NEW PARISH PRIEST FOR MELLIEHA

Archbishop Paul Cremona O.P. has appointed Fr Joe Caruana as the new parish priest of Mellieha.

Fr Caruana was born in Mellieha on 2^nd August, 1960. He received his primary education in Mellieha and his secondary education at the Minor Seminary, Floriana. He studied for his ‘A’ level examinations at Stella Maris College, Gzira and pursued his tertiary education at the Faculty of Theology, then situated in Tal-Virtu’, Rabat.

Fr Caruana was ordained priest on 11^th July, 1986. He started his pastoral work as assistant parish priest in Mellieha and spiritual director in a number of secondary and trade schools. In October 1989 he was appointed parish priest of Manikata where he served for four years while continuing his pastoral work as spiritual director. In November 1993 he became parish priest of Hal Ghaxaq where he served for seven years. After a year’s sabbatical, during which he followed a refresher course at Hawkstone Hall, Shrewsbury, England and pastoral work in Louisiana, USA, Fr Caruana was assigned for a period of six months as a substitute priest to Nigret Pastoral Centre, Rabat, Malta and since March 2002, he has been serving as Canon archpriest of Birgu parish.

The number of parishioners in Mellieha is around 7,100 gathered in 1,800 families.