 He received both his First Communion at some stage in his childhood and then his Confirmation on 2 August 1888 in the parish church of Saint Cajetan from Bishop Anton Maria Buhagiar.In 1897, while walking along the Maglio Gardens in Floriana, Preca met one of his professors, Father Ercole Mompalao, who encouraged his religious vocation.Preca first studied at the state-owned school on the island before he commenced his studies for the priesthood; he had studied Latin and English but also studied Italian and received a prize in handwriting.