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Sunday 2^nd December was the first Sunday of Advent, when the Church initiates its liturgical year.  The community of the Seminary celebrated this occasion at mid-day of Saturday 1^st December, through the Advent Proclamation.  This is an annual celebration which includes the Midday Prayer, reading from the Scriptures, (its main aim being that of urging the community to prepare itself for the coming of Christ), and the presentation and blessing of the icon that will accompany the community during the coming year.  Following a number of invocations, the Rector announces the changes in the programme of the community.  These changes, which will be effected during the days of Advent, remind us that these days are special.

The reading was taken from the Epistle to the Ephesians (5,8-20).  The Rector meditated on the lines:  “Keep careful watch over your conduct.  Do not act like fools, but like thoughtful men.   Make the most of the present opportunity.”  The Rector showed us that a person who is ‘thoughtful’ makes the most of the present opportunity; he takes every opportunity and makes of it an opportunity of grace.

Il-Ġimgħa 23 ta’ Novembru l-komunità tas-Seminarju ngħaqdet flimkien mal-komunità parrokkjali ta’ Ġesù Kristu Ewkaristiku, fl-Għasri, biex trodd ħajr lil Alla għall-grazzji li għoġbu jxerred fuq dawn iż-żewġ komunitajiet tul din il-ġimgħa.  Kif issemma qabel, bejn it-Tnejn 19 u l-Ħamis 22 ta’ Novembru, is-seminaristi (tnejn tnejn flimkien ma’ student tal-grupp tal-vokazzjonijiet tal-parroċċa) daru bieb bieb il-familji tal-Għasri u qasmu flimkien magħhom l-esperjenza tagħhom tal-fidi.  Fil-waqt taż-żjajjar fil-familji, fil-knisja parrokkjali kien ikun hemm Ġesù espost u anke kien ikun hemm il-possibiltà tal-qrar.  Il-Ħamis filgħodu s-seminaristi żaru l-iskola Laura Vicuña, fl-Għasri, u daru l-klassijiet kollha u wasslu messaġġ fuq il-fidi lit-tfal tal-iskola.  Dakinhar ukoll, f’nofsinhar, il-formators tas-Seminarju ngħaqdu mas-saċerdoti li jservu fl-Għasri u wara li talbu, huma kielu flimkien.

Ir-Rettur Fr Daniel Xerri mexxa l-quddiesa ta’ radd il-ħajr ’l Alla nhar il-Ġimgħa filgħaxija.  Flimkien miegħu kkonċelebraw il-formators u xi saċerdoti mill-Għasri.  Ir-Rettur bena l-omelija tiegħu fuq l-Evanġelju:  “il-poplu kollu kien joqgħod imqabbad miegħu biex jisimgħu”.  Hu stqarr li l-esperjenza ta’ fidi li għexna flimkien hi xhieda li anke llum il-poplu jrid jisma’ l-Kelma ta’ Ġesù.  Din l-istess kelma hi kelma li titlob deċiżjoni radikali minna.  Ir-Rettur tkellem minn dan fid-dawl tal-ewwel qari:  “Ħa, u ibilgħu, u jsirlek imrar ġo fik, imma ġo ħalqek jiġik ħelu għasel”.  Meta nagħżlu li ngħixu l-Kelma ta’ Alla bis-serjetà din se tiffurmana, se twaġġagħna.  Però hu meta aħna nagħżlu li nilqgħu din il-Kelma li aħna nistgħu verament nagħmlu l-frott.

Fi tmiem il-quddiesa Fr Edward Xuereb, il-Kappillan tal-Għasri, radd ħajr lil Alla tal-ħafna grazzji li għoġbu jagħti lill-parroċċa permezz tal-esperjenza.  Hu stqarr li ħadd ma jista’ jkejjel il-frott kollu li ħareġ minnha, però hu żgur li l-Mulej uża u se juża din l-esperjenza biex iressaq ħafna nies lejh.  Hu rringrazzja wkoll lill-komunità tas-Seminarju talli għoġobha tagħżel il-parroċċa tal-Għasri għal din l-esperjenza.  Wara l-quddiesa dawk kollha preżenti kienu mistiedna biex jingħaqdu mal-komunità tas-Seminarju fiċ-Ċentru Parrokkjali għal party ċkejken, imħejji mis-sorijiet u l-helpers tas-Seminarju.

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On Friday, 23^rd November, the community of the Seminary joined in prayer the parochial community of Christ in the Sacrament of the Holy Eucharist at Għasri.  Prayers of thanksgiving to God were said for the blessings that He bestowed on both communities during this week.  As has been said in previous newsfeeds, during Monday 19^th and Thursday 22^nd November, the seminarians paid a visit to the households of Għasri and shared their experience of faith with the families.  On every visit, two seminarians were accompanied by a student from the group of vocations within the parish.  At the same time, there were moments of adoration of the Holy Eucharist at the parish church and also the possibility of the faithful receiving the Sacrament of Reconciliation.  On Thursday morning the seminarians paid a visit to Laura Vicuña School, at Għasri.  They toured the classrooms and delivered a message of faith to all pupils.  At noon of the same day, the formators of the Seminary joined the priests of the parish at prayer and later on, at lunch.

On Friday evening, the Reverend Rector Fr Daniel Xerri led a Mass of Thanksgiving.  He was accompanied by the formators and some priests from Għasri.  The Rector based his homily on the text from the Gospel:  “the entire populance was listening to Him and hanging on his words” (Lk 19,48).  He said that the experience of faith that we shared during these days shows clearly that modern man, too, wants to listen to the Word of Jesus.  This same Word demands of us a radical decision, as can be seen from the first reading:  “Here, take it, and eat it, and it will be sour in your stomach, but in your mouth it will taste as sweet as honey” (Rv 10,9).  When we choose to live according to the Word of God, this Word of God will help us in our formation, but at the same time, it will hurt us.  However, it is only when we choose to accept the Word of God that we can really bear fruit.

At the end of the Mass, the parish priest of Għasri, Fr Edward Xuereb, thanked God for the many blessings that He bestowed on the parish during this week.  He said that nobody can actually count these blessings, but he was sure that Christ used and will use this experience to bring many people closer to Him.  He thanked the community of the Seminary for having chosen the parish of Għasri for this experience.  Following Mass, the congregation was invited for refreshments at the Parish Centre.  The nuns and helpers of the Seminary took care of the preparations for this activity.

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Il-Ġimgħa 16 ta’ Novembru, wara diversi laqgħat ta’ tħejjija, il-komunità tas-Seminarju tat bidu għall-esperjenza ta’ fidi ġewwa l-parroċċa ta’ Kristu Ewkaristiku Salvatur, fl-Għasri.  Dakinhar filgħaxija saret quddiesa, immexxiha mir-Rettur flimkien mal-formators u mas-saċerdoti kollha tal-parroċċa, li fiha saret sejħa lill-Ispirtu s-Santu.  Is-Sibt filgħodu saret laqgħa b’tema vokazzjonali għall-adoloxxenti tal-parroċċa.  Għal din il-laqgħa, li ġiet immexxiha mill-Grupp tal-Vokazzjonijiet tas-Seminarju, attendew numru sabiħ ta’ adoloxxenti.  Il-Ħadd il-formators tqassmu u kienu preżenti fil-quddies prinċipali li sar fil-knisja parrokkjali.  Huma mexxew ukoll l-adorazzjoni li ssir bejn il-quddiesa tat-8.30am u tal-10.00am, f’kull tielet Ħadd tax-xahar.  Imbagħad mit-Tnejn 19 ta’ Novembru ’l quddiem is-seminaristi bdew il-viżti tagħhom fid-djar, skont programm iffissat minn qabel.  Waqt il-ħin tal-viżti l-formators mexxew ħin ta’ adorazzjoni fil-knisja parrokkjali.

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After various preparatory meetings, the Seminary Community took part in an experience of faith at the Parish of Christ the Eucharistic Saviour at Għasri, on Friday, 16^th November.  A Holy Mass was celebrated in the evening by the Reverend Rector, together with the formators and the clergy of the parish of Għasri.  During Mass an invocation was offered to the Holy Spirit.  On Saturday morning the adolescents of the parish participated in a meeting with a vocational theme.  The meeting was directed by the Vocations Group of the Seminary and a good number of adolescents were present.  On Sunday the formators took part in the various Masses celebrated in the parish and they also led the adoration which takes place between the 8.30am and the 10.00am Masses, on every third Sunday of the month.  Then from Monday, 19th November, onwards the seminarians started their home visits, according to a pre-set programme.  While the seminarians were on home visits, the formators were leading the adoration in the parish church.

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Tradizzjoni oħra marbuta mal-festa ta’ San Martin hija l-Lungo Passeggio.  Din is-sena sar il-Ħamis 15 ta’ Novembru.  Is-seminaristi flimkien mal-formators niżlu d-Dwejra bil-karozzi u minn hemm telqu bil-mixi mal-kosta sa ma waslu fuq l-irdumijiet Ta’ Saguna, Ta’ Sannat.  Il-mixja kienet ftit impennjattiva però fl-istess waqt kien mument fejn is-seminaristi setgħu jammiraw is-sbuħija tan-natura li għandna Għawdex.  Eżatt fi tmiem il-passiġġata, għas-1.45pm, infetħu bwieb is-sema u wasal il-maltemp tant mistenni tal-Ħamis li għadda.  Anke l-maltemp ta ċans lis-seminaristi jagħmlu l-passiġġata tagħhom…

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Another tradition linked with the feast of St Martin is the Lungo Passeggio, which this year took place on the 15^th November.  Seminarians and formators drove together to Dwejra and then walked along the coast until they came to the cliffs of Ta’ Saguna, at Ta’ Sannat.  The walk was quite tiring but it served us to enjoy the impressive and wonderful natural environment of Gozo.  At about 1.45pm, just as we were about to come to the end of the walk, a storm brew up and soon it started raining heavily.  It seemed that even the weather did not dare discourage the seminarians from enjoying their annual hike…

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Il-festa ta’ San Martin ta’ Tours din is-sena ħabtet il-Ħadd 11 ta’ Novembru.  Fl-okkażjoni ta’ din il-festa, ta’ kull sena, is-Seminarju jorganizza l-Ikla ta’ San Martin.  Din is-sena l-ikla saret nhar is-Sibt 10 ta’ Novembru.  Din l-attività llum nistgħu nsejħulha tradizzjoni għax ilha ssir għal għexieren ta’ snin.  L-organizzazzjoni tagħha kienet f’idejn l-Aħwa Ħbieb tas-Seminarju.  L-iskop prinċipali ta’ din l-ikla huwa wieħed ta’ ġbir ta’ fondi b’risq is-Seminarju Maġġuri.  Din is-sena wkoll, ammont kbir ta’ nies (mal-mija u sittin ruħ) ippakkjaw is-sala tas-Seminarju sabiex jieħdu gost flimkien filwaqt li jduqu mill-benna tal-ikel imħejji mill-volunitiera flimkien mas-sorijiet tas-Seminarju.  F’din l-attività s-seminaristi jiksbu rwol differenti mill-bqija tas-sena:  huma jaqdu bħala waiters…  Għalhekk min jattendi għal din l-ikla jista’ jgħid li jiġi servut mis-seminaristi…  Manuel Rapa ħa ħsieb biex iżomm ambjent feliċi permezz tal-kant u l-battuti tiegħu.  Mons. Isqof Mario Grech, is-Sur Anton Tabone u s-Sinjura tiegħu onorawna bil-preżenza tagħhom.

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This year the feast of St Martin of Tours fell on Sunday, 11^th November.  On this occasion, the Seminary holds its annual dinner known as L-Ikla ta’ San  Martin.  This year the dinner was held on Saturday 10^th November.  This activity has become a tradition since it has been held for many years.  L-Aħwa Ħbieb tas-Seminarju were in charge of the organisation of this activity.  This is a fund raising activity for the Major Seminary.  About one hundred and sixty persons attended, packing the Seminary main hall where the dinner was held.  The delicious dishes were prepared by the nuns at the Seminary, helped by a number of volunteers.  During the activity the seminarians play a different role from their usual one – that of waiters…  So guests at this dinner were served by ‘seminarian waiters’!…  Manuel Rapa animated the evening with his music, songs and jokes.  H.E. Mons Bishop Mario Grech, and Mr and Mrs Anton Tabone were guests of honour.

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Tul din il-ġimgħa, bejn il-Ħadd 4 u l-Ġimgħa 9 ta’ Novembru, il-Grupp tal-Vokazzjonijiet fi ħdan is-Seminarju organizza ġimgħa ta’ talb għall-vokazzjonijiet fil-parroċċa tal-Għarb.  Fil-quddies kollu li sar tul din il-ġimgħa fl-Għarb, saret talba tal-fidili għall-vokazzjonijiet.  Barra minn hekk ġew organizzati wkoll xi attivitajiet li mmarkaw din il-ġimgħa.  It-Tlieta 6 ta’ Novembru żewġ seminaristi żaru l-Għarb u mexxew laqgħa għat-tfal tad-duttrina fil-knisja parrokkjali.  Huma bnew ir-riflessjoni tagħhom fuq is-sejħa ta’ Samwel u qasmu magħhom l-esperjenza tal-vokazzjoni tagħhom.  Il-Ħamis filgħaxija żewġ seminaristi oħra mexxew l-adorazzjoni għall-vokazzjonijiet li s-soltu ssir fl-Għarb.  F’ambjent ta’ ġabra dawn is-seminaristi ngħaqdu mal-parroċċani f’talb għas-saċerdoti u anke talb għall-vokazzjonijiet fi ħdan l-istess parroċċa.  L-aħħar attività saret il-Ġimgħa filgħaxija.  Dakinhar il-komunità kollha tas-Seminarju żaret il-knisja parrokkjali tal-Għarb u ċċelebrat l-Ewkaristija flimkien mal-komunità parrokkjali.  Ir-Rettur Fr Daniel Xerri mexxa l-quddiesa u d-djaknu Gabriel Gauci għamel l-omelija.  Gabriel spjega kif l-ewwel qari tal-ġurnata (Eż 47,1-2.8-9.12) hu sejħa biex l-komunità parrokkjali, il-ġebel ħaj tal-Knisja, ikunu bħax-xmara ta’ ilma ħelu li twassal lil Kristu mill-għajn (mill-knisja) għal kull post (b’mod speċjali f’dak l-imkien fejn il-preżenza ta’ Alla ma tinħasx).  Jekk din hi sejħa għal kull Nisrani, hi tgħajjat b’mod aktar qawwi lis-saċerdot:  il-mibgħut tal-Mulej per eċċellenza.

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Throughout this week, from Sunday 4^th to Friday 9^th November, the Vocations Group within the Seminary organised a week of prayer for vocations at the parish of Għarb.  All the Masses said at Għarb during this week included an invocation of the faithful for vocations.  Various other activities were held to mark this week.  On Tuesday 6^th November, two seminarians visited Għarb and led a gathering for children attending catechism lessons.  This meeting was held at the parish church.  The seminarians based their talk on Samuel’s call and shared with those present their own call for priesthood.  On Thursday evening, two other seminarians led an hour of solemn adoration for vocations.  Prayers were said for priests and for further vocations from the parish.  The last activity was held on Friday evening when the whole community of the Seminary joined the parrochial community for Mass at the parish church.  Fr Daniel Xerri, Rector of the seminary, led the celebration and Deacon Gabriel Gauci delivered the homily.  The Deacon explained that the first reading of the day (Ez 47,1-2.8-9.12) calls on the parish community, the living stones of the Church, to be like a spring of water that carries Christ from the source (the Church) to every place (especially to that place where the presence of God is missing).  If such a call is addressed to every Christian, it is addressed more strongly to the priest, who is the chosen one of Christ.

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Tul is-Sena tal-Fidi s-Seminarju Maġġuri qed jorganizza xi korsijiet ta’ formazzjoni.  Dawn huma miftuħa għal-lajċi, għall-persuni kkonsagrati u għas-saċerdoti.  L-ewwel kors, Nerġgħu niskopru l-Konċilju Vatikan II, mifrux fuq tmint ijiem (mhux konsekuttivi), beda s-Sibt 3 ta’ Novembru u għandu jintemm l-Erbgħa 28 ta’ Novembru.  Fr John Anthony Berry SThD qed imexxi dan il-kors.  It-tieni kors, Il-Fidi fl-esperjenza tal-Knisja u tan-Nisrani, se jkun immexxi ukoll minn Fr John Anthony Berry SThD u mifrux fuq tmint ijiem (mhux konsekuttivi) bejn l-Erbgħa 16 ta’ Jannar u s-Sibt 9 ta’ Frar 2013.  L-aħħar kors, Il-Katekiżmu tal-Knisja Kattolika, se jkun immexxi minn kelliema varji u se jkun mifrux ukoll fuq tmint ijiem (mhux konsekuttivi) din id-darba bejn l-Erbgħa 10 ta’ April u s-Sibt 4 ta’ Mejju 2013.  Min jixtieq aktar informazzjoni fuq dawn il-korsijiet jirreferi għall-fuljett anness.

Niżżel Il-fuljett

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