On Saturday 4th November, the Seminary of the Sacred Heart of Jesus celebrated its 151st anniversary. The founding of the Seminary came two years after the founding of the Diocese of Gozo. Throughout the years, many priests received their formation in the Seminary. A number of these priests became missionaries in other countries while others served the community of Gozo.
On Saturday morning, Bishop Mario Grech joined the Seminary community for the Liturgy of the Hours. The Bishop based his short homily on the Reading of the day (Lk 23:1-12). He urged the seminarians to follow Jesus’ words in the parable. When we are invited to a marriage reception, we should not “choose” a seat but let the host offer us one. He said that it would be better if we were to give up certain “worldly” privileges which had been bestowed upon the Church in times which were radically different from modern times. Those were times when, unlike nowadays, the Church lacked an identity of its own. The Bishop urged us to be close to those who alienate themselves from us. In this way, we will be closer to the poor – to those who are materially poor and also to those who are spiritually poor.
On this day, special prayers were said for the benefactors of the Seminary, the priests and nuns who served at the Seminary and also the priests, whether alive or deceased, who received their formation at the Seminary.