Today, Thursday 24 October 2024, marks an important anniversary in the history of our Seminary. The Seminary community is celebrating hundred years of the presence of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus at the Seminary.
The anniversary was celebrated with a mass presided by H.E. Mgr Anton Teuma, Bishop of Gozo, at 11.00am at the Seminary Chapel. Numerous priests previously involved in the Seminary formation concelebrated. Present also were the Mother Provincial of the congregation Sr Claudia Zammit, and many sisters from the several convents of the congregation in Gozo. Afterwards a reception for those present was held at the Seminary courtyard.
The Franciscan Sisters first came to the Seminary on the 24 October 1924 on the wish of their founder the Venerable Madre Margherita Debrincat. They were entrusted the mission of taking care of the kitchen and of bringing a motherly touch to the institution. They dedicated their tiny chapel and convent to Saint Michael Archangel. The sisters came after the departure of the Jesuit fathers during whose administration the kitchen was run by a local cook and assistant.
The Seminary convent today houses three Franciscan sisters: Mother superior Sr Giuseppina Farrugia, Sr Clementia Borg and Sr Shanti Perbo. While wholeheartedly congratulating the sisters on this anniversary, we thank them for their service and promise them our prayers and prayers for more vocations in their congregation.
