Fabian Mangion writes:
Canon George Sciriha, son of Joseph and Adelina Giacomotto, was born in 1913. He was baptised at Senglea collegiate church by Canon Joseph Adami, the archpriest of Senglea.
George, who served as an altar boy since his early childhood at the collegiate church and loved the Liturgy, received his first education at Senglea primary school.
He later joined the Lyceum. As he matured, he began to sense the priestly vocation. Thus, while continuing his studies of philosophy and theology at the Royal University of Malta, he entered the Seminary, where he received spiritual and pastoral formation.
In 1939, being a sub-deacon, he became a member of the Senglea Collegiate Chapter of Canons. Eight months later, on May 18, 1940, Canon Sciriha was ordained priest at St John’s Co-Cathedral by then Gozo Bishop Michael Gonzi.
During those years of war, the Sciriha family found refuge in Siġġiewi. Fr George achieved his first pastoral experiences in the parish of St Nicholas. Later, when the family went to live in Blata l-Bajda, his pastoral work was focused in the parish of Floriana.
Back to Senglea, Canon Sciriha performed pastoral work in the church of Our Lady of Porto Salvo which, at the time, served the role of parish church since the basilica was demolised through enemy attacks.
The day after he received his priestly ordination, he was invited to deliver the panegyric of Our Lady of Pompei in Marsaxlokk. After this event, Canon Sciriha preached in many other parishes. Among these, in Senglea, he preached the novena in preparation for the feast of the Nativity of Our Lady on three occasions (1943, 1944 and 1957).
He delivered the panegyric for the same feast (1946) and twice the speech in remembrance of the solemn coronation of the Bambina (1966 and 1986).
Canon Sciriha was also a teacher. In 1943, he started teaching Italian at St Aloysius’ College, Birkirkara, and in 1952, he began teaching Italian and Latin at the Lyceum. This he did until his retirement in 1973.
He also later taught at Mount Carmel College until 1997.
Canon Sciriha was appointed provost in 1981 and dean of the Senglea Collegiate Chapter in 1994. In 2010, he became the longest serving canon in the Senglea chapter since the foundation of the collegiate in 1786.
The good Lord received Canon Sciriha into his heavenly home on August 28 when Senglea was initiating the festivities in honour of Our Lady of the Nativity, whom he cherished so much. At the age of 101, he was the most senior priest in the Archdiocese of Malta and most probabbly the only priest in the diocese who had ever reached that venerable age.
With great sorrow we have lost him, but we thank you Lord for having had him, or better, for still having him, since whoever returns to you, Lord, never leaves home.
Merciful Jesus, grant eternal rest to the loving soul of Canon Sciriha, the servant who had served you so lovingly and faithfully.