On Friday 8 December, the Seminary community, together with the rest of the Universal Church, celebrated the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of Our Lady, which also happens to be the titular of the Seminary chapel. At 6.40am, the community gathered in the chapel to pray the Invitatory Psalm and the Office of Readings. Afterwards, a Solemn Mass presided by the Rector Rev. Joseph Bajada, assisted by the deacon Franklin Micallef, was celebrated. The deacon Franklin delivered the sermon. The mass was animated by the seminarians in Gregorian chant with the execution of the popular Missa de Angelis, the antiphon Tota Pulchra, and Ave Maria. At the end of the Mass, the antiphon Beata Mater, set to a musical arrangement widely attributed to Mro Giuseppe Giardini Vella which is executed only in our Seminary, was sung.
At noon, the community gathered once again in the chapel to sing the Midday Prayers, presided by the deacon Franklin Micallef. At the end, the antiphon Beata Mater was again sung. Present also were H.E. Mons. Anton Teuma, members of the academic staff of the Seminary, and the Franciscan students currently studying at the Seminary. Afterwards all proceeded to the refectory for the festive luncheon.
In the evening, at six, the community gathered again in the chapel for a holy hour. After the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and a period of personal reflection, the rosary was prayed. It was followed by the singing of the Second Vespers of the Solemnity, again presided by the deacon Franklin Micallef. After vespers, the Eucharistic benediction was given, and then, the antiphon Beata Mater was sung for the third and final time.
