Saint George Preca 1880-1962

Diocesan Priest and Carmelite Tertiary

Founder of the Society of Christian Doctrine in Malta 1907

Declared Saint by Benedict

In his homily on the occasion of the canonisation of Fr George Preca, Pope Benedict XVI on 3 June 2007 said:

Fr George Preca was “A friend of Christ and a witness of his holiness, moulded by him …, born in Valletta on the island of Malta. As a priest he dedicated himself entirely to evangelisation: through preaching, writing, catechesis, the administration of the sacraments but first and foremost through the example of his way of life. The expression from St John’s Gospel, “Verbum caro factum est” guided his soul and his every action, thus the Lord through him was able to bring a great work to fruition, the “Society of Christian Doctrine”, which aims to ensure Parishes the service of qualified, well prepared and generous catechists. A profoundly mystic and priestly soul, he gave himself over to the love of God, Jesus and the Virgin Mary. He would often repeat “My Lord God, how greatly I am indebted to you! Thank you My Lord God and Forgive Me!. Saint George Preca may you help the Church in Malta and the entire world to be the faithful echo of Christ’s voice the Word made flesh”.

SAINT GEORGE PRECA and the SOCIETY of CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE

Saint George Preca, the Founder of the Society of Christian Doctrine, entrusted to the laity, through prayer and formation, the divine command to teach the Gospel to all nations. He left a legacy in the Society of Christian Doctrine, founded in 1907, an Apostolic Society of Men and Women, who are dedicated to catechesis.