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Mument annwali fil-ħajja tas-Seminarju tagħna huwa t-tberik tal-ikona li tkun tirrappreżenta t-tema li tkun intgħażlet għal dik is-sena. Issoltu dan il-mument isir waqt it-tħabbir tal-Avvent, però din is-sena, minħabba diversi ċirkostanzi, dan ma kienx possibbli.  Għalhekk, nhar is-Sibt 12 ta’ Jannar fil-11am, ġiet ippreżentata u mbierka l-ikona li ser tmexxi lill-komunità tul din is-sena.

Waqt din iċ-ċelebrazzjoni, ir-Rettur, Dun Richard N. Farrugia,qara s-silta mill-Vanġelu skont San Mark (4:1-9). Din is-silta kienet l-ispirazzjoni tal-ikona, speċifikament il-vers “oħrajn waqgħu f’art tajba u għamlu l-frott”. Wara Fr. Joseph Mercieca, li akkumpanja lill-awtur tal-ikona tul il-proċess fir-rigward tat-tifsira teoloġika tat-teknika, fisser id-dettalji prinċipali tal-ikona. Kull dettall fl-ikona għandu sinifikat profond li jagħti lok sabiex wieħed dejjem aktar japprofondixxi fil-messaġġ bibbliku tas-silta permezz tal-ikona. Din is-sena l-ikona bdiet tinkiteb minn Loreta Grech, però tkompliet minn Manuel Farrugia peress li Loreta ma setgħetx tkompli minħabba raġunijiet tas-saħħa.

The hall of our Seminary was the place chosen by H.L. Bishop Mario Grech to congratulate the priests of the diocese for the New Year. Presided by a replica of the painting of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu, and in the light of the Marian year proclaimed in the Diocese of Gozo, the act included some thoughts as well from the Bishop on Our Lady and pastoral work. The meeting ended with the sharing of refreshments.

L-Eċċellenza Tiegħu l-Isqof Mario Grech għażel is-sala tas-Seminarju tagħna biex jawgura s-Sena t-Tajba lis-saċerdoti tad-Djoċesi.  Billi din is-sena kienet ipproklamata Sena Marjana fid-Djoċesi t’Għawdex, din l-attività, li kienet saret taħt il-ħarsien ta’ replika tal-kwadru tal-Madonna Ta’ Pinu, kienet tinkludi wkoll xi ħsibijiet mill-Isqof dwar il-Madonna u dwar il-ħdima pastorali.  Il-laqgħa ntemmet b’bibita tal-okkażjoni.

Nhar is-Sibt 15ta’ Diċembru filgħodu, l-abbatini tad-djoċesi tagħna kienu mistiedna għall-attività annwali tal-abbatini li ssir fis-Seminarju.  Il-laqgħa saret fis-salatas-Seminarju.  Fil-bidu nqrat ittra li kienet indirizzata lill-abbatini miġbura, miktuba minn Marija omm Ġesù.  Tul l-ittra Marija ħeġġet lit-tfal iħejju qalbhom biex fiha jitwieled Ġesù tarbija.

Wara,is-seminaristi qassmu lit-tfal fi tliet gruppi, organizzawlhom logħob adattat għall-okkażjoni u anki kien hemm bibita qasira.  Fl-aħħar tal-attività,is-seminaristi qassmu r-rigal tal-Milied imħejji minnhom għal din l-okkażjoni.Din is-sena r-rigal kien ktejjeb li jġib l-isem “L-Avventura tal-Abbati”. Il-ktieb ifisser il-Quddiesa pass pass u jgħin lill-abbati jifhem aħjar is-servizz li jwettaq tul il-Quddiesa.  Jinkludi wkoll spegazzjoni ta’ mkejjen sagri fil-knisja, oġġetti liturġiċi li jintużaw waqt il-Quddiesa u deskrizzjoni tal-ilbies liturġiku.

Min jixtieq akkwista kopja ta’ dan il-ktejjeb jista’ jkellem lil xi ħadd mis-seminaristi.

On Saturday morning, 15th December, the altar boys of our diocese were hosted at our Seminary for an activity which is held annually.  The activity was held in the Seminary hall. A letter, written in the name of Mary, Mother of Christ, was read to the altar boys.  The letter encouraged the altar boys to open their heart to welcome the birth of Baby Jesus.

The altar boys were then divided into three groups and were engaged in different games prepared by the seminarians. Later, the altar boys were invited to a drink.  At the end of the activity the seminarians distributed a Christmas present to the altar boys. The present, which the seminarians themselves had prepared for this occasion, was a booklet called L-Avventura tal-Abbati,  (The Adventure of the Altar Boy), which gives a step-by-step explanation of the Mass. and helps the altar boys understand better the service they give during Mass.  It also  pinpoints the sacred places in the church and the liturgical objects used during Mass, and gives a description of the liturgical garments.

Anyone who would like to have a copy of the booklet is kindly asked to contact the seminarians.

Fl-ewwel ġimgħa ta’ Diċembru kien hemm atmosfera ta’ ferħ fis-Seminarju minħabba ċ-ċelebrazzjoni tal-Festa tal-Immakulata Konċezzjoni, il-patruna tal-Kappella tas-Seminarju.

Il-programm kien jinkludi il-priedki tat-Tridu Marian minn Dun Roberto Gauci dwar il-virtujiet tal-Madonna, u t-talb tal-Għasar. Dan kien waqt il-ħin normali tat-talb, fis-7 ta’ filgħaxija.

Din il-Ġimgħa Marjana ssir aktar sinifikanti fil-kuntest tas-Sena Marjana mnedija fid-Djoċesi t’Għawdex mill-Isqof Mario Grech sabiex timmarka l-400 anniversarju tal-pittura tal-Madonna Ta’ Pinu.

An atmosphere of joy was lived in the Seminary during the first week of December due to the celebration of the Feast of the Immaculate Conception, patroness of the Chapel of the Seminary.

The programme included Marian Triduum sermons on the virtues of Our Lady, delivered by Father Roberto Gauci, and the prayer of Vespers, during the normal prayer time of the seminarians at 7pm.

This Marian Week becomes more significant in the context of the Marian Year promulgated in the Gozo Diocese by Bishop Mario Grech to mark the 400^thanniversary of the painting of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu.

Mit-Tnejn 25 ta’ Novembru sas-Sibt 1 ta’ Diċembru, is-seminaristi ħadu sehem f’Outreach Weekfil-parroċċa ta’ San Pietru u San Pawl in-Nadur. L-għan ta’ din l-attività kien li jġib flimkien lill-komunità tas-Seminarju u dik ta’ paroċċa. Il-programm kien jinkludi quddiesa kuljum fl-4.30 ta’ filgħaxija, segwita mill-Adorazzjoni u l-Għasar. Is-seminaristi żaru għadd ta’ familji li uliedhom qegħdin jitħejjew għall-Ewwel Tqarbina u għall-Griżma tal-Isqof. Żaru wkoll familji li uliedhom huma abbatini.  Ħadu sehem ukoll f’laqgħat mal-gruppi tan-Nadur Teen and Youth Centreu tal-M.U.S.E.U.M.

Din il-ġimgħa ġiet fi tmiemha nhar is-Sibt, l-1 ta’ Diċembru biċ-ċelebrazzjoni tal-Ewkaristija mmexxija mill-Eċċ. Tiegħu, l-Isqof Mario Grech.  Matul din iċ-ċelebrazzjoni, is-Seminarista Mario Mercieca ngħata l-ministeru tal-Akkolitat.

From Monday, 25^thNovember till Saturday, 1^stof December, the seminarians took part in Outreach Week at the Parish of Saint Peter and Saint Paul in Nadur. This week had the objective of bringing together the community of the Seminary and a parish community.

The programme included daily mass at 4.30pm, followed by Adoration and the prayer of vespers.  The seminarians visited several families of the children preparing for First Holy Communion and Confirmation, as well families of the altar boys.  They also participated in meetings with the groups from the Nadur Teen and Youth Centre and the M.U.S.E.U.M.

The week was concluded on Saturday December 1^st with the celebration of the Eucharist presided by H.L. Bishop Mario Grech, where Seminarian Mario Mercieca was given the ministry of Acolyte.

The community of the Sacred Heart Major Seminary has started the new liturgical year with the coming of Advent.

During a liturgical ceremony in the chapel of our seminary, the wreath of Advent was lit and the Rector, Fr. Richard N. Farrugia, shared a reflection on the Gospel of the first Sunday of Advent.  During this reflection, the Rector suggested ways of how we can truly live this liturgical time on individual basis and also as a community.  One way how we are preparing ourselves as a community for the birth of Christ is by attending every day the Office of Reading at 6.10am in the Chapel.

Il-komunità tas-Seminarju Maġġuri tal-Qalb Imqaddsa bdiet sena liturġika ġdida mal-bidu ta’ żmien l-Avvent.

Waqt iċ-ċerimonja liturġika fil-kappella tas-seminarju tagħna, inxtegħlet il-kuruna tal-Avvent u r-Rettur, Dun Richard N. Farrugia, qasam ma’ dawk preżenti riflessjoni fuq il-Vanġelu tal-ewwel Ħadd tal-Avvent. Waqt din ir-riflessjoni, ir-Rettur issuġġerixxa modi kif aħna nistgħu ngħixu tassew dan iż-żmien liturġiku fuq livell individwali u anke bħala komunità.   Mod wieħed kif aħna, bħala komunità, qegħdin inħejju ruħna għat-twelid ta’ Kristu hu billi nattendu ta’ kuljum l-Uffizzju tal-Qari fis-6.10 ta’ filgħodu fil-Kappella.

As part of the diocesan celebrations of the feast of Christ the King, the seminarians were invited by the Office for Catechism to participate in the celebration for primary school children at the parish church of Qala.

The seminarians prepared a full programme highlighting the life of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, this year being the 450^thanniversary of his birth.  The event included a short talk and a play about the saint. This saint should serve as a role model for young people to help, love and serve those around them.  At the end of the celebration, all the children present for the celebration were given a keychain with the words #serve2love, to serve as a reminder for the children to love and serve one another.

The children brought preserves and other food items to donate to the Seminary, which depends much on the generosity of the Gozitan people.

Pictures by Charles Spiteri