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Il-Ġimgħa 15 ta’ Marzu ftaħna l-bibien tagħna għas-seminaristi ta’ griża oħtna, Malta. Fis-7pm inġbarna fil-kappella għall-adorazzjoni. Wara mumenti ta’ silenzju, tlabna t-talba tal-għasar fit-7.40pm u għalaqna bil-barka sagramentali. Bqajna sejrin fir-refettorju għall-ikel. Waqt l-ikel is-seminaristi kellhom iċ-ċans jitkellmu flimkien. Dawn il-mumenti mhumiex ta’ sikwit, peress li kulħadd ikun impenjat bil-programm tiegħu. Madankollu kien jinħass sens sabiħ ta’ għaqda u fraternità. Temmejna dan il-mument billi ħadna ritratt kommemorattiv fit-taraġ tas-Seminarju, bl-istatwa tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù, li għalih imsemmi s-Seminarju Għawdxi, jidher fl-isfond.

Nhar it-Tlieta 12 ta’ Marzu s-seminaristi stiednu lill-istudenti tal-grupp tal-vokazzjonijiet tal-Forms 4 u 5 għal mument flimkien fis-Seminarju. Dan il-mument beda billi s-seminaristi u l-istudenti nġabru fil-kamerata, il-post fejn hemm il-kmamar tas-seminaristi. Peress li ninsabu fiż-żmien tar-Randan, is-seminaristi ħadu ħsieb jippreparaw ambjent ta’ talb madwar il-kurċifiss li hemm f’dan il-post ċentrali fis-Seminarju. Il-viċi-rettur Dun Gabriel beda b’riflessjoni dwar x’għandu jfisser għaż-żagħżugħ iż-żmien tar-Randan. Qal li r-riflessjoni fuq in-nuqqasijiet tagħna m’għandhiex l-iskop li tnikkitna, imma hija l-ewwel pass biex nikbru u niżviluppaw f’adulti maturi. Wara ntalbet it-talba tal-Via Sagra fejn saru riflessjonijiet applikati għall-ħajja tagħna llum. Dan il-mument ta’ talb intemm bil-barka sagramentali. Wara kulħadd niżel fir-refettorju għall-ikel. Wara l-ikel, l-istudenti għenu lis-seminaristi fil-ħasil tal-platti. L-aħħar parti tal-attività kienet partita futbol fil-gym tas-Seminarju.

On Tuesday 12th March,  Form 4 and Form 5 students of the Vocation Groups were hosted at the Seminary. The students joined the seminarians in the ‘kamerata’, where the seminarians havei their rooms.  Being Lent, the seminarians created an environment of prayer at the foot of the Crucifix which is in this central place in the Seminary. Vice Rector Fr Gabriel talked about the significance of Lent for youth.  He said that a reflection on our weaknesses should not distress us.  It should be the first step in our development into mature adults.  Reflections on our daily life accompanied us during the Way of the Cross.  The time dedicated to prayer ended with the Eucharistic Blessing.  The guests and the seminarians then went for dinner at the refrectory.  The students helped the seminarians in the cleaning up.  The activity ended wtih a football game at the gym.

The name of Mother Thesesa of Calcutta is synonymous with this nun’s great work among the poorest of the poor.  Many convents founded by this nun around the world are still doing her same work.  However, there are also the Missionaries of Charity – Brothers, founded by Mother Theresa and Fr Ian Traverse Ball.  These brothers are not ordained priests and they spend their life in prayer and in helping people in need.

On Wednesday 20th February, Bro Gennaro and Bro Mark shared with us their experience in their vocation.  They explained to us how they help people pass through difficult situations in their life.  They establish bridges of friendship with these people and teach them self esteem.  Their vocation relies on prayer.  They spend a lot of time in prayer to sustain their efforts in serving God through these people.

Meta wieħed isemmi lil Madre Tereża ta’ Kalkutta, ħafna jaħsbu dwar ix-xogħol imprezzabbli li kienet twettaq din is-soru mal-ifqar fost il-fqar. Dan l-istess xogħol għadhom iwettquh il-kunventi li waqqfet din l-istess soru f’diversi postijiet madwar id-dinja. Madankollu, hemm ukoll il-Missionaries of Charity – Brothers. Dawn twaqqfu minn Madre Tereża flimkien mal-qassis Dun Ian Traverse Ball. Dawn il-brothers ma jsirux saċerdoti u jiddedikaw ħajjithom għat-talb u l-qadi ta’ dawk li għandhom l-aktar bżonn.

Nhar l-Erbgħa 20 ta’ Frar, Bro Gennaro u Bro Mark ġew jaqsmu magħna xi esperjenzi li jgħaddu minnhom fil-ħidma tagħhom. Spjegawlna kif huma jaħdmu biex jgħinu lin-nies joħorġu mis-sitwazzjonijiet miżeri li jkunu jinsabu fihom. Jinsistu ħafna fuq il-bżonn li jibnu relazzjonijiet ta’ ħbiberiji man-nies u jgħinuhom iħossuhom importanti, kif tassew huma. Il-ġurnata tal-ħidma tagħhom iddur fuq it-talb. Dan billi jieqfu jitolbu f’dinversi ħinijiet tul il-ġurnata biex ikunu jistgħu tassew jaqdu lil Ġesù f’dawn in-nies.

On Tuesday 5th February, on the eve of Ash Wednesday, the Seminary community celebrated the heralding of Lent.  The community gathered in the chapel at 7pm and Fr Richard N Farrugia led the celebration.  First, the heralding was sung, then the artal and the ambone were adorned with the violet vestments while the community sang the ‘Attende Domine’.  The Reading for the First Sunday of Lent was read, followed by a reflection on the same Reading.  The Rev Rector suggested changes to the daily programme proposed for Lent, mainly: the community will gather for the Noon Prayers before lunch is served; silence is to be observed on Frinday evenings; prayers associated with Lent are to be said during the day. The celebration came to an end by the singing of the psalm of the Liturgy of the First Sunday of Lent.

Nhar is-Sibt, 2 ta’ Frar, il-komunità tas-Seminarju temmet l-ewwel simestru tas-sena.  L-aħħar jum ta’ ġimagħtejn ta’ eżamijiet kien ikkaratterizzat bi studju u talb. Il-komunità kellha ħin għall-mistrieħ u attivitajiet flimkien f’Malta qabel ma kompliet bl-attivitajiet normali tas-Seminarju u b’bidla fil-korsijiet tat-tieni semestru tas-sena.

On Saturday 2nd February, the community of the Seminary ended the first semester of the year with the last day of two weeks of examinations marked by study and prayer. A time for rest and common activities was carried out by the community in Malta before continuing with normal seminary activities and the change of courses of the second semester of the year.

Nhar l-Erbgħa, 16 ta’ Jannar 2019, saret ċelebrazzjoni ekumenika bejn il-komunità tas-Seminarju tad-Djoċesi t’Għawdex u l-kongregazzjoni Anglikana ta’ Ommna Marija u San Ġorġ tad-Djoċesi tal-Ewropa. Fis-6pm bdejna bir-radd tas-salib. Wara saru xi talbiet ta’ maħfra, segwiti mil-liturġija tal-Kelma. Il-qassis Anglikan Rev. Simon Godfrey qasam magħna riflessjoni qasira dwar l-irwol tas-saċerdot fil-Knisja Anglikana u dik Kattolika Rumana, kif ukoll l-importanza tal-formazzjoni sħiħa taż-żgħażagħ f’seminarju bi tħejjija għall-ordinazzjoni saċerdotali. Komplejna dan il-mument ta’ talb billi tajna l-paċi, wara stqarrejna flimkien il-Kredu ta’ Niċea u fl-aħħar saru xi talbiet. Għalaqna dan il-mument billi talbna flimkien it-talba tal-Missierna.

Dan il-mument kien segwit minn bibita qasira fis-sala tas-Seminarju. Aktar tard, Rev. Simon Godfrey tkellem mas-seminaristi dwar is-similaritajiet u d-differenzi li jeżistu bejn iż-żewġ knejjes. Huwa wieġeb ukoll xi mistoqsijiet li kellhom is-seminaristi dwar dan.  Hu għalaq billi qal li hemm aktar x’jgħaqqadna flimkien milli x’jifridna, u għalhekk mumenti bħal dawn għandhom jinkoraġġuna biex inkomplu naħdmu fuq dak li jgħaqqadna flimkien.

On Wednesday, 16th January, 2019, the Seminary community of the Diocese of Gozo joined the Anglican congregation of St Mary and St George of the Diocese of Europe in an ecumenical celebration.

The ceremony started at 6pm with the Sig of the Cross, prayers for forgiveness and the Liturgy of the Word.  Afterwards, Rev. Simon Godfrey shared with us some reflections on the role of the priest in the Anglican Church and the Roman Catholic Church and on the importance of a holistic formation for seminarians on their way to priesthood.  Then we exchanged peace and recited the Nicean Creed. We said some prayers and the celebration came to an end with the Lord’s Prayer.

We then proceeded to the Seminary hall where refreshments were served.  Later, Rev. Simon Godfrey discussed with the seminarians the similarities and differences between the two churches.  He concluded by saying that there are more similarities than differences and that such celebrations help bridge the differences between the two churches.

An annual event in the life of the Seminary is the blessing of the Icon that represents the theme for the current year.  Usually, this event coincides with the announciation of Advent, but this year, due to various circumstances, the celebration was held on Saturday, 12th January, at 11am, when the icon for the current year was presented and blessed.

During the celebration, Fr Richard N. Farrugia, our rector, read a passage from the Gospel of St Mark (4:1-9). This passage, especially the line ‘But some seeds fell in good soil, and the plants sprouted, grew, and produced corn’, was the inspiration of the icon. Fr Joseph Mercieca, who was responsible for the theological explanation of the technique, explained the principal details of the icon.  Every detail in the icon has a profound significance that serves as an inspiration to whoever wants to delve deeper into the biblical message of the passage through the icon.  This year, Loreta Grech started the icon but had to renounce it for health reasons. The icon was then completed by Manuel Farrugia.