Żurrieq is a town in the Southern Region of Malta. It is one of the oldest towns in the country, and it has a population of 11,823 inhabitants as of March 2014. The first documentation about it being a parish dates back to 1436 dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria. The island of Filfla is administratively a part of the town. The town stretches from in Nigret to Ħal Far respectively in old times the town was a border with Żejtun. There are a number of villages forming part of Żurrieq. Żurrieq is part of the Fifth political District and votes for the local council every five years. The council is made up of nine members, one of them is the Mayor of the town. The present Mayor of Żurrieq is Rita Grima. The parish Arch-priest being Rev. Karm Mercieca, helped by Rev. Raymond Cassar, Rev. David Torpiano and Rev. Karm Camilleri.
The chapel serves as the official cemetery chapel of Żurrieq. It is the only such chapel dedicated to Pope St Leo I in Malta. This chapel was closed in 1658 and reopened twenty years later, after the necessary restoration had been carried out. In this chapel one could also find an old painting on wood that from 1343 to 1575 was in the chapel on Filfla. Today this painting is found in the parish church of Zurrieq.
Chapel of St Agatha
The original church which stood on the site of the present church was built sometime in the 16th century. However it was deconsecrated by the Bishop of Malta, Balaguer on 24 November 1658. The present church was built by Cikku Grixti as a fulfillment of a vow made by a woman. It was blessed by the vicar general Philip Amato on 27 February 1859. The church served as a spiritual base for British soldiers during World War II. In 1952 the church was enlarged and decorated with necessarily items such as the Via Crucis and new vestments. The painting depicting St Agatha was restored by R. Bonnici Cali.
St Andrew's was first mentioned in the reports recounting the visit of Bishop Pietro Dusina in 1575. However, the chapel was rebuilt in 1634 as mentioned in other pastoral visits. The chapel was deconsecrated in 1658 by Bishop Balaguer. The church remained in disuse until 1690 when the chapel became the property of the parish church of St Catherine.
The origin of the chapel of St Luke dates back to the 15th century. It was donated by its benefactor Luqa Zammit in his will dated 1460 as revealed in the notary documents of Luqa Sillato. However, the present structure dates from 1814 when the church was rebuilt on the initiative of Reverend Gwann Zammit.
Laboratorju tal-Paċi
In 1971 Fr Dionysius Mintoff O.F.M. took over an Air Force Hangar to use as a centre of peace activities, dedicating it to Pope John XXIII. The area was later on developed as a Peace laboratory.
Feasts
Saint Catherine of Alexandria
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Our Lady of the Rosary
Saint Joseph
Saint Rocco
Santa Clementina
Sacred Heart of Jesus, celebrated in the Parish Church and also in Nigret.
