Photo: Archdiocese of Malta – Ian Noel Pace
Archbishop Charles Scicluna has appointed Fr Martin Micallef as the new Episcopal Vicar for Diaconia to assist the Archbishop in the Church’s work with persons in need. Fr Micallef is currently the Director of Dar tal-Providenza and he will be retaining this role.
The Archbishop thanked Mgr Charles Cordina for his long term of service as parish priest in various parishes, his roles as Delegate for Clergy and Members of Institutes of Consecrated Life, Delegate for Life and Work in Parishes, Pastoral Secretary and as well as for his nine years of work with the most needy members of society as the Episcopal Vicar for Diaconia.
Fr Martin Micallef was born on the 10th November 1967. He received his priestly formation at the Archbishop’s Seminary in Tal-Virtù and the Faculty of Theology at the University of Malta from where he graduated with a Licentiate in Pastoral Theology.
He was ordained a priest on 5th July 1996. He served as vice parish priest in the parish of Tal-Ibraġ (1996-2000), parish priest in the parish of Ħal Għaxaq (2000-2005) and parish priest of the parish of Marsascala (2005-2008). In 2008, Fr Martin Micallef was appointed as the Director of Dar tal-Providenza.
He is also a member of the council of the Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disability (CRPD) wherein he represents the residential services’ sector for persons with disability.
Pope Francis insists that we cannot turn our face away from anyone poor because reaching out to and working with the poor, and with those on the periphery, is a key factor for the Chistian and for the Christian faith. He encourages solidarity, respect for human dignity and concrete action that addresses poverty and social injustice.
In her mission to be a Church that serves, the local Church also needs to continue responding to the new realities of poverty in our country by being inspired by the values of the Gospel, being of help, support and a voice for the voiceless.