On Monday, 2nd December, the Annunciation of Advent marked the beginning of events for the Seminary community. This is an annual celebration which includes the reading of a passage from the Scriptures followed by a short explanation. The aim of this celebration is to encourage the community to prepare itself for the coming of Christ. It includes also the presentation and blessing of the icon which will accompany the community during the year. Invocations follow, and then the Rector refers to the changes in the programme of events in the Seminary. These changes remind one and all that the coming days are special. The icon for this year, written by Loreta Grech, was inspired by the extract: “Here is your Mother”, from Jn 19,7. This is the phrase which the crucified Christ said to John, his beloved disciple, while bequeathing to him Mary as his mother.
These are days during which the environment around us wears a festive dress, and the Seminary too decks itself for the festivities with the statue of Baby Jesus, Christmas trees, lights and the crib.
During Advent, the liturgy at the Seminary is different. Every day, early in the morning, there is the celebration of the Divine Office, held in an environment of dim light and candles, a sign of expectation. At Mass, one of the formators gives a short explanation of the Liturgy of the Word. During the Novena, this explanation is given by one of the seminarians. Another Mass is said annually in a cave at Xagħra. The dim candlelight and the natural environment of the cave makes it easier for the mind to go back to the Nativity of Christ in the cave at Betlehem.
Christmas time is linked with the exchange of gifts and this practice is followed also In the homely environment of the Seminary where seminarians and formators exchange gifts. It is not the cost of the gift that matters. What matters is the sense of generosity and giving that this exchange of gifts entails, for it shows that a person is ready to give to others without expecting anything in return. This spirit is shared particulary every year when the Seminary community pays a visit to a home housing the needy. This year the community visited the home of the elderly at San Lawrenz. A Mass was celebrated at the home and then the seminarians sang Christmas carols and distributed gifts to the residents.
Christmastime is holiday time, for the seminarians return home to celebrate Christmas with their family. The holidays started on Friday evening, 21st December. That same evening Mgr Bishop Grech celebrated a Mass of thanksgiving to mark the end of term. The parents of the seminarians participated in this Mass.
On behalf of the community, we wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
