The Celebration in Malta

In his hometown Parish at Xaghra, Gozo

Pope Benedict XVI has appointed Fr. Joseph Bonello O.F.M. (Franciscan Province of Saint Paul the Apostle – Malta) Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Juticalpa (Honduras), until now parish priest of Santa Ana de La Libertad in the Diocese of Comayagua.

Fr. Joseph Bonello O.F.M. was born on April 4, 1961, in Xagħra, Gozo. Son of Victor and Nazzarena Sultana (both deceased), the third of four children. He joined the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans) on October 2, 1977, made his Temporary Profession on October 1, 1978 and Solemn Profession on August 28, 1983. He was ordained deacon on June 29, 1984, and priest on July 7, 1985, by the imposition of hands of the then Archbishop of Malta, Msgr. Giuseppe Mercieca.

Fr. Joseph studied at the Primary School of Xagħra and did his secondary education at Xagħra, Victoria and Ħamrun. He studied philosophy at the Franciscan Friars in Rabat – Malta and theology at the National Institute of Ecclesiastical Studies of Maltese Religious (INSERM) in Sta.Venera. Immediately after ordination he served as Provincial Promotor of Vocations, Master of Postulants, and Provincial Definitor of the Franciscan Province of Saint Paul the Apostle in Malta. Since September  1989 he works as  missionary in Central America with his ministry at the Parish of Santa Ana de La Libertad in the Diocese of Comayagua, first, for three years, as Assistant and later as parish priest, up until his nomination as Coadjutor Bishop of Juticalpa. During this time he was three times councilor of the Franciscan Foundation in Central America of the Immaculate Conception Province, New York. On November 13, 2009, he was nominated by Bishop Fr. Robert Camilleri O.F.M., as Vicar General of the Diocese of Comayagua.  It is interesting to note that Bishop Camilleri was the first Franciscan with whom Fr. Joseph started his vocational journey during meetings organized at the Franciscan Friars in Mġarr – Gozo and one of his first companions with whom he worked in the mission (together with Fr. Angelo Falzon O.F.M.)

Fr. Joseph spent his priestly life accompanying the faithful in their faith promoting human dignity and sustaining education, art and formation of workers. His aim has been to forge a more human society so that it may become more Christian. He chose as motto for his new ministry “Patientia Omnia Potest” (For Patience everything is possible) because experience has taught him that patience is the greatest virtue necessary to obtain what is good and aspire to what is better: “Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage with great patience and careful instruction” (2Tim 4:2).

The diocese of Juticalpa was established on the 31^st October 1987 and its actual bishop is His Grace the Bishop, Msgr. Tomas Andres Mauro Muldoon O.F.M. It covers 24.341 square kilometres. Its population is 578.000 of which 530.000 are Catholics and there are 13 parishes; 22 priests of which 11 diocesan and 11 religious; 36 sisters and 19 seminarians.

The Maltese Franciscan Missionary Office of the Order of the Friars Minor would like to thank the St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation and the Coro Bel Canto in collaboration with the Metropolitan Cathedral Chapter for the wonderful reproduction of the Oratorio ‘Demm fuq il-Verna’, penned by the late Friar Marjanu Vella ofm and translated into music by Profs. Joseph Vella. This was held at St. John’s Co-Cathedral on Friday the 17th of September, feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi at 8.00pm. This event, which was conducted by Mro Hermann Farrugia Frantz was held in aid of the Franciscan Mission in Honduras. The entrance to this Oratorio was free of charge but a collection was made outside the Co-Cathedral and funds were raised through donations by those who attended. A wonderful sum of 1530 was collected and the Franciscan Missionary Office would like to give thanks to all those who gave their contribution and also those who attended this event.

The St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation and the Coro Bel Canto in collaboration with the Metropolitan Cathedral Chapter, including our Franciscan Province, are reproducing the Oratorio ‘Demm Fuq il-Verna’.

The Oratorio was penned by the late Marjanu Vella and translated into music by Joseph Vella. The drama is going to be held at St. John’s Co-Cathedral on Friday the 17th of September, feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis of Assisi at 8.00pm.  This event will be held in aid of the Franciscan Mission in Honduras.

Fr. George, has been asked by the Minister General of the Order, Fr Jose’ R. Carballo OFM, to start working and representing the Order at the Congregation for the Evangelization of People, (Propoganda Fide) in Rome. He started working there on the 1st March 2010.

A Newsletter of the Franciscan Missionary Union of the OFM English speaking conference.

Towards a Franciscan Missionary Spirit

A donation was also given by the Poor Clares.

The moneys sent to our account which will be distributed, together with other donations from various benefactors, to our missionaries, are:

St. Mary of Jesus Church, Valletta - € 500

St. Mary of Jesus Church, Rabat Malta - € 290

Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Parish, Sliema - € 300

St. Francis Church, Hamrun - € 500

S. Anthony’s Church, Mgarr, Gozo - € 150

St. Mary of the Angles Church, Bahar ic-Caghaq - € 215

Our Lady of Liesse, Valletta - € 100

Blessed Nazju Falzon, Birkirkara - € 80

Gesu Habib, Sliema  - € 100

Poor Clares - € 60

Grupp ta’ Talb San Frangisk, Hamrun - € 151

We would like to thank all those who have sent a donation to our office to help Mons. Robert Camilleri in the reconstruction of his Curia. Thank also to the Father Guardians of our friaries in Malta and Gozo for the appeal done in our churches and the generous offerings from the people attending.

The ammont of moneies received at our office up till today is 5,000 Euro.  A detailed description of how the monies were collected will be published in the near future.

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