Fr. Marius J. Zerafa was born in Vittoriosa on the 13th October 1929. In 1945 he joined the Domican Order and after three years he was sent to Hawkesyard, Staffordshire and later to Oxford. He then went to Rome where he obtained his Lectorate and Licentiate in Sacred Theology and a Doctorate in Social Sciences. He obtained a diploma in Art History at the State University in Rome and also a B.A. Hons Degree in Art History at the University of London. He followed courses at various universities and in 1962 he was elected Associate of the Royal Historical Society, London. He was awarded two Art Scholarships by the Italian Government; visited museums in the U.S.; worked at the Louvre on a council of Europe Fellowship; had British Grant and a German bursary sponsored by Inter Nationes. In 1970 he joined the Museum Department as Assistant Curator of Fine Arts and was responsible for the setting up of the National Museum of Fine Arts. He became Curator and eventually Director of Museums. He was responsible for the opening of a number of museums in Malta and Gozo. Amongst other places, Fr. Zerafa has lectured in several foreign universities. He has also taken part in International Conferences and has helped organize art exhibitions both locally and abroad.
He retired from the Museum Department at the age of 61, but is still lecturing at the University and other cultural centers. Fr. Zerafa has also contributed to foreign publications.