Bishop Joseph Angelo Grech DD was installed as the sixth Bishop of Sandhurst in a solemn ceremony at Sacred Heart Cathedral on Friday 27 April 2001.

Born in Balzan, Malta on 10 December 1948, he attended the local schools and the Diocesan Seminary. He left Malta to follow many of his people to Melbourne and continued his studied for the priesthood at Corpus Christ College Glen Waverley and Clayton. He was ordained on the 30 November1974 in his home town and returned to Melbourne to take up parish appointments in Northcote, Altona North, Maidstone and Moonee Ponds and as Parish Priest in Brunswick East.

The Archbishop of Melbourne sent him to study Spirituality at the Gregorian University, Rome and on his return became full time chaplain to the Catholic Charismatic Renewal and then to Corpus Christi College provincial seminary as spiritual director. Pope John Paul II appointed him Auxiliary Bishop in Melbourne (titular Bishop of Belesasa). Bishop Joe was consecrated at Patrick’s Cathedral on 10 February 1999 and served in the western suburbs of the Archdiocese.

On 8 March 2001 Bishop Joe was appointed Bishop of Sandhurst and installed on 27 April.