On Saturday, February 1, 2025, the Baħrija community experienced a beautiful moment when, at the end of the Mass, the new Blessed Sacrament Chapel in the same church was inaugurated. Fr. Ray, who serves as Rector of this community, explained that while this moment marks a historical event—fulfilling a long-held dream of completing this sacred space—he has always seen it, from the very beginning of the idea, as an event of faith and love.
To help understand the theological and spiritual message behind the Blessed Sacrament Chapel project, Fr. Ray highlighted some of its key aspects.
The Main Backdrop
The backdrop consists of two key movements:
- The Central Section – Both in its structure and distinct color, this part emphasizes the importance of the Tabernacle itself.
- The Two Side Sections – Shaped in a semi-circular form, these represent the open hands of the Lord, extended to everyone. They serve as an invitation for all to draw closer to the Lord and feel at ease in His presence.
The black background also carries deep symbolism. It represents the common ground we all share and the struggles we often encounter in life. As it ascends, the black gradually transitions into white—a powerful symbol of the transformation that the Lord brings into our lives whenever we are with Him and invite Him into our hearts.
The Tabernacle
The Tabernacle naturally holds the central place in this project, and everything within the Chapel—such as the radiant beams, the movement of the angels, and the lighting effects—has been designed to highlight it. We retained the same Tabernacle that was previously in use, though it has been restored and cleaned. Additionally, an upper section was added to complete its structure.
During the cleaning process, special care was taken to enhance the beauty of the Tabernacle’s door by polishing the silver plating. This helped bring out the striking image of the fountain of living water, symbolizing the source from which all are invited to come and drink.
The Radiant Beams (Raġġiera)
The Raġġiera symbolizes the Light that is Christ Himself—the Day that illuminates all days. It is relatively large and crafted with multiple layers to create a dynamic effect. Its design originates from the Tabernacle itself, signifying that Christ is the source of all light. However, its reflection and effects extend across the sides of the backdrop, symbolizing that the Lord’s light and blessings reach everyone.
This effect is further enhanced by the lighting effects incorporated into the sides of the backdrop and behind the Tabernacle, emphasizing the all-encompassing presence of Christ’s light.
The Angels
The two angels positioned at the front and on either side of the Tabernacle are of extraordinary beauty. Their anatomy reflects the essence of adoring spirits, and their movement adds to their elegance.
The primary intention behind their design was to depict them:
- In a Dance of Love and Joy – The angels are shown in a graceful motion inspired by the Greek word Perichoresis (peri meaning “around” and choreo meaning “to dance”). This symbolizes their eternal dance of love and joy with the Lord.
- In Flight – Their uplifted posture serves as an invitation for all of us to keep our gaze fixed on higher, heavenly things in life.
- In an Attitude of Faith and Adoration – The angels hold lamps in their hands, representing our faith in the Lamb of God, illuminating the path of worship and devotion.
The artist behind the work in this chapel is Jennings Falzon, while the Provincial led the Mass and blessed this sacred space. The inauguration took place in a deeply symbolic moment, as the entire congregation, holding candles in their hands, welcomed Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament, which was then solemnly placed in the Tabernacle. Following this, a young couple with their children lit the lamp before the Tabernacle, marking the presence of Christ among them.
This occasion also marked the 10th anniversary (2015–2025) since our Province began offering pastoral service to this community, which today has grown to 3,000 people.
Photos – Knisja Baħrija
