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On Saturday, the 18th of May, the Seminary community started the day with a pilgrimage to the Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary.  On the way, the community recited the Rosary. H.L. Mgr Mario Grech celebrated Mass in the chapel of the sanctuary.  After the reading of the Gospel, seminarian Mario Mercieca, who hails from the Cathedral parish of the Assumption of Our Lady, made the vows of celibacy and faithfulness and the profession of faith prior to his ordination as deacon.  In his homily, Mgr Grech said that these vows are not just a rite to be taken lightly. These vows demand a commitment so that the diaconal life is led in the best way.

Nhar it-8 ta’ Mejju, il-komunità tas-Seminarju attendiet għal taħdita mill-Professur Joseph M. Pirotta dwar ir-realtà politika fil-Gżejjer Maltin u l-irwol tal-Knisja f’din id-dinamika.  It-taħdita kienet tinkludi ħarsa storika lejn is-sitwazzjoni politika u t-tendenzi, kemm qabel u kemm wara l-Indipendenza.

Attivitajiet bħal dawn huma organizzati mis-Seminarju sabiex l-istudenti jifhmu l-implikazzjonijiet u l-impatt li l-politika għandha fuq il-ħajja ta’ kuljum tal-Poplu Malti, ir-relazzjonni tiegħu mal-Knisja o l-effetti fuq il-ħajja pastorali li s-seminaristi jkunu se jesperjenzaw aktar ’il quddiem bħala saċerdoti.

On the 8^thof May, the Seminary community attended a lecture by Professor Joseph M. Pirotta on the political reality of the Maltese Islands and the role of the Church in these dynamics. The lecture included a historical overview of the political situation and trends, both before and after Independence.

These kind of activities are held by the seminary for the students to understand the implications and the impact of politics on the daily life of the Maltese people, their relation with the Church and the effects on pastoral life which the seminarians will experience later on as priests.

On the 4th and 5th of May, the seminarians were hosted at the summer residence of the Franciscan sisters at Qbajjar for a human formation weekend on fatherhood.  Fr Joseph Farrugia and Fr Daniel Sultana held sessions regarding the topic.  These sessions helped the seminarians assert the importance of the paternal figure in Christain life.  We often project the paternal figure on our relationship with God.  The priest should also be a father to the community which he is entrusted with.  Therefore, the priest-to-be has to be trained to take the sensitive role of a father so that his priesthood will be worthy of the role.

Mill-4 sal-5 ta’ Mejju s-seminaristi kellhom jumejn ta’ formazzjoni umana dwar it-tema tal-paternità fir-residenza tas-sajf tas-sorijiet Franġiskani fil-Qbajjar. Tul dawn il-jumejn, Fr Joseph Farrugia u Fr Daniel Sultana mexxew xi sezzjonijiet dwar din it-tema importanti biex għenu lis-seminaristi jagħrfu l-importanza tal-figura paterna fil-ħajja Nisranija. Ħafna drabi din il-figura nipproġettawha fuq ir-relazzjoni tagħna ma’ Alla. Il-qassis jeħtieġ li jkun ukoll missier tal-komunità li tkun fdata f’idejh. Għalhekk, wieħed jeħtieġ li jiġi mħarreġ f’paternità sensittiva u matura ħalli l-irwol tas-saċerdot jiġi mgħix bl-aħjar mod.

On 1^stMay, the Seminary community celebrated the feast of Saint Joseph the worker, which this year had a yet more special addition to it.  The statue of Saint Joseph returned to the main chapel of the Seminary after months of restoration at the Atelier del restauro in Malta.

The papier mâché statue, which is a work of Giuseppe Manzo, underwent restoration that repaired damages and restored its original colours. Members and restorers of the Atelier del restauroattended the seminary chapel to witness the return of the statue to its original place.

The feast started a day before with the celebrations of the first vespers and continued the day after with the celebration of the Eucharist and the Liturgy of the Hours. The seminarians also enjoyed a free day which they spent together.

Nhar l-1 ta’ Mejju, il-komunità tas-Seminarju ċċelebrat il-festa ta’ San Ġużepp Ħaddiem, li din is-sena kellha żjieda speċjali marbuta magħha.  L-istatwa ta’ San Ġużepp reġgħet lura fil-kappella prinċipali tas-Seminarju wara xhur ta’ restawr minn Atelier del Restauro f’Malta

L-istatwa tal-kartapesta, xogħol Giuseppe Manzo, għaddiet minn process ta’ restawr li matulu ssewwew xi ħsarat u l-istatwa ħadet lura l-kuluri oriġinali tagħha.  Membri u ristawraturi fi ħdan Atelier del Restaurokienu preżenti fil-kappella tas-Seminarju sabiex jaraw b’għajnejhom ir-ritorn tal-istatwa lejn il-post oriġinali tagħha.

Il-festa bdiet il-jum ta’ qabel biċ-ċelebrazzjoni tal-ewwel għasar, u mbagħad kompliet l-għada biċ-ċelebrazzjoni tal-Ewkaristija u l-Liturġija tas-Sigħat.  Is-Seminaristi gawdew ukoll minn jum vaganz li huma qattgħu flimkien.

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.