On Tuesday 28th April, the remains of Fr. Marjanu Vella OFM and Fr. Bernard Bartolo OFM, were transported from the chapel of the Friars Minor in the Addolorata Cemetery to the Chapel of “Ġesù il-Ħabib” in Sliema. 

A Mass was celebrated by the Minister Provincial Fr. Sandro Overend ofm, together with Fr. Richard Stanley Grech ofm, Rector of the Chapel. After the Mass the remains were laid to rest under the niche of the Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel, venerated in the same Chapel.  Fr. Marjanu Vella founded the Chapel under the title of Santa Maria Goretti, to serve the pastoral needs of the people of the area.

After his premature death on 25th February 1988 the Chapel fell under the pastoral care of Fr. Bernard Bartolo, at a time when the Provincial Administration rebuilt it, together with a pastoral centre.  Fr. Bernard renamed the Chapel “Ġesù il-Ħabib” (Jesus, the Friend), and continued exercising his pastoral ministry there even as Minister Provincial (1996-2002) until his death on 8th January 2005.