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On Friday, 13th May, Deacon Matthew Bajada, who hails from the parish of Għarb, was ordained priest by the Bishop of Gozo, Mgr. Bishop Anton Teuma, at the Gozo Cathedral. The ordination was well attended by several priests, members of the Seminary community, members of Għarb Parish, Matthew’s family and friends, and other laypeople.

The day before, Thursday 12th May, a prayer vigil was organized at the Seminary as a spiritual preparation. The meditations during the vigil were made by the Rector Can. Richard Farrugia and were taken from the Gospel of Luke 1:39-56. During the last part of the vigil, the Blessed Sacrament was exposed, and the ordinand Matthew made a public prayer in front of our Lord. This was followed by the Eucharistic Benediction. Finally, the vigil was concluded with a short message from Mgr Anton Teuma. Afterwards, the Eucharistic adoration continued during the night at the Seminary Chapel.

On Saturday, the 6th  of May, the Seminary community started the day with a pilgrimage to the Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary.  On the way, the community recited the Rosary which is a prayer advocated by the Virgin Mother. Then rector Can. Richard Farrugia, together with the Vice-Rector Fr Samuel Grech, and the Spiritual Director Fr Tony Calleja, together with Fr Roberto Gauci who serves at Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary, celebrated Mass in the chapel of the sanctuary.  After the reading of the Gospel, and the homily, seminarians Matthew Borg, who hails from the Parish of the Nativity of Our Lady, Xagħra, and Franklin Micallef who hails from the Parish of Our Lady of the Perpetual Help and St Gregory the Great, Kerċem, made the vows of celibacy and faithfulness and the profession of faith prior to their ordination as deacons. In the same celebration Deacon Matthew Bajada renewed the vows he took a year before when he was about to be ordained Deacon.

The Priestly Ordination of Deacon Matthew is to be celebrated in the Gozo Cathedral on Friday 12th of May. While Seminarians Matthew and Franklin are to be ordained deacons on Friday 23th June at the same cathedral.

On Sunday 30th April, the fourth Easter Sunday, which also happened to be the day dedicated to vocations, in the parish church of Our Lady of Loretu in Għajnsielem, seminarians Matthew Borg and Franklin Micallef were admitted to holy orders. The celebration was led by Bishop of Gozo Mgr. Anton Teuma. Before Mgr. Teuma admitted them, they shared their vocational experience with all those present. 

We pray for them, for their fellow seminarians, and for more vocations.

Last Sunday, April 23rd, the Sacred Heart Seminary organized the fourth edition of Festa Abbatini at the parvis of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Pinu. The event was attended by a large number of altar boys from Gozitan parishes and communities, along with their families.

The event began with a meeting for the altar boys where they were given a message about Samuel’s call at the temple. The meeting started with the verse “Speak, because your servant is listening,” and the altar boys put this phrase together. The meeting continued with an explanation of this passage, inviting the altar boys to enter the story as those who serve the altar. This emphasized the importance of their role and how they can get closer to God.

In the meantime, Fr Krystof Buttigieg held a meeting for the parents in the Hall of the Sanctuary, where he discussed the role of parents in supporting their children’s service on the altar and their involvement in the Church as Christians.

After the meetings, the altar boys enjoyed games and food stands on the Church parvis. Some members of the Diocesan Family Commission were also present at the event.

Festa Abbatini provided a meaningful opportunity for altar boys, their families, and members of the Church to reflect, grow, and enjoy themselves. It emphasized the importance of their role as altar boys and their relationship with God.

The Church regards Lent as a highly significant period for preparing oneself for the Pascal mystery. Christians are encouraged to observe sacrifice and fasting during this time. The Seminary Community undertook various initiatives to derive spiritual benefits from Lent.

The Seminary’s daily program was dedicated to prayer, with special attention given to Mid Day prayer, the Via Crucis, and the Via Matris. On Wednesdays and Fridays, the community skipped lunch to exercise fasting. On Fridays, a lengthy adoration took place after dinner, which included a reflection by the rector and the adoration of the Cross. During daily mass, Seminary formators shared a reflection on the day’s Liturgy of the Word.

On Thursday 30th March, the community prayed the Via Crucis and celebrated mass on the iconic Ta’ Għammar hill. The Liturgical and Missionary Group organized a charity collection for Gozo’s secondary schools and the community itself to help the Missionary Fr Mario Curmi in Guatemala build a football ground for the children of his parish. This was done in collaboration with Encounter Guatemala, who will visit Fr Mario this Summer. A penitential celebration was held on Monday 27th March, and a fraternal correction was held at the Manresa Retreat House on Wednesday 29th March.

On Sunday 2nd April, the Community began its yearly spiritual retreat during the first days of Holy Week, led by Fr Kevin Schembri. In the meantime, seminarians Matthew Borg and Franklin Micallef had their ordination retreat led by Fr Christopher Caruana O.P. at the Fransiskan Community in Rabat, Malta. The Community will return to the Seminary on Monday 17th April, after having a week of holidays.

This year, the Feast of St Joseph fell on the Forth Sunday of Lent, so the solemnity was observed on Monday 20th of March. The day at the Seminary started with the Lauds, and in the evening, a solemn mass was held, presided over by the Can Rector Fr. Richard Farrugia. Seminarian Matthew Borg delivered a reflection on St. Joseph. During the mass, which was attended by the Sisters of the Sacred Heart, several staff members, and helpers.

Following the mass, a dinner was organized for the seminarians, formators, and staff of the seminary, which took place at Vini e Capricci by Abrahams.

On Saturday 18 of March, which happened to be the eve of St Joseph, our Seminary organized a Pasta Night in aid of our Seminary. The menu consisted of a cold-cuts appetizer, followed by three varieties of pasta; traditional Timpana, Rotarelle with pesto, and traditional locally-made Ravioli.

 In addition to enjoying the delicious food, attendees also participated in several Bingo games. We extend our gratitude to all who attended the event, to the “Aħwa ħbieb tas-Seminarju” for their support and preparation, to those who generously offered spot prizes, and finally, to our kitchen staff who organized the event and prepared the excellent food.

On Saturday, January 21st, which happed to be on the eve of the Sunday dedicated to the Word of God. our community gathered at the chapel for the annual blessing of the Icon that represents this year’s theme took place. The theme for this year’s icon was inspired by the Gospel of Luke (Lk1,39-45), with a particular focus on the verse “set out and traveled”. This passage served as the primary source of inspiration for the creation of the icon.

Fr. Peter Paul Sultana, the iconographer, was present during the celebration of the blessing of this year’s icon. The celebration was led by Canon Richard N. Farrugia, the rector. Prior to the blessing, Seminarian Franklin Micallef read the passage from Luke’s Gospel. Then Fr. Sultana gave a theological explanation of the technique and symbols used in the icon, highlighting the profound significance of each detail and how it can inspire anyone seeking to explore the biblical message of the passage through the icon. Fr. Rector subsequently blessed the icon.

Earlier today it was announced the death of Pope Emeritus, Benedict XVI, who died this morning at 9:34 am in the Monastery of Mater Ecclesiae in the Vatican.

The Director of the Press Room of the Holy See Matteo Bruni an hour after the death of the Pope gave this news.

Pope Benedict XVI, who was 95 years old, was the first Pope in 600 years to leave the pontificate during his lifetime. Right from then, in 2013, Pope Benedict XVI continued to live in the Vatican.

In April of the year 2020, Pope Benedict XVI during his Apostolic visit to our country placed a golden rose at the feet of Our Lady of Pinu during a mass held on the Floriana Granaries.

The Seminary community unites in prayer with suffrage for the soul of Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI. The Lord welcomes this humble and busy servant, faithful and wise who worked fully in his field.

December is a special time of the year. It is a time when humankind reflects on the figure of Baby Jesus, born for its salvation. It is a special time for the Seminary community too. The building itself is donned with Christmas decorations and the daily program of events takes on a different schedule. During Advent, we had more communal prayers. Every day at 6.10 am we recited together the Office of Readings. At Mass, then, we had reflections on the Word of God by our formators. The seminarians conducted the reflections on the Novena days. The seminarians and formators decorated the building with images of Baby Jesus, the crib, the Christmas tree, and Christmas lights. Christmas time is associated with gifts. The seminarians and formators too exchanged gifts, which are appreciated not for their value but for what they represented: a sense of generosity on the part of an individual who is ready to give and expects nothing in return.

Wednesday 21st December was the final day of the first term at the Seminary. We concluded this first term by celebrating the Mass at 6.30 pm. This was led by the Bishop of Gozo H.L. Mgr Anthony Teuma. Formators, sisters, and relatives of the seminarians participated in this celebration which was held in the Seminary chapel. At the end of the Mass, everyone exchanged his wishes for this festive season. Afterward, the seminarians started their Christmas holidays. They will return to the Seminary on Monday, 16th January 2023, to start their second term. We wish all our readers a Merry Christmas and a prosperous New Year.

On Sunday 18th December, the Forth Sunday of Advent, seminarians Matthew Borg and Franklin Micallef, who are in their sixth year of formation, were conferred with the ministry of Acolyte by our bishop H.L. Mgr Anthony Teuma. The conferral of this ministry took place during the 10.30am Holy Mass celebrated in the parish church of Kercem, which is dedicated to the Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St Gregory the Great. Matthew Borg hails from the parish of Xaghra dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgen Mary, while Franklin Micallef hails from the parish of Kercem. Various priests, including the formators of the Seminary, concelebrated. The celebration was also attended by relatives of the seminarians and people from the above-mentioned parish. Following the reading of the Gospel, the candidate was presented to the bishop. After the homily the bishop prayed upon the candidate and presented the chalice and paten to him, inviting him to live his life in a closer relationship with God and the Holy Eucharist.

Through the ministry of Acolyte, the seminarian lives a more profound discipleship of love to the Lord and service to the others. Apart from this the seminarian is able to assist the priest and deacon during liturgical celebration, distribute the Holy Eucharist to the faithful in church and to the sick at their homes, and expose the Blessed Sacrament for Adoration.

During Advent 2022 the Seminary community organised two activities for the altar boys and vocational groups of the Gozo diocese. The first activity took place on Saturday 9th December and catered for the altar boys between year 3 and year 9. The activity was inspired by the Diocese’s pastoral plan theme for Advent, The Word of God that became flesh. The group was divided into two subgroups according to the ages, and a reflection was carried out for each group, where the altar boys were given a reflection with a Christmas Spirit. The reflection was followed by some games.

On Tuesday 13th December another activity was held, this time for the altar boys between year 10 over. The theme was also of The Word of God that became flesh. A prayer meeting was held near the living quarters of the seminarians, where the importance of a Word which bring Peace was discussed. Then we had some time of Adoration led by the Vice Rector Fr. Samuel Grech, followed the the Vespers and Eucharistic Blessing. Afterwards dinner took place.