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On Wednesday, 1st May, on the occasion of the feast of St Joseph the Worker the formators and the community of the Seminary spent a day in Malta.

Our first visit was to the Anglican Pro-cathedral of St Paul.  Chancellor Rev. Can. Simon had forwarded the invitation during a visit to our Seminary last January when he delivered a lecture to the Gozitan seminarians on the Anglican Church.  We were warmly welcomed by the Chancellor who explained to us the history of the Pro-cathedral and of Anglicanism in Malta.

We then visited the Seminary at Tal-Virtù where we stayed for lunch.  Later, we celebrated the Holy Eucharist in the chapel at the Seminary.  This chapel is dedicated to Jesus, The Good Shepherd.  At Mass, we joined in prayer the parochial community of Żejtun, which, at the time, was holding the funeral service for its Archpriest, Fr Eric Overend.

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Nhar il-Ħadd 21 ta’ April, ġie ċċelebrat fil-Knisja Kattolika l-ħamsin jum dinji ta’ talb għall-vokazzjonijiet.  F’din l-okkażjoni l-komunità tas-Seminarju nġabret fil-knisja parrokkjali taż-Żebbuġ, flimkien ma’ Mons. Isqof Mario Grech u mal-komunità parrokkjali taż-Żebbuġ għal Ċelebrazzjoni tal-Kelma ta’ Alla u għar-Rit tal-Ammissjoni ta’ Daniel Sultana.

Wara li nqrat silta mit-Testment il-Qadim u oħra mill-Evanġelju, Daniel Sultana qasam l-esperjenza vokazzjonali tiegħu ma’ dawk preżenti.  Daniel stqarr li Alla, fil-konfront tiegħu għamel bħalma għamel mal-Profeta Ġeremija: għarfu u għażlu sa minn qabel ġie msawwar fil-ġuf ta’ ommu.  Dan hu l-kobor ta’ Alla u tas-sejħat tiegħu: hu ma jagħżilx għax il-persuna tkun għamlet xi ħaġa speċjali, imma jagħżel lill-persuna għax iħobbha, anke jekk dgħajfa.  Alla jagħżel u jitlob li l-persuna tikber fl-umanità tagħha.  Daniel irringrazzja lil Alla talli tul ħajtu, fil-familja tiegħu, fis-seminarju u fl-ambjenti li fihom trabba, tah nies li għenuh jikber bħala ‘raġel’.  Hu dan il-mod li permezz tiegħu Daniel seta’ jilqa’ s-sejħa ta’ Alla; hu dan il-mod li permezz tiegħu hu seta’ jsib il-ferħ, u li issa qed iħoss li għandu jaqsmu mal-bnedmin l-oħra.

Mons. Isqof, fl-omelija tiegħu, ikkonferma dak li qal is-Seminarista Daniel Sultana.  Il-Knisja qed ixxandar il-messaġġ ta’ Kristu f’dinja fejn il-progress qed itellef lill-bniedem milli jkun verament uman.  Kull persuna hi msejħa għall-qdusija.  Mons. Isqof fakkarna li s-sejħa għall-qdusija trid tiġi msarrfa fil-ħajja ta’ kuljum: filli kull wieħed minna jipprova jkun aktar bniedem.  Hu rringrazzja lil Daniel li permezz tal-esperjenza tiegħu fakkarna f’din il-missjoni tas-saċerdot: li hu qabel kollox jgħix il-qdusija billi jgħix ta’ bniedem veru u integru; fl-istess ħin jaqsam il-ferħ li jiġi mill-qdusija mal-bnedmin l-oħra.  F’dan id-dawl Mons. Grech spiċċa billi fakkar lil dawk preżenti li dakinhar kien qed jiġi ċċelebrat Jum il-Vokazzjonijiet.  Ħeġġeġ għalhekk lil kull wieħed biex jitlob ħalli l-Mulej ikompli jibgħat ħaddiema, persuni qaddisin, li jkunu lesti li jkunu xhieda ta’ Kristu u qaddejja għal kull bniedem.

Fi tmiem il-ħsieb tiegħu, Mons. Mario Grech ħabbar li Daniel Sultana hu ammess uffiċjalment bħala kandidat għall-ordinazzjoni djakonali li ser issir f’Ġunju li ġej.

On Sunday, April 21^st, the Catholic Church celebrated the fiftieth World Day of Prayer for Vocations.  On this occasion, the parochial church of Żebbuġ hosted Bishop Mario Grech, the community of the Seminary and the parochial community of Żebbuġ for the celebration of the Word of God and for the Rite of Admission of Daniel Sultana.       

The congregation assisted first to the reading of a passage from the Old Testament and another passage from the Gospel.  Then Daniel Sultana shared with us his vocational experience.  Daniel stated that God’s attitude towards him was similar to His attitude towards Prophet Jeremiah: before he was formed in his mother’s womb, God knew him and appointed him.  The greatness of God and His calls amounts to this: God does not choose a person on the merits of his achievements; He chooses the person because He loves him, despite his weakness.  God chooses a person and helps him develop his humanity.  Daniel was grateful to God for the blessings he received during his life: his family, the seminary and the environment he grew up in.  All these helped him mature as a ‘man’.  Through this experience, Daniel was able to accept God’s call and find that happiness which he now feels he has to share with others.

In his homily, Bishop Grech confirmed what Seminarian Daniel Sultana had just said.  The Church is proclaiming the message of Christ in a world where progress is hindering man from being truly humane.  Every person is called to holiness.  Bishop Grech reminded us that the call to holiness has to be answered in everyday life: each and every one of us should try to be more humane.  He thanked Daniel who, through his experience, reminded us of the mission of the priest: the priest lives his holiness first and foremost by being a true and honest man while sharing with others that happiness emanating from this holiness.

Bishop Grech ended his homily by reminding the congregation that that same day happened to be Vocations Day.  He urged everyone to pray so that the Lord sends more holy persons as workers ready to be witnesses of Christ and servants to all mankind.

Bishop Grech, then, proclaimed that Daniel Sultana had been officially accepted as candidate for the Ordination as Deacon.  The Ordination will be held next June.

Tul l-aħħar jiem diversi nies żaruna fis-Seminarju.  Il-Ħamis 11 ta’ April ilqajna fostna lil saċerdot missjunarju mill-komunità tal-Missjunarji Qaddejja tal-Fqar tat-Tielet Dinja.  Hu kellimna dwar il-ħidma sabiħa li huma jwettqu bħala għaqda ta’ missjunarji fil-pajjiżi tat-tielet dinja, speċjalment fil-Perù.  Qalilna b’mod ċar li l-akbar bżonn li jeħtieġ il-bniedem, u għalhekk l-akbar rigal li wieħed jista’ jagħti lill-ieħor: hu Alla.  Għal aktar informazzjoni wieħed jista’ jżur is-sit elettroniku ta’ din il-komunità: www.msptm.com jew facebook: Missionary Sptw-uk.

Il-Ġimgħa 12 ta’ April il-komunità tas-Seminarju tal-Arċidjoċesi ta’ Malta kienet qiegħda għal xi ġranet Għawdex.  Filgħaxija ngħaqadna flimkien magħhom fis-Santwarju tal-Madonna Ta’ Pinu fejn flimkien għamilna laqgħa ta’ talb fl-okkażjoni tas-Sena tal-Fidi.  Ir-Rettur tas-Seminarju ta’ Għawdex Dun Daniel Xerri u r-Rettur tas-Seminarju ta’ Malta Dun Jimmy Bonnici mexxew dan il-mument ta’ talb.  Dun Daniel, fil-bidu tiegħu stieden lis-seminaristi kollha sabiex iħarsu lejn Ommna Marija, f’din is-Sena tal-Fidi.  Din għandha tkun għal kull wieħed minna mudell, omm u gwida.  Bħalma hi għexet il-fidi tagħha b’mod sħiħ, hekk aħna msejħin biex bil-għajnuna u bl-interċessjoni tagħha nwettqu r-rieda ta’ Alla l-Missier sal-aħħar.

F’mument ieħor taċ-ċelebrazzjoni, Dun Jimmy wassal ukoll il-ħsieb tiegħu.  Hu rrifletta fuq is-siltiet mill-Iskrittura li ġew imxandra u tkellem fuq is-sbuħija tal-fidi, li twassal lill-persuna biex f’ħajjitha tibqa’ dejjem miftuħa għal Alla: “Kienet il-fidi li ġagħlet lil Abraham jgħammar fl-art imwiegħda, qisu barrani f’art barranija…” (Lhud 11,9).  Bħal Abraham li f’ħajtu ma waqafx jistħarreġ u jwettaq ir-rieda t’Alla, Marija wkoll f’ħajjitha fetħet b’mod sħiħ il-qalb tagħha għal Alla.  It-tweġiba li hi tat lill-anġlu Gabriel ma kinitx “hawn jien” ta’ mument: hi baqgħet tgħix din ir-risposta affermattiva tul il-ħajja kollha tagħha.  Ġesù fi tmiem il-ħajja tiegħu ried li Marija tkun l-omm ta’ kull wieħed minna.  Għalhekk, aħna rridu nemmnu li l-Madonna hi verament l-omm tagħna lkoll: għandna nagħrfu l-imħabba tagħha u eventwalment nuruha r-rispett.  Aktar ma ninfetħu għar-rieda ta’ Alla u aktar ma nfittxu l-għajnuna ta’ ommna Marija, f’ħajjitna aħna nkunu kapaċi naqdfu aktar ’il barra u fil-fond.

Il-laqgħa ta’ talb intemmet permezz tal-istqarrija tal-fidi u bl-att ta’ affidament ta’ kull wieħed minna lill-Madonna.  Lura fis-Seminarju aħna lkoll kilna flimkien u kellna wkoll iċ-ċans li nitkellmu u naqsmu l-esperjenzi tagħna ma’ xulxin.

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In the last few days, various personalities paid a visit to the Seminary.  On Thursday April 11^th we welcomed in our midst a priest from the community Missionary Servants of the Poor of the Third World.  He talked to us about the beneficial work of his community as missionaries in Third World Countries, especially in Peru.  He said explicitly that the greatest need of mankind, and so the greatest gift that man can bestow to another, is God.  For more information one can visit the website of this community: www.msptm.com or facebook: Missionary Sptw-uk.

During the first weeks of April, the community of the Seminary from the Archdiocese of Malta spent some days in Gozo.  On Friday evening, April 12^th, we joined the community at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu.  This evening of prayer, on the occasion of the Year of Faith, was led by Fr Daniel Xerri, Rector of the Gozo Seminary, and Fr Jimmy Bonnici, Rector of the Malta Seminary.  At the beginning of the service, Fr Daniel invited all the seminarians to put their trust in Our Lady, who should be for each and every one of us a model, a mother and a guide.  Just as she lived her faith to the full, so are we, through the intercession and with the help of Our Lady, called to do the full, the will of God the Father.

During the service, Fr Jimmy reflected on the readings from the Sacred Scripture.  He talked about the beauty of faith that makes a person always ready to open his heart to God: “By faith Abraham sojourned in the promised land as in a foreign country…” (Heb. 11,9).  Like Abraham, who in his life never stopped exploring and doing the will of God, Mary, too, embraced God entirely throughout her life.  The answer “Here I am” which she gave to the angel Gabriel was not a mere reciprocation of a greeting: her whole life was an assertion of this affirmative answer.  For this reason, we have to believe that Our Lady is really a mother to us all: we have to acknowledge her love and eventually show her respect.  The more we open ourselves to the will of God and the more we ask help from our Mother Mary, the further and deeper will we be able to strive in life.

Confession of faith and the act of self-commitment to Our Lady brought to an end the evening of prayer.  When we went back to the Seminary, we had dinner and we shared our experiences.

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It-Tnejn 8 ta’ April 2013 ġiet iċċelebrata s-Solennità tat-Tħabbira tal-Mulej (din ġiet trasferita mit-Tnejn 25 ta’ Marzu peress li ħabtet fil-Ġimgħa Mqaddsa).  Dakinhar s-seminaristi rritornaw fis-Seminarju mill-vaganzi tal-Għid għall-aħħar ġimgħat ta’ formazzjoni għal din is-sena.  Fl-okkażjoni ta’ din il-festa, filgħaxija, il-komunità ngħaqdet mal-pellegrini li żaru l-kappella tal-Lunzjata fir-Rabat, u magħhom iċċelebrat l-Ewkaristija.

Ir-Rettur tas-Seminarju, Dun Daniel Xerri, mexxa l-Quddiesa.  Hu bena l-omelija tiegħu fuq il-versett li ġie rrepetut fis-Salm Responsorjali: “Hawn jien, Mulej, ġej nagħmel ir-rieda tiegħek”.  Hi din ir-risposta, mgħixa fil-ħajja ta’ kuljum li timla bil-ferħ u l-paċi ’l-qalb tal-bniedem.  Hekk seħħ fil-ħajja kollha ta’ Ġesù, speċjalment fl-Ort tal-Ġetsemani.  Ġesù għex il-mument tal-Kalvarju b’paċi tal-qalb għaliex b’konvinzjoni għaraf jaċċetta r-rieda tal-Missier, u kien kommess li jwettaq din ir-rieda sal-aħħar.  L-istess ġara fil-ħajja ta’ Marija.  Hija wkoll wieġbet fl-affermattiv għall-missjoni kbira li Alla għoġbu jħabbrilha permezz tal-anġlu Gabrijel.  Ir-Rettur fakkar lil dawk preżenti li dawn il-personaġġi għandhom ikunu mudelli għal kull wieħed minna.  Aħna wkoll għandna nfittxu li nwettqu r-rieda ta’ Alla b’mod sħiħ fil-ħajja tagħna.

Fi tmiem it-talb tal-fidili r-Rettur sejjaħ lid-Djaknu Gabriel Gauci sabiex jippreżenta t-talba tiegħu għall-ordinazzjoni presbiterali u lis-Seminarista Daniel Sultana biex jippreżenta t-talba għall-ordinazzjoni djakonali.  Huma għamlu dan filwaqt li l-kongregazzjoni ngħaqdet magħhom f’talba fis-skiet.

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The Solemnity of the Annunciation was celebrated on Monday, 8^th April 2013, after being transferred from Monday, 25^th March, which fell during the Holy Week.  On that day the seminarians returned to the Seminary following the Easter Holidays.  They were about to start the remaining weeks of formation for present scholastic year.  On the occasion of this feast, the community joined the many pilgrims who visited the Chapel of the Annunciation, at Rabat, and celebrated the Eucharist.

Fr Daniel Xerri, Rector of the Seminary, led the celebration.  He based his homily on the Responsorial Psalm: “Here I am, o Lord, I am coming to do your will”.  It is this answer which we put to action in our everyday life and which fills our heart with happiness and peace.  This is what Jesus did throughout his life, especially in the Garden of Gethsemane.  Jesus passed through Calvary in serenity since He accepted with a strong conviction the will of the Father and He was committed to follow this will to the very end.  Our Lady acted in the same way.  She too accepted willingly the great mission that God announced to her through the angel Gabriel.  The Rector reminded the congregation that these personalities should be a model to all of us.  We too should try to follow God’s will thoroughly in our life.

At the end of the Prayers of the Faithful, the Rector called Deacon Gabriel Gauci to present his request for his ordination to the priesthood and Seminarian Daniel Sultana to present his request for his ordination as deacon.  The congregation joined them in silent prayers.

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Is-Seminarju Maġġuri tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù, bil-kollaborazzjoni tal-Aħwa Ħbieb tas-Seminarju, għal sena oħra, fil-jiem tal-Ġimgħa Mqaddsa, ħa ħsieb itella’ wirja ta’ arti sagra fis-Sala tal-istess Seminarju.  Din l-esibizzjoni tkun imħejjija minn xi artist lokali: din is-sena ntgħażel Aaron Formosa.

Aaron Formosa twieled fil-Belt Victoria fl-1980 u hu kiseb l-M.A. fil-Filosofija mill-Università ta’ Malta.  Hu bażikament tgħallem ipitter waħdu u x-xogħlijiet tiegħu jinsabu f’diversi kollezzjonijiet f’Malta u anke barra minn Malta.  Aaron ħa sehem f’diversi esibizzjonijiet tal-arti, imma Mysterium Ultimum hi l-ewwel esibizzjoni tal-arti mtella’ minnu b’mod individwali.

Il-wirja ġiet miftuħa minn Mons. Isqof Mario Grech, nhar is-Sibt 23 ta’ Marzu 2013.  Dakinhar ir-Rettur tas-Seminarju, Fr Daniel Xerri, introduċa din l-inizjattiva u stqarr li fil-kollezzjoni tiegħu, Aaron Formosa rnexxielu joħroġ tajjeb ħafna l-kobor tal-misteru tal-Għid.  Hu spjega li l-isem tal-esibizzjoni ġie meħud mir-riflessjoni tat-Teologu Kattoliku, Karl Rahner, li sejjaħ il-misteru paskwali: Mysterium Ultimum, il-misteru fundamentali.

Fi tmiem l-introduzzjoni tar-Rettur, l-artist innifsu, Aaron Formosa spjega l-messaġġ li jixtieq li joħroġ mill-arti tiegħu, speċjalment dik li kienet esibita fil-wirja.  Imbagħad, Joe Camilleri ġie mistieden biex jagħmel apprezzament tal-biċċiet tal-arti esibiti.  Mons. Isqof għalaq billi stqarr li l-arti tista’ tkun mezz tajjeb ħafna biex issir l-evanġelizzazzjoni l-ġdida.  Hu ħeġġeġ għalhekk sabiex dawn l-opportunitajiet li qed joffri s-Seminarju jkunu mezz biex jgħinu lill-bniedem ikompli jersaq aktar lejn Alla.  Fi tmiem id-diskors tiegħu Mons. Isqof iddikkjara l-wirja miftuħa.  L-esibizzjoni baqgħet miftuħa sal-Erbgħa 3 ta’ April.

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The Sacred Heart of Jesus Major Seminary, with the collaboration of the Aħwa Ħbieb tas-Seminarju, has again hosted a collection of sacred art in the hall of the same Seminary.  This exhibition is usually put up by a local artist: this year it was the turn of Aaron Formosa.

Aaron Formosa was born in 1980 at Victoria, Gozo.   He read for Master of Arts in Philosophy at the University of Malta.  Basically he is a self-taught artist and his works form part of various collections both in Malta and abroad.  Mr Formosa took part in many art exhibitions, but Mysterium Ultimum is the first art exhibition put up by Mr Formosa on his own.

The exhibition was inaugurated by Mgr Bishop Mario Grech, on Saturday 23^rd March 2013.  Fr Daniel Xerri, Rector of the Seminary, gave a welcoming talk.  He said that in his collection, Aaron Formosa succeeded in exploring well the greatness of the mystery of Easter.  He explained that the exhibition took its name from the reflections of the Catholic Theologian, Karl Rahner, who called the Easter Mystery: Mysterium Ultimum, the fundamental mystery.

Following the introductory speech by the Rector, the artist himself explained the message that he wanted his works of art to evoke, especially the works of art presented in the exhibition.  Then Mr Joe Camilleri was invited to give an appreciation of the exhibited works of art.  In his concluding speech, Mgr Bishop Grech stated that art can be an effective means for a new type of evangelisation.  He augured that these opportunities that are being offered by the Seminary will be a means by which man can continue to feel closer to God.  After his speech, Mgr Bishop Grech declared the exhibition open.  The exhibition was open to the public till Wednesday, 3^rd April.

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Nhar il-Ġimgħa 22 ta’ Marzu ġiet iċċelebrata t-tifkira devozzjonali ta’ Marija Addolorata.  Waranofsinhar is-seminaristi kellhom l-opportunità li jmorru fil-parroċċi tagħhom biex jiċċelebraw din il-festa flimkien mal-komunitajiet tagħhom.

Nhar Ħadd il-Palm, 24 ta’ Marzu, wara li filgħodu s-seminaristi taw is-servizz tagħhom fil-Katidral, huma nġabru f’Dar Stella Maris, fiż-Żebbuġ, għall-irtir tagħhom.  Din is-sena l-irtir tmexxa minn Fr Martin Micallef OFM Cap.  Hu ħeġġeġ lis-seminaristi sabiex iħallu l-irtir ikun għalihom opportunità ta’ laqgħa mal-ħniena ta’ Alla u konsegwenzjalment mument ta’ konverżjoni.  L-irtir ġie fi tmiemu l-Erbgħa 27 ta’ Marzu permezz tal-ikel ta’ nofsinhar.

Wara l-irtir is-seminaristi ngħaqdu mal-familjari tagħhom għal ħmistax ta’ waqfa  u mistrieħ.  Fiċ-ċelebrazzjonijiet liturġiċi tat-Tridu Mqaddes tal-Għid huma taw is-servizz tagħhom fil-Katidral.  Is-seminaristi għandhom jirritornaw is-Seminarju nhar it-Tnejn 8 ta’ April.

On Friday 22^nd March, the Church commemorated the feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.  In the afternoon the seminarians left the Seminary to visit their parish where they celebrated this feast with their community.

On Palm Sunday, 24^th March, after serving at the Cathedral in the morning, the seminarians met at Dar Stella Maris at Żebbug for a spiritual retreat, led by Fr Martin Micallef OFM Cap.  Fr Micallef urged the seminarians to let this retreat be an opportunity to embrace Divine Mercy and consequently be a moment of conversion.  The spiritual retreat ended on Wednesday 27th March, after the midday lunch.

The seminarians could then join their families for a fifteen-day holiday.  During the liturgical celebrations of the Pascal Triduum, the seminarians served at the Cathedral.  They will return to the Seminary on Monday, 8^th April.

Hija drawwa sabiħa li fis-seminarju tagħna tiġi ċċelebrata bħala festa komunitarja s-solennità ta’ San Ġużepp, ħarries ta’ Ġesù u raġel ta’ Marija.  Barra minn dan, lejliet u nhar id-19 ta’ Marzu s-seminaristi taw s-servizz tagħhom fil-Katidral matul iċ-ċelebrazzjonijiet immexxija minn Mons. Isqof.

Fl-okkażjoni ta’ din il-festa wkoll, is-Sibt 16 ta’ Marzu, il-lecturers iltaqgħu fis-Seminarju għal laqgħa flimkien ma’ Mons. Isqof u wara ngħaqdu mal-komunità għall-ikel ta’ nofsinhar.

Id-19 ta’ Marzu 2013 se jibqa’ mfakkar bħala l-bidu tal-ministeru Petrin tal-Papa Franġisku.  Tul il-ġranet tal-konklavi l-komunità tas-Seminarju ngħaqdet mal-Knisja fit-talb għall-għażla tal-papa l-ġdid.  Aħna segwejna b’attenzjoni ċ-ċerimonji u l-istennija ta’ din l-aħbar permezz tal-mezzi tat-televiżjoni u l-internet; speċjalment nhar l-Erbgħa 13 ta’ Marzu filgħaxija, meta nġbarna flimkien quddiem it-televiżjoni biex nilqgħu lil Papa Franġisku.