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.
Fil-weekend tas-27 u t-28 ta’ Mejju l-komunità tas-seminarju flimkien ma xi voluntiera nġabru x-Xewkija sabiex jimlew żewġ containers sabiex ikunu jistgħu jintbgħatu fil-Gwatemala. Kienu ħafna l-persuni li offrew affarijiet ta’ użu għal ħutna fil-Gwatemala.
During the weekend 27th – 28th May, the Seminary community and a number of volunteers met at Xewkija to help pack two containers which are to be sent to Guatemela. Many people offered goods to be sent to Guatemala.
Nhar il-Ġimgħa, 26 ta’ Mejju, id-djakni Michael Grima (San Lawrenz) u Carl Scerri (Victoria – Katidral) ġew ordnati saċerdoti minn idejn Mons. Isqof Mario Grech waqt quddiesa fil-Katidral ta’ Marija Assunta, il-Belt Victoria. Numru sabiħ ta’ saċerdoti, il-membri tal-komunità tas-Seminarju, membri mill-komunitajiet parrokkjali ta’ San Lawrenz u tal-Katidral, flimkien ma’ diversi persuni oħra akkumpanjaw lil dawn ħutna f’dan il-mument tant importanti f’ħajjithom. Bi tħejjija għal dawn il-mumenti qawwija l-Knisja ta’ Għawdex ġiet mistiedna biex il-Ħamis, 25 ta’ Mejju, tinġabar fis-Seminarju biex tingħaqad mal-ordinandi u titlob flimkien magħhom.
On Friday 26th May, Deacons Michael Grima (San Lawrenz) and Carl Scerri (Cathedral – Victoria) were ordained priests by Bishop Mario Grech during a Mass celebrated at the Cathedral of the Assumption in Victoria. A number of priests, members of the Seminary community, members of the parrochial communities of San Lawrenz and the Cathedral, and other people from various parishes were present for this very important event in the life of these two new priests. On the eve of the Ordination, the Gozo Church was invited to join the ordinands for an evening of prayer, held on Thursday 25th May, at the Seminary.
Fi tmiem l-eżamijiet tal-MATSEC l-istudenti tal-Grupp Vokazzjonali tad-Djoċesi ġew mistiedna fis-Seminarju għal mument ta’ talb u għal barbikju flimkien mal-Komunità tas-Seminarju. It-Tlieta 23 ta’ Mejju filgħaxija l-istudenti ngħaqdu mas-seminaristi fil-kappella tas-Seminarju fejn sar mument ta’ adorazzjoni animat mis-Seminaristi.
Fi tmiem l-adorazzjoni dawk kollha preżenti, flimkien mal-formators telgħu fuq il-bejt tas-Seminarju, fejn is-seminaristi ħadu ħsieb iħejju barbikju. Kien mument sabiħ ħafna!
