The Lija parish community yesterday presented a beautifully crafted crozier to Mgr Charles Scicluna as a gift for his ordination as Auxiliary Bishop on Saturday.
Mgr Scicluna received the crozier, also known as a bishop’s staff, during a Mass he celebrated at the parish church of The Transfiguration.
The Lija parish was “very dear” to his heart, especially since he had grown up there after his family moved from Qormi, where they had been living on their return from Canada, he told the congregation.
It was always the place he returned to whenever he visited Malta while working in Rome, he said.
“I started to visit the sick in the community with the Legion of Mary and that got me involved with the community.”
At the time, he had started reading law but then turned his attention to the priesthood.
During the homily, Mgr Scicluna spoke about the gift of vocation and prayed for more vocations.
He also received the “very special gift” from the Lija community, presented by parish priest David Gauci.
Shaped like a shepherd’s crook, the crozier is the symbol of the governing office of the Bishop, the Shepherd of the flock of God.
As a member of the Metro-politan Chapter, Mgr Scicluna will tonight take part in a ceremony at the Mdina Cathedral, which will be followed by a prayer vigil led by Archbishop Paul Cremona.
Saturday’s Episcopal ordination
At 8.15am Mgr Scicluna leaves his Lija home with his parents and stops to say a prayer at the parish church of The Transfiguration in his hometown. He will be joined by Archbishop Paul Cremona.
At 8.30am Mgr Scicluna and Mgr Cremona, followed by the former’s parents, will drive through Naxxar Road, Birkirkara Valley and Santa Venera.
The cortege will pass through St Joseph High Road and will stop at the MUSEUM chapel in Blata l-Bajda where Mgr Scicluna and Mgr Cremona will say a prayer at the shrine of St George Preca and in front of the Holy Sacrament.
He will then leave the chapel and the cortege will go straight to Valletta. Mgr Scicluna and Mgr Cremona will enter St John’s Co-Cathedral at 9.15am, followed by Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi at 9.20am and President George Abela at 9.25am.
The Episcopal ordination will start at 9.30am.