Żebbuġin fl-Estru

Fr. Joseph Carmel Vella was born at Zebbug, Gozo on May 18th 1942 to Louis Vella and Carmela neé Cini. He grew up at Zebbug where he attended the local Grammar School. He also attended the Lyceum High School and then the Sacred Heart Seminary at Victoria, Gozo. He was ordained to the Holy Priesthood on 11th May 1968. In September of the same year, Fr. Vella went to New York, USA to begin his pastoral ministry there. He worked for a year at Queen of Angels Parish, Sunnyside and then from 1969 to 1979 at St. Joseph’s Parish in Long Island City, N.Y. Fr. Vella joined the USA Air Force as a Catholic Chaplin and served in Michigan, Florida, Missouri, California, North Dakota and Oklahoma. He also served in Iceland, Turkey, S.Korea, Germany and Saudia Arabia in his 20 years of service in the Military. After retirement in 1999 from the US Air Force, Fr. Vella took a year Sabbatical during which he went to school in Rome for 3 months during the Holy Year. He also worked for a month at the Fatima Shrine, Portugal. In September 2000, Fr. Vella returned to his Diocese of Brooklyn, N.Y. He worked at St. Elizabeth’s Parish in Ozone Park and now he is assigned at Our Lady of the Cenacle, in Richmond Hill, New York.

Rev. Dr. Joseph Cefai was born in1947 at Zebbug. He attended the Primary School at Zebbug, and the Secondary School at Victoria. He studied Philosophy and Theology at the Sacred Heart Seminary inVictoria, and was ordained priest in 1973. After his ordination, he emigrated to Wales. His first appointment was at Pontypridd as an assistant priest. He also served at the Parishes of Briton Ferry and Port Talbot as a curate. In 1982, he was appointed Parish Priest in Swansea. Presently he is the Parish Priest at Port Talbot, the largest parish in the Diocese of Menevia. He was also appointed the Diocesan Director of Vocations, member of the Council of Priests, member of the Diocesan Commission of Family Life Ministry, and member of the Diocesan Pastoral Council.While abroad he continued his studies from where he obtained B.A.(Hons.), M.Sc. and Ph.D. in Psychology. Although living in Wales, he kept in touch with his roots; and visits the village of Zebbug at least once a year.

Dun Guzepp M. Camilleri was born on the 22nd October 1948 at Zebbug, Gozo. He was very active in the local religious society, especially in the Piccolo Clero. It was in fact during his childhood that he became aware of his religious vocation. In 1966, when he terminated his primary and secondary studies (the former at the Zebbug Primary School and the latter at the Sacred Heart Seminary (Gozo)), he started his novitiate with the Missionary Society of Saint Paul MSSP). Years later, he studied Philosophy at the Augustinian College in Rabat (Malta) and Theology at the Notre Dame Seminary in New Orleans. On the 25th May 1974, he was ordained priest by the Bishop Charles Greco in Baton Rouge and spent the following five years serving the community of that same diocese.

Fr. Giovanni Cefai Camilleri S.Th.B., S.Th.L. was born in 1967 at Zebbug and recieved his primary education (1970) at the Zebbug Primary School. In 1979 he continued his secondary school studies and in 1984 he attended the Technical School. He began his novitiate in 1986 and his first Pastoral Experience 1989 – 1990) was with the prisoners and homeless of London, England, where he also studied English. In 1991, Fr. Cefai continued his studies in Philosophy and in 1994 went for a year experience in Peru. In October 1994, he did his Perpetual Profession and studied Theology for three more years. From 1996 to 1998, Giovanni worked for the 179 free phone (Malta), helping those in need of assistance. In 1997, he then Graduated in S.Th .B from the University of Malta and on the 6th December 1997, he was ordained priest by Mgr. Nichol Cauchi, at the Gozo Cathedral. He celebrated his his First Solemn Mass at Zebbug on the 14th December. From 1998 to 2000, he worked as the Director of the Depiro Youth Centre and in the meantime, he Graduated in S.Th .L. As from June 2001, Fr. Giovanni Cefai has been working as a missionary in Peru, where in January 2002 he was appointed as Parish Priest of La Tomilla. In April 2019, Fr Giovanni Cefai MSSP has been appointed bishop of the newly set up territorial prelature of Santiago Apóstol de Huancané in Peru, which is part of the archdiocese of Arequipa.

Fr. Victor Zammit was born in 1967 at Zebbug. Received his primary education at the local Primary School and then continued secondary education at the Victoria Secondary School. Did his VI Form at Sacred Heart Seminary (Minor) Victoria and in 1987 joined the Missionary Society of Saint Paul by doing his noviciate at Stella Maris Home in Zebbug. In 1989 he left to England for a two-year course in English, Latin, and Basic Theology. In 1991 entered the University of Malta to study Philosophy and later on Theology. Took one year of missionary experience in Peru in 1994 where at the end of it he did his Perpetual Profession. On the 6th Decembre 1997 he was ordained priest by Mgr.Nichol Cauchi at the Gozo Cathedral and celebrated his Solemn Mass at the Zebbug Parish Church on the following day, 7th Decembre. For five years exercised his pastoral ministry with several groups of young people, with the Neocatecumenal Way, and took part in various religious activities at Saint’Agatha’s Motherhouse, Rabat Malta, where he was living. He also served as a Rector of the Bingemma Chapel and its pastoral zone at Mgarr Malta. On the 12th January 2003 he left Malta to Peru where he is now serving as a missionary and assistant parish priest in Buenos Aires, Arequipa.

Fr. Frankie Mallia was born in 1971 and was baptised at Saint Lawrenz by Parish Priest Dun Gregorio Grech. He was given the name Francesco Pio. Frankie received his primary education at the Laura Viguna, Salesian Sisters school at Ghasri. In 1982, he continued with his secondary education at the Ninu Cremona Secondary school in Victoria and then, on reaching Form IV, he attended the Sacred Heart Seminary (Minor). During this period, he regularly gave his service as an Altar-boy and also participated in numerous parish groups especially in the vocations group led by the Fr. Noel Saliba (present archpriest of Zebbug) who at that time was still a seminaristAfter the holy visit of Pope John Paul II to Malta in May 1991, Frankie started his priestly formation at the Major Sacred Heart Seminary in Victoria. During his Philosophical and Theological education at the seminary, Frankie also had several experiences including: work with the late Adrian Agius – Gozo agent for Farsons Company (1993), and a pastoral experience in USA, precisely at St. Angela Merici in Detroit (1995). He also graduated as Bachelor of Theology at the Angelcium University in Rome. Fr. Frankie was ordained priest on Saturday 27th June 1998 at the Gozo Cathedral, by H.E. Mons. Nikol Cauchi, Bishop of Gozo. In January 1999, he started his pastoral mission abroad at the Diocese of Sabina – Poggio Mirteto. After about three years, he was appointed vici-parroco in the parish of Gesu Maestro (about 20,000 inhabitants).Finally on the 8th September 2001, H.E.Mons. Lino Fumagalli appointed Fr. Frankie Mallia as Parish Priest of Santi Martiri Sabini at Talocci – a parish with a population of about 2,000. During these last years, he also attended the Salesian University in Rome where he is finishing his diploma in Spiritual Theology.

Fr. Frankie Cini was born on 11th May, 1971 and recieved his primary education at the local primary school he then continued secondary education at the Junior Lyceum in Victoria. In 1989 he joined the Missionary Society of Saint Paul (M.S.S.P.) and carried out his noviciate at the Stella Maris Home in Zebbug, in 1990. In 1994 he achieved BA(Hons) in psychology and completed his studies in philosophy and theology (S.Th.B) in 2000 during his noviciate at the M.S.S.P. he worked among teenagers at the oratory of Birkirkara (1996), in Peru (1997) and with other groups concerned with this Society. In October 1997 Fr. Frankie did his Perpetual Profession in Italy and in 2000 was ordained Deacon at the Mdina Cathedral. In September of the same year Fr. Frankie was sent to Canada to go on with his studies at Saint Paul University in Ottawa and complete his course (M.A. Pastoral Studies). During these last two years Fr. Frankie was also involved in the Maltese Parish of Canada in Toronto. Fr. Frankie has been ordained priest on the 28th July 2002 at the Con-Cathedral of St John in Valletta while he celebrated his mass of thanks giving on the 18 th of August in our parish. He then spent the first three years of his priesthood as Head of Care Services at St. Joseph’s Home Sta Venera. Fr. Frankie was assigned to the MSSP mission in Pakistan  and left in October 2005. There, after an initial period of adjustment he will be involved in formation ministry with young men who join the MSSP from this country, in the house of formation the Society has in Lahore.