The Church in Malta will celebrate the ordination of three new priests this Saturday, 16 May 2026. Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi will preside over the ordination of: Rev. David Pace from the Missionary Society of St Paul; Rev. Ryan Dalli from the Order of Capuchin Minor Friars; and Rev. Jerome Barnabas, a seminarian of the Institute for World Evangelisation – ICPE.
The Ordination Mass will be celebrated at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta at 9:30am and will be livestreamed on Church.mt and Newsbook Malta.
In preparation for the priestly ordination, a prayer vigil will be held later on today, Thursday 14 May at 7:15pm in the Chapel of the Oratory of the Missionary Society of St Paul in Birkirkara. Everyone is invited and encouraged to join them in prayer.
The Church continues to encourage young people to reflect on the calling they may have to the priestly or religious life, and to respond with open and generous hearts. Further details may be obtained from seminaryvocationscentre.mt.
About the new priests
Rev. David Pace MSSP, from Ħal Safi, is 37 years old and began his formation with the Missionary Society of St Paul in 2015. Until then, he worked as a nurse in the Emergency Department at Mater Dei Hospital. David completed his novitiate at the MSSP International House in Manila in the Philippines. He then continued his studies in Philosophy at the University of Malta. He studied Theology at the Loyola School of Theology in Manila. During these years, he also experienced missionary life in Peru and served as a deacon in Australia. Rev. David wishes to be of service to everyone he encounters, as a missionary and priest.
Bro. Ryan Dalli OFM Cap., from Zabbar, is 35 years old and joined the Capuchin Minor Friars in 2013 within the Maltese Province. For him, the priesthood is one of the many ways of living the Capuchin charism in fraternity and minority and of serving in the Church. Bro. Ryan is currently reading for a Master’s Degree in Youth and Community Studies and is responsible for a project within the Maltese Province that aims to share the Capuchin charism with all through an immersive experience in the life of the friars. Inspired by Christ and St Francis, he aspires to be a priest that allows those he meets, particularly youths, to feel the warmth, care and the love of the Church, a Church that becomes a fraternity for all.
Rev. Jerome Barnabas, from Bangalore in India, is 38 years old and joined the ICPE Mission Seminary in Malta in 2016. He regards priesthood as a personal vocation from God and considers it a profound privilege to embrace. Before his formation, Rev. Jerome worked as a banker. He has resided in Malta for ten years, completing all his priestly formation and studies, including a Licentiate in Sacred Theology. Over the past years, he served in three parishes and is currently serving in the Marsaskala parish. As a missionary priest, Rev. Jerome seeks to know Christ more deeply and to make Him known to others.
