The parish of Sao Miguel de Taipu, part of the diocese of Joao Pessoa in the state of Paraiba, northeast of Brasil, marked the golden jubilee of the priesthood of Fr John Mary Cauchi on December 28.

The Gozitan priest is a stalwart in the struggle for land reform, as a result of which about 5,000 families now own a farm. Concelebrated Mass, in which about 30 priests, six of whom Maltese, was presided over by Archbishop Manoel Celso, who had words of praise for the Gozitan priest’s extraordinary work. His homily was interrupted on more than one occasion with heartfelt applause.

During Mass, I had the satisfaction of presenting a small booklet on the role of the Pastoral Land Commission of Paraiba, stressing the Gozitan priest’s participation. An English edition can be found on the website of the Diocese of Gozo, with a lengthy introduction by Bishop Mario Grech.