News

On the 19^th of June, a priest and two deacons were ordained. Deacon Mario Mercieca from the parish of the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady, Victoria was ordained a priest. Andrew Grima from the Parish of St Lawrence Martyr, San Lawrenz and Bro. Etienne Gilson of the Franciscan Conventuals were ordained deacons.

The ordination took place at the parvis of Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary at 5.30pm, by the hands of H.L. Mgr Mario Grech, Apostolic Administrator for Gozo.  Present also was the Bishop-elect Mgr Anton Teuma.

Yesterday, was a busy day for the Seminary. Whilst awaiting the news of the appointment of Fr Anton Teuma as the new Bishop of Gozo, the seminary community was making preparations for the prayer vigil which took place in the evening. The vigil, held at the seminary hall, was a moment of prayer as preparation for the Priestly and Diaconal Ordination which is to take place tomorrow at Ta’ Pinu National Sanctuary. 

This year, due to the Covid-19 circumstances, only a very limited number of people could attend the vigil. However, the vigil was transmitted live on the social media of the Diocese and the Seminary. 

The three ordinands for this year are: Rev. Mario Mercieca for priestly ordination and the Bro. Etienne Gilson and seminarian Andrew Grima for diaconal ordination.

Fr Anton Teuma has been named bishop by His Holiness Pope Francis and will succeed Mgr Mario Grech as the ninth bishop of the Diocese of Gozo. The Apostolic Nuncio H.E. Alessandro D’Errico made the announcement at the Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary today at noon. Afterwards, the bishop-elect visited our Seminary.

During his priesthood, Fr Teuma has been quite close to the Seminary. Apart from having served as rector for ten years, between 1997 and 2007, he is also a member of the Seminary board and lecturer.

This morning, during mass at 7.00am, in the Immaculate Conception Chapel of our Seminary, the deacon Mario Mercieca and the seminarian Andrew Grima made their profession of faith and oath of fidelity in the presence of H.L. Mgr Mario Grech, Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Gozo.  This was done in view of their presbiteral and diaconal ordination, respectively, which is to be held on the 19 of June at the National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu.

In his homily, Bishop Grech, spoke about doubt in pursuing one’s vocation.

Certainty is wonderful; but as much as it is necessary it may be of a disadvantage.  When one feels certain of himself, one does not feel the necessity to question more and thus certainty may become an obstacle for one to continue growing.  From you who are approaching Sacred Orders, one expects that you are certain of the step you are going to make; but I would appreciate it if in you there was a little doubt.  When I was still at the Seminary, the Servant of God, Fr Mikiel Attard used to tell us that before the Ordination, it was enough for one to have “reasonable conviction”.  There is no need of absolute certainty, indeed it is better not to have this certainty, because this would mean a great blockage for one to become more mature in his vocation.  Lack of doubt conceives in one the presumption that he knows everything. 

Bishop Mario Grech

Today, the Apostolic Administrator for the Diocese of Gozo, H.L. Mons. Mario Grech, nominated a new Vice-Rector and Prefect of Studies for our Seminary. As of 1st June 2020, our Seminary would have Fr Samuel Grech as Vice-Rector and Fr Noel Debono, as Prefect of Studies. The community would like to thank Fr Gabriel Gauci who formerly had these roles. Whilst wishing them well, we continue accompanying them in prayer.

The Church hails the fourth Sunday after Easter as a special day of prayer for vocations.  On this Sunday, the Church presents the Gospel of the Good Shepherd to help us reflect on the gift of vocations.  We should remember that vocations are not related soley to priesthood.  We all have a vocation in life.  And what is our vocation?  Pope Francis says that a vocation is a treasure that God stores in the heart of human beings.  It is a treasure being the road which the Lord is inviting us to take and which leads us to happiness.  This happiness is  He himself.  Every vocation is unique and everybody has to look deep into his heart to discover this treasure donated to him by God.

In simple terms, the Gospel of the Good Shepherd reminds us of the true definition of a vocation.  Naturally, if Christ is the Good Shepherd, we are called to be part of his flock.  The Gospel tells us that the flock listens to his voice. Therefore, a vocation, the call of every Christian, demands from us above all a close attention to the Lord’s voice and will.

The Gospel continues: the sheep follow the Lord because they know his voice.  But they will never follow a stranger.  In fact, they will run away from him because they do not recognize a stranger’s voice.  We should reflect on our lives and ask ourselves whom we are heeding,  Are we heeding God’s voice or other voices that we allow to determine our decisions?  Is our life following God’s call or is it following a vocation determined by ourselves for ourselves?

Therefore, the foundation of every vocation is prayer.  We pray to listen to God’s voice and to relate better with God, since if we do not learn to relate better with God, how can we discover his call for us?  The answer of St Teresa Benedicta of the Cross sums it all: Vocation… is an answer which we get through prayer.

The Covid-19 pandemic brought abrupt changes in the way of life of all the people worldwide.  On Thursday, 12th March, the Department of Health issued a set of measures that led to the decision that the seminarians would stay at home and follow an extraordinary progamme of formation from home.  A great part of the programme is followed through the social media. 

The pandemic affected also the intermediary-year experience of two seminarians who gently accepted to share with us their experience during this particular time.

Joseph Bajada

My intermediary-year experience started on Tuesday, 24th September 2019.  After a short trip, I arrived at the Parish SS. Sacramento, on the eastern side of Rome.

I was staying at the parish house with the parish priest, Don Maurizio Mirilli, and four other priests. Gradually, I got acquainted with the pastoral life of the parish and I became involved in various parish groups, including the Youths Group, the Oratory and the football team of the parish.  I participated in the liturgical celebrations of the parish and visited the sick, the elderly and the homeless.   I feel that the weekly vocational meetings which I attended  were very important as helped me in my discernment and in becoming more mature.

Because of the pandemic, the authorities issued a set of measures which restricted pastoral activities and meetings with various groups.  I used to participate in the livestreaming of the Holy Mass.  Eventually, I had to cut short my stay in Italy and return to Gozo.

Because of this situation, I am joining the other seminarians in following our formation programme from home.  I hope that things will be better soon and I thank God for what I have been through during my experience in Italy.

Matthew Bajada

In a quiet and empty street, I could see a man, wearing a protective mask, walking his dog.  Usually this is a busy street with many cars passing through. That day it was different.  This is the scene which we have been witnessing these last few weeks when going out is restricted.  I imagine that you know what I am talking about.  At present, I am doing another intermediary-year experience with the Casa del Giovane community in Pavia, Italy.  This is a therapeutic and rehabilitating community that hosts people addicted to drugs, alcohol and gaming.  Six and a half months have passed since this experience started.  During my experience in Pavia, I feel that I have come to know God, myself and my neighbour better.  I never imagined that the world could pass through this dramatic situation caused by this pandemic that has spread worldwide.  Why is God permitting this to happen?  I feel that I can now say that a person proves his worth by his personality and not by his actions.

These days full of tension and paradoxes make us realize that a change in the usual routine unravel our weaknesses and the way we have ignored that which really matters.  These days are calling us to renew our trust in God, so that we can abandon our attitudes of egoism and superiority and adopt instead an attitude of solidarity with others.  God will always be with us and his voice will always reach our weaknesses and help us overcome them.  The street may be empty but God is inviting us to continue walking along our respective roads.  I wish you all a happy Easter and I would like to thank you for your prayers and your kind thoughts.  I believe that this Easter, which is different from others, God still wants to talk to us.  In this particular time, the Risen Christ will help us revive our faith in him so that we can live fearlessly according to his wishes.

“Death with life contended: combat strangely ended” (Sequence). The community would like to wish the peace of the Risen Christ to all, especially to the families, friends and benefactors which sustain us with their prayer. Let the light of the Risen Christ give us hope and courage in these difficult times. Happy Easter!

On the 7 of March, the Seminary community, did an outreach experience at St Peter’s and St Paul’s Parish in Nadur.  The seminarians did this outreach experience together with Ray Brincat and Chris Bugeja, members of the Franciscan community founded by Fr Hayden Williams ofm Cap.

The community gathered at the Nadur Basilica at 8.45pm for a short moment of prayer before the actual outreach experience.  Afterwards, the seminarians, together with the Franciscan brothers left in groups of two to meet people in the surrounding bars, listen to them and talk to them about God.  Meanwhile adoration was taking place in the Basilica.  Priests were available for confession.  The outreach experience ended around midnight with Eucharistic benediction in the basilica.

The experience in Nadur was one of the two outreaches which were going to take place.  A second outreach in the parish of St George in Victoria was planned to take place on the 21^st of this month.  Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this outreach had to be cancelled.

On Saturday, 8th February, our Seminary hosted the fraternity of Fr Hayden Williams OFM Cap. To prepare for the outreach for the Lenten period, the fraternity of Fr Hayden led a seminar with the theme “Church that reaches out”. During the seminar, members of the fraternity shared their experience in the sphere of evangelisation in both Malta and Gozo. At the end of the seminar, the fraternity led a one-hour adoration of the Blessed Sacrament.

It had been a long time since the seminarians presented a play in the hall of the Major Seminary.  This year the Seminary community presented the play ‘Stejfen Jilħaqlu’, directed by Fr Joseph Bajada.  The play was staged on Sunday 24th November at 7.40pm, on Friday 29th Novermber at 8.00pm and on Saturday 30th November at 8.00pm.

This comedy had been presented for the first time in the 80’s.  The author of the comedy housed at the archives of the Major Seminary, was most probably Mgr Salv Borg.  The story is about Alessandru and Danjeli, sons of two rich men, Basilju and Kajju.  Alessandru and Danjeli took a loan to help a poor young boy called Ġiġi. Stejfen, who is Alessandru’s servant, does his best to cheat Basiju and Kajju out of their money to repay the loan.  Eventually, Basiju and Kajju find out what is going on.  The play has a happy ending when Basilju discovers that Ġiġi is his youngest son from whom he has been separated since Ġiġi was a baby.

Besides creating smiles and laughter, the play created an opportunity for the audience to get acquainted with the Seminary since, after the play, the audience was invited to go round the Seminary and see where the seminarians live, learn and get their formation to become priests.

On Saturday, 16th November 2019, the Seminary hosted the traditional Saint Martin’s Dinner.  This dinner is the principal fundraising activity in aid of the Seminary and is hosted annually.  The dinner, which is held at the Seminary Hall, requires a lot of hard work.  Our whole-hearted thanks goes to the members of the Community of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, present at the Seminary.  The nuns prepare the dinner with the help of many volunteers.  We would also like to thank the various shops and establishments for the gifts and gift vouchers they offered as prizes for the raffle held during the said dinner.  Finally, we would like to thank all those who attended the dinner.  It was an enjoyable evening for our guests who are always ready to give a helping hand to the Seminary.