News of the sudden death of the young and energetic Bishop Joe Grech of Melbourne came as a thunderbolt, striking all members of his large diocese, and in particular people of Maltese and Italian background.

Mgr Grech was blessed with a character that made him popular among all those who met him, even casually. He was friendly, understanding, empathic and unpretentious, and he left behind him a trail of hope wherever he stepped.

He had a smile and a word of encouragement for everyone. Which explains why for his funeral on January 6, some 4,000 people packed Melbourne’s Bendigo cathedral, one of the largest churches in Australia, and the erection of two large marquees was required to accommodate the crowds.

Mgr Grech was born in Balzan on December 10, 1948. He was only seven when his father died, and he and his two younger siblings were brought up single handedly by his hardworking mother.

He migrated to Australia in January, 1971, and continued his studies for the priesthood there. He was ordained on November 30, 1974 in his native village of Balzan, surrounded by his family.

On his return to Australia he spent 14 years as assistant parish priest in various parishes in Melbourne, administering particularly to the needs of migrants, both Maltese as well as Italian: not many priests are fluent in both these languages in Australia.

He became particularly known for his interest in the Catholic Charismatic Renewal movement, for which he was chaplain between 1993 and 1997. He was also spiritual director at Corpus Christi College, Melbourne during 1997 and 1998.

Fr Carmel Borg, who has known and worked with Mgr Grech for the past 40 years, remarks: “Such was the magnetic power of his personality, so sincere, so loving, so Franciscan, so Christian was he, that in all those parishes he drew to himself and to the Church countless numbers of people of all languages and races, especially those of Maltese and Italian origin…

“Tens of thousands of people, especially from among those with a migrant background, began to flock to him for spiritual, emotional and physical healing and for pastoral advice.”

Fr Grech proceeded to Rome where he studied spirituality at the Gregorian University and obtained his doctorate in Divinity (DD) with a high distinction. At this time he was surprised to be elected president of the university’s students’ representative council.

Fr Borg remembers: “With a twinkle in his eye, he used to love telling me how bemused he was – he (Fr Grech), the son of humble Lawrence and Yvonne Grech – to find himself in the position of having a say in the appointment of the chief of that most illustrious and glorious institution.”

He was consecrated Auxiliary Bishop of Melbourne on February 10, 1999. Archbishop Mark Coleridge of Canberra and Goulburn remarks: “His episcopal consecration was by all accounts an unforgettable occasion.

“It was a triumph not so much for Joe himself but for all those who had felt themselves on the margin of Church life, especially perhaps those from ethnic communities not belonging to the Anglo-Celtic tribe.”

A few years later, on April 27, 2001, he was installed as the sixth Bishop of Sandhurst, which turned out to be his final destination.

Bishop Joe, as he preferred to be called, never cut off his roots from his motherland. He visited Malta every year to be close to his sister, brother and other relatives.

As everyone who crossed his path knew very well, he was a wonderful ambassador for Malta, while at the same time being a ‘true-blue’ Australian.

For Mgr Grech, being a bishop meant being involved at diocesan, national as well as international levels. He was a member of the Bishops’ Commission for Pastoral Life, overseeing the pastoral care of migrants and refugees.

He was recently appointed to the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants within the Commission for Pastoral Life.

He was also a member of the Bishops’ Commission for Mission and Adult Faith Formation, with particular responsibilities regarding Catholic Missions. Bishop Joe was also a member of the International Catholic Charismatic Council representing Oceania.

In his sermons he could transfer the enthusiasm he felt to one and all. He was a much sought-after international speaker, with special interest in Charismatic Renewal.

Mgr Coleridge said: “Bishop Joe was becoming more and more an international figure within the Charismatic Renewal, and he could have been full-time travelling the world as a preacher and teacher. Invitations came thick and fast, and it wasn’t easy for Joe to balance these with his growing commitments in the diocese and the Bishops’ Conference.”

Fr Borg concurs and adds: “His reputation as an excellent preacher began to spread, not only throughout Australia, but throughout the world….(For instance, in 2002) at the Polish National Shrine of Jasna Gora in Czestochowa, he held spellbound for seven straight days 700 delegates who had come there for a Charismatic Congress from all over Europe.”

Mgr Grech was also deeply involved in youth issues. He was responsible, on behalf of the Australian bishops, for youth ministry.

Phil Billington, director of Catholic Education, highlighted Bishop Joe’s passion for young people and for Catholic schools: “He loved the students, knew so many by name and was always interested in the staff and their families.”

At a local level, he seems to have been everywhere in this large, sprawling diocese which covers most of central and northeastern Victoria with an area of over 45,000 square kilometres (142 times the area of Malta). It has a population of 80,000 distributed in 40 parishes, and runs 50 Catholic schools.

Mgr Grech died at St Vincent’s Hospital in Melbourne on December 28, 2010, from a chronic blood disorder, aged 62.

The funeral Mass was celebrated by Cardinal George Pell, together with several bishops and clergy from all over Australia. People flocked from all over Victoria and beyond to give Bishop Joe a last goodbye.

Mgr Coleridge, who gave the homily, commented: “Joe applied himself to the mission with all his gifts. To the diocese, he brought faith, energy, humanity, enthusiasm, encouragement, simplicity.”

Malta’s High Commissioner to Australia, Francis Tabone, in his speech in Maltese for the occasion said: “Bishop Grech is a living example of the contribution this small island of Malta has given to this continent, and as Maltese we are proud of him”.

He added: “We all remember Bishop Grech as a jovial person, full of life and enthusiasm… As Malta’s representative in Australia allow me to salute a true and honourable son of hers.”

This has been a great loss to the Catholic Church in Australia, but particularly to the new Australians, and especially to Maltese and Italians who considered him as one of their own, one who, very possibly, could never be replaced.