Rev. Can. Fr. John Buhagiar priest of Marija Bambina in Naxxar since June 2024, was born 7th September 1956.
Fr. John Buhagiar studied at St Sebastian’s Primary School at Qormi and at St Augustine College Pietà. He entered as PreNoviciate with the Order of St. Augustine on the 20th August 1974. In September 1975 was sent to Dublin to do his Noviciate. He made his simple profession on the 26th September at San Nikola ta’ Tolentino Church at Tarxien and followed by Solemm Profession on the 23th September 1979 at the Church of Holy Mary, Mother of Good Counsel at Paceville.
During those same years continued his studies in Philosophy and Theology at INSERM at Ħamrun to reach to the Priesthood. He was ordained on 3th July 1982 at St Sebastian Parish Church at Qormi.
After priestly ordination, he studied a diploma course in Pastoral Theology at the Lateran University in Rome. Back to Malta he began his pastoral work as Vice-Priest at the Parish of St. Augustine in Valletta. In September 1985 took part in “Festa Żgħażagħ” with a play written by him on modern version of the life of St. Augustine. He then went back to Rome to take some other courses to finish with a specialisation in Pastoral Theology. Afterwards he expressed his desire to continue for a Doctorate, which he finish with flying colors.
Back in Malta he was part of the Comunity at Paceville and later at Pietà working as Secretary and master of discipline of St Augustine College and editor of “Rivista Santa Rita”. With the Provincial Chapter of 1990 he was sent to the island of Gozo as a bursar. Subsequently he was sent to a parish in the outskirts of Rome for his first experience abroad at the Parish of “Santa Rita da Cascia” at Torbellamonica.
He spent 3 months giving service in a Parish in Brazil.
From the years 1998 – 2000 Fr. John was the parish priest and Prior of the St. Augustine’s Convent, Valletta. He did various community work in Italy and in Malta. In 2018 Fr John was appointed Canon of Collegiate Basilica and Proto-Parochial Church of St. Paul, Rabat. Since June 2024 Fr. John is giving his religious service in the parish of Marija Bambina at Naxxar and at Golden Care Home – Naxxar.
Fr. Buhagiar enjoys reading, writing homily reflections and religious drama with a Christian messages and swimming.