Fr Geoffrey Attard writes:
On March 14, the diocese of Gozo lost one the oldest members of its clergy in the person of Mgr Luigi Vella.
L-Arċipriet Dun Alwiġ, as he was known by many, was born in Fontana but, six years ago, he moved with various members of his family to the village of Żebbuġ where his uncle, Dun Franġisk Mercieca, was parish priest.
He felt the vocation to the priesthood and was ordained in 1955.
Together with his brother, Dun Ġorġ, Dun Alwiġ helped his uncle in the running of the parish. Bishop Ġużeppi Pace chose him to succeed his uncle as parish priest of Żebbuġ, becoming the 13th parish priest and second archpriest of Żebbuġ. He was installed as parish priest on December 8, 1964, the solemn feast of the Immaculate Conception.
For about 32 years, he was the spiritual father of the Żebbuġ parish community until retiring in 1996. Bishop Nikol Cauchi installed him as canon of the Gozo cathedral church with the title of monsignor.
The climax of his pastoral ministry was, in his own words, the crowning of the titular painting of the Virgin Assumed into Heaven revered in the same parish church. The ceremony was presided over by Bishop Cauchi in the presence of Cardinal Mario Luigi Ciappi OP.
Although after his retirement from the parish he lived in Fontana, Żebbuġ was both in his heart and in his mind. He would not miss a funeral or a special anniversary Mass and, for as long as he was able to, he would visit the parish where he was brought up and lived for the greater part of his life.
It was therefore right and just that his funeral would take place in his beloved parish. Bishop Mario Grech presided over Mass and about 40 priests concelebrated. The Żebbuġ parish church was jam-packed.
Strong-willed, clear in his pastoral vision and far-sighted in many ways, Dun Alwiġ came across to me, who came to know him in his 70s, as humble and down to earth. As Bishop Grech said in his homily, he can be considered as one of the ‘fathers’ of the Żebbuġ community. I would even add that he was patriotic in his love for that particular community.
He is mourned by his brother, Dun Ġorġ, and his nephew, Mgr Salv Tabone, as well as other relatives, ex-parishioners and friends in Fontana, Żebbuġ and beyond.
May God grant him eternal rest.