"A confessor who gave his time to reconcile man with God", says Bishop

Can. John Scicluna’s gifted talent as an educator of souls and zealous confessor was the highlight of Mgr Mario Grech’s homily at the 78-year old priest’s Solemn Funeral Mass, last Saturday, February 13, 2010, at St George’s basilica.  Although it was Carnival weekend, and on the same day the parish was celebrating the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, the deceased canon’s close relatives expressed their wish to proceed with the funeral rites the day after his demise.

Around sixty priests from the diocesan presbyterium concelebrated with bishop Grech, including Mgr Carmelo Scicluna, treasurer and third dignity of St George’s chapter and first cousin to Dun Ġwann, together with many actual and former parishpriests who knew him from the hours he spent available for Confession at their respective parish churches.  The Sisters of Charity, where he served as chaplain for more than thirty years, and also the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, where his sister is a nun, represented their respective congregations with two delegations present for the funeral Mass.

It was around 2.30pm that the remains of Can. Scicluna were first taken to the Sisters’ chapel in Strada Palma, very near to where he lived, where at 3.15pm the basilica’s collegiate chapter and clergy said the Office of the Dead.  Then they marched before the coffin to Republic Street and through St George’s Square, with the Schola Cantorum singing in polyphonic grace the Miserere psalm, alternating with Gregorian chant by the chapter.  The cortège accompanied the coffin inside the basilica and to the altar presbytery where it was placed, and where Mass started around 4.00pm, during which the Laudate Pueri choir performed, among others, Domenico Bartolucci’s beautiful motet Crux fidelis.

Along with several relatives from Can. Scicluna’s family, the basilica was packed with parish members, as well as penitents from all over the island who had him as their confessor.  Two of his nieces, Maria Zammit Borg and Maria Scicluna, delivered the readings, while Antonella Zammit read out the prayers of the faithful.  Deacon Maximillian Grech announced the Gospel reading.  Can. Scicluna was the maternal uncle of the late Mgr Salv Borg, archpriest emeritus of St George’s basilica.  Both priests were the love of their families, with whom they resided, although Dun Ġwann stayed with his sister, Sunta, at their family’s home in Strada Palma.

In his homily bishop Grech reflected on Can. Scicluna’s noteworthy qualities as a “reconciler of sinners with God” and also as an educator, not only of the mind, as he did as teacher for so many years, but especially of the souls.  He referred to the Pastoral Letter for Lent, which was about to be read in all parish churches of the two dioceses during all Sunday Masses, Lent starting on Wednesday.  In fact the letter has as its main topic God as our supreme educator.  In his humble ways, Dun Ġwann sought to educate in love towards God the hearts of so many faithful who went to him.  In this manner he became a fervent apostle of God’s merciful love to men, as all priests are ultimately called to be.

Thanking God for this gift he lent to the Church in Gozo for 53 years, the Bishop concluded his homily urging the faithful to pray to the Lord for more authentic vocations to priesthood.  Mgr Grech’s homily, together with other reflections of homiletic nature delivered at St George’s basilica, is available from the newly-updated section on this website, Christ Alive, found on the main menu on the left.

The earthly remains of Can. John Scicluna were carried to St Mary’s Cemetery of Victoria, accompanied by archpriest emeritus Mgr Ġużeppi Farrugia.  Later, at 6.00pm, a special Mass on the occasion of the parish feast of Our Lady of Lourdes included the participation of volunteers of the Order of St John as well as an impressive number of members of the Confraternity of the Holy Crucifix.  However, due to the bad weather, the statue was not taken out for the annual aux flambeaux Marian procession around the basilica’s surrounding streets.

Photos: Andrew Formosa

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