A central highlight of the seminar is the keynote address by internationally recognised museologist Dr Caroline Wilson-Barnao, whose work has significantly shaped contemporary thinking on museums in the digital age. A leading voice in global museum studies, her research examines the implications of digital and participatory media for museum practice. She is the author of Museums as Platforms (2022) and co-author of Collecting Social Media: From Object to Content (2025), with widely cited contributions on digitisation, platform logics, personalisation, and algorithmic cultural recommendation. Formerly Director of Museum Studies at the University of Queensland, she continues to play an active role in international research communities, contributing to initiatives such as the CPRA Australia Board and critical heritage and digital culture networks.

The seminar will also feature a series of panel discussions and workshops led by a diverse line-up of local and international speakers. Among the contributors is Dr Sandro Debono, a Malta-based academic and museum advisor, and executive board member of the Network of European Museum Organisations (NEMO), where he leads the Think Tank for Museum Futures. International perspectives will be further enriched by Dr Annalisa Banzi, an art historian from the University of Milan whose research focuses on the intersection of psychology, neuroscience, and visitor experience in museums.

The programme also includes contributions from John Mallia, Simone Spiteri and Alex Zammit. Mallia is a highly experienced trainer who has been active since 1998 and specialises in motivational training for personal development, communication, and workplace effectiveness across a wide range of public and private sector organisations. Spiteri, an award-winning playwright and founder of theatre company Dù, brings a strong narrative and performative dimension, with works staged internationally and recognised by national awards, including the National Book Prize for Drama. Zammit’s interdisciplinary work bridges theology, psychology, art, and cultural engagement, focusing on how art functions as both a reflection of culture and a vehicle for meaning.

The seminar offers a unique platform for dialogue across disciplines, inviting participants to consider how storytelling can shape more meaningful, inclusive, and future-oriented cultural experiences.

Refreshments and a light lunch will be provided.

Buy Your Ticket

Programme

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The Co-Cathedral will be closed on Friday 1st May due to a public holiday.

On Saturday 2nd May & Saturday 16th May, the Co-Cathedral will open later than usual, welcoming visitors from 12:30pm.

On Thursday 7th May, the Co-Cathedral will be open from 10:30AM.

We apologise for any inconvenience caused and thank you for your understanding. We look forward to welcoming you.

The post Visitor Notice: May Opening Hours appeared first on St John's Co-Cathedral.

This year’s Holy Week program offers a rich opportunity to enter more deeply into these mysteries, beginning with the solemn remembrance of Our Lady of Sorrows and culminating in the joy of Easter Sunday. Each celebration, from the blessing of palms to the Easter Vigil, is carefully prepared to help us pause from our daily routines and reconnect with what truly matters.

Whether you plan to attend every liturgy or simply join for a few key moments, this schedule is here to guide you through a week of reflection, devotion, and hope. Let it be an invitation to slow down, to be present, and to experience the beauty and depth of Holy Week together.

Holy Week Programme 2026

Day of Our Lady of Sorrows – 27 March
8:30am / Mass
5:00pm / Mass

Eve of Palm Sunday – 28 March
8:30am / Mass
5:45pm / Mass & Blessing of Olive Branches

Palm Sunday – 29 March
7:45am / Mass
8:30am / Office (Liturgy of the Hours)
9:30am / Pontifical Mass celebrated by Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna & Blessing of Palm and Olive Branches
11:30am / Mass
5:45pm / Mass in English

Between 30 March and 1 April
8:30am / Mass & Reflection on the Easter Triduum

Holy Thursday – 2 April
9:00am / Mass celebrated by the Archbishop & Blessing and consecration of the oils used in the Holy Sacraments

6:00pm / Mass commemorating the institution of the Eucharist and Holy Orders. Followed by a procession with the Blessed Sacrament to the Altar of Repose. The Co-Cathedral remains open for visits to the Blessed Sacrament until 11:00pm

Good Friday – 3 April
9:30am / Office led by the Archbishop in front of the Altar of Repose. The Co-Cathedral remains open until 11:30am

3:30pm / Commemoration of the Passion and Death of Our Lord Jesus Christ

Holy Saturday – 4 April
9:30am / Office in the Oratory dedicated to the Beheading of St John

8:00pm / Easter Vigil & Blessing of fire and water, chanting of the Exultet, and baptisms of adults

Easter Sunday – 5 April
7:45am / Mass
8:30am / Office
9:30am / Pontifical Mass led by the Archbishop
11:30am / Mass
5:45pm / Mass in English

The post Liturgical Celebrations during Holy Week appeared first on St John's Co-Cathedral.

The evening takes its title — Inħoll l-Ilħna u l-Ilsna l-Oħra — from the poem “Mestiza” by Myriam Montoya, in its Maltese translation by Simone Galea, published in xtaqt li kont merkurju (Inizjamed, 2022). It echoes the spirit of an evening where poetry will resound across eight chapels in as many languages.

The event will take the form of two poetical tours through the Co-Cathedral’s side chapels, each dedicated to a different language of the Knights of the Order of St John and each carrying its own distinct language and literary tradition. Moving through the chapels of Castile, León and Portugal; Aragon, Catalonia and Navarre; Auvergne; Anglo-Bavaria; Provence; France; Germany; and Italy, the audience will experience poetic texts in the respective languages. In each case, translations in Maltese and/or English will also be provided.

The first poetical tour begins at 7.30pm, led by Maria Christina Zammit, and the second tour (identical to the first) commences at 8.30pm, led by Jeremy Grech. Each tour promises an intimate and immersive journey through language, history, and art.

The evening is being curated by Inizjamed and Inizjamed’s team under the artistic direction of Leanne Ellul, with the script woven together by Leanne Ellul and Jake Buttigieg and the authors’ writings. A cast of readers from diverse backgrounds will bring to life works by Astrid Alben (tr. Antoine Cassar), Clare Azzopardi (tr. Martina Reinecke), Samantha Barendson (tr. Gioele Galea, Dom Gabrielli), Lilia Ben Romdhane (tr. Immanuel Mifsud), Keith Borg (tr. Maria Frendo), Rainer Maria Rilke (tr. Priscilla Cassar), Alphonse Daudet (tr. Joe Pulè), Miquel Desclot (tr. Pierre J. Mejlak), Marc Delouze (tr. Nadia Mifsud), Leanne Ellul (tr. Virginia Monteforte), Claudia Gauci (tr. Giuseppe Goffredo), Elizabeth Grech, Adrian Grima (tr. Rui Cóias), Nadia Mifsud, Dun Karm Psaila (tr. Ġużè Delia), and San Ġwann tas-Salib (tr. Ġorġ Peresso).

The readers for the evening are: Simone Azzopardi, Kit Azzopardi, Jean Paul Borg, Kurt Borg, Jake Buttigieg, Leanne Ellul, Claudia Gauci, Marilyn Mallia, Patricia Micallef, Immanuel Mifsud, Justine Somerville, Klara Vassallo, Maxine Tanti, and others.

This collaboration reflects St John’s Co-Cathedral’s ongoing commitment to art and culture, and its openness to poetry as a living presence within its historic walls. Inizjamed’s participation, meanwhile, draws on the organisation’s long-standing dedication to translation — both into Maltese and from Maltese into other languages.

The event is open to everyone against a donation of €10. Tickets can be obtained from here.

The post A Night of Poetry at the Co-Cathedral / Inħoll l-Ilħna u l-Ilsna l-Oħra appeared first on St John's Co-Cathedral.

Inħoll l-Ilsna u l-Ilsna Oħra

📅 It-Tlieta 17 ta’ Marzu
🕰  7:30pm & 8:30pm

Ftit jiem biss qabel il-Jum Dinji tal-Poeżija, il-Konkatidral ta’ San Ġwann u Inizjamed se jingħaqdu flimkien għal serata ta’ poeżija b’differenza. Imraħ matul it-tmien kappelli fil-Konkatidral – u hekk ukoll permezz tal-lingwi. Bis-saħħa tal-lingwi storiċi tal-Kavallieri tal-Ordni ta’ San Ġwann, il-poeżija se tinstema’ bl-Ispanjol, il-Franċiż, il-Ġermaniż, it-Taljan, l-Ingliż, u iżjed, tradotta bil-Malti u/jew l-Ingliż. Is-serata se tieħu s-sura ta’ mixja poetika li se ssir darbtejn:

• 7:30pm – immexxija minn Maria Christina Zammit

• 8:30pm – immexxija minn Jeremy Grech

B’kurazzjoni ta’ Inizjamed u direzzjoni artistika ta’ Leanne Ellul, din l-esperjenza immersiva se tqarreb lejn xulxin fi djalogu vuċijiet kontemporanji u klassiċi fl-isfond ta’ ġawhra aristiku u arkitettoniku tal-Barokk.

🎟️ Donazzjoni ta’ €10

BILJETTI MINN HAWN

ECCE HOMO An Evening of Spiritual Reflection and Sacred Music

📅 Thursday 26th March, 2026
🕰  7:30pm

The Co-Cathedral also hosts a moving evening dedicated to reflection on justice, truth, and human frailty within the Passion narrative.

Under the direction of Mro Christopher Muscat, the programme will be interpreted by:

The Jubilate Deo Choir, Cappella Gregoriana Jubilate Deo, Pueri Cantores Jubilate Deo with Mr Ronald Camilleri presiding at the organ.

The musical programme features masterworks by: Tomás Luis de Victoria, Felice Anerio, Giovanni Pierluigi da Palestrina, and Gregorio Allegri.

This sacred repertoire, performed within the Co-Cathedral’s extraordinary acoustics, promises an atmosphere of profound contemplation and spiritual depth.

🎟️ Tickets are available against a €10 donation, with proceeds in aid of the Archbishop’s Charity Fund.

TICKETS FROM HERE

Valletta Resounds: The Caravaggio Experience

📅 Ongoing performances
🕰  Various Times

Breaking national records for the most performances staged within a historical site, Valletta Resounds: The Caravaggio Experience by Udjenza returns for a new run of shows at St John’s Co-Cathedral.

Held in the Oratory, this site-specific performance elegantly weaves together The Beheading of St John the Baptist by Caravaggio with theatrical storytelling and timeless classical music.

Under the musical direction of Jacob Portelli, critically acclaimed Maltese musicians bring to life the works of Baroque masters such as George Frideric Handel and Johann Sebastian Bach, alongside sacred Maltese compositions by Francesco Azzopardi and others.

The music is performed by some of Malta’s most esteemed sopranos — Dorothy Bezzina, Hannah Tong, and Dorothy Baldacchino — and beautifully accompanied on Baroque harp, Baroque violin, Baroque cello, and psaltery.

This auditory delight is seamlessly interwoven with captivating tales of the Oratory, narrated by the regal character of Fra Bartolomeo, portrayed by Jeremy Grech.

🕰 The 40-minute concert begins at 18:30, with access to the Cathedral from 18:00 through the main door on St John Street.

An unforgettable encounter with art, music, and storytelling — set before one of the greatest masterpieces of the Baroque era.

TICKETS FROM HERE

We look forward to welcoming you to St John’s Co-Cathedral for these memorable evenings.

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The post 𝐀𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐬: 𝐄𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐮𝐫𝐞 appeared first on St John's Co-Cathedral.

LED lighting system and the launch of a major fundraising campaign for the restoration of Mattia Preti’s magnificent Baroque ceiling. Together, these efforts embody the

Foundation’s mission to illuminate Malta’s sacred heritage while safeguarding it for future generations.

St John’s Co-Cathedral, one of Europe’s most celebrated Baroque landmarks, has recently completed a transformative lighting project that brings new life to its sacred

interior, harmonising art, architecture, faith, and sustainability under one radiant vision. The new system marks a historic milestone, 112 years after the Co-Cathedral first

transitioned from candlelight to electricity. It replaces outdated halogen and metal-halide fittings with over 350 museum-grade LED luminaires, reducing energy consumption by more than 50% while revealing every brushstroke, carving, and gilded detail with renewed clarity.

President of the St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation, Colonel Dr Mark Mallia, emphasised the significance of this achievement, stating:

“The new lighting system is far more than a technical enhancement – it is an act of reverence, bringing to life every brushstroke and gilded carving, allowing visitors to

experience St John’s Co-Cathedral as Mattia Preti envisioned it – radiant, contemplative, and alive with divine light. ‘Where Light Meets Legacy’ is more than our campaign’s name;

it is our mission – to illuminate the past while preserving the future.” Mgr Prof Emmanuel Agius echoed this sentiment, noting that “this new lighting installation should not be celebrated solely as a commendable technical enhancement; it should also be interpreted as a vibrant symbol of illumination – a light that reveals beauty, inspires devotion, and elicits our inner spiritual response. This lighting system will help every visitor and worshipper to savour and experience the splendour of Preti’s ceiling in all its dramatic glory, and intensify the contemplative atmosphere that defines this sacred space.”

Alongside this milestone, the Foundation has launched a six-year, €6 million fundraising campaign for the restoration of Mattia Preti’s monumental ceiling, a masterpiece that

remains both a symbol of Malta’s cultural identity and a defining achievement of 17th-century European art. Executed between 1661 and 1666, Preti’s decorative cycle

depicting the life of St John the Baptist now shows signs of deterioration caused by humidity, environmental factors, and the passage of time. This underscores the urgency

for conservation.Colonel Mallia further remarked that “the restoration of Mattia Preti’s vault is not merely about conserving art, but about safeguarding the soul of our nation’s heritage. Each contribution helps ensure that this masterpiece, and the light of faith and artistry it represents, endures for generations to come.”

In his address, Mgr Prof Emmanuel Agius remarked that the fundraising campaign for the conservation of the Preti vault “calls for a generosity of heart and vision – it is one that can

only succeed through the collaborative synergy of our esteemed partners: the business community, philanthropic institutions, and individual benefactors who, like the Knights

of old, understand and appreciate the enduring value of such enterprises for the common good.”

The restoration project will combine historical research, advanced diagnostics, and multidisciplinary conservation techniques under the guidance of a scientific committee

made up of internationally recognised experts together with the team at St John’s Co-Cathedral. It will stabilise and clean the painted surfaces, strengthen the underlying

stone structure, and protect the vault from future deterioration. This will ensure that this extraordinary work continues to inspire awe for centuries to come.

Together, the new lighting system and the restoration campaign mark a defining moment for St John’s Co-Cathedral. It is a harmonious meeting of light and legacy that reaffirms

the Foundation’s enduring commitment to the preservation and celebration of Malta’s spiritual and cultural heritage.

For more information or to contribute, visit www.stjohnscocathedral.com/fundraising or email fundraising@stjohnscocathedral.com.

The post St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation Launches “Where Light Meets Legacy” – Illuminating and Preserving Malta’s Baroque Masterpiece appeared first on St John's Co-Cathedral.

Contributors – including scholars, conservators, and curators from both Malta and abroad – explore a wide range of topics. These include innovative technological approaches to art conservation, the theological and sociological challenges of re-evangelization in today’s secular context, the role of sacred art in fostering community engagement, and reflections on the future of cathedral heritage across Europe, from Malta to the Vatican Museums.

This publication not only showcases pioneering research and practice in the field of sacred art conservation but also provides an important platform for the exchange of knowledge and best practices. It is an essential resource for anyone interested in the intersection of art, faith, and cultural heritage.

💻 View the digital version here.

📖 Reserve a hard copy here.

This initiative was made possible thanks to the generous support of APS Bank.

The post Now Available: Sacred Art Conservation as a Vehicle of Re-Evangelization: European Cathedrals – Malta appeared first on St John's Co-Cathedral.

We encourage people from all walks of life to participate and sing in one of Malta’s most beautiful cathedrals together with Amadeus Chamber Choir and St Paul’s Choral Society.

—
More information:

Ticketing info: https://www.festivals.mt/what-s-on/come-and-sing
Open call: https://www.festivals.mt/post/the-three-palaces-festival-invites-you-to-come-sing
Registration link: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSd_KslH9hZBLXq3uOecyAN1jTBY7lzkeGt2zks5URe3iZDX1g/viewform?usp=sharing
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thethreepalacesfestival/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/3palacesfestival

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