The Cause for the Beatification of our Founder, Joseph De Piro, has been a journey of faith, prayer, and perseverance spanning decades. It began formally on 7 October 1988 with a Eucharistic celebration in the Chapel of St Agatha, Rabat, presided over by Archbishop Joseph Mercieca. From that day, our Founder was officially honoured with the title Servant of God.
A key milestone came on 25 January 2003, when Archbishop Mercieca, during a celebration at Mdina Cathedral, officially closed the diocesan phase of the Cause. The sealed documents, containing testimonies about the Servant of God, were sent to Rome, marking the beginning of the Vatican phase.
For a Cause of Beatification to move forward, it relies greatly on the faithful recognising and affirming the holiness of the Servant of God. This is often reflected in the number of people who pray to God through his intercession. The late Fr Tony Sciberras MSSP dedicated himself tirelessly to promoting the Cause, publishing numerous booklets and writings. His work is now being carried forward by Vice-Postulator Fr Mario Zammit MSSP.
The current Postulator for the Cause is Fr Josef Sciberras OSA, an Augustinian friar based in Rome. Fr Josef believes that, in the coming months, he will be able to present the complete dossier on Joseph De Piro to the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints. This would pave the way for the possible granting of the title Venerable.
Fr Josef reminds us that, for this next step to happen, it is vital to gather accounts of graces received through the intercession of Joseph De Piro. If you believe you have obtained such a grace—or are currently praying for one—through his intercession, we invite you to share your experience. These testimonies help document his reputation for holiness and form an important part of the official material presented to Rome.
We therefore renew our appeal: if you have received a grace through the intercession of the Servant of God Joseph De Piro, please inform us. Those praying for his intercession are encouraged to complete the form below and send it to us. All petitions we receive are placed on his tomb as a sign of faith and trust.
The path to sainthood is not a solitary journey—it is built through the prayers and faith of the whole Church. Together, we can help ensure that the light of Joseph De Piro’s life continues to shine, inspiring future generations to live with the same missionary zeal and deep trust in God.