Conference on Nikol Cauchi to be held on his 15th death anniversary

Il-Ħajja f’Għawdex Foundation is marking the 15th anniversary of ex-Gozo bishop Nikol Cauchi’s death with a conference in Għarb on November 8.

Nikol Ġużeppi Cauchi (1929-2010) was Gozo’s seventh bishop. He was a great benefactor of the island, not only as he led the diocese for 38 years, but also because through his works, writings and preaching, he promoted Gozitan identity and its social, cultural and religious life. Although much has already been written, Cauchi’s pastoral and social works still need to be studied in detail.

The conference’s theme is ‘Bishop Nikol Ġ. Cauchi and the Second Vatican Council’. After he was appointed auxiliary 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.

Cauchi’s pastoral and social works still need to be studied in detail

With the help of the new structures he created, which sought the participation not only of priests but also of lay people committed to the Church, 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 Cauchi had to face much opposition and misunderstanding due to this conciliar aggiornamento, which he saw as very necessary and which he carried out with both determination and gentleness.

During the conference, a number of speakers – who all personally knew Cauchi and worked closely with him as collaborators – will shed light on the various aspects of his ministry from 1967 to 2005.

The event's poster

The event will be held from 10am to 12.30pm in the parish hall of Għarb, Cauchi’s birthplace. Nearby are both the parish church, where he was baptised and celebrated his first mass, and a monument in his honour erected by the local council.

Moreover, the hall holds sentimental value, because as a youth, Cauchi performed countless plays on the stage of what was then called the Catholic Action Circle.

The conference aims not only to recognise Cauchi’s valuable contribution to the Church and Gozo on various levels, but also to ensure that his legacy is not forgotten.

The foundation will, in fact, launch a publication that, for the first time, will gather a number of biographical appreciations about his life and work, as well as photographs – some never published before – from various collections.

It is also launching a public appeal for anyone who might have relevant material about him, in any form, to pass it on to the Nikol Ġ. Cauchi Archive that the foundation is currently setting up.

The proceedings of the conference will be in Maltese.

The public may confirm their attendance via this online form.