The 3rd of January 2021 marked the first centenary since the Senglea parish church was elevated to a Basilica and also the coronation of the titular statue known as Maria Bambina, during the same year of 1921. A Pontifical Mass was celebrated by the Grand Prior H.G. Mons Charles Scicluna, Archbishop of Malta in the presence of the President of the Republic, H.E. Dr George Vella. The council of the Maltese Lieutenancy was invited to take part in appreciation for the help extended to a number of families from Senglea during the pandemic lock down last year, thus marking this occasion as the Lieutenancy’s first activity for 2021.
At the end of the Pontifical, Roberto Buontempo, the Lieutenant, donated to the Collegiate Chapter an album with original photos dating from 1921, passed on to him by his grandfather the late artist painter Prof Giuseppe Briffa, who was the artist that painted the Dome of the same Basilica (destroyed during a 1941 blitz). Furthermore, during his speech, the Lieutenant informed the congregation that the next Vigil of Investiture earmarked to take place in November 2021, will be held for the first time at the Senglea Basilica.
