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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 24 ta’ Mejju filgħaxija l-istudenti ngħaqdu mas-seminaristi fil-kappella tas-Seminarju fejn sar mument ta’ adorazzjoni li inkorpora fih it-talb tas-Salmi.  Dan it-talb sar b’tali mod li l-istudenti setgħu jidħlu f’ambjent ta’ riflessjoni u jimmeditaw fuq dawn is-siltiet sbieħ mill-Iskrittura.  Fi tmiem l-adorazzjoni dawk kollha preżenti, flimkien mal-formators u ma’ Mons. Isqof telgħu fuq il-bejt tas-Seminarju, fejn is-seminaristi ħadu ħsieb iħejju barbikju.

On Tuesday afternoon 24th May, when the MATSEC exams were over, students members of the Vocational Group of the Diocese were invited by the Seminary community for moments of prayer, followed by a barbecue.  The students joined the seminarians in the Seminary chapel for the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament and the reciting of the Psalms.  The students had time to reflect on the readings from the Holy Scriptures.  Later on in the evening, the students were joined by Bishop Grech and the formators of the Seminary for a barbecue on the roof of the Seminary building.   The barbecue was organised by the seminarians.

Nhar il-Ġimgħa, 20 ta’ Mejju, id-djakni Joseph Attard (Żebbuġ), Massimo Buttigieg (Katidral – Victoria) u Mario Curmi (Xagħra) 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 taż-Żebbuġ, tal-Katidral u tax-Xagħra, 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, 19 ta’ Mejju, tinġabar fis-Seminarju biex tingħaqad mal-ordinandi u titlob flimkien magħhom.

On Friday 20th May, Deacon Joseph Attard (Żebbuġ), Massimo Buttigieg (Cathedral, Victoria) and Mario Curmi (Xagħra) were ordained priests by Mgr Bishop Mario Grech, during Holy Mass celebrated at the Assumption Cathedral in Victoria.  A number of priests, members of the Seminary community and members of parochial communities of Żebbuġ, the Cathedral and Xagħra were present for this great event in the life of these three young men.  On the eve of the Ordination ceremony, the Gozo Church was invited to an evening of prayer held at the Seminary, to pray for and with the three ordinands.

Nhar il-Ħamis 11 ta’ Mejju ġie organizzat jum ieħor ta’ talb għall-vokazzjonijiet.  Filgħodu sar il-programm tas-soltu fis-Seminarju.  Filgħaxija mbagħad, din id-darba mess lill-Parroċċa taż-Żebbuġ sabiex tospita lill-komunità għas-siegħa adorazzjoni animata.  L-ewwel parti ta’ din is-siegħa kienet immexxija mir-Rettur li għamel ħsieb marbut man-Novena tal-Ispirtu s-Santu, fil-kuntest tal-aħħar parti ta’ żmien il-Għid.  Hu għamel dan b’riferiment għal waħda mill-kitbiet ta’ Dun Mikiel Attard.  Fit-tieni parti xi seminaristi komplew l-adorazzjoni permezz tar-Rużarju, fil-kuntest tax-xahar ta’ Mejju.  Għalaqna l-Adorazzjoni permezz tal-Barka Sagramentali.  L-aħħar appuntament għal din is-sena se jinżamm nhar il-Ħamis 9 ta’ Ġunju, fil-kappella tas-Seminarju.

Thursday 11th May was another day of prayer for vocations.  The programme followed the usual schedule: morning prayers and adoration at the Seminary, followed by an hour of adoration at the parish church of Żebbuġ.  The first part of the activity at Żebbuġ was animated by the Rev. Rector.  Since it happened to be Easter time, the Rev. Rector linked his reflections, based on Dun Mikiel Attard’s writings, with the Novena of the Holy Spirit.  The afternoon of prayer proceeded with the recital of the Holy Rosary, since May is the month dedicated to the Holy Virgin.  The Adoration came to end with the Sacramental Blessing.  The last appointment for this year is for Thursday 9th June at the Seminary chapel.

Il-programm tas-Sibt 7 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.  Id-Direttur Spiritwali spjega li fil-kuntest tal-Ġublew tal-Ħniena dan il-pellegrinaġġ għandu jieħu dimensjoni ta’ pellegrinaġġ penitenzjali.

Tul l-aħħar parti tal-mixja, ir-Rettur tas-Santwarju Dun Gerard Buhagiar, għamel ħsibijiet marbuta man-niċeċ li hemm tul it-triq li tagħti għas-Santwarju. Imbagħad sar id-dħul mill-Bieb Imqaddes u l-komunità nġabret fil-kappella tad-dehra 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-seminaristi Michael Grima u Carl Scerri, u d-djakni Joseph Attard, Massimo Buttigieg u Mario Curmi, għamlu l-wegħdiet ta’ qabel l-Ordinazzjoni Djakonali u Presbiterali rispettivament

Id-djakni Joseph, Massimo u Mario se jiġu ordnati presbiteri fil-Katidral ta’ Għawdex nhar il-Ġimgħa 20 ta’ Mejju.  Is-seminaristi Michael Grima u Carl Scerri se jiġu ordnati djakni fl-istess Katidral nhar il-Ġimgħa 24 ta’ Ġunju.

The programme for Saturday 7th May was rather different from that of other Saturdays.  The community left the Seminary early in the morning for the annual pilgrimage to The Madonna Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary.  The early morning serenity provided the right atmosphere to accompany us in our recital of the Rosary. The Spiritual Director explained that in the context of the Jubilee of Mercy this pilgrimage should take the dimension of a penitential pilgrimage.

In the last part of the pilgrimage, the Rector of the Sanctuary, Fr Gerard Buhagiar, shared some reflections linked with the niches situated on the road that leads to the Sanctuary. Then we went through the Door of Mercy and on to the Chapel of the Apparition for the celebration of the Holy Mass.  Following the reading of the Gospel, Seminarians Michael Grima and Carl Scerri, and Deacons Joseph Attard, Massimo Buttigieg and Mario Curmi, placed one hand on the Gospel and, in the presence of the Blessed Eucharist and in front of the holy image of the Assumption, they pledged their vows prior to their ordination as deacons and priests respectively.

Deacons Joseph, Massimo and Mario are to be ordained priests at the Gozo Cathedral on Friday 20th May.  Seminarians Michael and Carl are to be ordained deacons on Friday 24th June at the same cathedral.

Festabbatini, ġiet organizzata għall-abbatini u għall-familji tagħhom, kienet organizzata mis-seminaristi fl-okkażjoni ta’ Ħadd il-Vokazzjonijiet (17 ta’ April) kif ukoll bħala parti miċ-ċelebrazzjonijiet djoċesani tal-Ġublew tal-Ħniena. Din inżammet quddiem is-Santwarju Nazzjonali Ta’ Pinu. Dawk kollha li attendew setgħu jifhmu b’mod viżiv l-istorja tar-Ragħaj it-tajjeb permezz ta’ rappreżentazzjoni ħelwa u komika ta’ ragħaj – b’ħarufa ċkejkna fuq il-palk. Madwar din il-ġrajja kien idur ukoll il-messaġġ tal-Vanġelu tal-istess Ħadd.

Wara dan, ilkoll flimkien wara r-Ragħaj tad-Djoċesi, l-Isqof Mario Grech, dħalna f’purċissjoni mill-Bieb tal-Ħniena tas-Santwarju. Hemm sar mument ta’ talb li fih ġew involuti abbatini minn kull parroċċa. Fil-ħsieb tiegħu l-Isqof Grech qal li l-missjoni tas-saċerdot hi dik li jkun qrib tal-bniedem u jgħinu jġarrab il-faraġ ta’ Alla. “Għalina s-saċerdoti: mhux ‘in-nies’ huma tagħna, imma aħna tan-nies”. L-Isqof tenna li bħal Ġesù, ir-Ragħaj it-tajjeb, li juri mħabba partikulari lejn in-nagħġa mtertqa, hekk is-saċerdot għandu l-missjoni li jdewwi l-ġrieħi tal-bnedmin. Hu fakkar li anki llum Ġesù għadu jsejjaħ, u qal li jqis lill-gruppi tal-abbatini bħala “seminarju ċkejken” fejn “iż-żgħar jedukaw qalbhom biex tilqa’ fiha ż-żerriegħa ta’ vokazzjoni għal saċerdot jew għall-ħajja reliġjuża”.

L-attività kompliet fil-pjazza tas-Santwarju, fejn l-abbatini kellhom divertiment u logħob organizzat apposta għalihom. Is-seminaristi ħadu ħsieb iħejju xi ħaġa tajba tal-ikel. Kien hemm ukoll rokna ta’ promozzjoni vokazzjonali fejn wieħed seta’ jsegwi wkoll filmati ta’ esperjenzi mill-ħajja tas-Seminarju, kif ukoll jiltaqa’ mal-Isqof u mas-seminaristi.

Ara xeni mill-attività billi tagħfas hawn.

Ritratti

Festabbatini was organized by the seminarians for altar boys and members of their families.   It was held on 17th April, which happened to be Vocations Sunday and it was part of the diocesan celebrations of the Jubilee of Mercy.  Festabbatini was held in the square in front of  Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary.  The parable of the Good Shepherd was presented in the form of a short play.  In the play, which was a comic representation enjoyed by the whole congregation, the  shepherd was accompanied by a lamb, brought especially for the occasion.  The parable was linked with the message of the Gospel of that same Sunday.

Then, the Diocesan Shepherd, Bishop Mario Grech, led a procession through the Door of Mercy at the Sanctuary.  Altar boys from different parishes prayed together.  In his short homily, the Bishop stressed that the mission of the priest is to be close to man and to help man feel the mercy of God.  “The people are not at the service of us, priests.  It is the priest who is at the service of the people.”  The Bishop said that as Jesus, the Good Shepherd, shows a particular love towards the injured sheep, so should the priest cure the wounds of man.  He said that Jesus is still calling for vocations and that he looks at the group of altar boys as a “small seminary where the young ones are prepared to embrace the priestly or religious vocation.”

The activity proceeded with recreational activities in the same square.  Delicacies were prepared by the seminarians.  A stand was dedicated to vocational promotion.  Those present could follow videos about life at the Seminary and meet the Bishop and the seminarians.

Click here to watch a video of the activity.

Images

Fil-jiem li għaddew, bi tħejjija għaċ-ċelebrazzjoni tal-150 sena anniversarju mit-twaqqif tas-Seminarju, is-seminaristi ħejjew feature bl-isem: 150 Sena Seminarju: L-Istorja Tagħna. Dan sar bil-għan li titqajjem iktar kuxjenza vokazzjonali fost iż-żgħażagħ. Skop ieħor kien dak li s-Seminarju tagħna jasal ukoll għand dawk in-nies li f’ħajjithom qatt ma kellhom iċ-ċans jiġu f’kuntatt ma’ din ir-realtà.

Fl-aħħar ġimgħat, qabel id-dokumentarju, dehru erba’ filmati qosra fuq il-Paġna Uffiċjali tal-Facebook tas-Seminarju Maġġuri ta’ Għawdex (SacredHeartSeminaryGozo). L-għan tagħhom kien li juru l-wiċċ uman tas-saċerdoti tagħna. Hu interessanti li s-saċerdoti kollha intervistati huma wħud mis-600 saċerdot li ħarġu mis-Seminarju tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù minn meta ġie mwaqqaf 150 sena ilu.

In the past few days, as part of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the Seminary, the seminarians prepared a feature called: 150 Sena Seminarju: L-Istorja Tagħna.  The feature aims at creating more vocational awareness among youth and at opening the doors of the Seminary to those people who have never had the opportunity of knowing what life at the Seminary is like.

In the weeks prior to the release of the documentary, the Facebook page of the Major Seminary (SacredHeartSeminaryGozo) showed four short videos which gave a humane face to priesthood.  The priests who were interviewed are from among the 600 priests who were  prepared for priesthood  at the Sacred Heart Seminary during these 150 years.