The Church of Saint Ubaldeska
A Church with a Rich History – The Church of Saint Ubaldeska
Built in 1629 by Grand Master Antoine De Paule, the Church of Saint Ubaldeska was dedicated to Saint Ubaldeska Taccini, who was born in Calcinaia near Pisa in 1136. At just fifteen, she joined the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, dedicating her life to service and faith.
After the Order left the island, the church came under state ownership. But as the local population grew in the 19th century, the small church could no longer meet the spiritual needs of the community. In 1883, parishioners expressed their desire for the church to play a larger role, and on 17 July 1901, ownership was officially returned to the ecclesiastical authorities at the request of Bishop Peter Pace, with the aim of using it as a parish church.
In 1902, the church was enlarged, and its original altarpiece - a painting by Bartolomeo Garagona - was replaced with a new work by renowned Maltese artist Lazzaro Pisani. The church continued to serve the parish until 1936, when it ceased to function as the parish church.
After many years of abandonment, the church has been lovingly restored and maintained, bringing it back to life as a treasured part of the community.
Today, it serves a variety of purposes:
- Prayer meetings and spiritual gatherings
- Wedding celebrations and anniversaries
- Weekly Sunday liturgies of the Eastern Catholic Syro-Malabar Rite, serving the local Indian Catholic community
This historic church continues to be a place of peace, prayer, and cultural connection - just as it was always meant to be.
