Bishop Mario Grech announced yesterday that Fr. Joe Farrugia will be joining the Ghajnsielem Presbyterium and will soon start his pastoral duty in our village.

Fr. Joe Cardona who is 32 years old hails from the village of Gharb. In September 1993 he entered the Sacred Heart Seminary where he began his formation in Priesthood. He spent his intermediary year in the parish of St Thomas in Baton Rouge, Louisiana (1996-1997) for a Pastoral experience.

He was ordered a priest, by the Bishop of Gozo Mons Nikol G. Cauchi on Friday, 23rd June 2000 in the Cathedral Church in Victoria Gozo. After his ordination, he spent a few years in Rome as a priest at St. Ignatius's Parish. Here he earned a licentiate in moral theology from the Accademia Alfonsiana and the Pontifical Lateran University in Rome. He also earned a licence in Psychology from the Pontifical Georgian University.

He has recently been appointed as spiritual director at the Gozo Minor Seminary School and will also be responsible for the Ghajnsielem Vocational Group. Fr. Joe is also a licensed psychologist.

Fr Joe will be available for spiritual counselling every Saturday from 7.00pm onwards. We welcome him to our parish and wish him all the luck for his pastoral work among us.