The
Dominicans step in
A few years later, the noble Carlo Ermolao Zimmermann Barbaro passed on
the church and its immovable property to the religious community of the
Dominican fathers of the Maltese Province who, on their part, accepted the
donation ; the legal contract was drawn on 20 April 1908, and confirmed by the diocesan
church authorities on 6 October 1908. This same contract re-lists the
immovables attached to the church; all the spiritual burdens, mass legates, and
celebration of feasts to be held in the church are also stated:
·
two
masses to be said daily;
·
eleven
anniversary sung masses;
·
a
sung mass on the feast of St Joseph;
·
the
celebration of the Consecration of the church on 2 July;
·
the
exposition of the Sacrament on 20 September;
·
Lenten
sermons for both males and females;
·
the
celebration of the last three days in Holy Week;
·
the
seven Wednesdays of the Audience with the recitation of the Rosary;
·
triduum
and feast of Jesus of Nazareth .
The legal deed also includes a sort of guarantee which Victoria Borg
had declared in her Will of 7 March 1901. The noble lady had asserted
that, in the event of unsurmountable problems which hindered the fulfilment of
the spiritual burdens, the religious order would be released of its obligations
as listed in the Will.
Together with the Contract of 20 April 1909, one notes a written
agreement of the Dominican Provincial Fr Antoninus Gatt who accepts all duties
and obligations attached to the donation of the church and, at the same time,
grants the sum of 1,000 pounds sterling to Marquis Zimmermann Barbaro as a show
of gratitude .
The church, its furnishings, and the adjoining immovable property were
estimated at 30,000 pounds sterling. The legal document of the endowment
was drawn at number 10, Xahara House, St Paul Street, Rabat. The Rabat
born witnesses were Joseph Caruana Mamo, a doctor of laws, son of the late
Angelo, and Joseph Attard, a valet, son of the late Alexander.
The quoted document reveals how the Sanctuary and
Basilica Church of Jesus of Nazareth was passed on to the Maltese Dominicans,
and thus shows that our religious brethren could commence their mission and
service in Sliema in the Spring of 1909.