Is-seminaristi temmew l-ewwel semestru għal din is-sena nhar il-Ġimgħa 22 ta’ Jannar. Tmiem ta’ perjodu ta’ studju jġib miegħu l-eżamijiet. Dawn saru bejn l-Erbgħa 27 ta’ Jannar u s-Sibt 6 ta’ Frar. Fi tmiem l-eżamijiet il-komunità kellha jumejn ta’ mistrieħ f’Malta. B’dan il-mod kulħadd kien ippreparat biex jagħti bidu għat-tieni semestru ta’ studju, li beda nhar il-Ġimgħa 12 ta’ Frar.
On Friday 22nd January the seminarians ended the first semester for the year. The end of a semester is marked by examinations. This year the exams were held between Wednesday, 27th January and Saturday, 6th February. After the exams the community spent two days in Malta. Then we were to begin our second semester, which started on Friday 12th February.
Bejn it-Tnejn 18 u t-Tnejn 25 ta’ Jannar il-Knisja ċċelebrat il-ġimgħa ta’ talb għall-għaqda fost l-Insara. Il-komunità tas-Seminarju organizzat diversi mumenti ta’ talb biex titqajjem awareness fost is-seminaristi fuq it-tema tal-ekumeniżmu. Is-seminaristi pparteċipaw ukoll fis-servizz ekumeniku li jiġi organizzat ta’ kull sena fil-knisja ta’ Santu Wistin fir-Rabat.
During the week Monday 18th January – Monday 25th January, the Church held a week of prayer for unity among Christians. The Seminary community organized various moments of prayer to make the seminarians aware of ecumenism. The seminarians participated also in the ecumenical service held annually at St Augustine Church in Victoria.
Nhar is-Sibt 16 ta’ Jannar is-saċerdoti Għawdxin inġabru fis-Seminarju għall-awgurju tal-bidu tas-sena. Mons. Isqof jieħu din l-okkażjoni biex jawgura s-sena t-tajba lis-saċerdoti kif ukoll iwassal il-messaġġ tiegħu fil-bidu tas-sena l-ġdida. F’riflessjoni ta’ madwar siegħa dwar is-saċerdozju bħala “ministeru tal-miżerikordja”, l-Isqof saħaq fuq iċ-ċentralità tas-sagrament tar-Rikonċiljazzjoni. L-ewwel huma s-saċerdoti li jridu jemmnu fil-qawwa tal-Qrar u jfittxuh, biex jistgħu jiġbdu lill-penitenti lejn Alla, li ma jegħja qatt jaħfer. Id-diskors għalaq b’sett ta’ tmien suġġerimenti prattiċi li jistgħu jgħinu li fil-Ġublew tal-Ħniena tikber l-intensità tal-Qrar. Hu talab biex darba fil-ġimgħa l-knejjes jibqgħu miftuħa sa tard biex jipprovdu servizz ta’ Qrar, u biex f’kull parroċċa jkun hemm konfessuri disponibbli u post dinjituż “fejn tiġi mħarsa s-sagralità u l-kunfidenzjalità” mitluba minn dan is-sagrament. Is-seminaristi attendew ukoll għal din l-attività.
On Saturday, 16th January, the Gozitan priests met at the Seminary to exchange greetings. On this occasion, Bishop Grech exchanges greetings with the priests and delivers his message for the new year. In his address, which lasted about an hour and which focused on priesthood as the “ministry of mercy”, the bishop stressed the importance of the Sacrament of Reconciliation. It is the priests themselves who have to believe in the power of this sacrament and cherish it, so that they then can attract penitents to God, who never tires of forgiving. The address concluded with a set of eight practical suggestions that can help intensify the importance of the Sacrament of Reconciliation during the Jubilee of Mercy. He suggested that once a week the churches remain open till late so that the faithful can have the opportunity to receive the Sacrament of Reconciliation. He recommended that priests be present in every parish to administer the sacrament and that a decent place where confidentiality and holiness, characteristics of this sacrament, can be safeguarded. The seminarians attended this activity.
Nhar il-Ħamis 14 ta’ Jannar ġie organizzat ir-raba’ Ħamis b’talb għal iktar vokazzjonijiet. Filgħodu bdejna bil-programm tas-soltu fis-Seminarju. Fl-4.00pm ġiet fi tmiemha l-adorazzjoni u wara l-komunità żaret il-parroċċa tal-Munxar. Hemm is-seminaristi flimkien mar-Rettur mexxew siegħa adorazzjoni għat-tfal u l-adolexxenti tal-parroċċa. Fl-ewwel parti tal-adorazzjoni r-Rettur tkellem ftit fuq il-Vanġelu tal-ġurnata b’riferiment għal waħda mill-prietki ta’ Dun Mikiel Attard. Fit-tieni parti xi seminaristi għamlu ħsieb għat-tfal fuq l-episodju mill-Vanġelu meta Ġesù stieden lil Pietru jistad fil-fond. Fi tmiem dan l-episodju Pietru ġie msejjaħ biex ikun sajjied tal-bnedmin.
L-appuntament li jmiss se jkun nhar il-Ħamis 11 ta’ Frar fis-6.30pm, fil-Parroċċa tal-Qala.
The fourth Thursday of Prayer for Vocations was held at Munxar, on Thursday 14th January. We followed the usual programme for the morning at the Seminary. The Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament came to end at 4.00pm and then the community went to the Munxar parish church. The seminarians joined the Rector in an hour of adoration for children and adolescents of the parish. In the first part, the Rector talked about the Gospel of the day, while referring to one of the sermons of Dun Mikiel Attard. In the second part some seminarians spoke to the congregation about the episode in which Jesus invited Peter to fish in deep waters and then Peter was called to be fisherman of men.
The next Thursday of Prayer will be on 11th February at 6.30pm at Qala Parish.
Nhar l-Erbgħa 23 ta’ Diċembru 2015 l-Isqof Mario Grech ħatar lil Dun Richard N. Farrugia bħala Viċi Rettur tas-Seminarju Maġġuri ta’ Għawdex. Fl-istess waqt Dun Richard se jkompli bil-ħidma tiegħu bħala Prefett tal-Istudji fis-Seminarju. Dan tħabbar wara li f’April li għadda Dun Michael Curmi ġie maħtur Arċipriet tal-Parroċċa Ta’ Sannat. Dun Richard se jkun responsabbli tal-formazzjoni umana tas-seminaristi, jakkumpanja lis-seminaristi fl-andament tal-ħajja ta’ kuljum fis-Seminarju u fl-assenza tar-Rettur jassumi r-responsabbilitajiet tiegħu. Dan ser ikun jagħmlu billi jgħix fil-kamerata flimkien mas-seminaristi. Minn qalbna nifirħulu u nawgurawlu iktar snin ta’ ħidma fil-komunita’ tagħna
On Wednesday 23rd December 2015, Bishop Grech nominated Fr Richard N. Farrugia as Vice Rector of the Gozo Major Seminary. He will still be Prefect of Studies at the Seminary. He is replacing Fr Michael Curmi who last April started his new role as Archpriest of Sannat Parish. Fr Richard will be in charge of the human formation of the seminarians, will accompany the seminarians in their day-to-day schedule at the seminary and will replace the Rector whenever the latter is absent. Fr Richard will be sharing lodgings with the seminarians. We congratulate him on his nomination and wish him long years of work in our community.
Ix-xahar ta’ Diċembru hu xahar partikulari. F’dan iż-żmien ħarset kulħadd taqa’ fuq il-maxtura u fuq l-għar ta’ Betlehem. Dan huwa xahar speċjali għall-komunità tas-Seminarju wkoll. F’dan iż-żmien il-programm tal-ġurnata jiġi mmodifikat. Jisbieħ ukoll il-bini tas-seminarju u anki jiġu organizzati attivitajiet li ma jsirux fil-bqija tas-sena.
Tul żmien l-Avvent jiżdiedu l-mumenti ta’ talb komunitarji. Fost l-oħrajn, ta’ kuljum fis-6.15am isir it-talb tal-Uffiċċju tal-Qari. Fil-Quddiesa ta’ kuljum isir ħsieb fuq il-Kelma ta’ Alla. Eventwalment, din is-sena, mill-14 ta’ Diċembru bdiet ukoll in-Novena tal-Milied bi ħsibijiet imħejjijin mis-seminaristi. Mument partikulari għal din is-sena kien il-Ħamis 10 ta’ Diċembru. Dakinhar is-seminaristi żaru lil xi saċerdoti anzjani fi djarhom.
Fl-aħħar jiem ta’ qabel il-Milied, is-seminaristi flimkien mal-formators, żejnu s-Seminarju permezz tat-tiżjin tal-Milied. F’dawn il-ġranet ġew organizzati diversi attivitajiet, ta’ min isemmi l-attività għall-abbatini u għall-gruppi tal-vokazzjonijiet, l-ikla għal-lecturers, il-quddiesa fl-għar u fl-aħħar l-attività flimkien mal-familjari tas-seminaristi.
Din is-sena s-seminaristi ħarġu għall-vaganzi tal-Milied nhar il-Ġimgħa 18 ta’ Diċembru. Dakinhar saru l-aħħar lectures għas-sena 2015. Huma se jirritornaw lura nhar it-Tlieta 5 ta’ Jannar 2016.
December is a particular month during which our attention is drawn towards a cave in Bethlehem and a small manger. It is a particular month for the Seminary community too. During this month, our timetable is modified, the premises are decorated and special activities are held.
During Advent, community prayer time increases. Every day, we recite the Office of the Reading at 6.15am. The daily Mass includes a homily on the Word of God. As from this year, the Christmas Novena, prepared by the seminarians, started on the 14th December. This year too, on Thursday, 10th December, the seminarians paid a visit to some priests who, because of their age and health, are house-bound.
In the last days prior to Christmas Day, the seminarians and formators decorated the premises. Various activities were held. These included a gathering for altar boys and members of Vocation Groups, dinner for the lecturers, a traditional Mass celebrated in a cave and the finally, an activity, with the relatives of the seminarians.
This year, the seminarians started their holidays on Friday, 18th December, the day when the last lectures for 2015 were held. They will return to the Seminary on Tuesday, 5th January 2016.
