Gozo parish priests back Bishop's appointments

The Gozo College of Parish Priests said yesterday that its members accept with loyalty the decisions of their Bishop because they believe such decisions are taken after lengthy consideration and prayers.

Apart from this, such decisions have the common good of the people as their goal.

This statement follows in the wake of comments by the Leone Philharmonic Society of Victoria that has publicly disagreed with the removal of the archpriest of the Cathedral parish, Mgr Joe Vella Gauci. The archpriest of St George's basilica, Mgr Guzeppi Farrugia was also removed from his post.

Parishioners from the Cathedral and the basilica tend by tradition to be rivals. These changes were made when Gozo Bishop Mario Grech on Tuesday announced the appointment of five parish priests.

In its statement, the College of Parish Priests thanked Bishop Grech for his commitment to bring about a renewal the college said was needed for a fresh evangelisation in the Gozo Church.

The college called on all believers and the Christian community of the diocese to choose the Gospel as their priority in life, as the Bishop has been urging them to do.

They were also urged to plant Christ in the centre of their community.