Bijografija ta’ Fr Paul Mizzi

Fr Paul Mizzi twieled fl-24 ta’ Awwissu 1967 fl-Isptar Blue Sisters. Trabba Tas-Sliema, fil-parroċċa tas-Sacro Cuor, fejn irċieva l-ewwel sagramenti tiegħu u serva bħala abbati. Ma’ ħuh iżgħar minnu, gawda minn tfulija normali bbażata fuq il-familja u l-fidi.

Fr Paul beda l-edukazzjoni tiegħu fl-Iskola ta’ St Joseph Tas-Sliema u kompla l-istudji sekondarji tiegħu fil-Kulleġġ ta’ Sant’ Wistin fil-Pietà. Wara li temm l-edukazzjoni sekondarja tiegħu, kompla b’kors ta’ sentejn fl-Iskola Segretarjali tal-Liċeo l-Ġdid (illum magħrufa bħala l-Junior College).

Fl-1987, Fr Paul beda jaħdem bħala impjegat amministrattiv ma’ kumpanija privata li kienet tispeċjalizza fir-reġistrazzjoni ta’ vapuri taħt il-bandiera Maltija. Maż-żmien, ir-rwol tiegħu kien wieħed maniġerjali, u eventwalment sar wieħed mid-diretturi tal-kumpanija.

Fl-2008, Fr Paul beda jagħmel dixxerniment serju tal-vokazzjoni saċerdotali, imqanqal minn esperjenzi spiritwali profondi. Bħala parti minn dan il-proċess, qatta’ disa’ xhur jagħmel esperjenza pastorali fil-parroċċa taż-Żejtun, taħt il-gwida tal-mibki Fr Eric Overend. Dan il-perjodu kien importanti ħafna biex iktar jifhem is-sejħa għas-saċerdozju.

Fil-festa ta’ San Pietru u San Pawl fl-2010, Fr Paul ġie aċċettat fis-seminarju. Minħabba l-età matura tiegħu, intbagħat fil-Kulleġġ Pontifiċju Beda f’Ruma fejn beda l-formazzjoni tiegħu f’Settembru tal-2010. Ġie ordnat djaknu fl-14 ta’ Ġunju 2013 fil-Bażilika ta’ San Paolo Fuori le Mura f’Ruma. Ġie ordnat saċerdot fl-1 ta’ Lulju 2014 mill-Arċisqof Paul Cremona O.P. fil-Konkatidral ta’ San Ġwann il-Belt Valletta.

Wara l-ordinazzjoni tiegħu, Fr Paul beda l-ministeru pastorali tiegħu fil-parroċċa ta’ San Ġiljan, fejn serva bħala Viċi Kappillan għal tmien snin. Matul dan iż-żmien, serva wkoll bħala religious councillor fl-Iskola Nazzjonali tal-Isport f’Pembroke għal seba’ snin.

Filwaqt li ħadem mill-qrib mal-Kappillan Fr Claude Portelli, Fr Paul offra l-appoġġ tiegħu f’inizjattivi differenti tal-parroċċa, fosthom l-iżvilupp taċ-Ċentru Parrokkjali. Mexxa wkoll il-grupp tal-abbati u l-gruppi taż-żgħażagħ — Connections Teens u Connections — u kkoordina l-ministeru tat-Tqarbin lill-morda. Barra minn hekk, ta’ sehmu fil-ħidma pastorali fl-Iskola Primarja ta’ San Ġiljan, rwol li għadu jkompli jwettaq sal-lum.

Fit-8 ta’ Mejju 2022, l-Arċisqof Charles J. Scicluna ħatar lil Fr Paul bħala t-tlettax-il Kappillan ta’ San Ġiljan. Hu ħa l-pussess tal-Parroċċa ufficjalment nhar it-23 ta’ Settembru 2022.

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Biography of Fr Paul Mizzi

Fr Paul Mizzi was born on 24th August 1967 at the Blue Sisters Hospital. He was raised in Sliema, within the parish of Sacro Cuor, where he received his first sacraments and served as an altar server. Alongside his younger brother, he enjoyed a typical childhood rooted in family and faith.

He began his education at St Joseph School in Sliema and continued his secondary studies at St Augustine’s College in Pietà. After completing his secondary education, Fr Paul pursued a two-year course at the Secretarial School of the New Lyceum (now Junior College).

In 1987, Fr Paul began working as a clerk for a private company that specialised in the registration of ships under the Maltese flag. Over time, he rose through the ranks to hold a managerial role and, eventually, became one of the company’s directors.

In 2008, Fr Paul began to seriously discern a vocation to the priesthood, prompted by profound spiritual experiences. As part of this discernment, he spent nine months gaining pastoral experience in the parish of Żejtun, under the guidance of the late Fr Eric Overend. This period proved formative in deepening his understanding of the priestly vocation.

On the feast of Saints Peter and Paul in 2010, Fr Paul was accepted into the seminary. Due to his mature age, he was sent to the Pontifical Beda College in Rome where he started his formation process in September 2010. He was ordained a deacon on 14th June 2013 at the Basilica of San Paolo Fuori le Mura (Papal Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls) in Rome. He was ordained a priest on 1st July 2014 by Archbishop Paul Cremona O.P. at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta.

Following his ordination, Fr Paul began his pastoral ministry in the parish of St Julians, where he served as Vice Parish Priest for eight years. During this time, he also served as a religious counsellor at the National Sports School in Pembroke for seven years.

While working alongside the parish priest, Fr Claude Portelli, Fr Paul offered his support in various parish initiatives, including the development of the Parish Centre. He also led the altar servers and youth groups — Connections Teens and Connections — and coordinated the ministry of Holy Communion to the sick. Additionally, he contributed to pastoral work at the St Julian’s Primary School, a role he continues to fulfill.

On 8th May 2022, Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna appointed Fr Paul as the thirteenth Parish Priest of St Julian’s. He was officially installed on 23rd September 2022.