Appreciation: Fr John Caruana (1941-2022)

In less than a week, the small Maltese community in Brazil has lost two of its members. Fr John Caruana died suddenly on June 28 in his sleep. On June 3, he had celebrated his 81st birthday, and on June 22, he had concelebrated at the mass for the repose of Fr Frankie Tabone Adami. Now he is celebrating life with his Maker.

Fr Caruana arrived in Brazil in 1984 after 17 years of pastoral work in Malta where he served in the parish of St Julian’s and was active in the Christus Rex society. For the last 37 years, he earnestly engaged himself in pastoral work in working-class parishes afflicted with deep social problems in housing, unemployment, absence of basic labour rights and malnutrition. He lived in poverty as his modest income as a priest, unbeknown to most, was shared with thousands of poor families in his midst.

His homilies in church and his informal conversations with people in their humble homes invariably highlighted the paramount importance of being critical Christians, as well as agents for change within the community. Conscience-raising in all fields was his motto and many people responded positively.

Perhaps his most notable and relentless commitment to the poor and...