(ANS – Rome – July 19)
– During the summer session of the SDB general council, Fr. Angel Fernandez
Artime, Rector Major, with the consent of the council, upgraded the Salesian presence
in Malta from that of a delegation of the Irish Province to a vice province.
In view of the appointment of the first superior of the new vice province
– which has been placed under the patronage of Mary Help of Christians and will
bear the initials “MLT” – the councilor for the Central and Northern Europe
Region, Fr. Tadeusz Rozmus, went to Sliema and on July 14 met for consultations
with the Salesians of Malta.
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| By OCHA, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=32649324 |
The establishment of the new vice province occurs almost 40 years since the
provincial delegation of Malta was born, dependent on the province of Ireland, and
constitutes a further step toward an existence of full autonomy for the Salesian
presence in the Maltese archipelago.
“The development of the charism in Malta has been characterized in recent
years by a growing, youthful dynamism, by new Salesian vocations, and by great public
appreciation toward Don Bosco and his works,” said Fr. Rozmus. “Moreover, the average
age of the confreres allows us to hope for the increase of the charism even outside
Malta and represents a good prerequisite for future expectations that the creation
of the new vice province expresses.”
The decision of the Rector Major was accompanied by a serious and profound
discernment, carried out together with the Salesians of the Irish Province and accompanied
by the general council. Such a process not only led to the choice of the inauguration
for Malta, but also provided the opportunity to express gratitude to the Irish Province.
The fraternal presence of the Irish Salesians, who have always shown great
attention for the development of the Salesian charism in Malta, was spoken of and
highlighted by many. “The success of the new vice province is, therefore, also their
success,” added Fr. Rozmus. “Of course, both sides are very interested in continuing
their collaboration, and some points of common interest have already been underscored.”
Currently, the new vice province has 36 Salesians and two novices who are
finishing their novitiate in Pinerolo, Italy. Four Maltese youths are carrying out
their postnovitiate in Malta, while two others are about to finish the formation
course in theology at the Crocetta Faculty in Turin. Various European provinces
are also collaborating with Malta, especially in Poland; at this moment there are
four Polish Salesians in Malta, who are completing their practical training.
On July 19, the Rector Major, with the consent of his council, appointed
Fr. Paul Formosa as the first superior of the Malta Vice Province. He is the current
superior of Malta’s provincial delegation.
Fr. Formosa, from Valletta, Malta, was born on October 31, 1960. After
completing his novitiate in Dublin, in 1981, he made his perpetual vows in
Dingli, Malta, on July 2, 1987, and was ordained in Valletta on July 14, 1989.
After completing his formation in Ireland, he did most of his ministry
in the Maltese archipelago, where he served as treasurer at both the Sant’Alfonso
Salesian community in Sliema (1991-1995) and Dingli (1998-2007); he also became
director of the Dingli community (2001-2007) before returning to Sant’Alfonso
as director (2007-2016).
For the province delegation of Malta, dependent on the province of
Ireland, he was treasurer (2004-2008) and delegate for youth ministry
(2004-2011 and 2012-2017), as well as superior of the delegation from 2011
until his nomination as provincial.
The Maltese Vice Province is the 2d such circumscription erected during
the current plenary session of the general council. In June the delegation of Indonesia was so elevated. There are now 90 provinces and vice provinces in the
SDB world.
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