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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 23^rd October 2021. The theme of this week was inspired by the phrase “You go, and do likewise” (Lk 10:37) from the Parable of the Good Samaritan. The Group wished to convey the message that in our times, we can encounter situations similar to that in the parable, and we are invited to act on the example of the good Samaritan.

This Mission Week started on Monday 18^th October 2021. On this day, the community prayed for bishop George Bugeja OFM, a Gozitan missionary in Tripoli.

On Tuesday 19^th October, the community prayed for Fr Mario Curmi, a Gozitan missionary in Guatemala. In the evening, the community had the opportunity to make a video call with Fr Mario. During this video call, Fr Mario shared his missionary experience of these last three years. He also talked about the difficulties encountered, especially during these times of the COVID-19 pandemic. Fr Mario emphasised the beauty of giving tour life to evangelising the Gospel and spreading God’s love to the poor. Each member of the community had the opportunity to ask him questions.

On Wednesday 20^th October, the Seminary community prayed for Fr Anton Grech, a Gozitan missionary in Guatemala. After dinner, the seminarians watched the film “The Letters”. This film is about Saint Teresa of Calcutta, an Albanian nun who dedicated her life to serving the poorest of the poor in India.

On Thursday 21^th October, the Seminary community welcomed Fr Carmel Portelli to celebrate mass. Fr Carmel works in the Gozo Diocese’s Missionary Office. During the homily, Fr Carmel described the work done by the Missionary Office. During that day, the Seminary community prayed for Fr Raymond Portelli, a Gozitan missionary in Peru, who happens to be Fr Carmel’s brother.

On Friday 22^nd October, the Seminary community prayed for Fr Victor Zammit MSSP, a Gozitan missionary in Peru. In the evening, a Eucharistic adoration with a missionary theme was held, for which the altar boys of Nadur, Qala and Għajnsielem parishes were invited.

On Saturday 23^rd October, the Seminary community prayed for bishop Giovanni Cefai MSSP, a Gozitan missionary in Peru.

Apart from the activities mentioned above, a brief video prepared by the Liturgical and Missionary Group was sent to all the Gozitan secondary schools to deliver a message for this week. The activities for Mission Week came to an end during the weekend, where the seminarians continued to spread the message among the groups in the parishes where they are assigned for their pastoral work. Although this Mission Week was quite different due to the COVID-19 restrictions, its message was still delivered effectively.

Yesterday, 11^th October 2021, John Xerri, who hails from the Corpus Christi parish church of Għasri, started his Propaedeutic Year experience in our Seminary. We welcome him among us with joy and pray for him in the beginning of his 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 a month for a half-day retreat. These were led by the Rector Can Richard N. Farrugia and the Vice-Rector Rev. Samuel Grech, and were held at Manresa Retreat House in Victoria.

On Tuesday 21st September, Rector Can Richard N. Farrugia led the celebration of the Holy Mass with the participation of the seminarians. After Mass the seminarians shared their personal summer experience. On Wednesday 22nd September the community started a silent retreat which lasted till Sunday 26th September. Rev. Dr Martin Micallef OFM Cap led the retreat.

On Tuesday 28th October life at the Seminary came in tune with its day-to-day routine. The official academic year 2021-2021 started on Tuesday 5th 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, and relatives of the seminarians 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.

Each year the Seminary community goes on a silent spiritual retreat as a preparation for the coming year of formation. This year’s retreat was held at “Lunzjata” Retreat House in Rabat (Malta) between the 22nd and 26th of September. The preacher was Rev. Dr Martin Micallef OFM Cap. The seminarians were accompanied by the Rector Can Richard N. Farrugia and the Vice-Rector Rev. Samuel Grech.

Throughout the retreat Fr Martin shared with us several reflections from various Biblical texts. Fr Martin also empasized about the importance of living our discipleship united with God and others through love, listening, service and enthusiasm.

This retreat was a moment of grace as it helped our community to commence a new year united with God and each other in prayer.

Last Thursday, 26^th of August, a thanksgiving mass was celebrated at the Seminary chapel on the 50^th anniversary of Sr Giuseppina Farrugia’s religious profession. Sr Giuseppina, currently the Mother Superior of the community of Franciscan Sisters at the Seminary, has been giving her service in the Seminary for the past 34 years.

The mass was celebrated by H.L. Mgr Anton Teuma, Bishop of Gozo, with the participation of the Seminary formators and other priests who in the past worked at the Seminary. Present as well were the seminarians, Sr Giuseppina’s family, and the employees and volunteers of the Seminary.

We would like to wholeheartedly thank Sr Giuseppina for her presence in our Seminary and for the love and dedication with which she does the work entrusted to her.

Last week, the seminarians completed the course about the safeguarding of minors. Held in the Major Seminary classrooms between the 28^th of June and the 3^rd of July, this intensive series of lectures was addressed by the psychologist Rev. Joseph Farrugia. The lectures were conducted daily between 8.00am and 12.00pm.

Knowledge about this topic is of fundamental importance to every person, particularly to the seminarians who are undergoing their formation to priesthood. This is because whilst exercising ministry during their pastoral experiences, the seminarians encounter many minors. The course enabled the participants to know the right course of action when it comes to interacting with minors and to decipher warning signs of the abuse of minors. Most importantly, this course creates a safeguarding mentality amongst the people which pursue it.

On Friday 18^th June 2021, seminarian Gabriel Vella, from the parish of the Immaculate Conception and St Joseph in Qala, was ordained deacon by H.L. Mgr Anton Teuma, Bishop of Gozo. The ordination was held at 6.30pm at the Gozo Cathedral.

Seminarian Gabriel was invested with the stole and dalmatic by Rev. Charles Buttigieg, parish vicar of Qala Parish. The liturgy was animated by the Laudate Pueri choir under the direction of Can George J. Frendo.

Several priests attended the celebration. Present were also Gabriel’s friends and family, the families of the seminarians, and many parishioners of Qala Parish.

Photos: Diocese of Gozo / Anthony Grech

Last Thursday, 17^th June 2021, a prayer vigil in preparation for the diaconal ordination of seminarian Gabriel Vella was held at the Immaculate Conception and St Joseph Parish Church in Qala. Although this prayer vigil is usually held at the Seminary, this year, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, the venue had to be changed. To enable more people to follow the celebration, the vigil was also transmitted live on the social media of the Diocese.

The prayers, led by the Rector of the Seminary Can Richard-Nazzareno Farrugia, commenced at 8.00pm. The youth group of Qala Parish animated the celebration with music and singing. The vigil was divided into two main parts. The first part focused on the Word. It included hymns of praise to God and the saints, the proclamation of the Gospel, readings from the magisterium of Pope Francis, and a reflection by the Rector. The second part was a eucharistic celebration. After the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament, seminarian Gabriel, kneeling before the Lord present in the Eucharist, made a prayer about his vocation. The evening of prayer concluded with the Eucharistic Benediction. In continuation with the vigil silent adoration was held at the Seminary during the night, between 10.00pm and 7.00am of the following morning. The diaconal ordination of seminarian Gabriel Vella took place in the evening of the 18^th of June at the Cathedral of the Assumption of Our Lady in Victoria.

This week, another year of formation at the Seminary was concluded. On Monday 17^th and Tuesday 18^th of June, after finishing the exams, the community gathered for the last meetings before beginning the summer holidays.

On Monday evening, the seminarians together with the spiritual director Fr Tony Calleja SJ, gathered at Manresa Retreat House in Victoria for the revision de vie; an exercise during which they reflected upon the experiences and fruits of formation of the whole year. On Tuesday, the community had several concluding meetings and in the evening an exercise of evaluation about the whole year. At 6.00pm, H.L. Mgr Anton Teuma, Bishop of Gozo, led a half an hour meeting for the parents of the seminarians. Afterwards he presided the holy sacrifice of mass, with the participation of the formators, sisters, and the seminarians and their families.

Last Thursday, 13^th of May, at 11.30am, the newly ordained priest Fr Etienne Gilson of the Franciscan Conventuals celebrated a thanksgiving mass at the Seminary chapel. The memorial of Our Lady of Fatima was observed. Among the seven concelebrants, four were members of the Seminary formation team while the other three were the members of the Franciscan Conventual community of Victoria. The Rector, Can Richard Farrugia, delivered the homily. Fr Etienne hails from the town of Birkirkara in Malta. Some years ago, he was asked by the provincial father of his order to form part of the Franciscan Conventual community in Victoria Gozo. After having spent several years as a brother in the order, through a process of discernment, Fr Etienne discovered his call to priesthood. Since at the time he made this decision he was residing in Gozo, he began the necessary academic studies for the presbyteral ordination at the Diocesan Seminary. Thus, was established Fr Etienne’s connection with the Gozo Seminary.

Earlier today the community of our Seminary animated a Eucharistic Adoration with special prayers for vocations at the Cathedral of Gozo. Among the people present were also the parish adolescents that this year will be receiving the sacrament of Confirmation.

Friday 30^th April 2021 was a special day for our community. On this day deacons Rev. Andrew Grima and Bro. Etienne Gilson OFM Conv. were ordained priests by the hands of H.L. Mgr Anthony Teuma, Bishop of Gozo. We started this day at 7.00am by praying the Divine Office and Lauds in our chapel. Afterwards we received the Eucharistic Blessing which brought to an end the night of Eucharistic Adoration. The presbyteral ordination took place in the parish church of St John the Baptist in Xewkija at 6.00pm. Rev. Andrew Grima hails from the Parish of St Lawrence Martyr in San Lawrenz, while Bro. Etienne Gilson, who is originally from Birkirkara, hails from the Franciscan Conventual Community of Victoria Gozo. Due to the present situation of the Covid-19 pandemic this celebration was not held as usual in the Cathedral of Gozo, but in this parish church since the latter is more spacious. This was the first presbyteral ordination led by H.L. Mgr Anthony Teuma. This celebration was streamed via radio, television, and internet. In his homily, the Bishop presented to the new priests, Jesus who is the Way, the Truth and the Life; a model which gives hope to the present generation. Also, the Bishop encouraged the two new priests to listen to what St Peter states in his First Letter, that is, to graze the flock with love and service, and not rule over it. Among the concelebrants was a numerous presence from the Franciscan Conventual Order to which Fr Etienne belongs. Although Fr Etienne is from Birkirkara, he has been part of the Conventual community in Victoria since 2015. It was on that year that he started his Theological studies at our Seminary. This celebration was also attended by a number of diocesan priests of Malta and Gozo, members of the Seminary community, as well as relatives and friends of Fr Etienne and Fr Andrew.

Photos: Diocese of Gozo / Shaun Sultana