page_title: George Preca
section_title: Veneration
hierarchical_section_title: George Preca / Veneration
caption_attribution_description: English: Statue of Saint George Preca at Montekristo Estates, Hal Farrug, Luqa
context_page_description: George Preca was a Maltese Catholic priest and the founder of the Society of Christian Doctrine as well as a Third Order Carmelite. He is known as "Dun Ġorġ" in Maltese and Pope John Paul II dubbed him "Malta’s second father in faith". He assumed the religious name of "Franco" after becoming a Secular Carmelite. He was a popular figure among some groups, and his pastoral care and religious teaching earned recognition. However, his activities raised suspicions of heresy from senior clergy. He was ordered to close down his teaching centres for a time while they could be investigated; they were subsequently re-opened.
  His activism earned him praise and in 1952, Pope Pius XII nominated him as a Papal Privy Chamberlain and awarded the rank of Monsignor.
  In 1957 he composed five new mysteries for the Rosary for his followers which he had referred to as the "Mysteries of Light". He was canonized as a saint by the Catholic Church in 2007.
caption: Statue at Monte Kristo Estates in Hal Farrug in Luqa.
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