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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

Bħala parti miċ-ċelebrazzjonijiet tal-festa ta’ Kristu Re, l-Uffiċċju tal-Katekeżi stieden lis-seminaristi biex jieħdu sehem fiċ-ċelebrazzjoni għat-tfal tal-iskejjel primarja, li seħħet fil-knisja parrokkjali tal-Qala.

Is-seminaristi ħejjew programm dwar il-ħajja ta’ San Alwiġi Gonzaga, billi din is-sena taħbat l-erba’ mija u ħamsin sena minn twelidu. Iċ-ċelebrazzjoni inkludiet taħdita qasira u dramm fuq il-qaddis. Dan il-qaddis  għandu jservi bħala mudell għaż-żgħażagħ biex jgħinu, iħobbu u jservu lill-proxxmu.  Fl-aħħar tal-programm, kull tifel u tifla ngħataw keychainbil-kliem #serve2love, biex tfakkarhom iħobbu u jservu lil xulxin.

It-tfal ġabu magħhom oġġetti tal-ikel biex jingħataw lis-Seminarju, li jiddependi mill-ġenerożità tal-komunità Għawdxija.

Ritratti: Charles Spiteri

Nhar l-Erbgħa, 21 ta’ Novembru, saret laqgħa fis-Seminarju dwar il-ħarsien tal-ambjent u l-importanza tar-riċiklar u s-separazzjoni tal-iskart.  Din il-laqgħa tmexxiet mis-Sinjura Mary Mercieca , impjegata tal-WasteServ.  Hija spjegatilna xi jsir mill-iskart f’pajjiżna. Id-diversi impjanti li għandna f’pajjiżna jagħmlu xogħlijiet differenti.  Aktar ma nnaqsu l-konsum ta’ skart li f’pajjiżna ma jistax jiġi maħdum mill-ġdid, inqas ikollu problemi l-pajjiż.  Il-materjal organiku jista’ jintuża biex jittieħdu minnu gassijiet li jiġġeneraw l-elettriku u wara, dak li jibqa’ jintuża bħala kompost.  Il-metall u l-plastik jiġi kompressat u jinbiegħ barra minn Malta.  Rajna wkoll kif il-miżbla tal-Magħtab illum qed tiġi riġenerata bil-mod.  Ġejna konxji wkoll minn kemm għażliet ħziena jistgħu jħallu riperkussjonijiet twal fuq l-ambjent.  Minkejja li l-Magħtab ilu magħluq diversi snin, xorta għad baqa’ diversi gassijiet ħerġin minnu.  Il-WasteServ ħadmet sistema ta’ pajpijiet u turbini li jiġbdu dawn il-ġassijiet u minnhom joħolqu l-enerġija.  Dan jimpenjana biex inkunu responsabbli ta’ għemilna u nieħdu ħsieb tal-ambjent bl-aħjar mod li nistgħu, kemm b’rispett lejn il-bqija tal-umanità imma fuq kollox għaliex il-ħloqien huwa rigal li Alla ta lill-bniedem bid-dmir li jħarsu u jieħu ħsiebu.

On Wednesday, 21st November, the Seminary hosted Ms Mary Mercieca, a WasteServe employee, who talked to us about the importance of recyling and separation of waste.  She explained how waste is treated in our country.  The various plants in our country treat waste in different ways.   The less we produce unrecyclable waste, the less problems our country has to face.  Organic waste can be used to produce gases from which electricity can be generated.  The residue is then used as compost.  Metal and plastic is compressed and sold abroad. We were told how the Maghtab landfill is being gradually regenerated.  We became aware of the long term effects on the evironment, originating from our bad choices.  Despite the fact that the Maghtab landfill has been closed for many years, there still exist emissions of gas from it.  The WasteServ made use of a system of pipes and turbines to suck these gases and generate energy from them. We should take care of the environment in the best way possible.  In this way we would be showing respect to the rest of humanity. Above all,  we should remember that creation is God’s gift to mankind and man is duty bound to take care of it.

Nhar is-Sibt 17 ta’ Novembru, is-Seminarju organizza għal darb’ oħra l-ikla annwali fl-okkażjoni tal-festa ta’ San Martin. Din hija waħda mill-ftit attivitajiet ta’ fund-raising li jagħmel is-Seminarju matul is-sena.  Waqt din l-ikla, hija drawwa li s-seminaristi jservu lill-mistiedna bħala waiters.  Nirringrazzjaw lid-diversi voluntiera li għenu lis-sorijiet jippreparaw l-ikel fil-kċina.  Nuru l-aprezzament tagħna wkoll lil diversi ħwienet u individwi li offrew prodotti u rigali li ttellgħu waqt l-ikla.  Fl-aħħar nett nirringrazzaw lin-numru sabiħ ta’ nies li għoġobhom jattendu.

On Saturday, 17th November, the Seminary held its annual dinner on the occasion of St Martin’s feast.  This event is one of the few fund-raising activities organised during the year by the Seminary.  Tradition holds that the seminarians wait upon the guests at dinner. This tradition was kept this year as well.  We would like to thank the various volunteers who gave a helping hand to the nuns in the kitchen.  We would like to show our gratitude to the various outlets and individuals who donated gifts for the raffle.  We would like to thank also the guests who participated in the event.