Dar il-Ħanin Samaritan

Dar il-Ħanin Samaritan is a purpose-built conference and retreat centre where visitors and local groups can step out of a busy schedule. It is run by the Society of Christian Doctrine, whose members are better known across Malta as M.U.S.E.U.M., and it sits close to the general house at Marsa, only a short drive from Valletta.

We list it with other places for stillness in our directory of meditation venues in Malta. It suits retreat leaders, parish groups, seminar organisers and individuals who want a quiet space for prayer and reflection.

Why the centre was built

The centre was designed as a place where people can understand the Christian faith more deeply, strengthen their relationship with Jesus and discover new ways of praying, while taking a break from the pressures of a hectic life. That purpose shapes the buildings, which pair clear, light-filled halls with calm corners such as a small chapel and a garden.

The Society itself began on 7 March 1907, when Fr George Preca, now St George Preca, first met a group of young men; a women's section followed in 1910. Members live a secular life and work in a wide range of professions, and the Society has centres in towns and villages across Malta.

The Society's rule was first approved by the Church in Malta in 1932. Members attend their assigned centre each day, where they study and pray together, and where children receive formation for the sacraments and later lifelong faith education. Its general house in Marsa also includes the church of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal, and an auditorium, so the conference centre belongs to a wider campus of learning and worship, and visitors who value history will find the surrounding story of the founder worth exploring.

Halls and rooms

The main conference hall holds up to 150 people and has a four-metre-wide rear-projection screen and a sound system controlled from a room behind the hall. A translation room supports events with speakers of different languages, which makes the hall practical for international groups.

A second hall seats up to 80, with similar projection and sound equipment, and three smaller rooms around it each suit groups of about 20. A small chapel is set aside for personal meditation, and the garden offers space for reflection and for relaxing between sessions. For overnight stays, the centre has 20 rooms that sleep up to three people each, available to those attending retreats and seminars.

Visiting the area

Marsa lies beside Malta's Grand Harbour, so a visit can be paired with sightseeing. Our Valletta guide covers the capital, while St John's Co-Cathedral and the Upper Barrakka Gardens are classic stops. Nearby, the Three Cities guide explores Birgu, Senglea and Cospicua, and the Hypogeum at Ħal Saflieni is a short drive away.

For wider planning, read our guide to the Knights of Malta, the things to do in Malta overview and the Malta weather guide. If you are travelling from the UK, our flights to Malta page lists the routes.

How to arrange a visit

Groups of every size are catered for, from a small circle of twenty to a full conference of one hundred and fifty, and the halls, chapel and garden can be combined into a programme that mixes talks, discussion, prayer and quiet time. The projection, sound and translation facilities suit talks, workshops and shared worship, while the smaller rooms work well for discussion groups and quiet study. Tell us what you have in mind, including the likely number of people, the language needs and whether you need overnight rooms. Use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the centre.