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Wara li għadda ż-żmien intensiv tal-eżamijet, bejn il-Ġimgħa 14 u l-Ħadd 16 ta’ Frar, is-seminaristi għaddew xi jiem ta’ mistrieħ f’Malta. Dawn il-jiem minbarra li jgħinu sabiex is-seminaristi jistrieħu wara jiem ta’ studju u eżamijiet, jservu wkoll sabiex s-seminaristi jkomplu jikbru fil-fraternita’ ta’ bejniethom.

Matul dawn il-jiem ma jonqsux ukoll xi żjajjar ta’ nteress. Din is-sena l-komunita’ żaret fost l-oħrajn il-Power Station f’Delimara, fejn kellhom iċ-ċans li jiġu mdawwra mal-impjant u jsiru jafu xi ftit aktar dwar il-ħidma li sseħħ f’dan il-post. Huma żaru wkoll l-Akwarju Nazzjonali li jinsab fl-inħawi tal-Qawra.

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Following a period of intensive studying for the exams, the seminarians set off for a two-day holiday in Malta.  This two-day holiday, from Friday the 14^th to Sunday the 16^th February, served not only as a period of relaxation but also as a means of strengthening the bond of brotherhood among the seminarians.

During their stay in Malta, the seminarians visited various places of interest.  Among others, they visited the Power Station at Delimara.  They were shown around the place and were given information about what goes on in this power station.  They visited also the National Acquarium at Qawra.

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Minn żmien għal żmien il-grupp missjunarju fi ħdan is-Seminarju ta’ Għawdex jieħu ħsieb li jistieden lil xi saċerdot missjunarju Għawdxi sabiex jaqsam mas-seminaristi l-esperjenza missjunarja tiegħu. Għalhekk nhar il-Ħamis, 30 ta’ Jannar, il-grupp ħa ħsieb li jistieden lil Dun Raymond Portelli li bħalissa jinsab għal xi jiem ta’ mistrieħ f’Għawdex.

Dun Raymond huwa saċerdot min-Nadur li bħalissa qiegħed jaqdi l-ministeru saċerdotali tiegħu bħala missjunarju fil-Peru. Huwa kien mistieden sabiex jiċċelebra l-quddiesa fllimkien mal-komunita’ fejn qasam ukoll xi ftit mill-esperjenza missjunarja tiegħu. Fil ħsieb tiegħu ma naqasx milli jistieden lis-seminaristi sabiex ikunu ġenerużi u qatt ma jagħlqu l-bieb għas-sejħat ta’ Alla u biex ma jibżgħux jekk jagħrfu li l-Mulej ikun qed isejħilhom biex jaqduh bħala missjunarji. Għax il-Mulej joffri lil persuna dak kolla li jkollha bżonn sabiex tgħix il-vokazzjoni tagħha bil-ferħ.

Wara l-quddiesa, Dun Raymond kien mistieden sabiex jingħaqad mal-komunita’ għall-kolazzjon.

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From time to time, the Missionary Group at the Gozo Seminary invites a Gozitan priest from the Missions to share with the seminarians his missionary experiences.  This year, the Missionary Group invited Fr Raymond Portelli  to share his experiences.  He who is now on holiday in Gozo. Fr Raymond hails from Nadur and at present he is doing missionary work in Peru.

On Thursday 30^th January, he joined the community at Mass and talked about his missionary life in Peru.  He encouraged the seminarians to heed God’s call and to be generous enough not to ignore it.  He urged them not to be afraid of God’s call to serve at the Missions since God offers to a person everything he needs to live his vocation to the full.

After Mass, Fr Raymond joined the community at breakfast.

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A conference regarding various aspects of family life is held annually by The Diocesan Commission for the Family in the Diocese of Gozo.  This year the Commission invited Fr Amadeo Cencini, an Italian priest well-trained in psychology, to take part in this conference.

Besides addressing the conference, Fr Cencini was invited also to give two talks to priests regarding the theme of celibacy.  These talks were delivered on Friday 24^th and Saturday 25^th January, in the Major Seminary hall.

In his first talk, Fr Cencini focused on the sexual scandals that have taken place within the Church during the last few years.  He mentioned also the various dynamics within the Church that these scandals gave rise to.  He listed nine defense mechanisms which could have used when these scandals came to light.  He said that sometimes, those within the inner circles of the Church, in other words members of the clergy, try to hide and minimize the gravity of these scandals instead of delving deep into the core of the problem.  If the incidents by their own nature are scandalous, this line of defence is scandalous too.  Fr Amadeo said that, while we have to admit that these incidents really occurred and that there may be others that did not occur, we should look at these days as time of grace which will make us reflect on how the priest is living his celibacy.  He ended his talk by saying that humiliation is a way through which man purifies himself.

In his second talk, Fr Cencini focused on sexual activity, the dynamics of scandal and the way a human being should live his celibacy.  The sexual instinct exists in every human being and helps him recover that equilibrium which he feels he may have lost.   As from birth, a human being has various needs but the sexual act has the potential to satisfy them all. For this reason, a human being who chooses celibacy and renounces sexual activity will be renouncing also the other impulses that are within him.  The human being who chooses celibacy finds a treasure, and whoever finds this treasure realizes that it is more valuable than sexual activity and all the needs that a human being has.  Fr Cencini mentioned six stages through which one passes before committing a scandal. The first stage is the small compensations that the celibate rewards  himself.  The repetition of these gestures will become a habit and so the sensibility of the person who chose to lead a celibate lifestyle is weakened.  Fr Cencini ended his talk by saying that the priest and those who choose to embrace a life of celibacy should be wary of mediocracy and of the culture of compensation that have become part and parcel of the lifestyle of mankind.

Fr Cencini had talks with the members of the Seminary Board and then joined the community at dinner.

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Ta’ kull sena, il-Kummissjoni Djoċesana tal-Familja fid-Djoċesi ta’ Għawdex, tieħu ħsieb li torganizza konferenza dwar xi aspetti li jitrattaw il-ħajja tal-familja. Għal din l-okkażjoni ġie mistieden Don Amadeo Cencini, saċerdot Taljan, imħarreġ fil-kamp tal-psikoloġija.

F’din l-okkażjoni Cencini ġie mistieden ukoll sabiex imexxi żewġ laqgħat għas-saċerdoti fejn tratta is-suġġett taċ-ċelebat. Dawn il-laqgħat ġew organizzati il-Ġimgħa 24 u s-Sibt 25 ta’ Jannar fis-sala tas-Seminarju Maġġuri.

Fl-ewwel laqgħa tiegħu, Cencini iffoka fuq l-iskandli sesswali li seħħew fil-Knisja dawn l-aħħar snin u semma xi dinamiċi fi ħdan il-Knisja li akkumpanjaw dan l-iskandli. Hu elenka disa’ modi ta’ difiża (defense mechanisimhs) li wieħed seta’ ħa meta ġew skoperti dawn l-iskandli. Huwa qal li ħafna drabi dawk l-aktar fil-qalba tal-Knisja, jiġifieri l-kleru jipprova jgħatti u jnaqqas il-gravità ta’ dawn l-iskandli, flok ma jifhem aktar fil-fond minn fejn hi ġejja l-problema. Jekk l-iskandli fihom innifishom huma skandalużi, din l-analiżi difensiva tagħhom hija wkoll waħda skandaluża. Don Amadeo qal li waqt li nammettu li ġraw dawn il-każi u jista’ jkun hemm oħrajn li ma seħħewx, irridu nħarsu lejn dan iż-żmien bħala żmien ta’ grazzja li jrid iġagħlna nirriflettu ħafna fuq il-kwalità taċ-ċelibat li s-saċerdot qed jgħix. Huwa temm l-ewwel laqgħa tiegħu billi qal li kull umiljazzjoni isservi għall-purifikazzjoni tal-bniedem.

Fit-tieni laqgħa, Don Amadeo Cenicini iffoka aktar fuq l-attività sesswali, id-dinamika tal-iskandlu u kif wieħed għandu jgħix iċ-ċelibat. L-istint sesswali jinsab f’kull bniedem u jekk il-bniedem jħoss li hemm nuqqas ta’ ekwilibrju fih, permezz tal-attività sesswali, hu jista’ jsib dan l-ekwilibriju li għandu bżonn. Il-bniedem jitwieled b’diversi bzonnijiet, però l-att sesswali għandu l-kapaċità li jissodifhom kollha. Għalhekk il-bniedem li jagħżel iċ-ċelibat u jirrinunċja l-attività sesswali jkun qed jirrinunċja wkoll għall-impulsi l-oħra li hemm fih. Wieħed jista’ jagħżel iċ-ċelibat jekk jsib teżor u min isibu jagħraf li għandu valur akbar mill-attività sesswali u l-bżonnijiet kollha li hemm fil-bniedem. Don Amadeo semma sitt stadji li wieħed jgħaddi minnhom qabel ma jwettaq l-iskandlu, bl-ewwel stadju jkunu l-kompensazzjonijiet żgħar li ċ-ċelibi jibda jagħti lilu. Dan iwassal għall-ripetizzjoni ta’ dawn il-ġesti li tispiċċa f’attitudni u hekk s-sensibilità tal-persuna li għażel iċ-ċelibat tiddgħajef ħafna. Huwa temm il-laqgħa tiegħu billi qal li s-saċerdot u l-persuni li jagħżlu ċ-ċelibat iridu joqgħodu ħafna attenti għall-medjokrità u għall-kultura tal-kompensazzjoni li daħlet ħafna fil-bniedem.

Don Amadeo Cencini sab ukoll ħin sabiex jiltaqa mal-Bord tas-Seminarju u kien ukoll mistieden għall-pranzu flimkien mal-komunita’ tas-Seminarju.

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January marks the beginning of a new year.  It is a time when people meet and exchange greetings.  On Saturday, 18^th January, priests, monks and seminarians met at the Seminary to exchange greetings with Bishop Mgr Mario Grech.

The meeting started with a prayer of thanksgiving to God for standing by the Gozitan Church during the year 2013.  Then, on behalf of the members of the clergy, Archpriest Canon Tarcisio Camilleri thanked Bishop Grech for his committment to the Diocese of Gozo and wished him all the best for the new year.  He mentioned some future activities to be held for the clergy.  Archpriest Canon Tarcisio Camilleri, delegate for the Gozitan Clergy, was standing in for the Vicar General, Mgr Giovanni Bosco Gauci.

It was then Bishop Grech’s turn to deliver his message for the occasion. He said that the Church is losing its importance even in our country. The Church is no longer the main voice of the people but has become just one of many voices.

However, the Bishop stressed that the Church should not be discouraged but should find its strength in the Holy Spirit and come forward and deliver its message.  The Church should not be afraid of surprises that may cross its path, but should keep its doors open to new experiences.  God may use these experiences to cultivate the faith of His people from a small mustard seed.

Click here to download Bishop Grech’s speech (in maltese)

The members of the clergy were then invited to present their views. After the meeting, refreshments were served.

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Jannar ifisser il-bidu ta’ sena ġdida.  Dan hu żmien fejn wieħed jiltaqa’ u jfisser ix-xewqat sbieħ tiegħu lil sieħbu.  Hekk seħħ is-Sibt 18 ta’ Jannar fis-Seminarju.  Is-saċerdoti, il-patrijiet u s-seminaristi Għawdxin kienu mistiedna għal laqgħa flimkien ma’ Mons. Isqof għall-qsim tal-awgurji.

Il-laqgħa bdiet b’talba ta’ radd il-ħajr lil Alla għal kull ma għamel mal-Knisja Għawdxija tul is-sena 2013.  Imbagħad, l-Arċipriet il-Kan. Tarcisio Camilleri, delegat tal-kleru f’Għawdex (fl-assenza tal-Vigarju Ġenerali, Mons. Giovanni Bosco Gauci), f’isem is-saċerdoti kollha preżenti, radd ħajr lil Mons. Isqof tal-ħidma li wettaq f’Għawdex tul is-sena 2013 u awguralu għas-sena l-ġdida. Huwa ħabbar ukoll xi attivitajiet li se jsiru fiż-żmien li ġej għas-saċerdoti.

Mons. Isqof Mario Grech, min-naħa tiegħu, għamel il-messaġġ tal-okkażjoni. Huwa tkellem dwar ir-realta’ tal-Knisja li dejjem qiegħdha ssir aktar minoranza anke f’pajjiżna. Huwa semma li l-Knisja m’għadx għandha xi katedra prinċipali imma saret waħda minn ħafna vuċijiet.

Imma f’din iċ-ċirkustanza l-Knisja ma’ għandiex taqta qalbha, imma pjuttost li ssib il-qawwa tagħha fl-Ispirtu s-Santu sabiex toħroġ u twassal l-messaġġ tagħha. Ma għandiex tibża mis-sorpriżi li magħhom tista tiltqa’, imma għandha tkun miftuħa għall-esperjenzi ġodda, għax permezz ta dawn Alla jista’ jinqeda sabiex minn żerriegħa żgħira tal-mustarda jkabbar il-fidi fost il-poplu tiegħu.

Niżżel id-diskors tal-Isqof Mario Grech

Fi tmiem il-laqgħa kien hemm mumenti fejn is-saċerdoti setgħu jaqsmu l-ħsibijiet tagħhom u  kien hemm xi refreshments tal-okkażjoni.

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Bħala parti mill-promozzjoni vokazzjonali, ta’ kull ġimgħa, fil-ġurnata tal-Ħamis, l-komunita’  tas-Seminarju ħadet l-inizjattiva li tinżel fil-ground tal-iskola tas-Seminarju Minuri waqt il-break ta’ nofsinhar fejn s-seminaristi jkollhom ċans li jiltaqgħu mal-istudenti, u waqt li jitkellmu magħhom ikollhom ċ-ċans li jsiru jafu aktar lil xulxin.

Dan il-kuntatt jgħin mhux ftit fil-binja tar-relazzjoijiet bejn is-seminaristi u l-istudenti b’mod partikulri ma’ dawk l-istudenti li magħhom is-seminarista imbagħad jiltaqa’ fil-laqgħat tal-pastorali li jsiru fil-weekends.

Minn żmien għall-żmien ma jonqosx ukoll li l-komunita’ tieħu sehem f’xi logħba futbol li tiġi organizzata bejn l-istudenti u s-seminaristi.

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On Thursday of every week, the community of the Seminary joins the students of the Minor Seminary during the mid-day break.  This is part of the programme for the promotion of vocations which the community is holding.  During the break, seminarians and students have the opportunity of meeting and getting to know one another better.

This sort of contact helps a lot in the cultivation of a relationship of the seminarians with students, particularly with those students whom the seminarians meet during the weekend, when they are engaged in pastoral work.

From time to time, members of the community join the students in a friendly football game.

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Fl-okkażjoni tal-Ġimgħa ta’ Talb għall-għaqda fost il-knejjes Insara, nhar l-Erbgħa 15 ta’ Jannar filgħaxija il-komunita’ tas-Seminarju ħadet sehem f’laqgħa ekumenika li ġiet organizzata fil-Knisja ta’ Santu Wistin, ir-Rabat. Din il-laqgħa tipi organizzata ta’ kull sena mill-membri tal-Leġjun ta’ Marija.

Il-laqgħa tmexxiet mill-E.T. Mons. Isqof Mario Grech u minn Rev. Neill Robb, rapreżentant tal-komunita’ Anglikana. Waqt il-laqgħa kien hemm mumenti ta’ talb, kif ukoll mesaġġi mir-rapreżentanti tal-Knejjes.

Wara, fil-kunvent tal-komunita’ Agostinjana kien hemm ftit refreshments tal-okkażjoni.

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On Wednesday, 15th January, on the occasion of the Week of Prayer for unity among Christian Churches, the community of the Seminary took part in an ecumenical meeting held at St Augustine’s Church in Victoria.  This meeting is organised annually by the members of the Legion of Mary.

The meeting was led by Mgr Bishop Mario Grech and Rev Neill Robb, representative of the Anglican Community.  During the meeting, messages from representatives of various Churches were delivered.  There were also moments of prayer.

At the end of the service, refreshments were served by the Agostinian community.

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