Bishop Healey congratulates Fr Michael
On the Celebration of the 25th Anniversary
of his Ordination
Father Michael Gatt likes things to run to time. Take the Manning Catholic parish priest's 25th anniversary celebration last week. His silver jubilee Mass at 6pm on March 30 corresponded with the time of his ordination (11am) in Malta 25 years earlier. "It is to the minute," he told the Gazette on the eve of his thanksgiving mass. "It's not like Anzac Day falling on a Tuesday and then having a public holiday the following Monday."
The 55 year-old priest was in the RAF in Malta before being ordained at the age of 30 in 1968. He had worked in the armoury "preparing for war" and thought "there must be something better." Later in the priesthood he realised he could still serve in the air force - as a chaplain.
Fr Gatt came to Perth as Maltese migrant chaplain in 1971. He worked in the parishes of Swanbourne, Victoria Park, Moora and Gingin-Chittering, and was appointed a RAAF squadron leader in 1994.
About 500 people attended his jubilee mass, and everything was in place an hour before it started. "I'm very organised," he laughed. "I was brought up with the RAF, tell them." "At the same time I'm very flexible and friendly." "I can go down to the level of the babies."
