Mgr Prof. Hector Scerri
Academic Qualifications
Doctor of Sacred Theology – Pontificia Universitas Gregoriana, Rome.
Biography
Mgr Professor Hector Scerri received his primary education at Stella Maris School, Balzan, Malta, from 1969 to 1974. His secondary education was pursued at St Aloysius’ College, Birkirkara, Malta from 1974 to 1981. He subsequently attended Ġan Frangisk Abela Sixth Form between 1981 and 1983. His scholastic journey continued with studies in philosophy and theology at the Institute of Philosophy and Human Studies (Faculty of Theology, 1984-1987) and the University of Malta (1988-1993).
He entered the Archbishop’s Seminary in 1984. Deaconship was conferred upon him by Archbishop Joseph Mercieca on 20 November 1991, followed by his priestly ordination on 2 July 1993. Following his ordination, he pursued advanced studies in Dogmatic Theology at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome from 1993 to 1998. In 1998, Archbishop Mercieca entrusted him with the role of Vice-Rector of the Archbishop’s Seminary, Malta, a position he held for a decade. Simultaneously, since 1993, he has diligently fulfilled his pastoral responsibilities in the parish of the Immaculate Conception in Ħamrun Malta.
Mgr Scerri’s academic journey continued as he took on the role of a lecturer in Dogmatic Theology at the University of Malta starting in 1998. His involvement extended to leadership positions, where he served as the Head of the Department of Fundamental and Dogmatic Theology from 2001 to 2016. He further assumed the role of Deputy Dean in the Faculty of Theology from 2015 to 2019. In addition, he was a member of the University of Malta’s Senate from 2013 to 2015.
He expanded his academic engagement beyond the University of Malta, lecturing at the Seminary of the Sacred Heart in Gozo, as well as the Augustinian Institute and the Pastoral Formation Institute. His expertise encompasses a spectrum of topics including Christology, Mariology, Sacraments of Initiation and Holy Orders, Christian Anthropology, and Ecumenism.
Since 2000, he has held the role of Censor theologicus within the Archdiocese. His leadership roles extended to being the President of the Doctrinal Commission of the Maltese Episcopal Conference from 2008. In the same year, he also took on the position of President of the Diocesan Ecumenical Commission. Moreover, he chaired the Malta Ecumenical Council from 2014 to 2022.
Pope Francis appointed him as a Consultor to the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity in 2014. In 2015, he founded and assumed the role of President of the Maltese Patristics Society. The Holy See appointed him as the Ecclesiastical Assistant of the Pontifical Foundation Aid to the Church in Need, Malta, in 2017.
Archbishop Charles Scicluna appointed him as a member of the Metropolitan Chapter on 28 January 2018. Subsequently, he ascended to the position of Chancellor of the Chapter in January 2022 and further took on the role of Precentor in November 2022.
Mgr Professor Hector Scerri is a member of various international societies, contributing to scholarly discourse through publication of over sixty peer-reviewed publications in Oxford, Durham, Rome, Paris, Helsinki, Strasbourg, and Heidelberg. He also authored or edited fourteen books.