A beloved priest has joined His Creator after passing away in Brazil, where he has been ministering over the past 35 years. It is actually the second death of a Maltese missionary in Brazil within a week. He is Fr John Caruana, originally from Mosta, in Malta. He was my fellow assistant parish priest between 1977 and 1981 in my home parish of St. Julian’s. The Archdiocese of Maringá announced his death which occurred on the morning of Tuesday, June 28th. Currently, he was the vicar of the parish of Saint Silvestre in Maringá. Father João Caruana was born on June 3, 1941 and was ordained a priest in his homeland on March 11, 1967.
He always felt very strong about the missionary vocation, but he had to wait seventeen years to realize his dream. He was a sort of a social activist even when still in Malta as he was outspoken on various issues, while serving with me,starting a parish newpaper, helping start also a group of Ladies, which is still going strong. He arrived in Brazil in 1984 and served the Archdiocese of Maringá in the parishes of Santa Terezinha do Menino Jesus and Our Lady of Graces, in Sarandi, São Silvestre in Maringá and for two years was a missionary in the Diocese of Guajará-Mirim in Rondônia. In Brazil he was known for his defense of the poor, and worked effectively with the Basic Ecclesial Communities, social pastoralists and advocacy of agricultural reform. His funeral was held yesterday in Brazil. May he rest in peace.
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