48 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst Year in Review 2020 IN MEMORY Known affectionately as Bishop Joe, he was much loved across the Diocese for his animated Homilies, passionate prayers, sense of fun; and perhaps more than anything else, his friendliness and ability to make others feel welcomed and valued. “Hello my friend,” was his everyday greeting. Given the high esteem and affection bestowed on Bishop Joe by the people of Sandhurst, it is not surprising that close to 5000 people gathered to pay tribute at his Funeral Mass on 6 January 2011. In 2020 Bishop Shane Mackinlay had planned to hold an appropriately significant celebration but, as with many plans of the ‘year that never was’, plans could not be fully implemented, and a smaller celebration was put in place. On 27 December, at the 11.00 a.m. Sunday Mass at Sacred Heart Cathedral, Monsignor Frank Marriott gave a poignant and humorous Homily remembering Bishop Joe. After the Mass, Bishop Shane Mackinlay led prayers for Bishop Joe and gave thanks for his ministry. It was a solemn and well -attended ceremony at the crypt. Born in Malta on 10 December 1948, Bishop Joe moved to Melbourne in 1970 to study for the priesthood. He was ordained a priest in his hometown of Balzen on 30 November 1974 and returned to serve as a priest in the Archdiocese of Melbourne. In 1998 he was ordained as auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Melbourne, he was appointed Bishop of Sandhurst on 8 March 2001, and was installed on 27 April 2001. Bishop Joe was very much at home in the prayerful charismatic parishes of the western suburbs of Melbourne. He had never visited Bendigo, or much of the Diocese of Sandhurst before he was appointed Bishop Monsignor Marriott in his Homily explained This city-bred person, with continental tastes, lover of crowds, eager to engage, found himself, like Abraham, having obeyed and journeyed to where he did not know. Charismatic inclined, demanding responses, we ever slow to add our AMEN to his many invitations. He welcomed, we moved slowly; and the two cultures began to appreciate each others’ goodness. Bishop Joe was the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference (ACBC) delegate for Youth, Young Adults and Migrants and Refugees; causes close to his passionate heart. Bishop Joe campaigned to establish pastoral services in remote detention centres. In Sandhurst, he embraced the responsibilities of a diocesan bishop with a consultative and collaborative style. He built on and strengthened structural changes initiated by Bishop Daly; then added some initiatives of his own, including a review of Religious Education, the reform of Special Education, the further development of the Diocesan Pastoral Council, and various Youth Ministry and Adult Faith programs. Bishop Joe’s willingness to tackle the shortage of priests with gusto has greatly benefited the Diocese and will continue to do so well into the future. Bishop Joe developed a friendship with Cardinal Vidalt of Cebu and the two bishops worked to develop educational opportunities at Corpus Christi College for Filipino seminarians. The plan being, after Ordination, they would work as Priests in the Diocese of Sandhurst. “We enjoy the fruit of those decisions today. The presence of the young Filipino men is encouraging some of our home-grown youth to consider priesthood!” said Monsignor Marriott in his Homily. Bishop Joe grew to love the country and the people of Sandhurst; and the people of Sandhurst grew to love Bishop Joe, perhaps because he understood them and the Church. He gave fuel to their many lit matches, best explained using Bishop Joe’s own words There are so many selfless and courageous people who are actively involved in our church organisations ... There are so many people who are constantly encouraging and giving hope to those around them ... It is enough for someone to light a match. Many lit matches provide enough light for all to keep moving forward ... I salute you and I thank you. Bishop Joseph Angelo Grech on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, 2008 28 December was the tenth anniversary of the death of Bishop Joseph Angelo Grech, the sixth Bishop of Sandhurst (27 April 2001 – 28 December 2010). Bishop Joe Grech
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