Church of St. Lucy

This is one of the earliest churches to have been set up in the parish and as a result featured in Dusina's pastoral visitation account. The earliest description of the titular painting adorning the main altar is recorded by Bishop Royas in 1570. It represented the saint surrounded by the miracles she performed and her martyrdom. Inside the same church Royas noted the presence of another altar dedicated to SS Cosmas and Damian. The painting above the altar represented SS Cosmas, Damian and Agatha.

In 1615, Bishop Cagliares described the main altar piece as showing St. Lucy with S Peter and Dominic. The same painting probably still hung on the main altar from 1628 to 1644, since the descriptions of the work in all the pastoral visitation reports for this period are identical.

Bishop Balaguer described the church of St. Lucy in 1659 as newly built through the donations of the faithful. The painting adorning the titular altar represented St. Lucy. The description of the painting by Bishop Attard in 1666 states that the saint was surrounded by her miracles and that it was executed on canvas. According to the inventory drawn up by Bishop Buenos in 1668, another painting representing The Assumption of the Virgin lay above the main altar. Bishop Cannaves also mentioned two paintings during his pastoral visitation report of 1716. Bishop Labini again reported the presence of two paintings in 1781 - the titular and, beneath it, a new painting showing The Holy Trinity with Our Lady of Sorrows, St. Francis, and the Souls in Purgatory.

The heirs of Domenico Schembri, who had been a procurator of this church, were obliged to light the lamp every Saturday evening. They were also obliged to sing vespers and High Mass on the feast day. Besides, twelve Masses were to be celebrated throughout the year, one on every first day of the month. Every Friday in March, a procession was held to chis church from the parish church.

A document which has been recently found in the Naxxar Parish Archives reveals how a certain Paulo Cuscheri lived for a number of years in the church. According to this document, Cuscheri eventually left for Licata in Sicily. From there, he subsequently sent a small bronze bell to the church which was then fixed on the wall between the two churches of St. Lucy and the Nativity, to be used by both. The procurator of the church of the Nativity of the Virgin, however, selfishly appropriated himself of the bell and refused its use for the St. Lucy feast, keeping it under lock and key. The St. Lucy procurator wrote a letter to the Church authorities to report this abuse and to claim the bellback. His letter was supported by three statements made under oath before a notary whereby different persons recounted how the bell was actually the property of the St. Lucy church.

Examining an inventory drawn up in 1675, it is very clear that this church was held in high esteem by the faithful. It received donations in kind even from the grand master. Today the church is still used regularly with Mass celebrated every Sunday and every first Friday of the month. The feast day is also celebrated with pom, although lately with reduced enthusiasm.

Reference: Naxxar, A Village and its People, edited by Paul Catania and Louis J.Scerri