Nhar l-Erbgħa 20 ta’ Settembru 2017 Dun Anthony Bajada, mill-Parroċċa ta’ Twelid tal-Verġni Marija, ix-Xagħra ġie maħtur Direttur tas-Sena Propedewtika fis-Seminarju Maġġuri. Dun Anthony se jkun se jkun qed jakkumpanja lill-Propedewtiċi l-ġodda li se jibdew is-sena tagħhom nhar it-Tnejn 9 ta’ Ottubru 2017.
Merħba Dun Anthony!
On Wednesday 20th September 2017, Fr Anthony Bajada from the Parish of Maria Bambina at Xagħra was declared Director of the Propaedeutic Year at the Major Seminary. Fr Anthony will be accompanying the students who will be starting their Popaedeutic Year on Monday 9th October.
Welcome, Fr. Anthony.
Il-komunità tas-Seminarju reġgħet lura għal sena oħra ta’ formazzjoni l-Ġimgħa 22 ta’ Settembru. Tul il-waqfa tas-sajf kien hemm diversi mumenti li fihom il-komunità ltaqgħet flimkien, fosthom in-nofstanhar ta’ riflessjoni li sar nhar l-1 ta’ Settembru fil-kappella tal-Madonna tal-Blat fil-Qala.
Il-Ġimgħa 22 ta’ Settembru, wara li ġiet iċċelebrata l-quddiesa, is-seminaristi taw daqqa t’id fit-tindif u fit-tħejjija tal-post għal sena oħra u tkellmu waqt sharing fuq id-diversi esperjenzi ta’ volontarjat li huma wettqu fis-sajf. Filgħaxija niżlu fil-bajja ta’ Ħondoq ir-Rummien għal barbeque.
Bejn il-Ħadd 24 u l-Ħamis 28 ta’ Settembru l-komunità iġabret f’Saint Joseph Retreat House, ir-Rabat Malta, għall-irtir tal-bidu tas-sena, immexxi minn Dun Noel Debono.
Nhar il-Ġimgħa 29 ta’ Settembru ġiet iċċelebrata l-quddiesa lill-Ispirtu s-Santu, immexxija minn Mons. Isqof Mario Grech li biha ngħatat bidu għas-sena akkademika. Waqt l-omelija Mons. Grech ħeġġeġ lis-saċerdoti preżenti u lis-seminaristi sabiex bħal Natanael – bniedem bla qerq – ma jkunux bnedmin ta’ żewġt uċuh, konxji mir-riskju li hemm li jidħqu bihom infushom u bil-Knisja. Ħeġġeġ lil kulħadd sabiex ikun umli f’dak kollu li jwettaq. Għal din il-quddiesa kienu mistiedna l-professuri, il-familjari tas-seminaristi u l-membri tal-Aħwa Ħbieb tas-Seminarju.
Fi tmiem il-Quddiesa saret bibita fis-sala.
It-Tnejn 2 t’Ottubru tajna bidu għal-lezzjonijiet.
The Seminary community began another year of formation on Friday 22nd September. During summer, the community held several activities, including the half-day of reflection held on 1st September in the chapel of the Madonna tal-Blat at Qala.
On Monday 22nd September the seminarians attended the celebration of Holy Mass and then helped with the cleaning up and the preparation of the premises for another year of formation. There followed a session of sharing of experiences of voluntary work during the summer holidays. In the evening the seminarians met again at Hondoq ir-Rummien for a barbeque.
From Sunday 24th to Thursday 28th September, the community held a retreat at the St Joseph Nuns’ Home in Rabat, Malta. Fr Noel Debono led the retreat.
Routine life at the Seminary started on Friday 29th September with the celebration of the Mass of the Holy Spirit, led by Mgr Bishop Mario Grech. This celebration marked the beginning of the academic year. The bishop’s homily centred on the figure of Natanael in whom, Jesus states, there exists no hypocrisy. The bishop urged the priests and seminarians to be like Natanael. Hypocrisy leads to delusion of the self and of the Church and humility should be the watermark of us all.
Professors, relatives of the seminarians and members of Għaqda Ħbieb tas-Seminary were invited to this activity. The guests were then hosted in the hall for drinks.
Il-Ġimgħa 14 ta’ Lulju, l-għada li rritornajna mill-missjoni fil-Gwatemala, Mons. Isqof ingħaqad mal-komunità fil-kappella tas-Seminarju għall-Quddiesa fi tmiem is-Sena ta’ Formazzjoni. Kienu mistiedna għal din il-Quddiesa l-familjari tas-seminaristi flimkien mal-Aħwa Ħbieb tas-Seminarju.
Is-seminaristi bdew il-vaganzi tas-Sajf nhar is-Sibt 15 ta’ Lulju 2017. Dan il-perjodu jkun għalihom żmien ta’ esperjenzi pastorali u fih huma jqattgħu aktar ħin ma’ tal-familja tagħhom.
On Friday, 14th July, on the morrow of our return from Guatemala, Mgr Bishop Grech joined the community in the Seminary chapel to celebrate Mass to mark the end of the Year of Formation. Relatives of the seminarians and members of the Aħwa Ħbieb tas-Seminarju were invited to attend the celebration of the Mass.
Holiday time for the seminarians started on Saturday 15th July 2017. During the holidays, the semarians have time to spare for pastoral experience and time to spend with their families.
Fil-bidu tas-sena formattiva r-rettur kien ħabbrilna li fi tmiem is-sena ta’ formazzjoni bħala komunità tas-seminarju konna se mmorru nagħmlu esperjenza ta’ missjoni fil-Gwatemala fejn hemm jagħmel ħidma missjunarja is-saċerdot Għawdxi Dun Anton Grech. Għalhekk wara li dħalna mill-vaganzi tal-Milied mill-ewwel bdejna nippreparaw attivitajiet ta’ fundraising għal dan il-għan.
Fil-21 ta’ Ġunju ta’ din is-sena flimkien morna l-Gwatemala u ġejna lura fit-12 ta’ Lulju. Fil-Gwatemala konna ngħinu f’dak kollu meħtieġ minn tikħil, għajnuna fl-għelieqi sa xogħol fil-knisja. Flimkien ma’ Dun Anton żorna diversi villaġġi li fihom joqgħodu gruppi żgħar ta’ nies. Kienu tlett ġimgħat impenjattivi iżda fl-istess ħin sbieħ għax iktar milli tajna, irċivejna.
In the beginning of the formative year, the Rector had announced that the seminary community would be embarking on a missionary experience in Guatemala, at the Mission run by Fr Anton Grech, a priest who hails from Gozo. Fundraising activities started to be held just after the Christmas holidays.
The visit to Guatemala lasted from June 21st to July 12th. During our stay, we did many odd jobs, including plastering and work in the fields and in the church. We joined Fr Anton on visits to various small villages. We spent three very busy weeks in Guatemala. During our stay we gave a lot but I am sure that we received much more in return.
Nhar il-Ħamis, 15 ta’ Ġunju 2017, fil-Knisja Katidrali, Mons. Mario Grech, Isqof ta’ Għawdex amministra s-Sagrament tal-Ordni Sagri fil-grad tad-Djakonat lil Joseph Hili mill-Parroċċa tax-Xagħra, fil-preżenza tal-familjari u l-ħbieb flimkien ma’ numru sabiħ ta’ saċerdoti. Il-Quddiesa tal-Ordinazzjoni ġiet animata mill-Kor Djoċesan taż-Żgħażagħ.
On Thursday 15th June 2017, Joseph Hili from Xaghra parish was ordained deacon by Mgr Mario Grech, Bishop of Gozo. The ceremony was held at the Gozo Cathedral. Relatives, friends and a number of priests took part in the ceremony which was animated by the Youth Diocesan Choir.
Huma diversi dawk li jistaqsu dwar x’joqogħdu jagħmlu s-seminaristi fil-ġranet li fihom ikunu fis-Seminarju. Is-seminarista, għal seba’ snin sħaħ, iqatta’ ħafna ġimgħat ‘magħluq’ f’din id-dar ta’ formazzjoni, biex iħejji ruħu tajjeb għall-ħajja saċerdotali.
Is-Seminarju jgħin sabiex iż-żagħżugħ jikseb formazzjoni integrali. Qabel kollox, is-seminarista jkollu l-għajnuna biex jaħseb u jirrifletti fuq is-sejħa għas-saċerdozju, li hu jkun qed iħoss f’qalbu. Tul dawn is-seba’ snin hu jrid jasal li jikkonferma li Alla tassew qed isajjaħlu għal dan it-tip ta’ ħajja. Għaldaqstant il-formators (persuni ta’ esperjenza magħżula biex jakkumpanjaw lis-seminarista) jgħinu lil dan iż-żagħżugħ jifhem u jaċċetta aktar lilu nnifsu, u anki jikber fil-ħajja spiritwali tiegħu. L-esperjenzi pastorali li s-seminarista jwettaq fil-weekend u anki fis-sena intermedjarja, ikomplu jgħinu biex hu jiżżejjen dejjem aktar b’qalb ta’ ragħaj.
Sadanittant is-seminarista għandu wkoll ir-responsabbiltà li jħejji lilu nnifsu tajjeb akkademikament għal din il-missjoni mpennjattiva. Għal din ir-raġuni, tul iż-żmien li fih ikunu fis-Seminarju, is-seminarista jitħarreġ fix-xjenzi tal-filosofija u tat-teoloġija. Dan l-istudju jkun ta’ livell terzjarju (fil-fatt il-fakultà tat-teoloġija fis-Seminarju ta’ Għawdex hi affiljata mal-Angelicum Pontificia Università San Tommaso d’Aquino. Mit-Tnejn sal-Ġimgħa filgħodu (barra l-Ħamis). Diversi huma l-lecturers li ta’ kuljum jiġu fis-Seminarju biex jagħtu lectures marbuta ma’ dawn is-suġġetti.
Id-djakni Michael Grima u Carl Scerri, tul ix-xahar ta’ Mejju, kellhom l-eżami de universa (comprehensive), li permezz tiegħu għalqu l-istudji akkademiċi tagħhom fis-Seminarju ta’ Għawdex. Dan filwaqt li l-bqija tas-seminaristi, nhar l-Erbgħa 31 ta’ Mejju temmew il-lectures tagħhom għal din is-sena. Għal din ir-raġuni f’dawn il-ġranet huma qed iħejju ruħhom għall-eżamijiet li se jsiru bejn is-Sibt 3 u t-Tlieta 13 ta’ Ġunju.
A question which many people ask about the seminarians regards the way seminarians spend their day at the seminary. For seven whole years, the seminarian spends most of his time at this ‘boarding’ house of formation, preparing himself for the priesthood.
The seminary helps the young man acquire a holistic formation. First, the seminarian is helped to reflect on the call for priesthood, a vocation to which he is inclined. During the seven years of formation, he has to convince himself that God is truly calling him for priesthood. For this reason, a team of formators chosen on purpose to accompany the seminarian, help the young man understand and accept his real self and, at the same time, mature spiritually. The seminarian matures into a shepherd through his pastoral expererience during weekends and the intermediary year.
Concurrently, the seminarian is expected to prepare himself academically for his mission. For this reason, during his seven-year stay at the Seminary, he is trained in the sciences of philosophy and theology at tertiary level. In fact, the Faculty of Theology of the Gozo Seminary is affiliated with the Angelicum Pontificia Università San Tommaso d’Aquino. Lectures are delivered daily except on Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays.
In May, Deacons Michael Grima and Carl Scerri sat for the exam de universa (comprehensive) which marked the end of their academic studies at the Gozo Seminary. The other seminarians had their last lectures for the year on Wednesday 31st May. They will sit for their examinations in the days between 3rd June and 13th June.
