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On Monday, 23^rd September 2013, the community of the Seminary reunited for another year of formation.  During the summer the members of the community met on various occasions.  One of these occasions was the ordination of Deacon Daniel Sultana on Saturday, 22^nd June, at the Gozo Cathedral. Deacon Sultana hails from the Xagħra Parish of Marija Bambina.  The seminarians offered their services also during the celebrations of the feasts of St George and of St Mary. In mid-Summer, on Friday, 2^nd August, the seminarians met at Dar Manresa for a half-day of reflection, led by Fr Joseph Bajada.  The seminarians gave also a helping hand in the maintenance work going on at the Seminary.

On their first day at the Seminary, the seminarians met for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist and then shared the experiences they had passed through during the summer.  In the evening, they had a barbeque at Ħondoq. From Tuesday 24^th to Saturday 28^th September, the community met at Dar St. Joseph in Rabat, Malta, for a retreat led by Mgr Pawlu Cardona.  The retreat is held every year at the beginning of a new year of formation.

On Monday, 30^th September, life at the Seminary returned to its normal routine.  The start of a new academic year was marked by a Mass of The Holy Spirit, celebrated by Bishop Mario Grech.  Professors, relatives of the seminarians and the members of the Friends of the Seminary were invited for this Mass.

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Fl-okkażjoni tas-sena tal-fidi, aħna s-seminaristi Għawdxin flimkien mas-superjuri tagħna konna fost 66 pajjiż mid-dinja preżenti Ruma għal-Laqgħa Internazzjonali tas-Seminaristi, Novizzi u dawk kollha li qed jiddixxernu dwar is-sejħa li Alla qed jagħmlilhom. Tlaqna lejn l-Italja nhar l-24 ta’ Ġunju fejn konna alloġġjati fir-residenza tas-sorijiet Kompassjonisti qrib il-parroċċa ta’ Sant’Injazju ta’ Antijokja f’Ruma.

L-ewwel ftit jiem ta’ dan il-pellegrinaġġ tagħna f’Ruma kienu jiem ta’ mistrieħ fejn jumejn minnhom għaddejnihom fil-belt ta’ San Franġisk – Assisi. Hemmhekk żorna l-postijiet u l-knejjes prinċipali bħal, Bażilika ta’ San Franġisk, Santa Kjara, San Damjan u Santa Maria degli Angeli, magħrufa aħjar bħala l-Porziuncola. Kif konna Assisi, għaddejna ukoll minn La Verna, il-post fejn jingħad illi hawn San Franġisk irċieva l-pjagi. Wara Assisi żorna wkoll il-Belt ta’ Pompej kif ukoll il-belt l-antika milquta mill-vulkan Vessuvju qrib is-sena 79 W.K. Għamilna quddiesa fis-Santwarju sabiħ tal-Madonna ta’ Pompej fejn hemm kellna l-okkażjoni li niltaqgħu ma’ Monsinjur Tommaso Caputa, l-isqof ta’ din il-belt li ftit xhur ilu kien in-Nunzju Appostoliku għal Malta. Esperjenza sabiħa oħra li kellna f’Pompej, kienet li stajna nitilgħu fuq il-Vessuvju.

ll-Ħamis, 4 ta’ Lulju, beda l-programm imħejji għas-Seminaristi u n-Novizzi fil-Vatikan. Dan fetaħ b’pellegrinaġġ bil-mixi lejn il-Qabar ta’ San Pietru fejn saret l-Istqarrija tal-Fidi. L-għada imbagħad, f’diversi knejjes ta’ Ruma, saru Katekeżi b’diversi lingwi waqt li wara nofsinhar kellna ftit ħin liberu li fih żorna l-Katakombi ta’ San Kallistu li fih hemm midfuna ħafna martri u qaddisin fosthom 16 –il papa. Fl-istess ġurnata filgħaxija ġiet organizzata Festa Internazzjonali fi Piazza del Campidoglio bis-sehem ta’ gruppi tal-kant u wkoll bi qsim ta’ xhieda tal-ħajja vokazzjonali ta’ xi persuni.

Il-qofol ta’ dan il-pellegrinaġġ intlaħaq b’żewġ laqgħat sbieħ mal-Papa Franġisku. L-ewwel udjenza mal-Papa saret nhar is-Sibt 6 ta’ Lulju fis-Sala Pawlu VI fil-Vatikan. Qabel ma tkellem il-Papa, kien hemm ukoll mumenti ta’ qsim ta’ esperjenzi, kif ukoll mumenti ta’ ferħ fejn fost l-oħrajn kanta xi għanjiet magħrufa l-grupp Irlandiż The Priests. Tul din l-udjenza il-Papa wassal il-messaġġ tiegħu fejn qal li s-saċerdot għandu jgħix ferħan għax “m’hemmx qdusija f’min hu serju żżejjed”. Barra minn hekk hu kompla jgħid li s-saċerdot għandu jħobb il-faqar b’mod speċjali billi jgħix il-ħajja tiegħu bl-aktar mod sempliċi mingħajr ebda lussu. Wara l-laqgħa mal-Papa, saret velja Marjana fil-Ġonna tal-Vatikan fejn il-parteċipanti kollha imxejna madwar il-ġonna sbieħ tal-Vatikan waqt li tlabna bit-talba  tar-Ruzarju.

Il-Laqgħa Internazzjonali ntemmet il-Ħadd filgħodu b’Quddiesa mill-Papa fil-Bażilika San Pietru. Konna wkoll preżenti għat-talba tal-Angelus illi ssir ta’ kull nhar ta’ Ħadd mill-Papa stess f’nofsinhar fil-Pjazza tal-Vatikan. Il-Ħadd filgħaxija kellna okkażżjoni sabiħa ħafna, meta aħna ltqajna mas-saċerdoti Għawdxin li qed jaqdu l-ministru tagħhom ġewwa l-belt ta’ Ruma għall-ikel. It-Tnejn, li kienet l-aħħar ġurnata tagħna fil-Belt ta’ Ruma, żorna wkoll Greccio fejn San Franġisk ta’ Assisi għamel l-ewwel presepju, is-Santwarju ta’ Fonte Colombo, kif ukoll il-Cascate delle Marmore.

Żgur li dawn il-jiem bħala komunità flimkien f’din il-Laqgħa Internazzjonali f’Ruma, komplew jibnuna l-ewwel u qabel kollox bħala bnedmin kif ukoll għenuna nħarsu lejn is-saċerdot bħala l-bniedem li fis-sempliċità tiegħu huwa dejjem disponibbli għall-qadi u s-servizz tal-oħrajn.

Ritratti

This year being the Year of Faith, the Gozitan Seminarians, accompanied by their superiors, joined other participants from 66 countries for the International Meeting of Seminarians, Novices and all those who are discerning God’s call to them.  This meeting was held in Rome.  We left for Italy on the 24th June and we were lodged at the residence of the Compassionate Nuns close to the parish of St Ignatius of Antiochia.

The first few days of the pilgrimage were days of relaxation. We spent the two days in Assisi, the city of St Francis.  We visited various churches and places of interest, including the Basilica of St Francis, Santa Chiara, San Damiano and Santa Maria degli Angeli, better known as Porziuncola.  We paid a visit also to La Verna, the place where tradition holds that St Francis received the stigmata.  We then visited the city of Pompey and the ancient city which was destroyed by the volcanic eruption of Vesuvius about the year 79 A.D.  We attended Mass in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Pompey and we met Mgr Tommaso Caputa, bishop of this city.  Up to some months ago, Bishop Caputa was the Apostolic Nuncio for Malta.  While at Pompey, we also climbed Mount Vesuvius.

On Thursday, 4th July, the programme prepared at the Vatican for the Seminarians and Novices was launched.  The programme started with a pilgrimage to the Tomb of St Peter where we made a Declaration of Faith.  On the following day,  many churches in Rome held Catechesis in various languages.  In the afternoon, we visited the Catacombs of San Kallistu where many martyrs and saints, including 16 popes, are buried.  On that same evening, we took part in an International Feast at Piazza del Campidoglio.  Various singing groups participated and some guests talked about their experience associated with their vocation.

The climax of this pilgrimage was reached during two meetings with Pope Francis. The first audience with the Pope was on Saturday, 6th July, in the Paul VI Hall at the Vatican.  The Irish group The Priests entertained the congregation while some guests talked about their experiences.  Then it was the turn of the Pope to address the audience.  He said that the priest had to live his vocation in joy because there is no holiness in austerity.  He said that the priest had to love the poor in a special way by leading a simple life without excessive luxuries.  Following the audience with the Pope, we participated in a Marian vigil of prayer in the gardens of the Vatican where we said the Rosary.

The International Meeting came to an end on Sunday morning when Pope Francis said Mass in the Basilica of St Peter.  At noon we joined the Pope in the prayer of the Angelus, said in the Vatican square. That same evening, we were joined by a number of Gozitan priests who are offering their services in various parishes in Rome.  On Monday, our last day in Rome, we visited Greccio where St Francis built his first crib, the Sactuary of Fonte Colombo and also the Cascate delle Marmore.

The days we spent as a community in Rome for the International Meeting  have surely served to strenghten our qualities and to look at the priest as a human being who, in his simple ways, is always ready to be of service to others.

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Nhar l-Erbgħa 19 ta’ Ġunju s-seminaristi temmew is-sena ta’ formazzjoni tagħhom fis-Seminarju.  Issa kull wieħed minnhom ikun jista’ jingħaqad mal-familjari tiegħu għat-tliet xhur tas-Sajf.  Tul dawn ix-xhur is-seminaristi jkunu impenjati fil-parroċċi tal-oriġini u anke fil-parroċċi fejn huma qed iwettqu l-esperjenza pastorali tagħhom.  Tul is-sajf ukoll kull seminarista jagħmel xi esperjenza ta’ volontarjat.  Ħafna minnhom jagħmluha f’art barranija.

L-aħħar tlitt ijiem fis-Seminarju kienu ġranet differenti mill-oħrajn.  Filgħodu l-komunità tat id-daqqa t’id tagħha fit-tindif u fil-manutenzjoni tas-seminarju.  Filgħaxijiet kellna diversi laqgħat u attivitajiet ta’ konklużjoni, fosthom il-barbeque ġewwa Marsalforn.  Dan sar it-Tlieta 18 ta’ Ġunju.  L-għada, l-Erbgħa, filgħaxija ngħaqdu magħna l-familjari għall-quddiesa tal-aħħar tas-sena.

Mons. Isqof Mario Grech mexxa l-quddiesa flimkien mal-formators u ma’ Dun Gabriel Gauci, is-saċerdot novell.  Mons. Isqof poġġa s-Seminarju taħt il-protezzjoni ta’ San Ġużepp, il-Patrun Universali tal-Knisja.  Dan għamlu minħabba l-fatt li l-Papa Franġisku, f’dawn il-ġranet, talab lill-Knisja Universali biex iddaħħal isem San Ġużepp fit-Talba Ewkaristika ta’ kull quddiesa.  Mons. Isqof radd ħajr lil Alla għal dak kollu li għamel mas-Seminarju u mad-djoċesi ta’ Għawdex.  Alla ħadem permezz ta’ kull wieħed minna: saċerdoti, seminaristi u lajċi; ta’ dan għandna għax inkunu grati lejh.

Fl-omelija Mons. Grech ikkummenta vers ta’ San Pawl, mill-ewwel qari tal-Quddiesa: “min jiżra’ ftit, jaħsad ftit; u min jiżra’ ħafna, jaħsad ħafna” (2 Kor 9,6).  Hu ovvju li l-ħsad jiddependi miż-żrigħ.  Kull wieħed minna hu msejjaħ biex jiżra’ ħafna u jagħmel ħafna frott.  Il-missjoni tagħna fid-dinja hi dik li nkunu l-melħ tal-art u d-dawl tad-dinja.  Mons. Isqof qal li din l-evanġelizzazzjoni mhijiex biss missjoni tas-saċerdot, imma kull imgħammed jipparteċipa minnha meta jirċievi l-Magħmudija.  Il-Papa Franġisku qal b’mod ċar li aħna m’aħniex imsejħin biex inkunu “Insara tas-salott” imma rridu nkunu Nsara li “inqalqlu l-ilma qiegħed fil-Knisja u fis-soċjetà tagħna”.  Mons. Grech żied jgħid li dan nistgħu nagħmluh billi nxandru s-sewwa u l-verità.  Ġesù Kristu hu l-verità.  Il-missjoni tan-Nisrani hi għalhekk li jgħix u jxandar din il-verità.

Jekk aħna ma nagħmlux hekk, hemm il-periklu li ninħonqu bis-sikrana: bit-tagħlim ħażin, bil-gidba.  Mons. Isqof stqarr li s-sikrana nistgħu nirbħulha biss jekk aħna nixhdu għal dak li nemmnu.  Il-Papa Franġisku f’omelija oħra stqarr li jekk il-Kattoliċi ma jevanġelizzawx permezz ta’ ħajjithom: “il-Knisja ma tibqax l-omm imma ssir sempliċi babysitter”.  L-Isqof ġibdilna l-attenzjoni fuq is-sikrana u qalilna li anke fis-soċjetà tagħna għandna s-sikrana li qed tifrex għeruqha: dan narawh l-aktar fit-tagħlim fuq il-familja.  Hu stedinna għalhekk biex aħna l-lajċi, flimkien mas-saċerdoti nkunu l-ewwel xhieda tas-sewwa anke f’dak li għandu x’jaqsam mar-realtà tal-familja.

Mons. Isqof spiċċa billi stieden lis-seminaristi sabiex jużaw tajjeb iż-żmien, b’mod speċjali fil-waqfa tas-sajf.  Dan għandu jkun żmien fejn kull wieħed minna jersaq dejjem aktar lejn is-sors tal-verità: Ġesù Kristu.  Dan jista’ jseħħ permezz tat-talb u l-meditazzjoni, tal-qari spiritwali u permezz tal-esperjenzi li wieħed jiltaqa’ magħhom fil-ħajja ta’ kuljum.  Fi tmiem l-Ewkaristija Mons. Isqof radd ħajr lill-formators tal-ħidma kontinwa tagħhom fil-formazzjoni tas-seminaristi.  Radd ħajr ukoll lill-ġenituri u lill-ħbieb tas-seminaristi, li offrew lil uliedhom bħala don lill-Knisja ta’ Kristu.

Wara l-quddiesa dawk preżenti kellhom festin ċkejken fil-bitħa tas-Seminarju.

Wednesday 19^th June marked the end of a year of formation for the seminarians at the Seminary.  Now, each and every one of us can join his family for the three summer months.  During these months, the seminarians give a helping hand in the parish of origin and also in the parishes where they are engaged in pastoral work.  During the summer all the seminarians do voluntary work, both in Malta and abroad.

The last three days at the Seminary were different from the normal school days.  In the morning the community gave a helping hand in the cleaning up of the premises and in maintenance work.  In the evenings we had various meeting and activities.  On Tuesday 18^th June we had a barbeque at Marsalforn.  On Wednesday evening, our relatives joined us at Mass to mark the end of the year of formation.

Bishop Mario Grech presided at Mass with the formators and Fr Gabriel Gauci, the newly ordained priest.  Bishop Grech entrusted the Seminary in the care of St Joseph, the Universal Patron of the Church.  Recently Pope Francis asked the Universal Church to include the name of St Joseph in the Eucharistic Prayer of every Mass.  Bishop Grech paid homage to God’s providence in the Seminary and the diocese of Gozo.  We should be grateful to God for showing His providence through the work of priests, seminarians and laity.

In his homily, Bishop Grech commented on the lines of St Paul, from the first reading of the Mass: “He who sows sparingly will reap sparingly; and he who sows bountifully will reap bountifully” (2 Cor 9,6).  It is obvious that the harvest depends on the sowing.  Each one of us is called to sow a lot and to bear a lot of fruit.  Our mission on earth is to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world.  Bishop Grech said that this evangelisation is not the mission of the priest only but is the mission of whoever is baptised.  Pope Francis stated clearly that we are not called to be “Catholics of the living room”; we should be Catholics that “stir the still waters in the Church and in our society”.  Bishop Grech said that we can do this by proclaiming truth and righteousness.  Jesus Christ is the truth.  The mission of the Catholic is to live and proclaim this truth.

If we fail to do this, we risk being choked by weeds: lies and bad teachings.  Bishop Grech said that we can uproot the weeds only if we are witnesses to what we believe in.  In another homily, Pope Francis said that if Catholics do not evangelize by means of the life they lead, “the Church does not remain the mother but becomes simply a babysitter”.  The Bishop drew our attention to the weeds and told us that even in our society, weeds are gaining ground: this is evident mostly in the teachings about the family.  Therefore he invited us, laity together with priests, to be the first witnesses of truth even in matters regarding the reality of the family.

The Bishop concluded by telling the seminarians to make good use of time, especially during the summer.  It has to be a time when each and every one of us should come closer to the source of truth: Jesus Christ.  This can take place by means of prayer, meditation, spiritual literature and everyday life experiences.  At the end of the Eucharist, Bishop Grech thanked the formators for their continual help in the formation of the seminarians, the parents who offered their sons as a gift to the Church of Christ and the friends of the seminarians.

After mass, refreshments were offered to those present.

Hekk kif ġiet fi tmiemha s-sena akkademika, is-seminaristi bħalissa għaddejjin bl-eżamijiet tagħhom.  Dan hu żmien ta’ ħidma intensiva għal kull student.  Is-seminaristi bdew l-eżamijiet it-Tlieta 4 u se jispiċċawhom il-Ħamis 13 ta’ Ġunju.

Nhar il-Ġimgħa 7 ta’ Ġunju l-komunità tas-Seminarju ngħaqdet mad-dinja kollha fiċ-ċelebrazzjoni tas-Solennità tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù.  Għalina, din hi festa speċjali.  L-ewwel u qabel kollox għax is-Seminarju jġib l-isem tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù.  Barra minn hekk jum is-Solennità tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù hu jum dinji ta’ talb għall-qdusija tas-saċerdoti.  Il-Ġimgħa filgħodu r-Rettur, Dun Daniel Xerri mexxa l-quddiesa, li għaliha kienu mistiedna l-membri kollha tal-istaff tas-Seminarju Maġġuri.  Fl-omelija tiegħu Dun Daniel stqarr li Ġesù hu r-ragħaj it-tajjeb: li jagħti l-ħajja tiegħu għal kull nagħaġa.  Min-naħa tagħna aħna mistednin naċċettaw din l-imħabba infinita ta’ Kristu.  Is-saċerdot hu msejjaħ biex fuq l-eżempju ta’ Ġesù jwassal l-imħabba t’Alla lil kull persuna.

L-Eminenza Tiegħu, il-Kardinal Malti, Prospero Grech osa kien fostna f’Għawdex għall-ewwel żjara uffiċċjali tiegħu bħala kardinal.  Il-Ġimgħa filgħaxija ngħaqad mas-saċerdoti u r-reliġjużi Għawdxin għal mument ta’ talb fil-Knisja Parrokkjali tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù, il-Fontana.  Is-Sibt filgħodu, Festa tal-Qalb bla tebgħa ta’ Marija, ġie s-Seminarju u ċċelebra magħna l-Ewkaristija.  Għal din il-quddiesa kien hemm ukoll Mons. Isqof Mario Grech.  Fil-prietka l-Eminenza Tiegħu l-Kardinal Grech ikkwota lill-Papa Franġisku u qal li t-talba tar-rużarju hi mezz mill-aktar effikaċji biex is-saċerdot jibqa’ fidil u magħqud m’Alla fil-ministeru tiegħu.  Hu kompla billi spjega vers vers it-talba tal-Ave Maria.  Permezz ta’ din it-talba aħna nkunu nitolbu lil Ommna Marija tidħol għalina quddiem Alla f’kull mument ta’ ħajjitna, speċjalment fil-mument ta’ mewtna.  Wara l-Ewkaristija l-Kardinal Prospero Grech baqa’ magħna għall-kolazzjon.

The academic year at the Seminary has just come to an end and it is examination time for the seminarians.  It is a time of intensive studying for all students.  The examinations started on Tuesday 4th June and will end on Thursday 13th June.

On Friday 7th June, the community of the Seminary joined the rest of the world in celebrating the solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  This is a special feast for us, primarily because our Seminary bears the name of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  Moreover, this feast day is a world day of prayer for the sanctity of priests.  On Friday morning, Rector Fr Daniel Xerri led the celebration of the Holy Mass.  All the members of the staff at the Major Seminary were invited to participate in the celebration.  In his homily Fr Daniel said that Jesus is the Good Shepherd, who laid down his life for all the sheep of his flock.  We are invited to accept this infinite love of Christ.  The priest is called to follow the example of Jesus and spread God’s love to all mankind.

His Eminence, Cardinal Prospero Grech osa was on his first official visit to Gozo as Cardinal.  On Friday afternoon he joined the Gozitan clergy and members of the Religious Communities in prayer at the Parish Church of The Sacred Heart of Jesus in Fontana.  On Saturday morning, feast of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary, he visited the Seminary and celebrated the Eucharist with us.  Bishop Mario Grech was also present.  In his homily, His Eminence Cardinal Grech quoted Pope Francis and said that the Rosary is a most effective means by which the priest, in his ministry, remains faithful to and united with God.  He proceeded to explain, line by line, the prayer of the Hail Mary.  Through this prayer we would be beseeching Our Lady to intervene to God on our behalf in every moment of our life and particularly at the hour of our death.  Later Cardinal Grech joined us for breakfast.

Is-Sibt li għadda, 25 ta’ Mejju, id-Djaknu Gabriel Gauci, mill-parroċċa tal-Madonna tas-Sokkors u ta’ San Girgor il-Kbir, Ta’ Kerċem, ġie ordnat saċerdot.  Mons. Isqof Mario Grech ordnah qassis waqt quddiesa fil-Katidral ta’ Marija Assunta, il-Belt Victoria.  Dakinhar il-Knisja kienet qed tiċċelebra s-Solennità tat-Trinità Qaddisa.

Numru sabiħ ta’ saċerdoti, il-membri tal-komunità tas-Seminarju, membri mill-komunità parrokkjali Ta’ Kerċem u t’Għajnsielem, flimkien ma’ diversi persuni oħra akkumpanjaw lil Gabriel f’dan il-mument tant importanti għalih f’ħajtu.  Ħafna oħra segwew il-quddiesa permezz ta’ Radju Marija.

Fl-omelija tiegħu Mons. Isqof beda billi għamel kuntrast bejn l-ikona tat-Trinità Qaddisa tal-ikonografu Russu Andrey Rublyov (1411), u l-istess ikona ppreżentata mill-pittur Russu Marc Zaharovich Chagall (1956).  Fl-ewwel ikona t-Trinità Qaddisa hi ppreżentata tħares lejna fuq sfond tad-deheb.  It-tieni, min-naħa l-oħra, hi mpittra fuq sfond aħmar u qed tagħtina daharha.  Mons. Grech stqarr li l-bniedem tal-lum m’għadux jagħraf min hu Alla.  Rublyov jippreżenta l-għaqda immensa u r-relazzjoni perfetta li teżisti bejn il-Missier, l-Iben u l-Ispirtu s-Santu permezz tal-isfond dehbi.  Alla tagħna hu Mħabba: Hu l-Imħabba perfetta.  Alla jixtieq li jdawwal lid-dinja tagħna permezz ta’ din ir-relazzjoni ta’ mħabba.  Fil-fatt Ġesù fl-Evanġelju jistedinna biex aħna wkoll nippruvaw inħobbu hekk kif ħabbna hu.  Mons. Isqof qal id-dinja tagħna hi dinja mibnija fuq id-diviżjoni, dinja frammentata.  Dan ma jaqbilx mal-għaqda li teżisti fi ħdan Alla tagħna.

Chagall jippreżenta din id-diviżjoni bil-kulur aħmar.  Il-bniedem kontemporanju ma jafx min hu Alla.  Għal din ir-raġuni l-pittur ipitter it-Trinità b’wiċċha l-ġewwa.  Is-saċerdot novell flimkien ma’ sħabu s-saċerdoti l-oħra, huma msejħin biex ikunu ħajjata.  Mons. Grech spjega li l-qassis hu msejjaħ biex bi kliemu imma fuq kollox bl-eżempju tiegħu jħit lill-bnedmin flimkien permezz ta’ ħajt tad-deheb.  Dan hu l-ħajt tal-imħabba ta’ Alla.  Fi kliem ieħor is-saċerdot hu msejjaħ biex ikun dak li jwassal l-imħabba ta’ Alla fil-qalb ta’ kull bniedem.  Hekk biss jista’ l-bniedem tal-lum jerġa’ jara l-wiċċ ta’ Alla u jiskopri l-identità tat-Trinità.  Hekk biss id-dinja tagħna tista’ tkun dinja li tirrifletti l-għaqda tal-imħabba li teżisti fi ħdan Alla.

On Saturday 25th May, feast of The Holy Trinity, Bishop Mario Grech led the ordination of Deacon Gabriel Gauci to the Priesthood, who hails from the parish of Our Lady of Succour and of St Gregory the Great in Kerċem.  The ordination ceremony took place at the Cathedral of the Assumption, in Victoria.

A number of priests, members of the community of the Seminary, members of the parochial communities of Ta’ Kerċem and of Għajnsielem and various other people accompanied Gabriel in this very important moment of his life.  Many others followed the ceremony on Radju Marija.

Bishop Grech started his homily by drawing a contrast between the icon of The Holy Trinity of the Russian iconographer Andrey Rublyov (1411) and the same icon of the Russian artist Marc Zaharovich Chagall (1956).  In the first icon, the Holy Trinity is presented on a golden background and facing the viewer while in the second it is on a red background giving its back to us.  Bishop Grech said that modern man is no longer aware of the real identity of God.  In Rublyov, the golden background represents the unity and the perfect relationship among the Father, the Son and The Holy Spirit.  Our God is Love: He is perfect Love.  God wants to light our world through this love relationship.  In fact, in the Gospel, Jesus invites us to try to love in the way He loved us.  Bishop Grech said that our world is fragmented and built on division.  This is not in conformity with the unity that exists in God.

In Chagall, red represents this fragmentation.  Contemporary man does not know who is God, that’s why God’s face is not depicted.  The newly ordained priest together with the other priests, are called to sew together the fragmented parts.  Bishop Grech explained that, with his words and particularly by his example, the priest is called to use golden thread to sew together the fragmented humanity.  This is the thread that represents God’s love.  In other words, the priest is called to be the one who conveys God’s love to the heart of every human being.  It is only in this way that modern man can rediscover the real identity of God.  It is only in this way that our world can be a world that reflects the unity of love that exists in God Himself.

It-tmiem tas-sena akkademika jġib miegħu żewġ mumenti ta’ ferħ kemm għall-komunità tas-Seminarju imma wkoll għad-djoċesi u għall-Knisja kollha.  Dawn huma l-ordinazzjoni presbiterali u l-ordinazzjoni djakonali.

Din is-sena l-ordinazzjoni presbiterali ta’ Gabriel Gauci, mill-Parroċċa tal-Madonna tas-Sokkors u San Girgor il-Kbir, Ta’ Kerċem, saret is-Sibt 25 ta’ Mejju filwaqt li Daniel Sultana, mill-Parroċċa ta’ Marija Bambina, ix-Xagħra, se jiġi ordnat djaknu s-Sibt 22 ta’ Ġunju.  Bi tħejjija għal dawn il-mumenti qawwija l-Knisja ta’ Għawdex ġiet mistiedna biex il-Ġimgħa 24 ta’ Mejju tinġabar fis-Seminarju biex tingħaqad mal-ordinandi u titlob flimkien magħhom.

Din il-velja ta’ talb, li ġiet imxandra b’mod dirett fuq Radju Marija, ġiet imqassma fi tliet partijiet prinċipali.  Fl-ewwel mument ingħatat tislima lil Marija Għajnuna tal-Insara, li dakinhar kienet qed tiġi ċċelebrata l-festa tagħha.  Wara ġiet imxandra l-Kelma ta’ Alla u r-Rettur tas-Seminarju spjegaha permezz tal-omelija.  Fi tmiem il-prietka ġie espost Ġesù Sagramentat għal ftit mumenti ta’ adorazzjoni.  Kien wasal imbagħad il-mument biex Gabriel jitlob lill-Mulej jakkumpanjah fil-missjoni l-ġdida li afdalu f’idejh permezz tas-saċerdozju.  Wara, Daniel irringrazzja lil Alla tad-doni kollha li għoġbu jagħtih fil-ħajja tiegħu b’mod speċjali d-don tal-vokazzjoni.  Qabel il-Barka Sagramentali, il-kongregazzjoni ġiet mistiedna biex fl-okkażjoni tas-Sena tal-Fidi tistqarr il-fidi tagħha.

Ġesù Ewkaristija ġie meħud imbagħad fil-kappella u baqa’ espost il-lejl kollu sabiex il-fidili setgħu jinġabru għat-talb personali.  Mons. Isqof Mario Grech għalaq il-Velja billi wassal il-messaġġ tiegħu tal-okkażjoni.  Hu stqarr li ċ-ċelebrazzjoni ta’ dakinhar kienet festa ta’ fidi.  Kull vokazzjoni hi qabel kollox stqarrija ta’ fidi.  Kif iħobb jgħid tajjeb il-Papa Franġisku: Knisja mingħajr fidi mhix il-Knisja imma hi NGO.  Mons. Mario Grech stqarr li fis-soċjetà tagħna għad fadal ħafna fidi.  Xhieda ta’ dan hu r-rispett u l-fiduċja speċjali fis-saċerdot.  Hu qal li minħabba l-fidi n-nies iqisu lill-persuna qabel l-ordinazzjoni differenti milli wara l-ordinazzjoni: “illum iħarsu lejn Gabriel mod u għada, minn wara l-ordinazzjoni, se jersqu lejn Gabriel u jitolbuh joffri l-Ewkaristija għall-bżonnijiet tagħhom, jamministralhom is-sagramenti u fuq kollox jinterċedi għalihom”.  Dan kollu jafferma li l-poplu Malti u Għawdxi hu poplu li jemmen u jafda lil Alla.  Mons. Isqof spiċċa billi ħeġġeġ lil kulħadd ikompli jgħarbel u jikber fil-fidi tiegħu.

The end of the academic year brings with it moments of joy to the community of the Seminary, to the Diocese and to the Church as a whole.  These moments of joy are primarily the ordination to the priesthood and the diaconate ordination.

This year, Gabriel Gauci from the Parish of Our Lady of Succour and of St Gregory the Great of Kerċem was ordained priest on Saturday 25 May.  Daniel Sultana from the Parish of Maria Bambina of Xagħra is to be ordained deacon on Saturday 22 June.  As preparation for these special moments, the Church in Gozo was invited to join the ordinands in moments of prayers on Friday 24 May.

This evening of prayer, aired live on Radju Marija, was divided into three sections.  The evening started with a prayer to Our Lady Help of Christians, whose feast was being celebrated that day.  Then there was the reading from the Scriptures, followed by a homily by the Rector of the Seminary.  At the end of the homily, the congregation was invited to join in moments of adoration of the Holy Eucharist.  Then, Gabriel prayed Our Lord to accompany him in the new mission which was being entrusted to him through priesthood.  Daniel thanked God for the gifts that He endowed him with, especially the gift of the priestly vocation.  Prior to the Sacramental Blessing, the congregation was invited to proclaim its faith on the occasion of the Year of Faith.

The Holy Eucharist was then accompanied to the Chapel where the faithful could proceed with the adoration of the Holy Host throughout the night. Bishop Mario Grech delivered his message at the end of the evening of prayer.  He said that that day was a feast day of faith.  Every vocation is primarily a declaration of faith.  Pope Francis says that a Church without faith is not a Church, but merely an NGO.  Bishop Grech said that our society still abounds in faith.  The respect of the faithful to the priest and their trust in him are evidence of this fact.   Because of faith, the way the faithful correlate to the priest-to-be before his ordination changes when he is ordained.  “Today the faithful regard Gabriel in a certain way and tomorrow, following his ordination, they will approach Gabriel and ask him to offer the Eucharist for their needs, to administer the sacraments to them, and above all, to intercede for them.”  This is a confirmation of the fact that Malta and Gozo still believe and trust in God.  Bishop Grech ended his message by urging the congregation to ponder upon and to mature in faith.

Nhar il-Ħamis 23 ta’ Mejju filgħaxija t-telespettaturi ta’ TVM kellhom iċ-ċans li jiltaqgħu mal-komunità tas-Seminarju ta’ Għawdex.  Mhix xi ħaġa li tiġri sikwit.  Is-Seminarju fil-fatt, aċċetta bil-qalb din l-istedina tad-direzzjoni tal-programm TvHemm.  Din l-esperjenza żgur li se tibqa’ stampata f’moħħ is-seminaristi kollha, speċjalment dawk li ħadu sehem b’mod dirett fil-programm.

Xi ġimgħat qabel il-programm ġew iżuruna fis-Seminarju xi membri mid-direzzjoni tal-programm TvHemm biex iqattgħu jum magħna.  Huma iffilmjaw il-mumenti prinċipali f’ġurnata tipika tas-Seminarju u għamlu xi intervisti mas-seminaristi, fosthom mad-Djaknu Gabriel li ġie ordnat saċerdot is-Sibt 25 ta’ Mejju.  Permezz ta’ dawn il-filmati huma tellgħu feature li ġie ppreżentat tul il-programm.  Tista’ tara dan il-feature billi tagħfas fuq http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMU1NtMZRM0 u http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uENq2XZWb6c.

Ir-Rettur, Dun Daniel Xerri, flimkien ma’ erba’ seminaristi oħra telgħu Malta biex jieħdu sehem b’mod dirett fil-programm.  Huma ġew imqassma f’żewġ panels u l-preżentatur, Norman Vella, għamlilhom xi mistoqsijiet li trattaw suġġetti varji.  Is-seminaristi ġew mistoqsija fuq l-esperjenzi u fuq l-istorja tal-vokazzjoni tagħhom.  Huma ġew mistoqsija wkoll fuq kif iħarsu lejn il-missjoni tal-Knisja fid-dinja tal-lum u fuq kif jaħsbu li wieħed jista’ jirbaħ l-isfidi li ġġib magħha l-ħajja tas-saċerdot.  Tul il-programm sar kollegament dirett mas-Seminarista Massimo Buttigieg, li bħalissa qiegħed jagħmel l-esperjenza tas-sena intermedjarja fil-Kanada.

Fi tmiem il-produzzjoni, ir-Rettur irringrazzja mill-qalb lid-direzzjoni tal-opportunità li għoġobhom jagħtu lis-Seminarju ta’ Għawdex.  Hu stqarr li l-vokazzjoni, is-sejħa saċerdotali, meta ġejja minn Alla, hi rigal.  Kemm hi ħaġa sabiħa li wieħed jaċċetta bil-ferħ id-don li Alla jogħġbu jagħtih!