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Michaela Muscat
A priest who has been described by his parishioners as having concocted a “spiritual revolution” in Kercem has been ordained Bishop of Gozo.
Mgr Mario Grech, previously the Parish Priest of Kercem, the sleepy little village of 1,700 people, was officially inaugurated on Saturday morning. A symbolic mass in the Bishop’s office at the Gozitan curia was presided over by Bishop Nikol G. Cauchi who had served as bishop for the past 33 years.
The son of a policeman, Mgr Grech is replacing Mgr Cauchi who turned in the customary resignation as soon as he turned 75 last March.
Mgr Cauchi, who has held the post for the past 33 years, had voiced his wish to retire at the earliest opportunity possible.
The news was first announced yesterday by the proud Kercem local council on its website before the curia had even informed the media of Mgr Grech’s appointment.
The humble Mgr Grech attempted to play down the compliments lavished upon him by his fellow Kercem citizens.
“I was simply doing my job,” he said in response to a query about his alleged “revolutionary” changes.
When asked where he stands on issues such as homosexuality, racism and illegal immigration the bishop retorted that “it is too early in the day to make any statements but it is obvious that these are issues that I am going to have to confront.”
Evidently well versed in the literary style of theological readings he peppers his comments with several metaphors, similar to those found in the Bible. “If one keeps in mind the grace of God anything is possible. One has to sow the seeds early in the day for the young people to kindle their vocation as priests.”
Members of the clergy yesterday said Mgr Cauchi would have preferred another Gozitan vicar with more experience under his belt as opposed to Mgr Grech who has only served as Kercem Parish priest for a year. Allegedly the Vatican, through Mgr Mercieca, won out in this political tug-of-war, as Mgr Grech got the top job.
The speculation about Cauchi’s successor has dominated the Maltese media for the past months, and the name of Mgr Grech was already being widely mentioned at the beginning of last week.
Mgr Grech has studied at the Angelicum University in Rome where he obtained his license and doctorate in Canonical Law. His academic background allowed him to serve as Judicial Vicar and later as judge at the Ecclesiastical Tribunal in Gozo.
According to some members of the clergy, priests serving in such posts tend to be orthodox by default as their role is to preserve the Catholic Church’s doctrine.
Grech has been described as a young and open-minded priest, but with his background cynics believe this to be highly unlikely. A conservative backlash in the Catholic Church has been observed as of late, culminating in the election of the ultra-conservative Pope Benedict XVI.
35-year-old Joe Grima, Kercem’s mayor and Grech’s childhood friend has fond memories of their idyllic childhood.
“We used to spend several hours playing ‘tal-Knisja’ when I was around ten years old. I remember that he always had the calling of a priest, even when he was still a young boy.”
Mgr Grech’s family had moved from Qala to Kercem when he was a toddler. The newly ordained bishop has no other members of the clergy in his family tree.
mmuscat@mediatoday.com.mt
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