Br Anthony Chircop OFM, Commissary of the Holy Land
For these last 20 years or so the Commissariat of the Holy Land in Malta has found a valid and faithful collaborator in the person of Mr. Tonio Farrugia. When one mentions Tonio Farrugia, one is speaking about a dynamic and energetic person, who dedicated a great part of his life for the mission of the Holy Land. During these last months, as a result of health issues, Tonio had to retire from his work and is now residing at Porziuncola by Golden Care in Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq, where he can recieve specialised care.
On behalf of the entire Franciscan Province of Malta I would like to thank Tonio for his silent and unending work during all these years. Each morning Tonio would drive from Rabat to the office of the Commissariat in Valletta. He offered many hours of voluntary work which included the publication of the Biblical Review L-Art Imqaddsa, and the organisation of pilgrimages to the Holy Land. Tonio was moreover available for many other administration tasks. His work is now continued by other volunteers and friars, but the special dedication of Tonio to this mission is unique.
Tonio was not only a major collaborator with the Commissariat, but also with the Custody of the Holy Land. He used to accompany the late Fr. John Abela during many summer campaigns of archaeological excavations in Jordan, on Mount Nebo, under the direction of the late Franciscan archaeologist of the Studium Biblicum Franciscanum Fr. Michele Piccirillo. Tonio was instrumental in translating various publications about the excavations from Italian into English.
In the organisation of pilgrimages, particularly during the moments when many groups of pilgrims were visiting the Holy Land, just before the sad events of these last years, Tonio was my right-hand man in taking care of the technical details of each pilgrimage. He used to go to the airport to see the pilgrims off in order to be sure that all arrangements were going according to plan. When I accompanied large groups Tonio would often come with me in order to be available to take care of whatever was necessary in situ. He was instrumental in organising the visits of the last two Custodes of the Holy Land to Malta, namely Fr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa and Fr. Francesco Patton. On various occasions he took part with me or with my friar collaborators in the annual meetings of the Commissariats of the Holy Land of the Italian-language group and also organised one of these meetings which was held in Malta some years back.
Above all, Tonio was instrumental in ensuring that the Review of the Commissariat would be published regularly. His work is now being taken up by others in order to be sure that this organ of Biblical formation and information on the Holy Land continues to be published to the Maltese readership.
On behalf of the brothers who help me in the work of the Commissariat of the Holy Land, and in the name of all the benefactors and friends of the Holy Land, I thank Tonio for his work and dedication to the mission of the Holy Land. I invite all our friends to pray for Tonio so that the Lord will help him to carry the burden of his frail health with faith, but also never cease showing the fervour and enthusiasm of a faithful steward that he has always been. The Lord alone can repay him as an outstanding benefactor of the Commissariat of the Holy Land in Malta.