An overcast sky failed to dampen the festive spirit that engulfed Gozo's capital yesterday as hundreds of well-wishers gathered to usher in their new bishop, Mgr Mario Grech, with great pomp and jubilation.
The police band and cavalry led the entourage up Republic Street, Victoria, as Mgr Grech waved from his open classic Princess saloon to the enthusiastic crowds who lined the street, cheering and clapping.
Descending from the car, he walked up the confetti-flowered path to the cathedral; a mission that took longer than expected as people tried to get close to kiss his hand or hold babies forward for him to bless.
Sporting a smile that lit up his face and charmed onlookers, the 48-year-old prelate from Kercem was installed as the new bishop of Gozo during a three-and-a-half-hour long ceremony.
As Apostolic Nuncio Mgr Felix del Blanco Prieto, Archbishop Mgr Joseph Mercieca, the outgoing Bishop of Gozo Mgr Nikol Cauchi and a crowd of clergy walked up the aisle, Mgr Grech followed, his hands resting on the shoulders of his parents, George and Stella.
The welcome hymn was composed for the occasion by his brother Carmel, who yesterday led the Stella Maris orchestra and choir.
A big screen on the cathedral's parvis enabled those who could not squeeze in to follow the ceremony to get a good view of the proceedings. A couple of smaller screens were put up inside the church.
Soon after the Mass started Mgr Grech presented the principal consecrating bishop Mgr Cauchi with the Pope's decree Redemptorem nostrum, appointing Mgr Grech as the eighth bishop of Gozo.
The first reading was delivered by Mgr Grech's friend, Stefan Grech, and the second was read out by Mary Rose Attard who read from the Acts of the Apostles with the help of a Bible in Braille.
During his brief homily, followed by the rite of Episcopal ordination, Mgr Cauchi said the cathedral had the occasion of witnessing the consecration of three bishops - that of Mgr Joseph Pace in 1944; his own in 1967; and now Mgr Grech's.
"Mgr Grech will today be starting his mission as the spiritual shepherd of the Gozo diocese. This is proof of the Church's vitality, which though over 2,000 years old is still full of life and vitality," he said. "Whenever a new bishop is appointed, it is a clear signal that the Church has a future, with the new bishop continuing on the work of his predecessors."
After the "promise of the chosen one", Mgr Grech lay face down at the altar, while the choir and the congregation sang the litany. After the ordination prayer, Mgr Grech knelt in front of Mgr Cauchi who anointed his head with oil, a symbol of the Holy Spirit.
Mgr Cauchi then slipped a ring on Mgr Grech's right hand, a sign of fidelity towards the Church, the bride of Christ. Next, he was presented with the mitre, a crown of glory and holiness, and, finally, he was handed the crosier to lead the Church forward.
Mgr Grech finally stood up as the newly consecrated Bishop of Gozo, clasping his hand upwards in prayer as the congregation applauded loudly.
"It is interesting that my first prayer with you is the declaration of faith. I believe in one God..." he prayed with a strong voice, filled with a determination and fervour to fulfil his duties.
Before Mass came to an end, Mgr Grech made a heartfelt speech, taking the time to thank all those who had in some way or another helped and guided him.
"I never doubted that God had the power to draw people behind Him and this morning you gave proof of how much you love Him. It is our faith in Christ that got us out of our houses and united us in these circumstances as one people," he said, his face lighting up in euphoria.
"I thank God for blessing me and I ask Him to help me help you strengthen our faith. I promise you, as I have already promised God, to give my life, a pledge that though I may not fully understand the implications of, I will not take lightly."
Mgr Grech said that he chose the sentence In Fractione Panis (In the breaking of the bread) from St Luke's gospel - which tells the story of the disciples' road to Emmaus who only recognised the Lord when he took a loaf of bread, blessed it and gave it to them - as his personal motto, to guide him through his spiritual mission.
He said that in life he had numerous role models to guide him, from saints to ordinary people, but above all he wished to thank his predecessor, Mgr Cauchi, for setting an example and showing, maybe unknowingly, how he should give himself to God.
The ceremony drew to an end with the Te Deum as the bells peeled joyfully and the crowd on the cathedral's steps that were lined with members of the Victoria Scout Group awaited the new bishop.
As he descended the steps, he went to cut the 220-kilo cake specially made for the occasion and that took chef George Borg and his team 210 hours to complete. The public could then help themselves.