The community of Ħamrun joyously welcomed back their beloved titular statue of St. Cajetan after a successful journey to the Eternal City, the Vatican. The statue of St. Cajetan embarked on its voyage from the Archpriestal Church of Ħamrun on Sunday, August 25th, to participate in the grand celebrations marking the 500th anniversary of the foundation of the Theatines.
On August 28th, the statue of St. Cajetan reached the Basilica of Sant’Andrea della Valle in Rome. Shortly after, on Thursday, September 12th, the statue was honored in a solemn procession that led to St. Peter’s Basilica, where it was placed beside the Altar of Confession.
Throughout the pilgrimage, the statue was accompanied by performances from both Ħamrun bands, with hundreds of devotees celebrating together in both Rome and Naples. Notably, the statue had left its niche on Wednesday, July 30th, for the titular feast of St. Cajetan in Ħamrun, meaning it spent an exceptional ten weeks away from its home – a rare occurrence.
Yesterday, Sunday, October 6th, Triq il-Kbira San Ġużepp in Ħamrun was packed with people who gathered in droves to witness the statue’s grand return. The pilgrimage commenced from the Church of St. Francis in Ħamrun itself, with the faithful proudly welcoming back the saint they revere so dearly.
St. Cajetan, welcome back to Ħamrun, where you are truly loved!
