The Malta Independent 14 February 2025, Friday
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Dun Victor Grech, former Caritas director, dies aged 95; State to organise funeral on Saturday

Wednesday, 5 February 2025, 10:42 Last update: about 8 days ago

Dun Victor Grech, who for many years led the Caritas Malta organisation, has died. He was 95.

He will be remembered mostly for his work to help drug victims.

The government will be organising a State funeral on Saturday after discussing the matter with the family

"The Government has decided to organize a State funeral for Monsignor Grech in recognition of the extraordinary good he carried out throughout his life, always ensuring that everyone had another opportunity to live a beautiful life. Monsignor Victor Grech was the founder of Caritas Malta and a person who showed immense love towards the most vulnerable in our society," it said in a statement. "The Office of the Prime Minister has been in contact with Monsignor Victor Grech's family and those closest to him to make the necessary arrangements for the funeral. Details regarding Monsignor Grech's funeral will be announced at a later stage."

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Details of the funeral will be given at a later stage, although the government has already announced that the funeral Mass, led by Archbishop Charles Scicluna, will take place at St John's Co-Cathedral at 10.30am.

Saturday has been declared as a day of mourning for the country.

Born in Cospicua in 1929, Mgr Grech was ordained a priest in 1956 and served as vice-rector and rector of the Archbishop's Seminary.

He was also director of vocations and was awarded a British Council visitorship to the UK.

In 1977, he was appointed as the Archbishop's delegate for social work, and later became Caritas Malta director and introduced professional social services in Church institutions, within which he founded a community of volunteers to support them.

In 1984 Grech founded the Caritas Drug Prevention and Rehabilitation Programmes to offer rehabilitation to people dependent on drugs at a time when public awareness was still limited. In 1985 he founded the first therapeutic community for drug abusers, becoming founder-chariman of the Caritas Foundation for the Rehabilitation of Drugs Users and director of its centre.

In 1993, he was nominated member of the National Order of Merit of the Republic of Malta. He was a member of the permanent commission of Caritas Europe and of the World Federation of Therapeutic  Communities.

He was appointed chaplain to Pope Paul VI in 1968, and in 1981 honorary prelate to Pope John Paul II in 1981. In 1991 he was installed canon of the Cathedral Chapter.

Grech was for years a radio personality, conducting weekly programmes on family issues. In 1992 he started to,produce weekly slots on Radju Malta and RTK abour family and social issues.

He was widely regarded as a preacher of Lenten talks and was also a popular counsellor.

He published two books on youth problems and released cassettes with his Lenten talks.

President Myriam Spiteri Debono also paid tribute to Mons. Victor Grech, "who dedicated his life to the fight against drugs, alcohol, poverty, and social injustices."

Mg. Grech will be remembered as the founder of Caritas Malta, and for the rehabilitation opportunities he offered to prisoners and those overcome by addictions, she said. "The Maltese and Gozitan people should be grateful to him and continue to recognize his work."

Archbishop Charles Scicluna posted on social media and said: "The Church in Malta mourns the death of Mons Victor Grech, a priest and benefactor of our nation who selflessly dedicated himself to Caritas Malta and forged its mission and its vision for decades. May he rest in peace! "

 


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