Originally built as a church for sailors and dedicated to Our Lady of Safe Haven, the Basilica of St. Dominic has long served as a place of refuge and thanksgiving for those who survived dangerous sea voyages. Given St. Paul’s own shipwreck on Malta’s shores, it is a fitting site for the opening Mass of our pilgrimage, marking the beginning of our journey along the path Paul once traveled after his arrival on the island.
The basilica stands along Merchant Street in the heart of Valletta, its Baroque facade and bell towers rising above the surrounding streets. Inside, the church belongs to the Dominican Order and reflects centuries of devotion from the Maltese community, who continue to gather here for feast days and processions honoring Our Lady of the Fair Havens.
Photo credit: Txllxt TxllxT, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons
