On Thursday, 4D ecember, the seminarians organised 2 important activities held annually during the time of Advent.
In the morning we visited the Institute Sir M.A. Refalo Sixth Form, where we had an outreach. The seminarians, together with diocesan priests and religious from the Qaddejja taċ-Ċenaklu and the Minor Franciscans, visited every classroom to provide a small reflection about the importance of good decisions in life, the joy we all search in life and shared our vocational stories. Afterwards at the foyer students had time to chat over a cup of coffee and some biscuits.
In the evening all altar servers in Gozo, of age 13 or older were invited to the Seminary. The meeting started at 7.00pm in the Seminary Hall and was attended by around 60 adolescents.
The theme for this meeting was ‘Peace on earth’. The message delivered was based on the peace we are called to live in with those closest to us. The meeting was concluded in the chapel where the altar servers had a half an hour of adoration with the seminarians, during which they prayed the Vespers together. After the prayers were concluded with the Eucharistic Benediction, all proceeded to the hall once again, to eat together and for a moment of fraternity.
On Sunday, 30 November, the First Sunday of Advent, seventh-year seminarians Anthony Joe Borg and Fabio Cini were instituted into the Ministry of Acolyte by the diocesan bishop, H.E. Mgr Anton Teuma.
The Mass with the rite of institution was celebrated at 11:00 a.m. at the Basilica of the Nativity of Our Lady in Xagħra. Anthony Joe is a native of the Xagħra parish, while Fabio comes from the Parish of the Assumption of Our Lady in Żebbuġ. After the proclamation of the Gospel, the Rector, Fr Joseph Bajada, formally presented the candidates to the Bishop. Following the homily, Bishop Teuma prayed over the seminarians and handed them the chalice and paten, encouraging them to deepen their relationship with God.
Several priests concelebrated with the Bishop, including Seminary formators and clergy from the parishes of the new acolytes. The Franciscan Sisters of the Seminary, along with the seminarians’ families, friends, and parishioners, were also present.
Through the Ministry of Acolyte, seminarians are called to grow in discipleship, love of the Lord, and service to others. The ministry entrusts them with assisting priests and deacons during liturgical celebrations, distributing the Holy Eucharist both in church and to the sick at home, and exposing the Blessed Sacrament for Adoration.
Last Saturday at noon, the Church marked the beginning of a new liturgical year with the start of Advent. The Seminary community celebrated this occasion with the Proclamation of Advent, held at the Seminary Chapel.
The celebration, which began at 11:00 a.m., was divided into two parts. The first part focused on the enthronement of the Word of God on the altar. Following an opening greeting by the celebrant, Rector Fr. Joseph Bajada, a reading from the Second Letter of Peter 3,18-50 and various parts from the Psalter were read. The passage from Matthew 13,47-50 was proclaimed. Fr. Joseph then delivered a reflection on this gospel, applied to our ongoing formation in the Seminary.
The second part featured the enthronement of a new icon inspired by this year’s theme, drawn from Luke 5,10. This icon, written created by the Centre for Liturgical Art – Eikon, was officially unveiled and blessed during the ceremony. An explanation followed by Fr. Roberto Gauci. The celebration concluded shortly after noon with the celebrant’s blessing upon the community.
Throughout Advent, the Seminary community will follow a modified schedule. Each morning before Mass, at 6:10 a.m., the community will gather in the chapel to pray the Office of Readings. During Mass, the celebrant will also offer a brief reflection following the Gospel reading.
This week, on Wednesday 26 November at 4.00pm, a moral case study regarding the Social Justice Ethics, was held at the Seminary Conference Room. The case was presented by Can George Frendo, lecturer at the Institute. The case study was attended by the seminarians, several of the formators, lecturers and other members of the Gozitan clergy.
The case was about a medical worker with a family, who needed urgent repair work on a house he inherited. A family friend recommended a worker who could start immediately but insisted on being paid in cash without receipts. Although John urgently needed the work done, he felt uneasy about the lack of proper documentation and wanted to act ethically. Unsure what to do, he sought advice from a priest about the moral and social justice implications of such an arrangement.
After the case was outlined, Can Frendo presented his research as a response, giving insights for a discussion that followed.
On Saturday, 10 November, the Seminary held its annual fundraising dinner in honour of Saint Martin, Bishop of Tours. The event, which started at 7:00 p.m., brought together around 170 guests, supported by a large team of volunteers who assisted with the preparations. Attendees enjoyed a five-course menu featuring Artisanal Saint Martin’s focaccia, a hearty autumn vegetable soup, spinach and ricotta cannelloni, roasted pork loin with seasonal potatoes and root vegetables, and a deconstructed fig-and-walnut amaretto tiramisu. Coffee were also served.
Throughout the evening, members of the association Aħwa-Ħbieb tas-Seminarju organised a raffle offering various prizes, including vouchers and items donated by supporters. Following the dinner, Rector Fr. Joseph Bajada invited guests to tour the Seminary and visit the seminarians’ living quarters.
The Seminary expresses heartfelt thanks to all who attended and to the volunteers who made the event possible. Special appreciation is extended to the Franciscan Sisters for their dedicated work in preparing for the occasion.
The Diocese of Gozo celebrated the 159th anniversary of the inauguration of the Sacred Heart Seminary, originally opened on 4 November 1866. Since this year the date fell during the Minor Seminary’s mid-term break, the commemoration was held on Friday, 31 October 2025. Bishop Anton Teuma presided over a special Mass, celebrated in the main ground of the Minor Seminary, attended by all students and staff of the Minor Seminary, together with the seminarians and formators of the Major Seminary.
Before the celebration, Seminarians Mart Attard and Jamie Buttigieg delivered a presentation outlining the mission of the Major Seminary. They spoke about the essential role it plays in forming future priests for the Diocese and offered insight into the daily rhythm of seminary life, including spiritual, academic, and pastoral formation.
The annual commemoration highlighted the Seminary’s long-standing contribution to the Church in Gozo and its ongoing commitment to nurturing vocations with dedication and hope for the future.
The Seminary community marked Mission Week with a series of prayerful and formative activities aimed at deepening our missionary spirit and solidarity with the universal Church.
The week began on Monday with a viewing of Of Gods and Men, a powerful film recounting the witness of a community of Trappist monks in Algeria who lived and died in fidelity to their faith and their mission. On Tuesday, the community gathered for a time of Eucharistic Adoration centred on the theme of mission, praying for all those who preach and be witnesses of the Gospel throughout the world.
On Wednesday, a special session was held for the Form 3 students of the Minor Seminary, reflecting on the Holy Father’s message to be missionaries of hope in today’s world. A bookmark with a missionary prayer was distributed as a reminder of this call.
Thursday featured a virtual talk by Fr Damien Veniyil OFM Conv, who shared about the history of the Catholic Church in India, the challenges faced by Christians there, and his pastoral work among the Indian community in Malta.
Throughout the week, daily prayers were offered for countries where Christians face persecution, uniting the Seminary community in intercession and solidarity with our suffering brothers and sisters in faith.
Mission Week was a time of reflection, prayer, and renewal—a reminder that every Christian is called to bear witness to the hope of Christ in the world.
On Monday, 29th September 2025, the Sacred Heart Major Seminary officially began a new year of formation. The day opened with the seminarians attending their first lectures, marking the start of another year dedicated to prayer, study, and growth in vocation. In the afternoon, the Prefect of Studies held an introductory meeting with the seminarians, followed by a session with the academic staff to outline the year’s programme and objectives.
In the evening, the community gathered for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist, presided over by Fr Giovanni Curmi, the Vicar General. The Mass brought together seminarians, their families, the formation team, several lecturers, the Franciscan Sisters, as well as the seminary’s employees and volunteers.
At the conclusion of the celebration, the Veni Creator Spiritus was sung, invoking the Holy Spirit’s guidance for the year ahead. The evening continued with a reception, shared in a spirit of joy and fraternity.
On 22nd September 2025, the Sacred Heart Major Seminary community gathered to thank Fr Tony Calleja SJ for his dedicated service as Spiritual Director over the past five years (2020–2025). A thanksgiving Mass was celebrated in the seminary chapel with the formation team and seminarians in attendance.
During his time at the seminary, Fr Tony faithfully accompanied many seminarians through their journey of discernment, offering guidance inspired by Ignatian spirituality. His wisdom, gentle presence, and deep attentiveness to God’s voice left a lasting impact on the community.
After the Mass, the community came together for a fraternal lunch, expressing heartfelt gratitude for Fr Tony’s ministry and friendship. The seminary also welcomed Fr Joseph Farrugia as the new Spiritual Director, as the community continues its journey of faith and formation with renewed hope and gratitude.
As is tradition at the start of every new formation year, the seminarians began their journey with a spiritual silent retreat. This year’s retreat took place at Lourdes Home in Għajnsielem from the 23rd to the 27th of September, 2025. The meditations were led by Fr Joseph Curmi, who guided the participants in moments of prayer, silence, and reflection.
Fr Joseph’s reflections were inspired by the biblical passage of Luke 5:1–11, which recounts the call of the first disciples. Through this passage, he invited the seminarians to trust in God’s guidance and to “put out into the deep,” renewing their openness to the Lord’s call in their lives.
The retreat offered a precious opportunity for the seminary community to pause, listen, and draw closer to God. It served as a moment of grace, setting a spiritual foundation for the year ahead through prayer, meditation, and contemplation.
The Seminary community from Malta has returned from a profoundly spiritual and enriching experience in Rome, where they took part in the Jubilee of Hope for Seminarians, Priests, and Bishops, celebrated between Monday 23rd and Friday 27th June as part of the Church’s wider Jubilee Year.
The pilgrimage began on Monday, as the seminarians departed Malta to join thousands of others from around the world. That evening, they participated in the official opening ceremony at the Basilica of San Paolo fuori le Mura, which included a moment of prayer and a moving concert by the Choir of the Diocese of Rome, under the direction of Monsignor Marco Frisina.
On Tuesday morning, the seminarians joined an international community of their peers in a pilgrimage along Via della Conciliazione, leading to St Peter’s Basilica. There, they attended a catechesis delivered by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, who encouraged them to be joyful witnesses of hope and faithful stewards of Christ’s mission. In the evening, they celebrated Holy Mass with other English-speaking seminarians at the Church of Santa Maria in Traspontina, strengthening bonds of fraternity and shared vocation. On Thursday evening, the seminarians returned to St Peter’s Basilica for a reflective vocational vigil.
The culmination of the Jubilee came on Friday morning with a Solemn Mass presided over by Pope Leo XIV at St Peter’s Basilica. During this liturgy, the Holy Father ordained 32 new priests from around the world, offering a powerful testimony to the ongoing vitality of vocations in the Church.
Beyond the official Jubilee events, the Maltese seminarians were blessed with several other spiritually and intellectually enriching experiences. They visited the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, where they prayed at the tomb of Pope Francis, giving thanks for his leadership and legacy. The community also enjoyed a moment of fellowship with Gozitan priests currently serving in Rome, and visited the General Secretariat of the Synod, where they were welcomed by Cardinal Mario Grech for a moment of sharing and reflection on the life of the Church.
The seminarians also made pilgrimages to the rooms of St Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus, and the rooms of St Philip Neri, the joyful Apostle of Rome. These visits provided personal and inspiring encounters with the lives of two great saints who model holiness, mission, and pastoral charity.
In addition, the seminarians visited the Pontifical University of St Thomas Aquinas – Angelicum, one of the Church’s leading centres of theological and philosophical study. There, they explored the university’s Dominican heritage and its ongoing contribution to the formation of future priests and leaders in the Church.
The Seminary community returns to Malta spiritually renewed, intellectually enriched, and deeply grateful for the opportunity to experience the universality, unity, and joy of the Church in the heart of Rome.
On Friday, 20th June, a significant milestone in the journey toward priesthood was reached by Seminarians Samuel Aquilina and Marlon Victor Bajada, who were solemnly ordained to the diaconate by H. E. Mgr Anton Teuma, Bishop of Gozo. The ordination took place at the Gozo Cathedral.
Samuel Aquilina hails from the parish of St George Martyr in Victoria, while Marlon Victor Bajada is a native of the parish of Our Lady of Perpetual Help and St Gregory the Great in Kerċem. Surrounded by a spirit of joy and reverence, the ordination liturgy drew together a large and diverse congregation. Among those present were numerous priests, members of the seminary community, representatives and faithful from both seminarians’ home parishes, as well as their families, friends, and other members of the wider Christian community.
The celebration of the Rite of Ordination marked a pivotal moment in the lives of these two men, as they publicly committed themselves to a life of service to the Church. Through the laying on of hands and the prayer of consecration, they were entrusted with the responsibilities of the diaconate, including proclaiming the Gospel, assisting at the altar, and ministering to the needs of the faithful.
