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It-tieni weekend ta’ Novembru, mis-Sibt 10 sal-Ħadd 11 ta’ Novembru, il-komunità tas-Seminarju attendiet għal jumejn ta’ formazzjoni umana mmexxija minn Dr Marlene Cauchi fid-dar tal-villeġġjatura tas-Sorijiet Sależjani f’Marsalforn.  F’dawn il-jumejn, Dr Cauchi mexxiet diversi talks dwar ir-relazzjonijiet, l-importanza tagħhom, u kif nibnu relazzjonijiet tajbin u b’saħħithom bejnietna u man-nies li niltaqgħu magħhom f’ħajjitna. Permezz ta’ diversi eżercizzji, is-seminaristi setgħu jibnu d-diskussjonijiet tagħhom fuq dak li josservaw fir-realtà.  Kellna wkoll xi mumenti ta’ talb flimkien.  Is-Sibt filgħaxija s-seminaristi ħarġu jieklu flimkien.

During the second weekend of November, 10th and 11th November, the seminarians attended a two-day human formation programme hosted by Dr Marlene Cauchi, at the summer residence of the Salesian Nuns in Marsalforn.  The programme included talks by Dr Cauchi about relationships and their importance, and about the way strong relationships are built among people in everyday life.  Through various exercises, the seminarians could focus their discussions on what they observe in life.  Intervalls of prayers were included.  On Saturday evening, the seminarians dined out.

Attività komunitarja annwali hija l-lungo passeggio.  Ta’ kull sena tiġi magħżula rotta partikolari li tammonta għal madwar 5 sigħat ta’ mixi.  Din is-sena saret matul il-lejl.  Għalhekk fil-lejl tal-1 ta’ Novembru s-seminaristi, flimkien mas-superjuri, telqu mis-Seminarju għall-ħabta tal-11pm.  Huma rħewlha lejn Santa Luċija, wara għaddew minn ħdejn l-għajn ta’ Għar Ilma.  Komplew mexjin minn qalb ir-raba’.  Waslu fit-triq bejn ir-raħal ta’ San Lawrenz u r-raħal tal-Għarb.  Wara komplew il-mixja tagħhom lejn il-kappella ta’ San Dimitri.  Hemm iċċelebraw il-Quddiesa fis-solennità tal-mejtin kollha, fejn Dun Gabriel għamel ħsieb dwar il-purgatorju u dan x’għandu jfisser għan-Nisrani li jemmen fil-ħajja wara l-mewt.  Wara għaddew mill-Għasri, imbagħad mxew tul Wied Sara.  Għall-ħabta tal-4.15am waslu lura s-Seminarju.

Il-lungo passeggio is an activity held annually by the Seminary community. A new route to be followed is chosen every year.  The walk would take about 5 hours. This year, the activity took place on the night of the 1st November.  The seminarians and the superiors left the Seminary at about 11pm.  They set off to Santa Lucija, skirted Għar Ilma spring and proceeded across the fields to the road which links the village of San Lawrenz to Għarb.  From Għarb, they went on to the chapel of San Dimitri.  Being All Saints Day, Mass was celebrated in the chapel.  In his homily, Fr Gabriel talked about Purgatory and its significance to the Christian who believes in afterlife.  The walk then proceeded through Għasri to Wied Sara.  The seminarians reached the Seminary at about 4.15am.

L-4 ta’ Novembru 2018 jimmarka l-152 anniversarju minn meta s-Seminarju fetaħ il-bibien tiegħu.  Tul dawn is-snin, din il-binja laqgħet fiha bosta żgħażagħ li wieġbu għas-sejħa tal-Missier u aċċettaw li jimxu warajh. F’dan il-jum nitolbu ’l Alla biex ikompli jbierek lid-djoċesi tagħna b’aktar vokazzjonijiet qaddisa u jagħti l-għajnuna lis-saċerdoti kollha li ħarġu minn dan is-Seminarju biex ikomplu jaqdu l-missjoni tagħhom b’imħabba.

Fir-ritratt t’hawn taħt jidher kurċifiss li ilu snin twal f’waħda mill-kmamar tas-Seminarju u li dan l-aħħar intbagħat għar-restawr.  Issa li tlesta u reġa’ qiegħed lura fis-Seminarju, dan is-salib ġie mqiegħed fir-Refettorju. Dan sabiex f’dan il-post ċentrali, li fih għal tliet darbiet kuljum il-komunità tas-Seminarju tinġabar madwar il-mejda tal-ikel, din ix-xbieha sservi bħala eżempju ta’ kif ngħixu l-imħabba bejnietna.

The 4^th of November 2018 marks the 152^ndAnniversary of the inauguration of the Seminary.  During all these years, thi

s building has housed many young men who answered the call of the Father and accepted to follow Him. On this day we pray God to continue blessing our diocese with more and more holy vocations  and to help all the priests who have left this seminary to continue with their mission of love.

The photo further down shows the crucifix which, for many years, adorned one of the halls of the Seminary and which recently has been restored. Now it has been placed in the refactory which is a central place where, for three times each day, the Seminary community meets. The crucifix reminds us how to live love among us.

Nhar il-Ħadd 27 ta’ Ottubru 2018, bħala għeluq għall-attivitajiet marbuta mal-Ġimgħa Missjunarja, is-seminaristi u s-superjuri marru jagħtu d-demm.  Iltaqgħu fil-Berġa tax-Xewkija fil-11.00am u stiednu oħrajn jingħaqdu magħhom.  Peress li n-numru ta’ donaturi regolari f’Għawdex qiegħed dejjem jonqos, din kienet opportunità biex nies ġodda jkunu mħeġġa jibdew jagħtu d-demm.  Alvin Scicluna, mis-CVC media, ġie hemm biex jiġbed xi xeni qosra u anke jieħu l-kummenti ta’ xi wħud mis-seminaristi u tar-Rettur Fr. Richard N. Farrugia.  Dan sabiex jinħadem clip qasir li jkun jista’ jintwera waqt xi bulettin tal-aħbarjiet f’dawn il-jiem.  L-għoti tad-demm huwa ġest nobbli li jista’ jsalva l-ħajja ta’ bniedem li jkun jeħtieġ id-demm.  Bi ftit sforz u sagrifiċċju nkunu qed nagħtu l-isbaħ rigal lil min jeħtieġu: il-ħajja.  Għalhekk inħeġġukom tagħmlu dak il-pass, tegħlbu l-biża’, u tmorru tagħtu d-demm!

On Sunday 27th October 2018, the seminarians and their superiors donated blood as a gesture to mark the activities linked with Missions Week and invited friends to join them.  They met at 11.00am at the Blood Donation Unit in Xewkija. Since the number of regular donors in Gozo is gradually decreasing, the seminarian community deemed it fit to urge their friends to donate blood.  Mr Alvin Scicluna from CVC media joined them in this activity to take a short film and to register comments from the seminarians and from Rector Fr Richard N Farrugia.  The short clip and the comments will feature in the news bullettin in the coming days. Donating blood is a noble gesture which may save the life of those who need blood transfusion.  All it needs is some encouragement and sacrifice. Such an act leads to the donation of the most precious present to others – life.  So, we encourage all to follow our example, overcome fear and donate blood!

On 24th Wednesday October 2018,  the Seminary community attended a lecture regarding the use of the Automated External Defibrillator – AED.   The apparatus was donated to the Seminary by the CCU Foundation.  Mr George Bonello, Managing Director of Sidroc Services, showed us how to perform cardiopulmonary resuscitation, both manually and with the AED.

The Seminary community would like to thank the CCU Foundation for this donation which can save lives in an emergency. The community would like to thank also Mr Bonello for the information and for the time he dedicated to us.

Nhar l-Erbgħa 24 ta’ Ottubru 2018, saret laqgħa ta’ informazzjoni għall-komunità tas-Seminarju dwar l-użu tal-“Automated External Defibrillator” – AED. Dan l-apparat ġie rregalat lilna mis-CCU Foundation. Waqt din il-laqgħa, is-Sur George Bonello, li huwa Managing Director tal-kumpanija Sidroc Services, uriena kif wieħed jagħmel “cardiopulmonary resuscitation” b’mod manwali u anke bl-AED.

Nirringrazzjaw kemm lis-CCU Foundation ta’ dan ir-rigal li kapaċi jsalva l-ħajjiet f’każ ta’ emergenza, u anke lis-Sur Bonello tal-ħin u l-għarfien li qasam magħna.

It-Tnejn 15 ta’ Ottubru, ilqajna fostna bħala propedewtiċi lil Anthony Joe Borg, mill-parroċċa tat-Twelid ta’ Marija Bambina x-Xagħra, u lil Fabio Cini, mill-parroċċa ta’ Marija Assunta ż-Żebbuġ.  Nilqgħuhom fostna bil-ferħ u nitolbu għalihom fil-mixja ta’ dixxerniment li bdew.

On Monday 15th of October we received into our community as members of the propaedeutic year Anthony Joe Borg, from the Parish of the Nativity of Our Lady in Xaghra and Fabio Cini from the Parish of the Assumption of Our Lady in Zebbug, we welcome them with joy and pray for them in the way of discernment they have started.