Mgr Charles Vella, the founder of the Cana Movement, passed away on Saturday, aged 89.

In a tweet, Archbishop Charles Scicluna paid tribute to the late priest who he described as an apostle of ministry to many families.

Born in Gzira on 27 June, 1928, Vella was educated at St Aloysius College, the Seminary, the Venereable Bede English College and the Gregorian Pontifical University of Rome.

He also studied social studies at Loyola University, Chicago and was trained as counsellor and psychotherapist at the Family Institute in Chicago.

Vella was ordained priest in Rome in 1954 and in the same year founded the Cana Movement for family life education, marriage preparation, counselling and social family work.

He was press officer of Diocesan Curia between 1956 and 1962, assistant general secretary Pauline centenary celebrations (1958-1960), a member of the Broadcasting Authority between 1961 and 1962 and Religious Broadcasting Organiser (1963-1974).

In 1986 Vella joined the Istituto Scientifico San Raffaele of Milan as assistant to the president for social relations. He was also lecturer in bioethics and a member of various bioethics committees. He was consultant to the UN for ageing and the family.

Vella was later appointed consultant to Malta's ministry of social policy, family policy and ethics.

He was appointed officer of the National Order of Merit in 1994 and domestic prelate by Pope John Paul II in 1995.