Newly appointed Bishop of Darwin, Charles Gauci, will visit Malta in October
Maltese born Fr Charles Gauci, currently the administrator of St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral in Adelaide, was appointed the seventh Bishop of Darwin on 27 June 2018.
Australian Catholic Bishops Conference president Archbishop Mark Coleridge welcomed the appointment of FrGauci, who is known for his deep spirituality and a real commitment to evangelisation.
“Fr Charles has ministered to people from many walks of life – as a pastor in parishes, a chaplain to schools, a spiritual director and retreat leader,” Archbishop Coleridge said. “He will be a great gift to the Church in Darwin with all its challenges and also a good addition to the Bishops Conference because of his long and varied experience as priest and teacher of the faith.”
FrGauci plans to visit the Diocese of Darwin – which encompasses almost all of the Northern Territory – as soon as possible to meet the local people and speak with Bishop Eugene Hurley, who has served in Darwin for the past 11 years and as a bishop for almost 20 years.
“Bishop Eugene is a great man; I’m humbled to succeed him. He will help me understand the Diocese, its communities and ministries. With that knowledge and discerning what God is asking of me, I will seek to fulfil the task now entrusted to me,” he said, adding. “I look forward to continuing to learn from all the people of God as their fellow traveller.”
After his ordination as bishop at St Nary Star of the Sea cathedral on 26 September, FrGauci hopes to visit Malta for two weeks in October and meet his relatives. He is especially looking forward to meeting his uncle, the Jesuit Fr Joseph Gauci Sacco, who is returning to Malta after 60 years in India.
Fr Gauci was born in Floriana, Malta and emigrated with his parents to Australia in 1965 as a 13-year-old. He has been a priest in the Archdiocese of Adelaide since his ordination in 1977 and has served in several parishes.. He has also held a number of archdiocesan leadership roles, including as chairman of the Council of Priests.
