FR MARIO ATTARD OFM Cap was born in San Gwann on August 26 1972. After being educated in governmental primary and secondary schools as well as at the Naxxar Trade School he felt the call to enter the Franciscan Capuchin Order. After obtaining the university requirements he entered the Capuchin friary at Kalkara on October 12 1993. A year after he was ordained a priest, precisely on 4 September 2004, his superiors sent him to work with patients as a chaplain first at St. Luke's Hospital and later at Mater Dei. In 2007 Fr Mario obtained a Master's Degree in Hospital Chaplaincy from Sydney College of Divinity, University of Sydney, Australia. Currently, he is one of the six chaplains working at Mater Dei Hospital. Furthermore, he is a regular contributor in the MUMN magazine IL-MUSBIEĦ and hosts radio programmes about the spiritual care of the sick.
On Saturday 31 August 2024, Malta lost a priest who spent his life generously serving Jesus in disabled people. Dun Anġ (or Father Angelo in English) was the founder of the Nazareth Foundation which magnificiently serves people with disabilities. He...
Recently I had the joy of recalling back into my mind the wonderful book, written by the Carmelite lay friar, Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection (c. 1611 – 1691), in the 17th century, The Practice of the Presence of God. I greatly know in Spirit...
On Wednesday, August 28, 2024, when we celebrated the great feast of this eminent Father and Doctor of the Church, St Augustine of Hippo, one thing came straight into my heart and mind: Augustine was really a great wanderer who let God find him and...
When on Tuesday, August 13th, the Capuchin Order was celebrating the feast of Blessed Mark of Aviano, it came into my mind and heart how the life of this holy Capuchin priest was filled with his love for God’s peace. In fact, he was determined to...
An interesting line from the Book of Acts has always struck my imagination and spoke deeply and voluminously to my heart. In his heartfelt speech at the house of the pagan Cornelius who precisely after this Spirit anointed witness converted to...
On Thursday 25 July 2024, the Church celebrated the feast of Saint James the Greater. The latter is usually referred to as James, son of Zebedee (cf. Mk 3:17, 18). But what is so special about this Biblical figure? James the Greater’s relevance...
I find no better words to describe these great heroes of Jesus, the Discalced Carmelites of Compiègne. Theirs was an outstanding witness which, with that sweet and eternal tenderness of Christ, filled their entire being and literally squashed away...
A biblical verse which speaks to me so much is that taken from the Letter to the Colossians. Saint Paul writes to the Christian Community of Colossae: Now I rejoice in my sufferings for your sake, and in my flesh I complete what is lacking in...
