Monday 1st September marked the 25th anniversary of the Priestly Ordination of Fr. Pierre Desira and Fr. Josef Sciberras who were Ordained Priests in the year 2000 at St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, by H.E. Mons Ġużeppi Mercieca together with several other Priests. Along these 25 years they served the Augustinian family and the Church through various ministries both in Malta and abroad.
Fr. Pierre Desira celebrated a thanksgiving Mass on Saturday 30th August at the Church of St. Nicholas of Tolentine in Tarxien. Along with the Augustinian brethren and members of his family, a good number of faithful close to the Augustinian community in Tarxien were also present. Over the years, Fr. Pierre served at St. Augustine College in Pieta, and at the Communities of St. Rita in St. Julian, St. Mark in Rabat and St. Nicholas of Tolentine in Tarxien. For some years, Fr. Pierre worked also in the Augustinian mission in Algeria. Fr. Pierre today serves as Provincial Bursar and Procurator, while assisting at the Augustinian Institute.
Fr. Josef Sciberras celebrated his Thanksgiving Mass on Sunday 5th October at St. Mark Church in Rabat. In addition to the Augustinian brethren of Malta, his family members and some of his lay friends, several religious and priests from Italy, where Fr. Josef has been working for the past thirteen years, were also present. Among these, to be mentioned is the presence of the Prior General and several brothers from the General Curia of the Order. In Malta Fr. Josef served mainly in the Community of St. Mark in Rabat and in initial formation. In Rome Fr. Josef worked as Postulator General of the Order and more recently he is also engaged in study and teaching.
We give thanks to the Lord for all that he has done with them and through them along the years, while we wish them many more years of faithful service. Ad multos annos!