After listening to the suggestions of the Directorate of Catholic Action in Gozo, at the end of last July the Bishop of Gozo Anton Teuma appointed Dr. Nathalie Gatt Ellis, a doctor from Victoria, as the new president of Catholic Action in Gozo. This follows the death of former President Carmel Attard in February.

Dr. Nathalie Gatt Ellis was born in Victoria on the 15th of December 1966, to Rikkardu Ellis and Rita née Camilleri. She is the youngest child of three, with brothers: Dr. Joseph and Tonio.

Her father was very active within the Catholic Action and was eventually appointed President of the Catholic Action in Gozo, a position in which he served from 1981 to 1985, until he died unexpectedly on the 15th of June 1985, at the age of 49.

She studied at the Victoria City Primary and Secondary School, as well as the Sir M A Refalo Sixth Form.

Dr Gatt Ellis entered the University of Malta in 1986 where she studied medicine and graduated as a doctor in 1991 and specialised as a family doctor. In fact, she is also a member of the Malta College of Family Doctors. She worked at San Luqa Hospital and Gozo General Hospital where she still works today. She also works privately as a family doctor.

She is from the Parish of Saint George, Victoria, where for many years she was a member of the Laudate Pueri Choir.

Nathalie married Teddie Gatt on the 20th of September 1997 and is the mother of two children, Riccardo and Gianfranco.

The Catholic Action is one of five main movements or associations for the formation and apostolate of the laity in Gozo, with 30 Circles: 22 for women, 7 for men, and one for children.

The Diocese of Gozo said that the Legion of Mary, which currently has as Diocesan President Mr. Albert Gauci from Sannat has 61 Præsidium, that meet from children to adults, and are present in almost all parishes. “Along with the Catholic Action, the Legion of Mary is also working hard among our Catholic brothers and sisters of another language who live among us, so that they are also served spiritually and integrate more in the local community life,” it said.

The Society of Christian Doctrine (MUSEUM), whose main mission is catechesis, is present in Gozo with five Areas of the Male Section, where the Delegate of the Superior General is Superior Joseph Bonnici, and five more from the Female Section, with the Delegates being Assistant Superior General Carmen Farrugia and Superior Miriam Bartolo.

The Neocatechumenal Way is also present in the Church in Gozo, with three groups that meet in the Cathedral Parish. The Walk in Gozo is coordinated by the couple Joe and Giovanna Rapa.

Finally, in various parishes in Gozo the Eucharistic Communities and other Lectio Divina groups meet regularly, which unfold their meetings around the Word of God and the Eucharist. The Eucharistic Communities in Gozo are coordinated by Mons. Guzeppi Attard, Delegate of the Bishop for the Laity, and this experience is found in eight parishes, where around 270 lay people meet every week in their Communities.

The Diocese of Gozo said that “those who wish to continue to form themselves spiritually and Christianly are encouraged to join any of these movements or associations by approaching whoever is responsible in their parish.”

Photo: Diocese of Gozo

Permalink: Dr. Nathalie Gatt Ellis is new President of Catholic Action in Gozo