Canon Dun Gwann Karlu Burlo’ (1898 – 1970): The twelfth Archpriest        Gwanni Karlu was born in Senglea on the 16th September 1898. From a very young age he always showed that he was an intelligent person. On the 20th December 1924 he was ordained as a priest and in October 1925 he obtained Doctorate in Theology and Bachelorship in the Laws of the Church.

On the 14^th January 1948, aged 49 and up to than still not a Canon of the Collegiate, he was appointed as the twelfth Arch priest of Senglea. Up to than the church was still in ruins and so the ceremony of his possession was held in the church of St Philip. Arch priest Burlo’ was greatly helped by Canon Dun Frangisk Abela who was the procurator in charge of the rebuilding of the church in the work needed to rebuild the church.

     Without any delay Dun Gwann Burlo’ started his pastoral work with great gusto. He wanted Senglea to regain and live the spiritual life. In those days we had the start of the era when layman started to get more involved in the activities of the parish and so the need of good active Christian societies was greatly felt.

     By the beginning of 1956 the rebuilding of the Basilica was nearly ready and Arch priest Burlo’ blessed the statue of Our Lady (Marija Regina) before it was hoisted and put up on top of the church’s façade. On the 24^th August 1957 Arch Bishop Gonzi consecrated again the newly built Basilica. It was the last Saturday in the line of twelve Saturdays in preparation for the feast of Marija Bambina. On the morrow, Sunday 25^th August, the solemn transportation of the statue of Our Lady was carried out from the church of St Philip to the Basilica.

     During the time of Dun Gwann Burlo’ as Arch priest, exactly in early 1958, the Jesuits took over the running of the church of St Philip and they initiated a lot of good pastoral work. The people started attending this church for Mass in good numbers. Confessions and Holy Communion for the house bound was carried out and we also so the introduction of two prayer groups. The Jesuits superiors in those early days were Friar Guzeppi Galea and Friar Guzeppi Delia.

     During his nineteen years in office Arch priest Burlo’ did his best to continue in the decoration of the church. One can mention the Basilical canopy and the pictures of the Holy Way which were framed in silver, as two of the most outstanding feats he conducted. At the end of 1966 he relinquished his post because he was nominated as Honorary Monsignor at the Cathedral of Malta. Mons Gwann Karlu Burlo’ died on the 10^th August 1970 aged seventy two. A solemn funeral was held on the morrow at the Basilica for which he strived so much to bring it back to life after the destruction it suffered during World War II.

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