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Wara li ftit jiem ilu lqajna fostna lis-seminaristi Maltin, nhar is-Sibt 16 ta’ Marzu 2019 waslu f’pajjiżna grupp ta’ 10 seminaristi Irlandiżi mis-seminarju ta’ Maynooth. Huma qattgħu l-ewwel lejl fis-Seminarju ta’ Malta. Matul il-jum tal-Ħadd xi żaru xi postijiet ta’ interess f’Malta u filgħaxija qabdu triqthom lejn Għawdex. L-ewwel waqfa kienet fis-Seminarju t’Għawdex. Is-seminaristi Għawdxin ħejjew 10 kmamar fil-kamerata stess għall-Irlandiżi. Matul din iż-żjara s-seminaristi Irlandiżi kellhom iċ-ċans iżuru postijiet uniċi fil-gżira Għawdxija waqt li jduqu l-kultura u t-tradizzjonijiet tipikament Għawdxin.

Peress li t-Tlieta 19 ta’ Marzu kienet blata, is-seminaristi Għawdxin pjanaw ġurnata attivitajiet. L-ewwel waqfa kienet id-Dwejra. Wara żorna ċ-ċentru artisitku Eikon. Doqna l-ftajjar tipikament Għawdxin. Dakinhar filgħaxija ż-żewġ gruppi ta’ seminaristi laqgħbu partita futbol kontra xulxin. Kien mument sabiħ li xehed li fi ftit jiem iż-żewġ komunitajiet ħadmu u għexu flimkien tant li nħolqot klima ħbiberiji li jkomplu jarrikkixxu l-mixja vokazzjonali ta’ kull wieħed. Iż-żjara waslet fi tmiemha l-Ħamis b’ġurnata fil-Belt Valletta. Hemm żorna l-Kon-Katidral ta’ San Ġwann u l-Barrakka. L-aħħar waqfa kienet żjara fil-Katidral tal-Imdina u l-mużew tiegħu. Din iż-żjara ntemmet fl-ajruport fejn iż-żewġ komunitajiet sellmu lil xulxin u rringrazzjaw lil xulxin tal-esperjenza.

Wara li ftit jiem ilu lqajna fostna lis-seminaristi Maltin, nhar is-Sibt 16 ta’ Marzu 2019 waslu f’pajjiżna grupp ta’ 10 seminaristi Irlandiżi mis-seminarju ta’ Maynooth. Huma qattgħu l-ewwel lejl fis-Seminarju ta’ Malta. Matul il-jum tal-Ħadd xi żaru xi postijiet ta’ interess f’Malta u filgħaxija qabdu triqthom lejn Għawdex. L-ewwel waqfa kienet fis-Seminarju t’Għawdex. Is-seminaristi Għawdxin ħejjew 10 kmamar fil-kamerata stess għall-Irlandiżi. Matul din iż-żjara s-seminaristi Irlandiżi kellhom iċ-ċans iżuru postijiet uniċi fil-gżira Għawdxija waqt li jduqu l-kultura u t-tradizzjonijiet tipikament Għawdxin.

Peress li t-Tlieta 19 ta’ Marzu kienet blata, is-seminaristi Għawdxin pjanaw ġurnata attivitajiet. L-ewwel waqfa kienet id-Dwejra. Wara żorna ċ-ċentru artisitku Eikon. Doqna l-ftajjar tipikament Għawdxin. Dakinhar filgħaxija ż-żewġ gruppi ta’ seminaristi laqgħbu partita futbol kontra xulxin. Kien mument sabiħ li xehed li fi ftit jiem iż-żewġ komunitajiet ħadmu u għexu flimkien tant li nħolqot klima ħbiberiji li jkomplu jarrikkixxu l-mixja vokazzjonali ta’ kull wieħed. Iż-żjara waslet fi tmiemha l-Ħamis b’ġurnata fil-Belt Valletta. Hemm żorna l-Kon-Katidral ta’ San Ġwann u l-Barrakka. L-aħħar waqfa kienet żjara fil-Katidral tal-Imdina u l-mużew tiegħu. Din iż-żjara ntemmet fl-ajruport fejn iż-żewġ komunitajiet sellmu lil xulxin u rringrazzjaw lil xulxin tal-esperjenza.

A group of 10 seminarians from Ireland, hailing from the Seminary of Maynooth, visited our Seminary on 16th March.  They had spent their first night at the Seminary of Malta.  On Sunday morning, they had toured places of interest in Malta and then proceeded to Gozo in the evening.  We had prepared 10 rooms  for them in the living quarters at the Seminary.  During their stay in Gozo, they visited various places of interest.

Tuesday, 19th March and feast of St Joseph, was a day full of activities.  We visited Dwejra and Eikon, the artistic centre, and had traditional ftajjar for lunch. In the evening, we played a football match.  It was an opportunity for both groups to strenghten the bond of friendship that had been created between the two groups.  On Thursday, we accompanied our Irish friends to Malta.  We visited the St John’s Co Cathedral, the Barrakka Gardens, the Mdina Cathedral and its museum.  We then proceeded to the airport to see our friends off to Ireland.

On Friday 15th March, our Seminary opened its doors to welcome seminarians from Malta.  At 7pm we gathered in the Chapel for Holy Adoration.  After spending some time in silent prayer, we said the Vespers at 7.40pm and received the Eucharistic Blessing.  We then proceeded to the Refrectory for supper.  After supper we met again and shared experiences. A feeling of unity and brotherhood reigned throughout the evening.  Opportunites like this are rare since each of us has his personal programme to follow.  Before the activity ended, we had a commemorative photo taken on the starcase of the Seminary with the statue of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, the namesake of our Seminary, as background.

Il-Ġimgħa 15 ta’ Marzu ftaħna l-bibien tagħna għas-seminaristi ta’ griża oħtna, Malta. Fis-7pm inġbarna fil-kappella għall-adorazzjoni. Wara mumenti ta’ silenzju, tlabna t-talba tal-għasar fit-7.40pm u għalaqna bil-barka sagramentali. Bqajna sejrin fir-refettorju għall-ikel. Waqt l-ikel is-seminaristi kellhom iċ-ċans jitkellmu flimkien. Dawn il-mumenti mhumiex ta’ sikwit, peress li kulħadd ikun impenjat bil-programm tiegħu. Madankollu kien jinħass sens sabiħ ta’ għaqda u fraternità. Temmejna dan il-mument billi ħadna ritratt kommemorattiv fit-taraġ tas-Seminarju, bl-istatwa tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù, li għalih imsemmi s-Seminarju Għawdxi, jidher fl-isfond.

Nhar it-Tlieta 12 ta’ Marzu s-seminaristi stiednu lill-istudenti tal-grupp tal-vokazzjonijiet tal-Forms 4 u 5 għal mument flimkien fis-Seminarju. Dan il-mument beda billi s-seminaristi u l-istudenti nġabru fil-kamerata, il-post fejn hemm il-kmamar tas-seminaristi. Peress li ninsabu fiż-żmien tar-Randan, is-seminaristi ħadu ħsieb jippreparaw ambjent ta’ talb madwar il-kurċifiss li hemm f’dan il-post ċentrali fis-Seminarju. Il-viċi-rettur Dun Gabriel beda b’riflessjoni dwar x’għandu jfisser għaż-żagħżugħ iż-żmien tar-Randan. Qal li r-riflessjoni fuq in-nuqqasijiet tagħna m’għandhiex l-iskop li tnikkitna, imma hija l-ewwel pass biex nikbru u niżviluppaw f’adulti maturi. Wara ntalbet it-talba tal-Via Sagra fejn saru riflessjonijiet applikati għall-ħajja tagħna llum. Dan il-mument ta’ talb intemm bil-barka sagramentali. Wara kulħadd niżel fir-refettorju għall-ikel. Wara l-ikel, l-istudenti għenu lis-seminaristi fil-ħasil tal-platti. L-aħħar parti tal-attività kienet partita futbol fil-gym tas-Seminarju.

On Tuesday 12th March,  Form 4 and Form 5 students of the Vocation Groups were hosted at the Seminary. The students joined the seminarians in the ‘kamerata’, where the seminarians havei their rooms.  Being Lent, the seminarians created an environment of prayer at the foot of the Crucifix which is in this central place in the Seminary. Vice Rector Fr Gabriel talked about the significance of Lent for youth.  He said that a reflection on our weaknesses should not distress us.  It should be the first step in our development into mature adults.  Reflections on our daily life accompanied us during the Way of the Cross.  The time dedicated to prayer ended with the Eucharistic Blessing.  The guests and the seminarians then went for dinner at the refrectory.  The students helped the seminarians in the cleaning up.  The activity ended wtih a football game at the gym.

The name of Mother Thesesa of Calcutta is synonymous with this nun’s great work among the poorest of the poor.  Many convents founded by this nun around the world are still doing her same work.  However, there are also the Missionaries of Charity – Brothers, founded by Mother Theresa and Fr Ian Traverse Ball.  These brothers are not ordained priests and they spend their life in prayer and in helping people in need.

On Wednesday 20th February, Bro Gennaro and Bro Mark shared with us their experience in their vocation.  They explained to us how they help people pass through difficult situations in their life.  They establish bridges of friendship with these people and teach them self esteem.  Their vocation relies on prayer.  They spend a lot of time in prayer to sustain their efforts in serving God through these people.

Meta wieħed isemmi lil Madre Tereża ta’ Kalkutta, ħafna jaħsbu dwar ix-xogħol imprezzabbli li kienet twettaq din is-soru mal-ifqar fost il-fqar. Dan l-istess xogħol għadhom iwettquh il-kunventi li waqqfet din l-istess soru f’diversi postijiet madwar id-dinja. Madankollu, hemm ukoll il-Missionaries of Charity – Brothers. Dawn twaqqfu minn Madre Tereża flimkien mal-qassis Dun Ian Traverse Ball. Dawn il-brothers ma jsirux saċerdoti u jiddedikaw ħajjithom għat-talb u l-qadi ta’ dawk li għandhom l-aktar bżonn.

Nhar l-Erbgħa 20 ta’ Frar, Bro Gennaro u Bro Mark ġew jaqsmu magħna xi esperjenzi li jgħaddu minnhom fil-ħidma tagħhom. Spjegawlna kif huma jaħdmu biex jgħinu lin-nies joħorġu mis-sitwazzjonijiet miżeri li jkunu jinsabu fihom. Jinsistu ħafna fuq il-bżonn li jibnu relazzjonijiet ta’ ħbiberiji man-nies u jgħinuhom iħossuhom importanti, kif tassew huma. Il-ġurnata tal-ħidma tagħhom iddur fuq it-talb. Dan billi jieqfu jitolbu f’dinversi ħinijiet tul il-ġurnata biex ikunu jistgħu tassew jaqdu lil Ġesù f’dawn in-nies.

On Tuesday 5th February, on the eve of Ash Wednesday, the Seminary community celebrated the heralding of Lent.  The community gathered in the chapel at 7pm and Fr Richard N Farrugia led the celebration.  First, the heralding was sung, then the artal and the ambone were adorned with the violet vestments while the community sang the ‘Attende Domine’.  The Reading for the First Sunday of Lent was read, followed by a reflection on the same Reading.  The Rev Rector suggested changes to the daily programme proposed for Lent, mainly: the community will gather for the Noon Prayers before lunch is served; silence is to be observed on Frinday evenings; prayers associated with Lent are to be said during the day. The celebration came to an end by the singing of the psalm of the Liturgy of the First Sunday of Lent.

Nhar is-Sibt, 2 ta’ Frar, il-komunità tas-Seminarju temmet l-ewwel simestru tas-sena.  L-aħħar jum ta’ ġimagħtejn ta’ eżamijiet kien ikkaratterizzat bi studju u talb. Il-komunità kellha ħin għall-mistrieħ u attivitajiet flimkien f’Malta qabel ma kompliet bl-attivitajiet normali tas-Seminarju u b’bidla fil-korsijiet tat-tieni semestru tas-sena.