Cana Movement founder Mgr Charles Vella passes away

The founder of the Cana Movement, Mgr Charles Vella, passed away yesterday morning at Mater Dei Hospital at the age of 89.

In a tweet, Archbishop Charles Scicluna paid tribute to the late priest who he described as an ‘apostle of ministry’ to many families.

Born in Gzira on 27 June, 1928, Mgr Vella was educated at St Aloysius College, the Seminary, the Venerable Bede English College and the Gregorian Pontifical University of Rome.

He also studied social studies at Loyola University in Chicago and was trained as a counsellor and psychotherapist at the Family Institute in Chicago.

Mgr Vella was ordained priest in Rome in 1954 and in the same year founded the Cana Movement for education on family life, marriage preparation, counselling and family social work.

He was press officer of the Diocesan Curia from 1956 to 1962, assistant general secretary for the Pauline centenary celebrations from 1958 to 1960, a member of the Broadcasting Authority between 1961 and 1962 and Religious Broadcasting Organiser from 1963 to 1974.

In 1986, the Mgr joined the Istituto Scientifico San Raffaele of Milan as assistant to the president for social relations. He was also a lecturer in bioethics, a member of various bioethics committees and consultant to the UN for ageing and the family.

He was later appointed consultant to Malta’s Ministry of Social Policy, Family Policy and Ethics.

In 1994 he was appointed an Officer of the National Order of Merit and a Domestic Prelate by Pope John Paul II in 1995.