Victoria priest receives Cathedral award

Fr George Mercieca of Victoria, a member of the Gozo Cathedral Presbyterial Council and a well-known poet, writer and author, was recently presented with the Gieħ il-Katidral award by Gozo Bishop Mario Grech at the cathedral.

President Eddie Fenech Adami was among the congregation at the Pontifical Mass.

Every year the cathedral's archpriest and council confer the decoration to a benefactor of the cathedral.

Archpriest Joseph Attard said Fr Mercieca was the 'Santa Marija Poet', as he had written a poem in honour of Our Lady in Her Assumption every year for the past 24 years. The poem is read out in church when the statue is translated from its niche.

Fr Mercieca is author of many religious hymns for various bands in Malta and Gozo. He also wrote the lyrics of the Cantata Insellmulek Omm tagħna Marija, (Hail, Our Mother Mary), set to music by Mro Hermann Farrugia Frantz for the Marija Assunta Band of Gudja of which Fr Mercieca is chaplain.

Fr Mercieca is also chaplain of the Leone Band.