A prolific historian and author, Friar Serafin Borg, was the only religious member of Chapter of St. George's Collegiate of Victoria, Gozo, Malta.
Born in Xewkija, Gozo, on August 23, 1932, Serafin joined the Augustinian Order on November 28, 1947, and was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Mikiel Gonzi on March 17, 1956 at St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta, together with thirty other candidates, including Friar Eġidju Mizzi, a Franciscan Conventual academic. That same year Patri Serafin left to North Africa where he spent two years in missionary activity on that same land where St Augustine grew and lived. In 1958 he was called back to his homeland where he served in many different places, including St Julian's in Malta, where the Augustinians look after a very active Christian community. His latest post was the Augustinian Monastery of Rabat, Gozo.
Patri Serafin contributed regularly with historical articles to the local Augustinian periodical "Santa Rita" as well as to many other local religious magazines and newspapers. In 1969, he translated from Italian the history of the Augustinian Order written by the Spanish Balbino Rano OSA., In his writings Patri Serafin showed particular interest in Augustinian personalities who lived a holy life or made a name for their Order both in our small islands and abroad. In fact he published several booklets and books about great Augustinian men and women, including St. Nicholas of Tolentino, St. Rita of Cascia, Blessed Stephen Bellesini of Gennezzano, Fr. Martin Cullen or Ireland, and more recently two collections of short essays on Maltese Augustinian Friars: "L-Agostinjani fi żmien il-ħakma Franċiża fil-gżejjer tagħna" and "Agostinjani Għawdxin tul iż-żmien" (2004), both of which were published by the Augustinian Maltese Province. Another book about the Gozitan Augustinians was "Il-Madonna fil-ħidma ta' l-Agostinjani f'Għawdex" (1985). Patri Serafin also edited a serious study in 1974, penned by many authors together, about the life and works of Mgr. Giovanni Maria Camilleri, an Augustinian who served as Bishop of Gozo for thirty-five years, and who had as his secretary, Mgr. Alfons Maria Hili, later Archpriest of Rabat. He also co-authored the publication "Niċeċ f'Għawdex", showing his deep interest in the religious and social history of Gozo.
Above all, Patri Serafin was a worthy son of his native village, Xewkija. Though he changed base many times, he remained very much attached to it and its history, and spent many years of his life researching on this subject, until he largely contributed to his home village by publishing a comprehensive history of Xewkija, entitled "Ix-Xewkija tul iż-żminijiet". About the Parish's history, he wrote "Ix-Xewkija fi ġrajjiet il-Kappillani u l-Arċiprieti tagħha", while his book on the patron saint is entitled "San Ġwann Battista, fil-Bibbja, fl-Arti u fil-Poeżija" (1989). He was interested in all that had to do with the place he hailed from. This made him an avid supporter of the Xewkija Tigers Football Club in the seventies and eighties, and of the Banda Prekursur which is the musical society in the village. Each June he made it a point to participate in the festivities in honour of St John the Baptist. He was also one of the nominees for Ġieħ ix-Xewkija in 2002.
Patri Serafin Borg, a long-time friend of the late Canon Nikol Vella Apap, from 2001, was also Honorary Canon of St. George's Collegiate Chapter. He was in fact the first and, up to now, the only religious priest to be invested with this dignity in the Urban Chapter. Until his health allowed it he attended the celebration of Sunday Vespers regularly and was always present in the solemn liturgies of the Basilica. He grew to be part of the parish community, with his voice becoming familiar with the listeners of Leħen il-Belt Victoria.
Friar Serafin died on Tuesday, February 8, 2011, early in the afternoon, at the Gozo General Hospital in Victoria, where he was admitted two days earlier, aged 78. During his last two years, he resided at the Arka Respite Centre of Għajnsielem, where he was attended to with great care.
On Friday 11, at 2.30 pm., Fr. Serafin Borg's remains were taken from the Gozo General Hospital to the oratory of St. Augustine's convent in Victoria, where he was laid out in state until 3.45pm. A cortège transported his coffin to the adjacent convent church of the Augustinian Fathers, where Requiem Mass was celebrated at 4.00 pm., presided by the Minister Provincial of the Maltese Augustinian Province, Fr. Manuel Borg Bonello. Interment followed at St. Mary's Cemetery in the vault of the Augustinian Fathers.
Born in Xewkija, Gozo, on August 23, 1932, Serafin joined the Augustinian Order on November 28, 1947, and was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Mikiel Gonzi on March 17, 1956 at St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta, together with thirty other candidates, including Friar Eġidju Mizzi, a Franciscan Conventual academic. That same year Patri Serafin left to North Africa where he spent two years in missionary activity on that same land where St Augustine grew and lived. In 1958 he was called back to his homeland where he served in many different places, including St Julian's in Malta, where the Augustinians look after a very active Christian community. His latest post was the Augustinian Monastery of Rabat, Gozo.
Patri Serafin contributed regularly with historical articles to the local Augustinian periodical "Santa Rita" as well as to many other local religious magazines and newspapers. In 1969, he translated from Italian the history of the Augustinian Order written by the Spanish Balbino Rano OSA., In his writings Patri Serafin showed particular interest in Augustinian personalities who lived a holy life or made a name for their Order both in our small islands and abroad. In fact he published several booklets and books about great Augustinian men and women, including St. Nicholas of Tolentino, St. Rita of Cascia, Blessed Stephen Bellesini of Gennezzano, Fr. Martin Cullen or Ireland, and more recently two collections of short essays on Maltese Augustinian Friars: "L-Agostinjani fi żmien il-ħakma Franċiża fil-gżejjer tagħna" and "Agostinjani Għawdxin tul iż-żmien" (2004), both of which were published by the Augustinian Maltese Province. Another book about the Gozitan Augustinians was "Il-Madonna fil-ħidma ta' l-Agostinjani f'Għawdex" (1985). Patri Serafin also edited a serious study in 1974, penned by many authors together, about the life and works of Mgr. Giovanni Maria Camilleri, an Augustinian who served as Bishop of Gozo for thirty-five years, and who had as his secretary, Mgr. Alfons Maria Hili, later Archpriest of Rabat. He also co-authored the publication "Niċeċ f'Għawdex", showing his deep interest in the religious and social history of Gozo.
Above all, Patri Serafin was a worthy son of his native village, Xewkija. Though he changed base many times, he remained very much attached to it and its history, and spent many years of his life researching on this subject, until he largely contributed to his home village by publishing a comprehensive history of Xewkija, entitled "Ix-Xewkija tul iż-żminijiet". About the Parish's history, he wrote "Ix-Xewkija fi ġrajjiet il-Kappillani u l-Arċiprieti tagħha", while his book on the patron saint is entitled "San Ġwann Battista, fil-Bibbja, fl-Arti u fil-Poeżija" (1989). He was interested in all that had to do with the place he hailed from. This made him an avid supporter of the Xewkija Tigers Football Club in the seventies and eighties, and of the Banda Prekursur which is the musical society in the village. Each June he made it a point to participate in the festivities in honour of St John the Baptist. He was also one of the nominees for Ġieħ ix-Xewkija in 2002.
Patri Serafin Borg, a long-time friend of the late Canon Nikol Vella Apap, from 2001, was also Honorary Canon of St. George's Collegiate Chapter. He was in fact the first and, up to now, the only religious priest to be invested with this dignity in the Urban Chapter. Until his health allowed it he attended the celebration of Sunday Vespers regularly and was always present in the solemn liturgies of the Basilica. He grew to be part of the parish community, with his voice becoming familiar with the listeners of Leħen il-Belt Victoria.
Friar Serafin died on Tuesday, February 8, 2011, early in the afternoon, at the Gozo General Hospital in Victoria, where he was admitted two days earlier, aged 78. During his last two years, he resided at the Arka Respite Centre of Għajnsielem, where he was attended to with great care.
On Friday 11, at 2.30 pm., Fr. Serafin Borg's remains were taken from the Gozo General Hospital to the oratory of St. Augustine's convent in Victoria, where he was laid out in state until 3.45pm. A cortège transported his coffin to the adjacent convent church of the Augustinian Fathers, where Requiem Mass was celebrated at 4.00 pm., presided by the Minister Provincial of the Maltese Augustinian Province, Fr. Manuel Borg Bonello. Interment followed at St. Mary's Cemetery in the vault of the Augustinian Fathers.
A prolific historian and author, Friar Serafin Borg, was the only religious member of Chapter of St. George's Collegiate of Victoria, Gozo, Malta.
Born in Xewkija, Gozo, on August 23, 1932, Serafin joined the Augustinian Order on November 28, 1947, and was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Mikiel Gonzi on March 17, 1956 at St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta, together with thirty other candidates, including Friar Eġidju Mizzi, a Franciscan Conventual academic. That same year Patri Serafin left to North Africa where he spent two years in missionary activity on that same land where St Augustine grew and lived. In 1958 he was called back to his homeland where he served in many different places, including St Julian's in Malta, where the Augustinians look after a very active Christian community. His latest post was the Augustinian Monastery of Rabat, Gozo.
Patri Serafin contributed regularly with historical articles to the local Augustinian periodical "Santa Rita" as well as to many other local religious magazines and newspapers. In 1969, he translated from Italian the history of the Augustinian Order written by the Spanish Balbino Rano OSA., In his writings Patri Serafin showed particular interest in Augustinian personalities who lived a holy life or made a name for their Order both in our small islands and abroad. In fact he published several booklets and books about great Augustinian men and women, including St. Nicholas of Tolentino, St. Rita of Cascia, Blessed Stephen Bellesini of Gennezzano, Fr. Martin Cullen or Ireland, and more recently two collections of short essays on Maltese Augustinian Friars: "L-Agostinjani fi żmien il-ħakma Franċiża fil-gżejjer tagħna" and "Agostinjani Għawdxin tul iż-żmien" (2004), both of which were published by the Augustinian Maltese Province. Another book about the Gozitan Augustinians was "Il-Madonna fil-ħidma ta' l-Agostinjani f'Għawdex" (1985). Patri Serafin also edited a serious study in 1974, penned by many authors together, about the life and works of Mgr. Giovanni Maria Camilleri, an Augustinian who served as Bishop of Gozo for thirty-five years, and who had as his secretary, Mgr. Alfons Maria Hili, later Archpriest of Rabat. He also co-authored the publication "Niċeċ f'Għawdex", showing his deep interest in the religious and social history of Gozo.
Above all, Patri Serafin was a worthy son of his native village, Xewkija. Though he changed base many times, he remained very much attached to it and its history, and spent many years of his life researching on this subject, until he largely contributed to his home village by publishing a comprehensive history of Xewkija, entitled "Ix-Xewkija tul iż-żminijiet". About the Parish's history, he wrote "Ix-Xewkija fi ġrajjiet il-Kappillani u l-Arċiprieti tagħha", while his book on the patron saint is entitled "San Ġwann Battista, fil-Bibbja, fl-Arti u fil-Poeżija" (1989). He was interested in all that had to do with the place he hailed from. This made him an avid supporter of the Xewkija Tigers Football Club in the seventies and eighties, and of the Banda Prekursur which is the musical society in the village. Each June he made it a point to participate in the festivities in honour of St John the Baptist. He was also one of the nominees for Ġieħ ix-Xewkija in 2002.
Patri Serafin Borg, a long-time friend of the late Canon Nikol Vella Apap, from 2001, was also Honorary Canon of St. George's Collegiate Chapter. He was in fact the first and, up to now, the only religious priest to be invested with this dignity in the Urban Chapter. Until his health allowed it he attended the celebration of Sunday Vespers regularly and was always present in the solemn liturgies of the Basilica. He grew to be part of the parish community, with his voice becoming familiar with the listeners of Leħen il-Belt Victoria.
Friar Serafin died on Tuesday, February 8, 2011, early in the afternoon, at the Gozo General Hospital in Victoria, where he was admitted two days earlier, aged 78. During his last two years, he resided at the Arka Respite Centre of Għajnsielem, where he was attended to with great care.
On Friday 11, at 2.30 pm., Fr. Serafin Borg's remains were taken from the Gozo General Hospital to the oratory of St. Augustine's convent in Victoria, where he was laid out in state until 3.45pm. A cortège transported his coffin to the adjacent convent church of the Augustinian Fathers, where Requiem Mass was celebrated at 4.00 pm., presided by the Minister Provincial of the Maltese Augustinian Province, Fr. Manuel Borg Bonello. Interment followed at St. Mary's Cemetery in the vault of the Augustinian Fathers.
Born in Xewkija, Gozo, on August 23, 1932, Serafin joined the Augustinian Order on November 28, 1947, and was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Mikiel Gonzi on March 17, 1956 at St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta, together with thirty other candidates, including Friar Eġidju Mizzi, a Franciscan Conventual academic. That same year Patri Serafin left to North Africa where he spent two years in missionary activity on that same land where St Augustine grew and lived. In 1958 he was called back to his homeland where he served in many different places, including St Julian's in Malta, where the Augustinians look after a very active Christian community. His latest post was the Augustinian Monastery of Rabat, Gozo.
Patri Serafin contributed regularly with historical articles to the local Augustinian periodical "Santa Rita" as well as to many other local religious magazines and newspapers. In 1969, he translated from Italian the history of the Augustinian Order written by the Spanish Balbino Rano OSA., In his writings Patri Serafin showed particular interest in Augustinian personalities who lived a holy life or made a name for their Order both in our small islands and abroad. In fact he published several booklets and books about great Augustinian men and women, including St. Nicholas of Tolentino, St. Rita of Cascia, Blessed Stephen Bellesini of Gennezzano, Fr. Martin Cullen or Ireland, and more recently two collections of short essays on Maltese Augustinian Friars: "L-Agostinjani fi żmien il-ħakma Franċiża fil-gżejjer tagħna" and "Agostinjani Għawdxin tul iż-żmien" (2004), both of which were published by the Augustinian Maltese Province. Another book about the Gozitan Augustinians was "Il-Madonna fil-ħidma ta' l-Agostinjani f'Għawdex" (1985). Patri Serafin also edited a serious study in 1974, penned by many authors together, about the life and works of Mgr. Giovanni Maria Camilleri, an Augustinian who served as Bishop of Gozo for thirty-five years, and who had as his secretary, Mgr. Alfons Maria Hili, later Archpriest of Rabat. He also co-authored the publication "Niċeċ f'Għawdex", showing his deep interest in the religious and social history of Gozo.
Above all, Patri Serafin was a worthy son of his native village, Xewkija. Though he changed base many times, he remained very much attached to it and its history, and spent many years of his life researching on this subject, until he largely contributed to his home village by publishing a comprehensive history of Xewkija, entitled "Ix-Xewkija tul iż-żminijiet". About the Parish's history, he wrote "Ix-Xewkija fi ġrajjiet il-Kappillani u l-Arċiprieti tagħha", while his book on the patron saint is entitled "San Ġwann Battista, fil-Bibbja, fl-Arti u fil-Poeżija" (1989). He was interested in all that had to do with the place he hailed from. This made him an avid supporter of the Xewkija Tigers Football Club in the seventies and eighties, and of the Banda Prekursur which is the musical society in the village. Each June he made it a point to participate in the festivities in honour of St John the Baptist. He was also one of the nominees for Ġieħ ix-Xewkija in 2002.
Patri Serafin Borg, a long-time friend of the late Canon Nikol Vella Apap, from 2001, was also Honorary Canon of St. George's Collegiate Chapter. He was in fact the first and, up to now, the only religious priest to be invested with this dignity in the Urban Chapter. Until his health allowed it he attended the celebration of Sunday Vespers regularly and was always present in the solemn liturgies of the Basilica. He grew to be part of the parish community, with his voice becoming familiar with the listeners of Leħen il-Belt Victoria.
Friar Serafin died on Tuesday, February 8, 2011, early in the afternoon, at the Gozo General Hospital in Victoria, where he was admitted two days earlier, aged 78. During his last two years, he resided at the Arka Respite Centre of Għajnsielem, where he was attended to with great care.
On Friday 11, at 2.30 pm., Fr. Serafin Borg's remains were taken from the Gozo General Hospital to the oratory of St. Augustine's convent in Victoria, where he was laid out in state until 3.45pm. A cortège transported his coffin to the adjacent convent church of the Augustinian Fathers, where Requiem Mass was celebrated at 4.00 pm., presided by the Minister Provincial of the Maltese Augustinian Province, Fr. Manuel Borg Bonello. Interment followed at St. Mary's Cemetery in the vault of the Augustinian Fathers.
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