[Fr Mark Scicluna is the third from left] 

Last May, Maltese media reported that the Maltese Church would be welcoming four new priests on 8 May. Roderick Baldacchino, Joshua Cortis, Jean-Claude Schembri and Mark Scicluna, are students at the University of Malta’s Faculty of Theology.

On this special occasion, Newspoint had a chat with Fr Mark Scicluna, who left behind his career as a graphic designer to become a Capuchin priest. He is just about to complete his Masters Degree in Theology, after finishing a BA in Theology and Human Studies.

• How has your education prepared you for this journey?

Now that I am almost ready from my studies, I can appreciate more the importance of all these years of studies. Now I can really appreciate how all the different subjects and credits merged together, in order to form my thinking and reasoning.

I truly believe that priests and religious people today cannot afford not to be well literate.

It is indispensable and somehow also our call that we as religious people, be able to engage with the lay people, and journey with them in search of the Truth.

• In a nutshell, why did you become a priest? Was it an easy path to choose, and was there a moment when you were hesitant?

The ‘why’ is because after years of discernment I recognised that God was calling me to become a Franciscan Capuchin brother, and eventually a priest. The path, of course, like any other path, had its ups and downs, challenges to overcome and struggles to win. But I always saw these struggles as opportunities of growth. Hence, life is full of opportunities. We all are called to have a successful life and I do believe that one of the keys for a successful life is to be able to transform negative experiences into opportunities of growth and self-discovery.

As a result of this, if we are well attentive, challenges will become opportunities to discover more who God is and how He is beautifully working in our concrete lives.

 

•  What was going through your mind the moment you were ordained a priest?

It is difficult to find the correct words to describe all the emotions that I was experiencing. Of course, I had an immense sense of gratitude and an interior attitude of abandonment to God’s call.

•  What is/are your dreams now that you've become a priest?

I do not plan too much ahead, since our God is one of surprises, so I tend to not plan and dream too much. Of course I would like to become a better person and a holier one as well: not for my sake but in order to bring forth God himself to those people that I am going to encounter during my life and pastoral work.

•  What role are you hoping to play in the Maltese community?

Again I do not plan these things, it is all about living my call as a Capuchin brother and as a priest. As a Capuchin priest it is of great importance for me to be as close to the people. Being a Capuchin priest does not in any way mean being elevated to some privileged position, but rather immersing oneself in the conditions of the people so as to be able to feel their heartbeat, be with them, journey and experience life with them and help them journey their path in faith in pursuit of the Truth.

• What would you say to someone who has lost faith but wants to feel part of the religious community? What advice would you give them?

Find some time of silence, ideally everyday, in order to discover more who you are, and as a result you would discover who God is and you will experience His perfect and personal love. Also I would encourage that one would commit himself/herself to some type of voluntary work, in order to discover the beauty of a fraternal and collective journeying - because after all this is what the Church stands for - a collective journey towards the Truth, who is Jesus Christ. What could also help is having a spiritual mentor, who can help you come to terms with those issues that were the reason why you did not continue to practice your faith.

• And finally, how do you forgive? How easy is it, and how should we forgive for real?

Here I always like to make a distinction between forgiving and forgetting. We as humans cannot forget but yes it is possible to forgive. It is not easy, it is only through prayer and the acquisition of internal freedom that one can forgive.

Forgiveness is when one succeeds to pray for and really come to desire the good of his enemy.