On Monday 10 November 2025, Fr. Ġulju Bonnici, an Augustinian, celebrated the venerable age of 100. Fr. Ġulju Bonnici is in fact the oldest priest in Malta. He has been an Augustinian religious for over 83 years and a priest for over 75 years.
The climax these celebrations was a mass presided over by H.E. Mons Joseph Galea Curmi in the chapel of the Home for Elderly Clergy in Birkirkara where Fr. Ġulju has now been living for the last four years. Also present for the mass were several Augustinian Religious, relatives, priests, and the community of the community of the sisters ‘Qaddejja taċ-Ċenaklu’ together with the administration of the Home. The celebration was animated by the Augustinian Sisters Servants of Jesus and Mary. Following the mass a party was held for the occasion. Fr. Ġulju enjoyed the whole day and looked very happy interacting with all those who visited him and rejoiced with him.
Fr. Ġulju Bonniċi was born in Valletta to Karmenu and Manuela née Gatt on 10 November 1925. On 23 November 1941 he began his novitiate in the Augustinian Family in the Community of the St. Augustine Priory in Victoria, Gozo, and a year later, on 23 December 1942 he made his first Profession of the Vows of Poverty, Chastity and Obedience. On 17 November 1946 he then made his Solemn Profession. On 25 March 1950 he was Ordained Priest in the Co-Cathedral of St. John in Valletta.
After his Priestly Ordination his first work was in the Community of Our Lady of Good Counsel in Paceville where he served from 2050 to 2052. He then lived and served in the Community of the St. Rita Priory in St. Julians until 1955 when he was sent to the St Nicholas of Tolentine Priory in Tarxien where, among other things, he was the first director of the Oratory.
Meanwhile, Fr. Ġulju was already a teacher at St. Augustine College and now in Ħal-Tarxien he continued to give his contribution in the same field. In 1961 Fr. Ġulju went to the United States where he obtained an M.A. in Mathematics from Villanova University, in Pennsylvania. While in the United States he served as a Priest and teacher of Mathematics in Richmond, New Jersey. Back in Malta he served as rector of St. Augustine College, precisely in the years when the College was transferred from Ħal Tarxien to the new premises in Tal-Pieta.
In 1970 he was sent to the Valletta Priory and remained there practically for the rest of his life. His greatest work now was as Procurator of the immovable property of the Maltese Augustinian Province. This was a very important task, especially in the 1980s and early 1990s when the agreement was reached whereby Church Property were transferred to the state. In the meantime, he continued to serve his priestly ministry at the Parish Church of St. Augustine in Valletta.
When he grew older, it was decided to transfer him to the Home for elderly Clergy in Birkirkara where he has now been living for the past four years. Today, we give thanks to the Lord for these 100 years of Life. From our hearts we wish him health and peace of heart.
