On the occasion of the Diamond Jubilee of the Ordination to the Priesthood of Archbishop Emeritus Joseph Mercieca the Metropolitan Chapter is organising a Concelebrated Mass of Thanksgiving at the Mdina Cathedral on Thursday, 8th March 2012, at 6.00p.m.
Mgr. Mercieca was ordained by Bishop Mgr. Joseph Pace on 8th March 1952, in Gozo.
Mgr. Mercieca was born in Victoria, Gozo on 11th November 1928. He was educated at the Gozo Seminary, Gregorian University and Lateran University.
Mgr. Mercieca was Rector of the Gozo Seminary from 1959 to 1969, till his appointment as Judge of the Sacred Romana Rota in 1969. He was also consultor to the Congregation of the Sacraments and of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith.
On the 27th July 1974 Mgr. Mercieca was appointed auxiliary bishop of Malta and consecrated titular bishop of Gemelle in Numidia on the 29th September of the same year. Mgr. Mercieca was appointed Archbishop of Malta on the 12th December 1976.
On the 11th June 1991 he was nominated member of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signature.
Mgr. Mercieca continued to head the Archdiocese of Malta until 26th January 2007 when he presided over the episcopal ordination of Archbishop Paul Cremona O.P. and officially passed on to him the leadership of the Archdiocese.