A prayer vigil was held at the Cathedral in Mdina on Thursday evening on the eve of ordination of Archbishop-elect Mgr Paul Cremona, the day when he celebrated his 61st birthday. The vigil was characterised by reading, explanation and meditation of the Scripture and also by singing and prayers.

The ring, the mitre and the pastoral staff that Mgr Cremona will be using were blessed by outgoing Archbishop Mgr Joseph Mercieca.

Mgr Cremona also met various communities on Thursday afternoon on his way from Sliema to Mdina. Mgr Cremona emerged from the Jesus of Nazareth church in Sliema at around 16:30CET and was escorted by the police to meet the Gzira community near Manoel Island, the Ta’ Xbiex residents at the end of Temi Zammit Avenue and the Msida community in front of the parish church.

The Archbishop-elect went on to meet the Guardamangia community in front of PBS, the Hamrun residents in two places – in Joe Sciberras Street and in front of the St Gaetan parish church at and the Santa Venera community in front of the parish church.

His last stops were in Fleur-de-Lys, at the roundabout in Notabile Street , Attard in Karm Debono Square and in Rabat at Saqqajja.

He was later met by the Mdina mayor at 18:00CET and proceeded towards the Cathedral where the vigil was held.

Father Paul Cremona OP was born in Valletta on the 25th January 1946 of Joseph and Josephine nee’ Cauchi.   He has two other siblings: an elder brother and a younger sister.   He completed his primary education at the Montessori school in Valletta , and then pursued the secondary level at the Lyceum in Hamrun.

In September 1962, Fr Paul joined the Dominican Order, and was professed on the 29th September 1963 .   He studied philosophy and theology at the College of St Thomas Aquinas at the Dominican priory at Rabat , and was ordained priest on the 22 March 1969 .

After his priestly ordination, Fr Paul was sent to follow higher studies in Moral Theology at the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas in Rome (Angelicum) where, in 1973, he graduated Doctor in Theology presenting the thesis The Concept of Peace in Pope John XXIII.   Between the years 1974 and 1980, he was prior at the convent of our Lady of the Grotto at Rabat .   He was re-elected to the same office in 1997 and again served two terms up to 2003.   In 1981, he was chosen Provincial of the Maltese Dominican Province , an office he held for two four-year terms.   On termination of office, he was entrusted with the parish of our Lady of the Rosary of Fatima in Gwardamanga as its Parish Priest.   Between the years 1993 and 1997, he was responsible for the Formation of the Dominican novices and students at Rabat ; an office he again held for a short period of one year between 2004 and 2005.   In 2005, Fr Paul was chosen as Parish Priest of the parish of Jesus of Nazareth in Sliema.

During his priestly life, the Bishop-Elect held other offices in the Archdiocese, among which, being the Archbishop’s Delegate for Consecrated Life, Assistant Spiritual Director at the Seminary at Tal-Virtu’, Rabat, member of the Presbyterial Council, and President of the Council of Maltese Religious Major Superiors (KSMR).

Father Paul Cremona is normally invited every year to preach Lenten sermons in different parishes and churches.   He has been sought regularly by a great number of religious and lay, particularly by married couples, for Spiritual Direction, and to administer the Sacrament of Confession.   

Fr Cremona is the author of a good number of books dealing with theology and spirituality, among which we note: his thesis, he Concept of Peace in Pope John XXIII; writings on the Creed and the Commandments; four books he wrote jointly with Father George Frendo OP, presently a Bishop in Albania; On the Road to the Year 2000; another on Virtues; and The Church: an Icon of the Blessed Trinity.