This year commemorates the thirtieth anniversary since Can. Felix Tabone of Victoria, Gozo was appointed Parish-Vicar of St. George’s Collegiate Parish Basilica in Victoria, Gozo, 1979-2009.

Can. Felix Tabone was born on the 11th of April 1951, the son of Emanuel Tabone and Annunziata nee Micallef. He is the great-nephew of Dun Pawl Micallef, the founder and first director of the Don Bosco Oratory in Victoria, Gozo and a relation of the Gozitan philologist and politician Giuseppe Micallef (1891-1940). He attended the Victoria Primary School (later the Sir Arturo Mercieca School), the Lyceum and the Sacred Heart Seminary in Victoria. He was ordained to the priesthood by Cardinal Archbishop Ermenegildo Florit of Florence on the 14th July 1978 at St George’s Basilica.

On the 8th July 1988 he was nominated and later installed as canon of St George’s Collegiate by Bishop Nikol G. Cauchi. After his ordination he proceeded to Rome where he worked in the Parish of the Assumption for a year. In 1979 Bishop Cauchi recalled him and appointed him parish-vicar at St George’s Basilica where he continues to give his service until the present day.

Among the various services that this entails, Can. Tabone helps in the distribution of communion during the thirteen masses that are celebrated daily at the Basilica and organises the day-to-day assignments for the canons and priests of the parish. During these thirty years he has worked together with four parish priests: Mgr. Emmanuel Mercieca (1976-1986), Mgr. Saviour Borg (1986-1998), Mgr. Dr. Joseph Farrugia (1998-2007) and Mgr. Paul Cardona (2007- ), the present archpriest.

Can. Felix Tabone is definitely the most familiar face with the faithful who visit St George’s for Mass and for all other religious services that take place in the Basilica he has served the parish community and all and sundry with a unique sense of dedication and with a heartfelt sense of belonging to St George’s Parish and wider community that it continues to serve.

Rev. Geoffrey G. Attard

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