St Paul’s Missionary College in Rabat celebrates sixty years since its foundation, which first welcomed students on 3 October 1984.
As part of the celebrations, Archbishop Charles Scicluna visited the school, where he celebrated mass, engaged in a Q&A session with the students and participated in a dialogue with the staff. Reflecting on the Bible passage of the conversion of St. Paul, the Archbishop emphasised how an encounter with Jesus enlightens and transforms us because we are able to see the truth about our lives. He shared how God calls us by name as a sign of His love because He knows each and every one of us and cares for us through the Church and those around us.
Founded by Fr Stanley Tomlin MSSP, the College was envisioned as a place to nurture vocations and provide holistic Christian formation, guided by its motto: Instrue Me et Vivam – “Teach me, and I will live.”
In its early years, the College’s academic endeavours and pastoral care were led entirely by MSSP members. Six deacons laid the foundation for an institution that would grow into a dynamic space of both education and pastoral care, shaping the lives of its students. Over time, this vision transformed into a vibrant community of learning and service, integrating education with spiritual formation.
Today, St Paul’s Missionary College is supported by a team of over 150 educators and staff, and has educated more than 3,000 students. Originally Malta’s only non-fee-paying private school, the College has remained steadfast in its commitment to generosity and excellence. Its facilities have developed over the years, beginning with convent rooms converted into classrooms and culminating in the opening of St Agatha’s Auditorium in 1982. The Junior School was built in 2011, extending the College’s mission to nurture young minds from the earliest stages of their education.
The College upholds a holistic approach to the students’ education, embodying the school’s ethos with a combination of academic, spiritual, social and emotional growth, discovering their unique talents, while equipping them for the challenges they may face. With a particular emphasis on the wider community that influences the students’ lives, the MSSP priests and staff are also dedicated to strengthening the collaboration between the parents and the school.
Through co-curricular and extracurricular activities, the students are encouraged to grow in confidence, creativity and teamwork, with opportunities to perform on stage, participate in sports or engage in outdoor learning. The students are encouraged to embrace social responsibility and serve others through outreach programmes, environmental projects, and community service, inspired by the missionary ideals of Joseph De Piro. These experiences foster the values of the school – instilling a sense of generosity, altruism and preparing the students to face the future with resilience and integrity. The dedicated staff work to embody the morals they teach in creating a Christ-centred community, helping students navigate the world with clarity and purpose.
The alumni carry these values forward after graduation into their professional and personal lives. Some serve as MSSP missionaries, while others move into their areas of work, continuously developing their lifelong growth, rooted in faith and service.
As part of the mission of St Paul’s Missionary College throughout the last 60 years, the school honours the MSSP priests – five rectors and numerous spiritual fathers, educators, parents, benefactors and students, whose efforts and faithfulness have transformed the College into what it is today – a home away from home for generations.
Photos: Ian Noel Pace