People from Qormi and Żejtun lost a father figure in Fr Renè Cilia because, despite his youth, he offered support to all those around him, Fr Anton Cassar said at the funeral Mass of the popular priest who died in a car crash on Sunday.
“For the past two years, since he became a priest, we’ve called him ‘father’. And he deserved that title. He was like a father to the people of Qormi and Żejtun,” Fr Cassar told the congregation that packed the church of St George in Qormi where Fr Cilia lived.
The 27-year-old lost control of his car on the Tal-Barrani Road, Żejtun, early Sunday morning on his way to celebrate 7am Mass at the Żejtun parish church, where he had served for two years.
The young priest, affectionately known as Dun Renè, was described by many who knew him as a jolly person with a “unique smile” and happy outlook on life.
Many marvelled at how he was always willing to help and reach out to people – a trait that brought him close to Żejtun parishioners and people in his village.
These people yesterday gathered to say their last goodbyes and show their support towards his family. The parvis was turned into an extension of the church as the congregation spilled out onto the square.
There was a strong presence of young people, some in their school uniforms, since Fr Cilia worked closely with younger people.
Archbishop Paul Cremona, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech and Bishop Joseph Mercieca also attended the funeral with hundreds of other priests and nuns.
Monsignor Anton Gouder, who celebrated the funeral Mass, told the congregation that they were gathered there to mourn the tragic loss but also to celebrate Fr Cilia’s short life that was “filled with sense as he was linked with God”.
“I pray that the blood he shed will serve as a seed to encourage more people to enter the priesthood and live their faith,” he said at the beginning of the Mass.
Later, during the homily, Fr Cassar built on the same theme and said: “Today we return the gift that Christ gave us through Fr Renè… Let this be a celebration of his priesthood.”
In an emotional homily, Fr Cassar said Fr Cilia was a man who loved making others smile.
“A few days ago he walked into the sacristy and told me that (US president) Barack Obama was stronger than Samson as he was taking on 100 people at one time. He said that newspapers were speaking about ‘Obama against Mitt (that translates into 100) Romney’,” Fr Cassar recounted as dampened laughter spread across the church.
He said that, above everything, Fr Cilia was a true priest and prayed to God to give him the heart to love as He did.
Turning to Fr Cilia’s mother Rita, who was sitting in the front row with her other two sons Joseph and Kevin, he said Fr Cilia had been her pillar of strength when she lost her husband. He died when he fell off the roof of their home while doing work about 10 years ago.
“Well done and thank you for raising him the way you did. I know this involved many sacrifices,” he told her.