The province of St Thomas of Villanova of the Order of St Augustine, Villanova, Pennsylvania, US writes:
Fr Cherubin Formosa Kerr, OSA, was born on September 1, 1920, in Valletta, the son of Ernest and Anna (Grima) Kerr.
He was baptised at St Paul’s Catholic Church and attended Valletta Public Elementary School and Central High School, also in Valletta.
He entered the Order of St Augustine as a novice in 1936 and following his novitiate year in Gozo, professed vows in 1937.
Solemn profession took place in 1941. Fr Kerr did his philosophical and theological studies at St Mark Seminary, Rabat and was ordained to the priesthood on March 25, 1944, at St John’s Co-Cathedral by Archbishop Michael Gonzi.
Fr Kerr was first assigned to St Augustine College, where he taught for 13 years and then served as chaplain at the civil prison for nine years.
In 1967, he came to the US to minister in the Italian vice province and served at Our Lady of Pompeii Catholic Church, East Vineland, New Jersey (1967-1970) and at St Nicholas of Tolentine Catholic Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (1970-1981).
In 1981, he was named pastor of St Mary Catholic Church, East Vineland, where he personally contributed to the enrichment and improvement of parish and school facilities through his handiwork and creative talent.
In 1990 Fr Kerr was assigned to the community of St Augustine Preparatory School, Richland, New Jersey, and continued to minister at area parishes in southern New Jersey.
He was ascribed to the province of St Thomas of Villanova in 2002, while remaining a member of the Malta province. In 2009, due to diminishing eyesight and other ailments, he retired to St Thomas of Villanova Monastery on the campus of Villanova University.
Fr Kerr was an avid cook, stamp collector and woodworker who delighted in fashioning clocks, ships and furniture, which he graciously gave away to others.
Until the very last day of his life, he remained mentally alert, joy-filled and positive in his outlook. Despite almost total blindness in his later years, he continued, with the help of special equipment, to keep in contact with his many friends, especially in south Jersey, and with his relatives overseas.
He was a dedicated and faithful religious and priest, exemplary in his participation in the life of the community, in his faithfulness to prayer and to the daily celebration of Mass.
He died suddenly on the evening of July 26 in his room at the monastery. He had been an Augustinian for 76 years and a priest for 70.
A Mass for the repose of his soul will be said today at 7.15pm at St Augustine parish church, Valletta.