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It-tmiem tas-sena akkademika jġib miegħu żewġ mumenti ta’ ferħ kemm għall-komunità tas-Seminarju imma wkoll għad-djoċesi u għall-Knisja kollha.  Dawn huma l-ordinazzjoni presbiterali u l-ordinazzjoni djakonali.

Din is-sena l-ordinazzjoni presbiterali ta’ Gabriel Gauci, mill-Parroċċa tal-Madonna tas-Sokkors u San Girgor il-Kbir, Ta’ Kerċem, saret is-Sibt 25 ta’ Mejju filwaqt li Daniel Sultana, mill-Parroċċa ta’ Marija Bambina, ix-Xagħra, se jiġi ordnat djaknu s-Sibt 22 ta’ Ġunju.  Bi tħejjija għal dawn il-mumenti qawwija l-Knisja ta’ Għawdex ġiet mistiedna biex il-Ġimgħa 24 ta’ Mejju tinġabar fis-Seminarju biex tingħaqad mal-ordinandi u titlob flimkien magħhom.

Din il-velja ta’ talb, li ġiet imxandra b’mod dirett fuq Radju Marija, ġiet imqassma fi tliet partijiet prinċipali.  Fl-ewwel mument ingħatat tislima lil Marija Għajnuna tal-Insara, li dakinhar kienet qed tiġi ċċelebrata l-festa tagħha.  Wara ġiet imxandra l-Kelma ta’ Alla u r-Rettur tas-Seminarju spjegaha permezz tal-omelija.  Fi tmiem il-prietka ġie espost Ġesù Sagramentat għal ftit mumenti ta’ adorazzjoni.  Kien wasal imbagħad il-mument biex Gabriel jitlob lill-Mulej jakkumpanjah fil-missjoni l-ġdida li afdalu f’idejh permezz tas-saċerdozju.  Wara, Daniel irringrazzja lil Alla tad-doni kollha li għoġbu jagħtih fil-ħajja tiegħu b’mod speċjali d-don tal-vokazzjoni.  Qabel il-Barka Sagramentali, il-kongregazzjoni ġiet mistiedna biex fl-okkażjoni tas-Sena tal-Fidi tistqarr il-fidi tagħha.

Ġesù Ewkaristija ġie meħud imbagħad fil-kappella u baqa’ espost il-lejl kollu sabiex il-fidili setgħu jinġabru għat-talb personali.  Mons. Isqof Mario Grech għalaq il-Velja billi wassal il-messaġġ tiegħu tal-okkażjoni.  Hu stqarr li ċ-ċelebrazzjoni ta’ dakinhar kienet festa ta’ fidi.  Kull vokazzjoni hi qabel kollox stqarrija ta’ fidi.  Kif iħobb jgħid tajjeb il-Papa Franġisku: Knisja mingħajr fidi mhix il-Knisja imma hi NGO.  Mons. Mario Grech stqarr li fis-soċjetà tagħna għad fadal ħafna fidi.  Xhieda ta’ dan hu r-rispett u l-fiduċja speċjali fis-saċerdot.  Hu qal li minħabba l-fidi n-nies iqisu lill-persuna qabel l-ordinazzjoni differenti milli wara l-ordinazzjoni: “illum iħarsu lejn Gabriel mod u għada, minn wara l-ordinazzjoni, se jersqu lejn Gabriel u jitolbuh joffri l-Ewkaristija għall-bżonnijiet tagħhom, jamministralhom is-sagramenti u fuq kollox jinterċedi għalihom”.  Dan kollu jafferma li l-poplu Malti u Għawdxi hu poplu li jemmen u jafda lil Alla.  Mons. Isqof spiċċa billi ħeġġeġ lil kulħadd ikompli jgħarbel u jikber fil-fidi tiegħu.

The end of the academic year brings with it moments of joy to the community of the Seminary, to the Diocese and to the Church as a whole.  These moments of joy are primarily the ordination to the priesthood and the diaconate ordination.

This year, Gabriel Gauci from the Parish of Our Lady of Succour and of St Gregory the Great of Kerċem was ordained priest on Saturday 25 May.  Daniel Sultana from the Parish of Maria Bambina of Xagħra is to be ordained deacon on Saturday 22 June.  As preparation for these special moments, the Church in Gozo was invited to join the ordinands in moments of prayers on Friday 24 May.

This evening of prayer, aired live on Radju Marija, was divided into three sections.  The evening started with a prayer to Our Lady Help of Christians, whose feast was being celebrated that day.  Then there was the reading from the Scriptures, followed by a homily by the Rector of the Seminary.  At the end of the homily, the congregation was invited to join in moments of adoration of the Holy Eucharist.  Then, Gabriel prayed Our Lord to accompany him in the new mission which was being entrusted to him through priesthood.  Daniel thanked God for the gifts that He endowed him with, especially the gift of the priestly vocation.  Prior to the Sacramental Blessing, the congregation was invited to proclaim its faith on the occasion of the Year of Faith.

The Holy Eucharist was then accompanied to the Chapel where the faithful could proceed with the adoration of the Holy Host throughout the night. Bishop Mario Grech delivered his message at the end of the evening of prayer.  He said that that day was a feast day of faith.  Every vocation is primarily a declaration of faith.  Pope Francis says that a Church without faith is not a Church, but merely an NGO.  Bishop Grech said that our society still abounds in faith.  The respect of the faithful to the priest and their trust in him are evidence of this fact.   Because of faith, the way the faithful correlate to the priest-to-be before his ordination changes when he is ordained.  “Today the faithful regard Gabriel in a certain way and tomorrow, following his ordination, they will approach Gabriel and ask him to offer the Eucharist for their needs, to administer the sacraments to them, and above all, to intercede for them.”  This is a confirmation of the fact that Malta and Gozo still believe and trust in God.  Bishop Grech ended his message by urging the congregation to ponder upon and to mature in faith.

Nhar il-Ħamis 23 ta’ Mejju filgħaxija t-telespettaturi ta’ TVM kellhom iċ-ċans li jiltaqgħu mal-komunità tas-Seminarju ta’ Għawdex.  Mhix xi ħaġa li tiġri sikwit.  Is-Seminarju fil-fatt, aċċetta bil-qalb din l-istedina tad-direzzjoni tal-programm TvHemm.  Din l-esperjenza żgur li se tibqa’ stampata f’moħħ is-seminaristi kollha, speċjalment dawk li ħadu sehem b’mod dirett fil-programm.

Xi ġimgħat qabel il-programm ġew iżuruna fis-Seminarju xi membri mid-direzzjoni tal-programm TvHemm biex iqattgħu jum magħna.  Huma iffilmjaw il-mumenti prinċipali f’ġurnata tipika tas-Seminarju u għamlu xi intervisti mas-seminaristi, fosthom mad-Djaknu Gabriel li ġie ordnat saċerdot is-Sibt 25 ta’ Mejju.  Permezz ta’ dawn il-filmati huma tellgħu feature li ġie ppreżentat tul il-programm.  Tista’ tara dan il-feature billi tagħfas fuq http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMU1NtMZRM0 u http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uENq2XZWb6c.

Ir-Rettur, Dun Daniel Xerri, flimkien ma’ erba’ seminaristi oħra telgħu Malta biex jieħdu sehem b’mod dirett fil-programm.  Huma ġew imqassma f’żewġ panels u l-preżentatur, Norman Vella, għamlilhom xi mistoqsijiet li trattaw suġġetti varji.  Is-seminaristi ġew mistoqsija fuq l-esperjenzi u fuq l-istorja tal-vokazzjoni tagħhom.  Huma ġew mistoqsija wkoll fuq kif iħarsu lejn il-missjoni tal-Knisja fid-dinja tal-lum u fuq kif jaħsbu li wieħed jista’ jirbaħ l-isfidi li ġġib magħha l-ħajja tas-saċerdot.  Tul il-programm sar kollegament dirett mas-Seminarista Massimo Buttigieg, li bħalissa qiegħed jagħmel l-esperjenza tas-sena intermedjarja fil-Kanada.

Fi tmiem il-produzzjoni, ir-Rettur irringrazzja mill-qalb lid-direzzjoni tal-opportunità li għoġobhom jagħtu lis-Seminarju ta’ Għawdex.  Hu stqarr li l-vokazzjoni, is-sejħa saċerdotali, meta ġejja minn Alla, hi rigal.  Kemm hi ħaġa sabiħa li wieħed jaċċetta bil-ferħ id-don li Alla jogħġbu jagħtih!

On Thursday 23 May, the community of the Gozo Seminary featured prominently in an evening programme on TVM.  The community willingly accepted this rare opportunity offered by the directors of the programme TvHemm.  All the seminarians, especially those who were directly involved in the programme, will treasure this experience.

Some weeks before the programme was aired, members of the production board of TvHemm spent a day with us at the Seminary.  They took random shots of the moments of a typical day at the Seminary and interviewed the seminarians, among them Deacon Gabriel Gauci who was to be ordained priest on the 25 May.  These shots were aired in a feature during the programme.  One can watch this feature by clicking on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FMU1NtMZRM0 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uENq2XZWb6c.

Rector Fr Daniel Xerri, accompanied by four seminarians, crossed over to Malta to participate live in the programme.  They were divided into two panels and the presenter, Mr Norman Vella, asked them questions on various topics.  The seminarians were asked questions related with their vocation, their experiences, the mission of the Church in modern times and the ways in which the challenges in the life of a priest can be faced.  A direct link was established with Canada where Seminarian Massimo Buttigieg is spending his intermediate year.

At the end of the programme, the Rector thanked the directors for the opportunity offered to the Gozo Seminary to present itself to the public.  He stressed the fact that the call for priesthood, originating from God, is a gift and the acceptance of such a gift from God is surely gratifying.

Every beginning has an end.  The year of formation 2012-2013 is nearing its end.  On Monday 13th May, Deacon Gabriel sat for his final written examinations.  He sat for his orals on Thursday 16th May, thus bringing to an end his seven years of formation at the Major Seminary of The Sacred Heart of Jesus.  The next step is his ordination to the priesthood on Saturday 26th May at 6.00pm at the Gozo Cathedral.

For the rest of the community, the academic year is nearing its end too.  On Wednesday 15th May the seminarians presented their assignments to the Prefect of Studies.  Mgr Saviour Grima published the time-table for the annual examination.

That same Wednesday, in the evening, the community gathered at Dar Ġużeppa Debono in Għajnsielem for a Mass that brings to an end the meetings of the ministries.  At different moments during the Mass, the seminarians offered a prayer to God.  Each seminarian shared with his companions the salient moments of his experiences of this year.

During these days of the Holy Spirit Novena, the community is joining the rest of the Church in prayer to the Holy Spirit to descend on and dwell in each and every one of us.  The prayer is addressed in a special way to the candidates for Confirmation and to the ordinands who are to be ordained in the following weeks.

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Kull bidu għandu tmiemu.  Is-sena formattiva 2012-2013 qed toqrob ukoll għal-konklużjoni tagħha.  It-Tnejn 13 ta’ Mejju, id-Djaknu Gabriel resaq għall-eżami finali tiegħu.  Dakinhar għamel il-parti tal-kitba.  Il-Ħamis 16, filgħodu kellu l-parti orali.  Hekk ġew fi tmiemhom is-seba’ snin ta’ formazzjoni li Gabriel Gauci kellu fi ħdan is-Seminarju Maġġuri tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù.  It-tarġa li tmiss issa hija l-ordinazzjoni presbiterali li se ssir is-Sibt 26 ta’ Mejju fis-6.00pm, fil-Katidral ta’ Għawdex.

Il-bqija tal-komunità wkoll bdiet tħoss li s-sena qed tasal fi tmiemha.  L-Erbgħa 15 ta’ Mejju s-seminaristi ppreżentaw l-assignments lill-Prefett tal-istudju.  Min-naħa tiegħu, Mons. Salv Grima ppubblika t-time-table tal-eżamijiet tal-aħħar.

Nhar l-Erbgħa wkoll, filgħaxija, il-komunità nġabret ġewwa Dar Ġużeppa Debono f’Għajnsielem għall-quddiesa li ġġib fi tmiemhom il-laqgħat tal-ministeri.  Tulha, f’mumenti differenti, is-seminaristi ressqu talba lil Alla.  F’kull intervent is-seminaristi qasmu ma’ sħabhom l-esperjenza li huma kellhom tul is-sena li qed tasal fi tmiemha.

Tul dawn il-ġranet, fin-Novena tal-Ispirtu s-Santu, il-komunità qed tingħaqad mal-bqija tal-Knisja f’sejħa kontinwa lill-Ispirtu s-Santu biex jiġi u jgħammar f’kull wieħed minna.  It-talba qed issir b’mod speċjali għall-kandidati tal-Griżma tal-Isqof u għall-ordinandi li se jiġu ordnati fil-ġimgħat li ġejjin.

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The Seminary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is an old historical building.  This does not mean that the building is inert.  For the last hundred and forty years, this building has hosted a community of young men who, in their prime of life, decide to stop and reflect on the Lord’s call to them.

This year, the seminarians took the opportunity offered to them on Lejlet Lapsi – Notte Gozitana, from Friday 10th May to Sunday 12thMay, to open the doors of the Seminary and welcome all those who wished to be better acquainted with the seminarians’ way of life.

On Saturday evening, a concert of sacred music, by Soprano Marouska Attard, was held at the chapel of the Seminary.  After the concert, the audience was invited to visit the living quarters of the seminarians.  At the same time, other visitors could enjoy viewing a video, filmed by the seminarians in 1970, featuring the life at the Seminary.  A glance at the past is always interesting and welcomed, more so on such occasions.  Through the video, the visitors could better appreciate the life of the seminarians in the past.  These same seminarians have now been serving the Church as ordained priests for the past thirty or forty years.

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Is-Seminarju tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù hu binja storika u qadima.  Dan ma jfissirx imma li din hi binja mejta.  Għal dawn l-aħħar mija sitta u erbgħin sena, sal-ġurnata tal-lum, din il-binja laqgħet fi ħdanha komunità ta’ żgħażagħ li fil-fjur ta’ ħajjithom jiddeċiedu li jieqfu biex jistħarrġu s-sejħa li l-Mulej ikun qed jagħmlilhom.

Din is-sena, is-seminaristi għarfu jieħdu l-okkażjoni ta’ Lejlet Lapsi – Notte Gozitana, li nżammet bejn il-Ġimgħa 10 u l-Ħadd 12 ta’ Mejju, biex jiftħu l-bibien tas-Seminarju u jilqgħu lil dawk kollha li xtaqu jsiru jafu aktar fuq il-ħajja ta’ din il-komunità.

Is-Sibt filgħaxija ttella’ kunċert ta’ mużika sagra fil-kappella tas-Seminarju mis-Soprano Marouska Attard.  Wara s-seminaristi stiednu lil dawk preżenti u lil oħrajn li għoġobhom jgħaddu biex jitilgħu fil-kwartieri tagħhom.  Sadanittant ġie pproġettat filmat mill-ħajja tal-komunità tas-Seminarju meħud mis-seminaristi tas-sena 1970.  It-titwila fi żminijiet oħra hi dejjem xi ħaġa interessanti.  Dan jgħodd b’mod speċjali għal din l-okkażjoni.  Permezz tagħha wieħed seta’ jifhem kif kienet il-ħajja fil-komunità tas-Seminarju tas-saċerdoti li ġew iffurmati fi żminijiet differenti u li għal ħafna żmien (madwar tlieta u erbgħin sena) qdew u għadhom jaqdu minn qalbhom lill-Knisja ta’ Kristu.

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The programme of Saturday 11th May was different from other programmes we usually follow.  The community woke up early and set off on a pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu at Għarb.  The calm atmosphere of the early morning accompanied us in our saying of the Rosary, the prayer which the Virgin Mother wants us to recite.  Fr Alex Refalo urged us to pray for the ordinands and also for ourselves so that we reap the fruit of our endeavours of the past year.

On arriving at Ta’ Pinu we gathered in the chapel for the celebration of the Mass.  Following the reading from the Gospels, Seminarian Daniel Sultana placed his hand on the Bible, and in front of the image of the Assumption of the Holy Virgin and in the presence of the Holy Eucharist, he proclaimed his faith and promised obedience and faithfulness to the teaching of the Church.  He also promised to embrace celibacy while humbly imploring God’s help.  Then, Deacon Gabriel Gauci proclaimed his faith and renewed the promises he had made last year, before his ordination as deacon.

Gabriel Gauci is to be ordained priest on Saturday 25th May at 6.00pm at the Gozo Cathedral.  The ordination of Daniel Sultana as deacon is to be held on Saturday 22nd June at 6.00pm at the Gozo Cathedral.  On Friday 24th May, there is going to be an evening of prayer for the ordinands at the Seminary.  The evening of prayer will start at 9.00pm.  The adoration of the Holy Eucharist will continue throughout the night at the chapel of the Seminary.  Everybody is invited to join us in prayer for our companions, Gabriel and Daniel, who will be offering their life in service to God and to his Church.

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Il-programm tas-Sibt 11 ta’ Mejju ħa xejra differenti minn tas-soltu.  Il-komunità sebħet kmieni u wettqet pellegrinaġġ għas-Santwarju Ta’ Pinu fl-Għarb.  L-atmosfera kalma ta’ filgħodu għenet biex nitolbu t-talba tant mixtieqa minn Ommna Marija, ir-Rużarju.  Dun Alex Refalo ħeġġiġna biex fir-Rużarju nitolbu għall-ordinandi u anke għalina lkoll biex nagħrfu naqtgħu l-frott li l-Mulej kabbar fina tul din is-sena.

Mal-wasla Ta’ Pinu l-komunità nġabret fil-kappella tad-dehra u hemm ġiet iċċelebrata l-quddiesa.  Wara x-xandir tal-Evanġelju; b’id waħda fuq il-Kelma ta’ Alla, quddiem ix-xbieha tal-Assunzjoni ta’ Marija, u fil-preżenza tal-Ewkristija, is-Seminarista Daniel Sultana stqarr il-Fidi tiegħu, wiegħed l-ubbidjenza u l-fedeltà għat-tagħlim tal-Knisja, u wiegħed ukoll li bil-għajnuna ta’ Alla se jħaddan il-ħajja ċelibi.  Wara, id-Djaknu Gabriel Gauci stqarr il-Fidi tiegħu u ġedded il-wegħdiet li hu kien għamel is-sena l-oħra, qabel ġie ordnat djaknu.

Gabriel Gauci se jiġi ordnat saċerdot fil-Katidral ta’ Għawdex is-Sibt 25 ta’ Mejju fis-6.00pm.  Filwaqt li Daniel Sultana se jiġi ordnat djaknu fil-Katidral is-Sibt 22 ta’ Ġunju fis-6.00pm.  Il-Ġimgħa 24 ta’ Mejju se ssir velja ta’ talb għall-ordinandi fis-Seminarju tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù fid-9.00pm.  Fi tmiemha Ġesù Ewkaristija se jibqa’ espost lejl sħiħ fil-kappella tas-Seminarju.  Kulħadd hu mistieden jingħaqad magħna fit-talb għal sħabna Gabriel u Daniel li se joffru ħajjithom lil Alla u għall-qadi tal-Knisja tiegħu.

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Nhar il-Ħamis 9 ta’ Mejju filgħaxija Mons. Isqof Mario Grech u l-Ministru għal Għawdex, l-Onor. Anton Refalo, ingħaqdu mal-komunità tas-Seminarju għall-ftuħ tal-wirja Redemptione li qed tittella’ fl-okkażjoni tas-Sena tal-Fidi.  Din ġiet organizzata mill-Kummissjoni Djoċesana tal-Arti Sagra f’kollaborazzjoni mas-Seminarju tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù.

L-ewwel parti ta’ din il-wirja ttellgħet fi żmien il-Milied u ġabet l-isem Incarnatione.  Kif jixhdu t-titli: il-wirja ta’ Diċembru li għadda ppreżentat il-misteru tal-Inkarnazzjoni filwaqt li dik ta’ issa ttrattat il-misteru tal-mewt u l-qawmien ta’ Sidna Ġesù Kristu.  Wieħed jista’ jsib diversi xogħlijiet tal-arti sagra esibiti f’din il-wirja.  Fr Joseph Calleja, mill-Kummissjoni Djoċesana tal-Arti Sagra, fil-ftuħ tal-wirja, spjega tajjeb li dawn ix-xogħlijiet sagri nġabu minn diversi knejjes Għawdxin u anke minn xi kollezzjonijiet privati f’Għawdex.

Dakinhar tal-ftuħ Fr Daniel Xerri, ir-Rettur tas-Seminarju, wera l-apprezzament tiegħu li għal darboħra s-sala tas-Seminarju ntgħażlet biex tilqa’ fiha għal esibizzjoni xogħlijiet tal-arti daqstant sbieħ.  Min-naħa tiegħu, il-Ministru għal Għawdex, l-Onor. Anton Refalo, tkellem mir-rabta sħiħa li hemm bejn il-fidi u l-kultura.  Hu qal li l-fidi Kattolika kellha u għad għandha sehem imprezzabli fil-formazzjoni tal-kultura Maltija u Għawdxija.  Il-Ministru spiċċa billi wera x-xewqa li aktar żgħażagħ Għawdxin ikomplu jitħarrġu fl-arti.  Mons. Isqof apprezza li l-Ministru għal Għawdex tkellem mir-rabta tal-fidi u l-kultura.  Min-naħa tiegħu żied li l-kultura hi mistiedna biex tgħin lill-persuna tikber fil-fidi u fl-esperjenza tagħha ta’ Alla.

Il-wirja Redemptione se tibqa’ miftuħa sal-Ħadd 19 ta’ Mejju.

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On Thursday 9th May, Bishop Mario Grech and the Hon. Anton Refalo, Minister for Gozo, joined the community of the Seminary for the inauguration of the exhibition Redemptione, on the occasion of the Year of Faith.  This exhibition has been launched by the Diocesan Commission for Works of Sacred Art in collaboration with the Seminary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  The first part of this exhibition, Incarnatione, was held at Christmas time.  From the title of both exhibitions, one can deduce that the first one presented the mystery of the Incarnation while the second presents the mystery of the death and resurrection of Our Lord.  The exhibition hosts various works of sacred art.  In the inauguration speech, Fr Joseph Calleja, from the Diocesan Commission for Works of Sacred Art, explained that these works of art have been brought to the exhibition from various churches in Gozo and also from private collections.

Fr Daniel Xerri, Rector of the Seminary, expressed his appreciation of the fact that for the umpteenth time the Seminary Hall had been chosen to host such an exhibition of precious works of sacred art.  The Hon. Anton Refalo, Minister for Gozo, talked about the close link between faith and culture.  He said that the Catholic Religion has always played an invaluable role in the culture of Malta and Gozo.  He expressed his wish of seeing more Gozitan young people being trained in Arts.  Bishop Mario Grech welcomed the link drawn by the Minister of Gozo between faith and culture and he explained that through culture, the individual can grow in faith and in his experience of God.

The exhibition will remain open up to Sunday 19th May.

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