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Is-seminaristi Joseph Attard (Parroċċa Marija Assunta, iż-Żebbuġ), Massimo Buttigieg (Parroċċa Marija Assunta fil-Knisja Katidrali, Belt Victoria) u Mario Curmi (Parroċċa Natività ta’ Marija, ix-Xagħra) ġew aċċettati bħala kandidati għall-ordinazzjoni djakonali.  Mons. Isqof Mario Grech mexxa r-rit tal-ammissjoni li sar waqt il-Velja Djoċesana ta’ Għid il-Ħamsin, fil-knisja parrokkjali Ta’ Sannat, is-Sibt 23 ta’ Mejju 2015.  Ġimgħa wara, is-Sibt 30 ta’ Mejju, it-tliet kandidati għamlu l-wegħda taċ-ċelibat waqt Quddiesa fis-Santwarju Ta’ Pinu.

Mons. Isqof waqt l-omelija tal-Velja ta’ Pentekostè stieden lill-Knisja biex tkun miftuħa għat-tnebbih tal-Ispirtu s-Santu.  Hu għamel din l-istedina b’mod speċjali lis-saċerdoti u lil Joseph, Massimo u Mario.  Fi tmiem l-omelija r-Rettur, Dun Tony Sciberras mssp sejjaħ lill-kandidati b’isimhom u kull wieħed minnhom wieġeb: “Hawn jien”.  Mons. Isqof talab fuqhom filwaqt li ppreżentahom bħala kandidati uffiċċjali għall-Ordni Sagri.  Hu ħeġġeġ lill-Knisja sabiex titlob għalihom, b’mod  speċjali fil-ġimgħat li ġejjin, sal-ordinazzjoni tagħhom li se ssir nhar is-Sibt 20 ta’ Ġunju fil-Katidral tal-Assunta.

Is-Sibt 30 ta’ Mejju filgħodu, is-seminaristi flimkien mal-formators telqu f’pellegrinaġġ bil-mixi lejn is-Santwarju Ta’ Pinu.  Tul it-triq intalbet it-talba tar-Rużarju u mal-wasla f’Ta’ Pinu r-Rettur mexxa l-Ewkaristija.  Fi tmiem il-liturġija tal-Kelma t-tliet kandidati għamlu l-Istqarrija tal-Fidi u ffirmaw id-dokumenti marbuta mal-wegħda taċ-ċelibat.

Seminarians Joseph Attard (Parish of The Assumption, Zebbug), Massimo Buttigieg (Parish of The Assumption, The Cathedral, Victoria) and Mario Curmi (Parish of The Nativity of Our Lady, Xaghra) were accepted as candidates for ordination as deacons.  Bishop Mario Grech led the rite of admission during a diocesan evening of prayer on Pentecoste, held on Saturday 23rd May, at the parish church of Sannat.

In his homily, the Bishop invited the Church to be open to the inspiration of the Holy Spirit.  His words were addressed especially to the priests and to Joseph, Massimo and Mario.  After the homily, Rector Fr Tony Sciberras MSSP called the candidates by name and they answered with the words: “Here I am”.  The Bishop prayed over them while presenting them as official candidates for the Holy Orders.  He encouraged the Church to pray for them, especially during the coming weeks, up to the day of their ordination, on Saturday 20th June, at the Cathedral.

On Saturday morning, 30th May, the three candidates made the vow of celibacy during a Mass held at Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary.  On this occasion, the seminarians, accompanied by their formators, went on a pilgrimage on foot to the sanctuary.  During the pilgrimage the Rosary was recited and on arriving at the sanctuary, the Rector celebrated Mass.  At the end of the Liturgy of the Word the three candidates made the Declaration of Faith and signed the documents related with the vows of celibacy.

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.

Is-seminaristi Joseph Attard u Mario Curmi, 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 il-Ġimgħa 29 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 it-Tlieta 2 u l-Ħamis 11 ta’ Ġunju.

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Many people wonder how seminarians pass their day at the Seminary.  For seven whole years, the seminarian spends many weeks ‘locked up’ in this house of formation where he prepares himself for life as priest.

The Seminary helps the seminarian gain a holistic formation.  First of all, the seminarian is aided to think about and reflect on his priestly vocation.  Throughout the seven years at the Seminary, he has to be certain that his priestly vocation is truly God’s call.  For this reason, various formators help the seminarian understand and accept his real self and to mature spiritually.  The formators who are chosen to accompany the seminarian along the years of formation are people with experience in this field. The pastoral experience gained during weekends and during the intermediary year help the seminarian to take on more heartily the role of a shepherd.

Meanwhile, the seminarian has the duty to prepare himself well academically for this difficult mission.  For this reason, during his stay at the Seminary, the seminarian reads philosophy and theology at tertiary level.  In fact, the Faculty of Theology at the Gozo Seminary is affiliated with the Angelicum Pontificia Università San Tommaso d’Aquino.  Various lecturers visit the Seminary and give lectures everyday, except on Thursday.

Seminarians Joseph Attard and Mario Curmi sat for the examination de universa (comprehensive), which marked the end of their accademic studies at the Seminary.  The other seminarians ended their lectures for the year on Friday 29th May.  They will be sitting for their examinations from Tuesday 2nd to Thursday 11th June.

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Nhar is-Sibt 11 ta’ April ħalliena Fr Anton Azzopardi sj.  Dan il-Ġiżwita kien ir-rettur tas-Seminarju tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù għal disa’ snin sħaħ.  Għaldaqstant nhar it-Tnejn 11 ta’ Mejju, f’għeluq ix-xahar minn mewtu, Mons. Isqof Mario Grech mexxa Quddiesa għal ruħu fis-Seminarju t’Għawdex.  Għal din il-Quddiesa kienu mistiedna s-saċerdoti li studjaw fis-Seminarju bejn l-1969 u l-1978.  Ikkonċelebraw ukoll xi patrijiet Ġiżwiti, fosthom il-Provinċjal Fr Patrick Magro u Fr John Scicluna, l-aħħar Ġiżwita li kien rettur tas-Seminarju t’Għawdex (1995-1997).

Mons. Isqof Mario Grech radd ħajr lil Alla għall-Kumpanija ta’ Ġesù li għal diversi snin ipprovdiet saċerdoti li qdew b’imħabba lis-Seminarju t’Għawdex.  Fil-ħin tal-prietka hu ħa l-okkażjoni biex jistieden lis-saċerdoti preżenti, speċjalment dawk li jgħinu fil-formazzjoni tas-seminaristi, sabiex jitolbu lil Alla d-don tal-Ispirtu tal-verità.  Dan għandu jdawwalhom fid-dixxerniment kontinwu tagħhom tal-kandidati għas-saċerdozju.  Fl-istess waqt l-Ispirtu jrid jgħinhom jiffurmaw persuni li kapaċi jagħrfu jaqraw dak li Alla jrid minnhom u anki jaqraw ir-rieda ta’ Alla fis-sitwazzjonijiet li huma jkunu qed jaħdmu fihom bħala saċerdoti.  Mons. Isqof fisser li Fr Anton Azzopardi sj, kien tassew persuna li għarfet tħalli lilha nfisha titmexxa mill-Ispirtu.  Dan deher b’mod speċjali fir-riforma li hu rnexxielu jġib fis-Seminarju t’Għawdex sakemm dam rettur.

Fr Anton Azzopardi sj twieled il-Ħamrun fl-14 ta’ Jannar 1925.  Huwa daħal Ġiżwita fl-1 ta’ Ottubru 1945 u ġie ordnat saċerdot fid-29 ta’ Lulju 1956.  Nhar it-2 ta’ Frar 1963 għamel il-professjoni solenni tiegħu.  Wara li kien rettur tal-Kulleġġ San Alwiġi, fl-1969 ġie mibgħut Għawdex biex ikun ir-rettur tas-Seminarju.  Hu qeda dan il-ministeru wara Dun Ġużeppi Mercieca, eventwalment l-Arċisqof ta’ Malta.  Fr Anton kien l-ewwel wieħed li reġa’ fetaħ it-tradizzjoni li s-Seminarju t’Għawdex ikun immexxi minn patri Ġiżwita.  L-aħħar Ġiżwita qablu li kien rettur tas-Seminarju kien Fr Emmanuele Grima sj, li qeda bħala rettur sal-1909.  Għal 28 sena sħaħ, minn Fr Anton Azzopardi sj (1969) sa Fr John Scicluna sj (1997), is-Seminarju ġie mmexxi mill-Ġiżwiti.  Wara li qeda fis-Seminarju tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù Fr Anton Azzopardi reġa’ kien rettur tal-Kulleġġ San Alwiġi, sal-1985.  Huwa temm il-ħajja tiegħu fuq din l-art nhar il-11 ta’ April 2015, fin-Naxxar.

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On Saturday 11th April, the community of the Seminary received the news of the death of Fr Anton Azzopardi SJ, who had served for nine years as rector of the Sacred Heart Seminary.  On Monday 11th May, a month after the death of Fr Azzopardi, Bishop Mgr Mario Grech led the celebration  of Mass for the repose of the soul of Fr Azzopardi.  Various priests who had pursued their studies at the Seminary between the years 1969 and 1978 joined in the concelebration.  Provincial Fr Patrick Magro and Fr John Scicluna, who was the last Jesuit Rector who served at the Gozo Seminary (1995-1997), were also present.

Bishop Mgr Mario Grech thanked God for the Company of Jesus.  Its members had, for many years, served the Gozo Seminary with love and dedication.  During the homily, the bishop invited the priests, especially those who help in the formation of seminarians, to pray God to bestow on them the gift of the Spirit of Truth.  The Spirit will enlighten them in their continuous discernment of the candidates for priesthood.  At the same time, the Spirit will help them educate the seminarians in their charge to be able to read God’s will for them and to be able, as priests, to  follow God’s will in the situations they find themselves in.  The Bishop ended his homily by stating that Fr Anton Azzopardi SJ was surely enlightened by this Spirit, especially in the reforms which he succeeded in introducing at the Gozo Seminary during his term as Rector.

Fr Anton Azzopardi SJ was born at Hamrun on 14th January 1925.  He joined the Jesuits on the 1st October 1945 and was ordained priest on 29th July 1956.  He made his solemn profession on 2nd February 1963.  He served as rector at St Aloysius College and then, in 1969, he became rector of the Gozo Seminary.  He succeeded Fr Joseph Mercieca, who later became Archbishop of Malta.  Fr Azzopardi was the first in a new line of Jesuits to act as rector at the Seminary.  The last Jesuit who had served as rector before Fr Azzopardi was Fr Emmanuele Grima SJ, who was rector of the Seminary up to 1909.  The Gozo Seminary had Jesuit rectors for 28 years, from 1969 (with Fr Azzopardi) to 1997 (with Fr John Scicluna).  After ending his term as rector at the Gozo Seminary, Fr Anton Azzopardi was again made rector of St Aloysius College, a position which he held up to 1985.  Fr Azzopardi died at Naxxar on 11th April 2015.

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L-1 ta’ Mejju, il-Festa ta’ San Ġużepp Ħaddiem, hi vaganza pubblika.  Il-komunità tas-Seminarju, ta’ kull sena, tieħu l-okkażjoni biex dakinhar tqatta’ nofstanhar ta’ mistrieħ f’Malta.

Din is-sena, nhar il-Ġimgħa 1 ta’ Mejju, is-seminaristi flimkien mal-formators bdew il-ħarġa bi żjara lis-Sorijiet Agostinjani tal-klawsura ta’ Santa Katarina Verġni u Martri, fil-Belt Valletta.  Fl-okkażjoni tas-sena ddedikata lill-erwieħ ikkonsagrati, dan kien mument sabiħ sabiex is-seminaristi setgħu jiġu f’kuntatt ma’ dawn l-erwieħ li ddedikaw ħajjithom biex jinterċedu għall-poplu fit-talb.  Wara li talbu u tkellmu ftit flimkien, il-komunità marret żaret Casa Rocca Piccola li tinsab propju faċċata tal-monasteru ta’ Santa Katarina.

Iż-żjara f’Casa Rocca Piccola kien ukoll mument interessanti.  Il-komunità kellha x-xorti li tiġi ggwidata mill-Baruni Nicholas De Piro nnifsu.  F’Casa Rocca Piccola wieħed seta’ jifhem x’livell kulturali għoli kellhom nies Maltin bħalna, antenati tagħna.

F’nofsinhar il-komunità kienet mistiedna għall-ikel fis-Seminarju tal-Virtù.  Dan kien mument sabiħ peress li ż-żewġ komunitajiet, dik tas-Seminarju tal-Arċisqof u dik tas-Seminarju tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù setgħu jiltaqgħu u jitkellmu flimkien.

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The 1st of May, Feast of St Joseph the Worker, is a public holiday.  This is the day when the Seminary community has its annual half-day outing to Malta.

This year, the community first visited the Monastery of  Augustinian Cloistered Nuns of St Catherine, Virgin and Martyr, in Valletta.  Since this year is dedicated to consecrated souls, the visit to the nuns was a special occasion during which the seminarians shared their experience with these nuns who dedicate their life to prayer for the world.  After spending some time in prayer with the nuns, the Seminary community paid a visit to Casa Rocca Piccola situated opposite the Monastery of St Catherine.

The visit to Casa Rocca Piccola was a memorable one since the community was shown around by Baron Nicholas De Piro himself.  Casa Rocca Piccola is a testimonial of the high cultural standard of our Maltese ancestors.

The community of the Gozo Seminary joined the community of Tal-Virtu Seminary at lunch during which the two communities socialised and shared  their experiences.

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Fir-Raba’ Ħadd tal-Għid, magħruf bħala Ħadd ir-Ragħaj it-Tajjeb, il-Knisja ta’ kull sena tistedinna sabiex nitolbu lil “Sid il-ħsad biex jibgħat aktar ħaddiema għall-ħsad tiegħu.”  Din is-sena Jum il-Vokazzjonijiet ġie ċċelebrat il-Ħadd 26 ta’ April 2015.

Is-Seminarju ta’ Għawdex organizza diversi attivitajiet sabiex joħloq aktar awareness vokazzjonali fid-djoċesi Għawdxija.  Il-Ħamis 23 ta’ April filgħaxija, il-komunità tas-Seminarju nġabret fil-knisja parrokkjali ta’ San Lawrenz għal Quddiesa, li mexxa r-Rettur Dun Tony Sciberras.  Fi tmiem il-Quddiesa s-seminaristi mexxew mument ta’ adorazzjoni b’talb għall-vokazzjonijiet.

Is-Sibt 25 ta’ April waranofsinhar l-abbatini kollha tad-djoċesi flimkien mal-membri tal-gruppi tal-vokazzjonijiet ġew mistiedna s-Seminarju għal laqgħa li s-seminaristi ħadu ħsieb jorganizzaw għalihom.  Fi tmiem il-laqgħa t-tfal u l-istudenti ngħataw snack u dawk kollha li xtaqu setgħu jipparteċipaw f’logħba futbol.

F’Jum il-Vokazzjonijiet, il-Ħadd 26 ta’ April, is-seminaristi, waqt li kienu fil-parroċċi assenjati lilhom, kellhom iċ-ċans jaqsmu l-esperjenza vokazzjonali tagħhom fil-ħin tal-priedka, waqt il-Quddiesa prinċipali.

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On the Fourth Sunday of Easter, known as the Good Shepherd Sunday, the Church invites us to pray The Lord of the harvest to send more workers to harvest his fields.  This year, Vocatations Day was celebrated on Sunday, 26th April.

The Gozo Seminary organised various activities to increase awareness regarding vocations in the Gozo diocese.  On Thursday evening, 23rd April, the community of the Seminary participated in the celebration of  Holy Mass officiated by Fr. Tony Sciberras, the rector of the Seminary.  The Mass was celebrated at the parish church of St Laurence.  Mass was followed by moments of Adoration of the Blessed Eucharist.  Invocations for vocations were offered by the seminarians.

On Saturday afternoon, 25th April, altar boys and members of theVocations Groups from Gozo gathered at the Seminary for an activity organised by the Seminarins.  A light snack was offered to all the participants.  Football games followed.

On Vocations Day, Sunday 26th April, the seminarians shared their vocational experience with the congregation gathered for Mass in various parish churches.  This sharing of experience took place in those parishes in which the seminarians are doing pastoral work.

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Nhar  il-Ħamis 23 ta’ April Mons. Isqof għarraf lill-komunità tas-Seminarju li hu ħatar lil Dun Michael Curmi, sal-lum Viċi Rettur tas-Seminarju, bħala Arċipriet tal-Parroċċa ta’ Santa Margerita, Ta’ Sannat.  Mons. Grech għamel dan waqt Quddiesa li hu mexxa fis-Seminarju, il-Ħamis filgħodu.  F’isem il-Komunità, ir-Rettur, Dun Tony Sciberras mssp radd ħajr lil Dun Michael Curmi.  Hu stqarr li fil-ftit żmien li ilu hawn bħala rettur, hu għaraf kemm verament Dun Michael uża t-talenti tiegħu sabiex ikun ta’ servizz għas-seminaristi u għall-formazzjoni tagħhom.  Dun Michael qeda l-ministeru ta’ Viċi Rettur għal kważi sitt snin: bejn l-2009 u l-2015.  Il-Komunità ngħaqdet mar-Rettur f’dan ir-ringrazzjament filwaqt li  wiegħdet it-talb u s-sapport kollu tagħha lil dan is-saċerdot li qdiha mill-qalb.

On Thursday morning, 23rd April, during Mass celebrated at the Seminary, Bishop Mario Grech announced that he had nominated Fr Michael Curmi Archpriest of the Parish of St Margaret at  Sannat.  Fr Michael Curmi had been Vice Rector of the Seminary for six years, since 2009.  On behalf of the community, Rector Fr Tony Sciberras thanked Fr Michael Curmi for his sterling work at the Seminary.  He said that, in the short time he has been serving as rector, he became fully aware that Fr Michael used his talents to be of service to the seminarians and to help them in their formation.  The Seminary community promised Fr Michael its prayers and full support.