“Archbishop Mercieca’s thanksgiving Mass was a very profound celebration in which we all felt we were equal. He remained true to his motto till the very end. Mgr Mercieca made us feel that we are all brothers in Christ,” said a member of the Society of Christian Doctrine (MUSEUM) yesterday.
The celebration reached an emotional climax when after the Te Deum, a hymn of thanksgiving to God, Archbishop-elect Mgr Paul Cremona presented outgoing Archbishop Mercieca with a gold-plated chalice. “This is a small token to show the Maltese people’s gratitude for all you have done for us,” Mgr Cremona said to the unsuspecting 78-year old outgoing archbishop, who had not been informed of the gift, said Curia sources. The embrace that followed between the two received a standing ovation as the congregation experienced the succession at the helm of the Church in Malta.
Mgr Mercieca later walked up the aisle to bless his congregation and made it to the parvis were he was received with joy.
The celebration started with a very warm welcome for Mgr Mercieca, who was greeted at the St John’s Co-Cathedral door by the Cathedral Chapter, led by new Archdeacon Mgr Philip Calleja, while the Collegium Musicum Choir sang the popular hymn Ir-Raghaj u s-Sid Tieghi (My Shepherd and My Lord). The congregation welcomed him with a long applause. He received another ovation at the end of his sermon, where he placed the Archbishopric and its people under the responsibility of the new Archbishop Mgr Cremona.
Another significant moment was when four members of Mgr Mercieca’s family presented the Mass offerings.
Apart from the congregation, more people followed the celebration on big screens set up under a tent in St John’s Square.
Paul Sciberras followed the celebration from the tent. “The whole event was very well organised and people followed Mass with dignity. It was a very beautiful celebration where the Maltese congregation felt it was right to tell our bishop that we are grateful for all he has done in these years.”
A priest who concelebrated the mass told this newspaper that the celebration was a very devout one. He described Mgr Mercieca’s parting speech as food for thought.
“The organisation was impeccable,” said a lady who managed to enter St John’s. “We were led in in small groups. There was no fuss and people cooperated with the ushers and organisers”.
However, the lady pointed out that there were people who tried to reserve seats for their friends. “This old Maltese habit should be stopped,” she protested.
Sr Maria Antonia Aquilina, of the Sisters of Charity, commented that there was a happy atmosphere. She particularly liked the passage in the homily where Mgr Mercieca thanked priests, religious orders and the laity. Sr Aquilina said the celebration was an act of respect due to the Shepherd who worked so much for the Maltese Church.
Speaking to The Malta Independent, organising committee president Fr Charles Cordina said he was very pleased with way the organisers withstood this first test in the committee’s events marathon. He was glad that no hitches marred the celebration, which he described as a sign of the people’s appreciation to Mgr Mercieca.
Yesterday, all churches in Malta cancelled their evening masses while over 270 priests and five bishops, including Apostolic Nuncio Felix del Blanco Prieto, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech and Provincials from various religious orders concelebrated the thanksgiving mass. Doctrine centres were closed.
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‘We are all brothers in Christ’
Archbishop Joseph Mercieca yesterday gave thanks to God for his grace and support throughout his episcopate that spanned three decades.
In his homily during a Mass of thanksgiving at St John’s Co-Cathedral, Mgr Mercieca said he always felt God’s presence, generosity and support in every moment of his life “and in those who have been, or still are, part of my life.”
The 78-year-old Archbishop thanked his parents and his family for their role in his formation in life. He reserved special thanks for the clergy, members of the religious orders and the laity who walked with him all the way during his long Episcopate.
Mgr Mercieca also thanked the people, “his flock,” who supported, loved and showed loyalty to him over the years.
Paying tribute to the clergy and priests, he said that they, along with lay members, are a priceless gift to the Maltese Church and to the whole population.
“It is not surprising that people love and encourage them so much, as they silently, discreetly and without fanfare do a lot of work for our community.”
The archbishop also prayed for forgiveness, to God and country, for what he said or did, or failed to say or do and apologised if his words or actions may have hurt people.
“We are all humans with our own fragility and weaknesses,” he said, “but our conversion centres around our ability to forgive. We have to love one another as children of God and brothers in Christ.”
Mgr Mercieca spoke about the reason why he had chosen his pastoral motto at the beginning of his episcopate: We are all brothers in Christ.
“From the beginning of my mission, I wanted to work towards removing the walls of separation and instead create unity, and no matter the burden on my shoulders, my words and my actions would always carry the message that we are truly brothers in Christ, and that there will always be room in the Church for those who answer the Lord’s call,” Mgr Mercieca said.
No matter what happened during his episcopate, said Mgr Mercieca, “I have always prayed to God to help me love and to insist on the common good, and that I be an instrument that brings unity to the people, whatever the personal cost.”
Focusing on the family, Mgr Mercieca said: “As time passed, the more I started to realise that the Maltese family, for a variety of reasons, would be facing a period of harsh tests. This forced me to focus and give greater importance to the family during my mission.
“I wanted to see everyone understanding the great benefits which families bestow onto themselves and society, when they are truly an expression of unity and love.”
He also expressed solidarity with those who were experiencing violence in the marriage, with those who had been abandoned, those who were separated, with single parents and couples who had to go to work, and those who, come what may, do their utmost to provide a solid upbringing for their children.
He said he felt compassion for children who notwithstanding having a right to be brought up by their father and their mother, had to pass through the ordeal of a separation, at times acrimonious, yet not being able to understand why their parents are not living together.
The Archbishop said that everybody – the Church, state and the public – should strive to protect the family from the dangers of society that could lead them to hardship and bring suffering to the same society.
He called on parents to be ready to make every sacrifice to ensure that their love, through their offspring, is everlasting, adding that children should always come first before material gain or professional ambitions.
Mgr Mercieca encouraged politicians to work hard so that the State could do everything possible for the family, even financially, so that parents could provide their children with the necessary level of care and upbringing.
Mgr Mercieca’s parting words were addressed to his successor Mgr Paul Cremona OP. He described Mgr Cremona as: “God’s and the Pope’s gift to the Church in Malta.” He called on the clergy, members of religious orders and the laity to love and be loyal to the new Shepherd.
He encouraged everyone to work with the new Pastor with love and zeal and to help Mgr Cremona to meet the aims of his motto: Let us prepare the way for the Lord.
He pledged his loyalty, and his prayers to the new Archbishop “so that, through Mary’s intercession, her son Jesus, the High Priest, will help you to lead us in God’s love and the love of one another”.
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The President’s letter
President Edward Fenech Adami yesterday sent a letter to outgoing Archbishop Joseph Mercieca in which he thanked him for his sterling pastoral work conducted during his 30-year episcopate.
“Having the honour of serving the Maltese people in high constitutional positions during your 30-year episcopate,” said the President, “I can bear witness to the prudence, wisdom, determination and serenity with which you have carried out your pastoral duties.”
Dr Fenech Adami said this held true in bad times as well as in the good times, such as during the two pastoral visits by the late Pope John Paul II in 1990 and 2001 and the beatification of Dun Gorg Preca, Sr Adeodata Pisani and Nazju Falzon.
Dr Fenech Adami said Mgr Mercieca’s episcopate coincided with a period of great change in Maltese society, and “the Maltese are grateful for your prudent and wise leadership.”
He wished the Archbishop a long life full of work towards the Church.
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Archbishop Mgr Joseph Mercieca – biographical note
Mgr Joseph Mercieca was born in Victoria Gozo on 11 November 1928 to a family who earned its livelihood from a wine bar near their home. He was educated at the Gozo Seminary and completed his studies at the Gregorian University and Lateran University, both in Rome, graduating in theology and canon law.
He was ordained a priest on 8 March 1952 and was appointed chancellor of the Gozo Curia. He taught theology and canon law at the Gozo Seminary and served as rector from 1959 to 1969, until Pope Paul VI appointed him judge of the Sacred Roman Rota. (The Roman Rota is an ordinary court of appeal for cases appealed to the Holy See. It is best known for its competence and decisions in cases involving the validity of marriage.)
He also served as advisor to the Congregation of the Sacraments and of the Congregation for the Doctrine of Faith.
On 27 July 1974, Mgr Mercieca was appointed auxiliary bishop to the Archbishop of Malta, Mgr Sir Michael Gonzi, and was consecrated Bishop of Gemelle in Numidia on 29 September 1974 by the then Archbishop. He later became vicar general until his nomination as Metropolitan Archbishop of Malta on 29 November 1976. He was enthroned on 12 December 1976, following the 36-year episcopate of Mgr Gonzi.
On 11 June 1991, he was nominated member of the supreme tribunal of the Apostolic Signature (The principal concerns of the Apostolic Signature are to resolve questions concerning juridical procedure and to supervise the observance of laws and rights at the highest level. It decides the jurisdictional competence of lower courts and has jurisdiction in cases involving personnel and decisions of the Rota. It is the supreme court of the State of Vatican City).
In 1995, Mgr Mercieca was appointed member of the Xirka Gieh ir-Repubblika and was invested as conventual chaplain of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta
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The last appointments
Today, Archbishop Joseph Mercieca will attend the celebrations of the 550th anniversary of the founding of the Capranica College in Rome. In his younger days Mgr Mercieca had lived and studied in that seminary.
The college, whose proper name is Almo Collegio Capranica was founded by Domenico Cardinal Capranica in 1457.
On Sunday, Mgr Mercieca will celebrate a mass at St John’s Co-Cathedral at 6.30pm for couples who got married in 2006.
His last official function will be a Mass for journalists on the occasion of the feast of their patron saint, St Francis De Sales, at the Catholic Institute, on Wednesday at 6pm.