About

Spiritual Development in Schools

Spiritual Development in Schools within the Archdiocese of Malta supports schools to foster pastoral care and spiritual development.

Spiritual Development in Schools contributes to:

  • the spiritual and religious formation of school leaders, educators, students and parents.
  • sustain the school-based identity and mission through the Catholic faith.
  • support and formation of Catholic Chaplaincy teams in schools.
  • coordinate and assist the Religious Counsellors in State and Independent schools.
  • provide support and spiritual formation through family programmes.

Pastoral care and spiritual development in schools

The pastoral care and spiritual growth in schools is an integral part of the educational process of all the school community. This mission needs to be carried out by a competent and motivated team that is planned, coordinated and sustained by the whole school. Hence the Pastoral Care and Chaplaincy needs to focuses on:

  • Spiritual Growth: To empower God’s Spirit present within the educational community, both in its members and as a community, to manifest itself and develop according to each one’s identity and mission in life. In simpler terms: to help each person (student or adult) to discover God’s presence within him/herself and faithfully nurture its growth and development.
  • Spiritual Experience: Help each one to experience God and his transforming power.
  • Community building: Let the whole community be built around and thanks to this Divine Presence.
  • Personal accompaniment: Accompany each student on his/her journey towards a fuller acknowledgement and development of his/her spiritual calling and identity.

Team

Rev. Fr Reuben Gauci

Coordinator for Religious Counsellors &
Spiritual Development in Schools

Silvana Cardona

Pastoral Worker

Anne-Marie Gatt

Pastoral Worker

Chaplains and Religious Counsellors

What is the role of Religious Counsellors in State Schools?

The Agreement between the Holy See and the Republic of Malta about Religious Education in State Schools that was signed in 1989 included the religious animation and moral guidance of students as an essential part of their Religious Education. This is assured by means of Religious Counsellors nominated by the Diocesan Bishop in whose territory the school is situated. As a living witness of dedication and moral values, the Religious Counsellor is required to:

  • Give counselling on religious and moral problems to the students assigned, both individually and in groups according to needs. The school should provide the necessary facilities so that the Religious Cousellor may satisfactorily exercise his duties;
  • Visits the classrooms to talk to the students and answer any questions they might ask about Christian living. If invited by the teacher, the Religious Counsellor may animate or participate in a religious celebration in the classroom. The Religious Counsellor shall use the lessons  of teachers who happen to be absent from school ;
  • Regularly organises, or sees that there be organised, those celebrations that form an integral part of the religious education and formation in schools: e.g. the sacraments of Reconciliation in a dignified space and the Eucharist; Celebrations of the Word of God in the more important periods of the liturgical year such as Advent, Christmastide, Lent and Eastertide; other religious  and spiritual celebrations and functions in agreement with the Head of the school;
  • Helps the school staff in religious and spiritual matters when requested.

The Religious Counsellor exercises this ministry under the direction of the Coordinator for Religious Counsellors - the ordained minister appointed by the Maltese Episcopal Conference.

State

The primary, middle and secondary schools in the catchment area of Buġibba, Burmarrad, Għurgħur, Mellieħa, Mosta, Naxxar, Qawra, and St Paul’s Bay. Wardija Young Adult Resource Centre and Naxxar Learning Support Centre and an Induction Centre also make part of the College. Click here for the College’s webpage.




Primary, Għargħur

Fr Christopher Galea

[email protected]
Primary, Mellieħa

Fr Joe Caruana

[email protected]
Primary, Naxxar

Fr Gerald Micallef

[email protected]
Primary, St Paul's Bay

Fr Joe Mamo OFM

[email protected]
Primary, Qawra

Fr Andrew Galea OFM

[email protected]
Primary, Mosta A & B

Fr Bastjan Caruana

[email protected]
Middle & Secondary, Zokkrija, Mosta

Fr Sean Abela

[email protected]
Secondary, Mosta

Fr Alfred Vassallo OCD & Fr Roderick Baldacchino

[email protected]; [email protected]
Middle, Naxxar

Fr Alfred Vassallo OCD

[email protected]
Young Adults Educational Centre

Fr Joe Mamo OFM

[email protected]

State

The primary, middle and secondary schools in the catchment area of Birżebbugia, Għaxaq, Gudja, Kirkop, Mqabba, Qrendi, Safi and Żurrieq.




Primary, Birżebbugia

Fr Reuben Micallef

[email protected]
Primary, Għaxaq

Fr Andrew Schembri

[email protected]
Primary, Gudja

Fr Norman Zammit

[email protected]
Primary, Kirkop

Fr Martin Cardona

[email protected]
Primary, Imqabba

Fr John Curmi

[email protected]
Primary, Qrendi

Fr Mario Said

[email protected]
Primary, Safi

Fr Ivan Scicluna

[email protected]
Primary, Żurrieq

Fr Daniel Cardona

[email protected]
Middle, Kirkop

Fr Gylan Camilleri

[email protected]
Secondary, Kirkop

Fr Ivan Attard O.P.

[email protected]
Helen Keller Educational Centre, Qrendi

Fr Mario Said

[email protected]

State

The primary, middle and secondary schools in the area of Gżira, Pembroke, St Julian’s, San Ġwann and Sliema




Primary A & B, San Ġwann

Fr Bertrand Vella OFM Cap

[email protected]
Middle & Secondary Schools, Pembroke

Fr Blake Camilleri

[email protected]
Primary, Gżira

Fr Gordon Refalo

[email protected]
Primary, Sliema

Fr Etienne Sciberras

[email protected]
Primary, Pembroke

Fr Aayrton Muscat

[email protected]
Primary, St Julians

Fr Paul Mizzi

[email protected]

State

The primary, middle and secondary schools in the catchment area of Floriana, Ħamrun, Marsa, Paola, Pieta, and Valletta.




Primary, Floriana

Fr Charles Cini & Fr Stefan Galea

[email protected]
Primary, Hamrun SS

Fr Franco Fenech

[email protected]
Primary, Ħamrun GP

Fr Walter Cauchi

[email protected]
Primary, Marsa

Fr Dominic Mangani OFM Cap.

[email protected]
Primary, Pieta

Fr Joseph Zahra O.P.

[email protected]
Primary, Valletta

Fr Michael Camilleri O.P.

[email protected]
Primary , Paola

Fr John Muscat & Fr Marc Andre Camilleri

[email protected]
Middle, Blata l-Bajda

Fr Paul Buttigieg

[email protected]
Secondary, Ħamrun
Guardian Angel Resource Centre

Fr Reuben Gauci

[email protected]

State

The primary, middle and secondary schools in the catchment area of Qormi, Ħal Luqa, Siġġiewi and Ħaż-Żebbuġ




Primary, Qormi Saint Sebastian

Fr Ewkarist Zammit

[email protected]
Primary, Qormi St George

Fr Mario Mangion

[email protected]
Primary, Ħal Luqa

Fr Michael Zammit

[email protected]
Primary, Siġġiewi

Fr Josef Mifsud

[email protected]
Primary, Ħaż-Żebbuġ

Fr Albert Buhagiar

[email protected]
Middle, Ħandaq, Qormi

Fr Sergio Fenech

[email protected]
Secondary, Ħandaq, Qormi

Fr Dunstan Xuereb

[email protected]

State

The primary, middle and secondary schools in the catchment area of Bormla, Isla, Birgu, Kalkara, Ħaż-Żabbar, and Xgħajra.




Primary, Cospicua

Fr Anton Cassar & Fr Emanuel Schembri 

[email protected]
Primary, Senglea

Fr Robin Camilleri

[email protected]
Primary, Vittoriosa

Fr John Avellino

[email protected]
Primary, Kalkara

Fr Brian Gialanze

[email protected]
Primary A&B, Ħaż-Żabbar

Fr Roderick Camilleri

[email protected]
Primary, Xgħajra

Fr Keith Scicluna

[email protected]
Middle, Cospicua

Fr Gilbert Scicluna

[email protected]
Secondary, Cospicua

Fr Karm Spiteri OCD

[email protected]

State

The primary, middle and secondary schools in the catchment area of Attard, Dingli, Imgarr, Imtarfa, and Rabat.




Primary, Attard

Fr Joseph Grech

[email protected]
Primary, Dingli

Fr David Farrugia

[email protected]
Primary, Imġarr

Fr Sean Abela

[email protected]
Primary, Rabat

Fr Joseph Mizzi

[email protected]
Primary, Baħrija

Fr Ray Francalanza OSA

[email protected]
Middle, Rabat

Fr Joseph Mizzi

[email protected]
Secondary, Dingli

Fr Godwin Preca SJ & Fr David Farrugia

[email protected]
Primary, Mtarfa

Fr Rene Vella

[email protected]

State

The primary, middle and secondary schools in the catchment area of Balzan, Birkirkara, Fleur de Lys, Iklin, Lija, Msida, and St Venera.




Primary, Birkirkara

Fr Louis Suban, Fr Evan Caruana, and fr Charlon Muscat

[email protected]
Primary, Ħal-Lija, Balzan, Iklin

Fr Joe Cilia, Mons Karm Farrugia, Fr Keith Bonnici

[email protected]
Primary, Imsida

Fr Mario Mifsud

[email protected]
Primary, St Venera

Fr Maurice Abela OCarm

[email protected]
Middle, Birkirkara

Fr Ryan Lee Pace

[email protected]
Secondary, Mrieħel, Birkirkara

Fr Osmar Baldacchino

[email protected]

State

The primary, middle and secondary schools in the catchment area of Fgura, Marsaskala, Marsaxlokk, Tarxien, Santa Lucija and Żejtun. The College offers also specialised programmes at the Boys’ Learning Centre; and an Alternative Learning Programme, for Year 11 students, who have an aptitude for applied learning. MVPA falls under the administration of St Thomas More College, while considered a national school, much like the National Sports School. It offers five art forms as the primary focus of study: art, dance, drama, media, music. Click here for the College’s website.




Primary, Marsaskala St Anne & St Joachim

Fr Luke Cutajar

[email protected]
Primary, Fgura

Fr Raymond Camilleri. O Carm

[email protected]
Primary, Marsaxlokk

Fr George Spiteri

[email protected]
Primary, Tarxien

Fr Chris Ellul

[email protected]
Primary, Żejtun A&B

Fr Anton Galea Scanura

[email protected]
Middle, Tarxien

Fr Christopher Ellul

[email protected]
Middle & Secondary, Żejtun

Fr Bernard Micallef

[email protected]
Secondary, St Lucia

Fr Clive Seychell

[email protected]
Alternative Learning Programme (ALP) Vocational Creative Centre

Fr Clive Seychell

[email protected]
Malta Visual and Performing Arts School

Fr Lino Azzopardi

[email protected]

Independent

Fr Aayrton Muscat

[email protected]




Independent

Fr Chris Caruana op

Fr Oliver Borg Olivier sj

[email protected]




Independent

Founded in 1909, St. Catherine’s High School is a Private Independent Educational Institution located in Pembroke, Malta, and run by lay staff under the direction of the Head of School, Ms Sue Midolo.




Independent

Fr Manuel Camilleri SDB

[email protected]




Independent

Fr Jesmond Grech

[email protected];




State

A post-secondary state school in Naxxar offering academic courses at advanced, intermediate, and ordinary level. The school offers courses suited to the individual needs of the student.

Fr Osmar Baldacchino

[email protected]




State

The Malta College of Arts, Science & Technology

Fr Antoine Farrugia sdb (main)
Fr Richard Ebejer sdb
Fr Manuel Camilleri sdb
Fr Aurelio Mule’ Stagno sdb
Fr Robert Falzon sdb
Sr Maria Angeles Diaz Gonzales fma

[email protected]




MCAST Main Campus

Kordin

Institute for Creative Arts

Mosta

State

Fr Patrick Magro SJ

[email protected]




Junior College

Fr Jesmond Grech

[email protected]