St Aloysius College has announced that Maria Montebello will become the new Rector of the educational institution as of September 2025. She will succeed the College's outgoing Rector, Fr. Jimmy Bartolo SJ, and will become the first woman and layperson to ever take up this role.
Dr. Montebello's term as Rector of one of the country's most renowned schools will commence on 1 September 2025.
The Chairperson for the College's Board, Charles Bonello, published this news on Monday morning, confirming that Montebello will break College tradition after being appointed as its next Rector, following a public call.
As Rector, Montebello will be in charge of the management of all St. Aloysius College institutions, including its primary school, secondary school, and sixth form.
She is currently the Head of the St. Ignatius College, Prof. Edward de Bono Handaq Middle School. She was formerly the Head of School at St. Benedict College, Safi, Primary School, as well as the Assistant Head of School at St. Benedict College, Għaxaq, Primary School.
In its distributed letter, St. Aloysius College announced that she played a "valuable role" in St. Ignatius College Girls' Secondary School transitioning to a "thriving Co-Ed Middle School." With this experience, St. Aloysius College stated that her experience will be of great benefit, since it is presently transitioning from an all-boys school to a Co-Ed secondary school.
It described that Montebello has first-hand expertise in school development, policy implementation, inclusive practices, cultural adaptation, and strategic leadership.
The post of St. Aloysius College Rector is traditionally taken up by one of the Jesuit priests residing at the College's grounds, however, it became apparent earlier this year that St. Aloysius College may join other longstanding Maltese colleges in appointing a layperson in its top administrative position.
The College also expressed its gratitude towards its outgoing Rector, Fr. Jimmy Bartolo SJ, for his twelve and a half years of service in this role. It also wished him luck for his next chapter as the Secretary for Education of the Society of Jesus, where he is to set up in Rome.
Since it was founded in 1907, St. Aloysius College has a long legacy of hosting some of the country's most influential people as its students, ranging from former Prime Ministers, Presidents, and even current Cabinet members, including Prime Minister Robert Abela.