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ddBħala parti mill-attivitajiet tal-150 sena seminarju, nhar is-Sibt 3 ta’ Diċembru ġie mtella’ il-Kunċert Sur Sum Corda fis-sala tas-Seminarju. Tul dan il-kunċert mill-Cordia String Quartet b’diversi silitiet mużikali b’tema vokazzjonali u anke tal-Milied, ġie mniedi l-ktieb The Sacred Heart Smienary – The Heart of Gozo. miktub minn Mons. Joseph Bezzina dwar l-istorja tas-seminarju.

L-għada l-Ħadd 4 ta’ Diċembru filgħaxija, Mons. Isqof inawgura wirja kommemorattiva li magħha kien hemm abbinata wkoll open week għall-pubbliku. Fil-wirja kien hemm esposti diversi dokumenti u oġġetti marbuta mat-twaqqif u l-ħajja tas-seminarju. Wara l-wirja, wieħed seta’ wkoll iżur l-imkejjen fejn is-seminaristi jgħixu u jqattgħu l-parti l-kbira tal-ġurnata. L-open week ġiet fi tmiemha l-Ħadd 11 ta’ Diċembru.

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ddOne of the activities to commemorate the 150th anniversary of our Seminary was the Concert Sur Sum Corda, held on Saturday, 3rd December, in the Seminary hall.  The Cordi String Quartet played various pieces related with Christmas and vocations.   The Sacred Heart Seminary – The Heart of Gozo, a book written by Mgr Joseph Bezzina, was launched during the concert.  The book traces the history of the seminary.

On Sunday, 4th December, Bishop Grech inaugurated an exhitibion which included various documents and artefacts related with the history of the Seminary.  The same evening marked also the beginning of the Open Week at the Seminary.  During this week, visitors could tour the building which hosts the seminarians during their years of preparation for priesthood.  The Open Week ended on Sunday, 11th December.

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img_1912Tradizzjoni antika fis-Seminarju hija l-lungo passeggio. Din is-sena sar it-Tlieta 13 ta’ Diċembru, Jum ir-Repubblika. Is-seminaristi flimkien mal-formators telqu bil-mixi mid-Dwejra u mxew mal-kosta lejn Marsalforn. Il-mixja kienet ftit impennjattiva iżda fl-istess waqt kien mument fejn is-seminaristi setgħu jammiraw is-sbuħija tan-natura li għandna Għawdex. Nistgħu ngħidu li t-temp kien favorevoli għax wara jiem ta’ maltemp, it-Tlieta ħareġ jum xemxi li għen sabiex il-mixja tkun waħda sabiħa.

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img_1912As in previous years, this year too, the seminarians followed the tradition of participating in a lungo passeggio. This hike took place on Tuesday, 13th December, a public holiday.  Accompanied by their formators, the seminarians walked all the way along the coast from Dwejra to Marsalforn.  The track was somewhat difficult but we were lucky to have fine weather considering the stormy weather we had had some days before.  The hike offered us the opportunity to admire the picturesque landscape of Gozo.

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img_1771Is-Sibt 10 ta’ Diċembru filgħodu, bosta abbatini nġabru fis-Seminarju għall-attività tradizzjonali tal-Milied organizzata mis-Seminaristi.  L-attendenza għal din l-attività kienet sabiħa ħafna.

Bħas-sena l-oħra, il-laqgħa saret fil-bitħa tas-Seminarju. Fil-bidu, Mons. Isqof għadda messaġġ lil dawk preżenti. Is-seminarista Matthew Bajada mexxa l-laqgħa u tkellem fuq x’attitudni għandu jkollu n-nisrani f’dan iż-żmien tal-Milied, attitudni ta’ għajnuna lil ħaddieħor. Hu qal li dan huwa possibli jekk inħallu ’l qlubna timtela bl-imħabba t’Alla. Waqt il-laqgħa is-seminarista Joseph Hili libes ta’ San Nikola. Dan il-mument ferraħ mhux ftit lit-tfal!

Wara, is-seminaristi qassmu lit-tfal fi tliet gruppi, organizzawlhom logħob differenti, pprovdewlhom xi snacks u qassmu tifkira ta’ din l-okkażjoni lil kull min kien preżenti.

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img_1771On Saturday, 10th December, a Christmas activity was held at the Seminary for altar boys and the Vocation Groups.  Bishop Grech greeted the altar boys and delivered his message for Christmas.  Matthew Bajada reflected on the attitude the Catholic should have at  Christmas time: he should his best to help others.  This is possible only if we let our hearts be filled with God’s love.  Seminarian Joseph Hili dressed as St Nicholas.  This was a special treat to our guests.  During the activity, the altar boys could reflect on how important it is for us to let God fill our hearts with love which we would then share with others.  The altar boys were then divided into three groups and took part in various games.  They were offered a snack and a memento of the occasion.

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img_1677Nhar il-Ħamis 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.

L-Erbgħa filgħaxija, is-seminaristi taw is-servizz tagħhom fil-kant tal-Għasar fil-Katidral. Il-Ħamis 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 fit-3.00pm saret it-talba tal-Akathistos.  Din hi t-talba ta’ tifħir li l-Knisja ta’ Lvant tagħmel lil Marija Omm Alla.

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img_1677On Thursday, 8th December, the Catholic Church celebrated the feast of the Immaculate Conception.  This feast has a special bond with our seminary since the Seminary Chapel has the Immaculate Conception as its main altar piece.  On Wednesday afternoon, the seminarians rendered service during Vespers at the Cathedral.  Thursday morning started with the reading from the Liturgy of  the Hours and the Lauds  in the chapel.  At 8.00 a.m. the seminarians rendered service at the Cathedral during the Pontifical Mass.  The prayer of Akathistos, which is a prayer of praise that the Eastern Christians recite to Mary, Mother of God, was said at 3.00 p.m.

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img_9859Nhar is-Sibt 26 ta’ Novembru 2016 (l-Ewwel Ħadd tal-Avvent) Mons. Isqof Mario Grech istitwixxa lis-Seminarista Joseph Hili (mill-parroċċa tax-Xagħra) bħala akkolitu.  Il-komunità tas-Seminarju flimkien mal-familjari tas-seminarista u xi nies oħrajn, inġabru għall-Quddiesa fir-Rotunda tax-Xewkija.

Mons. Isqof, waqt l-omelija, ħeġġeġ lil Joseph sabiex irawwem fih il-qawwa profetika. “Għax fejn kollox huwa dlam, il-profeta jilmaħ id-dwal; fejn kollox jidher nieżel, jara l-possibilità ta’ restawrazzjoni; meta d-desert ikompli jespandi huwa jinnota dik iż-żerriegħa tat-tajjeb qed tnibbet; fejn hemm il-ġlied u l-firda, huwa jemmen li jista jkun hemm is-sliem u l-għaqda. Għax il-profeta jara bl-għajnejn ta’ Alla”.

Wara l-omelija sar ir-rit tal-għoti tal-ministeru tal-akkolitat.  Joseph ġie mogħti l-patena bil-ħobż u l-kalċi bl-inbid.  Mil-lum ’il quddiem huwa jista’ jgħin fit-tqarbin, iwassal t-tqarbin lill-morda fi djarhom u jesponi l-Ewkaristija għall-Adorazzjoni.

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img_9859On Saturday 26th November, the First Sunday of Advent, Bishop Mario Grech bestowed the Ministry of the Acolyte to Seminarian Joseph Hili, who hails from Xaghra parish.  The Seminary community and relatives and friends of the seminarian attended this ceremony, held at Xewkija.  During the homily, Mgr Grech urged Joseph to instil in himself the strength of the prophet who sees light where there is darkness; restores what seems to be utterly destroyed; marks the seed of life in an expanding desert; spreads peace and unity wherever there is war and division, since the prophet sees through the eyes of God.

The rite of the bestowal of the Ministry of the Acolyte followed the homily. Joseph was given the patena with bread and the chalice with wine.  As an acolyte Joseph can now distribute the Eucharist to the faithful in church and to the sick at their homes, and he can expose the Blessed Sacrament for Adoration.

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img_1486Mument sabiħ fis-Seminarju kien fis-Sibt 26 ta’ Novembru.  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 spjegazzjoni tas-silta mill-Ktieb tal-Apokalissi ta’ San Ġwann Appostlu (Apk 22:12-13.16-21). Ma naqasx ukoll il-kant Maranathà u innijiet oħra marbuta ma’ dan iż-żmien tal-Avvent.  Wara, ir-Rettur indika xi tibdiliet fil-programm tal-komunità, li kellhom jieħdu posthom tul l-Avvent, biex ifakkruna li dan hu żmien speċjali. L-ikona, miktuba apposta għal din is-sena minn Loreta Grech, ġiet ispirata mill-frażi: “Ħaffef, oħroġ fil-mogħdijiet u fl-għelieqi ħalli dari timtela”, meħuda mill-parabbola tal-ikla tat-tieġ (Lq 14, 16-24).

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img_1486Saturday, 26th November, the Seminary held a celebration which heralded Advent and during which the icon for this year of formation was presented.  During the celebration, the rector, Fr Richard N. Farrugia, presented reflections on the excerpt from the Book of Revelations of Saint John the Apostle (Rev 22:12-13.16-21). The singing of Maranathà and other hymns related with Advent accompanied the celebration.  The Rector outlined some changes in the programme of events so that the programme reflects this special time of the year.   The icon, written by Loreta Grech, was inspired by the extract: Go out to the roads and country lanes and compel them to come in, so that my house will be full. (Lk 14:16-34)

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