I am looking for someone who is prepared to help me either to re-publish Dun Karm Scerri’s Maltese autobiography (originally published by Veritas Press in 1971) or to translate this highly revealing story, Erba’ Snin f’Kamp ta’ Konċentrament Ġermaniż (Four years in a German concentration camp) into English.

Fr Scerri was born and bred in Naxxar, where he died. He studied for the priesthood in France just before World War II and spent four years in a German concentration camps at St Denis, outside Paris. He then returned to Malta, after learning to play the organ marvellously. His musical renderings and compositions were, and still are, very spiritual and moving. Attending his organ playing for the 9.15am sung Mass in Latin at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta in my childhood was an unforgettable experience.

I feel that Fr Scerri deserves a suitable monument in Naxxar as a tribute to his genius, sufferings, and deep spirituality. Maybe the Naxxar council could take up this idea. He was, incidentally, an uncle of Joseph Fenech, himself a composer of sacred music, who passed away recently. Fr Scerri was fortunate enough to be acknowledged during his lifetime and made a monsignor in recognition of his lifelong dedication to music as a composer, teacher and performer.