Ta’ Pinu sanctuary collaborator celebrates 25 years of priesthood
The 91st anniversary of the coronation of the Ta’ Pinu Madonna painting was also marked
Fr Roberto Gauci celebrated the 25th anniversary of his priestly ordination with mass at Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu sanctuary, where he was recently appointed as collaborator of the sanctuary.
The celebration also marked the 91st anniversary of the coronation of the Ta’ Pinu Madonna painting.
The reading was delivered by Charles Spiteri, while the singing was led by the Mother General of the Sisters of St Angela Marici, Magdalene Gauchi, together with Mother Francesca De Gabriele and Sr Josette Farrugia. After mass, the shrine’s rector, Mgr Carmelo Refalo, and Fr Gauci intoned the Te Deum.
Fr Gauci of Kerċem, who attended Kerċem primary school and the Junior Lyceum in Victoria, began his studies for the priesthood at the Gozo Major Seminary in October 1994. He was ordained priest by Bishop Nikol Cauchi in June 2001. He continued his studies in Rome and returned to Malta in 2003 where he was appointed assistant parish priest of Kerċem. He also served as the first Diocesan Master of Ceremonies to Bishop Mario Grech, and appointed procurator of the Sacred Heart Seminary.
In 2013, he went to Rome where he studied mosaic artwork at the Centro Aletti. During this period, he also contributed to the major mosaic project for Ta’ Pinu sanctuary square. Upon returning to Malta in 2017, Fr Gauci was appointed the first director of the Eikon Centre, where artistic mosaic works are created. In addition to mosaics, Fr Gauci has a strong artistic talent in various forms of design and artwork. Among other projects, he designed the coats of arms/logos of the last two Gozitan bishops, Mario Grech and Anton Teuma.
In recent years, Fr Gauci also served as assistant parish priest of Għajnsielem.