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During the Year of Faith, the Major Seminary is organizing various courses in formation.  These courses are open to the laity, consecrated persons and priests.  The first course, Re-discovering the Vatican Concil II, is spread over a period of eight non-consecutive days.  It started on Saturday 3^rd November and will come to an end on Wednesday 28^th November.  Fr John Anthony Berry SThD is conducting the course.  The second course, Faith in the experience of the Church and of the Christian, is to be conducted also by Fr John Anthony Berry SThD and will also be spread over eight non-consecutive days, between Wednesday 16^th January and Saturday 9^th February, 2013.  The last course, The Catechism of the Catholic Church, will be conducted by various speakers and will also be spread over eight non-consecutive days, from Wednesday 10^th April to Saturday 4^th May, 2013.  For further information on these courses, please consult the attached leaflet.

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Nhar il-Ħamis 1 ta’ Novembru, fi tmiem il-konferenza ta’ Mons. Enrico dal Covolo, saret il-preżentazzjoni tas-sit elettroniku l-ġdid tas-Seminarju Maġġuri ta’ Għawdex.  Ir-Rettur, Fr Daniel Xerri, għamel kelmtejn tal-okkażjoni.  Hu spjega li, kif stqarr wieħed mill-Padres Sinodali, hemm bżonn li l-Knisja tersaq aktar qrib tad-dinja virtwali.  Il-fatt li llum hawn nies li qed jgħixu biss f’ħajja virtwali għandu jimmotivana għal dan il-pass.  Sit elettroniku hu mezz utli biex il-Knisja tkun tista’ tilħaq aktar lil dawn in-nies u, anke lil dawn, twasslilhom l-imħabba ta’ Alla.  Ir-Rettur spjega li dan hu l-iskop prinċipali għalfejn is-Seminarju ħass li għandu jinvesti f’dan il-mezz.  Is-Seminarista Joseph Hili, fi tmiem il-kelmtejn tar-Rettur, spjega t-taqsimiet kollha li fih is-sit elettroniku.  Dan għamlu bil-għajnuna ta’ preżentazzjoni viżwali fuq skrin.

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On Thursday, 1^st November, at the end of the conference by Mgr Enrico dal Covolo, we assisted to the presentation of the new website of the Major Seminary of Gozo.  The Rector, Fr Daniel Xerri, made a speech for the occasion.  He explained that, as stated by one the Padres of the Synod, the Church needs to come closer to the virtual world.  The fact that there are people who live solely in a virtual world should motivate us to move in this direction.  A website is a useful means by which the Church can reach these people and deliver to them God’s message of love.  The Rector explained that this is the main reason why the Seminary felt the need to embark on this project.  Seminarian Joseph Hili rounded up by explaining the sections of the site.  His explanation was accompanied by a virtual presentation on screen.

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Fl-għodwa tal-Ħamis 1 ta’ Novembru 2012 żar is-Seminarju l-E.T. Mons. Isqof Enrico dal Covolo, ir-Rettur tal-Università Pontifiċja tal-Lateran.  Hu kien jinsab Malta biex imexxi xi konferenzi.  Waħda minn dawn il-konferenzi saret fis-Seminarju ta’ Għawdex u kienet indirizzata lill-kleru, lir-reliġjużi u lis-seminaristi Għawdxin.  It-tema tal-konferenza kienet La sintesi tra consacrazione e missione nella vita del ministro ordinato.  Il-laqgħa saret fl-okkażjoni tal-mija u sitta u erbgħin anniversarju mit-twaqqif tas-Seminarju tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù (li jaħbat proprju l-Ħadd 4 ta’ Novembru).

Tul il-laqgħa Mons. dal Covolo spjega kif mal-mixja tal-istorja tal-Knisja  ̶  mill-istess bidu tagħha (fil-mandat ta’ Ġesù Kristu); tul iż-żmien tal-Iskola ta’ Antijokja (b’mod speċjali Sant’Injazju t’Antijokja u San Ġwann Krisostmu); wara, fil-ħsieb ta’ Santu Wistin; fil-Konċilju Vatikan II permezz tad-Digriet Presbyterorum Ordinis; u anke fl-Eżortazzjoni Post-Sinodali Pastores Dabo Vobis  ̶  dejjem ġiet ippreżentata unità sħiħa bejn il-konsagrazzjoni tal-ministru ordnat (l-għaqda intima bejn is-saċerdot u Ġesù Kristu) u l-missjoni tiegħu (is-saċerdot li jirgħa l-merħla ta’ Ġesù).  Tul il-konferenza Mons. dal Covolo spjega kif il-Konċilju Vatikan II, biex juri li m’hemmx qasma bejn il-konsagrazzjoni u l-missjoni tas-saċerdot, ma esprimiex ruħu b’termini ġodda imma uża l-massima ta’ Santu Wistin:  “Sit amoris officium pascere dominicum gregem” (li tirgħa l-merħla tal-Mulej għandu jkun dmir ta’ mħabba).  Kemm Sant’Injazju ta’ Antijokja u San Ġwann Krisostmu bix-xhieda ta’ ħajjithom u bil-kitbiet tagħhom kienu diġà affermaw dak li stqarr Santu Wistin.  Il-Papa Ġwanni Pawlu II ikkonferma dan kollu fl-Eżortazzjoni Pastores Dabo Vobis 23, meta qal:  “La carità pastorale è quella virtù con la quale noi imitiamo Cristo nella sua donazione di sé e nel suo servizio.  Non è soltanto quello che facciamo, ma il dono di noi stessi, che mostra l’amore di Cristo per il suo gregge”.

Fl-intervent tiegħu Mons. Isqof Mario Grech (li għadu kif irritorna mis-Sinodu dwar l-Evanġelizzazzjoni l-Ġdida) ikkonferma li dak li stqarr Mons. Enrico dal Covolo hu l-ispirtu tas-saċerdot ministerjali li l-Knisja kkontemplat fis-Sinodu.  Hu ħeġġeġ għalhekk lill-kleru preżenti biex jagħmel eżami tal-kuxjenza, anke fid-dawl ta’ dak li Dun Mikiel Attard kien jgħid lis-seminaristi u lill-qassisin:  “wieħed ma jsirx saċerdot dakinhar tal-ordinazzjoni; isir saċerdot b’mixja gradwali, minn ġurnata għal ġurnata”.

L-E.T. Mons. Isqof Enrico dal Covolo baqa’ mal-komunità għall-ikel.

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On Thursday morning, 1^st November 2012, His Lordship Mgr Enrico dal Covolo, Rector of the Lateran Pontificial University, paid a visit to the Seminary.  He had been invited to Malta to hold conferences on the island.  One of these conferences was held at the Gozo Seminary and it was attended by members of the Clergy, members of religious orders and the Gozitan seminarians.  The theme of the conference was La sintesi tra consacrazione e missione nella vita del ministro ordinato.  The conference was held on the occasion of the hundred and forty sixth anniversary of the founding of the Sacred Heart Seminary.  This anniversary falls on Sunday, 4^th November.

During the conference, Mgr dal Covolo explained how throughout the ages there has always been a strong bond between the consecration of the ordained minister (the intimate union between the priest and Jesus Christ) and the priest’s mission (the priest who herds Jesus’ flock).  Mgr dal Covolo traced the history of the Church, from its very foundation by Jesus Christ, to the times of the School of Antioch (making special references to St Ignatius of Antioch and St John Chrysostom), the thoughts of St Augustine, the Decree Presbyterorum Ordinis of the Vatican Council II and on to the post-Synodal exhortation Pastores Dabo Vobis.

During the conference Mgr dal Covolo explained how the Vatican Council II, instead of using new terminology, used the maxim of St Augustine to show that there is no dichotomy between the consecration and the mission of the priest:  “Sit amoris officium pascere dominicum gregem” (to herd the Lord’s flock should be a duty of love).   By the life they led and in their writings, both St Ignatius of Antioch and St John Chrysostom had already affirmed the declaration of St Augustine.  Pope John Paul II confirmed all this in the exhortation Pastores Dabo Vobis 23, when he stated:  “La carità pastorale è quella virtù con la quale noi imitiamo Cristo nella sua donazione di sé e nel suo servizio.  Non è soltanto quello che facciamo, ma il dono di noi stessi, che mostra l’amore di Cristo per il suo gregge”.

Bishop Mario Grech, who has just attended the Synod about the New Evangelisation, confirmed that what Mgr Enrico dal Covolo had just stated embraces the spirit of the ministerial priest that the Church contemplated during the Synod.  He exhorted the members of the clergy to do an examination of conscience, quoting thereby Fr Michael Attard who used to remind fellow priests and the seminarians that:  “one does not become a priest on the day of one’s ordination; one becomes a priest gradually, day by day”.

Later, His Excellency Mgr Enrico dal Covolo joined the community at lunch.

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Il-Ħamis 25 ta’ Ottubru filgħaxija l-istudenti tal-Live-In Vokazzjonali ġew mistiedna biex iżuru lis-Seminarju.  Huma kellhom laqgħa mad-direttur il-ġdid tagħhom, Fr Joseph Curmi, u wara daħlu fil-kappella għall-kant tal-Għasar, flimkien mal-komunità tas-Seminarju.  Fi tmiem it-talb, is-seminaristi u l-istudenti għaddew għar-refettorju fejn sabu tistennihom iċ-ċena, imħejjija mis-sorijiet u xi helpers oħra.  Wara l-ikel l-istudenti u s-seminaristi nġabru flimkien għal logħba, ippreparata għalihom mill-Grupp tal-Vokazzjonijiet, fil-Conference Room.  Din tal-lum kienet okkażjoni sabiħa biex l-istudenti tas-6^th form setgħu jsiru jafu aktar lil Fr Joseph Curmi u anke sabiex jesperjenzaw ftit mill-atmosfera tas-Seminarju.

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On Thursday afternoon, 25^th October, the students of the Vocational Live-in visited our Seminary.  They met their new director, Fr Joseph Curmi, and then they joined the community of the Seminary for the prayer of the Vespers in the chapel.  After prayers, the whole congregation met in the refrectory for the supper prepared by the nuns and helpers.  Then, the students joined the seminarians in the Conference Room and participated in a game prepared by the Vocational Group.  This was a special occasion in which 6^th Form students could get to know Fr Joseph Curmi better and could experience life at the Seminary.

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Il-komunità tas-Seminarju ingħaqdet mal-Knisja fit-tħejjija għall-Jum Missjunarju.  Dan għamlitu permezz ta’ ġimgħa ta’ attivitajiet bejn it-Tnejn 15 u l-Ħadd 21 ta’ Ottubru 2012, bit-tema: “Aqdu lil xulxin fl-imħabba” (Gal 5,14).  Ta’ kuljum sar talb għall-Knisja ta’ kull kontinent partikulari.  Il-Ħamis 18 ta’ Ottubru l-Grupp Missjunarju organizza laqgħa lill-istudenti tas-Seminarju Minuri li trattat il-parabbola taż-żerriegħa tal-mustarda u l-missjoni fil-Guatemala.  L-għada filgħodu Mons. Ġorġ Grima ngħaqad mal-komunità għall-ewkaristija.  Tulha hu qasam l-esperjenza tiegħu fil-missjoni.  Hu stqarr li hi biss il-fidi f’Ġesù Kristu li żżomm lill-missjunarju sod, mimli kuraġġ u tama u ffukat fil-ħidma ta’ evanġelizzazzjoni li hu msejjaħ li jwettaq.  Dan jgħodd għal kull Nisrani: il-lajk, il-ministru ordnat, imma b’mod speċjali għall-missjunarju.

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The community of the Seminary has joined the Church in the preparations for Mission Day.  We launched a week of activities, lasting from Monday 15^th to Sunday 21^st October 2012.  The chosen theme was: “Out of love, place yourselves at one another’s service” (Gal 5,14).  Prayers were said daily for the Church of a particular continent.  On Thursday 18^th October, the Missionary Group visited the Minor Seminary and delivered a talk to the students about the parable of the mustard seed and the mission of Guatemala.  The following morning Mgr George Grima joined our community for the Holy Eucharist.  He shared with us his experience in the Missions.  He said that it is only faith in Jesus Christ which strenghens the missionary, fills him with courage and hope, and keeps him focused on the evangelisation which he is called to spread.  This applies to every Christian: the laity, the ordained priest and especially the missionary.

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Bejn il-Ġimgħa 19 waranofsinhar u s-Sibt 20 ta’ Ottubru l-komunità tas-Seminarju niżlet Malta fid-dar Rivotorto – parti mill-kumpless taċ-ĊAK – għal seminar ta’ formazzjoni umana.  Maria Vella, psikologa Għawdxija (minn Ta’ Sannat), li qed tkompli l-istudji tagħha u tipprattika l-professjoni tagħha ġewwa Londra, fl-Ingilterra, mexxiet dan is-seminar.  Hi tat żewġ konferenzi.  Fl-ewwel waħda tkellmet fuq l-emozzjonijiet u fit-tieni ppreżentat il-maħfra u l-proċess tal-mourning.  Wara kull konferenza kien hemm ħin ta’ riflessjoni u anke mument ta’ sharing fejn kull seminarista seta’ jippreżenta l-ħsieb tiegħu fuq is-suġġetti diskussi.

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Between Friday 19^th October in the afternoon and Saturday 20^th October, Rivotorto House (part of the CAK complex) in Malta, hosted the community of the Seminary for a seminar on human formation.  The seminar was led by Maria Vella from Ta’ Sannat.  Ms Vella is a Gozitan psychologist who is following her studies in London, England and who practises her profession there.  She gave two talks.  In the first talk she concentrated on emotions while in the second she focused on forgiveness and the process of mourning.  Following each talk there was time for reflection and for sharing.

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It-Tnejn 15 ta’ Ottubru – wara l-irtir ta’ tlitt ijiem li għamlu f’Manresa – ingħaqdu mal-komunità tas-Seminarju t-tliet studenti tal-Propedewtika.  Għal din is-sena l-esperjenza tal-Propedewtika ħadet xgħira diversa mill-esperjenzi preċedenti.  It-tliet propedewtiċi: Andrew Grima mill-parroċċa ta’ San Lawrenz f’San Lawrenz, Daniel Mercieca mill-parroċċa ta’ Marija Assunta fil-Belt Victoria u Mario Mercieca mill-parroċċa ta’ Marija Assunta fil-Belt Victoria, qed jgħixu fis-Seminarju.  Fr Michael Curmi, il-Viċi Rettur, hu responsabbli mill-formazzjoni tagħhom flimkien mad-Direttur Spiritwali Fr Alex Refalo.  Għalkemm qed jgħixu fl-istess kwartieri tas-seminaristi, huma għandhom programm partikulari għalihom.  Fil-fatt huma jingħaqdu biss mal-komunità għal tliet mumenti: il-quddiesa, l-adorazzjoni li ssir filgħaxija u ċ-ċena.