Msgr Mario Tong, Archpriest of St Paul’s Metropolitan Cathedral in Mdina, was born on the 29th April 1953 and grew up in Paula. He received his education at the Paula Primary School, the Minor and Major Seminary and the Faculty of Theology at the University of Malta.
He was ordained priest on the 19th June 1977 by Archbishop Joseph Mercieca. At the request of the Bishop of Gibraltar he began his pastoral ministry there, and in May 1978 was appointed Parish Priest of St Joseph the Worker Parish. He served two other terms in the same Diocese: assisting at the Cathedral and Chaplain of the General Hospital (2013-2015) and as Parish Priest and Administrator of the Cathedral Parish (2017-2019).
Msgr Mario Tong did pastoral work also in the Diocese of Rockville Center on Long Island, New York (1990-1996) as Associate Pastor of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs Parish in Centerport.
Here in Malta he served as Parish Priest in Marsaxlokk, St Joseph the Worker in Birkirkara, Archpriest in Mosta and St. Paul’s Shipwreck Collegiate Church Valletta, Parish Priest in Ibrag, and recently worked at the Marriages Office at the Curia.