On Monday 28 September, a new year of formation began at the Major Seminary, together with a new academic year at the recently established Sacred Heart Theological Institute.
On this occasion, His Excellency Bishop Anton Teuma presided over a concelebrated Mass, during which special prayers were offered to the Holy Spirit for the year ahead. The seminarians’ families, the Friends of the Seminary, lecturers, and students of the Theological Institute were invited to attend the celebration.
In his homily, Bishop Anton emphasised the importance of love and service, a call addressed not only to all Christians, “but especially to those who accept the Lord’s call to follow him.” This was reflected in the First Reading, which recounted the story of Job and his steadfast faithfulness to God.
At the end of the Mass, the Bishop expressed his gratitude to the Formation Team of the Seminary, which meets every week to discern and accompany the formation of the seminarians. He offered particular thanks to Fr Gabriel Gauci, who has concluded his ministry as Vice-Rector, and welcomed Fr Michael Grima as he begins this ministry.
The Bishop also expressed his gratitude to all the Seminary’s material and spiritual benefactors, particularly the community of Franciscan Sisters serving within the Seminary, the volunteers, and the Friends of the Seminary. He addressed words of encouragement to the seminarians’ families, thanking them for offering their sons in the service of the Church.
Finally, he entrusted the five seminarians who will form part of the Seminary community this year to the protection and intercession of Our Mother Mary and the saints. He encouraged them to remain steadfast on the path to which the Lord is calling them—a journey that requires many sacrifices, but which is also a truly beautiful one.
