To mark the occasion of the 15th anniversary of the death of Bishop Nikol Guzeppi Cauchi – 15th of November 2010 – the Foundation Il-Hajja f’Ghawdex felt the need to commemorate him through a Conference – its second one, following last year’s first edition dedicated to Pope Benedict XVI.

The Foundation said that Bishop Nikol Guzeppi Cauchi (1929-2010), the seventh Bishop of Gozo, was undoubtedly a great benefactor of the island of Gozo, not only because he was the spiritual shepherd of the Diocese of Gozo for 38 years, but also because through his works, writings, and preaching, he promoted Gozitan identity and advanced the social, cultural, and religious life of the Gozitan people.

Although much has already been written, the pastoral and social works of Bishop Cauchi still need to be studied in detail, with the hope that the time will come for his official biography to be written.

The chosen theme for the conference is Bishop Nikol G. Cauchi and the Second Vatican Council, since when he was appointed Bishop in 1967, and eventually took full responsibility for the Diocese in 1972, he immediately faced the considerable challenge of reforming the local Church in accordance with the decrees of the Council – a gathering of all Bishops with the Pope held in Rome between 1962 and 1965.

With the help of the new structures he created, which sought the participation not only of priests but also of lay people committed in the Church, Bishop Cauchi succeeded in beginning to implement the vision of the Council on a local level. In this way he helped the Church make the important leap from a pre-Conciliar model to one with language and tools that better communicated with contemporary society.

This was not an easy process, and history shows that Bishop Cauchi had to face much opposition and misunderstanding due to this Conciliar aggiornamento, which he saw as so necessary and carried out with both determination and gentleness.

The Foundation have chosen a number of speakers – all of whom personally knew Bishop Cauchi and worked closely with him as collaborators – to shed light on the various aspects of his ministry as Bishop between 1967 and 2005.

On this same occasion, the Foundation said that it will also launch a publication that for the first time will gather a number of biographical appreciations about his life and work, together with photographs – some unpublished – from various collections.

The aim of the Conference is not only to recognise the valuable contribution that Bishop Cauchi gave to the Church and Gozo on various levels, but also to ensure that the legacy he left is not forgotten, especially as new generations of Gozitans are growing up without direct knowledge of him.

The Parish Hall of Gharb has been chosen as the venue for this Conference, since this was the birthplace of Bishop Cauchi. Nearby are both the Parish Church where he was baptised, where he grew up and celebrated his First Mass, as well as a monument in his honour erected by the Local Council.

Moreover, the Foundation explained that the same hall has a sentimental link with Bishop Cauchi since, as a youth, he performed countless plays on the stage of what was then known as the Catholic Action Circle in this village – one of the many interests of this worthy son of the Gozitan island.

Last but not least, with the aim of preserving the precious legacy left to us by Bishop Cauchi, on this same occasion the Foundation will also launch a public appeal for those who might have relevant material about him, in any form, to pass it on to the Foundation so that the Nikol ?. Cauchi Archive may be opened.

The Conference will be held on Saturday, the 8th of November, at 10am. The proceedings of this conference will be in Maltese. One may confirm his attendance here: https://forms.gle/AyK7qtyegwjmg4uc8.

The Fondazzjoni Il-Hajja f’GHawdex was established by the Diocese of Gozo in 2020 with the primary aim of safeguarding the publication Il-Hajja f’Ghawdex, a monthly magazine covering all matters related to the island of Gozo.

It also has the primary aim of promoting aspects related to Christian identity and culture, especially in the local milieu. The Foundation also manages the communication activities of the Diocese of Gozo.

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