A diocesan priest within the Archdiocese of Malta, he commenced his ministry as a vice-parish priest within the parishes of Msida (1996-1999) and Naxxar (1999-2003). Subsequently, he assumed the role of parish priest at Paola Lourdes (2003-2006). His commitment extended to the Diocesan Youth Commission (KDZ) (2006-2015) and the MCAST Chaplaincy (2007-2014).

Following this, he served as a Chaplain at Junior College, Msida (2014-2019). Presently, he holds the position of Coordinator for Pastoral Work with Separated Persons, concurrently serving as a visiting Chaplain across various Church Schools. Since 2011, he has been engaged as a lecturer at the Pastoral Formation Institute, instructing in the course of Pastoral Care / Chaplaincy in Schools, with a specific focus on spirituality.

His academic accomplishments include a BA (Hons) (Melit.) in Theology and Human Studies (1996), as well as an MA (Melit.) in Spiritual Companionship (2011). Currently, he is an Ordained Chaplain in two schools: Sacred Heart Senior School in St Julian’s and St Dorothy Junior School in Sliema.

Rev. Keith Bonnici serves as parish priest of Holy Family Parish in L-Iklin, Malta. He underwent his priestly formation and formed part of a Benedictine monastic community in Scotland. He served as parish priest in different parishes in Scotland, including the Shetland Islands, before coming back to Malta.  While in Scotland, he also spent several years working as a print and radio journalist and subsequently as the Media Relations Officer for the RC Diocese of Aberdeen.

Mr Karl Vella’s professional experience is at the intersection between Education, Youth Ministry and Human Resources Management, having spent years accompanying and teaching young people in various formal and informal educational contexts and in the role of Learning and Development Manager in one of Malta’s 5-star-hotel chains.

He has read for a Bachelor of Commerce in Malta, a Bachelor of Philosophy in Padua and a Bachelor of Theology in Paris. Consequently, he read for a Master in Pastoral Theology: Youth Ministry at the Università Pontificia Salesiana in Rome, particularly exploring how youth pastoral work can integrate the bodily aspect and not merely address the intellectual faculties of young people.

During the last ten years Mr Karl Vella, a warranted youth worker, accompanied young people as Vice-Chaplain at La Sapienza University in Rome. He was a senior youth worker at Aġenzija Żgħażagħ and lectured Marketing and Economics at St. Martin’s Sixth Form College. He is currently a senior lecturer at Institute of Business Management and Commerce within MCAST.

Mr Julian Xuereb’s multifaceted sporting background, is a testament to his lifelong passion for sports. His diverse skill set encompasses a wide range of sports, including water polo, volleyball, rugby, and handball. Notably, water polo emerged as Mr Julian Xuereb’s primary sporting pursuit. His commitment bore fruit as he achieved success on the national stage. As Mr Julian Xuereb’s athletic journey evolved, he transitioned into a coaching role, with a primary focus on water polo and handball. His coaching commenced in 1998 when he assumed leadership of a ladies’ handball team, which extended until 1999. Subsequently, in 2001, he embarked on a coaching journey in water polo, a role that spanned 18 years, during which he coached at both the Sirens and San Ġiljan nurseries.

Beyond his coaching endeavors, Mr Julian Xuereb is co-founder of the Kavallieri Rugby Club. Additionally, he played a crucial role in the establishment of the Kavallieri Handball Club. Since 2013, Mr Julian Xuereb serves as a member of the Malta Diocese Sports Commission, contributing his expertise and passion to promote how Christian values could preserve the true nature of sports that benefits communities in all aspects of life.

Mr Joseph Pellicano is a registered counsellor who holds a Master’s degree in Counselling from the University of Malta. He also works as a Religion and Guidance teacher, bringing with him experience from both State and Church schools. Through his private practice and other counselling experiences, he has collaborated with a number of local foundations and organisations that have been acknowledged for their valuable work in the social sector in Malta. Among them are Caritas Malta, The Karl Vella Foundation, and DAR Bjorn.

In his practice, Mr Pellicano has worked with adults, adolescents, and children who have faced difficult experiences and challenges such as anxiety, PTSD, trauma, depression, grief, addiction, parenting concerns, relationship problems, attachment disorders, and terminal illness. He believes in an integrative approach that allows for adaptation and adjustment to the unique demands of each individual.

Since he believes that the Church plays an important role in people’s well-being, Mr Pellicano participates in a variety of parish and diocesan programs. He has wide expertise in the voluntary sector, having worked with organizations that focus on the well-being of various minority groups and having launched multiple projects to assist vulnerable individuals.

Dr Joseph Ciappara serves as a lecturer in the Old Testament and Biblical Languages at the Faculty of Theology within the University of Malta, Msida. He holds a Doctorate in Sacred Theology with a specialization in the Old Testament from the University of Malta, Msida. Additionally, he earned a Licentiate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontificia Universitas Antonianum – Studium Biblicum Franciscanum in Jerusalem, Israel.

Dr Ciappara’s areas of expertise revolve around the Pentateuch and the Biblical Languages. His research interests extend to include the examination of rabbinical and psychological interpretations of biblical texts.

Rev. Jesmond Schembri is a social worker by profession. He has been involved in the local social sector for the last twenty six years. During this time he held a number of positions, including managerial ones. His primary area of interest is working with persons experiencing addictions and their families. He also lectures social policy at the University of Malta in the capacity of occasional lecturer.

Rev. Jesmond Schembri started studying theology at the University of Malta in 2012 and graduated B.A. (Hons.) in 2017. He has just finished reading a Master’s degree in Theology. His main theological interest is Ecclesiology, especially the early period. He plans to further his theological studies.

Rev. Can. Dr. Jesmond Manicaro obtained his Bachelor of Sacred Theology from the University of Malta in 1991. Afterward, he earned a Licentiate in Sacred Theology from the University of Malta and the Pontifical University of St. Anselm, Rome. His academic journey continued with the pursuit of a Doctorate in Sacred Theology at the Pontifical University of St. Anselm, Rome. This journey concluded in 2004 with a dissertation titled ‘Liturgical Renewal in the Maltese Islands: A Historical Study (1840-1963)’.

Rev. Can. Dr. Jesmond Manicaro serves in various roles within the Maltese Church. He is currently the Archbishop’s Delegate for Liturgy and Secretary of the Interdiocesan Liturgical Commission, roles that he has been serving since the turn of the millennium. Since 2011, he has been serving as the Chairperson of the Diocesan Liturgical Commission. He is also the Rector of the Resurrection Chapel at Ħal Tarxien and the Dean of the Collegiate Chapter of Cospicua. Between 2012 and 2014, he was Mgr. Charles J. Scicluna’s personal assistant.

Apart from his roles within the Maltese Church, Rev. Can. Dr. Jesmond Manicaro lectures at the University of Malta, where he currently holds the position of Senior Lecturer in Sacred Theology. Additionally, he is a member of the Faith Tourism Consultative Commission within the Ministry of Tourism.

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.

WORK
Currently, Senior Editor at Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti, where the majority of my work involves editing and reviewing research that has something to do with the cultural heritage of the Maltese Islands.

TEACHING
For three consecutive years, Ms Privitelli was the co-coordinator of a course programme on Art and Faith (The Way of Beauty), offered by the PFI (2019–2022). In 2022, I delivered a module on Art Practice and Cultural Production (MFA) with the Department of Digital Arts (University of Malta), in which the intersections between religion and artistic practice also featured. in June 2023, she has been invited to deliver a lesson on ‘Manifestations of the HS in Art’ as part of the course programme ‘Introduction to the Holy Spirit’, also offered by the PFI.

STUDIES
In 2021, she completed with distinction a Masters of Letters in Theology and the Arts from the Institute of Theology, Imagination, and the Arts (ITIA) at the University of St Andrews.

VOLUNTARY WORK
Since 2013, Giulia Privitelli has been actively involved in an Ignatian youth network called Living Stones (Pietre Vive). The ethos of the group is based on intellectual (art, historical, anthropological, theological, and philosophical) and spiritual formation, prayer, and sharing (and in some instances, community life, too), all tied together through service in the form of free guided tours of certain Christian monuments (in Malta, for example, our place of service is St John’s Co-Cathedral). I am now part of the central coordination of Living Stones and also co-directing a residential mission year in Amsterdam, now entering its second year. I am often involved in Living Stones camps as part of the organisation team or as a formator.