Mgr George Bezzina, a member of St George’s Collegiate Chapter and a much-loved priest of the Gozo Diocese, passed away in the early hours of this morning at the Gozo General Hospital in Victoria, at the age of 58 years. His funeral will be held on Tuesday, the 18th of September.
Ordained to priesthood in June 1990, Mgr Bezzina was a renowned preacher and a priest of many pastoral and charismatic qualities. He was the seventh parish priest of Fontana between 1991 and 2008, where he carried out great spiritual and structural reforms in the parish. In 2009 he was made Cappellano di Sua Santità with the title of monsignor, and later in 2011 he was appointed administrator of St James church in Victoria. He also worked in the Finance Section at the Gozo Curia.
Mgr Bezzina was also a regular presenter on parish radio Lehen il-Belt Victoria and for many years led the popular Sunday night talk-show Nisimghek on RTK Radio, with thousands of listeners eagerly waiting to listen to his voice. In July 2010, he delivered the Triduum in honour of St George at the basilica in Victoria.
Full details of the Funeral Mass are shown below.
Solemn Funeral Rites of MGR GEORGE BEZZINA Capp. di S.S., 58 years.
Tuesday 18 September 2012
1.00pm: The remains of Mgr Bezzina will be laid for public homage at the Parish Church of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, Fontana.
2.15pm: The remains of Mgr Bezzina will be taken for public homage at St James’ Church, Independence Square, Victoria.
4.15pm: Solemn Celebration of the Office of the Dead at St James Church, led by Archpriest Mgr Pawlu Cardona and the Collegiate Chapter of St George’s Basilica.
4.30pm: Funeral Cortege from Independence Square to St George’s Basilica.
5.00pm: Solemn Funeral Mass praesente cadavere at St George’s Basilica, led by H.L. Mgr Mario Grech, Bishop of Gozo and Dean of St George’s Collegiate Chapter.
Burial will follow in a private ceremony.
Requiescat in pace.
3 Comments To "Mgr George Bezzina of Victoria has sadly passed away"
#1 Comment By Chev Chris Galea – Fontana On September 14, 2012 @ 8:23 am
Dear Kappillan
We are so sad after your departure. This is a terrible loss for us and for those who followed your teachings. Please intercede for us when near the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
Pray for us, for those who help in the Liturgy and in the assistance of the Church to the needy.
It is still fresh in my memory, the first time you came to help in the parish, when our previous Kappillan Rev Gwann Cini was hospitalised. It was a great sign of spirituality and humility when you accepted the cross to look after the parish of Fontana. Your commitment to look after the youth was one of your top priorities and the difficulties you faced were immense. However, you always kept that trademark smile on your face in spite of other problems faced especially the sad loss of your dear sister Giacinta, your mother Salvina and Joseph. I am sure that they are happy to meet you again in Heaven. We all thank the Sacred Heart of Jesus and our Lady of Ta’Pinu for the Gift they gave us by lending you to us. We felt fortunated. Everbody is fortunate to have you. However, you always told us, when we were together, that “my luggage is always ready”.
Bless us, Father. We all love you. Pray for all the parish priests and the priests; that they lead by example.
Chris Galea KM
Fontana
#2 Comment By Peter On September 14, 2012 @ 8:47 am
R.I.P Mgr George Bezzina
#3 Comment By Tony Stivala On September 14, 2012 @ 9:19 am
RIP Mons.
This man was loved by all Gozitanos as well as all the Maltese. He was a great preacher of the word of God. The evidence is that he was the most popular preacher is that it was guaranteed that every summer he was for ever doing the feast sermon in most parishes in Malta let alone Gozo.
Even if you did not care for a sermon, he had the ability to make you listen and take notice of what he preached.
There are lots of other priests who can learn from him and use him as an example and start preaching with love like he did.
Rest in peace friend of all and now pray for us from Heaven till we come to meet you there