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Wara li fil-15 ta’ Ġunju ġew fi tmiemhom l-eżamijiet tat-tieni semestru, is-seminaristi nġabru għal tlitt ijiem oħra li fihom għalqu s-sena ta’ formazzjoni fis-Seminarju.  Nhar it-Tnejn 18 ta’ Ġunju saret Revision de Vie li tmexxiet mid-Direttur Spiritwali Dun Joseph Farrugia, u t-Tlieta saret evalwazzjoni ta’ tmiem it-term u wara barbeque f’Marsalforn.  Is-sena ġiet fi tmiemha nhar l-Erbgħa 20 ta’ Ġunju, meta saret Quddiesa mmexxija minn Mons. Isqof Mario Grech li għaliha kienu mistednin il-familjari tas-seminaristi u d-Dami tas-Seminarju.

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Fit-2 ta’ Ġunju, lejliet l-ordinazzjoni għall-presbiterat u ftit jiem qabel dik għad-djakont saret velja ta’ talb: qari mill-Iskrittura u Adorazzjoni Ewkaristika fis-seminarju, biex flimkien mal-poplu miġbur, isir talb għall-ordinandi.  Matul il-velja, fil-preżenza ta’ Ġesù Ewkaristija, id-djaknu Daniel Grech għamel talba ta’ ringrazzjament għas-sena tad-djakonat, u d-djaknu Mark Bonello għamel talba għall-għajnuna quddiem il-ħajja saċerdotali.  Is-seminarista Gabriel Gauci wkoll għamel it-talba tiegħu misluta mill-esperjenza tal-ħajja u l-vokazzjoni tiegħu.

L-għada, 3 ta’ Ġunju, Solennità tat-Trinità Qaddisa, Mark Bonello u Daniel Grech irċivew  l-ordinazzjoni presbiterali tagħhom minn idejn Mons. Isqof Mario Grech fil-knisja katidrali ta’ Għawdex.

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On the 2^nd June, the eve of the presbyterial ordination and some days before the ordination of deacons, a vigil of prayer was held at the Seminary.  The congregation offered prayers for the ordinands.  The vigil included readings from the Sacred Scripture and Adoration of the Holy Eucharist.  During the vigil, in the presence of the Holy Eucharist, Deacon Daniel Grech said a prayer of thanksgiving for his year as deacon.  Deacon Mark Bonello prayed God to lead him during his life of priesthood.  Seminarian Gabriel Gauci based his prayer on experiences of  life and on his vocation.

The following day, 3^rd June, Solemnity of the Holy Trinity, Mark Bonello and Daniel Grech were ordained priests at the Gozo Cathedral.  The ordination was led by H.E. Bishop Mario Grech.

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Ta’ kull sena, fix-xahar iddedikat lil Marija, isir pellegrinaġġ lejn is-Santwarju Nazzjonali tal-Madonna Ta’ Pinu.  F’din l-okkażjoni, l-ordinandi: id-djakni Mark Bonello u Daniel Grech qabel l-ordinazzjoni tal-presbiterat, u s-seminarista Gabriel Gauci qabel l-ordinazzjoni għad-djakonat, għamlu l-wegħdiet tagħhom f’riġlejn Marija, fosthom il-wegħda tal-ubbidjenza, il-wegħda taċ-ċelibat u l-istqarrija tal-fidi.

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A pilgrimage to the National Santuary dedicated to Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu is held every year during the month dedicated to Our Lady.  On this occasion, the ordinands – Deacons Mark Bonello and Daniel Grech, prior to their presbiteral ordination, and Seminarian Gabriel  Gauci, prior to his ordination as Deacon – proclamed their vows of obedience and celibacy and made a Declaration of Faith, in front the holy image of Our Lady.

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Nhar il-5 ta’ Mejju, fuq stedina uffiċċjali mis-Seminarju Maġġuri, in-Nunzju Appostoliku Mons. Tommaso Caputo, ġie jżur lis-Seminarju tagħna.  F’dan in-nofstanhar, huwa kellu diversi laqgħat: l-ewwel fosthom mas-seminaristi.  Mons. Caputo qasam mal-komunità tas-seminarju għaxar ħsibijiet dwar il-ħajja tas-saċerdot, u tkellem dwar il-prijoritajiet li s-saċerdot għandu jkollu fil-ħajja personali u pastorali.  Wara dan, huwa ltaqa’ mal-bord tas-seminarju, u mal-professuri taż-żewġ ċikli.  Fil-11.00am huwa mexxa konċelebrazzjoni fil-kappella tas-seminarju, li għaliha kienu mistiedna wkoll il-membri tal-istaff tas-seminarju.

In-Nunzju baqa’ magħna wkoll għall-pranzu, u fi tmiemu ġie mogħti nkwadru tal-istatwa tal-Qalb ta’ Ġesù li tinsab fis-seminarju bħala rigal ta’ tifkira.

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Following an official invitation by the Major Seminary, the Apostolic Nuntio Mgr Tommaso Caputo paid a visit to our Seminary on the 5^th May.  On this occasion Mgr Caputo had various meetings, foremost amongst them a meeting with the seminarians.  Mgr Caputo shared with the community of the Seminary ten thoughts about the life of a priest.  He talked about the priorities in the personal and pastoral life of a priest.  Then, Mgr Caputo met the Seminary Board and the lectureres of the two cycles.  At 11.00am he led a concelebrated Mass in the chapel of the Seminary.  Members of the staff were also present for this concelebrated Mass.  Later the Nuntio joined us at dinner.  He was presented with an image of the statue of The Sacred Heart of Jesus which the Gozo Seminary hosts.

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On the 1^st May, the feast of St Joseph the Worker and a public holiday, our community paid a visit of Malta.  We first visited Id-Dar tal-Kleru, where Fr Daniel Xerri, our Rector, led a concelebrated Mass, accompanied by the priests who reside in this home.  Then we had the opportunity of meeting several priests, including Gozitan priests, who shared with us some experiences, thoughts and advice.  We proceeded to visit the Tal-Virtù Seminary where we stayed for dinner.

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Fl-1 ta’ Mejju, jum ta’ btala pubblika meta l-Knisja tiċċelebra lil San Ġużepp Ħaddiem, il-komunità tagħna għamlet mawra f’Malta.  Il-ġurnata bdiet bi żjara fid-Dar tal-Kleru, fejn ir-Rettur Dun Daniel Xerri ppresieda waqt konċelebrazzjoni mas-saċerdoti residenti f’dik id-dar.  Wara dan, kellna l-opportunità niltaqgħu ma’ diversi saċerdoti, fosthom uħud Għawdxin, li bil-ferħ qasmu magħna xi esperjenzi minn tagħhom u anke ħsibijiet u pariri.  Minn hemm, imbagħad, morna nżuru lil sħabna s-seminaristi tad-Djoċesi ta’ Malta fis-Seminarju Tal-Virtù, fejn konna mistednin għall-pranzu.

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On the 4^th Sunday of Easter (29^th April 2012), the Universal Church prays the Lord of the Harvest to send more workers in his field.  In conjunction with this day, the Vocations Group within the Seminary Community, together with the diocesan director for vocations, organised two events during which adolescents and youths could experience seminary life.  On Tuesday 24^th April, Form 5 students and older students joined the seminarians in moments of evening prayer, followed by dinner, a short rest and a football match.  On the following Saturday, there was a gathering for altar boys and members of Vocational Groups. These boys came from the Form 1 to Form 4 age group.  The boys were divided into two groups and they were guided to reflect on priestly vocation as a gift that is received gratuitously so that it can be shared gratuitously with others.  On Sunday, the seminarians animated gatherings and Holy Mass in the parishes of Gozo.  Prayers for Vocations were said in all the churches.

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Fir-raba’ Ħadd tal-Għid, 29 ta’ April 2012, il-Knisja Universali titlob lil Sid il-Ħsad jibgħat aktar ħaddiema fil-għalqa tiegħu.  F’rabta ma’ dan il-jum, il-Grupp tal-Vokazzjonijiet fi ħdan il-komunità tas-seminarju, flimkien mad-direttur djoċesan għall-pastorali vokazzjonali organizza żewġ mumenti li fihom adoloxxenti u żgħażagħ seta’ jkollhom kuntatt mas-seminarju.  Nhar it-Tlieta 24 ta’ April, ġew mistiedna studenti mill-klassijiet tal-form 5 ’il fuq, biex jingħaqdu mas-seminaristi għall-mument ta’ talb filgħaxija, għaċ-ċena u wara ftit ħin ta’ mistrieħ u lobgħa futbol.  Is-Sibt ta’ wara, l-abbatini u l-membri tal-gruppi tal-vokazzjonijiet li huma fil-klassijiet bejn il-form 1 u 4 ġew imqassmin f’żewġ gruppi, u saritilhom riflessjoni dwar il-vokazzjoni bħala rigal li wieħed jirċevih b’xejn biex ikun jista’ jaqsmu b’xejn ma’ ħaddieħor.  Fil-jum tal-Ħadd, imbagħad, is-seminaristi animaw laqgħat u Quddies fil-parroċċi t’Għawdex, waqt li l-Knisja kollha talbet għall-Vokazzjonijiet.

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On the occasion of the sixtieth anniversary of his presbyterial ordination, Archbishop Emeritus Ġużeppi Mercieca paid a visit to the Diocese of Gozo where he was brought up, where he received his education and where he was ordained priest.  He shared his life experience with us and he urged us to always trust in God and to hold our relationship with Him above all else.  He joined us in our mid-day prayer and then had dinner with us.  In the evening, we participated in the Pontifical Mass celebrated for the occasion at the Gozo Cathedral.

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