Sinclair Bugeja from Iklin, Ryan Lee Pace from Gżira, and Mark Spiteri from Ħaż-Żebbuġ, yesterday evening made their promise of celibacy during a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna in the chapel of the Benedictine Monastery in Mdina.

The promise of celibacy was made in preparation for their upcoming diaconate ordination which is to take place later this month on the 28th of October in St John’s Co-Cathedral. During the homily, Archbishop Scicluna told the seminarians to recognise that they are called to be unworthy servants of the Lord, yet this should give them a greater liberty and interior freedom to freely grasp onto God’s infinite mercy. He also implored them to spend these days leading up to their ordination in greater intimacy with the Lord.

The practice of priestly celibacy is an ancient practice in the Church of the Latin Rite. Read more on celibacy here.