Tradizzjoni antika fis-Seminarju hija l-lungo passeggio. Din is-sena sar it-Tlieta 13 ta’ Diċembru, Jum ir-Repubblika. Is-seminaristi flimkien mal-formators telqu bil-mixi mid-Dwejra u mxew mal-kosta lejn Marsalforn. Il-mixja kienet ftit impennjattiva iżda fl-istess waqt kien mument fejn is-seminaristi setgħu jammiraw is-sbuħija tan-natura li għandna Għawdex. Nistgħu ngħidu li t-temp kien favorevoli għax wara jiem ta’ maltemp, it-Tlieta ħareġ jum xemxi li għen sabiex il-mixja tkun waħda sabiħa.
As in previous years, this year too, the seminarians followed the tradition of participating in a lungo passeggio. This hike took place on Tuesday, 13th December, a public holiday. Accompanied by their formators, the seminarians walked all the way along the coast from Dwejra to Marsalforn. The track was somewhat difficult but we were lucky to have fine weather considering the stormy weather we had had some days before. The hike offered us the opportunity to admire the picturesque landscape of Gozo.
Is-Sibt 10 ta’ Diċembru filgħodu, bosta abbatini nġabru fis-Seminarju għall-attività tradizzjonali tal-Milied organizzata mis-Seminaristi. L-attendenza għal din l-attività kienet sabiħa ħafna.
Bħas-sena l-oħra, il-laqgħa saret fil-bitħa tas-Seminarju. Fil-bidu, Mons. Isqof għadda messaġġ lil dawk preżenti. Is-seminarista Matthew Bajada mexxa l-laqgħa u tkellem fuq x’attitudni għandu jkollu n-nisrani f’dan iż-żmien tal-Milied, attitudni ta’ għajnuna lil ħaddieħor. Hu qal li dan huwa possibli jekk inħallu ’l qlubna timtela bl-imħabba t’Alla. Waqt il-laqgħa is-seminarista Joseph Hili libes ta’ San Nikola. Dan il-mument ferraħ mhux ftit lit-tfal!
Wara, is-seminaristi qassmu lit-tfal fi tliet gruppi, organizzawlhom logħob differenti, pprovdewlhom xi snacks u qassmu tifkira ta’ din l-okkażjoni lil kull min kien preżenti.
On Saturday, 10th December, a Christmas activity was held at the Seminary for altar boys and the Vocation Groups. Bishop Grech greeted the altar boys and delivered his message for Christmas. Matthew Bajada reflected on the attitude the Catholic should have at Christmas time: he should his best to help others. This is possible only if we let our hearts be filled with God’s love. Seminarian Joseph Hili dressed as St Nicholas. This was a special treat to our guests. During the activity, the altar boys could reflect on how important it is for us to let God fill our hearts with love which we would then share with others. The altar boys were then divided into three groups and took part in various games. They were offered a snack and a memento of the occasion.
Nhar il-Ħamis 8 ta’ Diċembru, il-Knisja Kattolika ċċelebrat is-Solennità tal-Immakulata Kunċizzjoni. Din il-festa għandha wkoll rabta mas-Seminarju, minħabba li l-Kappella tas-Seminarju għandha bħala titular tagħha l-Immakulata Kunċizzjoni.
L-Erbgħa filgħaxija, is-seminaristi taw is-servizz tagħhom fil-kant tal-Għasar fil-Katidral. Il-Ħamis filgħodu tlabna l-Uffiċċju tal-Qari u tkanta t-Tifħir ta’ Sbiħ il-Jum fil-Kappella. Fit-8.00am is-seminaristi taw is-servizz tagħhom fil-Pontifikal fil-Katidral u fit-3.00pm saret it-talba tal-Akathistos. Din hi t-talba ta’ tifħir li l-Knisja ta’ Lvant tagħmel lil Marija Omm Alla.
On Thursday, 8th December, the Catholic Church celebrated the feast of the Immaculate Conception. This feast has a special bond with our seminary since the Seminary Chapel has the Immaculate Conception as its main altar piece. On Wednesday afternoon, the seminarians rendered service during Vespers at the Cathedral. Thursday morning started with the reading from the Liturgy of the Hours and the Lauds in the chapel. At 8.00 a.m. the seminarians rendered service at the Cathedral during the Pontifical Mass. The prayer of Akathistos, which is a prayer of praise that the Eastern Christians recite to Mary, Mother of God, was said at 3.00 p.m.
Nhar is-Sibt 26 ta’ Novembru 2016 (l-Ewwel Ħadd tal-Avvent) Mons. Isqof Mario Grech istitwixxa lis-Seminarista Joseph Hili (mill-parroċċa tax-Xagħra) bħala akkolitu. Il-komunità tas-Seminarju flimkien mal-familjari tas-seminarista u xi nies oħrajn, inġabru għall-Quddiesa fir-Rotunda tax-Xewkija.
Mons. Isqof, waqt l-omelija, ħeġġeġ lil Joseph sabiex irawwem fih il-qawwa profetika. “Għax fejn kollox huwa dlam, il-profeta jilmaħ id-dwal; fejn kollox jidher nieżel, jara l-possibilità ta’ restawrazzjoni; meta d-desert ikompli jespandi huwa jinnota dik iż-żerriegħa tat-tajjeb qed tnibbet; fejn hemm il-ġlied u l-firda, huwa jemmen li jista jkun hemm is-sliem u l-għaqda. Għax il-profeta jara bl-għajnejn ta’ Alla”.
Wara l-omelija sar ir-rit tal-għoti tal-ministeru tal-akkolitat. Joseph ġie mogħti l-patena bil-ħobż u l-kalċi bl-inbid. Mil-lum ’il quddiem huwa jista’ jgħin fit-tqarbin, iwassal t-tqarbin lill-morda fi djarhom u jesponi l-Ewkaristija għall-Adorazzjoni.
Ritratti: Captured Memories
On Saturday 26th November, the First Sunday of Advent, Bishop Mario Grech bestowed the Ministry of the Acolyte to Seminarian Joseph Hili, who hails from Xaghra parish. The Seminary community and relatives and friends of the seminarian attended this ceremony, held at Xewkija. During the homily, Mgr Grech urged Joseph to instil in himself the strength of the prophet who sees light where there is darkness; restores what seems to be utterly destroyed; marks the seed of life in an expanding desert; spreads peace and unity wherever there is war and division, since the prophet sees through the eyes of God.
The rite of the bestowal of the Ministry of the Acolyte followed the homily. Joseph was given the patena with bread and the chalice with wine. As an acolyte Joseph can now distribute the Eucharist to the faithful in church and to the sick at their homes, and he can expose the Blessed Sacrament for Adoration.
Photos by Captured Memories
Mument sabiħ fis-Seminarju kien fis-Sibt 26 ta’ Novembru. Dakinhar saret it-tħabbira tal-Avvent Imqaddes u saret ukoll il-preżentazzjoni tal-ikona għal din is-sena ta’ formazzjoni. Waqt din iċ-ċelebrazzjoni, ir-Rettur, Dun Richard N. Farrugia qasam mal-komunità spjegazzjoni tas-silta mill-Ktieb tal-Apokalissi ta’ San Ġwann Appostlu (Apk 22:12-13.16-21). Ma naqasx ukoll il-kant Maranathà u innijiet oħra marbuta ma’ dan iż-żmien tal-Avvent. Wara, ir-Rettur indika xi tibdiliet fil-programm tal-komunità, li kellhom jieħdu posthom tul l-Avvent, biex ifakkruna li dan hu żmien speċjali. L-ikona, miktuba apposta għal din is-sena minn Loreta Grech, ġiet ispirata mill-frażi: “Ħaffef, oħroġ fil-mogħdijiet u fl-għelieqi ħalli dari timtela”, meħuda mill-parabbola tal-ikla tat-tieġ (Lq 14, 16-24).
Saturday, 26th November, the Seminary held a celebration which heralded Advent and during which the icon for this year of formation was presented. During the celebration, the rector, Fr Richard N. Farrugia, presented reflections on the excerpt from the Book of Revelations of Saint John the Apostle (Rev 22:12-13.16-21). The singing of Maranathà and other hymns related with Advent accompanied the celebration. The Rector outlined some changes in the programme of events so that the programme reflects this special time of the year. The icon, written by Loreta Grech, was inspired by the extract: Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. (Lk 14:16-34)
Il-manifestazzjoni djoċesana ta’ Kristu Re din is-sena saret il-Ħadd 20 ta’ Novembru fir-Rotunda tax-Xewkija minħabba li t-temp ma ppermettiex li din issir kif kien ippjanat quddiem is-Santwarju tal-Madonna tal-Grazzja fil-Belt Victoria. Din saret ukoll fl-istess ġurnata li Papa Franġisku temm il-Ġublew Straordinarju tal-Ħniena. Waqt iċ-ċelebrazzjoni li saret madwar ix-xbieha ta’ Krsitu msallab, ġew irrkkontati diversi esperjenzi ta’ volontarjat li saru fis-sajf minn diversi gruppi. Fl-aħħar ta’ din iċ-ċelebrazzjoni Mons. Isqof fil-messaġġ tiegħu qal li Ġesù fuq is-salib huwa konferma ta’ x’kapaċi tagħmel soċjetà li ma tafx x’inhi l-ħniena. Hu saħaq li aħna għandna nkunu bnedmin li nagħrfu l-ħniena f’Ġesù fuq is-salib.
The diocesan manifestation on the occasion of the feast of Christ the King was held on Sunday 20th November. The celebration was held at the Xewkija Rotunda. The original plan to hold the celebration in the area in front of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Graces in Victoria had to be cancelled due to adverse weather conditions. It coincided with the day on which Pope Francis ended the extraordinary Jubilee of Mercy. During the ceremony, which focused on the image of the Crucifix, various groups talked about their voluntary work experience during the summer. In his address, which rounded up the celebration, Bishop Grech said that the crucifixion of Christ is a confirmation of what a merciless society can do. He emphasised that we all should identify mercy with the Crucified Christ.
