The Church's role in the religious education of a rural village : Xewkija

Abstract

Xewkija became the first district in the island of Gozo to be elevated to the status of village. It is built on a plateau in the central south-east of the island and at present, this village has one of the largest populations in Gozo. This dissertation describes and investigates the origins, growth and development of the village but most of all, it deeply analyses the impact that the church has had over the years with regards to the religious education of the villagers. The work in this dissertation is based on both primary and secondary sources as well as on information gathered through familiarization with the village community. With regards to documentation, it includes official reports from both government and ecclesiastical bodies as well as other works related to the history of Gozo. Several interviews served to feel the pulse of the community and to indicate the impact that religious education has always had on the villagers of Xewkija.