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During the last week, the Liturgical and Missionary Group organised various activities in view of the World Mission Day celebrated on Sunday 23rd October 2022. The theme of this week was “witness of the Word” which was inspired by the from the diocesan pastoral plan. 

This Mission Week started on Monday 17th October 2022. On this day, the community prayed for Bishop Giovanni Cefai Mssp, a Gozitan missionary in Peru.

On Tuesday 18th October, the community prayed for Fr Anton Grech, a Gozitan missionary in Guatemala and seminarian Fabio Cini who is doing his intermediate year with Fr Anton. The seminarians went to the Minor Seminary during the assembly to speak with the Form 3 students how the effect the word of God makes a diffence in the life of a missionary. In the evening, Deacon Matthew Bajada led an Eucharistic adoration with a missionary theme. 

On Wednesday 19th October, the Seminary community prayed for Fr Fr Raymond Portelli, a Gozitan missionary in Peru. 

On Thursday 20th October, the Seminary community welcomed Fr Emanuel Cutajar to celebrate mass. Fr Emanuel was a missionary in Albania. During the homily, Fr Emanuel shared with the seminarians some of his experience in Albania. Afterwards the seminarians went to the Minor Seminary during the assembly to speak with the Forms 4 and 5 students how the effect the word of God makes a diffence in the life of a missionary. In the evening the community saw the film “of Gods and Man”.

On Friday 22nd October, the Seminary community prayed for Bishop Joe Bonello, a Gozitan missionary in Honduras. Afterwards the seminarians went to the Minor Seminary during the assembly to speak with the Forms 2 and 2 students how the effect the word of God makes a diffence in the life of a missionary. In the evening, the community had the opportunity to make a vide call with Bishop Joe Bonello in this call, Bishop Bonello shared his experience in Honduras, starting from how he ended in Honduras, together with the everyday experience. Each member of the community had the opportunity to ask him questions.

On Saturday 22rd October, the Seminary community prayed for Fr Victor Zammit, a Gozitan missionary in Peru.

Yesterday, 10th October 2021, Jamie Buttigieg, from the parish of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, in Nadur, and Jeremy Scicluna, from the parish of of the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady in Victoria, started their Propaedeutic Year experience in our Seminary. We welcome them among us with joy and pray for them in the beginning of their journey.

The summer holidays are over and the Seminary opened its doors again to welcome the Seminary community for a new year of formation. Although summer is a time of relaxation, the community made sure to meet once in the middle of summer for a half-day retreat. This was led by the Spiritual Director  Fr Toni Calleja S.J., and was held at Manresa Retreat House in Victoria.

On Monday 19th September, Rector Can Richard N. Farrugia led the celebration of the Liturgy of Hours with the participation of the seminarians. After the Liturgy of Hours the seminarians shared their personal summer experience. Afterwards the community started a silent retreat together with the community of Maltese seminarians which lasted till Saturday 24th September. The Bishop of Gozo, Msgr. Anthony Teuma led the retreat.

On Tuesday 27th September life at the Seminary came in tune with its day-to-day routine. The official academic year 2022-2023 started on Friday 7th October with a meeting for the academic staff and the celebration of the Mass. This was led by the Bishop of Gozo Msgr Anton Teuma. Formators, lecturers, sisters, relatives of the seminarians, and Aħwa Ħbieb tas-Seminarju participated in this celebration which was held in the Seminary chapel. At the end of the mass the Veni Creator was prayed as an invocation to the Holy Spirit in the beginning of this new formative year. Afterwards guests were welcomed for refreshments at the newly refurbished Seminary Refectory. 

On Friday, 17th June, Seminarian Matthew Bajada, who hails from the parish of Għarb, was ordained deacon by Mgr. Bishop George Frendo OP at the Gozo Cathedral. The ordination was well attended by several priests, members of the Seminary community, members of the Għarb parochial community, Matthew’s family and friends, and other laypeople.

The day before, Thursday 16th June, a prayer vigil was organised by the Seminary community at the Għarb parish church as a spiritual preparation. The meditations during the vigil were made by the Rector Can. Richard Farrugia and were taken from the Biblical passage of Luke 1:39-56. During the last part of the vigil, the Blessed Sacrament was exposed, and the ordinand Matthew made a public prayer in front of our Lord. This was followed by the Eucharistic Benediction. Finally, the vigil was concluded with a short message from the Għarb parish priest, Mgr Trevor Sultana.

On Monday 13th of June, the Seminary Community welcomed Sr Shanti Perbo FCJ. Sr Shanti will start forming part of the Franciscan sisters’ community at the Seminary.

Sr Shanti hails from Pakistan and joined the Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus in 2005. She did her simple profession in 2009, and on the 3rd December of the same year, she arrived in Malta and formed part in the Francisan’s Adoration House. In 2015 she did her perpetual profession, and in 2018 she started to form part of the community in the Casa Madre, Gozo.

On Thursday the 15th of June, another formational year came to an end. The day before, the Seminarians did their last exam. Then, on Wednesday evening, the Seminary community did a conclusive evaluative session. This session was followed by the celebration of mass preceded by the Rector Can. Richard N. Farrugia in the presence of the formators, the sisters, the seminarians and their families.

On Thursday morning, the seminarians gathered at Manresa Retreat House in Victoria together with their Spiritual Director, fr Tony Calleja SJ, for the annual revision de vie; an exercise during which they reflected upon their spiritual and personal growth during the past year.

On Saturday 11th of June, seminarian Matthew Bajada, who hails from the parish of Għarb, made a solemn profession of faith and took the vows of celibacy and obedience, at Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary. This was done prior to his Diaconate Ordination. The ceremony started with the prayer of the rosary in the old chapel of Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary and was attended by the Rector Can. Richard Farrugia, the Vice-Rector Fr. Samuel Grech, the Seminarians and the Franciscan sisters of the Seminary community.

On Monday 23rd May, the Seminary Community bid farewell to Sr Mary Borg FCJ after her service to the house of priestly formation came to an end. From September 2019, Sr Mary had been part of the community of Franciscan Sisters of the Heart of Jesus residing within the Seminary. Throughout the past three years, she served her life of prayer and work with a sense of disponibility.

As a thanksgiving to God, a mass was celebrated at the Seminary chapel in the presence of the Seminary formators, the Provincial Mother Sr Claudia Zammit, the Seminary community and several workers and volunteers of the Seminary. The mass was followed by dinner, where recognition gifts were given to Sr Mary.

On Friday, 20th May, Deacon Gabriel Vella, who hails from the parish of Qala, was ordained priest by the Bishop of Gozo, Mgr. Bishop Anton Teuma, at the Gozo Cathedral. The ordination was well attended by several priests, members of the Seminary community, members of the Qala parochial community, Gabriel’s family and friends, and other laypeople.

The day before, Thursday 19th May, a prayer vigil was organised at the Seminary as a spiritual preparation. The meditations during the vigil were made by the Rector Can. Richard Farrugia and were taken from the Biblical passage of Judges 6:11-24. Fr. Gabriel chose this Biblical passage as one of the readings in his priestly ordination and his diaconal ordination that happened a year ago. During the last part of the vigil, the Blessed Sacrament was exposed, and the ordinand Gabriel made a public prayer in front of our Lord. This was followed by the Eucharistic Benediction. Finally, the vigil was concluded with a short message from Mgr Anton Teuma.

On Sunday, 15th May, the Seminarians organised the annual ‘Festa Abbatini’ after a two-year absence due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Altar boys from all over Gozo, together with their families, attended the activity held on the parvis of the Madonna ta’ Pinu Sanctuary.

The event started around 5.15 pm with two simultaneous meetings, one for the altar boys and other children who were present addressed by the Seminarians, and the other for their parents addressed by both the rector and the vice-rector of the Seminary.

The meeting for the young ones was inspired by Pope Francis’ words in his address to the Gozitan faithful during his visit to the island. The phrase chosen was: “You are a treasure in the Church and for the Church. I repeat: You are a treasure in the Church and for the Church.” At the end of the meeting, the altar boys were then invited into the Sanctuary to pray to Our Lady.

The activity proceeded on the parvis of the Sanctuary, where the altar boys participated in various fun activities. The activity ended at around 7.30 pm.  

On Saturday 14th May, the community left the Seminary early in the morning for its annual pilgrimage to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu at Għarb. On their way to the Sanctuary, the community recited the prayer of the Rosary, the prayer advocated by the Virgin Mother. When they arrived at the Sanctuary, the community retreated to the inner chapel, where Mass was celebrated by the vice-rector, Fr Samuel Grech. After reading the Gospel, Deacon Gabriel Vella renewed the vows he took a year before when he was about to be ordained Deacon.

The Priestly Ordination of Deacon Gabriel is to be celebrated in the Gozo Cathedral on Friday 17th May.