A throwback to the beginnings of Mount St Joseph retreat house in Mosta
Have you ever wondered how this special place came to be? Here's a peek into the story of Mount St Joseph retreat house in Mosta, paying tribute to all the Jesuit Fathers and Brothers who physically built the House, and the generous benefactors and others who made it all happen.
The history of Mount St Joseph started quietly with Carmelo Borg, father of Maltese Jesuit Fr Joe Borg SJ, bequeathing a sum of money upon his death in 1948 to the Society. It wasn’t until 1960 that the idea of Mount St Joseph came to be, when the Jesuit Superior General suggested that the Maltese Province should build a retreat house. The funds donated by Mr Borg contributed largely to making this dream a reality.
Once permissions from Father General and the local Church were in hand, things moved very fast. In January 1961 the first parcel of land was purchased and barely a week later, works commenced at Targa Gap with Archbishop Gonzi blessing the foundation stone on 4th June 1961.
The House is indebted to an impressive number of professionals involved in the building.
The architect was Carmelo Falzon, an eminent architect at the time. The interior design and especially the design of the metal works were entrusted to Emvin Cremona, one of Malta’s leading artists of the 20th century, and a pioneer of modernism in Malta. The original statue of St Joseph overlooking what was then the main entrance was entrusted to Censu Apap, a Maltese sculptor who is well known for designing various public monuments and church statues, most notably the Triton Fountain in Valletta. The original portrait of the house’s main benefactor Carmelo Borg, which now hands on one of the main landings as well as another painting presently in the prayer room are the work of the famous artist Esprit Barthet. The concrete elements of the iconic boundary wall were made by Ganni Camilleri a superior of S.D.C. (Muzew).
Just as impressive is the work of the Jesuit Fathers and Brothers who would go to the stone quarry owned by the Felice family where a portion was allocated specifically for the building of the House and cut all the stone themselves. The building too was erected by Jesuits with the novices regularly coming from Loyola House in Naxxar to help mix concrete. The interior finishings including some of the metal works and furniture are also the handiwork of Jesuit Brothers. Oh, how many doors did Bro Frankie Borg have to sand down until the House was up and running!
On the 20th December 1964, under the watchful gaze of Archbishop Gonzi and then Provincial Fr Maurice Eminyan SJ, the House, boasting 70 rooms, was officially inaugurated.
Today, more than 60 years later, with a number of Jesuits from that era still with us, Mount St Joseph Retreat House remains a monument to their strength, resilience and ingenuity.
