News

The summer holidays are over and the Seminary opened its doors again to welcome the Seminary community for a new year of formation.  Although summer is a time of relaxation, the community made sure to meet once a month for a half-day retreat. These were led by the Rector Fr Richard N. Farrugia and were held at Stella Maris Retreat House in Żebbuġ and at Manresa Retreat House in Victoria. Also, an intensive course about Media and Evangelisation was held between 27th and 29th July. This was led by Fr Daniel Sultana and Mark Lawrence Zammit.

On Monday 23rd September, Rector Fr Richard Nazzareno Farrugia led the celebration of the Holy Mass with the participation of the seminarians.  After Mass, the seminarians shared their personal summer experience.  On Tuesday 22nd September, the community joined the Maltese seminarians at the Archbishop’s Seminary for a retreat which lasted till Sunday 27th September. Fr Fabio Attard SDB led the retreat which was based on the themes of love and service.

On Tuesday 29th October, life at the Seminary came in tune with its day-to-day routine. The official academic year 2020-2021 started on Friday 2nd October with the celebration of the Mass. This was led by the Bishop of Gozo Msgr Anton Teuma. Formators, lecturers, sisters, and relatives of the seminarians participated in this celebration which was held in the Seminary hall. At the end of the mass the Veni Creator was prayed as an invocation to the Holy Spirit in the beginning of this new formative year.

Each year, the Seminary community goes on a silent spiritual retreat as a preparation for the coming year of formation.  This year’s retreat was held with the Seminary community of the Archdiocese of Malta between the 22nd and 27th of September at the Archbishop’s Seminary in tal-Virtù in Rabat Malta.  The preacher was Rev. Fabio Attard sdb who hails from Gozo.  The seminarians were accompanied by the Rector Can Richard Farrugia and the new Vice-Rector, Rev. Samuel Grech.

Throughout the retreat Fr Fabio preached about the importance of love, listening and being of service to others.  He also emphasised the importance of prayer to develop a closer relationship with God.  Only when one is spiritually mature does true pastoral activity take place.

This retreat was a moment of grace for both communities to commence a new year united with God and each other in prayer.

On 21 of August, Mgr Anton Teuma, Gozo’s Bishop-elect, was ordained Bishop at the hands of Mgr Mario Grech, Pro-Secretary General of the Synod of Bishops. The co-consecrating bishops were Mgr Charles J. Scicluna, Metropolitan Archbishop of Malta and Mgr Alessandro d’Errico, Apostolic Nunzio to Malta. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the consecration, which started at 5.30pm, was held in the Xewkija Rotunda Church instead of the Cathedral, since the former is much larger in space.

The Seminary community would like to wish well to H.L. Mgr Teuma on the beginning of his ministry as Bishop and also accompany him in prayer.

Last Tuesday, 28th July, a pasta night was held at Villa Fiorita in Marsalforn as a fundraising activity for the Seminary.  Each year, at the end of all the courses of Lenten spiritual exercises organised in the Diocese of Gozo, a collection is made in aid of the Seminary. Due the to the Covid-19 restrictions which were in effect for several months, these collections did not take place this year.  Thus, this pasta night was organised to help finance the works being done at the Seminary, namely: a new Wi-Fi system, new bathroom facilities for the seminarians and the renovation of the refectory.

Our whole-hearted thanks goes to the many volunteers who helped in the preparations of this event. We would also like to thank the various shops and establishments for the gifts and gift vouchers they offered as prizes for the raffle held. Finally, we would like to thank all those who attended the event.

Between the 27^th and the 29^th of July, an intensive course about the Church and its relation and use of the media was held at the MSSP’s Stella Maris House in Żebbuġ.  The course was coordinated by the Seminary’s new prefect of studies, Rev. Fr Noel Debono.  It was delivered by two speakers: Rev. Fr Daniel Sultana who holds a degree in Church Communication and the T.V. journalist Mark Laurence Zammit.  The course was not addressed only to the seminarians but was open to the rest of the Gozitan clergy and the lay people involved in the Diocese’s media.

In the first day Rev. Sultana tackled the theoretical aspects of the subject.  Mr Zammit led the following two days and took a more practical approach which involved hands on exercises.  In today’s world, learning how to speak the language of the media is of fundamental importance to the Church.  The media is the place where people meet and thus the Church should be present in this space to make Christ’s message heard and known. 

On the 19^th of June, a priest and two deacons were ordained. Deacon Mario Mercieca from the parish of the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady, Victoria was ordained a priest. Andrew Grima from the Parish of St Lawrence Martyr, San Lawrenz and Bro. Etienne Gilson of the Franciscan Conventuals were ordained deacons.

The ordination took place at the parvis of Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary at 5.30pm, by the hands of H.L. Mgr Mario Grech, Apostolic Administrator for Gozo.  Present also was the Bishop-elect Mgr Anton Teuma.

Yesterday, was a busy day for the Seminary. Whilst awaiting the news of the appointment of Fr Anton Teuma as the new Bishop of Gozo, the seminary community was making preparations for the prayer vigil which took place in the evening. The vigil, held at the seminary hall, was a moment of prayer as preparation for the Priestly and Diaconal Ordination which is to take place tomorrow at Ta’ Pinu National Sanctuary. 

This year, due to the Covid-19 circumstances, only a very limited number of people could attend the vigil. However, the vigil was transmitted live on the social media of the Diocese and the Seminary. 

The three ordinands for this year are: Rev. Mario Mercieca for priestly ordination and the Bro. Etienne Gilson and seminarian Andrew Grima for diaconal ordination.

Fr Anton Teuma has been named bishop by His Holiness Pope Francis and will succeed Mgr Mario Grech as the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Gozo. The Apostolic Nuncio H.E. Alessandro D’Errico made the announcement at the Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary today at noon. Afterwards, the bishop-elect visited our Seminary.

During his priesthood, Fr Teuma has been quite close to the Seminary. Apart from having served as rector for ten years, between 1997 and 2007, he is also a member of the Seminary board and lecturer.

This morning, during mass at 7.00am, in the Immaculate Conception Chapel of our Seminary, the deacon Mario Mercieca and the seminarian Andrew Grima made their profession of faith and oath of fidelity in the presence of H.L. Mgr Mario Grech, Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Gozo.  This was done in view of their presbiteral and diaconal ordination, respectively, which is to be held on the 19 of June at the National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu.

In his homily, Bishop Grech, spoke about doubt in pursuing one’s vocation.

Certainty is wonderful; but as much as it is necessary it may be of a disadvantage.  When one feels certain of himself, one does not feel the necessity to question more and thus certainty may become an obstacle for one to continue growing.  From you who are approaching Sacred Orders, one expects that you are certain of the step you are going to make; but I would appreciate it if in you there was a little doubt.  When I was still at the Seminary, the Servant of God, Fr Mikiel Attard used to tell us that before the Ordination, it was enough for one to have “reasonable conviction”.  There is no need of absolute certainty, indeed it is better not to have this certainty, because this would mean a great blockage for one to become more mature in his vocation.  Lack of doubt conceives in one the presumption that he knows everything. 

Bishop Mario Grech

Today, the Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Gozo, H.L. Mons. Mario Grech, nominated a new Vice-Rector and Prefect of Studies for our Seminary. As of 1st June 2020, our Seminary would have Fr Samuel Grech as Vice-Rector and Fr Noel Debono, as Prefect of Studies. The community would like to thank Fr Gabriel Gauci who formerly had these roles. Whilst wishing them well, we continue accompanying them in prayer.

The Church hails the fourth Sunday after Easter as a special day of prayer for vocations.  On this Sunday, the Church presents the Gospel of the Good Shepherd to help us reflect on the gift of vocations.  We should remember that vocations are not related soley to priesthood.  We all have a vocation in life.  And what is our vocation?  Pope Francis says that a vocation is a treasure that God stores in the heart of human beings.  It is a treasure being the road which the Lord is inviting us to take and which leads us to happiness.  This happiness is  He himself.  Every vocation is unique and everybody has to look deep into his heart to discover this treasure donated to him by God.

In simple terms, the Gospel of the Good Shepherd reminds us of the true definition of a vocation.  Naturally, if Christ is the Good Shepherd, we are called to be part of his flock.  The Gospel tells us that the flock listens to his voice. Therefore, a vocation, the call of every Christian, demands from us above all a close attention to the Lord’s voice and will.

The Gospel continues: the sheep follow the Lord because they know his voice.  But they will never follow a stranger.  In fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.  We should reflect on our lives and ask ourselves whom we are heeding,  Are we heeding God’s voice or other voices that we allow to determine our decisions?  Is our life following God’s call or is it following a vocation determined by ourselves for ourselves?

Therefore, the foundation of every vocation is prayer.  We pray to listen to God’s voice and to relate better with God, since if we do not learn to relate better with God, how can we discover his call for us?  The answer of St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross sums it all: Vocation… is an answer which we get through prayer.

The Covid-19 pandemic brought abrupt changes in the way of life of all the people worldwide.  On Thursday, 12th March, the Department of Health issued a set of measures that led to the decision that the seminarians would stay at home and follow an extraordinary progamme of formation from home.  A great part of the programme is followed through the social media. 

The pandemic affected also the intermediary-year experience of two seminarians who gently accepted to share with us their experience during this particular time.

Joseph Bajada

My intermediary-year experience started on Tuesday, 24th September 2019.  After a short trip, I arrived at the Parish SS. Sacramento, on the eastern side of Rome.

I was staying at the parish house with the parish priest, Don Maurizio Mirilli, and four other priests. Gradually, I got acquainted with the pastoral life of the parish and I became involved in various parish groups, including the Youths Group, the Oratory and the football team of the parish.  I participated in the liturgical celebrations of the parish and visited the sick, the elderly and the homeless.   I feel that the weekly vocational meetings which I attended  were very important as helped me in my discernment and in becoming more mature.

Because of the pandemic, the authorities issued a set of measures which restricted pastoral activities and meetings with various groups.  I used to participate in the livestreaming of the Holy Mass.  Eventually, I had to cut short my stay in Italy and return to Gozo.

Because of this situation, I am joining the other seminarians in following our formation programme from home.  I hope that things will be better soon and I thank God for what I have been through during my experience in Italy.

Matthew Bajada

In a quiet and empty street, I could see a man, wearing a protective mask, walking his dog.  Usually this is a busy street with many cars passing through. That day it was different.  This is the scene which we have been witnessing these last few weeks when going out is restricted.  I imagine that you know what I am talking about.  At present, I am doing another intermediary-year experience with the Casa del Giovane community in Pavia, Italy.  This is a therapeutic and rehabilitating community that hosts people addicted to drugs, alcohol and gaming.  Six and a half months have passed since this experience started.  During my experience in Pavia, I feel that I have come to know God, myself and my neighbour better.  I never imagined that the world could pass through this dramatic situation caused by this pandemic that has spread worldwide.  Why is God permitting this to happen?  I feel that I can now say that a person proves his worth by his personality and not by his actions.

These days full of tension and paradoxes make us realize that a change in the usual routine unravel our weaknesses and the way we have ignored that which really matters.  These days are calling us to renew our trust in God, so that we can abandon our attitudes of egoism and superiority and adopt instead an attitude of solidarity with others.  God will always be with us and his voice will always reach our weaknesses and help us overcome them.  The street may be empty but God is inviting us to continue walking along our respective roads.  I wish you all a happy Easter and I would like to thank you for your prayers and your kind thoughts.  I believe that this Easter, which is different from others, God still wants to talk to us.  In this particular time, the Risen Christ will help us revive our faith in him so that we can live fearlessly according to his wishes.