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On Thursday 23 May, the community of the Gozo Seminary featured prominently in an evening programme on TVM.  The community willingly accepted this rare opportunity offered by the directors of the programme TvHemm.  All the seminarians, especially those who were directly involved in the programme, will treasure this experience.

Some weeks before the programme was aired, members of the production board of TvHemm spent a day with us at the Seminary.  They took random shots of the moments of a typical day at the Seminary and interviewed the seminarians, among them Deacon Gabriel Gauci who was to be ordained priest on the 25 May.  These shots were aired in a feature during the programme.  One can watch this feature by clicking on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMU1NtMZRM0 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uENq2XZWb6c.

Rector Fr Daniel Xerri, accompanied by four seminarians, crossed over to Malta to participate live in the programme.  They were divided into two panels and the presenter, Mr Norman Vella, asked them questions on various topics.  The seminarians were asked questions related with their vocation, their experiences, the mission of the Church in modern times and the ways in which the challenges in the life of a priest can be faced.  A direct link was established with Canada where Seminarian Massimo Buttigieg is spending his intermediate year.

At the end of the programme, the Rector thanked the directors for the opportunity offered to the Gozo Seminary to present itself to the public.  He stressed the fact that the call for priesthood, originating from God, is a gift and the acceptance of such a gift from God is surely gratifying.

Kull bidu għandu tmiemu.  Is-sena formattiva 2012-2013 qed toqrob ukoll għal-konklużjoni tagħha.  It-Tnejn 13 ta’ Mejju, id-Djaknu Gabriel resaq għall-eżami finali tiegħu.  Dakinhar għamel il-parti tal-kitba.  Il-Ħamis 16, filgħodu kellu l-parti orali.  Hekk ġew fi tmiemhom is-seba’ snin ta’ formazzjoni li Gabriel Gauci kellu fi ħdan is-Seminarju Maġġuri tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù.  It-tarġa li tmiss issa hija l-ordinazzjoni presbiterali li se ssir is-Sibt 26 ta’ Mejju fis-6.00pm, fil-Katidral ta’ Għawdex.

Il-bqija tal-komunità wkoll bdiet tħoss li s-sena qed tasal fi tmiemha.  L-Erbgħa 15 ta’ Mejju s-seminaristi ppreżentaw l-assignments lill-Prefett tal-istudju.  Min-naħa tiegħu, Mons. Salv Grima ppubblika t-time-table tal-eżamijiet tal-aħħar.

Nhar l-Erbgħa wkoll, filgħaxija, il-komunità nġabret ġewwa Dar Ġużeppa Debono f’Għajnsielem għall-quddiesa li ġġib fi tmiemhom il-laqgħat tal-ministeri.  Tulha, f’mumenti differenti, is-seminaristi ressqu talba lil Alla.  F’kull intervent is-seminaristi qasmu ma’ sħabhom l-esperjenza li huma kellhom tul is-sena li qed tasal fi tmiemha.

Tul dawn il-ġranet, fin-Novena tal-Ispirtu s-Santu, il-komunità qed tingħaqad mal-bqija tal-Knisja f’sejħa kontinwa lill-Ispirtu s-Santu biex jiġi u jgħammar f’kull wieħed minna.  It-talba qed issir b’mod speċjali għall-kandidati tal-Griżma tal-Isqof u għall-ordinandi li se jiġu ordnati fil-ġimgħat li ġejjin.

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Every beginning has an end.  The year of formation 2012-2013 is nearing its end.  On Monday 13th May, Deacon Gabriel sat for his final written examinations.  He sat for his orals on Thursday 16th May, thus bringing to an end his seven years of formation at the Major Seminary of The Sacred Heart of Jesus.  The next step is his ordination to the priesthood on Saturday 26th May at 6.00pm at the Gozo Cathedral.

For the rest of the community, the academic year is nearing its end too.  On Wednesday 15th May the seminarians presented their assignments to the Prefect of Studies.  Mgr Saviour Grima published the time-table for the annual examination.

That same Wednesday, in the evening, the community gathered at Dar Ġużeppa Debono in Għajnsielem for a Mass that brings to an end the meetings of the ministries.  At different moments during the Mass, the seminarians offered a prayer to God.  Each seminarian shared with his companions the salient moments of his experiences of this year.

During these days of the Holy Spirit Novena, the community is joining the rest of the Church in prayer to the Holy Spirit to descend on and dwell in each and every one of us.  The prayer is addressed in a special way to the candidates for Confirmation and to the ordinands who are to be ordained in the following weeks.

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Is-Seminarju tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù hu binja storika u qadima.  Dan ma jfissirx imma li din hi binja mejta.  Għal dawn l-aħħar mija sitta u erbgħin sena, sal-ġurnata tal-lum, din il-binja laqgħet fi ħdanha komunità ta’ żgħażagħ li fil-fjur ta’ ħajjithom jiddeċiedu li jieqfu biex jistħarrġu s-sejħa li l-Mulej ikun qed jagħmlilhom.

Din is-sena, is-seminaristi għarfu jieħdu l-okkażjoni ta’ Lejlet Lapsi – Notte Gozitana, li nżammet bejn il-Ġimgħa 10 u l-Ħadd 12 ta’ Mejju, biex jiftħu l-bibien tas-Seminarju u jilqgħu lil dawk kollha li xtaqu jsiru jafu aktar fuq il-ħajja ta’ din il-komunità.

Is-Sibt filgħaxija ttella’ kunċert ta’ mużika sagra fil-kappella tas-Seminarju mis-Soprano Marouska Attard.  Wara s-seminaristi stiednu lil dawk preżenti u lil oħrajn li għoġobhom jgħaddu biex jitilgħu fil-kwartieri tagħhom.  Sadanittant ġie pproġettat filmat mill-ħajja tal-komunità tas-Seminarju meħud mis-seminaristi tas-sena 1970.  It-titwila fi żminijiet oħra hi dejjem xi ħaġa interessanti.  Dan jgħodd b’mod speċjali għal din l-okkażjoni.  Permezz tagħha wieħed seta’ jifhem kif kienet il-ħajja fil-komunità tas-Seminarju tas-saċerdoti li ġew iffurmati fi żminijiet differenti u li għal ħafna żmien (madwar tlieta u erbgħin sena) qdew u għadhom jaqdu minn qalbhom lill-Knisja ta’ Kristu.

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The Seminary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is an old historical building.  This does not mean that the building is inert.  For the last hundred and forty years, this building has hosted a community of young men who, in their prime of life, decide to stop and reflect on the Lord’s call to them.

This year, the seminarians took the opportunity offered to them on Lejlet Lapsi – Notte Gozitana, from Friday 10th May to Sunday 12thMay, to open the doors of the Seminary and welcome all those who wished to be better acquainted with the seminarians’ way of life.

On Saturday evening, a concert of sacred music, by Soprano Marouska Attard, was held at the chapel of the Seminary.  After the concert, the audience was invited to visit the living quarters of the seminarians.  At the same time, other visitors could enjoy viewing a video, filmed by the seminarians in 1970, featuring the life at the Seminary.  A glance at the past is always interesting and welcomed, more so on such occasions.  Through the video, the visitors could better appreciate the life of the seminarians in the past.  These same seminarians have now been serving the Church as ordained priests for the past thirty or forty years.

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Il-programm tas-Sibt 11 ta’ Mejju ħa xejra differenti minn tas-soltu.  Il-komunità sebħet kmieni u wettqet pellegrinaġġ għas-Santwarju Ta’ Pinu fl-Għarb.  L-atmosfera kalma ta’ filgħodu għenet biex nitolbu t-talba tant mixtieqa minn Ommna Marija, ir-Rużarju.  Dun Alex Refalo ħeġġiġna biex fir-Rużarju nitolbu għall-ordinandi u anke għalina lkoll biex nagħrfu naqtgħu l-frott li l-Mulej kabbar fina tul din is-sena.

Mal-wasla Ta’ Pinu l-komunità nġabret fil-kappella tad-dehra u hemm ġiet iċċelebrata l-quddiesa.  Wara x-xandir tal-Evanġelju; b’id waħda fuq il-Kelma ta’ Alla, quddiem ix-xbieha tal-Assunzjoni ta’ Marija, u fil-preżenza tal-Ewkristija, is-Seminarista Daniel Sultana stqarr il-Fidi tiegħu, wiegħed l-ubbidjenza u l-fedeltà għat-tagħlim tal-Knisja, u wiegħed ukoll li bil-għajnuna ta’ Alla se jħaddan il-ħajja ċelibi.  Wara, id-Djaknu Gabriel Gauci stqarr il-Fidi tiegħu u ġedded il-wegħdiet li hu kien għamel is-sena l-oħra, qabel ġie ordnat djaknu.

Gabriel Gauci se jiġi ordnat saċerdot fil-Katidral ta’ Għawdex is-Sibt 25 ta’ Mejju fis-6.00pm.  Filwaqt li Daniel Sultana se jiġi ordnat djaknu fil-Katidral is-Sibt 22 ta’ Ġunju fis-6.00pm.  Il-Ġimgħa 24 ta’ Mejju se ssir velja ta’ talb għall-ordinandi fis-Seminarju tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù fid-9.00pm.  Fi tmiemha Ġesù Ewkaristija se jibqa’ espost lejl sħiħ fil-kappella tas-Seminarju.  Kulħadd hu mistieden jingħaqad magħna fit-talb għal sħabna Gabriel u Daniel li se joffru ħajjithom lil Alla u għall-qadi tal-Knisja tiegħu.

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The programme of Saturday 11th May was different from other programmes we usually follow.  The community woke up early and set off on a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu at Għarb.  The calm atmosphere of the early morning accompanied us in our saying of the Rosary, the prayer which the Virgin Mother wants us to recite.  Fr Alex Refalo urged us to pray for the ordinands and also for ourselves so that we reap the fruit of our endeavours of the past year.

On arriving at Ta’ Pinu we gathered in the chapel for the celebration of the Mass.  Following the reading from the Gospels, Seminarian Daniel Sultana placed his hand on the Bible, and in front of the image of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin and in the presence of the Holy Eucharist, he proclaimed his faith and promised obedience and faithfulness to the teaching of the Church.  He also promised to embrace celibacy while humbly imploring God’s help.  Then, Deacon Gabriel Gauci proclaimed his faith and renewed the promises he had made last year, before his ordination as deacon.

Gabriel Gauci is to be ordained priest on Saturday 25th May at 6.00pm at the Gozo Cathedral.  The ordination of Daniel Sultana as deacon is to be held on Saturday 22nd June at 6.00pm at the Gozo Cathedral.  On Friday 24th May, there is going to be an evening of prayer for the ordinands at the Seminary.  The evening of prayer will start at 9.00pm.  The adoration of the Holy Eucharist will continue throughout the night at the chapel of the Seminary.  Everybody is invited to join us in prayer for our companions, Gabriel and Daniel, who will be offering their life in service to God and to his Church.

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Nhar il-Ħamis 9 ta’ Mejju filgħaxija Mons. Isqof Mario Grech u l-Ministru għal Għawdex, l-Onor. Anton Refalo, ingħaqdu mal-komunità tas-Seminarju għall-ftuħ tal-wirja Redemptione li qed tittella’ fl-okkażjoni tas-Sena tal-Fidi.  Din ġiet organizzata mill-Kummissjoni Djoċesana tal-Arti Sagra f’kollaborazzjoni mas-Seminarju tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù.

L-ewwel parti ta’ din il-wirja ttellgħet fi żmien il-Milied u ġabet l-isem Incarnatione.  Kif jixhdu t-titli: il-wirja ta’ Diċembru li għadda ppreżentat il-misteru tal-Inkarnazzjoni filwaqt li dik ta’ issa ttrattat il-misteru tal-mewt u l-qawmien ta’ Sidna Ġesù Kristu.  Wieħed jista’ jsib diversi xogħlijiet tal-arti sagra esibiti f’din il-wirja.  Fr Joseph Calleja, mill-Kummissjoni Djoċesana tal-Arti Sagra, fil-ftuħ tal-wirja, spjega tajjeb li dawn ix-xogħlijiet sagri nġabu minn diversi knejjes Għawdxin u anke minn xi kollezzjonijiet privati f’Għawdex.

Dakinhar tal-ftuħ Fr Daniel Xerri, ir-Rettur tas-Seminarju, wera l-apprezzament tiegħu li għal darboħra s-sala tas-Seminarju ntgħażlet biex tilqa’ fiha għal esibizzjoni xogħlijiet tal-arti daqstant sbieħ.  Min-naħa tiegħu, il-Ministru għal Għawdex, l-Onor. Anton Refalo, tkellem mir-rabta sħiħa li hemm bejn il-fidi u l-kultura.  Hu qal li l-fidi Kattolika kellha u għad għandha sehem imprezzabli fil-formazzjoni tal-kultura Maltija u Għawdxija.  Il-Ministru spiċċa billi wera x-xewqa li aktar żgħażagħ Għawdxin ikomplu jitħarrġu fl-arti.  Mons. Isqof apprezza li l-Ministru għal Għawdex tkellem mir-rabta tal-fidi u l-kultura.  Min-naħa tiegħu żied li l-kultura hi mistiedna biex tgħin lill-persuna tikber fil-fidi u fl-esperjenza tagħha ta’ Alla.

Il-wirja Redemptione se tibqa’ miftuħa sal-Ħadd 19 ta’ Mejju.

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On Thursday 9th May, Bishop Mario Grech and the Hon. Anton Refalo, Minister for Gozo, joined the community of the Seminary for the inauguration of the exhibition Redemptione, on the occasion of the Year of Faith.  This exhibition has been launched by the Diocesan Commission for Works of Sacred Art in collaboration with the Seminary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  The first part of this exhibition, Incarnatione, was held at Christmas time.  From the title of both exhibitions, one can deduce that the first one presented the mystery of the Incarnation while the second presents the mystery of the death and resurrection of Our Lord.  The exhibition hosts various works of sacred art.  In the inauguration speech, Fr Joseph Calleja, from the Diocesan Commission for Works of Sacred Art, explained that these works of art have been brought to the exhibition from various churches in Gozo and also from private collections.

Fr Daniel Xerri, Rector of the Seminary, expressed his appreciation of the fact that for the umpteenth time the Seminary Hall had been chosen to host such an exhibition of precious works of sacred art.  The Hon. Anton Refalo, Minister for Gozo, talked about the close link between faith and culture.  He said that the Catholic Religion has always played an invaluable role in the culture of Malta and Gozo.  He expressed his wish of seeing more Gozitan young people being trained in Arts.  Bishop Mario Grech welcomed the link drawn by the Minister of Gozo between faith and culture and he explained that through culture, the individual can grow in faith and in his experience of God.

The exhibition will remain open up to Sunday 19th May.

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Il-komunità tas-Seminarju organizzat ġimgħa ta’ talb għall-vokazzjonijiet fil-parroċċa ta’ San Lawrenz, f’San Lawrenz Għawdex bejn il-Ħadd 5 u l-Ġimgħa 10 ta’ Mejju.  Din kienet l-aħħar waħda għal din is-sena ta’ formazzjoni.  L-ewwel waħda saret fil-parroċċa tal-Viżitazzjoni fl-Għarb (f’Novembru li għadda) u l-oħra saret fil-parroċċa ta’ San Ġużepp u l-Kunċizzjoni fil-Qala (f’Marzu 2013).

Ta’ kuljum saret talba għall-vokazzjonijiet fil-quddies.  Il-Ħamis 9 ta’ Mejju, żewġ seminaristi marru jkellmu lit-tfal tad-duttrina fiċ-Ċentru Parrokkjali.  Huma qasmu magħhom riflessjonijiet fuq is-sejħa li Alla għandu għal kull wieħed minna.  Wara tkellmu wkoll fuq l-esperjenza tal-vokazzjoni tagħhom.  Fl-istess ġurnata, filgħaxija, żewġ seminaristi oħra flimkien mad-djaknu Gabriel, ingħaqdu mal-komunità parrokkjali fl-adorazzjoni għall-vokazzjonijiet li ssir ta’ kull ġimgħa.

Il-Ġimgħa 10 ta’ Mejju l-komunità kollha tas-Seminarju flimkien mal-formators mexxew il-quddiesa ta’ filgħaxija fil-knisja parrokkjali.  Ir-Rettur waqt l-omelija stqarr li fil-missjoni tiegħu s-saċerdot faċilment jaħbat jaqta’ qalbu u jħossu waħdu.  Imma Ġesù, min-naħa tiegħu, wiegħdna li se jibqa’ magħna sat-tmiem.  Hu ħeġġeġ għalhekk lill-poplu ta’ Alla biex isostnu bit-talb tagħhom lill-presbiteri, biex dawn jiftakru dejjem li l-għalqa hi tal-Mulej u mhux tagħhom.  Hekk huma jkunu dejjem aktar konxji tal-preżenza ta’ Alla fil-ħajja tagħhom.

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From Sunday 5th May to Friday 10th May, the community of the Seminary organised a week of prayer for vocations at the parish of Saint Lawrence.  This was the last week of prayer for this year of formation.  The first week of prayer was held in November at the parish of The Visitation in Għarb and the second one was held in March at the parish of Saint Joseph and the Immaculate Conception in Qala.

Prayers for vocations were said daily during Mass.  On Thursday 9thMay two seminarians gave talks to children who attend religious lessons at the parochial centre.  They reflected on God’s call to each and every one of us, focusing mainly on their own vocation and experiences.  In the afternoon of the same day, two other seminarians, together with Deacon Gabriel, joined the parochial community in an hour of prayer for vocations.

On Friday 10th May, the community of the Seminary and the formators celebrated the evening Mass at the parochial church.  During the homily, the Rector said that often, the priest has nobody to share the burden of his mission with him and he can easily be disheartened.  However, Jesus has promised to be with us till the end of time.  The Rector urged the people of God to include the priests in their prayers so that the priests will never forget that they are in the service of the Lord.  In this way, the priests will never ignore the presence of God in their life.

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Ta’ kull sena, fl-okkażjoni tal-festa ta’ San Ġużepp Ħaddiem, il-komunità tas-Seminarju flimkien mal-formators, jieħdu ġurnata ta’ mistrieħ f’Malta.  Hekk sar ukoll din is-sena, nhar l-Erbgħa 1 ta’ Mejju.

L-ewwel tlajna l-Belt Valletta u żorna l-Prokatidral Anglikan ta’ San Pawl.  Din iż-żjara saret frott l-istedina tal-Kanċillier Rev. Can. Simon Godfrey, li f’Jannar li għadda ta lecture lis-seminaristi Għawdxin fuq il-Knisja Anglikana.  Il-Kanċillier laqagħna tajjeb ħafna u fissrilna l-istorja tal-Prokatidral u tal-Anglikaniżmu f’Malta.

F’nofsinhar żorna s-Seminarju Tal-Virtù u hemm il-komunità tas-Seminarju tal-Arċidjoċesi laqgħetna għall-ikel.  Fi tmiem l-ikel iċċelebrajna l-Ewkaristija fil-kappella ta’ Ġesù r-Ragħaj it-Tajjeb, fis-Seminarju.  Fil-quddiesa ngħaqadna fit-talb mal-komunità parrokkjali taż-Żejtun li kienet qed tiċċelebra l-funeral tal-Arċipriet tagħha, Dun Eric Overend.

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