A new Judicial Vicar for the Metropolitan Tribunal of Malta

Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna has appointed Rev. Brendan Gatt as the new Judicial Vicar for the Metropolitan Tribunal of the Archdiocese Malta, effective from the 7^th January 2018, feast of St Raymond of Peñafort, patron saint of canon lawyers.

Fr Brendan was born on the 25^th March 1978 and received his primary and secondary education at De La Salle College, Cottonera; in September 1997 he entered the Archbishop’s Seminary in Rabat, whilst studying Philosophy and Theology at the University of Malta. As part of his seminary formation, during the academic year 1999-2000, he spent six months working as a Journalist and Producer with RTK Radio in Malta, and another six months gaining pastoral experience in the parish of Our Lady of Mercy in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (USA).

He was ordained to the priesthood on the 29^th June 2004 and in September of the same year was assigned by Archbishop Joseph Mercieca to pursue further studies in Canon Law at the Pontificia Università Gregoriana in Rome, whilst residing at the Venerable English College. In June 2007 he obtained a Licentiate in Canon Law (J.C.L.). Following this, he enrolled in the Gregorian University’s specialised Diploma course in Canonical Jurisprudence which he successfully concluded in 2009.

In June 2009 he returned to Malta and began to work as Defender of the Bond and Promoter of Justice at the Metropolitan Tribunal of Malta. Between 2011 and 2014 Fr Brendan also served as judge in the Ecclesiastical Tribunal of the Diocese of Gozo. In 2014 he was appointed judge at the Regional Tribunal of Second Instance (Appeals); in June 2015 he was assigned to the Metropolitan Tribunal of Malta (First Instance) to work as Judge. Following the elevation to Bishop of Gibraltar of Mgr Carmel Zammit, then Judicial Vicar of the Metropolitan Tribunal, Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna appointed Fr Brendan Gatt Adjunct Judicial Vicar of this same Tribunal on the 1^st August 2016.

Throughout these years, Fr Brendan has also lent his pastoral assistance in various parishes and communities, including his home parish of Mosta. Between 2009 and 2012 he was Rector of the Pastoral Zone of Our Lady Mother of the Church in Ta’ Mlit (Mosta). Since 2014 he has served as assistant priest in the Parish of St Joseph, Msida; between 2015 and 2016 he was also a member of the Board of Directors of RTK Radio. He currently serves as the spiritual director of the National Service Committee of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal in Malta. He is a member and associate Spiritual Director of VOTO, the Volunteers of the Order of Malta (SMOM).