Last week, the Seminary community made two vocational initiatives.
The first was an outreach at the Sir M.A. Refalo Sixth Form in Victoria, on Tuesday 28 of November. The seminarians were accompanied by the three students of the Order of the Friars Minor. During the third lesson, the seminarians and friars, divided in groups of two, had the opportunity to visit every class in the school and deliver a short vocational message to the students. Throughout the remainder of the morning, the seminarians and friars stayed near the school entrance and canteen to be able to encounter students and talk to them, whilst offering them tea, coffee, biscuits and pastries.
The second initiative, although vocational as well, was quite different. Students frequenting the 16+ Diocesan Vocational Group, were invited to stay for some days at the Seminary. The live-in started on Wednesday evening, till Saturday morning. During these days, the seven students had the opportunity to experience life at the Seminary, and together with the seminarians they had moments of prayer, pastoral activity, as well as recreation.
Last Saturday, at noon, with the beginning of Advent, the Church commenced a new liturgical year. The Seminary community prepared for the start of this liturgical season with the Proclamation of Advent, held at the Seminary Chapel.
The celebration began at 11.00 am and was divided into two parts. During the first part, the Word of God was enthroned on the altar and after the celebrant’s initial greeting, the Rector Fr Joseph Bajada, two readings from the Bible were read. The first reading was taken from 2 Cor 12:5-10, from which the theme of this year is taken, and the second reading was taken from Mt 4:12-17. A reflection from Fr Joseph followed these readings.
The second part was the enthronement of the new icon representing this year’s theme: 2 Cor 12:9. The iconographer Nathaneal Thuema wrote this year’s icon. The celebration ended shortly after noon with the celebrant’s blessing on the community.
During this Advent, the Seminary community will follow a slightly different program than the rest of the year. Before mass, at 6.10 am, the community will be meeting to pray the Office of Readings in the chapel. Also, during mass, the celebrant will make a short reflection after reading the Gospel.
On Wednesday, 15th November, a thanksgiving mass was celebrated at the Seminary’s chapel to mark the end of Fr Richard-Nazareno Farrugia’s and Fr Samuel Grech’s ministry at the Seminary. The mass was attended by the members of the Formation Team, the Seminarians, the Seminary’s community of the Franciscan Sisters, and workers and helpers of the Seminary. At the end of the mass, the present rector, Fr Joseph Bajada, presented to both Fr Richard and Fr Samuel an appreciation gift for their work and dedication to our Seminary.
Following the mass, a dinner took place at Vine e Capricci. After dinner, the seminarians presented to both Fr Richard and Fr Samuel an album full of photos and memories from their years at the Seminary.
On the 14th of September, Fr Richard started his new ministry as the parish priest of the Parish of the Nativity of Our Lady, Xagħra. He served in the Seminary as prefect of studies between 2013 and 2016, during which he was also the vice-rector for some months. From 2016 onwards he served as the Seminary’s Rector.
On the 14th of September, Fr Samuel was also given a new role as parochial vicar at the Parish of the Visitation, Għarb. He served as vice-rector in the Seminary during the years 2020-2023.
Last Saturday, on the 11th of November, the Seminary hosted the traditional fundraising dinner held on the occasion of the commemoration of Saint Martin, bishop of Tours. The dinner commenced at 7.00pm and was attended by 152 people, apart the many volunteers that helped in the preparations. A five-course meal was served: first a charcuterie plate, then some minestra, għaġin il-forn, pork loin with roasted vegetables, as well as a portion of the traditional St Martin’s cake accompanied by a serving of custard. Also, coffee and limoncello were served. During the dinner, volunteers from the association “Aħwa-ħbieb tas-Seminarju” organised a raffle with many spot prizes including vouchers, and other objects donated by several benefactors. After the dinner, the Rector Fr Joseph Bajada invited the guests to have a look around the Seminary and visit the quarters in which the seminarians reside.
The Seminary would like to thank all guests for their presence as well all volunteers who were involved in the organisation of this event. A special thanks goes to the community of the Franciscan Sisters at the Seminary for their many hours of dedicated service for the preparation of this dinner.
For the Solemnity of All Saints and the Commemoration of All Souls, celebrated on the 1st and 2nd of November, the Seminarians had a change of the daily routine, as no lectures took place.
On the night between the 31st of October and the 1st of November, the Seminarians, accompanied by the Rector and the Vice-Rector, made the yearly lungo passeggio. This year’s hike started from the Seminary in Victoria and finished at the Immaculate Conception’s Chapel in Qala, passing through the villages of Ta’ Sannat, Ix-Xewkija and Għajnsielem. During the last part of the hike, the Seminarians walked along the coast from Żewwieqa bay to Ħondoq bay. After the hike, each Seminarian went to his home.
On the 1st of November in the morning, all the Seminarians had some time off. In the evening, the Seminarians gathered again at the Seminary to pray the vespers and celebrate Mass on the solemnity of All Saints.
On Thursday, the 2nd of November, in the afternoon, the Seminary community celebrated Mass at Għarb’s parish cemetery. Mass was offered to the dead relatives of all the Seminarians. After the Mass, each Seminarian went to the parish where he is doing the pastoral experience.
Last week, the Liturgical and Missionary Group organised various activities in view of the World Mission Day, celebrated on Sunday, 23rd October 2020. The theme of this week was inspired by the phrase “Hearts on fire, feet on the move” based on the story of the disciples who encounter Jesus on their way to Emmaus (cf. Lk 24:13-35), as commented by Pope Francis in this year’s World Mission Day message.
This Mission Week started on Monday, 16th October. On this day, the community prayed for Bishop Giovanni Cefai MSSP, who is a Gozitan missionary in Peru. After dinner, the seminarians watched “The Pope: Answers”, a face-to-face conversation between Pope Francis and ten young people from all over the world. The conversation was guided by the young people’s questions, conveying to the Pope the main concerns of their generation.
On Tuesday, the Seminary community prayed for bishop Joe Bonello OFM, who is a Gozitan missionary in Honduras. In the afternoon, the Seminarians visited the form 5 students of the Sacred Heart Minor Seminary. They shared with them a missionary-themed message, which included the sharing of missionary experiences in Guatemala and Albania done by some of the Seminarians in the past months.
On Wednesday, the prayers were dedicated to Bishop George Bugeja OFM, another Gozitan missionary, and his mission in Libya. Later that day, a video call with Bishop George. During this video call, Bishop George shared his missionary experience in Tripoli, where he emphasized the obsessive reality Christians face in such a fundamentalist and insecure country.
On Thursday, the Seminary community welcomed Fr Joseph Camilleri, a Gozitan missionary in Guatemala. Fr Joseph celebrated mass in the Spanish language, sharing his missionary experience. The community also made a prayer for his mission.
On Friday, the prayers were dedicated to Fr Raymond Portelli and his mission in Peru, while on Saturday, the prayers were dedicated to Fr Anton Grech and his mission in Guatemala.
Apart from the above mentioned activities, the Liturgical and Missionary group prepared some missionary symbols that were placed in the chapel. Also, a social media publication about the World Mission Day was published during this week.
On Monday 9th of October, two propaedeutic students were welcomed in the Seminary. The students are: Mark Attard from the Parish of St John the Baptist in Xewkija, and Simon Zammit from the Parish of the Nativity of Our Lady in Xagħra. As a part of their formation, the propaedeutic students do a part-time job in the morning, and receive the rest of their formation in the Seminary, in the evening. They also do pastoral work during the weekends. Mark has been assigned to the Parish of the Assumption of Our Lady in Żebbuġ, while Simon has been assigned to the Parish of St George Martyr in Victoria. The two propaedeutic students are being accompanied by Can Anthony Bajada, the parish priest of the Parish of St Lawrence, who is also the incumbent director of the propaedeutic year.
The Seminary community welcomes with joy at the Seminary these two students and prays for them in the beginning of their journey of formation to discern their vocation.
On Friday 6th October, a new year of formation was officially started at the Seminary. At 6.00pm, H.L. Mgr Anton Teuma led a meeting for the academic staff of the Seminary. Afterwards, at 7.00pm, the Bishop presided the Holy Sacrifice of Mass, with special prayers to the Holy Spirit to enlighten the minds of all those involved in the formation given at the Seminary. The members of the Seminary formation team, as well as several lecturers who are priests, concelebrated with the Bishop. Also present were the seminarians, the students of the Franciscans Minor receiving the academic formation in the Seminary, some of the seminarians’ relatives, the Seminary’s community of Franciscan Sisters, and the employees and volunteers of the Seminary.
At the end of the Mass, Mons. Teuma, delivered his thanks to three lecturers who will be finishing their work in the Seminary: Mgr George Borg who taught Psychology for the past 46 years, Mgr Saviour Grima who taught Fundamental and Dogmatic Theology for the past 47 years, and Mgr Lawrence Sciberras who taught Holy Scripture for the past 45 years. On behalf of the Seminary community, the Bishop presented to each of these three priests a commemorative plaque and also an icon of Our Lady. At the end of the celebration, the three ex-lecturers also delivered their message.
Between Monday, the 18th and Saturday, the 23rd of September, the community of the Gozitan Seminarians attended a spiritual silent retreat to mark the beginning of another formational year. The Capuchins’ Provincial br Ivan Scicluna O.F.M. Cap. directed the retreat at the Archbishop’s Major Seminary in ‘tal-Virtut’, Rabat.
The community of the Maltese Seminarians joined the Gozitan Seminarians. This was the third time the Maltese and Gozitan communities were making a retreat together.
Br Ivan directed his daily meditations inspired by the Biblical text of 2 Corinthians 12:7-10. He proposed to the Seminarians a process of spiritual and human integration.
We are delighted to extend a warm welcome to the newly appointed rector, Reverend Joseph Bajada, and the vice rector, Reverend Gabriel Gauci. Concurrently, we express our heartfelt gratitude to Canon Richard N. Farrugia, who faithfully served as the rector of our Seminary for the past seven years. We offer our prayers and support as he embarks on his new mission as the spiritual pastor of the Parish of Xaghra.
Additionally, we extend our sincere appreciation to Reverend Samuel Grech, who dedicated the past three years as vice rector of the Seminary.
On Friday 23th June 2023, on the eve of the feast of St John the Baptist, Mgr Anton Teuma, Bishop of Gozo, administered the Sacrament of Holy Orders in the grade of Deacons at the Gozo Cathedral. The two new Deacons are Matthew Borg from the Parish of the Nativity of Our Lady, Xagħra, and Franklin Micallef from the Parish of Our Lady of the Perpetual Help and St Gregory the Great, Kerċem. The ordination was well attended by several priests, members of the Seminary community, members of the Xagħra and ta’ Kerċem parochial communities, Relatives, friends, and other laypeople. The Ordination Mass was animated by the Youth Choir of the Diocese.
On the day before, Thursday 22th June feast of the calling of Our Lady of ta’ Pinu, a prayer vigil was organised by the Seminary community at the Xagħra parish church as a spiritual preparation. The meditations during the vigil were made by the Rector Can. Richard Farrugia and were taken from the Biblical passage of 1 Peter 2:21. During the last part of the vigil, the Blessed Sacrament was exposed, and the ordinands Matthew and Franklin made a public prayer in front of our Lord. This was followed by the Eucharistic Benediction. For this vigil attended the parish communities of Xagħra and ta’ Kerċem.
On Saturday, May 27 our community went to Malta. Our day began with a visit to the convent of the Franciscan Sisters in Mġarr, where we had the pleasure of reconnecting with Sr. Mary Borg FCJ. Sr. Mary formed part of the sister’s community from 2019 to 2021. It was a heartwarming reunion filled with cherished memories.
Following our visit to the convent, we headed to Valletta where we had a meeting with Papas Martin Zammit, who lead the Greek Catholic community in Malta. He graciously shared with us the rich history of their presence on the island and the important pastoral work they are engaged in. It was an enlightening and inspiring conversation that deepened our understanding of the diverse religious landscape in Malta.
Our journey continued as we explored the awe-inspiring exhibition of Tapestries at the Co-Cathedral of St. John. The intricate craftsmanship and breathtaking artistry on display left us in awe, a true testament to the cultural heritage of Malta.
To conclude this day, we were joined by the Malta Seminary community to share a delicious meal. This joyful gathering allowed us to strengthen our bonds, fostering a sense of camaraderie and unity among us.
