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Ta’ kull sena, il-Kummissjoni Djoċesana tal-Familja fid-Djoċesi ta’ Għawdex, tieħu ħsieb li torganizza konferenza dwar xi aspetti li jitrattaw il-ħajja tal-familja. Għal din l-okkażjoni ġie mistieden Don Amadeo Cencini, saċerdot Taljan, imħarreġ fil-kamp tal-psikoloġija.

F’din l-okkażjoni Cencini ġie mistieden ukoll sabiex imexxi żewġ laqgħat għas-saċerdoti fejn tratta is-suġġett taċ-ċelebat. Dawn il-laqgħat ġew organizzati il-Ġimgħa 24 u s-Sibt 25 ta’ Jannar fis-sala tas-Seminarju Maġġuri.

Fl-ewwel laqgħa tiegħu, Cencini iffoka fuq l-iskandli sesswali li seħħew fil-Knisja dawn l-aħħar snin u semma xi dinamiċi fi ħdan il-Knisja li akkumpanjaw dan l-iskandli. Hu elenka disa’ modi ta’ difiża (defense mechanisimhs) li wieħed seta’ ħa meta ġew skoperti dawn l-iskandli. Huwa qal li ħafna drabi dawk l-aktar fil-qalba tal-Knisja, jiġifieri l-kleru jipprova jgħatti u jnaqqas il-gravità ta’ dawn l-iskandli, flok ma jifhem aktar fil-fond minn fejn hi ġejja l-problema. Jekk l-iskandli fihom innifishom huma skandalużi, din l-analiżi difensiva tagħhom hija wkoll waħda skandaluża. Don Amadeo qal li waqt li nammettu li ġraw dawn il-każi u jista’ jkun hemm oħrajn li ma seħħewx, irridu nħarsu lejn dan iż-żmien bħala żmien ta’ grazzja li jrid iġagħlna nirriflettu ħafna fuq il-kwalità taċ-ċelibat li s-saċerdot qed jgħix. Huwa temm l-ewwel laqgħa tiegħu billi qal li kull umiljazzjoni isservi għall-purifikazzjoni tal-bniedem.

Fit-tieni laqgħa, Don Amadeo Cenicini iffoka aktar fuq l-attività sesswali, id-dinamika tal-iskandlu u kif wieħed għandu jgħix iċ-ċelibat. L-istint sesswali jinsab f’kull bniedem u jekk il-bniedem jħoss li hemm nuqqas ta’ ekwilibrju fih, permezz tal-attività sesswali, hu jista’ jsib dan l-ekwilibriju li għandu bżonn. Il-bniedem jitwieled b’diversi bzonnijiet, però l-att sesswali għandu l-kapaċità li jissodifhom kollha. Għalhekk il-bniedem li jagħżel iċ-ċelibat u jirrinunċja l-attività sesswali jkun qed jirrinunċja wkoll għall-impulsi l-oħra li hemm fih. Wieħed jista’ jagħżel iċ-ċelibat jekk jsib teżor u min isibu jagħraf li għandu valur akbar mill-attività sesswali u l-bżonnijiet kollha li hemm fil-bniedem. Don Amadeo semma sitt stadji li wieħed jgħaddi minnhom qabel ma jwettaq l-iskandlu, bl-ewwel stadju jkunu l-kompensazzjonijiet żgħar li ċ-ċelibi jibda jagħti lilu. Dan iwassal għall-ripetizzjoni ta’ dawn il-ġesti li tispiċċa f’attitudni u hekk s-sensibilità tal-persuna li għażel iċ-ċelibat tiddgħajef ħafna. Huwa temm il-laqgħa tiegħu billi qal li s-saċerdot u l-persuni li jagħżlu ċ-ċelibat iridu joqgħodu ħafna attenti għall-medjokrità u għall-kultura tal-kompensazzjoni li daħlet ħafna fil-bniedem.

Don Amadeo Cencini sab ukoll ħin sabiex jiltaqa mal-Bord tas-Seminarju u kien ukoll mistieden għall-pranzu flimkien mal-komunita’ tas-Seminarju.

Ritratti

A conference regarding various aspects of family life is held annually by The Diocesan Commission for the Family in the Diocese of Gozo.  This year the Commission invited Fr Amadeo Cencini, an Italian priest well-trained in psychology, to take part in this conference.

Besides addressing the conference, Fr Cencini was invited also to give two talks to priests regarding the theme of celibacy.  These talks were delivered on Friday 24^th and Saturday 25^th January, in the Major Seminary hall.

In his first talk, Fr Cencini focused on the sexual scandals that have taken place within the Church during the last few years.  He mentioned also the various dynamics within the Church that these scandals gave rise to.  He listed nine defense mechanisms which could have used when these scandals came to light.  He said that sometimes, those within the inner circles of the Church, in other words members of the clergy, try to hide and minimize the gravity of these scandals instead of delving deep into the core of the problem.  If the incidents by their own nature are scandalous, this line of defence is scandalous too.  Fr Amadeo said that, while we have to admit that these incidents really occurred and that there may be others that did not occur, we should look at these days as time of grace which will make us reflect on how the priest is living his celibacy.  He ended his talk by saying that humiliation is a way through which man purifies himself.

In his second talk, Fr Cencini focused on sexual activity, the dynamics of scandal and the way a human being should live his celibacy.  The sexual instinct exists in every human being and helps him recover that equilibrium which he feels he may have lost.   As from birth, a human being has various needs but the sexual act has the potential to satisfy them all. For this reason, a human being who chooses celibacy and renounces sexual activity will be renouncing also the other impulses that are within him.  The human being who chooses celibacy finds a treasure, and whoever finds this treasure realizes that it is more valuable than sexual activity and all the needs that a human being has.  Fr Cencini mentioned six stages through which one passes before committing a scandal. The first stage is the small compensations that the celibate rewards  himself.  The repetition of these gestures will become a habit and so the sensibility of the person who chose to lead a celibate lifestyle is weakened.  Fr Cencini ended his talk by saying that the priest and those who choose to embrace a life of celibacy should be wary of mediocracy and of the culture of compensation that have become part and parcel of the lifestyle of mankind.

Fr Cencini had talks with the members of the Seminary Board and then joined the community at dinner.

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Jannar ifisser il-bidu ta’ sena ġdida.  Dan hu żmien fejn wieħed jiltaqa’ u jfisser ix-xewqat sbieħ tiegħu lil sieħbu.  Hekk seħħ is-Sibt 18 ta’ Jannar fis-Seminarju.  Is-saċerdoti, il-patrijiet u s-seminaristi Għawdxin kienu mistiedna għal laqgħa flimkien ma’ Mons. Isqof għall-qsim tal-awgurji.

Il-laqgħa bdiet b’talba ta’ radd il-ħajr lil Alla għal kull ma għamel mal-Knisja Għawdxija tul is-sena 2013.  Imbagħad, l-Arċipriet il-Kan. Tarcisio Camilleri, delegat tal-kleru f’Għawdex (fl-assenza tal-Vigarju Ġenerali, Mons. Giovanni Bosco Gauci), f’isem is-saċerdoti kollha preżenti, radd ħajr lil Mons. Isqof tal-ħidma li wettaq f’Għawdex tul is-sena 2013 u awguralu għas-sena l-ġdida. Huwa ħabbar ukoll xi attivitajiet li se jsiru fiż-żmien li ġej għas-saċerdoti.

Mons. Isqof Mario Grech, min-naħa tiegħu, għamel il-messaġġ tal-okkażjoni. Huwa tkellem dwar ir-realta’ tal-Knisja li dejjem qiegħdha ssir aktar minoranza anke f’pajjiżna. Huwa semma li l-Knisja m’għadx għandha xi katedra prinċipali imma saret waħda minn ħafna vuċijiet.

Imma f’din iċ-ċirkustanza l-Knisja ma’ għandiex taqta qalbha, imma pjuttost li ssib il-qawwa tagħha fl-Ispirtu s-Santu sabiex toħroġ u twassal l-messaġġ tagħha. Ma għandiex tibża mis-sorpriżi li magħhom tista tiltqa’, imma għandha tkun miftuħa għall-esperjenzi ġodda, għax permezz ta dawn Alla jista’ jinqeda sabiex minn żerriegħa żgħira tal-mustarda jkabbar il-fidi fost il-poplu tiegħu.

Niżżel id-diskors tal-Isqof Mario Grech

Fi tmiem il-laqgħa kien hemm mumenti fejn is-saċerdoti setgħu jaqsmu l-ħsibijiet tagħhom u  kien hemm xi refreshments tal-okkażjoni.

Ritratti

January marks the beginning of a new year.  It is a time when people meet and exchange greetings.  On Saturday, 18^th January, priests, monks and seminarians met at the Seminary to exchange greetings with Bishop Mgr Mario Grech.

The meeting started with a prayer of thanksgiving to God for standing by the Gozitan Church during the year 2013.  Then, on behalf of the members of the clergy, Archpriest Canon Tarcisio Camilleri thanked Bishop Grech for his committment to the Diocese of Gozo and wished him all the best for the new year.  He mentioned some future activities to be held for the clergy.  Archpriest Canon Tarcisio Camilleri, delegate for the Gozitan Clergy, was standing in for the Vicar General, Mgr Giovanni Bosco Gauci.

It was then Bishop Grech’s turn to deliver his message for the occasion. He said that the Church is losing its importance even in our country. The Church is no longer the main voice of the people but has become just one of many voices.

However, the Bishop stressed that the Church should not be discouraged but should find its strength in the Holy Spirit and come forward and deliver its message.  The Church should not be afraid of surprises that may cross its path, but should keep its doors open to new experiences.  God may use these experiences to cultivate the faith of His people from a small mustard seed.

Click here to download Bishop Grech’s speech (in maltese)

The members of the clergy were then invited to present their views. After the meeting, refreshments were served.

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Bħala parti mill-promozzjoni vokazzjonali, ta’ kull ġimgħa, fil-ġurnata tal-Ħamis, l-komunita’  tas-Seminarju ħadet l-inizjattiva li tinżel fil-ground tal-iskola tas-Seminarju Minuri waqt il-break ta’ nofsinhar fejn s-seminaristi jkollhom ċans li jiltaqgħu mal-istudenti, u waqt li jitkellmu magħhom ikollhom ċ-ċans li jsiru jafu aktar lil xulxin.

Dan il-kuntatt jgħin mhux ftit fil-binja tar-relazzjoijiet bejn is-seminaristi u l-istudenti b’mod partikulri ma’ dawk l-istudenti li magħhom is-seminarista imbagħad jiltaqa’ fil-laqgħat tal-pastorali li jsiru fil-weekends.

Minn żmien għall-żmien ma jonqosx ukoll li l-komunita’ tieħu sehem f’xi logħba futbol li tiġi organizzata bejn l-istudenti u s-seminaristi.

Ritratti

On Thursday of every week, the community of the Seminary joins the students of the Minor Seminary during the mid-day break.  This is part of the programme for the promotion of vocations which the community is holding.  During the break, seminarians and students have the opportunity of meeting and getting to know one another better.

This sort of contact helps a lot in the cultivation of a relationship of the seminarians with students, particularly with those students whom the seminarians meet during the weekend, when they are engaged in pastoral work.

From time to time, members of the community join the students in a friendly football game.

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Fl-okkażjoni tal-Ġimgħa ta’ Talb għall-għaqda fost il-knejjes Insara, nhar l-Erbgħa 15 ta’ Jannar filgħaxija il-komunita’ tas-Seminarju ħadet sehem f’laqgħa ekumenika li ġiet organizzata fil-Knisja ta’ Santu Wistin, ir-Rabat. Din il-laqgħa tipi organizzata ta’ kull sena mill-membri tal-Leġjun ta’ Marija.

Il-laqgħa tmexxiet mill-E.T. Mons. Isqof Mario Grech u minn Rev. Neill Robb, rapreżentant tal-komunita’ Anglikana. Waqt il-laqgħa kien hemm mumenti ta’ talb, kif ukoll mesaġġi mir-rapreżentanti tal-Knejjes.

Wara, fil-kunvent tal-komunita’ Agostinjana kien hemm ftit refreshments tal-okkażjoni.

Ritratti

On Wednesday, 15th January, on the occasion of the Week of Prayer for unity among Christian Churches, the community of the Seminary took part in an ecumenical meeting held at St Augustine’s Church in Victoria.  This meeting is organised annually by the members of the Legion of Mary.

The meeting was led by Mgr Bishop Mario Grech and Rev Neill Robb, representative of the Anglican Community.  During the meeting, messages from representatives of various Churches were delivered.  There were also moments of prayer.

At the end of the service, refreshments were served by the Agostinian community.

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Nhar il-Ħadd, l-1 ta’ Diċembru l-Knisja tat bidu għas-sena liturġika tagħha permezz tal-ewwel Ħadd tal-Avvent. Dan hu żmien li fih il-Knisja tħeġġeġ lill-insara kollha sabiex jiftakru iktar fit-tieni miġja ta’ Kristu waqt li wkoll jippreparaw biex jiċċelebraw il-festa tal-Milied.  Dan hu wkoll żmien partikulari fil-ħajja tas-Seminarju, għax fih il-programm tas-Seminarju jieħu svolta differenti waqt li l-ambjent tas-seminarju jilbes l-ilbies festiv tal-Milied.

Il-komunità tas-Seminarju tat bidu għal dan iż-żmien nhar it-Tnejn, 2 ta’ Diċembru, permezz tat-Tħabbira tal-Avvent.  Din hi ċelebrazzjoni li ssir ta’ kull sena u li tinkludi fiha qari ta’ lezzjoni mill-Iskrittura flimkien ma’ spjagazzjoni tagħha, bl-iskop li tħeġġeġ lill-komunità biex tħejji ruħha għall-miġja ta’ Kristu; u l-preżentazzjoni flimkien mat-tberik tal-ikona li se takkompanja lill-komunità tul din is-sena.  Wara li jsiru xi invokazzjonijiet ir-Rettur jindika xi tibdiliet fil-programm tal-komunità, li jkunu se jieħdu posthom tul dawn il-ġranet, biex ifakkruna li dan hu żmien speċjali. L-ikona, miktuba apposta għal din is-sena minn Loreta Grech, ġiet ispirata mis-silta:  “Hawn hi Ommok”, meħuda minn Ġw 19,27. Hija l-kelma li Ġesù minn fuq is-salib qal lid-dixxiplu l-maħbub tiegħu Ġwanni waqt li tah lil Marija biex tkun Ommu.

Dan hu wkoll żmien li fih nibdew naraw l-ambjent ta’ madwarna jilbes il-libsa tal-Milied, u dan ma jonqosx fis-seminarju fejn is-seminaristi kif ukoll il-formators jieħdu ħsieb li jżejnu s-seminarju bl-istatwi ta’ Ġesu’ Bambin, b’siġar, dwal, u anke il-presepju ma jonqosx.

Matul iż-żmien tal-Avvent il-liturġija fis-Seminarju tkun xi ftit differenti. Ta’ kuljum filgħodu kmieni jiġi ċċelebrat l-Uffiċċju tal-Qari. Dan jiġi ċċelebrat f’ambjent ta’ dawl baxx u bix-xemgħat, b’sens ta’ stennija. Waqt il-quddiesa issir ukoll spjega qasira tal-Liturġija tal-Kelma minn wieħed mill-formators, waqt li fiż-żmien tan-Novena din issir mis-seminaristi. Marbuta wkoll ma’ dan iż-żmien hija Quddiesa, li l-komunita’ tas-seminarju tiċċelebra f’għar li jinsab fir-raħal tax-Xagħra, fejn l-ambjent tal-għar u d-dawl tax-xema tgħin iktar biex wieħed jidħol fl-atmosfera tal-Milied u jħalli l-ħsieb tiegħu itir lejn il-ġrajja ta’ Betlehem, fejn l-Iben ta’ Alla sar bniedem.

Huwa wkoll żmien marbut mar-rigali, u dan ma jonqosx ukoll fl-ambjent fratern tas-Seminarju fejn is-seminaristi u l-formators jagħtu rigali lil xulxin. Iktar mill-valur tar-rigal, dan juri sens ta’ ġenerozita’ u għotja fejn il-persuna tkun lesta li taqsam ma’ ħaddieħor b’mod partikulari ma’ dawk li int ma tkun qed tistenna xejn mingħandhom. Dan joħroġ b’mod partikulari fl-attivita’ li s-seminarju jorganizza ta’ kull sena fejn iżur post li fih jinsabu jgħixu nies fil-bżonn. Din is-sena, il-komunita’ għamlet żjara lid-dar tal-anzjani li tinsab fir-raħal ta’ San Lawrenz, fejn wara li ċċelebrat ma’ din il-Komunita’ il-quddiesa, tqassam rigal żgħir lill-anzjani li jgħixu f’din ir-residenza, waqt li s-seminaristi animaw lill-anzjani bil-kant tal-innijiet tal-Milied.

Dan hu wkoll żmien li fih is-seminaristi jkollhom ukoll xi ftit tal-vaganzi sabiex igawdu xi ftit aktar lill-familja. Għalhekk nhar il-Ġimgħa 21 ta’ Diċembru filgħaxija s-seminaristi bdew il-waqfa tagħhom għall-Milied. Mons. Isqof Mario Grech, dakinhar filgħaxija, ġie s-Seminarju jmexxi l-quddiesa ta’ radd il-ħajr fi tmiem l-ewwel term.  Għal din il-quddiesa kienu mistiedna l-ġenituri tas-seminaristi.

Min hawn f’isem il-komunita’ nixtiequ nawgurawlkom Milied hieni u l-isbaħ xewqat għas-Sena l-Ġdida.

Ritratti

On Monday, 2^nd December, the Annunciation of Advent marked the beginning of events for the Seminary community.  This is an annual celebration which includes the reading of a passage from the Scriptures followed by a short explanation.  The aim of this celebration is to encourage the community to prepare itself for the coming of Christ.  It includes also the presentation and blessing of the icon which will accompany the community during the year.  Invocations follow, and then the Rector refers to the changes in the programme of events in the Seminary.  These changes remind one and all that the coming days are special.  The icon for this year, written by Loreta Grech, was inspired by the extract: “Here is your Mother”, from Jn 19,7.  This is the phrase which the crucified Christ said to John, his beloved disciple,  while bequeathing to him Mary as his mother.

These are days during which the environment around us wears a festive dress, and the Seminary too decks itself for the festivities with the statue of Baby Jesus, Christmas trees, lights and the crib.

During Advent, the liturgy at the Seminary is different.  Every day, early in the morning, there is the celebration of the Divine Office, held in an environment of dim light and candles, a sign of expectation.  At Mass, one of the formators gives a short explanation of the Liturgy of the Word.  During the Novena, this explanation is given by one of the seminarians.  Another Mass is said annually in a cave at Xagħra.  The dim candlelight and the natural environment of the cave makes it easier for the mind to go back to the Nativity of Christ in the cave at Betlehem.

Christmas time is linked with the exchange of gifts and this practice is followed also In the homely environment of the Seminary where seminarians and formators exchange gifts.  It is not the cost of the gift that matters.  What matters is the sense of generosity and giving that this exchange of gifts entails, for it shows that a person is ready to give to others without expecting anything in return.  This spirit is shared particulary every year when the Seminary community pays a visit to a home housing the needy.  This year the community visited the home of the elderly at San Lawrenz. A Mass was celebrated at the home and then the seminarians sang Christmas carols and distributed gifts to the residents.

Christmastime is holiday time, for the seminarians return home to celebrate Christmas with their family.  The holidays started on Friday evening, 21^st December.  That same evening Mgr Bishop Grech celebrated a Mass of thanksgiving to mark the end of term.  The parents of the seminarians participated in this Mass.

On behalf of the community, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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Nhar il-Ġimgħa, 13 ta’ Diċembru, l-abbatini u l-membri tal-gruppi tal-vokazzjonijiet kienu mistiedna s-Seminarju fejn ta’ kull sena tiġi organizzata għalihom attività tal-Milied.  Din is-sena wkoll, grupp sabiħ ta’ tfal attendew għal din l-attività.

L-attività bdiet b’laqgħa fis-sala tas-Seminarju, immexxiha mid-Djaknu Daniel Sultana.  Wara dawk preżenti ġew imqassma fi tliet gruppi: tal-primarja, tal-forms 1 u 2 u tal-forms 3 u 4 sabiex jieħdu sehem f’xi logħob u attivitajiet oħra li ġew organizzati għalihom mis-seminaristi.

Fi tmiem l-attività Mons. Isqof żar lil kull grupp ta’ tfal u wrihom l-apprezzament tiegħu għas-servizz li huma jwettqu fil-knejjes parrokkjali u fil-kappelli li hawn imxerrda madwar Għawdex.  Awguralhom l-isbaħ xewqat għall-Milied u f’isem is-seminaristi ppreżentalhom ir-rigal tal-Milied.

Intant filgħaxija ġiet organizzata attività għall-membri tal-gruppi tal-vokazzjonijiet minn form 5 il-fuq. L-attività bdiet b’mumenti ta’ talb u adorazzjoni flimkien mas-seminaristi fil-Kappella u wara setgħu iqattgħu ftit ħin flimkien. L-attività kienet imżewqa b’logħob, ikel, kif ukoll b’mumenti rikreattivi fejn l-istudenti u s-seminaristi kellhom iċ-ċans li jitkellmu u jsiru jafu aħjar lil xulxin.

Ritratti

On Friday, 13^th December, the altar boys and members of Vocation Groups were invited for the annual Christmas activity at the Seminary.  A fairly large group of boys attended this activity.

Deacon Daniel Sultana opened the activity by a talk to the boys at the Seminary hall. The boys were then divided into three groups: Primary school students, Forms 1 and 2 students, and Forms 3 and 4 students. These groups participated in games and various activities prepared for them by the seminarians.

Mgr Bishop Grech met all the participants and showed his appreciation for the services that the boys render in the parochial churches and the various chapels round the island.  He exchanged with them the season’s greetings and, on behalf of the seminarians, he gave them Christmas presents.

That same afternoon, another activity was held for the Vocation Groups whose members are students attending Form 5 and the post secondary schools.  The students joined the seminarians at prayer and moments of Adoration in the chapel.  Then they shared moments of recreation which included games and refreshments.  Seminarians and students had the opportunity to chat and to get to know one another better.

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