Xaghra Archpriest emeritus Mgr Eucharistico Sultana was recently appointed dean of the 106-year-old collegiate chapter. The post was previously occupied by the late Mgr Michaelangelo Apap.

The ceremony was led by the Vicar-General Mgr Giovanni Bosco Gauci, assisted by the Curia chancellor, Mgr Saviour Debrincat. Canon John Sultana and the Canon Joseph Sultana witnessed the ceremony. Xaghra archpriest Mgr Carmelo Refalo supervised proceedings.

Mgr Sultana was ordained in 1965. In April 1967, he was named director for vocations of the Gozo diocese and appointed canon of the Xaghra collegiate in September that year.

In October 1973, after co-ordinating the festivities in connection with the crowning of the titular statue of Our Lady of Victory, Mgr Sultana became the first native-born archpriest of Xaghra. He held the post for 31 years. However his landmark achievement will remain the numerous priestly vocations from Xaghra - a total of 22.