Patri Stiefnu Barbara OFM. Cap., was a renowned Franciscan Capuchin Friar who was praised for his authentic spiritual life by Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina himself.
Born in Cospicua, Malta, the third of six children to Giuseppe Barbara and Giuseppa Seguna, on January 2, 1919, he received the name Arturo on his baptism. He received his elementary studies at Cospicua's Primary Governmental School, at the Valletta Lyceum and later at the De La Salle College, again in Cospicua. Aged 15, he entered the Dockyard School as a shipwright apprentice. Still serving as an altar boy at Saint Teresa's church in Cospicua, of the Carmelite Teresian Discalced Fathers, many thought that he would join their Order, but the humble figure of Brother Paolo from Birkirkara of the Capuchin Fathers, who as questuant, sought eleemosynary from Cospicua and its districts, and the frequent visits he and his mother made to the Capuchin Convent of Kalkara, lightened his vocation with the Order.
On December 8, 1935, the Liturgical Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, with other nine candidates, Arturo began his novitiate year with the Order of the Franciscan Minor Capuchins at their Convent in Victoria, Gozo. He made his simple profession with the named candidates on January 3, 1937 and was assigned to the Fraternity of Kalkara, where he took his solemn vows on May 28, 1940.
Barbara was ordained to the priesthood by Msgr. Michael Gonzi on September 23, 1944, at Saint John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta and celebrated his first solemn Mass on the following October 8, at the Capuchin Church of Kalkara, where he also celebrated the sixtieth anniversary from his priesthood ordination on December 19, 2004.
Following his ordination, Friar Stiefnu was assigned with the named Fraternity of Kalkara, where for six years he served as Master of the Capuchin novices and chaplain of Saint Joseph's Conservatory in Cospicua. National chaplain of the "Xirka tal-Isem Imqaddes ta' Alla", in 1950 he was assigned with the Fraternity of Floriana, of which he formed part of the community until his demise, with the exception of a few months, whilst serving as Friar Guardian of the Capuchin convent of Għajn Dwieli. In 1962 he was named as the Second General Custodian of the Capuchin Province and in 1968, Second Definitor Provincial of the Order.
Director of the Franciscan Seraphic Order, chaplain of the Capua Palace Orphanage in Sliema, spiritual director of the Franciscan Seraphic School, confessor at the Archdiocesan Seminary, chaplain of the Naval Hospital of Ta' Bighi, Barbara represented his Province in the Presbyterian Council of the Archdiocese.
A renowned orator, throughout his venerable life, Friar Stiefnu served as confessor to many, including to members of the Catholic hierarchy and several members of religious congregations. Twice, Padre Pio of Pietrelcina OFM. Cap., (1887 - 1968), praised Friar Stiefnu to groups or individual Maltese pilgrims, who visited him in San Giovanni Rotondo, for his keen spiritual advises, interestingly enough to note that the fact that the friars never met or contacted each other.
A personal friend of Msgr. Giorgio Preca (1880 - 1962), Founder of the Society of Christian Doctrine and Malta's first canonized Saint, he served him as his barber.
On Sunday, February 3, 2008, Friar Stiefnu suffered a fall in his cell at the Capuchin Convent of Floriana. Although his condition looked stable, he passed unexpectedly away due to a heart attack aged 89, on Monday, February 4, at 7.35 am., whilst recovered at Mater Dei Hospital.
His funeral Mass was celebrated at Floriana's Capuchin church with 62 presbyters concelebrating. "Blessed are the Poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven!"
Born in Cospicua, Malta, the third of six children to Giuseppe Barbara and Giuseppa Seguna, on January 2, 1919, he received the name Arturo on his baptism. He received his elementary studies at Cospicua's Primary Governmental School, at the Valletta Lyceum and later at the De La Salle College, again in Cospicua. Aged 15, he entered the Dockyard School as a shipwright apprentice. Still serving as an altar boy at Saint Teresa's church in Cospicua, of the Carmelite Teresian Discalced Fathers, many thought that he would join their Order, but the humble figure of Brother Paolo from Birkirkara of the Capuchin Fathers, who as questuant, sought eleemosynary from Cospicua and its districts, and the frequent visits he and his mother made to the Capuchin Convent of Kalkara, lightened his vocation with the Order.
On December 8, 1935, the Liturgical Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, with other nine candidates, Arturo began his novitiate year with the Order of the Franciscan Minor Capuchins at their Convent in Victoria, Gozo. He made his simple profession with the named candidates on January 3, 1937 and was assigned to the Fraternity of Kalkara, where he took his solemn vows on May 28, 1940.
Barbara was ordained to the priesthood by Msgr. Michael Gonzi on September 23, 1944, at Saint John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta and celebrated his first solemn Mass on the following October 8, at the Capuchin Church of Kalkara, where he also celebrated the sixtieth anniversary from his priesthood ordination on December 19, 2004.
Following his ordination, Friar Stiefnu was assigned with the named Fraternity of Kalkara, where for six years he served as Master of the Capuchin novices and chaplain of Saint Joseph's Conservatory in Cospicua. National chaplain of the "Xirka tal-Isem Imqaddes ta' Alla", in 1950 he was assigned with the Fraternity of Floriana, of which he formed part of the community until his demise, with the exception of a few months, whilst serving as Friar Guardian of the Capuchin convent of Għajn Dwieli. In 1962 he was named as the Second General Custodian of the Capuchin Province and in 1968, Second Definitor Provincial of the Order.
Director of the Franciscan Seraphic Order, chaplain of the Capua Palace Orphanage in Sliema, spiritual director of the Franciscan Seraphic School, confessor at the Archdiocesan Seminary, chaplain of the Naval Hospital of Ta' Bighi, Barbara represented his Province in the Presbyterian Council of the Archdiocese.
A renowned orator, throughout his venerable life, Friar Stiefnu served as confessor to many, including to members of the Catholic hierarchy and several members of religious congregations. Twice, Padre Pio of Pietrelcina OFM. Cap., (1887 - 1968), praised Friar Stiefnu to groups or individual Maltese pilgrims, who visited him in San Giovanni Rotondo, for his keen spiritual advises, interestingly enough to note that the fact that the friars never met or contacted each other.
A personal friend of Msgr. Giorgio Preca (1880 - 1962), Founder of the Society of Christian Doctrine and Malta's first canonized Saint, he served him as his barber.
On Sunday, February 3, 2008, Friar Stiefnu suffered a fall in his cell at the Capuchin Convent of Floriana. Although his condition looked stable, he passed unexpectedly away due to a heart attack aged 89, on Monday, February 4, at 7.35 am., whilst recovered at Mater Dei Hospital.
His funeral Mass was celebrated at Floriana's Capuchin church with 62 presbyters concelebrating. "Blessed are the Poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven!"
Patri Stiefnu Barbara OFM. Cap., was a renowned Franciscan Capuchin Friar who was praised for his authentic spiritual life by Saint Padre Pio of Pietrelcina himself.
Born in Cospicua, Malta, the third of six children to Giuseppe Barbara and Giuseppa Seguna, on January 2, 1919, he received the name Arturo on his baptism. He received his elementary studies at Cospicua's Primary Governmental School, at the Valletta Lyceum and later at the De La Salle College, again in Cospicua. Aged 15, he entered the Dockyard School as a shipwright apprentice. Still serving as an altar boy at Saint Teresa's church in Cospicua, of the Carmelite Teresian Discalced Fathers, many thought that he would join their Order, but the humble figure of Brother Paolo from Birkirkara of the Capuchin Fathers, who as questuant, sought eleemosynary from Cospicua and its districts, and the frequent visits he and his mother made to the Capuchin Convent of Kalkara, lightened his vocation with the Order.
On December 8, 1935, the Liturgical Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, with other nine candidates, Arturo began his novitiate year with the Order of the Franciscan Minor Capuchins at their Convent in Victoria, Gozo. He made his simple profession with the named candidates on January 3, 1937 and was assigned to the Fraternity of Kalkara, where he took his solemn vows on May 28, 1940.
Barbara was ordained to the priesthood by Msgr. Michael Gonzi on September 23, 1944, at Saint John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta and celebrated his first solemn Mass on the following October 8, at the Capuchin Church of Kalkara, where he also celebrated the sixtieth anniversary from his priesthood ordination on December 19, 2004.
Following his ordination, Friar Stiefnu was assigned with the named Fraternity of Kalkara, where for six years he served as Master of the Capuchin novices and chaplain of Saint Joseph's Conservatory in Cospicua. National chaplain of the "Xirka tal-Isem Imqaddes ta' Alla", in 1950 he was assigned with the Fraternity of Floriana, of which he formed part of the community until his demise, with the exception of a few months, whilst serving as Friar Guardian of the Capuchin convent of Għajn Dwieli. In 1962 he was named as the Second General Custodian of the Capuchin Province and in 1968, Second Definitor Provincial of the Order.
Director of the Franciscan Seraphic Order, chaplain of the Capua Palace Orphanage in Sliema, spiritual director of the Franciscan Seraphic School, confessor at the Archdiocesan Seminary, chaplain of the Naval Hospital of Ta' Bighi, Barbara represented his Province in the Presbyterian Council of the Archdiocese.
A renowned orator, throughout his venerable life, Friar Stiefnu served as confessor to many, including to members of the Catholic hierarchy and several members of religious congregations. Twice, Padre Pio of Pietrelcina OFM. Cap., (1887 - 1968), praised Friar Stiefnu to groups or individual Maltese pilgrims, who visited him in San Giovanni Rotondo, for his keen spiritual advises, interestingly enough to note that the fact that the friars never met or contacted each other.
A personal friend of Msgr. Giorgio Preca (1880 - 1962), Founder of the Society of Christian Doctrine and Malta's first canonized Saint, he served him as his barber.
On Sunday, February 3, 2008, Friar Stiefnu suffered a fall in his cell at the Capuchin Convent of Floriana. Although his condition looked stable, he passed unexpectedly away due to a heart attack aged 89, on Monday, February 4, at 7.35 am., whilst recovered at Mater Dei Hospital.
His funeral Mass was celebrated at Floriana's Capuchin church with 62 presbyters concelebrating. "Blessed are the Poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven!"
Born in Cospicua, Malta, the third of six children to Giuseppe Barbara and Giuseppa Seguna, on January 2, 1919, he received the name Arturo on his baptism. He received his elementary studies at Cospicua's Primary Governmental School, at the Valletta Lyceum and later at the De La Salle College, again in Cospicua. Aged 15, he entered the Dockyard School as a shipwright apprentice. Still serving as an altar boy at Saint Teresa's church in Cospicua, of the Carmelite Teresian Discalced Fathers, many thought that he would join their Order, but the humble figure of Brother Paolo from Birkirkara of the Capuchin Fathers, who as questuant, sought eleemosynary from Cospicua and its districts, and the frequent visits he and his mother made to the Capuchin Convent of Kalkara, lightened his vocation with the Order.
On December 8, 1935, the Liturgical Feast Day of the Immaculate Conception of Mary, with other nine candidates, Arturo began his novitiate year with the Order of the Franciscan Minor Capuchins at their Convent in Victoria, Gozo. He made his simple profession with the named candidates on January 3, 1937 and was assigned to the Fraternity of Kalkara, where he took his solemn vows on May 28, 1940.
Barbara was ordained to the priesthood by Msgr. Michael Gonzi on September 23, 1944, at Saint John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta and celebrated his first solemn Mass on the following October 8, at the Capuchin Church of Kalkara, where he also celebrated the sixtieth anniversary from his priesthood ordination on December 19, 2004.
Following his ordination, Friar Stiefnu was assigned with the named Fraternity of Kalkara, where for six years he served as Master of the Capuchin novices and chaplain of Saint Joseph's Conservatory in Cospicua. National chaplain of the "Xirka tal-Isem Imqaddes ta' Alla", in 1950 he was assigned with the Fraternity of Floriana, of which he formed part of the community until his demise, with the exception of a few months, whilst serving as Friar Guardian of the Capuchin convent of Għajn Dwieli. In 1962 he was named as the Second General Custodian of the Capuchin Province and in 1968, Second Definitor Provincial of the Order.
Director of the Franciscan Seraphic Order, chaplain of the Capua Palace Orphanage in Sliema, spiritual director of the Franciscan Seraphic School, confessor at the Archdiocesan Seminary, chaplain of the Naval Hospital of Ta' Bighi, Barbara represented his Province in the Presbyterian Council of the Archdiocese.
A renowned orator, throughout his venerable life, Friar Stiefnu served as confessor to many, including to members of the Catholic hierarchy and several members of religious congregations. Twice, Padre Pio of Pietrelcina OFM. Cap., (1887 - 1968), praised Friar Stiefnu to groups or individual Maltese pilgrims, who visited him in San Giovanni Rotondo, for his keen spiritual advises, interestingly enough to note that the fact that the friars never met or contacted each other.
A personal friend of Msgr. Giorgio Preca (1880 - 1962), Founder of the Society of Christian Doctrine and Malta's first canonized Saint, he served him as his barber.
On Sunday, February 3, 2008, Friar Stiefnu suffered a fall in his cell at the Capuchin Convent of Floriana. Although his condition looked stable, he passed unexpectedly away due to a heart attack aged 89, on Monday, February 4, at 7.35 am., whilst recovered at Mater Dei Hospital.
His funeral Mass was celebrated at Floriana's Capuchin church with 62 presbyters concelebrating. "Blessed are the Poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven!"
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