Fr Donat Spiteri
Anna Spiteri writes: Feeling that he was called to be a friar, Fr Donat Spiteri, who died recently, joined the Franciscan Order and was ordained on March 13, 1948. He furthered his studies at the Gregorian Ponifical University in Rome where he obtained...
Anna Spiteri writes:
Feeling that he was called to be a friar, Fr Donat Spiteri, who died recently, joined the Franciscan Order and was ordained on March 13, 1948.
He furthered his studies at the Gregorian Ponifical University in Rome where he obtained his licentiate in Theology (Dogmatics).
He also studied the Holy Scriptures at Pontificio Istituto Bibblico in Rome where he undertook his licentiate in the Holy Scripture.
Fr Spiteri returned to Malta in 1954 and was given the responsibility of teaching young Capuchin students.
Between 1958 and 1967 he was parish priest of the Holy Trinity church in Marsa. He was instrumental in the construction of the parish centre St Pius X.
Between 1983 and 1991, Fr Spiteri served as a parish priest of Our Lady of Lourdes parish in San Ġwann. He founded the San Ġużepp parish centre and restored the Sta Margherita chapel.
Between 1966 and 1988 Fr Spiteri was a lecturer and professor of Biblical Studies at the University’s Faculty of Theology. He, together with Karm Sant and others set up the Malta Bible Society.
Fr Spiteri also was instrumental in opening Dar il-Bibbja in Floriana.
Fr Spiteri is also the author of various theological and biblical books. In 1974 he launched a small booklet Kliem il-Ħajja (Word of Life).
In 2010 Fr Spiteri was presented with the Medal for Service to the Republic by President George Abela.
Fr Spiteri was also given the Ġieħ il-Marsa and Ġieħ San Ġwann awards by the respective councils for his service to the community.