“Ara se nġedded kollox” (Apok. 21:5)

Dan il-vers mill-Ktieb tal-Apokalissi, attribwit lil San Ġwann l-Evanġelista, kien il-fulkru tal-irtir li permezz tiegħu nfetħet is-sena seminaristika 2021-2022. L-irtir ġie mmexxi mill-Prof. Edward Warrington, direttur spiritwali maċ-Ċentru tal-Ispiritwalità Injazjana u professur fl-Università ta’ Malta fil-Fakultà tal-Ekonomija, Immaniġġjar u Kontabilità.

F’10 sessjonijiet, Warrington stedinna biex nagħmlu dan il-vjaġġ ma’ San Ġwann, pass pass permezz tal-kapitli li nsibu f’dan il-Ktieb. Irtir, li permezz ta’ diversi temi, sejjaħ lill-komunità biex tidħol f’kontemplazzjoni,…

Forming Priests in a Post-Trump Era – Part 2

(You can read Part 1 of this article here)

Beyond the establishment and anti-establishment

Analysis of recent political trends reveals that there is a dissatisfaction with the “establishment” that is entrenched in its self-serving policies and not listening to the aspirations of the people. In this context, to portray oneself as “anti-establisment” can also become trendy. Yet, does this condone and justify a divisive, demeaning language that demonizes “the other”?

Beyond that, and more pertinent to our argument, is a priest…

Forming priests for the post-Trump era – Part 1

According to the Washington Post, Clinton and Trump raised slightly more than 2 billion dollars for their campaign for Presidency. The Seminary in Malta – crowdfunded from parishes – gets an average of €120,000 for the entire year. So it might sound stupid to explore how to prepare young people as priests for the post-Trump era. The impression one gets is that it is more catering for a niche market for the few people who still have Sunday mass…

In good company

I have been a part of the seminary community for six years now, and sometimes I just wonder what’s the point of such a life when in my role as a diocesan priest I would probably be living on my own.  Do I get anything out of this? Sometimes we work hard to try to create an environment where people are able to live together, where they are able to hold good relationships, but really, is it worth anything?…

“I Thirst”

During this year dedicated to Mercy, Pope Francis canonized Mother Theresa, an inspirational person to all mankind. In every chapel that belongs to the Missionaries of Charity one finds a cross and the words “I Thirst” alongside. These remind us of the thirst that Christ has for each and every one of us.

During my time at university I have noted a thirst that many students have in their heart. Unfortunately many of them satiate this thirst with many worldly…

Mass of Thanksgiving

Yesterday evening, H.E. Mgr Charles J. Scicluna, Archbishop of Malta, celebrated Holy Mass at the Seminary with the participation of several priests and lay people with whom seminarians worked during the summer months.

During the summer recess, seminarians are sent to a parish or an institution, or carry out voluntary work abroad. These experiences serve as a more practical and hands-on compliment to the ongoing formation given during the academic year at the Seminary.

During Mass, Archbishop Scicluna thanked all those…

Here’s to new beginnings!

Have you ever read the book; “The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe” – by C.S. Lewis? This book was one of my childhood favourites, and I recently re -lived a particular scene from this timeless classic. C.S. Lewis sets the scene in 1940, where four siblings (Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie) are among many children evacuated from London during World War II to escape the bombings. They were sent to the countryside to live with professor Digory…

Three Seminarians to be instituted in the Acolyte Ministry

Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna will be instituting three seminarians in the Acolyte Ministry during a celebration at the parish church of Saint Philip of Agira, Ħaż-Żebbuġ, on Friday 13th November 2015. Mass starts at 6:30 p.m.

The three seminarians are Sinclair Bugeja from the Parish of the Holy Family, Iklin, Ryan Lee Pace from the Parish of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Gżira, and Mark Spiteri from the Parish of Saint Philip of Agira, Ħaż-Żebbuġ.

The institution as acolytes…

Seven to be Ordained Deacons

On Friday 30th October 2015, six seminarians and a Conventual Franciscan friar are going to be ordained deacons by Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna, during a celebration of Mass starting at 6:30pm, at St Sebastian’s Parish Church, Ħal Qormi.

The following will be ordained deacons: Allister Marija Aquilina OFM Conv.; Sergio Fenech and Mark Mallia Pawley from St Sebastian’s Parish Church, Ħal Qormi; Claude Mifsud, from the Parish of the Assumption of Our Lady, Mosta; James Saydon, from the Parish of…

“You do not know what you are asking!”

 

“You do not know what you are asking” (Mk 10,38). It is with these words that Mgr. Charles Scicluna started his homily last Sunday in a Mass he celebrated with our community, family members and some thirty Minor Seminary students and their parents, during which six seminarians that will be ordained deacons on 30 October made their promise of celibacy. To bring out the profound meaning of celibacy the Archbishop borrows the words from the Sunday Gospel that spoke…