A Cathedral church is one that is presided over by a bishop and in which the bishop has his cathedra or throne. The faithful of the diocese regard the church as the Mother of all churches in the diocese.
His Lordship Mgr Anton Teuma, Bishop of Gozo, was born at Xagħra, Diocese of Gozo, on 11 January 1964 to Ewkaristiku and Salvina, a humble, religious family. He studied philosophy and theology at the Diocesan Major Seminary (1981-1988). Throughout the intermediary year, he worked as a welder at the Rheem hotwater systems factory in Paramatta, Australia, where he also obtained his welder and electrician work licences.
He was ordained priest on 25 June 1988 at the Gozo Cathedral. He furthered his studies at the Salesian Pontifical University, Rome, from where he obtained his Bachelor’s degree in Educational Sciences and his Masters degree in Pedagogical Methodology (1988-1995).
In agreement with his Bishop, Fr Anton stayed on in Rome up till 1997. During these years he carried out his priestly ministry as Parish Vicar of St Ignatius of Antioch Parish (1988-1995); external Spritual Director of the Pontifical Roman Seminary (1993-1995); Spiritual Director at the Pontifical Roman Seminary (1995-1997); priest in charge of and Spiritual Assistant to the Comunità Eucaristiche of the Diocese of Rome (1996-1997).
In 1997 he was appointed Rector of the Sacred Heart Seminary in Gozo by Bishop Nicholas Cauchi, a role he served up till 2007. Between September 2007 and June 2008 he spent a sabbatical year in the Holy Land, dedicating most of his time to study and prayer. During this year he in fact obtained a Diploma in Biblical Formation from the Franciscan Biblical Institute of Jerusalem, and helped in the pastoral assistance given to pilgrims at the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre.
In the meantime, Fr Anton completed a Bachelor’s degree in Sciences of Formation at the Institute of Psychology of the Pontifical Gregorian University (2016). He also obtained a post-graduate diploma in Systemic Family Psychotherapy at the Institute of Family Therapy, Malta (2018). He was currently pursuing his Masters degrees at both Institutes.
Pope Francis appointed him the ninth bishop of Gozo on 19 June 2020; eventually consecrated Bishop of Gozo and made his Solemn Entry into the Gozo Cathedral on 16 September 2020.
The nine Bishops of Gozo
| Elected | End |
|---|---|
| Michele Franc. Buttigieg | 1864 Sep 22 (died 12 Jul 1866) |
| Antonio Grech-Delicata | 1868 Sep 24 (died 31 Dec 1876) |
| Pietro Pace | 1877 Mar 12 (transferred 11 Feb 1889) |
| Giovanni Maria Camilleri | 1889 Feb 11 (retired 20 Jan 1924) |
| Michele Gonzi | 1924 Jun 13 (transferred 22 Oct 1943) |
| Giuseppe Pace | 1944 Nov 11 (died 31 Mar 1972) |
| Nicholas Joseph Cauchi | 1972 Jul 20 (retired 26 Nov 2005) |
| Mario Grech | 2005 Nov 26 (transferred 2 Oct 2019) |
| Anton Teuma | 2020 Jun 19 |