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Is-seminaristi li jinsabu fil-ħames sena, Michael Grima (San Lawrenz) u Carl Scerri (Katidral – Victoria), irċivew il-ministeru tal-Lettorat nhar il-Ħadd 15 ta’ Frar 2015.

Mons. Isqof Mario Grech istitwixxa lil Michael u lil Carl f’dan il-ministeru waqt quddiesa fil-bażilka ta’ Marija Bambina, ix-Xagħra.  Diversi qassisin ikkonċelebraw waqt il-quddiesa, fosthom il-formators tas-Seminarju.  Il-familjari tas-seminaristi flimkien ma’ diversi persuni, kemm mill-parroċċa tax-Xagħra kif ukoll mill-parroċċi tal-Katidral, ta’ San Lawrenz u tax-Xewkija (fejn qed iservi pastoralment Carl Scerri) kienu wkoll preżenti.

Wara l-Vanġelu r-Rettur ippreżenta lill-kandidati u Mons. Isqof laqa’ t-talba tiegħu.  Waqt il-prietka l-Isqof tratta l-Vanġelu tal-ġurnata (il-fejqan tal-lebbruż, Mk 1,40-45) u anki silet xi riflessjonijiet mill-Pastorali tar-Randan 2015, li nqrat dakinhar fil-knejjes kollha ta’ Għawdex.  Mons. Mario Grech stieden lil kulħadd biex ma jibżax jersaq lejn Ġesù biex dan ifejqu: għax Ġesù jħobb lil kulħadd “speċjalment lill-midneb”.  Għaldaqstant, Mons. Isqof qal li Ġesù ġie biex joħroġna mill-mentalità żbaljata tagħna: li Alla ma jaħfirx jew li Alla jkeċċi lill-midinbin.  Hawn hu dar fuq il-letturi l-ġodda u stedinhom biex huma wkoll “joħorġu” minn din il-mentalità u jfittxu li jxandru l-bxara t-tajba lil kulħadd (b’mod speċjali lil dawk li qegħdin “jibku”).

Wara l-prietka Mons. Isqof talab fuq il-kandidati u tahom il-Bibbja.  Fi tmiem il-quddiesa l-Isqof ippreżenta lil dawk preżenti r-Rettur il-ġdid, Fr Tony Sciberras MSSP.

Ritratti: Ray Grech

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On Sunday 15th February 2015, two fifth-year seminarians, Michael Grima (St Laurence Parish) and Carl Scerri (Gozo Cathedral) received the Ministry of the Lectorate,.

Bishop Mario Grech bestowed the ministry to Michael and Carl during Mass at the Basilica of Maria Bambina, in Xagħra.  Various priests, including the formators of the Seminary, concelebrated.  The celebration was attended also by relatives of the seminarians and people from the parish of Xagħra, the Gozo Cathedral, St Laurence and Xewkija, where Carl Scerri is doing pastoral work.

Following the reading of the Gospel, the Rector presented the candidates and Bishop Grech accepted them as Lectors.  In the homily, the Bishop reflected on the Gospel of the day, (the healing of the leper, Mk 1,40-45) and on extracts from the Lenten Pastoral 2015, which was being read that day in all the churches of the diocese.  The Bishop invited the faithful not to be afraid of reaching out to Jesus to be healed, since Jesus loves us all, especially sinners.  Jesus came to lead us away from our mistaken mentality that God does not forgive and that he turns away from the sinner.  Bishop Grech turned to the new Lectors and invited them to discard this mentality and seek to spread the Good News to all, especially to those who “wail”.

After the homily, Bishop Grech prayed upon the candidates and presented the Bible to them.  At the end of the Mass, the Bishop presented the new Rector, Fr Tony Sciberras MSSP, to the congregation.

Images: Ray Grech

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Nhar is-Sibt 14 ta’ Frar saret quddiesa ta’ ringrazzjament lil Alla fil-bidu tal-ministeru ta’ Fr Tony Sciberras MSSP bħala rettur tas-Seminarju.

Mons. Isqof Mario Grech mexxa din il-quddiesa li għaliha kienu mistiedna Fr Frankie Cini (is-Superjur tas-Soċjetà Missjunarja ta’ San Pawl f’Malta), Fr Paul Sciberras (ħu r-Rettur), il-formators tas-Seminarju, is-seminaristi, is-sorijiet u anki rappreżentanza tal-ħaddiema u tal-voluntiera tas-Seminarju.  Fil-mument tal-prietka Mons. Isqof tkellem fuq il-mandat li qed jafda f’idejn Fr Tony, dan filwaqt li radd ħajr lis-Soċjetà Missjunarja ta’ San Pawl u lill-familja ta’ Fr Tony, li għamluha possibbli li hu jaċċetta din il-missjoni.

Mons. Isqof qal li l-Vanġelu tal-ġurnata (Lq 10,1-12) jispjega tajjeb il-mandat ta’ Fr Tony.  Hu Ġesù li jibgħat lid-dixxipli tiegħu u hu Ġesù li jsejjaħ u jibgħat lis-saċerdoti biex ixandru l-bxara t-tajba.  Ix-xandir tal-aħbar afdat f’idejn is-saċerdot hu s-sliem li jilħaq qalb kull bniedem, anki qalb il-bniedem tal-ġurnata tal-lum, li jinsab daqstant imtaqqal.  Għalhekk Ġesù jistieden kontinwament biex l-imsejħin iġeddu l-motivazzjonijiet tagħhom u jagħrfu jagħtu prijorità assoluta lil din il-missjoni.  “Il-ħaddiema huma ftit.”  Mons. Isqof qal li dan ma jirriflettix biss il-kwantità imma wkoll huma ftit il-ħaddiema li huma tassew ta’ kwalità.

Għaldaqstant Mons. Mario Grech ġabar il-messaġġ tiegħu lil Fr Tony fit tliet sejħat: li jaħdem biex is-seminaristi jsiru dejjem aktar bnedmin ta’ Alla (bnedmin ta’ talb); li jsiru persuni li lesti biex jidħlu b’mod sħiħ u responsabbli għall-missjoni; u li jagħmel mis-seminaristi persuni li jħaddnu l-faqar (distakkati).

Wara l-prietka Mons. Isqof flimkien mal-konċelebranti talbu l-Ispirtu s-Santu fuq Fr Tony fil-bidu ta’ din il-ħidma speċjali.  Ir-Rettur, min-naħa tiegħu, fi tmiem il-quddiesa għamel messaġġ ċkejken ta’ ringrazzjament.

Il-komunità tas-Seminarju tawgura lil Fr Tony fil-bidu tal-missjoni tiegħu bħala rettur tas-Seminarju.

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On Saturday 14th February a Thanksgiving Mass was celebrated to mark the beginning of the ministry of Fr Tony Sciberras MSSP as Rector of the Seminary.

Bishop Mario Grech led this Mass which was attended also by Fr Frankie Cini (Father Superior of the Missionary Society of St Paul in Malta), Fr Paul Sciberras (the Rector’s brother), the formators of the Seminary, the seminarians, the nuns and representatives of the workers and voluntary helpers of the Seminary.  In the homily the Bishop spoke about the mandate that he is entrusted Fr Tony with and he showed his gratitude to the Missionary Society of St Paul and to Fr Tony’s family that made it possible for Fr Tony to accept this mission.

Bishop Grech said that the Gospel of the day (Lk 10,1-12) explains well Fr Tony’s mandate.  It is Jesus who sent his disciples to spread the Good News and it is Jesus who calls and sends the priests on the same mission.  The preaching of the Good News, entrusted in the hands of the priest, brings peace to the heart of man, even to the heart of contemporary man, which is so burdened.  Thus, Jesus is continually inviting the chosen to renew their motivations and to give absolute priority to this mission. “The workers are a few.”  Bishop Grech said that this reflects not only the quantity but also the quality of the workers.

Bishop Grech summarised in three points the mission entrusted to Fr Tony.  As Rector, he must see that the seminarians spend more time in prayer, thus getting closer to God;  that the seminarians   take their mission in a full and responsible manner; that the seminarians embrace poverty.

Bishop Grech and the concelebrating priests invoked the Holy Spirit to inspire Fr Tony during his special mission.  On his part, the Rector showed his gratitude in a short message which he delivered at the end of the Mass.

The community of the Seminary welcomes Fr Tony in his mission as Rector of the Seminary.

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Is-seminaristi temmew l-ewwel semestru għal din is-sena nhar it-Tnejn 26 ta’ Jannar.  Tmiem ta’ perjodu ta’ studju jġib miegħu l-eżamijiet.  Dawn saru bejn il-Ħamis 29 ta’ Jannar u s-Sibt 7 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 l-Erbgħa 11 ta’ Frar, l-għada tas-Solennità tan-Nawfraġju ta’ San Pawl.

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This year, the first semester at the Seminary ended on Monday 26th January.  Every period of studies ends with examinations.  This year the seminarians had their examinations from Thursday 29th January to Saturday 7th February.  Examination days were followed by a couple of days of relaxation in Malta.  The second semester started on Wednesday 11th February, on the morrow of the Feast of St Paul’s Shipwreck.

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From Monday 19th till Friday 23rd January, the Church held a Week of Prayer for Unity among Christians.  The community of the Seminary held moments of prayer to foster awareness of ecumenism among the seminarians.  The seminarians participated also in the ecumenical service held every year at St Augustine Church at Victoria.

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Bejn it-Tnejn 19 u l-Ġimgħa 23 ta’ Jannar il-Knisja ċċelebrat il-ġimgħa ta’ talb għall-għaqda bejn 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.

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Nhar is-Sibt 17 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.  Din is-sena Mons. Grech ħeġġeġ lis-saċerdoti biex ikomplu joħorġu mill-ambjenti tagħhom sabiex jilħqu lill-persuni l-aktar imbiegħda, dawk li l-aktar jeħtieġu l-aħbar it-tajba.  Is-seminaristi wkoll kienu mistiedna għal din l-attività.

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On Saturday, 17th January, Gozitan priests met at the Seminary to exchange greetings for the new year.  Every year, the Bishop takes this opportunity to exchange greetings with the priests and to pass on his message for the coming year.  Bishop Grech encouraged the priests to continue to reach out to those people who are in the suburbs of the Church and who need most the Good News.  The seminarians were invited to this activity.

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Kif kien tħabbar f’Settembru li għadda, fl-aħħar ta’ Diċembru 2014, Dun Daniel Xerri kellu jtemm il-ministeru tiegħu bħala rettur tas-Seminarju.  B’dan il-mod, Dun Tony Sciberras mssp, ikun jista’ jibda l-ministeru tiegħu mas-sena l-ġdida.

Għaldaqstant, tul ix-xahar ta’ Diċembru 2014, ġew organizzati xi attivitajiet li permezz tagħhom il-komunità setgħet trodd ħajr lil Dun Daniel għas-servizz tiegħu.  L-ewwel mument kien is-Sibt 6 ta’ Diċembru.  Dakinhar filgħodu, il-lecturers u l-formators tas-Seminarju ġew mistiedna għall-quddiesa li mexxa Mons. Isqof.  Fil-ħin tal-omelija Mons. Grech tkellem dwar is-sejħa li l-Mulej qed jagħmel lill-Knisja biex tiġġedded, u fuq l-eżempju ta’ Kristu tinħall minn irbit li għadu jrażżanha milli toħroġ u xxandar il-Kelma ta’ Alla lil kull bniedem.  Fi tmiem il-Quddiesa Mons. Isqof irringrazzja lir-Rettur tas-servizz tiegħu.  Dun Richard N. Farrugia, f’isem il-lecturers u l-formators għamel ukoll messaġġ ta’ radd il-ħajr.  Dun Daniel min-naħa tiegħu stqarr li dawn kienu għalih snin challenging imma snin sbieħ, li fihom hu pprova jkun “il-qaddej li wettaq biss dak li kellu jagħmel”.

It-tieni attività saret is-Sibt 13 ta’ Diċembru, flimkien mal-Grupp tal-Aħwa Ħbieb tas-Seminarju.  Nhar il-Ħamis 18 ta’ Diċembru mess lis-seminaristi jorganizzaw attività biex iroddulu ħajr għal dak kollu li għamel magħhom u mas-seminaristi li ġew qabilhom tul dawn l-aħħar seba’ snin.  Fi tmiem din l-attività s-seminaristi u s-superjuri ppreżentaw ir-rigal tal-okkażjoni lil Dun Daniel. 

L-aħħar attività kienet il-Quddiesa ta’ radd il-ħajr li tmexxiet minn Mons. Isqof nhar il-Ġimgħa 19 ta’ Diċembru filgħaxija. Għal din il-Quddiesa kienu mistiedna wkoll il-familjari tas-seminaristi u l-ħaddiema tas-Seminarju.  Mons. Isqof esprima r-radd il-ħajr tiegħu lil Dun Daniel f’isem dawk kollha preżenti u f’isem is-saċerdoti li ġew akkumpanjati minnu tul l-aħħar snin.  Fi tmiem il-quddiesa ġie organizzat festin tal-okkażjoni, u b’dan il-mod is-seminaristi kollha rritornaw lejn djarhom, flimkien mal-familjari tagħhom, għall-vaganzi tal-Milied.

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  As had been announced last September, Fr. Daniel Xerri ended his ministry as Rector of the Seminary in December 2014.  Fr. Tony Sciberras MSSP could thus start his ministry as Rector with the new year. 

For this reason, various activities were held during the month of December so that the community could show Father Daniel its appreciation for his services.  The first activity took place on Saturday, 6th December.  In the morning, the lecturers and the formators of the Seminary were invited to Mass presided by H.L. the Bishop.  During his homily, Mgr. Grech spoke of the invitation which the Lord made to the Church to renew itself and, on the example of Christ himself, to free itself from the bondage which still refrains it from going out and preaching the Word of God to mankind.  At the end of the Mass, Bishop Grech thanked the Rector for his sevices.  Fr. Richard N. Farrugia, on behalf of the lecturers and the formators, delivered a short address of thanks.   In his answer, Fr. Daniel stated that the past few years had been both challenging and rewarding.  During these years he had tried to be “the servant who did only what he had to do.”

The Grupp tal-Aħwa Ħbieb tas-Seminarju participated in the second activity, which took place on Saturday, 13th December.  Then on Thursday 18th December, it was the seminarians’ turn to organise an activity to thank the Rector for all he had done for them and for other seminarians before them during these seven years.  At the end of this activity the seminarians and their superiors presented Fr. Daniel with a memento. 

The last activity was held on Friday evening, 19th December. Bishop Mario Grech presided at  a Thanksgiving Mass to which relatives of the seminarians and employees of the Seminary were invited  to attend.  Bishop Grech expressed his thanks to Fr. Daniel on behalf of all those present and on behalf of all the priests accompanied by him during these last years.  At the end of the Mass a party was thrown for the occasion.  When the party was over all the seminarians went home for their Christmas holidays.

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