News

On every first Thursday of the month, for nine consecutive months, the Seminary Chapel hosts a day of Adoration of The Holy Eucharist. During the day, prayers for vocations are said.  This year, this series of Thursdays started in October.  As from the month of November, the Dun Mikiel Attard prayer meeting, usually held also on every first Thursday of the month, is being included in this day of prayer. The prayer meeting lasts from seven to eight o’clock in the evening.

It is to be said that Dun Mikiel Attard has a special relationship with our Seminary.  Suffice it to say that for seventeen years he was Spiritual Director of the Major Seminary and a large number of priests who are doing pastoral work in Gozo and abroad found in him support in their vocation.

Images

Wara li fix-xahar t’Ottubru ingħata bidu għal disa’ Ħamisijiet ta’ talb għall-vokazzjonijiet li jiġu organizzati kull l-ewwel Ħamis tax-xahar; fejn matul dan il-jum fil-Kappella tas-Seminarju tiġi organizzata ġurnata adorazzjoni; mix-xahar ta’ Novembru, bdiet tiġi organizzata il-laqgħa ta’ talb Dun Mikiel Attard. Din il-laqgħa li fis-snin li għaddew kienet tiġi organizzata kull l-ewwel Ħamis tax-xahar, issa bdiet tiġi organizzata waqt l-adorazzjoni li s-Seminarju jkun qiegħed jorganizza b’talb għall-vokazzjonijiet – propjament mis-sebgħa sat-tmienja ta’ filgħaxija.

Nistgħu ngħidu li Dun Mikiel Attard għandu rabta speċjali mas-Seminarju tagħna. Biżżejjed ngħidu li għal 17-il sena sħaħ kien Direttur Spiritwali tas-Seminarju Maġġuri u ma nkunux qed niżbaljaw jekk ngħidu li numru mhux żgħir ta’ Saċerdoti li llum iwettqu l-ħidma tagħhom mhux biss f’Għawdex imma wkoll l-barra mill-gżira tagħna sabu f’Dun Mikiel sostenn fil-vokazzjoni tagħhom.

Ritratti

Nhar it-Tnejn 4 ta’ Novembru, Festa ta’ San Karlu Borromeo, Isqof u Protettur tas-Seminarji u fl-okkażjoni tal-147 sena mill-ftuħ tas-Seminarju, fis-Seminarju maġġuri ġiet organizzata laqgħa għas-Saċerdoti kollha tad-Djoċesi ta’ Għawdex, fejn fiha ġie imħabbar il-pjan ta’ ħidma b’risq il-Vokazzjonijiet Saċerdotali fid-Djoċesi Għawdxija.

Wara introduzzjoni minn Dun Michael Curmi, Viċi Rettur u Direttur Djoċesan tal-Vokazzjonijiet, imbagħad ir-Rettur Dun Daniel Xerri spjega f’hiex jikkonsisti dan il-pjan. Fil-bidu tkellem dwar s-sejħa ta’ kull nisrani li jitlob u li jagħti attenzjoni speċjali lill-Vokazzjoni Saċerdotali. Dawn jinkludu fost l-oħrajn lill-ġenituri, l-għalliema, l-Kappillani u s-Saċerdoti. Imbagħad tkellem dwar il-ħidma li qiegħda sseħħ u li għandha sseħħ fil-Parroċċi speċjalment fost il-gruppi tal-abbatini u l-vokazzjonijiet. Fl-aħħar huwa semma l-ħidma li diġa qiegħdha ssir fid-Djoċesi ta’ Għawdex kif ukoll inizjattivi ġodda li ser jitwettqu favur il-ħidma vokazzjonali.

Fit-tmiem il-laqgħa kien hemm moment ta’ diskussjoni kif ukoll ħin għar-refreshments.

Tista’ tara dan id-dokument billi tagħfas fuq il-pdf hawn taħt.

Pjan ta’ ħidma għall-vokazzjonijiet saċerdotali

Ritratti

Monday 4^th  November was the feast day of Bishop St Charles Borromeo, Protector of the Seminary.  It was also the 147^th anniversary of the founding of the Major Seminary.  On this occasion, the priests hailing from the Diocese of Gozo were called to a meeting where an action plan for the promotion of priestly vocations in Gozo was launched.

Fr Michael Curmi, Vice-Rector and Diocesan Director of Vocations, introduced the meeting.  Then, Fr Daniel Xerri explained the action plan. It is the duty of every Christian, including parents, teachers, parish priests and priests, to pray for and give particular attention to priestly vocations.  Fr Xerri explained what is being done and what should be done in this respect in the parishes, especially among the altar boys and the vocations groups.  Then he talked about what is already being done in the diocese of Gozo and also about the initiatives to promote vocations.

When the meeting was over, there were moments of discussion and refreshments were served.

The document, in Maltese, can be seen by clicking on the pdf link below.

Pjan ta’ ħidma għall-vokazzjonijiet saċerdotali

Images

Nhar s-Sibt 2 ta’ Novembru, il-Knisja Kattolika ċċelebrat it-Tifkira Solenni tal-Fidili Mejtin Kollha. F’din l-okkażjoni, il-komunita’ tas-Seminarju ċċelebrat Quddiesa fil-Kappella taċ-Ċimiterju tal-Parroċċa tal-Għarb.

Waqt il-Quddiesa, ir-rettur qasam riflessjoni fuq din il-festa fejn enfasizza l-importanza li n-nisrani jagħraf l-iskop li għalih qed jgħix u jifhem li fuq din l-art huwa biss pellegrin għax id-destinazzjoni aħħarija tiegħu hi s-sema.

Wara il-Quddiesa żorna l-oqbra li jinsabu f’dan iċ-ċimiterju fejn waqafna u tlabna fost l-oħrajn fuq il-qabar tal-familja Mifsud fejn jinsab midfun missier s-seminarista Christian Mifsud li bħalissa qiegħed jagħmel l-esperjenza tas-sena intermedjarja.

Ritratti

On Saturday 2nd November, the Catholic Church celebrated All Souls’ Day.  On this occasion, the community of the Seminary celebrated Mass at the Chapel of Għarb cemetery.

During Mass, the rector reflected on this feast, emphasizing how important it is for the Christian to understand the reason why he is alive and to realize that he is only a pilgrim on earth, Heaven being his final destination.

After Mass, we paid our respects to the deceased buried in this cemetery. We prayed on the tomb of family Mifsud where the father of Christian Mifsud, a Seminarian who is at present in his intermediate year, is buried.

Images

Bejn il-Ħadd, 27 t’Ottubru u l-Ġimgħa l-1 ta’ Novembru, il-komunita’ tas-Seminarju organizzat ġimgħa ta’ talb għall-vokazzjonijiet fil-parroċċa tal-Fontana, iddedikata lill-Qalb ta’ Ġesu’. Matul din il-ġimgħa waqt il-quddies saret enfasi fit-talb tal-komunita’ għall-vokazzjonijiet.

F’din l-esperjenza, s-seminaristi ltaqgħu mat-tfal tad-duttrina fejn qasmu magħhom riflessjonijiet fuq is-sejħa li Alla għandu għal kull wieħed minna.

Il-Ħamis imbagħad, il-komunita’ kollha tas-Seminarju flimkien mas-superjuri mexxew il-quddies ta’ filgħaxija fil-knisja parrokjali fejn is-seminarista Mario Mercieca qasam l-esperjenza tal-vokazzjoni tiegħu. Wara l-Quddiesa imbagħad ġiet organizzata nofs siegħa adorazzjoni.

Ritratti

Between Sunday 27th October and Friday 1st November, the community of the Seminary organised a week of prayer for vocations at the parish of Fontana, dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.   Prayers of the community at Mass for that week, focused mainly on vocations.

During the week, the seminarians met the children who attend the religion classes and shared with them their reflections on the call of God for each and every one of us.

On Thursday, the community of the Seminarians joined the superiors at the afternoon Mass said in the parish church.  Seminarian Mario Mercieca talked about his call for priesthood.  Then followed the Adoration of the Holy Eucharist which lasted half an hour.

Images

In connection with the Missions Day that was celebrated in the Catholic world on Sunday 20^th October, the Missions Group at the Major Seminary led a week of prayer and activities, with the aim of increasing awareness about the missions.  The theme for this year was: “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations” (Mt 28,19),  taken from the words of  Pope Francis for this day.

During the week, both at Mass and at moments of communal prayer, special emphasis was laid on the work of the missionaries, especially Gozitan  missionaries.  Prayers were also said for the peoples who live in the missionary countries, especially those who are suffering as a result of injustice and civil war.

The Missions Group invited Fr Godfrey Zarb OFM Cap, Prior of the Capuchine Order in Gozo, for the celebration of  Mass.  He shared with the community his experiences as a missionary in Nigeria.

In connection with the Missions Week, the Group organised an activity for students attending the Minor Seminary.  During this activity, the students were shown a video of Seminarian Michael Grima, who during the Intermediate Year of studies, has joined Fr Anton Grech in Gwatemala. Michael talked about his missionary work in this country.

Images

B’rabta mal-Jum Missjunarju li ġie ċċelebrat fid-dinja Kattolika nhar il-Ħadd, 20 t’Ottubru, il-Grupp Missjunarju fi ħdan is-Seminarju Maġġuri ħa ħsieb li jorganizza ġimgħa ta’ talb u attivitajiet bil-għan li jqajjem iktar kuxjenza dwar il-missjoni. It-tema għal din is-sena kienet: “Morru għamlu dixxipli mill gnus kollha” (Mt 28,19) meħuda mil-ħsieb tal-Papa Franġisku għal dan il-jum.

Matul din il-ġimgħa kemm fil-Quddiesa kif ukoll waqt it-talb komunitarju saret enfasi għall-missjunarji speċjalment dawk Għawdxin li jinsabu jagħmlu diversi ħidmiet missjunarji, kif ukoll għall-popli li jgħixu fl-artijiet tal-missjoni speċjalment dawk li qed ibatu frott sitwazzjonijiet ta’ inġustizzji u gwerrer ċivili.

Il-grupp ħa ħsieb ukoll li għal waħda mill-Quddies jistieden lil Patri Godfrey Zarb OFM Cap, Gwardjan tal-Fraternita tal-Kapuċċini f’Għawdex, fejn qasam mal-komunita’ ħsieb dwar l-esperjenza missjunarja li huwa wettaq fin-Niġerja.

B’rabta ma’ din il-ġimgħa missjunarja, il-grupp ħa ħsieb ukoll li jorganizza attivita’ fost l-istudenti tal-iskola tas-Seminarju Minuri. Waqt din il-laqgħa, il-grupp wera wkoll filmat qasir mibgħut mis-Seminarist Michael Grima li fl-esperjenza tas-Sena Intermedjarja qed iwettaq ħidma fil-Gwatemala flimkien mas-Saċerdot Għawdxi Dun Anton Grech fejn tkellem ukoll dwar il-ħidma missjunarja li hu qed iwettaq f’dan il-pajjiż.

Ritratti

Wara li fit-30 ta’ Settembru kienu l-lecturers li sellmu lil Mons Salv Grima, fil-15 t’Ottubru kien imiss lill-komunita’ tas-Seminarju li tirringrazzja u ssellem lil Dun Salv fi tmiem il-ħidma tiegħu bħala Prifett tal-Istudji fis-Seminarju Maġġuri. Dun Salv iċċelebra il-Quddiesa flimkien mas-superjuri tas-Seminarju u s-seminaristi fejn radd ħajr lil Alla għall-ħidma li wettaq fis-seminarju, u wara  kien mistieden għaċ-ċena. B’apprezzament fi tmiem l-ikla huwa ġie mogħti nkwadru bix-xbieha tal-istatwa tal-Immakulata Kunċizzjoni meqjuma fil-Kappella tas-Seminarju bħala tifkira.

Ta’ min jgħid li tul il-ħidma tiegħu fis-Seminarju, kienu bosta is-seminaristi li fittxew l-għajnuna u l-gwida ta’ Dun Salv, ħafna minnhom illum qed iwettqu ħidma pastorali diversa bħala Presbiteri fid-Djoċesi Għawdxija u lil hinn minnha.

Ritratti

Following the farewell to Mgr Salv Grima by the lecturers on the 30^th September, it was the turn of the community of the Seminary to show gratitude to Mgr Grima on his retirement as Prefect of Studies in the Major Seminary.  Mgr Grima was accompanied by the superiors of the Seminary and the Seminarians in the celebration of a Thanksgiving Mass to God.  After Mass, Mgr Grima joined the community at dinner.  As a sign of appreciation, Mgr Grima was presented with a picture of the statue of the Immaculate Conception which is venerated at the Seminary Chapel.

While he was acting as Prefect of Studies at the Seminary, many seminarians sought his help and guidance.  A number of these seminarians are now engaged in pastoral work as priests in the Diocese of Gozo and beyond our shores.

Images