Last Saturday, at noon, with the beginning of Advent, the Church commenced a new liturgical year. The Seminary community prepared for the starting of this liturgical season with the Proclamation of Advent, held at the Seminary Chapel.
The celebration, which began at 11.00am was divided in four parts. During the first part, the Word of God was enthroned on the altar and after the initial greeting by the celebrant, the Rector Can Richard N. Farrugia, the first Advent candle was lit. The second part of the celebration was the Liturgy of the Word. After the reading of 1 Cor 1: 3-9, which is the second reading of the liturgy for the first Sunday of Advent (B), the Rector did a Lectio Divina on the text. The third part was the enthronement of the new icon representing this year’s theme: Kings 19, 1-15. This was then followed by an explanation of the symbols in the icon, by the iconographer Daniel Mercieca and the blessing of the icon by the Rector. The celebration ended shortly after noon with the blessing of the celebrant on the community.
During this Advent, the Seminary community will be following a slightly different program compared to the rest of the year. Before mass, at 6.10am, the community will be meeting to pray the Office of Readings in the chapel. Also, during mass, the celebrant will be making a short reflection after the reading of the Gospel.
