Last Monday, 7 October 2024, Andrea Cauchi, the new propaedeutic student, was welcomed at our Seminary. Andrea who is 19 hails from the Parish of the Shipwreck of St Paul, in Munxar.
As a part of his formation Andrea is doing a part-time job in a hardware store, during the morning. Formation continues in the evening ,consisting in introductory academic courses, prayer and other experiences. He has been assigned for pastoral work during the weekend in the Cathedral Parish of the Assumption of Our Lady, in Victoria. Andrea is accompanied by the Rev. Can Anthony Bajada, parish priest of the Parish of St Lawrence, who also happens to be the incumbent director of the propedeutic year.
The Seminary community welcomes Andrea with great joy and promises to pray for him in the beginning of his journey of formation and discernment of his vocation.
On Monday, 1st October, a new year of formation was officially started at the Seminary. During the morning, the Seminarians received their first lectures. At 5.00 pm, the Prefect of Studies gave an introductory meeting to the Seminarians. Following this meeting, his H.L. Mgr Anton Teuma and the Prefect of Studies led a meeting for the academic staff of the Seminary. Afterwards, at 7.00 pm, the Bishop presided the Holy Sacrifice of Mass together with the members of the Seminary formation team, as well as several lecturers, the Seminarians and their relatives, the Seminary’s community of Franciscan Sisters, and the employees and volunteers. After Holy Communion, the Veni Creator hymn was sung as a prayer to the Holy Spirit to enlighten the minds of all those involved in the formation at the Seminary.
As is customary during the beginning of each year of formation, this week the seminarians kicked off a new year with a spiritual silent retreat. The retreat was held at the Archbishop’s Seminary at Tal-Virtù in Rabat Malta between the 23rd and the 28th of September, 2024. The meditations were led by Rev. James Saydon, director of the Seminary vocations centre in the Archdioceses of Malta. The seminarians were accompanied by the Rector Rev. Joseph Bajada and the spiritual director Rev. Anthony Calleja SJ.
Fr James’s reflections were centred on different passages from the Gospel. He explained them from a particular perspective, considering the apostles as the very first twelve seminarians, with Jesus being their formator. Fr James also shared some accounts of his vocational story. Every retreat is a moment of grace for the seminary community. It enables the seminarians to start the year united with God through prayer, meditation and contemplation.
On Saturday, at the end of the retreat the community of our seminary had a fraternal lunch with the Maltese seminarians.
A profound exploration of Gozo’s liturgical art heritage was held on Friday, 21st June 2024, through a seminar titled ‘L-Arti Nisranija f’Għawdex. Minn fejn tlaqna u fejn sejrin?’ (Christian Art in Gozo: Where We Started and Where We Are Going?). The seminar, which began in the morning, offered seminarians an immersive experience through visits to four significant cultural and religious sites on the island.
The seminar kicked off at the Museum of the Gozo Cathedral, where Mons. Dr. Joseph Bezzina provided an enlightening talk on the historical evolution and significance of the artifacts housed within the museum. His deep insights into the cathedral’s treasures set the tone for a day rich in learning and reflection.
The second visit took the seminarians to the Gozo Cathedral itself. Paul Muscat, director of the restoration company ReCoop, led this session. He detailed the meticulous restoration processes that have preserved the cathedral’s grandeur, offering participants a behind-the-scenes look at the techniques and challenges involved in maintaining such a historic structure.
Next, the group visited Eikon, a renowned liturgical art centre. Here, iconographer Fr Roberto Gauci guided the seminarians through the intricacies of iconography, highlighting the spiritual and artistic elements that define this sacred art form. His expertise provided a deeper appreciation for the devotional and aesthetic qualities of liturgical icons.
The final stop of the seminar was the chapel of Santa Luċija in Kerċem, Gozo, where contemporary artist Austin Camilleri delivered an engaging talk. He discussed modern interpretations and expressions of liturgical art, bridging the traditional with the contemporary. Camilleri’s perspective invited seminarians to contemplate the evolving nature of religious art in the modern era.
The seminar was meticulously organized and coordinated by Jason Farrugia, whose efforts ensured a seamless and enriching experience for all participants. The primary aim of the seminar was to deepen the seminarians’ knowledge and appreciation of liturgical art in Gozo, fostering a greater understanding of its past, present, and future.
This unique educational journey allowed the seminarians not only to gain intellectual insights but also to experience firsthand the profound connection between art and spirituality in Gozo’s religious heritage. The seminar was a resounding success, leaving participants with a renewed appreciation for the island’s rich artistic legacy and its continuing evolution.
Last week another year of formation at the Seminary came to an end. On Tuesday 18th June, the seminarians had their last exam. In the evening, H.E. Mons. Anton Teuma, Bishop of Gozo, celebrated Mass in the Seminary chapel. The mass was attended by the seminarians and their families, the Franciscan sisters residing at the Seminary convent, workers, volunteers and members of the ‘Aħwa-Ħbieb tas-Seminarju’. After the mass, a reception was held in the courtyard at the Seminary’s entrance.
The following day, the seminary community gathered for the final meetings of the year and held together an annual evaluation. Later in the evening, the novel priest Rev. Franklin Micallef presided Mass at the Seminary chapel, as a thanksgiving for the gift of priesthood. Afterwards, the community went to the beach in Marsalforn to spend some time together during a a barbeque.
Last Friday, the 24th May 2024, the deacon Franklin Micallef, hailing from the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St Gregory the Great in Ta’ Kerċem, was ordained priest. The ceremony presided by H.E. Mgr Anton Teuma, Bishop of Gozo, took place at the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady, in Victoria. Present for the ordination was H.E. Cardinal Mario Grech and numerous members of the Gozitan clergy. The ordination was well attended by many members of the parochial community of Ta’ Kerċem, as well as many of Fr Franklin’s family and friends, and other laypeople.
On the day before the ordination, a prayer vigil was organised at the Seminary at 8.00pm. The vigil was presided by the Vice-Rector the Rev. Fr Gabriel Gauci. Several psalms were sung during the celebration. The meditation was centred on two readings from the Sacred Scripture, 1 Pt 5:1-11 and 1 Cor 12:1-9. There was also a reading from the Regula Pastoralis of St Gregory the Great. This was followed by a meditation from Fr Gabriel.
During the last part of the vigil, the Blessed Sacrament was exposed. After a few minutes of silent adoration, the ordinand Franklin made a public prayer in front of our Lord, in which he praised God for being with him throughout his life and for showing him his vocation through various experiences and realties. The vigil concluded with the Eucharistic Benediction. After the vigil, a night of adoration held at the Seminary chapel commenced around 9.30pm. The adoration concluded on the following morning at 7.00am, with the singing of the Lauds and the Eucharistic benediction.
Last Saturday, 18th May, the deacon Franklin Micallef hailing from the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and the St Gregory the Great in Ta’ Kerċem, made his solemn vows of celibacy and obedience at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu, in Għarb. This ceremony took place in view of his forthcoming presbyteral ordination which will take place at the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady in Victoria on the 24th of May.
Early in the morning, at 6.30am, the Seminary Community gathered together to pray the rosary while walking to Ta’ Pinu. Afterwards, the community, led by the Rector the Rev. Fr Joseph Bajada, sang the Morning Prayer. Immediately after the lectio brevis of the lauds, Rev. Franklin made his vows.
On Saturday 11th May, our Seminary organised a Pasta Night in the Seminary’s main hall for the second consecutive year. The event was well attended.
The menu consisted of bruschetta, three pasta dishes – lasagne, fusilli melanzana and penne al salmone – and a cherry cheesecake cup. Various volunteers prepared and cooked all the food in the Seminary’s kitchen.
Those who attended the Pasta Night had the opportunity to participate in a raffle and win one of the various prizes available, all donated by various generous benefactors of our Seminary. Also, several flowers and cakes were for sale, which made a perfect gift for Mother’s Day, celebrated the day after.
Between Thursday 9th and Saturday 11th May, our Seminary had the pleasure of hosting the Rev. Fr Dominik Jurczak OP, Dean of the Faculty of Theology at the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas, commonly known as the ‘Angelicum’.
This year the Institute of Theological studies at our Seminary is celebrating its 30th anniversary from its affiliation with the University of St Thomas Aquinas in Rome, run by the Dominican Order. The Seminary was affiliated to this university by a decree issued by the Congregation for Catholic Education on the 13th April 1994.The Dean arrived in Gozo on Thursday afternoon. In the evening he had an official meeting with the Bishop Mgr Anton Teuma, and the lecturers and the academic staff of the Seminary. This meeting was followed by a dinner in the Seminary refectory. On Friday morning, at the Seminary the deacons Franklin Micallef and Matthew Borg had their final comprehensive oral exam. The Dean was one of the five examiners present. On a happy note both deacons passed and achieved their Baccalaureate. On Saturday morning, Fr Jurczak met the seminarians in the Seminary Conference Room. Afterwords, accompanied by Fr Joseph Ellul OP, he departed to Malta.
On Thursday, 25th May, our Seminary organised an Open Day for the Year 10 Sacred Heart Minor Seminary students. This Open Day was organised in collaboration with the school’s Pastoral Team.
All the students were gathered in the Seminary’s chapel, where the Seminarians gave a welcome. The Seminarians and the school’s Spiritual Director also delivered a small message.
After that, all the students were divided into two groups, and both groups had a tour around the Seminary together with a description of the Seminarian’s daily life at the Seminary. The students had the opportunity to visit the Seminarian’s living quarters, the kitchen, the dining room, the T.V. room, and the classrooms, among other places.
On Sunday, 14 April, the Sunday before Vocation’s Sunday, the Seminary community organised Festa Abbatini, which has now become an annual event marked on the Gozitan calendar.
The event took place on the parvis of the National Sanctuary of Ta’ Pinu and mainly aimed at all the altar boys and girls of the Gozitan Diocese and their families. Despite the weather not being favourable, the event was very well attended.
This year’s Festa Abbatini was themed on Abraham’s call. The Seminarians organised an introductory meeting divided into three interactive sections. Each section was placed at a different location of the sanctuary’s parvis and treated one of the following aspects: Abraham’s call, Abraham’s test, and the fulfilment of the promise made by God to Abraham. The altar boys and girls who attended were divided into three groups, and they visited each of the three sections by turn.
In the meantime, a catechesis was organised for all the parents who attended. Fr Joseph Bajada, the Rector of our Seminary, gave the catechesis that was also themed on Abraham’s call.
After both meetings were finished, both the altar boys and girls and their parents had the opportunity to enjoy different fun activities and food stalls. Members from the Diocese’s Family Commission were also present, offering a cup of coffee while doing an outreach with the parents present.
During the third and fourth weeks of this year’s Lent, the seminarians organised four Lenten meantings, to which the altar boys groups of our Diocese were invited. Several altar boys groups attended.
The meetings took place at the seminarians’ living quarters, and a special setup was prepared. Each meeting was divided into three parts. The first part consisted of reciting some psalms and prayers of intercession. The second part consisted of reading the Parable of the Prodigal Son, followed by a reflection that also referred to the Sacrament of Confession, as this year’s Diocesan Pastoral Plan focuses on this Sacrament. The Rector, the Vice-Rector, and the deacons Franklin Micallef and Matthew Borg gave the reflections. The last part consisted of a moment of adoration that concluded with the benediction of the Blessed Sacrament.
After the adorations, the altar boys had some time to explore the seminarians’ living quarters and were invited for supper with the seminarians.
