Fr Geoffrey G. Attard writes:

On February 8, the Augustinian Community of Victoria lost one of its cherished members, Fr Serafin Borg.

Patri Serafin, as he was known by all, was born in Xewkija on August 23, 1932. He entered the Augustinian Order on November 28, 1947 and was ordained a priest on March 17, 1956. In that year, he left Malta to join the Augustinian mission in North Africa. He returned in 1958.

He is known as a prolific author of various historical books, the most renowned being Reliġjużi Agostinjani Għawdxin, Ix-Xewkija Matul Iż-Żminijiet and Ix-Xewkija Fi Ġrajjiet Il-Kappillani U l-Arċiprieti Tagħha. He was also co-editor, together with Fr Alexander Bonnici OFM Conv., of Niċeċ f’Għawdex, which is a collection of valuable, historical information about all the niches of Gozo. He also wrote on the life of Mgr Fra Giovanni M. Camilleri, an Augustinian friar and bishop of Gozo for 35 years. Another important publication of his came out in 1989 and was entitled San Ġwann Battista fil-Bibbja, fl-Arti u fil-Poeżija.

I came to know Fr Serafin as a little boy when my maternal grand-father who happened to be his cousin and who also hailed from Xewkija, introduced me to him.

Everytime we met we used to talk about the history of his native village, which was a subject so much to his heart.

Lately, due to his illness, he was staying at the Arca Foundation premises in Għajnsielem.

His funeral Mass was held at St Augustine’s Friary in Victoria last Friday, and was presided over by the Provincial Fr Emmanuel Borg-Bonello. Gozo Bishop Mario Grech assisted for Mass and then led the final commendation.