Adds funeral details and statement by the College of Parish Priests.
The death of Bishop Annetto Depasquale has been announced. He was the Auxiliary Bishop and Titular Bishop of Aradi. Bishop Depasquale who hailed from Hal Qormi was 73 years old and died at 3.45 p.m.
BIOGRAPHY
Mgr. Annetto Depasquale was born in Qormi on June 28, 1938. He received his primary education at St Joseph School (Valletta) and his secondary education at the Lyceum. He continued his studies at the University of Malta and the Pontifical University of the Lateran, where he studied in Canon Law and Pastoral Theology. He was ordained priest on the 7th April 1962 and carried out pastoral duties at the Church Commission for Children’s Homes, the Pastoral Research Services, besides assisting in the parish of St George in Qormi and the English speaking community in Malta. He was appointed Curia Chancellor on 6th August 1977 and Pastoral Secretary on 14th April 1986. On 9th January 1989 he was appointed Vicar General and on 16th November 1998, His Holiness the Pope nominated him Titular Bishop of Aradi and Auxiliary Bishop. Mgr Depasquale was ordained Bishop on 2nd January 1999. By Decree dated 27th January 2007, Archbishop Paul Cremona nominated him Vicar General.
FUNERAL OF BISHOP ANNETTO DEPASQUALE
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On Wednesday, 30th November 2011, at 9.00am, the cortege departs from Mons Depasquale’s residence (94, Triq il-Kbira, Qormi) to the parish of Qormi St George, where the public can pay their last respects. At 6pm a prayer vigil will be held.
On Thursday, 1st December 2011, the funeral cortege will leave St George’s Parish at 8.15am for St John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta, which will remain open until 1pm for members of the public who wish to pay their last respects.
At 2.00pm, Archbishop Paul Cremona O.P. will concelebrate mass for the repose of his soul. The cortege will proceed in private towards the Addolorata Cemetary where Mons Depasquale will be interred in the family grave.
STATEMENT BY THE COLLEGE OF PARISH PRIESTS
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The College of Parish Priests wishes to express its sorrow on the loss of Mons Annetto Depasquale, Titular Bishop of Aradi and Auxiluary Bishop, and gives thanks to God for the gift of Mons Depasquale to the Church in Malta.
The College acknowledges that Mons Depasquale was indeed a man of God, a man who bore great love and displayed a sense of loyalty towards the Church. He was a man of service, always ready to give direction and support to parish priest. He took his duties most seriously and performed them with a smile. In all of these qualities, he will remain to be of a great example to all.
May God grant him eternal rest.
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