An active youthhood in journalism, student Anton Sultana was founding-editor of the first magazine in Gozo, The Student published for the first time in March 1963 at the Sacred Heart Seminary in Gozo. Born in Qala in 1945, Fr Anton Sultana was ordained a priest on 30 May 1970 after studying at the same seminary. He served as vice-parish priest (1970-1975) and became the eleventh archpriest of Qala between 1983 and 1991. From 1976 until 1982 he served at parishes in Brooklyn in New York and Orange in California in the United States. Today he is Director of the Media Centre Book Shop and publisher of numerous books.

Fr Anton joined the Ite ad Joseph Band and has been a member since its inception in 1996. As president, I proposed him as Spiritual Director of the same band in September 2008 and the executive committee appointed him the second Spiritual Director of the Ite ad Joseph Band.

The Qala parish will be organising a unique occasion, a Eucharistic Priesthood Week, led by Fr Dr Joseph Zammit, to mark the conclusion of the Priesthood Year between 4 till 11 June 2010. Fulfilling the wishes of Fr Anton Sultana, on Friday, 11 June, the Ite ad Joseph Band will be presenting religious marches accompanied by Eucharistic hymns during a solemn Eucharistic procession through the roads of Qala followed by an evening at the Club.

On my behalf, on behalf of the executive committee of Ite ad Joseph Band; Maestro Antoine Mercieca; assistants, Anthony Galea and Marvin Grech; band performers, students, members, volunteers, I would like to thank you and augur all the best to you, parish-priest Emeritus and spiritual director of our band on the occasion of your 40th Anniversary as priest.

Dr Raymond C. XERRI

The President of Ite ad Joseph Band, Qala, Gozo