The Church in Malta will celebrate the ordination of three new priests on Saturday, 16 May 2026, during a special Mass at the St John’s Co-Cathedral. Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi will ordain Rev. David Pace MSSP, Fra Ryan Dalli OFM Cap., and Rev. Jerome Barnabas as priests during the celebration which begins at 9:30am. The ordination Mass will be broadcast on Knisja.mt and Newsbook Malta.
Ahead of the ordination, a prayer vigil will be held on Thursday evening at the chapel of the Missionary Society of St Paul in Birkirkara, with the public invited to attend and pray for the three men preparing for priesthood.
Rev. David Pace MSSP
Rev. David Pace, from Ħal Safi, is 37 years old and began his formation with the Missionary Society of St Paul in 2015 after working as an Emergency nurse at Mater Dei Hospital. He completed part of his formation in Manila in the Philippines, where he also studied Theology, and experienced missionary life in Peru while serving as a deacon in Australia. Rev. David says he wishes to serve everyone he encounters as a missionary and priest.
His ordination carries a uniquely profound family legacy; his late father, Fr. Tony Pace, a widowed father of three, also answered the call to the priesthood until his passing in July 2024.
Fra Ryan Dalli OFM Cap.
Fra Ryan Dalli, from Ħaż-Żabbar, is 35 years old and joined the Capuchin Friars in 2013. He currently studies Youth and Community Studies and is responsible for a project within the Maltese Province aimed at opening the Capuchin charism to the public through immersive experiences in the life of the friars. Inspired by Christ and St Francis, he hopes to help especially young people feel the care, support and love of the Church through fraternity.
Rev. Jerome Barnabas
Rev. Jerome Barnabas, originally from Bangalore, is 38 years old and joined the ICPE Mission Seminary in Malta in 2016. Before entering formation, he worked as a banker. He has spent the last decade living and studying in Malta, completing his theological formation and serving in three parishes, including his current service in Marsaskala. As a missionary priest, he hopes to grow closer to Christ and make Him better known to others.
The Church in Malta continues encouraging young people to reflect on a possible calling to priestly or religious life, with further information available through the Seminary Vocations Centre.
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