Who is he?
When were you born and where did you live?
I was born on 4 August 1942 at Rabat, Gozo.
Where did you receive your primary; secondary and post-secondary education?
At the local primary school and at the Augustinian College, Tarxien. Thereafter I completed my studies in Philosophy and Theology at the Augustinian Convent, Rabat, Malta (St. Mark’s Convent). I completed my studies in Brazil where I obtained on 28.11.1968 a Diploma in Catechesis (Catequetica de Belo-Horizonte – MG (Brazil).
When did you feel the call for a vocation with the Augustinians and what brought this about?
In my youth I was an altar boy at St. Augustine’s Church, Rabat, Gozo and for five years I resided as a boarder at St. Augustine College, Tarxien. As I lived in an Augustinian environment I was always interested in the Augustinian charisma. At the opportune time, I sought to start my novitiate.
What do you like doing in your free time?
Reading; walking; listening to music and Maltese postage stamps.
Can you mention an interesting book you read? What was the subject matter?
The ‘Santo Agostinho’ written by Peter Brown concerning St. Augustine’s life and writings. ‘Meeting Him changed our lives’ written by Selim Sayegh about different characters in the Bible who relate their lives.
Do you have a favourite quotation/saying?
‘Timeo Deum tanscuntem’ which means I fear the God that passes away.
Augustinian Call:
What does being an Augustinian mean to you?
To serve where the Church wants me to convey the message of the joy of the Gospel. Since I was a child I was always acquainted with the Augustinian friars. I was raised next to the Augustinian convent in Victoria, Gozo. I used to serve as an altar boy offer my time to the community. After finishing the primary school I attended the boarding school of St Augustine’s college when it was still in Tarxien. After I finished form 5 I entered as a novice and continued my journey into religious life. I did my first simple profession in 1960 and I was ordained a priest in 1967. Since I was raised in an Augustinian environment, my vocation started thanks to the Augustinian religious in whom I have always got help and orientation regarding religious life.
The Augustinian Charism in today’s world
Our charism consists of living together one soul and one heart in God. We serve the Church wherever necessary and convey the message of the joy of the Gospel. This is done today in many activities of our Order such as universities, colleges, centres of formation and spirituality, parishes, with children and young people, in missions and in various other areas of human and Christian promotion.
Who is the Augustinian for you?
Being an Augustinian means that you must live your religious life based on Augustinian spirituality. Being an Augustinian today means doing everything to live your life together with your religious peers and live in harmony with the members of the community and will always be ready to fulfill your mission where the Augustinian Order needs you.