The Franciscan community in Ghajnsielem greeted Fr. Joseph Bonello OFM (Franciscan Province of Saint Paul the Apostle – Malta) who was recently appointed as Coadjutor Bishop of the Diocese of Juticalpa, Olancho, Honduras.  Mgr. Bonello celebrated the Eucharist together with Fr. Joseph Magro and Ghajnsielem Archpriest Can. Frankie Bajada. The Ghajnsielem Local Council was also present for the ceremony. A reception was held afterwards.

Fr. Joseph Bonello OFM was born on the 4th April 1961, in Xagħra, Gozo. Son of Victor and Nazzarena Sultana (both deceased), the third of four children he joined the Order of Friars Minor (Franciscans) on 2nd October 1977, made his Temporary Profession on 1st October 1978 and Solemn Profession on 28th August 1983. He was ordained deacon on 29th June 1984, and priest on 7th July 1985, by the imposition of hands of the then Archbishop of Malta, His Excellency Msgr. Joseph Mercieca. Immediately after ordination he served as Provincial Promotor of Vocations, Master of Postulants, and Provincial Definitor of the Franciscan Province of Saint Paul the Apostle in Malta. Since September 1989 he has been working as a missionary in Central America at the Parish of Santa Ana de La Libertad in the Diocese of Comayagua, first for three years as Assistant Pastor and later as Pastor. Nominated as Coadjutor Bishop of Juticalpa, he will now be moving to Olancho, where there is Fr. Albert Gauci ofm, from Għargur.During this time he was three times councilor for the Franciscan Foundation in Central America of the Immaculate Conception Province, New York. On the 13th November 2009, he was nominated by His Excellency Msgr. Bishop Robert Camilleri ofm, as Vicar General of the Diocese of Comayagua. It is interesting to note that Bishop Camilleri was the first Franciscan with whom Fr. Joseph, together with others, started his vocational journey during meetings organized at the Francisca Friary at Ghajnsielem, Gozo and also one of his first companions with whom he worked in the mission together with Fr. Angelo Falzon ofm from Naxxar.

On the 12th of February 2011 Mgr. Joe Bonello was ordained Bishop at Saint Geltrude Church in Juticalpa, Olancho Honduras. The three official Bishops who presided were Cardinal Oscar Andres Rodriguez Maradiaga: Archbishop of Tegucigalpa and president of the Episcopal Conference in Honduras, Archbishop Mgr. Luigi Bianco: Apostolic Nuncio for Honduras, and Bishop Mgr. Mauro Muldoon OFM: Bishop of Juticalpa, Olancho. Present for the ordination was the President of the Republic of Honduras Porfirio Lobo Sosa. It is estimated that around 10,000 persons took part in the celebration which was also transmitted live on the National TV and on various radio stations.