Valletta feast cancelled after parish priest questioned over stolen items

External celebrations of the Saint Augustine parish in Valletta have been cancelled after its parish priest was suspended over theft allegations.

Fr Deo Debono was suspended from his priestly duties after he was questioned by the police over the theft of a number of artworks and silverware worth tens of thousands of euros.

According to reports, the police were led to Debono’s door when the authorities were alerted to the presence of a stolen silver censer at an antique shop.

The item was reported stolen from a cloister used by the Augustinian nuns in Valletta. The newspaper’s sources said the police were led to Debono by the shop’s owner.

In a statement, the Curia said that, in agreement with the Augustinian priests, Archbishop Charles Scicluna had decided that Fr Debono would not remain parish priest at the Parish of St Augustine and would not be able to exercise his priestly duties in public until the conclusion of the police investigation and any court procedures.

In light of the situation, the Maltese Augustinian Provincial announced yesterday that external celebrations relating to the feast of St Augustine in Valletta, which were to take place in the coming days, had been cancelled.

The liturgical functions of the church will continue as planned. He asked that the police and courts be allowed to do their work and pledged support on behalf of the Augustinians.

The priest is expected to be arraigned on Monday.