One of the less known priests of our diocese who spent a good number of years working in Rome was the late Mgr Salvino Scicluna of Victoria. He was a member of the renowned Scicluna Family known by one and all simply as Tal-Ingliża and is therefore related to the late Mgr Carmelo Scicluna and Can. John Scicluna, both members of the first College of Canons founded at St George’s in 1975 by the late Bishop Nicholas J. Cauchi.

Gozitan writer Ġorġ Scicluna and author of novel Il-Qassis li Rebaħ, and his son Alvin, founding-father of the Għawdex Illum weekly TV show, also hailed from the same family. Strictly speaking a member of the clergy of the Cathedral Parish, he happens to be the brother-in-law of the late Pawlu Mizzi, author of the book Il-Parroċċa t’Għawdex (1997).

This is what his brother-in-law Pawlu Mizzi of Klabb Kotba Maltin fame had to say about him after his death:

Mgr Salvino Scicluna, more lovingly called Dun Lino, studied at the Gozo Seminary and after being ordained priest in 1955 he went to the Università Pontificia Gregoriana in Rome where he graduated as Doctor of Canon Law. He served in the Parish of San Saturnino where he received Pope Paul VI on his first pastoral visit outside the Vatican. He was, later, made Judex at the Vicariate of Rome where in conjunction with the Cathedral of San Giovanni in Laterano, he was involved in helping to solve marital problems. The Bishop’s Curias in both Malta and Gozo were indeed sad to hear of his demise. They thought of him highly. Bishop Joseph Pace was elated to see him as secretary to Cardinal Traglia during the Gozo Diocese celebrations in 1964. Bishop Cauchi and Bishop Grech were likewise always ready to take his advice and suggestions as were Archbishop Gerada and Archbishop Mercieca… When he was in his younger years as a postulant for the promotion of saints, he also sought what was good and considered Christian piety as the state of righteousness. These were the qualities that crowned his postulation for the beatification of Mother M. Elisabeth Hesselblad and Cardinal Henry Newman.

(Sunday Times of Malta, 13.04.2008).

Dun Salvin, as he was known by his family, was ordained to the priesthood on the 9th of April 1955 by Bishop Joseph Pace. He then proceeded to Rome where he worked in the Parish of Saint Saturnino and studied Canon Law at the Pontifical Gregorian University from where he obtained his doctorate. He served as Judex for the Sacra Romana Rota from 1956 to 1992.

San Saturnino Parish, Rome

In his old age, he returned to his native Gozo and died on 3 March 2008 at the age of 78. Along with his deceased sister Gina, he is survived by his sister Maria Mizzi, wife of the late Pawlu, and his other siblings Tessie Spiteri (USA), Kikka Cilia (Victoria), Joe (Victoria), Anton and Maryrose Fiorini. Today, the 4th of December, is his birthday! May we remember him in our prayers!