|
Rev. Fr. Donat Spiteri was born in Marsa, Malta to
Spiridione and Antonia nee Cassar on October 13,
1922.
Feeling that he was called to be a friar, he joined
the Franciscan Order and was ordained on March 13,
1948. He furthered his studies at the Gregorian
Pontifical University in Rome where he did his
Licence in Theology (Dogmatics). He also studied the
Holy Scriptures at Pontificio Istituto Bibblico in
Rome where he did his licence in the Holy Scripture.
He returned to Malta in 1954 and was given the
responsibility of teaching young Capuchin students.
Between 1958 and 1967 he was parish priest of the
Holy Trinity Church in Marsa. Throughout those years
he was instrumental in the construction of the
parochial centre St. Pius X. Between 1983 and 1991,
again he was asked to serve as a parish priest of
Our Lady of Lourdes in San Ġwann. Throughout the
years he served in San Ġwann, he again felt the need
to gather the lay movements under one roof. Thus,
the parochial centre San Ġużepp came to be. He found
time also to restore the Sta.
Margherita chapel - which now houses the
Holy Sepulchre for daily adoration. |
|
 |
 |
|
Fr. Donat Spiteri |
|
|
|
From 1966 to 1988, he was lecturer and Professor of
Biblical Studies at the Faculty of Theology at the
University of Malta where together with Prof. Karm
Sant and others set up the Malta Bible Society, of
which he was President. The main achievement of this
Society was the publication of the Holy Bible in
Maltese. The translation commenced in 1966 and
continued till it was published in 1984. Since then,
the Bible was revised yet again, taking another five
years. Hence, the second edition was published in
1996. As the teaching and interpretation of the
Bible were and still are his life's mission, he was
instrumental in opening Dar il-Bibbja in
Floriana as a Bible Centre.
Fr. Donat Spiteri is also the author of a numerous
amount of books of theological and biblical themes,
of which Il-Ktieb tas-Salmi (Book of Psalms),
Dizzjunarju Bibbliku (Bible Dictionary),
Temi Teoloġiċi (Theological Themes), l-Evanġelji
ta' San Mattew u San Luqa (The Gospels of St.
Matthew and St. Luke), Il-Ktieb ta' l-Atti ta'
l-Appostli (The Book of the Acts of the
Apostles) and many others are being published by the
Malta Bible Society. He also was a regular
contributor in articles to the local press and
various religious magazines such as Dawl
Franġiskan, besides lecturing and explaining the
Holy Bible on the local media. He also toured
various parishes in Malta and Gozo where he gave
Biblical courses.
In 1974 Patri Donat (as he is mostly known) felt the
need to spread further Bible reading into the
Maltese households. Thus, he launched the small
booklet Kliem il-Hajja (the Word of Life) - which
has become synonymous with him. This booklet is
issued every quarter and helps and simplifies the
daily reading of the Bible. He was the editor since
its origin and today is the Director General. Today,
this booklet is in its 35th year and finds its way
in many homes throughout Malta and Gozo - and also
amongst our Maltese emigrants abroad. It is worth
mentioning that over 20,000 Kliem il-Hajja booklets
are distributed thanks to the many volunteers. On
the 30th Anniversary of this publication, he
inaugurated a Kliem il-Hajja office and library
inside the Capuchins Friary at Floriana, where most
of this booklet is prepared. All those interested in
Biblical studies have now another place where to
study the Bible more in depth, besides going through
the many works of Fr. Donat Spiteri.
Recently Fr. Donat
Spiteri was honoured with the 'Ġieh
il-Marsa' and 'Ġieh
San Ġwann' by the respective Local
Councils as appreciation for his service to their
community.
On 13th December, 2009 Fr Donat Spiteri was awarded
the 'Midalja għall-Qadi tar-Repubblika' -Medal for
Service to the Republic by the President of Malta Dr
George Abela, on behalf of the Government and people
of Malta.
Fr Donat passed away on
19th December 2011. |
