Blessed with a smile

Bishop Emeritus Nikol Cauchi's article Sense Of Humour (March 11) made interesting reading. In his article he says: "I have to admit that I enjoy meeting people with a jovial nature"; and that is because he is jovial too.

I have known Mgr Cauchi since the early 1960s when my late husband Arthur and I worked together with the Rev. Dominican Sisters of Lourdes Home, for the welfare and well-being of the children entrusted under their care. Mgr Cauchi was Apostolic Administrator. I still remember his welcoming smile when we used to visit him and discuss problems that were never ending.

Later, in the early 1990s, when the parishes of Qala, Fontana and San Lawrenz asked our advice and help to invite a dignitary of the Church - a Cardinal - to preside over an important celebration in the parish, Bishop Cauchi always approved of my husband's choices, and he always told him that with him as coordinator, his mind was more at rest.

Very vividly comes to my mind the exhumation of the mortal remains of Frangisku - more affectionately known as Frenc tal-Gharb. We, in Malta, had just treated the remains of M. Adeodata Pisani - today declared Blessed - by resin, thanks to the team led by the forensic expert Anthony Abela Medici. My late husband suggested to Bishop Cauchi that the remains of Frenc tal-Gharb be treated with resin too, to which he gladly agreed. Although the activity required a great sense of respect and devotion, Bishop Cauchi spent the whole day with us and the team of experts, not without his usual smile on his serene face.

The treatment took quite a long while and at one time, like Jesus in the Bible, he realised that it was time to stop for a break and ordered a pizza for everyone there. Break time proved to be a very relaxing one with him among us cracking jokes.

Something which made my late husband and myself very pleased on the day was when Bishop Cauchi asked us both to sign the document which eventually was put in a new casket together with the resin-treated remains.

Now that God has blessed Gozo with a new Bishop, who for certain will continue to lead the Gozitans in the right direction, he will also continue to bless Mgr Cauchi with many more years to continue teaching with his learned writings and also (why not?) have some time for his long-put-aside hobbies - while displaying a smile on his face to make those around him feel happy too.

Happy belated birthday to Mgr Cauchi. He turned 77 on March 2.