Home / News & Publications / Michigan Catholic News / 2007 / St. Frances Cabrini pastor is named a canon in Malta
St. Frances Cabrini pastor is named a canon in Malta
Joe Kohn of The Michigan Catholic
Published December 21, 2007
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Fr. Joseph Mallia stands in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Malta, where on Dec. 6 he was given the honorary title of canon in the church. |
Detroit – Fr. Joseph Mallia, pastor of St. Frances Cabrini Parish in Allen Park, this month was given the honorary title of canon in the Church of the Immaculate Conception in Cospicua, Malta.
A tradition not well-known in the United States, priests in centuries past were named canons of cathedrals and other major churches. It used to mean they would fill a certain role at the church, such as leading the community in the Divine Office.
In modern times, major churches in various parts of Europe still name canons to honor priests who are native sons of the church, or who represent the ethnic community in another part of the world.
"It is a family honor as much as anything else," says Fr. Mallia, who is of Maltese descent. "And it's an honor for the Maltese community here in Detroit."
Since his ordination in 1992, Fr. Mallia has become a chaplain of the Maltese American Community Club in Dearborn. He also visits Malta yearly and knows Immaculate Conception as the parish much of his family belongs to, as did his mother – now living with his father in California.
"It was a little overwhelming, reflecting back on my family's history with the parish, thinking about my grandparents, who have died, and what they would have felt seeing this," Fr. Mallia said regarding his being named a canon. "It was really overwhelming, having this parish I have always felt close to now becoming an official part of my life."
His investiture took place following Mass Dec. 6. The ceremony included a reading of the history of the 421-year-old parish, reading of the decree from the Maltese Archbishop Paul Cremona, OP, and the blessing of vestments given to Fr. Mallia – which include a cape, a pectoral cross, a ring and a black biretta. Fr. Mallia then led the community in evening prayers – part of a novena leading up to the feast of the Immaculate Conception – and in benediction.
Paul Borg, president of the Maltese American Community Club, says Fr. Mallia's being named a canon is significant to local Maltese Americans, many of whom know and have attended the Church of the Immaculate Conception.
"For us to have somebody who's a canon in the U.S., it's a big thing for us," says Borg, who's known Fr. Mallia for 15 years.
Borg adds that Fr. Mallia helps the community maintain important Maltese traditions, such as the annual celebration of St. Paul's feast day Feb. 10. Fr. Mallia celebrates Mass and hears confessions at the club each month, too.
Borg says there are about 40,000 first- and second-generation Maltese in the metro Detroit area, most resulting from immigration in the 1950s.
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