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On Saturday morning, December 16th, a group of altar boys and members of the Vocations Groups met for a Christmas activity in the Seminary yard.  The activity started with a short talk about peace in the world delivered by Matthew Bajada. The talk was followed by a short play related with the theme of peace.

The boys were then divided into three groups and took part in games.  They were also provided with light snacks.  Bishop Grech talked to the respective groups.  At the end of the activity the boys were each given a Christmas present, which the seminarians had prepared for them.

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L-E.T. Mons. Alessandro d’Errico, Nunzju Appostoliku għal Malta u l-Libja żar is-Seminarju tagħna nhar il-Ħamis 14 ta’ Diċembru 2017 filgħodu. Huwa ġie milqugħ mill-komunità u l-formators u kellu laqgħa mal-professuri li jgħallmuna. Wara l-laqgħa ġie meħud ritratt tal-okkażjoni u ġiet iċċelebrata quddiesa fil-kappella. Waqt l-omelija li kienet indirizzata lis-seminaristi huwa tkellem dwar il-karatteristiċi li jeħtieġ li jkollu s-saċerdot tallum u tal-futur. B’riferiment għall-eżortazzjoni appostolika Evangelii Gaudium hu tenna li s-saċerdot irid ikun lest li joħroġ ifittex in-ngħaġ il-mitlufa bil-ferħ u miftuħ għal pjanijiet ta’Alla. Din iż-żjara ntemmet permezz tal-pranzu.

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On Thursday morning, December 14th, His Excellency Mgr Alessandro d’Enrico, Apostolic Nuncio for Malta and Libya, paid a visit to our Seminary.  He was welcomed by the community and the formators and had a meeting with the lecturers.  A group photo was then taken.  Mass was celebrated in the chapel.  During the homily, addressed primarily to the seminarians, the Apostolic Nuncio talked about the characteristics that the priest of today and of the future should have.  Referring to the apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium, he said that the priest should be ready to go out in search of the lost sheep.  He should do so with joy and should be open to embrace God’s plans. A dinner rounded up this visit.

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Nhar il-Ġimgħa 8 ta’ Diċembru, il-Knisja Kattolika ċċelebrat is-Solennità tal-Immakulata Kunċizzjoni.  Din il-festa għandha wkoll rabta mas-Seminarju, minħabba li l-Kappella tas-Seminarju għandha bħala titular tagħha l-Immakulata Kunċizzjoni.

Il-Ħamis 7 ta’ Diċembru, lejliet is-solennità, saret ġurnata adorazzjoni b’talb għall-vokazzjonijiet fil-kappella. Waqt il-quddiesa ta’ filgħodu d-djaknu Joseph Hili għamel ħsieb qasir. Filgħaxija, is-seminaristi taw is-servizz tagħhom fil-kant tal-Għasar fil-Katidral u wara animaw siegħa adorazzjoni b’talb marjan fil-kappella tas-seminarju. L-adorazzjoni ntemmet bil-Barka Sagramentali. Il-Ġimgħa filgħodu tlabna l-Uffiċċju tal-Qari u tkanta t-Tifħir ta’ Sbiħ il-Jum fil-Kappella. Fit-8.00am is-seminaristi taw is-servizz tagħhom fil-Pontifikal fil-Katidral u filgħaxija tlabna it-talba tar-rużarju.

On Friday, December 8th, the Catholic Church celebrated the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.  This feast has a bond with the Seminary, since the Seminary Chapel is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.

On Thursday, December 7th, on the eve of the solemnity, the Blessed Sacrament was exposed in the chapel for the whole day.  Prayers for vocations were said. During the morning Mass, Deacon Joseph Hili delivered a short homily.  In the evening, the seminarians were present at the Cathedral for the evening vespers and then participated in an hour of Adoration in the Seminary chapel during which they sang marian hymns.  The hour of Adoration came to an end with the Sacramental Blessing.  On Friday morning, the morning Vespers were said in the chapel.  At 8.00am, the seminarians attended the Pontifical Mass at the Cathedral.  In the evening, the rosary was said.

Mument sabiħ fis-Seminarju seħħ nhar is-Sibt 2 ta’ Diċembru.  Dakinhar saret it-tħabbira tal-Avvent Imqaddes u saret ukoll il-preżentazzjoni tal-ikona għal din is-sena ta’ formazzjoni.

Waqt din iċ-ċelebrazzjoni, ir-Rettur, Dun Richard N. Farrugia qasam mal-komunità l-ħsieb tiegħu fil-bidu ta’ din is-sena liturġika.  Ma naqasx ukoll il-kant Maranathà u innijiet oħra marbuta ma’ dan iż-żmien tal-Avvent.  Din is-sena l-ikona nkitbet minn Vincent Mangani. L-ikona ta’ din is-sena ġiet ispirata mis-silta:  “Niżlet f’riġlejn il-Mulej tisimgħu”, meħuda minn Lq 10,39. Hija frażi li tinsab fis-silta meta Ġesù mar għand Marta u Marija.

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On Saturday, December 2nd, the Seminary community attended to the proclamation of Advent and to the presentation of the icon for this year of formation.  During the celebration, Rector Fr Richard N. Farrugia shared with us his thoughts for the beginning of this liturgical year.  Various hymns related to Advent, including Maranathà, were sung.  The icon for this year was written by Vincent Mangani and was inspired by the verse: “She sat by the Lord’s feet, listening to what he said”  (Lk 10,39).  This verse refers to the visit Jesus paid to Martha and Mary.

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Nhar il-Ħadd 26 ta’ Novembru, wara diversi tħejjijiet, il-komunità tas-Seminarju tat bidu għall-esperjenza vokazzjonali ġewwa l-parroċċa ta’ Sannat. Din l-esperjenza li ġiet organizzata bejn il-Ħadd 26 ta’ Novembru u l-Ġimgħa l-1 ta’ Diċembru kellha l-għan li tqajjem aktar għarfien dwar il-vokazzjonijiet Saċerdotali waqt li jsir ukoll talb lil Alla sabiex ikompli jsejjaħ aktar vokazzjonijiet qaddisa, anke mill-Parroċċa ta’ Sannat, sabiex jaħdmu fil-għalqa tiegħu.

Din il-ġimgħa fetħet b’Quddiesa, immexxiha mill-Viċi-Rettur flimkien mal-formators u mas-saċerdoti kollha tal-parroċċa. Għal aktar minn darba l-komunità tas-Seminarju ċċelebrat l-Ewkaristija mal-komunità parrokkjali, is-seminaristi żaru wkoll l-Iskola Primarja t’Għajnsielem.  Ġew organizzati diversi mumenti ta’ adorazzjoni u anki saru laqgħat lit-tfal fid-djar tad-duttrina u tal-MUSEUM.  Saru laqgħat lill-gruppi tal-adolexxenti u liż-żgħażagħ fiċ-Ċentru Parrokkjali.  Fi tmiem il-ġimgħa ġie organizzat ukoll mument ta’ fraternità maż-żgħażagħ u mas-saċerdoti tal-parroċċa.  Madankollu l-aktar attività ċentrali tul din il-ġimgħu kienet il-home visits.  Is-seminaristi, bejn it-Tnejn u l-Ħamis, kellhom iċ-ċans iżuru diversi familji li għandhom ulied adolexxenti jew żgħażagħ.  Fi tmiem din l-esperjenza s-seminaristi flimkien mas-superjuri tas-Seminarju raddew ħajr lil Alla, lill-Arċipriet Dun Michael Curmi u anki lill-parroċċa ta’ Sannat talli offritilhom din l-opportunità sabiħa biex permezz tagħha huma setgħu jħossuhom aktar qrib tal-Poplu ta’ Alla.

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Sunday, November 26th, saw the beginning of Vocations Week at Sannat Parish.  The week ended on Friday, December 1st. The activity was hosted by the Seminary Community and its main aim was to create more awareness of the need for priestly vocations and, at the same time, offer prayers to God for more vocations, including from the Parish of Sannat.

The week started with a Mass celebrated by the Vice Rector together with the formators and the priests of the parish.  The Seminary community celebrated Mass on other days of the week.  During the week, the seminarians paid a visit to the Primary School, organised moments of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament, met the children who attend Cathecism centres and the MUSEUM and hosted groups of adolescents and young people in the Parrochial Centre.

At the end of the week, the seminarians had informal meetings with the young people and the priests of the parish.  However, the most important activity of the week consisted of home visits, held between Monday and Thursday.  Families of adolescents and young people opened their doors to the seminarians.  At the end of the experience, the seminarians and the Seminary community thanked God, Archpriest Fr Michael Curmi and the Sannat parish for them, the seminarians, the opportunity to be closer to the People of God.

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Il-manifestazzjoni djoċesana ta’ Kristu Re din is-sena saret il-Ħadd 26 ta’ Novembru fir-Rotunda tax-Xewkija. Fl-omelija Mons. Mario Grech qal li jissuspetta li fost in-nies hemm min jaf il-morali, imma ma jaf la lil Alla u lanqas lil Ġesù Kristu – hemm min jidentifika l-morali ma’ Alla. L-Isqof Grech temm jgħid li se jitlob lill-Ispirtu s-Santu biex jagħti lill-poplu d-dawl biex jifhem aħjar kif jista’jxandar l-ferħ tal-Vanġelu lid-dinja ta’ dan iż-żmien.

The diocesan manifestation of Christ the King was held this year on the 26th November at the Rotunda in Xewkija.  In his homily, Bishop Grech said that amongst the congregation there might be people who are well versed in morals but who know neither God nor Jesus Christ.  There are people who identify morals with God. The Bishop said that he will pray the Holy Spirit to illuminate the faithful to understand better the way the Joy of the Gospel should be spread around the world.

Nhar is-Sibt 11 ta’ Novembru l-Aħwa Ħbieb tas-Seminarju flimkien mas-Seminarju u voluntiera oħra organizzaw l-Ikla ta’ San Martin.  L-iskop ta’ din l-ikla hu dak ta’ fund raising. Din l-ikla għandha storja twila ħafna u dejjem ġiet marbuta mal-festa ta’ San Martin ta’ Tours li taħbat fil-11 ta’ Novembru.  Din is-sena wkoll kien hemm numru sabiħ ta’ nies li attendew u kellhom ix-xorti li tul l-ikla jiġu servuti mis-seminaristi.  Hi tradizzjoni antika li s-seminaristi, waqt din l-ikla jagħmluha ta’ waiters.