The Church is in for a lot of welcome surprises

 
Like all Catholic faithful in Malta, Pro Tridentina (Malta) wishes all the best to Mgr Charles J. Scicluna, Auxiliary Bishop elect, in his new challenge in our Archdiocese. We trust that he will do an excellent job, like what he is doing in the Vatican.  

Soon after Cardinal Ratzinger's election as Pope Benedict XVI, Mgr Scicluna had said "The Church is in for a lot of welcome surprises". May similar welcome surprises happen in Malta.


Short biography (courtesy The Church in Malta)

Mgr Charles J. Scicluna was born of Emanuel and Maria Carmela née Falzon in Toronto, Canada, on 15 May 1959.  The Scicluna family moved to Qormi, Malta, in 1960 and to Lija, Malta, in 1976. Mgr Scicluna was educated at Saint Sebastian Primary School, Qormi, at the Saint Joseph Secondary Technical School, Paola, and at Saint Edward’s College, Cottonera.  He entered the Law Course at the University of Malta in 1976 and he graduated Doctor of Laws in 1984.  

After completing his Seminary studies and a Licentiate in Pastoral Theology at the Faculty of Theology, Tal-Virtù, he was ordained to the Roman Catholic priesthood by the Archbishop of Malta, Monsignor Joseph Mercieca, on 11 July 1986.  Monsignor Scicluna was sent to read Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and obtained the doctorate in Canon Law with specialization in Jurisprudence in 1991.  

After his Rome studies Mgr Scicluna worked on the Malta Metropolitan Tribunal as Defender of the Bond and was lecturer in Pastoral Theology and Canon Law at the University of Malta.  He served in the parishes of Attard, Saint Gregory’s Sliema and Iklin, Lija. He also served as Vice Rector at the Major Seminary between 1994 and 1995 when he was called to the Vatican to work on the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura as Substitute Promoter of Justice.  

In 1996 he was appointed Postulator for the cause of beatification and canonization of Dun Ġorġ Preca. In October 2002, Monsignor Scicluna was nominated Promoter of Justice at the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith detailed to investigate and prosecute the more grave crimes reserved to the exclusive competence of the Congregation. He  has also lectured widely on issues concerning child protection in the Church, visiting a number of local churches in Europe, Asia, Africa, the Americas, and Australia. Mgr Scicluna is a Visiting Lecturer in Penal Processes at the Pontifical Gregorian University (Rome) and helps with chaplaincy work at the Convent of the Nuns of Saint Bridget, Piazza Farnese, and at the Venerable English College in Rome.