On the 1st of November 2010, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech confirmed that the process for the Beatification [meaning a recognition accorded by the Catholic Church of a dead person's ascension to Heaven and capacity to intercede on behalf of individuals who pray in his or her name (intercession of saints). Beatification is the third of the four steps in the canonization process. A person who is beatified is given the title "Blessed"] of Dun Mikiel Attard, a Nadur priest has started. Fr Anton Sciberras, a member of the Missionary Society of St Paul, as postulator and Fr Daniel Xerri as vice-postulator are the persons appointed by Mgr Mario Grech for this process. All information about Dun Mikiel is being gathered by the postulator.

Dun Mikiel was born in Nadur on the 1^st October 1933, son of Coronato and Anna Attard. His family lived in Malta, Hamrun, until he was 6 years old and returned to Nadur Gozo at the beginning of the 2^nd world war. At the age of 10 he started studying at the Seminary of the Heart of Jesus where he proofed to be an intelligent, serious, well-behaved and exemplary student. He was ordained deacon by Mgr Ġużeppi Pace in December 1958, becoming a priest on April 12, 1959. He use to organize monthly meetings for youth at the MUSEUM Nadur (something still going on the first Saturday of each month). He also set up the prayer group dedicated to Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu. On the 3^rd of September 1964 being a football enthusiast, he was appointed Spiritual Director of Nadur Youngsters Football Club. He kept this post for 29 years, until the 20^th July 1993. At the club there is still a notice board paid by Dun Mikiel, where he used to put up religious messages and adverts. Besides the prayers before matches he was of great spiritual help to one and all at the club. I remember him in front of the club entrance encouraging youth to confession and later inviting them for his evening mass.

Dun Mikiel formed the Gozitan Missionary Group in October 1982, through which he organized missionary expeditions to Egypt, Kenya, Ethiopia, Pakistan, India, Brazil, Tunisia, Algeria and Peru. 

He died on the 30^th of July 2004, after losing his fight against various chronic illnesses, among them asthma and Parkinson’s disease. 

Thank God for the sacred life of Dun Mikiel. One Hope that this process for his Beatification will go through all phases, for the Glory of God.

Note:

The above photo is when Bobby Moore visits our Club on 27th September 1966.

Back Row: Joe Camilleri, Joseph Zerafa, Bobby Moore, Tina Moore, Peter Paul Camilleri, Dun Mikiel Attard

Front Row: Damian Said, Joseph Curmi, Joe Galea

Fr. Mikiel Attard with Nadur Youngsters's Players and Committee in 1970 after the Christmas Dinner held 'Tal-Kenur' Restaurant in M'forn.	Fr. Mikiel Attard at Nadur Youngsters's 10th Anniversary Mass.	Fr. Mikiel Attard at Nadur Youngsters's 10th Anniversary Mass.