Bishop Mario Grech has appointed Fr Reuben Micallef archpriest of Zebbug.

Fr Micallef was born on May 21, 1975, to the late Joseph and Ersilla Micallef. He was educated at the Carmelite Sisters School, Kercem Primary School and St Francis School in Victoria, and later attended the Ninu Cremona Junior Lyceum and Sir M'Angelo Refalo Sixth Form.

In September 1993, Fr Micallef attended the Sacred Heart Major Seminary, where he continued to study theology and philosophy.

From 1996 to 1997, in his fourth year at the seminary, he spent his intermediate year in the parish of St Angela Merici in Roseville, Michigan, USA. He returned to Gozo in 1998 and was ordained by Bishop Nikol Cauchi at the Gozo Cathedral in 2000.

Fr Micallef spent his first years as a priest in Rome, where he was the vicar co-operator at the Nativity parish church. During that time he also studied Liturgy at the St Anselm Pontifical Liturgy Institute.

Back in Gozo in 2002, he was appointed vicar of the Cathedral as well as choirmaster of the cathedral chapter in July.

Fr Micallef has been editor of the Gozo Diocese newsletter Life in Gozo since September 2002 and also helps out at the diocesan liturgical office.