On 25th September, during Solemn Mass, Fr. Joe Caruana was installed as parish priest at the Franciscan parish church of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart (Sacro Cuor) in Sliema.  The Mass was celebrated by the Archbishop of Malta, Mgr. Paul Cremona.  

During the homily the Archbishop spoke about the pastoral ministry of the parish priest in the Church today, and encouraged all the members of the local Christian community to cooperate with their new pastor.  Fr. Joe takes over the job of parish priest from Fr. George Bugeja.  Fr. Joe served the Maltese Franciscan Province as Guardian in the Sliema friary.

He was director of altar servers in Gozo and Hamrun, as well as being spiritual director at St. Elizabeth school in Sliema.