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Following a three-day retreat at Manresa House, the three students of the propaedeutic year joined the community of the Seminary on Monday, 15^th October.  The propaedeutic experience for this year will be somewhat different from previous experiences as the three propaedeutic students will be living at the Gozo Seminary.  The students are Andrew Grima from the Parish of St Lawrence, in San Lawrenz, and Daniel Mercieca and Mario Mercieca both from the Parish of the Assumption of Mary, in Victoria.  Vice-Rector Fr Michael Curmi and Spiritual Director Fr Alex Refalo will be responsible for their formation.  Although they will be living in the same quarters of the seminarians, they will be following their own particular programme.  In fact, they will be joining the community of the seminary only three times during the day: at Mass, during the adoration which takes place in the evening and for supper.

Tul il-waqfa tas-sajf li għadda ġew installati żewġ Interactive White Boards fis-Seminarju: wieħed fil-Conference Room u ieħor f’waħda mil-lecture rooms tal-Fakultà.  Dan sar bl-iskop li jiġi ffaċilitat it-tagħlim akkademiku fi ħdan l-istess Fakultà.  Is-seminar tmexxa minn Pamela Borg, tutor tal-Interactive White Boards.  Il-lecturers u s-seminaristi kienu mistiedna għalih.  Tul it-tliet sigħat tal-konferenza Pamela Borg ippruvat tagħti deskrizzjoni tal-faċilitajiet li jinkludu fihom dawn il-boards.  Dawk preżenti kellhom iċ-ċans li jagħmlu hands on experience tal-istess boards u kellhom iċ-ċans ukoll jagħmlu l-mistoqsijiet tagħhom dwar l-użu tal-boards.

During the summer recess two interactive whiteboards were installed at the Seminary.  One was installed at the Conference Room while the other was installed in one of the lecture rooms of the Faculty.  These white boards help to facilitate the academic teaching at the same Faculty.  Ms Pamela Borg, tutor on interactive whiteboards, led a seminar regarding the use of these new whiteboards.  This was also an occasion for those present to have a hands-on experience in the use of such boards and to put queries regarding the use of the same boards.

Minn din is-sena ta’ formazzjoni, Fr Alex Refalo, mill-Parroċċa ta’ Marija Bambina fix-Xagħra, ħa post Fr Joseph Farrugia, mill-Parroċċa tal-Viżitazzjoni fil-Għarb, bħala direttur spiritwali fis-Seminarju Maġġuri.  Għal din ir-raġuni kien xieraq li f’mument apposta l-komunità tirringrazzja lil Fr Joseph tal-ħidma siekta imma essenzjali li hu wettaq fi ħdanha għal ħames snin sħaħ.   Għalhekk, il-Ġimgħa 12 ta’ Ottubru 2012, il-KRS (Kunsill Rappreżentattiv tas-Seminaristi) organizza barbeque ġewwa l-bajja ta’ Mġarr Ix-Xini.  Dan sar filgħaxija, però kien fadal ħin biżżejjed biex min xtaq seta’ jinżel jgħum.  Wara l-ikel Fr Joseph flimkien ma’ Fr Alex qasmu kejk tal-okkażjoni, u kif xieraq, il-komunità ppreżentat rigal ta’ tifkira lil Fr Joseph.

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As from this year of formation, Fr Alex Refalo, from the Nativity of Mary Parish in Xagħra, is replacing Fr Joseph Farrugia as spiritual director of the Major Seminary.  Fr Farrugia hails  from the Parish of the Visitation in Għarb.  It was deemed fitting to thank Fr Farrugia for his essential work which he performed within the community for five years.  With this aim in mind, the Seminarians’ Representative Council (K.R.S.) organised a barbeque at Imġarr ix-Xini Bay, on Friday 12^th October 2012.  At the end of the barbeque Fr Farrugia and Fr Alex Refalo cut the cake prepared for the occasion.  The community presented Fr Joseph with a memento.

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Nhar it-Tlieta 2 ta’ Ottubru ngħaqad għall-ikel, flimkien mas-seminaristi, l-E.T. Mons Benjamin Phiri, Isqof Awżiljarju ta’ Chipata fiz-Zambia.  Kien jinsab fi triqtu lejn Ruma biex jieħu sehem fis-Sinodu tal-Isqfijiet dwar l-Evanġelizzazzjoni l-Ġdida.  Flimkien miegħu ġie wkoll id-direttur tal-Moviment Missjunarju ta’ Malta, Mons. Salvinu Micallef.

L-għada l-Erbgħa 3 ta’ Ottubru żar il-komunità l-E.T. Mons Selim Sayegh, Isqof Emeritus tal-Ġordan.  Kien qed jagħmel żjara lill-membri tal-Ordo Virginum f’Malta u Għawdex.  Hu wkoll baqa’ għall-ikel.  Fi tmiem l-ikla Mons. Selim ta l-messaġġ tiegħu u ħeġġeġ lis-seminaristi biex minn issa jitgħallmu jkunu fidili fl-affarijiet iż-żgħar tal-ħajja ta’ kuljum.  Din hi t-triq li twassal lis-seminarista biex ’il quddiem ikun verament saċerdot li jħobb b’mod sħiħ lil Kristu u lill-Knisja tiegħu.

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On Tuesday, 2^nd October, H.L. Mgr Benjamin Phiri, Auxiliary Bishop of Chipata in Zambia, joined the seminarians for lunch. Mgr Phiri was on his way to Rome to participate in the Bishops’ Synod on the New Evangelisation.  He was accompanied by Mgr Salvinu Micallef, director of the Missions Movement of Malta.

On Wednesday, 3^rd October, H.L. Mgr Selim Sayegh, Bishop Emeritus of Jordan, paid a visit to the community of the Gozo Seminary.  He was on a visit to the members of Ordo Virginum of Malta and Gozo.  Bishop Sayegh also joined the seminarians for lunch.  When lunch came to an end, Mons Selim delivered a short message in which he urged the seminarians to be faithful to the small things in everyday life.  He said that this is the road that leads the seminarian to become a priest who earnestly loves Christ and His Church.

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Il-komunità tas-Seminarju reġgħet inġabret flimkien, għal sena ta’ formazzjoni ġdida, nhar it-Tnejn 24 ta’ Settembru 2012.  Tul il-waqfa tas-sajf kien hemm diversi mumenti li fihom il-komunità ltaqgħet flimkien.  Ta’ min isemmi l-ordinazzjoni djakonali tas-Seminarista Gabriel Gauci, mill-Parroċċa tal-Madonna tas-Sokkors u ta’ San Girgor f’Ta’ Kerċem, fil-Katidral ta’ Għawdex nhar il-Ġimgħa 22 ta’ Ġunju.  Saret il-quddiesa flimkien mas-saċerdoti u d-djaknu l-ġodda nhar it-Tnejn 24 ta’ Ġunju ġewwa l-Kunvent tas-Sorijiet Franġiskani tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù f’Marsalforn.  F’nofs is-sajf, nhar it-8 ta’ Awwissu, is-seminaristi inġabru għal nofs ta’ nhar ta’ riflessjoni mmexxi minn Dun Karm Gauci f’Dar Stella Maris, iż-Żebbuġ.  Fl-aħħar ġimgħa tal-vaganzi huma taw daqqa t’id fit-tindif u fit-tħejjija tas-Seminarju għal sena oħra ta’ formazzjoni.

Dakinhar li s-seminaristi daħlu lura mis-sajf, wara li ġiet iċċelebrata l-Ewkaristija, huma qasmu flimkien id-diversi esperjenzi li għexu tul is-sajf u filgħaxija niżlu Marsalforn għal barbeque.   Din kienet l-okkażjoni li fiha ngħatat merħba lil Fr Alex Refalo bħala d-direttur spiritwali l-ġdid tas-Seminarju.  Hu ħa post Fr Joseph Farrugia li qeda lill-komunità bħala direttur spiritwali għal dawn l-aħħar ħames snin.  Bejn l-għada t-Tlieta 25 u s-Sibt 29 ta’ Settembru l-komunità kienet ġewwa r-Rabat Malta, f’Dar il-Lunzjata, għall-irtir tal-bidu tas-sena.  Din id-darba kien Fr Tony Sciberras M.S.S.P. li mexxa l-irtir.

Il-ħajja fis-Seminarju qabdet ir-rittmu normali nhar it-Tnejn 1 ta’ Ottubru.  Dakinhar ingħata bidu għas-sena akkademika permezz tal-Quddiesa lill-Ispirtu s-Santu, immexxiha minn Mons. Isqof Mario Grech.  Għal din l-Ewkaristija kienu mistiedna l-professuri u l-familjari tas-seminaristi.

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On Monday, 24^th September 2012, the community of the Seminary was reunited for a new year of formation.  During the summer the community had met on a number of occasions.  Such an occasion was when Seminarian Gabriel Gauci, from the Kerċem Parish of Our Lady of Help and of St. Gregory, was ordained deacon on Friday 22^nd June, at the Gozo Cathedral.   On Monday 24^th June, a holy Mass was celebrated at the Convent of the Franciscan Sisters at Marsalforn.  The newly ordained priests and deacon participated.  Towards mid-summer, the seminarians got together for a day of reflection and prayer, led by Rev. Carmel Gauci.  This took place on 8^th August at Dar Stella Maris at Żebbuġ.  During the last week of their holidays, the seminarians gave a helping hand in cleaning and preparing the Seminary for a new year of formation.

On their first day at the seminary, the seminarians participated in the celebration of the Eucharist.  Later they shared the different experiences which each of them had had during summer.  In the evening they went to Marsalforn for a barbeque. During the barbeque they welcomed Fr Alex Refalo as the new spiritual director for the community.  He was to replace Fr Joseph Farrugia who had had been spiritual director for the community for the last five years.  On the morrow, Tuesday 25^th, and up to Saturday 29^th, the community was at Dar il-Lunzjata in Rabat, Malta, for the beginning-of-year spiritual retreat.  The retreat was led by Fr Tony Sciberras.

Life at the Seminary returned to normal by Monday 1^st October.  The new academic year began by the Holy Mass of the Holy Spirit, led by H.E. Mgr Bishop Mario Grech.  The lecturers and relatives of the seminarians joined this celebration of the Holy Eucharist.

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Wara li fil-15 ta’ Ġunju ġew fi tmiemhom l-eżamijiet tat-tieni semestru, is-seminaristi nġabru għal tlitt ijiem oħra li fihom għalqu s-sena ta’ formazzjoni fis-Seminarju.  Nhar it-Tnejn 18 ta’ Ġunju saret Revision de Vie li tmexxiet mid-Direttur Spiritwali Dun Joseph Farrugia, u t-Tlieta saret evalwazzjoni ta’ tmiem it-term u wara barbeque f’Marsalforn.  Is-sena ġiet fi tmiemha nhar l-Erbgħa 20 ta’ Ġunju, meta saret Quddiesa mmexxija minn Mons. Isqof Mario Grech li għaliha kienu mistednin il-familjari tas-seminaristi u d-Dami tas-Seminarju.

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The 15^th June brought to an end the examinations of the second semester.  The seminarians spent together the following three days to mark the end of the year of formation at the Seminary.  On Monday 18^th June, Fr Joseph Farrugia, the Spiritual Director, held Revision de Vie. On Tuesday an evaluation of the term was drawn, followed by a barbeque at Marsalforn.  The year ended formally on Wednesday 20th June with a Mass led by Mgr Bishop Mario Grech.  Relatives of the seminarians and the Dames of the Seminary formed part of the congregation.

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Fit-2 ta’ Ġunju, lejliet l-ordinazzjoni għall-presbiterat u ftit jiem qabel dik għad-djakont saret velja ta’ talb: qari mill-Iskrittura u Adorazzjoni Ewkaristika fis-seminarju, biex flimkien mal-poplu miġbur, isir talb għall-ordinandi.  Matul il-velja, fil-preżenza ta’ Ġesù Ewkaristija, id-djaknu Daniel Grech għamel talba ta’ ringrazzjament għas-sena tad-djakonat, u d-djaknu Mark Bonello għamel talba għall-għajnuna quddiem il-ħajja saċerdotali.  Is-seminarista Gabriel Gauci wkoll għamel it-talba tiegħu misluta mill-esperjenza tal-ħajja u l-vokazzjoni tiegħu.

L-għada, 3 ta’ Ġunju, Solennità tat-Trinità Qaddisa, Mark Bonello u Daniel Grech irċivew  l-ordinazzjoni presbiterali tagħhom minn idejn Mons. Isqof Mario Grech fil-knisja katidrali ta’ Għawdex.

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