termination of Position
1	Dun Ġużepp Galea	16 Jan 1892	24 Dec 1936	5 Mar 1922	1924 (resigned)
2	Dun M'Anġ Grima	26 Jul 1888	21 Nov 1968	31 Oct 1924	1929 (transferred)
3	Rev. Salv Scicluna	22 Jul 1888	12 Mar 1944	19 Mar 1929	1937 (transferred)
4	Rev. Franġisk Mercieca	24 Feb 1891	27 Nov 1964	23 May 1937	1938 (transferred)
5	Rev. Manwel Xerri	30 Jan 1895	12 Dec 1964	26 May 1938	1948 (transferred)
6	Rev. Ġużepp Borg	4 Nov 1912	Unknown	7 Nov 1948	1951 (transferred)
7	Rev. Can. Dun Karm Vella	17 Jan 1915	11 Mar 1969	9 Sep 1951	1965 (transferred)
8	Rev. Ġwann Cini	21 Dec 1935	Unknown	25 Apr 1965	1969 (transferred)
9	Rev. Mgr Ġużeppi Mintoff	17 Mar 1937	21 Sep 2014	1 Jun 1969	31 Mar 1992 (resigned)
10	Rev. Ġużepp Cini	19 Feb 1949	-	6 Jun 1992	6 Sep 2003 (resigned)
11	Very Rev. Mgr Dr Edward Xuereb J.U.D., S.Th.B (Ang).	12 Apr 1970	-	28 Mar	(incumbent)

[5]

Restoration

In 2018, after obtaining funds from the EU, the facade (including the bell towers), and the left side of the church are being restored.

Pictures

A view of the chancel (sanctuary and choir) from the dome.

References

1. http://gozodiocese.org/churches/parishes/ghasri/
2. "BoV supports restoration of Ghasri parish titular painting". Times of Malta. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
3. "Ghasri titular painting restored". Times of Malta. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
4. "Remembering the legacy of Vittoriosa artist and decorator Antonio Agius". Times of Malta. Retrieved 22 April 2019.
5. Calleja, Anthony. Il-Korpus.