Fr Geoffrey G Attard writes:

On December 10, the second Sunday in Advent, Mgr Carmelo Scicluna known among the Gozitans simply as “Il-Father” or as Dun Karm tal-Ingliża passed away at the ripe old age of 90 years.

Mgr Scicluna was born in Victoria on November 23, 1927.   He was ordained priest in St George’s parish church of Victoria on May 19, 1951, and celebrated his first solemn Mass on July 3, 1951. He studied at the Gozo Lyceum and at the diocesan seminary. After his ordination, from 1952 to 1956 he studied dogmatic theology and canon law at the Gregorian Pontifical University, obtaining a doctorate in the former and a licentiate in the latter.

While in Rome, he frequented the Bibliotheca Vaticana from where he obtained a diploma in archivistics and another diploma in library studies. He served the office of prefect and headmaster at the seminary, as well as professor of ascetic theology. Mgr Scicluna was also regular confessor at the seminary for 16 years. He also served as chaplain and spiritual director in various convents in Gozo. In 1957, the bishop made him spiritual director for government schools. In 1973 he was made spiritual director of the Xirka tal-Isem Imqaddes t’Alla; he had been its assistant director since 1959.

Mgr Scicluna was also member of the Diocesan Catechetical Commission for seven years.  In 1967 he was made spiritual director of the then Solidarity of the Daughters of Mary which was established in the convent of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart in Palm Street, Victoria. He was awarded the honour of ‘chaplain for His Holiness’ on February 25, 1976.  When in 1976 Bishop Nicholas Cauchi established a college of canons at St George’s, Mgr Scicluna was chosen to be the first Primicerius, one of the offices within the new collegiate.

Mgr Scicluna was spiritual director and confessor of hundreds of people; he was seen spending hours in the confessional at St George’s where many people sought him for both exercises.  He celebrated his 90th birthday a few weeks ago.  With his reserved but inspiring nature, Mgr Scicluna was a holy priest whose counsel and integrity were renowned everywhere. May God grant him eternal peace.