A priest based in Mġarr is to be transferred to another village, on orders of the Archbishop, for failing to support the new parish priest over Curia restrictions placed on a Holy Week procession.

“The Archbishop has ordered him not to do any more pastoral work in Mġarr,” parish priest Manuel Camilleri said.

The priest, Fr David Muscat, has been serving in the village for about seven years and took part in the procession.

When contacted, he confirmed Archbishop Paul Cremona had informed him he would no longer be serving in Mġarr.

Fr Muscat did not wish to elaborate other than saying: “I would have liked to, at least, celebrate a farewell Mass… but God closes a door and opens hundreds.”

This was a sign of disobedience, scandal and division within the parish

For the past five years, parishioners of Mġarr have been holding an annual Holy Week Way of the Cross procession involving five statues and hundreds of actors.

However, according to a ruling handed down by the Curia on March 28, the procession could only include the statue of Christ the Redeemer. The Curia had argued that “the Way of the Cross is intended to be a penitential pilgrimage for those who attend.”

On April 15, Mġarr parishioners went ahead with the procession in the way they had always organised it, with all the statues and actors.

They complained that, after a year of preparations, they had only been told about the restrictions a few weeks before the procession.

Last weekend, Fr Camilleri read out a circular to parishioners during Mass. It was also attached to the Church’s notice board. In the circular he pointed out that he had received support from parishioners and members of the clergy.

He said some parishioners were disappointed that the Curia’s orders had not been followed and this was “a sign of disobedience, scandal and division within the parish”.

The ecclesiastical authorities had drawn attention to irregularities in the procession a while ago but these had been ignored – which was why the Curia issued the ruling, he said. He followed the ruling as was his duty, adding that the Curia had taken its decision before he became a parish priest in March.

One had to appreciate the Church had certain criteria that had to be followed and it was not acceptable for a group of people to take decisions without the parish priest’s approval, he said in the circular.

He also said he was aware that some people who took part in the procession had done so because they were led to believe there was some form of approval.

People had also been told he was against all forms of external celebrations, which was not the case. He invited parishioners for a dialogue meeting planned for Tuesday.

However Fr Camilleri said the meeting had been postponed to allow the situation to get calmer.

He issued the circular because he felt there were matters people should be aware of and was now waiting for the right time to discuss the issue with all involved.

Asked if the Curia had done anything about the procession, a spokesman said: “It would not be prudent to divulge any information at this stage. We will do so at the right time in the best interests of all parties, especially the parishioners”