On Sunday 8th January 2023, solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, Fr. Francis Calleja OSA celebrated a thanksgiving mass in the Parish Church of Saint Nicholas in Siġġiewi, thanking the Lord for 50 years of priestly ministry. Several Augustinian friars, priests and members of his family joined him in the eucharistic celebration.

Fr Francis was actually born in Siġġiewi on  December 30, 1948. From an early age he attended Saint Augustine College, at that time in Tarxien. In 1964 he began his novitiate in the Augustinian Family and on October 3, 1965 he made his first Profession of Religious Vows. Later he was sent to continue his studies at the Patristic Institute in Rome and on January 9, 1972 he then made his Solemn Profession. On December 17, 1972 he was ordained a priest in St. John’s Co-Cathedral, together with several other Augustinian Friars.

As a religious here in Malta he served, among other things, as responsible for the formation of new candidates for religious life in the Priory of Saint Rita in Saint Julians. For many years he served in Augustinian communities in Italy, namely in Pisa, Cascia, Pisa, Gela and Palermo where he still lives and serves as a prior.

The Augustinian Province wishes Fr  Francis much more strength and joy in the Lord. Thank you Fr. Francis. 

Ad Multos Annos.

The Maltese Augustinian Province joins the Church in its sorrow for the death of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI: faithful pastor; thinker; scholar and great admirer of our Holy Father Saint Augustine.

Joseph Aloisius Ratzinger was born on April 16, 1927, in the German city of Bavaria. He served the Church in various roles as priest, lecturer, bishop, cardinal and later Pope. Shortly before his appointment as Pope, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger had taken part in the pilgrimage with the remains of Saint Augustine in Rome. On Sunday 14 November 2004 he actually accompanied the pilgrimage to the city of Ostia, where he presided over the Solemn Eucharist in the Augustinian Church of Saint Aurea.

Joseph Ratzinger was elected Pope in a conclave called after the death of the late Saint John Paul II in April 2005 and took the name of Benedict XVI. During the years he served as pastor of the Catholic Church, Benedict XVI showed his great admiration for Saint Augustine by often quoting his teachings. Several times he also reflected on his life in the catechesis of the Audiences on Wednesdays, and in homilies or documents he published.

On the 22nd April 2007 then as Pope, he made a pilgrimage to venerate the relics of Saint Augustine venerated in the Augustinian Basilica of San Pietro in Ciel d'Oro in Pavia.

In June 2007, Pope Benedict canonized the first Maltese saint, St. George Preca, in a celebration held in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican City. Between the 17th and 18th April 2010, Pope Benedict made a short but intense visit to Malta. This was actually the third visit of a Pope to our islands, blessed by the Apostle of the gentiles.

On 6th January 2012 Pope Benedict had announced the creation of our brother Prospero Grech O.S.A. as a cardinal in appreciation for his work and great contribution to the Church over the years. His creation was actually then made on 18th February 2012.

When his health began to decline, Pope Benedict felt he had to retire to a life devoted more to prayer and silence. He thus resigned on the 28th February 2013 and for almost 10 years he lived in the Mater Ecclesiae Monastery in the Vatican City.

Pope Benedict XVI passed to eternal life today 31st December 2022. The Maltese Augustinian Province pays tribute to the memory of a faithful shepherd, and recommends his soul in our prayers.

On Saturday 7th January 2023, Fr. Mark Cauchi celebrated a Thanksgiving mass in the Church of Saint Augustine in Valletta, together with the Augustinian Community, through which he thanked God for 70 years of priestly ministry. Fr. Mark who is 94 years old, has been for the last 20 years a member of the Augustinian Community of Valletta.

Fr. Mark was born in Cospicua on  July 5, 1928 and joined the Augustinian family on January 20,  1946 when he began his novitiate at Augustinian Priory of, Victoria in Gozo. A year later, exactly on January 26, 1947 (76 years ago) he made the Simple Profession of the Evangelical Vows in the Order of Saint Augustine. He then continued the study of Philosophy and Theology at San Mark College in Rabat Malta and on February 5, 1950 he made his Solemn Profession. He was then ordained a priest on December 20, 1952 in St. John Co-Cathedral in Valletta.

As a religious and priest he served in several communities in Malta and was also a teacher of Latin and French at Saint Augustine College, and chaplain of the Monastery of Saint Catherine in Valletta. Abroad, he worked in the Augustinian missions in North Africa and in Sicily. Over the years he always had a great love for History, research and writing, so much so that he wrote several articles and even published several books.

The Augustinian Province wishes Fr. Mark much more health and joy in the Lord. Thank you Fr. Mark.

Ad Multos Annos.

On Wednesday 28th December the Augustinian Friars gathered for their annual Christmas Lunch. This year the Augustinian Community of Rabat welcomed and offered the lunch for all the province. It was a beautiful experience sharing some time together!