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!
When the MATSEC examinations were over, the Seminary community invited the members of the Vocations Group of the diocese for an evening of prayer in the Seminary chapel. This event took place on Tuesday, 23rd May. The seminarians led the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. Then a barbecue followed, prepared by the seminarians themselves, on the roof of the Seminary. The Seminary formators were also present. It was a really relaxing evening!
Il-programm tas-Sibt 20 ta’ Mejju kien xi ftit differenti minn tas-soltu. Il-komunità sebħet kmieni sabiex tagħmel il-pellegrinaġġ annwali lejn is-Santwarju tal-Madonna Ta’ Pinu, fl-Għarb. L-atmosfera kalma ta’ filgħodu għenet sabiex il-komunità titlob it-talba tar-Rużarju, tant mixtieqa minn Marija.
Fi tmiem il-pellegrinaġġ il-komunità nġabret fil-kappella tad-dehra fis-Santwarju Ta’ Pinu u hemm ġiet iċċelebrata l-Quddiesa. Wara l-Vanġelu, b’id waħda fuq il-Kelma ta’ Alla, quddiem ix-xbieha tal-Assunzjoni ta’ Marija u fil-preżenza tal-Ewkristija, is-seminarista Joseph Hili, u d-djakni Michael Grima u Carl Scerri, għamlu l-wegħdiet ta’ qabel l-Ordinazzjoni Djakonali u Presbiterali rispettivament.
Id-djakni Michael u Carl se jiġu ordnati presbiteri fil-Katidral ta’ Għawdex nhar il-Ġimgħa 26 ta’ Mejju. Is-seminarista Joseph se jiġu ordnat djaknu fl-istess Katidral nhar il-Ħamis 15 ta’ Ġunju.
The programme of Saturday, May 20th was different from that of other Saturdays. The community set off early in the morning on a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu at Għarb.
The stillness of the morning helped the community concentrate on the reciting of the Rosary, a prayer which is greatly treasured by Our Lady. At the end of the pilgrimage, the community gathered in the inner chapel of the Sanctuary where Mass was said. After the reading of the Gospel, seminarian Joseph Hili and Deacons Michael Grima and Carl Scerri placed their hand on the Bible and, in front of the holy picture of The Assumption of Our Lady and in the presence of the Holy Eucharist, made their vows prior to their ordination. Deacons Michael Grima and Carl Scerri are to be ordained priests on Friday 26th May. Seminarian Joseph Hili is to be ordained deacon on Thursday 15th June. The ordination ceremonies are to be held at the Gozo Cathedral.
Bħala parti mill-attivitajiet ta’ fundraising għall-Gwatemala, nhar il-Ħadd 7 ta’ Mejju saret Sunday Funday ġewwa Ta’ Mena Estate f’ Marsalforn. Għal din l-attività attendew ħafna nies speċjalment familji bi tfal żgħar. L-attività bdiet filgħodu fl-10.30am b’quddiesa mmexxija mir-rettur u mbagħad issoktat b’ġurnata ta’ divertiment minn diversi kantanti, bands lokali u logħob organizzat għat-tfal. Kien hemm ukoll stands tal-ikel, tax-xorb u bela’ kafè u pasta ma naqsitx!
