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Hajja Salesjana SETTEMBRU - OTTUBRU 2012il-226 Óar©a
It-Tnax -il Appostlu
Is-Sena tal-FidiA Martyr’s Letter
Extraordinary Salesian Parishioner
The Logo of the Salesians of Don Bosco is made up of two superimposed images: in the background a stylised “S” (Salesians) in white marked to the right and left by two cuttings between the hills (a road). The second image is in the centre of the globe: an arrow pointing upwards resting on three perpendicular legs on top of which are three closed circles making a stylised image of three people: the first of these in the midde and taller (the Salesian) appears as if embracing the side figures (the young). The three stylised figures can also be viewed as an arrow pointing upwards (education / formation) or simply as a dwelling (Salesian house) with three pillars holding it up (reason, religion, loving kindness).
The coat of arms of the Salesian Congregation shows the shining star, the large anchor, the heart on fire symbolizing faith, hope and charity; the figure of St. Francis de Sales recalling the Patron of the Society; the small wood in the lower part reminds us of the Founder (Bosco) the high mountains signify the heights of perfection towards which members strive; the interwoven palm and laurel that enfold the shield either side are emblematic of the prize reserved for a sacrificial and virtuous life. The motto Da mihi animas, caetera tolle (give me souls, take the rest) expresses every Salesian’s ideal.
Óajja Salesjana St. Patrick’s School, Triq San Ìwann Bosco, Sliema SLM 1925 – MALTA Tel. (+356) 2133 0238 / (+00356) 9986 1586 e-mail: [email protected]
Il-Bulettin Salesjan, imsejja˙ b’diversi ismijiet, ji©i stampat f’56 edizzjoni u f’ 29 ilsien madwar id-dinja u huwa mxerred fi 131 nazzjon
Responsible: Fr. Paul Formosa SDBDirector/ Editor: Fr. Joseph Cini SDBEditorial Board : Margaret Buhagiar, Andre Camilleri, Josie Grech.Office: Eileen Alden, Joyce Scicluna.Design & Printing: Salesian Press, Sliema.
Tista taqra ˙ajja Salesjana fuq il-kompjuter: http://www.salesiansmalta.org
Fuqiex se naqraw
Front Cover: It-tfal u Ω-Ωg˙aΩag˙ huma r-ra©uni li g˙aliha jeΩistu s-Salesjani
Is-Sena tal-Fidi 7L.T.N. 40th Anniversary 9Cheyenne the Dog and Dad 12Brief Life of St. John Bosco 14A Martyr’s Letter to His Girlfriend 16It-Tnax -Il Appostlu 20Malta Salesjana 24Fuq ir-Ramel tal-G˙adira 26Extraordinary Salesian Parishioner 29Olympic Champions 32
Editorjal / Pedago©ija / Calendar of events / Something to think about / Don Bosco Around the World
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EDITORJAL
Hajjet Dun Bosco kienet, g˙al dawk ta’ madwaru, lezzjoni dejjiema ta’ kif tg˙ix.
Fi kliem Papa Gwanni Pawlu II: ‘Dun Bosco huwa sinjal qawwi fl-Istorja tal-Knisja; ̇ alla warajh esperjenza ta’ ˙ajja u metodu ta’ edukazzjoni li saru parti mill-wirt tag˙na. Fil-kliem tal-Venerabbli predeçessur tag˙na Pawlu VI, huwa kien “©enju mag˙ruf ta’ pedago©ija moderna u ta’ katekeΩi, imma fuq kollox, ©enju tal-qdusija”
Dun Bosco offra stil uniku ta’ ‘mixja spiritwali flimkien’ li wasslet liΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ tieg˙u g˙all-qdusija. Huwa kien jemmen li dak li jg˙odd ma kienx li “tag˙mel xi ˙a©a” g˙aΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙, imma li “tkun xi ˙add” g˙alihom. Mela mhux “dak li nag˙mel” daqs kemm “dak li jien” li jiswa g˙alihom. Dun Bosco kien jag˙ti bidu u possibilta` lill-proçess fejn jikber dak li hu spiritwali, waqt li jirnexxilu jkun “dak” li joffri direzzjoni lil kull tifel. Duminku Savio, Mikiel Magone u Francesco Besucco huma frott ta’ din l’esperjenza ma’ Dun Bosco u l-mod kif kien jakkumpanjhom spiritwalment. Dan jurina li mhux biΩΩejjed li wie˙ed jorganizza attivitajiet g˙at-tfal u Ω-Ωg˙aΩag˙ u li sempliçement ikun preΩenti fil-log˙ob jew fil-klassi.
Jiena, li lili ©iet fdata l-Animazzjoni tal-Vokazzjonijiet Salesjani f’Malta g˙al dawn l-a˙˙ar 5 snin, skoprejt li mhux biΩΩejjed g˙alija li norganizza. B˙ala Salesjan irrid nag˙mel pass ie˙or. Jien msejja˙ sabiex inkun sie˙eb matur u prezzjuΩ, li lest nisma’, nisfida u ninkora©©ixxi Ω-Ωag˙Ωug˙ biex jiltaqa’ verament ma’ Ìesu`. IΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ kollha huma msej˙a u jistg˙u jaslu g˙all-qdusija…
Sikwit nisimg˙u li naqsu l-vokazzjonijiet. Dan forsi g˙aliex Alla waqaf isejja˙ liΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙? Il-Mulej g˙adu jsej˙ilhom u hija l-missjoni tag˙na li ng˙inuhom jisimg˙u u jwie©bu g˙as-sej˙a tieg˙u. Il-missjoni tag˙na b˙ala Familja Salesjana hija li nnisslu u nkattru fihom il-˙ajja spiritwali. Irridu wkoll ninkora©©ixxu u niggwidawhom fl-g˙aΩliet ta’ ˙ajjithom biex b’hekk jirnexxilna niskopru mhux biss lil Dun Bosco ottimista u ˙abrieki, imma wkoll Dun Bosco “bniedem ta’ Alla” li bil-kalma ji©bed lejh u jakkumpanja il-progress spiritwali taΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙.
Fr. Louis Grech
HUWA KIEN JEMMEN LI DAK LI JGÓODD MA KIENX
LI “TAGÓMEL XI ÓAÌA” GÓAÛ-ÛGÓAÛAGÓ, IMMA LI
“TKUN XI ÓADD” GÓALIHOM."
Mixja SpiritwaliFlimkien
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EDITORIAL
Don Bosco’s whole life was a constant lesson on how to live, for the young under his care. In the words of Pope John Paul II:
‘Don Bosco is a landmark in Church history. He has left behind him an experience and a method which have become part of our heritage. In the words of my venerated predecessor Paul VI, he was "a renowned genius of modern pedagogy and catechesis but, above all, a genius of holiness” ’.
Don Bosco, offered a very unique way of Spiritual Companionship which led his young people to Holiness. Don Bosco believed that it is not “doing something” for youth that counts but “being someone” to them. It is “not what we do” for them but “what we are” to them. Don Bosco enabled processes of spiritual growth and managed to be that “someone” who could offer direction to each and every boy. St Dominic Savio, Michele Magone and Francesco Besucco are the fruits of Don Bosco’s experience and method of spiritual companionship. Don Bosco’s experience teaches us that it is not enough to organise activities for young people and just merely be
there in the yard or classroom. Having been entrusted with Salesian Vocation
Animation in Malta for the past 5 years, I realise that being the organiser is not enough. Salesians are called to go one step further. Salesians are called to be that significant adult companion ready to listen, engage and encourage the young person to really meet Jesus. All young people are called to and can achieve holiness. We often hear that vocations have decreased. Is it because God has stopped calling young people? Maybe God is still calling them and it is our mission to help young people to listen more to God’s voice. Our mission as a Salesian Family is to instil and encourage spiritual growth in our young people and to guide them in their life choices. May we rediscover not only Don Bosco the optimist and activist, but also Don Bosco, the “Man of God” who sat down, engaged and accompanied the spiritual growth in youth.
Fr. Louis Grech S.D.B.
"DON BOSCO BELIEVED THAT IT IS NOT “DOING
SOMETHING” FOR YOUTH THAT COUNTS BUT
“BEING SOMEONE” TO THEM."
"DON BOSCO BELIEVED THAT IT IS NOT “DOING
SpiritualCompanionship
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PEDAGOÌIJASalesjanaMinn Pascual Chávez Villanueva – Trad. Joe Cini
Il-President tal-Amerika Barak Obama, waqt Ωjara fil-Brazil fl-2011 g˙al skopijiet politiçi u kummerçjali, f’diskors tieg˙u lin-nies tal-industrija, fakkarhom fil-˙olma ta’ Dun Bosco dwar il-belt kapitali tag˙hom, BraΩilja. Obama qalilhom, “BraΩilja hija belt Ωg˙ira fl-eta` - 51 sena biss. Imma kienet bdiet b˙ala ˙olma aktar minn 100 sena ilu. Fl-1883, Don Bosco, il-qaddis patrun ta’ BraΩilja, kellu viΩjoni li ©urnata wa˙da, il-kapitali ta’ nazzjon kbir kellha tinbena bejn il-15 u l-20 parallel. Kellha tkun mudell g˙all-©ejjieni li tag˙ti d-dritt g˙al kull opportunita` lil kull BraΩiljan.”
Globu Ωg˙ir tad-dinjaO©©ett gustuΩ fil-kmamar ta’ Dun Bosco ©ewwa
Valdocco, Turin, huwa globu tad-dinja, sewdieni u mhux eΩatt. Diffiçli tag˙raf il-fruntieri bejn pajjiΩ u ie˙or. “IΩ-Ωag˙Ωug˙ Mikiel Rua sikwit semg˙u jg˙id, ‘O kemm ©id nista’ nag˙mel kieku kelli tnax- il qassis ta˙t idejja! Kont nibg˙athom jippriedkaw il-fidi qaddisa tag˙na mhux biss fil-knejjes, imma wkoll fit-toroq!’ U kull meta kien i˙ares lejn mappa tad-dinja, kien jie˙u nifs qawwi meta jara li tant re©juni ma kinux insara, u kien jixtieq bil-˙erqa dak il-jum meta, kieku jista’, jmur iwassal id-dawl tal-Van©elu fil-postijiet mhux mil˙uqa mill-missjunarji.”(Memorie Biografiche III, 383)
Insiru nafu lil Dun Bosco 3
Spirtu MissjunarjuMudell Ìdid ta’ Missjoni u Missjunarji
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L-istess Ωelu appostoliku li kien ˙a mill-iskola ta’ Dun Cafasso, u li g˙inu jsib il-missjoni tieg˙u fost il-foqra u t-tfal abbandunati, kellu jwasslu g˙ad-deçiΩjoni li jag˙mel lill-Familja Salesjana miftu˙a g˙all-Missjoni. Meta kien g˙adu fil-Kulle©© EkkleΩjastiku, kien i˙obb jaqra fuq il-missjoniji. Wie˙ed mill-kotba, l-Annali della Propagazione della Fede, kien ©ieg˙lu jixtieq jid˙ol mal-Oblati ta’ Marija Immakulata sabiex imur missjunarju fost l-Indjani tal-Amerika ta’ Fuq. Imma dak li l-iΩjed sa˙˙a˙lu fehmtu dwar il-Missjoni g˙as-Salesjani tieg˙u kien il-Konçilju Vatikan I (1869-70). Hafna isqfijiet mill-Amerika, l-Afrika u l-Asja, meta ©ew g˙all-Konçilju, fittxew ukoll kleru u sorijiet g˙all-missjoni f’pajjiΩhom. Çertament xi w˙ud kellmu lil Dun Bosco wkoll, u huwa ra f’dan sinjal minn Alla. Mtela b’entuΩjaΩmu, u huwa f’dan il-kuntest li Don Bosco kellu l-ewwel ˙olma-viΩjoni dwar il-missjonijiet.
“Sibt ru˙i ©o art selva©©a li qatt ma kont rajt qabel, pjanura immensa, ming˙ajr g˙oljiet jew muntanji ˙lief fuq ix-xefaq fil-bog˙od…Imbg˙ad rajt grupp ta’ missjunarji o˙rajn, immexxija min numru ta’ tfal, resqin lejn dawk in-nies slava©. Bdejt nibΩa’ li sejrin jinqatlu; mort ni©ri lejhom: kienu seminaristi u qassisin. Meta ˙arist sewwa ndunajt li kienu s-Salesjani tag˙na.”
Ma˙kum mill-ispirtu tas-seklu tieg˙u, Dun Bosco kien jimma©ina l-missjonijiet fis-sens strett (nies li ma semg˙ux bi Kristu) u fis-sens romantiku (nies kiefra u slava©). Importanti g˙alih kienet ukoll il-viΩjoni ta’ Knisja Kattolika: mibg˙uta g˙al kull ©ens; kif ukoll il-fatt li l-vokazzjoni Salesjana kienet miftu˙a g˙aΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ tad-dinja kollha; kif ukoll ˙e©©a kontra l-Protestanti. Il-kliem “Euntes in mundum universum” kien i˙osshom b˙ala kmand, u g˙alhekk bag˙at lill-missjunarji tieg˙u Ruma sabiex jircievu l-barka tal-Papa."
Fuq quddiem ta’ armata kbiraG˙alkemm kellu minn fejn jag˙Ωel, ipprefera
l-Ar©entina: eluf ta’ emigranti kienu sejrin hemm u l-missjunarji ma kienux i˙ossuhom maqtug˙in u we˙idhom; kien hemm di©a` soçjeta` çivilizzata li setg˙et twieΩen ix-xog˙ol tag˙hom; u kien hemm ukoll ‘is-slava©’ tal-˙olm tieg˙u. L-ittri u l-a˙barijiet ming˙and il-missjunarji ©ieg˙lu lil Dun Bosco jbiddel il-viΩjoni li kellu dwar il-Patagonja. Inbidlet ukoll l-istrategija: l-ewwel jitwaqqfu Kulle©©i, Parroççi u Oratorji g˙at-tag˙lim u formazzjoni biex imbag˙ad minn hemm jitilqu lejn il-missjonijiet. B’hekk, il-mudell ta’ missjoni ©©edded b’elementi mill-kariΩma tal-Oratorju ta’ Turin sabiex ting˙ata importanza lill-kura u edukazzjoni taΩ-Ωg˙ar. Il-missjunarji Salesjani ma kinux biss xhieda u appostli li ˙allew kollox sabiex ixandru l-Van©elu, imma, b˙al ponta ta’ iceberg jew l-ewwel linja ta’ armata kbira, ˙assewhom li qed jirrappreΩentaw lill-Familja Salesjana kollha, li kienet issegwihom spiritwalment u materjalment, fil-fer˙ u fin-niket, fis-suççessi u fid-diffikultajiet.
Don Rua kiteb hekk lill-Koperaturi: “Is-Salesjani u Ulied Marija AwΩiljatriçi, b˙al armata fil-kamp tal-battalja, jag˙mlu l-parti tag˙hom, waqt li joffru lil Alla u lill- proxxmu r-rieda, s-sa˙˙a u l-˙ajja tag˙hom; il-Koperaturi min-na˙a tag˙hom, jag˙mlu dak li missirijiet u ommijiet tal-familja jag˙mlu g˙al uliedhom li jmorru fil-gwerra.” (Bullettin Salesjan 14 -1890- pp 4-5)
L-ittri tal-missjunarji, ippubblikati fil-Bullettin Salesjan, kienu jag˙tu kull dettal, kull pro©ett, kull kisba, kull suççess, kull tbatija u kull diffikulta`. Kul˙add seta’ jag˙raf u jaqsam ix-xog˙ol tag˙hom, jifra˙ bih, i˙ossu kburi, jbati mag˙hom, jitlob g˙alihom u jg˙inhom b’xi g˙otja. U l-missjunarji, li kienu j˙ossuhom parti mill-Familja kbira ta’ Dun Bosco, kienu j˙ossuhom apprezzati, inkura©©uti, ma˙buba, huma u jxerrdu l-kariΩma Salesjana mad-dinja kollha.
"Sibt ru˙i ©o art selva©©a li qatt ma kont rajt qabel"
Is-Sena tal-Fidi Nhar is-17 ta’ Ottubru 2011, il-Papa Benedittu
XVI ippubblika l-Ittra Apostolika “Porta fidei” (Il-Bieb tal-fidi) li biha istitwixxa s-Sena tal-Fidi. Din is-sena speçjali se tibda f’Ottubru 2012 u tintemm fl-24 ta’ Novembru, 2013. F’Ottubru, 2012 l-Assemblea Ìenerali tas-Sinodu tal-Isqfijiet se tittratta dwar “L-Evan©elizzazzjoni Ìdida fit-Trasmissjoni tal-Fidi Nisranija”.
F’ dan id-dokument il-Papa jistqarr li jixtieq din is-Sena tal-Fidi bi twe©iba g˙all-kriΩi profonda tal-fidi li qieg˙da taffettwa lil ˙afna nies f’dan iΩ-Ωmien. Huwa jispjega li l-“Bieb tal-Fidi” huwa dejjem miftu˙ u huwa l-muftie˙ biex nid˙lu fil-Knisja ta’ Alla. Il-mixja tal-fidi tibqa’ sejra tul il-˙ajja kollha, mill-mag˙mudija sakemm naslu sal-˙ajja ta’ dejjem. Ta’ spiss ji©ri li l-Insara jag˙tu aktar ̇ sieb u jimpenjaw ru˙hom aktar fir-realtajiet soçjali, kulturali u politiçi minn dawk spiritwali. Il-bniedem illum g˙alhekk g˙andu bΩonn jer©a’ jisma’ bil-fer˙ il-Kelma t’Alla u jaççetta l-istedina ta’ Ìesù biex infittxu l-˙obΩ tal-˙ajja ta’ dejjem.
Is-Sena tal-Fidi sejra toffri lill-membri tal-Knisja kollha okkaΩjoni biex fiha jirriflettu u jer©g˙u jiskopru l-fidi tag˙hom. Il-Knisja dejjem g˙andha bΩonn i©©edded il-fidi, issaffiha, tikkonfermaha u tistqarrha. It-ti©did irid ise˙˙ permezz tax-xhieda ta’ dawk li b’fidi kbira jemmnu u jg˙ixu s-sej˙a tag˙hom b’mod li titwassal il-verità tal-Kelma tal-Mulej. Il-Knisja, g˙andha fi ˙danha ˙afna midinbin u g˙alhekk hemm bΩonn li tissaffa u timxi ’l quddiem bil-penitenza u ti©did. Is-Sena tal-Fidi g˙alhekk hija stedina g˙all-konverΩjoni vera, m©edda fil-
Mulej, l-uniku Salvatur tal-bnedmin. “Hija l-im˙abba ta’ Kristu li timlilna qalbna,”
kompla l-Papa, “u t˙e©©i©na biex nevan©elizzaw illum ukoll u tibg˙atna fit-toroq tad-dinja biex in˙abbru lil kul˙add il-Van©elu lill-©nus kollha. Huwa me˙tie© li llum niskopru l-fer˙ fit-twemmin tag˙na u ner©g˙u nimtlew b’entuΩjaΩmu biex nikkomunikaw il-fidi.” F’din is-Sena tal-Fidi, f’dan il-mument ta’ tant bidla fid-dinja, dawk kollha li jemmnu jridu jiççelebrawha billi j˙e©©u lil dawk li jemmnu fi Kristu biex jissa˙˙u huma u jsa˙˙u wkoll l-g˙aqda tag˙hom fil-Van©elu. Iridu jistqarru l-fidi tag˙hom fi Kristu Rxoxt fil-Katidrali u l-knejjes tad-dinja kollha, fid-djar u l-familji u jittrasmettu l-fidi lill-©enerazzjonijiet tal-futur.
In-nisrani ma jistax ja˙seb li l-fidi hija xi ˙a©a privata. Hija titlob minnu responsabbiltà soçjali ukoll. Matul din is-Sena, irridu niskopru l-g˙ana tat-tag˙lim li l-Knisja laqg˙et u ̇ arset matul elfejn sena ta’ storja. Irridu niltaqg˙u ma’ Kristu li jinsab preΩenti fil-Knisja, fil-Litur©ija u s-Sagramenti. Irridu nintensifikaw ix-xhieda tag˙na tal-karità, g˙aliex il-fidi ming˙ajr karità tkun biss sentiment.
Il-Papa jtemm l-ittra tieg˙u bil-kliem: “A˙na nemmnu b’fidi soda li l-Mulej Ìesù reba˙ fuq il-˙aΩen u l-mewt. B’din il-fiduçja Ωgura a˙na nafdaw fih. Huwa jinsab preΩenti fostna u jirba˙ fuq is-
setg˙a tal-˙aΩen (Lq. 11, 20). Il-Knisja, komunità viΩibbli tal-˙niena tieg˙u, tibqa’ fih b˙ala sinjal ta’ g˙aqda mal-Missier.
A˙na nafdaw din is-Sena ta’ grazzja lil Omm Alla, li kienet “hienja g˙aliex emmnet.” (Lq. 1,45).
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FEASTS & EVENTSCALENDAR OF SALESIAN2012
SEPTEM
BEROCT
OBER
NOVEM
BER
Wed 5 Salesian Cooperators - Sliema - monthly meeting at 6.00 p.m.Wed 2 First Friday Devotions at St. Patrick's at 6.15Fri 7 Prayer Day for Salesian Missions First Friday: Adoration and Mass at St. Patrick’s at 6.15 p.m.Mon 10 Prayer Day for Salesian MissionsSat 22 Blessed Spanish Martyrs (killed by Communists during Spanish Civil War)Mon 24 Start of the new Scholastic Year. Commemoration of Mary Help of Christians at St. Patrick’s– 6.30 p.m.& at Sliema Oratory at 7.30 p.m.
Wed 3 Salesian Cooperators – Sliema – monthly meeting at 6.00 p.m. Fri 5 Blessed Alberto Marvelli (Lay member of the Salesian Family). First Friday Devotions at St. Patrick’s, at 6.15 p.m. Wed 10 Prayer Day for Salesian MissionsSat 13 Blessed Alessandrina M da Costa (Salesian Cooperator)20-21 Kummiedja - L-Affari Kubinski – Salesian Theatre, SliemaMon 22 Blessed John Paul IIWed 24 Blessed Luigi Guanella (Óadem ma’ D.Bosco u kien Salesjan g˙al 3 snin) Commemoration of Mary Help of Christians at St. Patrick’s– 6.30 p.m.Mon 29 Blessed Michael Rua (First Successor of Don Bosco)
Thu 1 All Saints DayFri 2 First Friday Devotions at St. Patrick’s, at 6.15 p.m.1-2 Mid-Term school holidaysWed 7 Salesian Cooperators – Sliema – monthly meeting at 6.00 p.m.
For any other info about the Salesians: www.sdb.org
Daughters of Mary Help of Christians: www.cgfmanet.org
Salesians in Malta : www.salesiansmalta.org
Hajja Salesjana On Line : www.salesiansmalta.org/hajjasalesjana
L.T.N. – 40th Anniversary: 1972 – 2012
L.T.N. stands for “Librerija Taghlim Nisrani”, the Maltese phrase for “Libreria Dottrina Cristiana” – L.D.C., that is Christian Doctrine Library. It is a shop of Catholic books and other religious articles. It is a way of evangelisation and service started by Don Bosco who wrote and published many books and who always wanted to have a printing press of his own. It is an apostolate which has spread all over the world.
In Malta, L.T.N. started at Savio College, Dingli, and was inaugurated on the 7th October 1972. The first sales included film-strips, slides, videos and cassette-tapes, posters, picture books and other audio-visual religious aids.
In 1975, L.T.N. shop was transferred to a couple of rooms at the Sliema Oratory where it remained for 34 years.
In 1989, a branch of L.T.N. was opened in Valletta, a shop that served the people for 20 years.
In 2009, the Sliema Oratory shop and the Valletta one were both closed down and the activity transferred to one central and more spacious place in No. 81 Dingli Street , Sliema. Here it is of service not only to the Maltese people but also to foreigners and many tourists who visit our Island.
L.T.N. aims at helping Priests, Missionaries, Catechists, Parents, Teachers and other pastoral operators. It also caters for the ordinary religious needs of the people in general.
We congratulate “Librerija Taghlim Nisrani” for its 40 years of fruitful existence and we offer our best wishes for its future. We also thank, most heartily, all those who in any way contributed to or were involved in this very effective Salesian Apostolate.
Fr. Francis Zammit S.D.B.
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Don Bosco Around the World
SUDAN
Don Bosco’s relic arrived at the Wau airport (South Sudan) on Saturday 21 January. It was welcomed by a crowd of people from the various parishes in the city. Present to receive it were Bishop Rudolf Deng Majak of Wau, the Hon. Rizig Hassan, Governor of the State of West Bahr El Gazal, the Minister of Health, the Minister of
AfricaThe visit of the casket in
Education, the Minister of Communications and other government authorities. The casket, escorted by the Police Band and that of the Salesian Institute of Tonj. was taken in procession to the Salesian Vocational Training Centre. After staying in Wau until Monday 23 January, the casket was in Tonj (24-25 January), Maridi and Yambio. Wherever Don Bosco went, there were so many expressions of appreciation and thanks for the Salesians. The progress of the casket was a National event: the news was passed by word of mouth, but it was also on all the radio and TV programmes. Crowds you could never imagine turned out!
MOZAMBIQUEThe casket of Don Bosco was in the vice
Province “Mary help of Christians” of Mozambique in April. After arriving at the airport of Maputo, there to welcome the relic of the Founder were Fr. Manuel Leal, Superior of the vice-Province, various representatives of the Salesian Family and the band of “São José” of Lhanguene. The first Mass was celebrated in the Cathedral of Maputo, by the Archbishop Mons. Francisco Chimoio. Taking part
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were also the former President of the Republic, the Hon. Joaquim Chissano, diocesan priests, men and women religious of many Congregations and a large number of faithful. The day after the casket went first to the Salesian novitiate; then a long procession took the relic to the diocesan shrine of Our Lady of Fatima. Again on the move, the relic reached the city of Moamba, where the Salesians run a technical school with boarding, the mission-parish and the pre-novitiate. In the afternoon the casket was taken to Inharrime, a distance of 300 km, where it was awaited by a large crowd of youngsters, Salesians and FMAs. Many children and young people paid their respects to the relic through to the next morning, with prayer and traditional song and dance. After this, the casket was taken to Bagamoyo, an outlying district of Maputo, where the only parish of the whole country dedicated to Don Bosco is situated, presently run by the Orioni Fathers.
SPAIN-MADRID In June the casket of Don Bosco arrived
for a brief visit in Spain. On 6th it arrived at the Salesian Institute of Atocha, for the official start of its pilgrimage in the Madrid Province. Present at the welcoming ceremony were the Archbishop of Madrid, Cardinal Antonio Maria Rouco Varela and Fr Luis Onrubia, Provincial of Madrid. 1,500 students from the Institute accompanied by their teachers and the Salesians filled the courtyard for a special
day of celebration in which the atmosphere of the early days of the Valdocco Oratory were recreated. The enthusiasm was palpable and the youngsters shouted out loud “Welcome home,” when the casket of Don Bosco made its solemn entrance. Accompanied by the “Jesús de Medinaceli” Band from Alcalá de Henares the casket crossed the courtyard right up to the stage where it was received by the Archbishop, the Rector Manuel Aparicio, the Provincial and other dignitaries. Two upper school students spoke and then the Archbishop of Madrid officially welcomed the relics of the saint in the name of the whole diocesan church. Then everyone, young and old, made their way in procession to the Church, dedicated to Mary Help of Christians where there was a Liturgy of the Word, at which the Cardinal presided. The celebration ended with the Cardinal’s blessing on all those present.
12 Hajja Salesjana
(ANS – Celbridge) –Among the Olympic Torch bearers for the 2012 London Olympic Games were two young athletes who grew up at the Salesian School in Celbridge: Mark Kenneally and Fiach O’Rourke.
Mark Kenneally, Ireland's first marathon runner to qualify for the London Olympics, had been selected to carry the torch on 6 June through the streets of Dublin. On 25 May he visited his ‘alma mater’ Salesian College, Celbridge where he was presented with a specially inscribed bowl to
mark his historic achievement, "Mark Kenneally, Salesian Olympian 2012, Congratulations" and the school's crest. On that occasion he was also presented with two cheques, one from the School's Parents' Association and one from the school to help with his expenses in preparing for the Olympics.
Another Past Pupil of the Salesians, Celbridge, Fiach O'Rourke (2001 - 2007) who completed a degree in Sport, Health and PE in 2010 in Bangor University (Wales) and has been working in Bangor since that time, had been chosen to carry the Olympic torch on 28 May in Bangor. “"Fiach has been an inspiration to sport in Bangor, Wales and Ireland. He has a remarkable sporting profile before moving to Wales including competing for Ireland in sport but also organising and facilitating of sport for youth… He captained the university badminton club which he grew to the largest club in the university, leading the team to 2 league wins and promotions in 2 years… while also setting up a squash club.”
The Salesian school in Celbridge takes great pride in the honour given to these two past pupil athletes.
Ireland Celbridge School
a nursery of champions
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13Hajja Salesjana
(ANS – Seoul) – Miss Kim Yu-na, the Olympic and World Figure Ice-Skating Champion from South Korea, has given a donation to the Salesians to open a school in Southern Sudan. In the new African State the Salesians are intending to build many new elementary schools.
Last June, Kim Yu-na visited the Salesian Provincial House in Seoul and met Fr Vincenzo Donati and Bro Giacomo Comino, both Salesian missionaries in Southern Sudan. She gave them 70 millions of South-Korean won, (about 47,000 euros) thus personally financing the building of one of these schools.
"I had a chance to visit Togo a year ago as part of efforts to win support for Korea's bid for the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang and I felt the need to help out children there," Kim said.
Fr Donati thanked her profusely and said one
of the schools to be built in Southern Sudan will be named after Kim and asked the athlete to come visit the school after it is completed.
Kim Yu-na became a Catholic convert in 2008, taking the Christian name Stella. She has made other generous donations before: in October 2009 her published gifts amounted to about 2,5 million euro.
The project in Southern Sudan is for the building of just elementary schools. Fr Gianni Rolandi, Superior of the East Africa Province (AFE), including Southern Sudan told the MISNA Agency the reason: “This choice is the result of there being an almost total lack of infrastructure in Southern Sudan, an independent country scarcely a year old where the wounds of civil war are still open: one can only begin by building the foundations.”
South Korea Olympic Champion funding a school in Southern Sudan
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14 Hajja Salesjana
A WORLD OF CHILDRENIt was not long before the new boy was joined by ten other lads whom John somehow stuffed into the Pinardi house. After the winter of 1851, when he finally purchased Pinardi house, John was able to accept some thirty boarders. In the morning, after a prayer together, they would depart for their workshop or factory. At noon they would return and crowd the kitchen for their noonday dinner, which was served by John. The boys would depart for afternoon work, returning in the evening for supper, when Professor Bosco would supervise their lessons.
The increased activity, however, took its toll on Mama Margaret, now in her mid-60’s. She toiled all day long cleaning house, washing and mending clothes, and nursing the little boys who were ill. One day, fed up with her clothes-line being knocked down, her vegetable garden trampled, weary from endless washing, mending and cooking. Mama Margaret announced to her son: “I’m going home.” Don Bosco felt his mother’s anguish and said nothing. He simply pointed to a crucifix hanging on the wall. His mother understood and her eyes filled with tears. Mama Margaret replaced her apron.
PROJECTS AND PLANSAs quickly as John finished one project, he began another. In rapid succession he built a boarding home for 150 boys, a new chapel to accommodate the Oratory’s increased enrolment, and pioneered evening education and vocational schools for his future craftsmen. He built shoemaker, tailor, carpenter, bookbinder, printing and ironwork
shops. His schools, considered among Turin’s best, took their inspiration and
direction from Don Bosco himself. A colleague, a distinguished professor,
explains why. “His love shone forth from his looks and his words so clearly and all felt it …They
experienced an immense joy in his presence.”John demanded much from his teachers. At a time when schoolmasters considered
Saint John BoscoA brief account of his life
Throughout history, God has sent prophets and saints to warn, teach and lead His people. Modern times are no exception. God has sent saints to found religious orders of men and women for particular needs. He has sent martyrs, virgin, and holy men, such as Don Bosco, to teach virtue and apostleship to a special portion of God’s people – namely youth. This is his life story.
Part 4
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whipping an indispensable tool of their trade, Don Bosco forbade any such violence. “Make yourself loved,” he counselled them. “If you wish to be obeyed, be fathers not superiors.”Bosco could make no such demands unless he himself led the way. He joined in students’ recreation, challenged them in conversation, and joked with them. He would often race with them, and, although plagued with varicose veins at 54, he could still outrun any of them. If he had to punish, he was careful never to demean or embitter a child. “Without affection, there is no confidence,” he often counselled his faculty, “without confidence, no education.”Don Bosco saw a relationship with God as the very source and foundation of all human growth and activity. For him it was essential to present God as a loving Father to his children. He most effectively did this by being a loving father to his Oratory.
BELOVED BEGGARDuring the building of this big magnificent shrine, Bosco was always somehow able to pay his bills. When money did not come from ordinary sources, Don Bosco was quite prepared to beg for it. Once he visited an extremely wealthy man who had been bedridden for three years. After a few moments of chatting, Don Bosco ordered the man to get his clothes, go to the bank and withdraw the money necessary to pay the Basilica’s latest bills. “Promise to take your money out of the bank,” Don Bosco said, “and Our Lady will take you out of bed.” The man made the promise and left his bed. John, taking no chances, accompanied him to the bank.A wealthy lady judging him a great financier, asked him where she could best invest her money. Not saying a word, Bosco simply held out his open hands in front of her. Although millions of dollars passed through his hands, he never kept a penny for himself. Indeed, he lived poorly, going so far as to save half sheets of letters, dyeing string black to use as shoelaces and saving wrapping paper and cord. He wore a cast-off military overcoat and used
old army blankets on his bed. He gravely warned his Salesian sons that if they should ever lose their love of poverty, it would be a sure sign that the Society “had run its course.”
THE BLESSED MOTHERDon Bosco made many a demand on the Blessed Mother. Once a pastor requested him to give a three-day mission to prepare his people for the feast of the Assumption. Stricken by a terrible and lengthy drought, the people were suffering bitterly and the farmers were desperate. In his opening sermon Bosco remarked, “Come for these three days, make a good confession, do your best to prepare for a fervent communion on the Feast of the Assumption, and I promise you, in Mary’s name, that rain will come to refresh your parched land.” After the sermon, the pastor accusing Bosco of raising false hopes, was furious. For the next three days the farm folk jammed the church. On the Feast of the Assumption, the day of the promised event, Bosco awoke and looked into the sky. It was a cloudless blue. As John made his way to the church for morning Mass, people crowded around him.“Will it rain?” they demanded.Calmly he responded, “Purify your hearts.”As evening came and the people gathered for the last devotion for the Feast, there was still no sign of rain. As John entered the church for the final evening devotion, he looked once more to the horizon. It was cloudless – almost. A miniscule grey cloud hung like a tiny rag on the porcelain sky.John made his way to the pulpit. Hundreds of faces turned up to him, and all had written on them the same question, “When is it going to rain?” These wondering questioning faces could, in a short time, turn hard and bitter with disappointment. Suddenly yellow lightning stabbed the sky, thunder clapped and the first heavy raindrops splattered on the roof. The farmers, with a new lease on life, broke into heavy cheers and joyful songs. Although the farmers did not realise it, the most relieved man in the district was their pastor. (to continue)
16 Hajja Salesjana
On 18 August 1936, during a time of persecution for Catholics in Spain, Barrolome’ was arrested and imprisoned. On 24 September 1936 he was moved to a prison in Jaen where he was held with fifteen priests and other laymen before being judged and condemned to death for sedition (for being a Catholic). During his trial he remained true to his faith and his religious convictions. He did not protest his death sentence and told the court that if he lived, he would continue being an active Catholic. The letters he wrote on the eve of his death to his family and to his girlfriend Maruja show his profound faith. In a letter to his relatives he wrote, ‘May this be my last will: forgiveness, forgiveness, forgiveness; but indulgence, which I wish to be accompanied by doing them as much good as possible. Therefore, I ask you to avenge
me with the vengeance of a Christian: returning much good to those that have tried to do me evil.’
According to documents supporting his cause for beatification, Bartolome’ went to the site of his execution barefooted, ‘in Christ.’ Although only twenty-one, he impressed even his executioners with his courage. He kissed his handcuffs, surprising the guards that had put them on him, and refused to be shot from behind. “Whoever dies for Christ should do so facing forward and standing straight. Long live Christ the King!’ he shouted as he fell to the ground under a shower of bullets. Bartolome’ was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI on 28 October 2007.
In jail prior to his execution he wrote a beautiful and moving letter to his girlfriend,
A MARTYR’S LETTER TO HIS GIRLFRIEND
Blessed Bartolome’ Blanco Marquez was born in Pozoblanco, Spain on 25 November 1914. After being orphaned as a child he was raised by a family who had known his parents well. He was educated by the Salesians and was an excellent student. He also served as a lay catechist. At eighteen he was elected youth secretary of Catholic Action in Pozoblanco.
17Hajja Salesjana
Maruja. The letter is a witness of human love built on the foundation of Christ. Clearly deeply in love and ready to take up the vocation of marriage, God called him instead to embrace the vocation of martyrdom.
Provincial prison of Jaen 1 Oct. 1936.
My dearest Maruja,
Your memory will remain with me to the grave and as long as the slightest throb stirs my heart, it will beat for love of you. God has deemed fit to sublimate these worldly affections, ennobling them when we love each other in him. Though in my final days God is my light and what I long for, this does not mean that the recollection of the one dearest to me will not accompany me until the hour of my death. I am assisted by many priests who – what a sweet comfort – pour out the treasures of grace into my soul, strengthening it. I look death in the eye and, believe my words, it does not daunt me or make me afraid.
My sentence before the court of mankind will be my soundest defense before God’s court; in their effort to revile me, they have ennobled me; in trying to sentence me, they have absolved me, and by attempting to lose me, they have saved me. Do you see what I mean? Why, of course! Because in killing me, they grant me true life and in condemning me for always upholding the highest ideals of religion, country and family, they swing open before me the doors of heaven.
My body will be buried in a grave in this cemetery of Jaen; while I am left with only a few hours before that definitive repose, allow me to ask but one thing of you: that in memory of the love we shared, which at this moment is enhanced,
that you would take on as your primary objective the salvation of your soul. In that way, we will procure our reuniting in heaven for all eternity, where nothing will separate us.
Godbye, until that moment, then, dearest Maruja! Do not forget that I am looking at you from heaven, and try to be a model Christian woman, since, in the end, worldly goods and delights are of no avail if we do not manage to save our souls.
My thoughts of gratitude to all your family and, for you, all my love, sublimated in the hours of death. Do not forget me, my Maruja, and let my memory always remind you there is a better life, and that attaining it should constitute our highest aspiration.
Be strong and make a new life; you are young and kind, and you will have God’s help, which I will implore upon you from his kingdom. Goodbye, until eternity, then, when we shall continue to love each other for life everlasting.
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Something to think about…
12 Thoughts to Remember
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1. Rememberthatyouareauniqueandunrepeatablecreation.
2. Remember to count your blessings,notyourtroubles.
3. Rememberthatyou'llmakeitthroughwhatevercomesalong.
4. Remember that decisions are tooimportanttoleavetochance.
5. Rememberthatnothingwastesmoreenergythanworry.
6. Rememberthatnotgettingwhatyouwantissometimesawonderfulstrokeofluck.
7. Remember not to take things tooseriously.
8. Remembertolaugh.9. Remember that a little love goes a
longway.10. Remember that happiness is more
oftenfoundingivingthangetting.11. Remember that life's treasures are
people,notthings.12. Rememberthatmiraclesstillhappen.
20 Hajja Salesjana
IT-TNAX-IL APPOSTLU MAGÓÛULA MINN KRISTU
“Morru fid-dinja kollha, xandru l-Bxara t-tajba lill-˙olqien kollu”(Mark 16:15)
IL-MISSJONI TAL-APPOSTLI
Il-kelma ‘appostlu’ ©ejja mill-verb grieg
‘apostello’ li jfisser ‘jibg˙at’. Anke l-verb ebrajk
‘xaluah’ g˙andu l-istess tifsira. Fil-Malti g˙andna
l-kelma ‘rasul’ li tfisser ‘messa©©ier’ u li g˙andha
affinità mal-verb Lhudi. It-tnax-il appostlu kienu
tassew ‘mibg˙utin’ minn Kristu sabiex ixandru
l-Bxara t-Tajba tieg˙u. Kollha kienu bnedmin
sempliçi u ordinarji, imma laqg˙u s-sej˙a ta’
Kristu, imxew mieg˙u u wara bdew jg˙allmu f’ismu
u jwettqu g˙e©ubijiet kbar, li b’hekk inxterdet il-
Knisja mad-dinja kollha.
Fit-Testment il-©did insibu erba’ listi tal-
ismijiet tal-Appostli, dejjem maqsumin fi tliet
gruppi ta’ erbg˙a. Dawn l-ismijiet insibuhom f’Mt
10, 2-4; f’Mk 3, 16-19; f’Lq 6, 14-16 u f’Atti 1,13. San
Ìwann, fir-raba’ evan©elju ma jag˙ti l-ebda lista,
iΩda jsemmi ‘t-Tnax’ darbtejn f’6:67 u f’20:24 u
jag˙tina ˙afna tag˙rif dwar l-appostli. Anke l-Atti
tal-Appostli huwa sors important fejn insibu ˙afna
tag˙rif dwarhom. Il-kittieba tal-ewwel sekli tal-
Knisja wkoll ikomplu jag˙tuna ˙afna tag˙rif.
L-EWWEL GRUPP TAL-APPOSTLI
Fl-ewwel grupp tal-Appostli nsibu dejjem
l-ewwel wie˙ed lil Pietru; imbag˙ad lil Andrija; lil
Ìakbu u lil Ìwanni.
San Pietru: Ìesù biddel l-isem ta’ Xmun bin
Ìona g˙al Pietru (isem li jfisser ‘blata’; bl-aramajk:
‘kefa’ ; bil-grieg: ‘petra’). Pietru kien miΩΩewwe© u
sajjied fl-g˙adira ta’ Tiberjas fil-Galilija; kien minn
Beth Saida u wara mar joqg˙od f’Kafarnahum u
Kristu g˙aΩlu biex ikun l-ewwel Kap tal-Knisja u
fdalu f’idejh l-imfieta˙ tas-Saltna. Huwa g˙araf lil
Kristu b˙ala l-Messija fl-istqarrija tal-fidi tieg˙u
f’Çesareja ta’ Filippi: “Inti l-Messija…” (Mk 8, 29).
Kien dejjem ma’ Ìesù fl-iktar mumenti partikulari
b˙al dak tat-Trasfigurazzjoni u tal-Getsemani.
B˙ala bniedem dg˙ajjef ça˙ad lil Kristu fil-passjoni
Fr. Charles Buttigieg
21Hajja Salesjana
g˙al tliet darbiet imma mal-ewwel nidem. G˙andna
Ωew© ittri kanoniçi minn tieg˙u. Huwa ppriedka fil-
Palestina, f’Antijokja tas-Sirja fejn kien l-ewwel
isqof ta’ din il-komunità, fl-Asja Minuri, fil-Greçja
u wara sar Isqof ta’ Ruma u l-ewwel Papa. Madwar
is-sena 64 W.K. ˙a l-martirju f’Ruma billi ©ie
msallab b’rasu ‘l isfel. Il-qabar tieg˙u jinsab ta˙t
l-artal tal-BaΩilika tal-Vatikan. Il-festa litur©ika
tieg˙u hija flimkien ma’ ta’ San Pawl l-Appostlu
tal-Ìnus, fid-29 ta’ Ìunju – l-Imnarja.
Sant’Andrija: Andrija jew Indrì kien ˙u Pietru,
kien ukoll sajjied u qabel ma’ ltaqa’ ma’ Kristu
kien dixxiplu ta’ Ìwanni l-Battista. Meqjus fi
Llvant b˙ala l-‘protoclete’, ji©ifieri l-ewwel wie˙ed
imsejja˙ minn Kristu. Infatti skond San Ìwann kien
huwa li introduça lil ˙uh Pietru ma’ Kristu: “Sibna
l-Messija” (Ìw 1, 41). Kien hu wkoll li ressaq lejn
Ìesù lit-tifel li kellu l-˙ames ˙obΩiet u Ωew© ˙utiet
g˙at-tkattir tal-˙obΩ (ara Ìw 6, 1-15). Ippriedka fl-
Asja Minuri u fl-Asja ta’ dak iΩ-Ωmien. Óa l-martirju
f’Patras fil-Greçja billi ©ie mislub fuq salib forma
ta’ ‘X’ (crux decussata), madwar is-sena 69 W.K.
Huwa meqjum ˙afna fil-Knisja ta’ Kostantinopli u
fil-Knejjes kollha tal-lvant, kif ukoll fl-Iskozja. Il-
festa tieg˙u hija fit-30 ta’ Novembru.
San Ìakbu: Ìakbu, bin Ûebedew u ˙u San
Ìwann l-Evan©elista, hu meqjus b˙ala l-ewwel
appostlu li ˙a l-martirju. L-isem ©ej minn
‘Iakobos’ li huwa forma griega tal-isem ‘Ìakobb’
u hu msejja˙ ‘il-Kbir’ biex jag˙mlu differenza minn
Ìakbu l-ie˙or li kien appostlu wkoll. Dan kien
sajjied fl-G˙adira tal-Galileja li flimkien ma’ ˙uh
©ie msejja˙ minn Kristu b˙ala ‘Boanerges,’ ji©ifieri
‘ulied ir-rag˙ad’ (ara Mk 3, 17). Qabel dan kien
dixxiplu tal-Battista. Huwa kien ukoll wie˙ed minn
dawk preΩenti fil-Getsemani u fit-Trasfigurazzjoni.
Huwa ppriedka fil-Palestina u skond it-
tradizzjoni anke fi Spanja. Óa l-martirju bil-qtug˙
tar-ras fis-sena 44 W.K. minn Erodi Agrippa I,
neputi ta’ Erodi l-Kbir (ara Atti 12 , 1-2). Il-fdalijiet
tieg˙u jinsabu fil-post ta’ pellegrina©©i kbar ta’
Santiago de Compostela ©ewwa Spanja. (Iago
tfisser Ìakobb bl-Ispanjol). Il-festa tieg˙u hija fil-
25 ta’ Lulju.
San Ìwann: Ìwanni ˙u Ìakbu, huwa meqjus
b˙ala d-dixxiplu l-ma˙bub ta’ Ìesù u dan g˙aliex
kien g˙adu Ωag˙Ωug˙ meta ©ie msejja˙ u g˙alhekk
kellu bΩonn attenzjoni partikulari. Kien sajjied
flimkien ma’ ˙uh u missieru. Kien imqabbad minn
Ìesù biex flimkien ma’ Pietru jipprepara g˙all-
a˙˙ar çena. L-uniku wie˙ed mill-appostli kollha
li baqa’ preΩenti fil-©rajja tal-Passjoni fejn minn
fuq is-salib Ìesù fdalu lil-Marija b˙ala ommu (ara
Ìw 19-27). Flimkien ma’ Pietru mar ˙dejn il-qabar
ta’ Kristu. Kien appostlu prominenti fil-bidu tal-
Knisja. Huwa ppriedka fis-Samarija, fil-Greçja, u
fl-Asja Minuri. Kiteb ir-raba’ evan©elju, tlitt ittri
u l-ktieb tal-Apokalissi. Ìie me˙lus mill-martirju
meta tefg˙uh fiΩ-Ωejt jag˙li u ma ©ralu xejn u ©ie
eΩiljat ukoll fuq il-gΩira ta’ Patmos fil-Greçja. Miet
f’età avvanzata ˙afna ©ewwa Efesu fit-Turkija
madwar is-sena 100 W.K. Huwa çert li ma mietx
martri. Il-festa tieg˙u hija fis-27 ta’ Diçembru.
22 Hajja Salesjana
IT-TIENI GRUPP
Fit-tieni grupp fil-lista tal-appostli nsibu lil
Filippu; lil Bartilmew; lil Tumas u lil Mattew.
San Filippu: Filippu hu wkoll sajjied minn Beth
Saida. Qabel kien ukoll dixxipplu tal-Battista u
huwa wie˙ed minn tal-bidu li mexa wara Ìesù kif
jurina Ìw 1, 43. Kien hu li ntroduça lil Natanjel ma’
Kristu: “Sibna lil dak li fuqu kitbu Mosè fil-Li©i u
l-Profeti fil-kotba tag˙hom. Ìesù min- NaΩaret bin
ÌuΩeppi “…”Ejja u ara” (Ìw 1,45-46). Kif ukoll g˙en
lil xi Griegi f’Ìerusalemm qabel il-Passjoni sabiex
jiltaqg˙u ma’ Kristu: “Dawn marru g˙and Filippu
u talbuh: ‘Sinjur, nixtiequ naraw lil Ìesù . Filippu
mar jg˙id lil Indrì, u mbag˙ad Indrì u Filippu marru
jg˙idu lil Ìesù’ (Ìw 12: 20-22). Skont it-tradizzjoni
huwa ppriedka fl-Asja Minuri, fil-Greçja u anke fi
Franza. Óa l-martirju, skond xi w˙ud, permezz tat-
tislib fuq salib g˙oli f’Hierapolis ©ewwa t-Turkija.
O˙rajn isostnu li ©ie m˙a©©ar. Il-fdalijiet tieg˙u
jinsabu fil-BaΩilika tat-Tnax-il Appostli ©ewwa
Ruma. Il-festa tieg˙u hija fit-3 ta’ Mejju flimkien
ma’ San Ìakbu Ω-Ωg˙ir.
San Bartilmew: Bartilmew huwa msejja˙
Natanjel fl-evan©elju ta’ San Ìwann. Kien minn
Kana tal-Galileja u ©ie mfa˙˙ar minn Ìesù meta
rah l-ewwel darba : “Ara dan tassew wie˙ed minn
IΩrael li jixraqlu dan l-isem; ma hemm ebda qerq
fih” (Ìw 1, 47). Huwa jistqarr lil Ìesù: “Mg˙allem,
int l-Iben ta’ Alla, int is-Sultan ta’ IΩrael” (Ìw 1,
49). Huwa ppriedka f’Ìerusalemm, fl-Asja Minuri,
fl-Armenja, fil-Persja u anke, skond xi w˙ud, fl-
Indja. Óa l-martirju f’Derbend, fl-Armenja billi
qaxxruh ˙aj. Il-fdalijiet tieg˙u jinsabu fil-knisja
ta’ San Bartilmew f’Ruma fuq il-gΩira tat-Tevere
fejn in©iebu mill-imperatur Otto III fis-sena 983.
Il-festa tieg˙u hija fil-24 ta’ Awissu.
San Tumas: Tumas imsejja˙ ‘Didimus,’ bil-
grieg tfisser ‘it-Tewmi’. ‘L-appostlu tad-dubji’ kif
t˙obb tlaqqmu t-tradizzjoni g˙aliex m’emminx
mal-ewwel fil-qawmien ta’ Kristu: “Jekk ma narax
f’idejh il-marka tal-imsiemer u ma nqieg˙edx
sebg˙i fuq il-marka tal-imsiemer u idi fuq ©enbu,
jien ma nemminx” (Ìw 20, 25). IΩda meta ra lil
Kristu rxoxt huwa wie©eb bl-isba˙ stqarrija tal-
fidi: “Mulej tieg˙i u Alla tieg˙i” (Ìw 20, 28). Skont
it-tradizzjoni mar jippriedka fis-Sirja, fil-Persja u
fl-Indja fejn ˙a l-martirju qrib Chennai (Madras),
minfud b’lanza. Il-fdalijiet tieg˙u jinsabu ©ewwa
l-katidral ta’ Ortona, l-Italja. Il-festa tieg˙u hija
fit-3 ta’ Lulju.
San Mattew: Mattew, bin Alfew minn
Kafarnahum kien pubblikan, ji©bor it-taxxi g˙ar-
Rumani. L-isem Lhudi tieg˙u kien Levi (kif insibu
f’Mk u f’Lq) waqt li dak grieg kien ‘Mattew’ (kif
insibu f’Mt) li jfisser ‘don t’Alla’. Ìie msejja˙ minn
Kristu waqt ix-xog˙ol tieg˙u (ara Mt 9, 9-13) u
laqg˙u g˙andu fid-dar g˙all-ikel (ara Lq 5:27-32).
Huwa ppriedka b’mod partikulari fil-Palestina, fl-
Asja Minuri, u skont it-tradizzjoni mar il-Persja u
anke l-Etjopja. Huwa kiteb l-ewwel evan©elju bl-
Aramajk kif jixhed tajjeb Papija fis-sena 130 W.K.
Aktarx ˙a l-martirju ©ewwa l-Etjopja jew l-E©ittu.
Il-festa tieg˙u hija fil-21 ta’ Settembru.
23Hajja Salesjana
IT-TIELET GRUPP
L-a˙˙ar erba’ appostli huma Xmun il-Kananew;
Ìuda Taddew; Ìakbu t’Alfew u Ìuda l-Iskarjota.
San Xmun: Xmun il-Kananew (skont Mt u Mk),
jew Xmun iΩ-Ûelota (skont Lq) aktarx li qabel
kien membru tal-grupp rivoluzzjonarju kontra
r-Rumani, iΩ-Ûeloti. Huwa mag˙ruf ukoll b˙ala
Xmun l-Im˙e©©e© u kien minn Kana. Skont xi w˙ud
huwa ppriedka fir-Russja, fl-Afrika u anke, skond
xi tradizzjonijiet, fil-Brittanja. Óa l-martirju fil-
Persja. Il-festa tieg˙u hija fit-28 t’Ottubru flimkien
ma San Ìuda Taddew.
San Ìuda Taddew: Ìuda Taddew hu l-isem li
nsibu f’Mt u f’Mk b˙ala Taddew. F’Luqa u fl-Atti
nsibuh b˙ala Ìuda ta’ Ìakbu g˙ax kien ˙u Ìakbu
u qarib tal-Mulej (ara Ìuda 1, 1). Jissemma fl-a˙˙ar
çena waqt id-diskors ta’ Ìesù (ara Ìw14, 22).
Huwa l-awtur ta’ ittra kanonika u possibilment
it-tielet isqof ta’ Ìerusalemm wara Ìakbu u
Xmun. Ippriedka fl-Asja Minuri u fil-Persja fejn ˙a
l-martirju. Il-fdalijiet jinsabu fi Franza, f’Rheims u
f’Toulouse. Il-festa tieg˙u hija fit-28 ta’ Ottubru
ma’ San Xmun.
San Ìakbu t’Alfew: Ìakbu Ω-Ûg˙ir, bin Alfew
huwa meqjus minn ˙afna b˙ala l-qarib tal-Mulej
kif juri San Pawl f’Gal 1, 19. Huwa l-awtur ta’ ittra
kanonika u sar isqof ta’ Ìerusalemm u mexxa
l-ewwel konçilju ta’ Ìerusalemm (ara Atti 15, 13 u
Gal 2, 9). Huwa ppriedka fis-Sirja u wara fir-Russja
fejn ˙a l-martirju billi qasmuh min-nofs, fis-sena
62 W.K. Il-festa tieg˙u hija fit-3 ta’ Mejju flimkien
ma’ San Filippu.
Ìuda l-Iskarjota – San Mattija: L-appostli
kollha huma mill-Galilija minbarra Ìuda
l-Iskarjota, li aktarx kien minn Keriot, qrib Hebron
fin-nofsinhar tal-Ìudija. O˙rajn isostnu li kien
marbut maΩ-Ûeloti. Ìuda kien jie˙u ˙sieb il-kaxxa
tal-flus tal-appostli. Ittradixxa lil Kristu g˙al tletin
biçça tal-fidda (ara Matt 26, 14-16). Miet iddisprat
min˙abba f’dak li g˙amel billi tg˙allaq (ara
Matt 27, 3-5 u Atti 1, 7). Minfloku, imbag˙ad kien
intg˙aΩel Mattija kif naraw fl-Atti 1:23. Il-festa ta’
San Mattija hija fl-14 ta’ Mejju.
KONKLUÛJONI
Ìesù g˙amel sej˙a speçjali lil dawn it-tnax-il
appostlu biex imorru jippriedkaw ir-Reb˙a Tieg˙u
fuq il-mewt, kif insibu fl-a˙˙ar ta’ kull van©elu
kanoniku; liema missjoni g˙ada sejra u tkompli
fil-Knisja. Il-mixja tag˙hom hija wkoll il-mixja ta’
kull wie˙ed u wa˙da minna, li tibda mill-mument
çentrali tas-sej˙a ta’ Kristu u tkompli bil-missjoni
ta’ din l-istess sej˙a nisranija.
24 Hajja Salesjana
Malta Salesjana
EUROVISION PASTA NIGHT Nhar il-lejla tal-Eurovision Song Contest, is-26 ta’ Mejju, ©ie organizzat “Pasta Night” fl-Oratorju, Sliema, sabiex flimkien, dawk li riedu, setg˙u jaraw il-festival fuq screen kbir. Grupp ta’ membri lestew l-imwejjed, si©©ijiet, platti u kull ma kien hemm bΩonn; dawk aktar kbar ˙adu ˙sieb it-tisjir g˙al aktar minn 100 ru˙. Kienet lejla daqsxejn storbjuΩa, imma ferrie˙a waqt li ˙afna minnhom setg˙u jivvutaw u jippruvaw jaqtg˙u min ser jirba˙: fil-fatt daqs 30 ru˙ qatg˙u li tirba˙ l-Isvezja.G˙alkemm kien tard, ˙afna kienu dawk li g˙inu sabiex kollox jer©a’ jitpo©©a lura f’postu!
WORSHIP TEAM: ORATORJU SLIEMA Nhar it-18 ta’ Mejju, minflok it-talb tas-soltu, l-membri tal-Oratorju in©abru fil-kappella g˙all-˙in ta’ adorazzjoni mmexxi mill-istess Ωag˙aΩag˙. Xi whud irreçtaw sketch fuq il-kanzunetta “Everything” tal-grupp Lifehouse, waqt li l-membri tal-Worship Team animaw l-adorazzjoni bil-muΩika. Dik il-lejla, il-membri tal-Worship Team raqdu fl-Oratorju sabiex l-g˙ada setg˙u jitilqu kmieni lejn Ta’Qali fejn qattg˙u il-©urnata f’avventuri, picnic u log˙ob. Nag˙tu prosit lil min organizza kif ukoll lil min ˙a sehem fl-adorazzjoni u fil-˙ar©a sa Ta’ Qali.
FESTA TA’ MARIJA F’GHAWDEX Il-Festa ta’ Marija G˙ajnuna tal-Insara ©iet iççelebrata fl-Oratorju ‘Dun Bosco’, G˙awdex, nhar l-24 ta’ Mejju. Mgr. George Tabone mexxa l-konçelebrazzjoni animata mill-Chorus Urbanus. Wara l-quddiesa saret purçissjoni bl-istatwa ta’ Marija fit-toroq madwar l-Oratorju. Il-çelebrazzjoni ing˙alqet bil-konsagrazzjoni tal-Oratorju lil Marija G˙ajnuna tal-Insara u bil-barka ewkaristika. Qabel dan il-jum, kienet saret t˙ejjija billi fil-quddiesa kienet issir omelia fuq id-devozzjoni lejn Marija u l-˙e©©a ta’ Dun Bosco sabiex iferrex din id-devozzjoni. Intwera wkoll, fil-kappella, video fuq il-˙ajja tal-Ver©ni Marija.
25Hajja Salesjana
FESTA TAL-QALB TA’ GESU – L’ISLA Il-Komunita` Salesjana tal-Isla tie˙u ˙sieb torganizza il-purçissjoni ta’ nhar il-Qalb ta’ Ìesu`.Mal-parruççani tal-Isla, din is-sena, ing˙aqdu numru ta’ membri u Past Pupils mill-Oratorju ta’ Tas-Sliema. Barra minn dawn kien hemm ukoll is-Salesian Brigade li mxiet quddiem nett, u l-Worship team li kien hemm sabiex janima il-quddiesa. Mexxa iç-çelebrazzjoni l-Arçipriet il-©did tal-Isla, Dun Ivan Scicluna. Wara l-purçissjoni kien hemm bibita g˙al kull min ˙a sehem, u wara, bosta minn dawk li ©ew minn Tas-Sliema marru jieklu pizza ix-Xatt tal-Isla.
TREVOR ZAHRA F’SAVIO COLLEGE Kienet esperjenza unika g˙all-istudenti tal-Form3 kollha, li jilqg˙u fil-Kulle©© Savio il-mag˙ruf kittieb Malti, Trevor Zahra. Dan ©ara nhar it-12 ta’ Ìunju, meta l-kittieb qasam ma’ l-istudenti l-istorja tal-karriera tieg˙u b˙ala kittieb. Huwa wkoll ˙ass fer˙ kbir li jkun fost studenti, lest li jisma’ l-istejjer tag˙hom, g˙aliex g˙alihom huwa jikteb u minnhom jie˙u l-ideat. Dan l-avveniment kien mod kif Ms. Dorothy Bezzina, g˙alliema tal-Malti fil-Kule©©, riedet turi l-apprezzament tag˙ha g˙ax-xog˙ol eççellenti u kreattiv tal-istudenti li g˙arfu jg˙aqqdu flimkien il-letteratura u l-media. Kien ukoll ˙a©a sabi˙a u nkura©©anti il-mod kif is-Sur Zahra analizza il-˙sibijiet u r-reazzjonijiet tal-istudenti g˙all-ktieb tieg˙u “Sfidi” li ©ew murija fil-video ta’ kull
PAST PUPILS F’GÓAWDEX Is-Sibt 2 ta’ Ìunju inzerta sabi˙ u dak inhar il-Past Pupils and Friends of Don Bosco qasmu l-fliegu sabiex iqattg˙u ©urnata G˙awdex. Mal-wasla tag˙om l-Im©arr, grupp ta’ Ωeffiena tawhom mer˙ba. Imbag˙ad rikbu il-karozza li ˙adithom dritt lejn is-Santwarju tal-Madonna Ta’ Pinu. Il-quddiesa ©iet iççelebrata minn Fr Joe Forte, u wara, il-grupp kollu mar il-Belt Victoria fejn min mar g˙all-kafe` u min Ωar is-suq u l-˙wienet. G˙all-˙in tal-ikel il-karozza ˙adithom fir-Restaurant ‘Ta’ Kenuna’ fejn kielu ikla tajba u abbundanti. L-a˙˙ar ˙in ta’ wara l-ikel u qabel it-tluq g˙addewh Marsalforn, minn fejn, g˙all-˙abta ta’ 4.30 p.m. telqu lejn il-port u lura lejn Malta. Jum mill-isba˙, flimkien, f’isem Dun Bosco.
klassi. Prosit lil Ms. Bezzina li g˙arfet tg˙aqqad b’mod ori©inali l-istudju, l-letteratura u t-talenti tat-tfal.
26 Hajja Salesjana
Qamet kmieni, qamet ming˙ajr ma biss g˙alqet g˙ajn m’g˙ajn tul il-lejl. Mhemmx dwejjaq e˙rex minn dawk ta’ meta takkuΩa lilek innifsek b’xi Ωball serju li bih qsamt qalb xi ˙add, xi ˙add li sa ftit minuti qabel kont ta˙lef li t˙obb. Hawn min jemmen li l-im˙abba g˙andha ˙abta tinbidel f’mibeg˙da f’tebqa’ t’g˙ajn; qatt ma emmintha, imma wara dak li ©ara l-biera˙ filg˙axija …
L-ewwel deçiΩjoni li ˙adet Moira kienet li m’hemmx xog˙ol g˙aliha. Mhux possibli li tiffaççja jum problemi fl-uffiçju meta mo˙˙ha u qalbha kienu f’taqtig˙a bejniethom. Iddeçidiet x’kellha tag˙mel: iççempel lil s˙abha l-uffiçju u ter˙ilha lejn l-G˙adira, fejn kienu l-lejla ta’ qabel; forsi hemm is-sitwazzjoni tidher aktar çara, tkun taf x’kellha tag˙mel, jekk hux minnu li hi u Maurice issa kienu mi©©ildin g˙al kollox. Sa ftit jiem qabel tkellmu dwar g˙erusija u l-©ejjieni. Il-biera˙ faqqg˙et il-bomba!
G˙al xid-disg˙a waslet. NiΩlet bl-g˙a©©la fuq ir-ramel, firxet xugaman, intefg˙et bil-qieg˙da, tiççassa t˙ares lejn dik il-medda ka˙la u kalma ta’ quddiemha. Kien g˙adu nofs Mejju, kollox sliem, kollox nadif, kollox sabi˙ u kwiet - minbarra qalbha!
Kienu ilhom i˙ejju g˙al dik l-ikla fuq ir-ramel. Grupp ta’ xi g˙oxrin xebba u ©uvni, jew koppji;
kul˙add fer˙an, jiekol, jixrob, u jkanta, xi drabi jiΩfnu g˙ar-ritmu tal-muΩika li ©abu mag˙hom. Hi u Maurice bdew jiΩfnu ̇ afjin, fuq dak ir-ramel s˙un mix-xemx tal-jum. Óin minnhom rifset çag˙aka, tilfet il-bilanç u ggranfat ma’ se˙ibha. Qal li we©©g˙atlu u girfitlu g˙onqu, u li xtaq li jieqfu miΩ-Ωfin biex ipo©©u fuq il-pultruni tal-kanvas.
Moira serr˙itlu mo˙˙u li g˙addielha, li setg˙u jkomplu jiΩfnu, imma hu nsista li jmorru lura bil-qieg˙da. Po©©iet, iΩda ma setg˙etx tifhem g˙al-liema ra©uni ma komplewx jiΩfnu. Baqg˙et t˙ares çass lejh g˙ax deherilha li rat espressjoni stramba fuq wiççu, deher im˙asseb, imdejjaq. Wara li po©©a pprova jibda, bi kliem maqtug˙ minn xulxin …
“Moira … ejja ˙alli nitkellmu ftit … “X’ji©ifieri nitkellmu, mhux dejjem nitkellmu…
mhux nitkellmu konna waqt li qed niΩfnu!”“ Le, bis-serjetà … g˙ax ili jiem s˙a˙ nipprova
ng˙idlek …”“X’inqala’?”“Mhux qed insibha ˙afifa biex ng˙idlek …Forsi
jkun a˙jar … ferm a˙jar … jekk a˙na t-tnejn ma nkomplux flimkien!”
“Din xi çajta tieg˙ek? Ma nkomplux g˙ax kont ser naqa’ fir-ramel? Taf x’qed tg˙id?”
“U le, x’g˙andu x’jaqsam ir-ramel! Ili na˙sibha biex intarraflek xi ˙a©a, imma dejjem nibΩa’ nibda. Ftit ilu … tiftakar … inti semmejt g˙erusija. Ósibt ˙afna dwarha u fl-a˙˙ar iddeçidejt li a˙jar
Lina Brockdorff
Fuq ir-Ramel tal-Ghadira
27Hajja Salesjana
ninsewha.”“Jien m’g˙edtlekx biex nitg˙arrsu l-lejla,
nistg˙u intawlu jekk trid …”“ Moira … Ma xtaqtx nid˙ol g˙al risponsabbiltà
b˙al dik ming˙ajr ma nkun Ωgur minni nnifsi.”“ Din ©dida! Daqs kemm ilek tg˙idli li t˙obbni!
Li jien kollox g˙alik … li ming˙ajri l-˙ajja ma tfisser xejn … x’qed tivvinta issa? Taf li ilna ‘steady’ g˙al kwaΩi sena?”
“G˙andek ra©un! …Kull ma g˙edtlek kien kollu minnu, hekk ˙assejt u nista’ ng˙id li hekk g˙adni n˙oss g˙alik, imma … çerti çirkustanzi qed irossuni biex nie˙u din id-deçiΩjoni …”
“Kemm ©ej b’misteri l-lejla! Ma nistax nifhmek.” Skiet g˙al ftit sekondi. “Kompli, g˙aliex waqaft? M’g˙andekx kura©© tkompli? Ma nag˙mlux kaΩ li ser tg˙idli li hemm xi ˙add ie˙or, hux ?”
“Ne˙˙ieha minn mo˙˙ok! La kien hemm … u lanqas ikun hemm. Ara, nibqg˙u ˙bieb kemm trid … imma Ωwie© qatt!”
“Dawn x’affarijiet huma?”“Ja˙asra ifhem dak li qed nipprova ng˙idlek
… ili li ssuspettajt, imma issa n˙ossni Ωgur … ma rridx inqarraq bik … A˙jar ma niΩΩewwi©x … u forsi ma na˙sibx aktar f’nisa!”
Ma’ dik l-a˙˙ar kelma Moira ˙arset çass lejh qisha mhix temmen dak li semg˙et, imbag˙ad qabditlu idu li kellha ©o jdejha u sabtitilu fuq il-maqbad tal-pultruna filwaqt li qaltlu: “Eh, iva, sur galantom! Domt biex indunajt … Qatt ma kont nistennieha minnek! Ara, x’qed ng˙idlek, ara biss ifettillek tersaq lejja jew t˙ares lejn wiççi!”
Dak il-˙in stess ©abret il-basket, libset iΩ-Ωarbun u telqet ti©ri wa˙edha biex tirkeb tal-linja u tin©abar id-dar. Qam warajha jipprova jkellimha, jg˙idilha li lest iwassalha, imma bdiet twarrbu u tkeççieh bi kliem li qatt ma basret li ser tindirizzahom lil ˙add. Xorta wa˙da, x˙in waslet id-dar sabitu hemm qrib jistennieha. Lanqas biss indenjat tkellmu, warrbitu bi drieg˙ha waqt li
bil©iri da˙let ©ewwa.Din ix-xena baqg˙et ddur quddiem g˙ajnejha
tul il-lejl kollu, waqt li titqalleb min-na˙a g˙all-o˙ra tas-sodda.
L-ewwel reazzjoni tag˙ha kienet li tit˙assar lilha nnifisha. X’ser tg˙idilhom lil tad-dar, lil s˙abha tal-grupp? Kif ser tag˙mel biex tinsieh? L-o˙rajn kienu jafu bl-istorja? Imma wara li ˙liet ir-rabja kollha fuq dawn il-˙sibijiet, bdiet ti©i quddiemha stampa ta’ wiçç Maurice. Bdiet ter©a’ tara l-espressjoni ta’ w©ig˙ g˙all-kliem xejn xieraq li bih bdiet toffendih. X’fettlilha? L-aktar kliem iebes li qaltlu kien meta bdiet ti©ri biex ta˙rab minnu fuq ir-ramel, waqt li hu jsej˙ilha biex jwassalha d-dar. Kull kelma li qaltlu bdiet tirbombja ©o mo˙˙ha. Possibli li kellha kura©© tkellmu hekk? Ipprova jkun sinçier mag˙ha, qalilha çar u tond li jirrispettaha kien u jibqa’, imma li ma xtaqx iqarraq biha. U jekk tabil˙aqq kien g˙adu kif inteba˙ bl-orjentazzjoni tieg˙u, xi ˙tija kellu? Kien xi diΩunur? Min jaf x’kien qed i˙oss issa li jinsab g˙al kollox wa˙du ming˙ajr biss il-˙biberija tag˙ha? Wa˙du, bil-fakra tal-kliem iebes li qaltlu. Kien jafdaha biΩΩejjed biex feta˙ qalbu mag˙ha … b’riΩultat li warrbitu u offenditu.
Ma fel˙itx aktar. Hemm fuq dak ir-ramel kiesa˙, f’salt wie˙ed infaqg˙et tolfoq. Bdiet tolfoq mhux g˙ax issa tinsab ming˙ajr sie˙eb, imma aktar g˙ax kienet Ωgura kemm offendietu, farrkitlu d-dinjità tieg˙u. Kull ma g˙amlet g˙amlitu biex tpattilu talli ddiΩappuntha. Mill-banda l-o˙ra, hu xi ˙tija kellu?
Baqg˙et hemm bla tag˙ti kaΩ ta’ xi koppji turisti g˙addejjin minn quddiemha j˙arsu lejha. Lanqas ma kienet taf jew jimpurtaha x’˙in sar. Baqg˙et hemm sserra˙ qalbha bla ma taf x’kellha tag˙mel biex issewwi s-sitwazzjoni. Wara ˙afna ˙in, mill-basket tag˙ha semg˙et ç-çempila familjari tal-mowbajl. Gerfxet qalb l-affarijiet tal-basket sa ma sabitu. Kien hu, Maurice. Wie©bet mill-ewwel bla qag˙det ta˙sibha.
28 Hajja Salesjana
“Bon©u Moira! G˙idli s-sewwa, fejn tinsab?” Malli semg˙et le˙nu aktar bkiet u ma fel˙itx twie©eb. “Moira, we©ibni g˙all-erwie˙, taf kemm jien inkwetat fuqek. G˙idli fejn tinsab u ni©i ni©ri ˙dejk. Mo˙˙i fik!”
“Fuq ir-ramel tal-G˙adira, fejn konna lbiera˙,” lissnet waqt li baqg˙et tolfoq.
“Ibqa’ hemm u tiççaqlaqx. Dalwaqt inkun ˙dejk … Fuq kollox tridni ni©i, jew veru dak li g˙edtli lbiera˙ … li ma tridx tarani b’g˙ajnejk jew nersaq lejk?”
“Ejja, Mor, nixtieq li tkun ˙dejja b˙alissa. Imma int fejn tinsab?”
“Dak mhux importanti. Ibqa’ hemm, dalwaqt tarani ˙dejk.”
F’inqas minn g˙oxrin minuta tarah ©ej ji©ri ˙dejha. Óadet nifs qawwi ta’ solliev. Intefa’ g˙arkubbtejh fuq ir-ramel qribha. Óare© pakkett ‘tissues’ u waqt li warrbilha xag˙arha minn quddiem wiççha, beda jixxuttalha d-dmug˙.
“Ma rridx narak tibki aktar Moira. Jien ukoll bkejt ˙afna dal-lejl. Naf li we©©ajtek, li farraktlek il-˙olm leqqieni kollu li bnejna flimkien … a˙firli.”
“Mhux g˙alhekk … mhux g˙alhekk qed nibki …mhux dak li qed jaqsamli qalbi …”
“Mela, x’inqala’ aktar mill-biera˙ ‘l hawn?”“G˙ax jien ma rra©unajtx ilbiera˙. Naf li
we©©ajtek bi kliemi, u int ma kienx jixraqlek .. naf li kont u g˙adek tirrispettani … u jien … ma nafx
xi ©rali, ˙sadtni ma’ dik l-a˙bar …g˙idli li ta˙firli, g˙idli li ser tinsa kull kelma li g˙edtlek …”
“Ieqaf u insa int ukoll. Ieqaf dil-minuta, Moira.” Re©a’ dar lejha u xxuttalha d-dmug˙ li kien g˙adu jleqq fi xfar g˙ajnejha. Qam minn fejn kien, “Ser in©ib Ωew© kikkri kafè minn g˙and tal-gabbana … tiççaqlaqx …”
“Le, le! Ibqa’ hawn ˙dejja. Jekk tassew ˙firtli ibqa’ ˙dejja … er©a’ po©©i hawn bilqieg˙da, hawn … ˙alli nersaqlek fuq ix-xugaman. Hekk ag˙tini idejk f’tieg˙i, anzi … ˙addanni mieg˙ek biex inkun Ωgura li ˙firtli.”
Baqg˙u hemm g˙al Ωmien twil bla ma jit˙arrku, bla ma jitkellmu, i˙arsu lejn ir-ramel dehbi mbewwes mil-ba˙ar ik˙al li lejn ix-xefaq jisfuma f’çelesti. Óassew s-se˙er tal-armonija misterjuΩa g˙addejja mill-istess natura g˙al ©ewwa qalbhom; bdiet tissarraf f’im˙abba li b˙al balzmu bdiet tfejjaqhom. G˙aliex kellha dik l-im˙abba ta’ bejniethom tinbidel f’velenu qerriedi ta’ mibeg˙da, tg˙ajjir u ©lied? G˙aliex kellhom ikissru u jferu ‘l xulxin, wara tant xhur ta’ m˙abba sinçiera? Iva, fehmu li issa kienet im˙abba differenti minn dik ta’ qabel fejn t˙obb biss biex takkwista mill-ie˙or. Kienet warrdet f’im˙abba altruista; t˙obb lill-ie˙or g˙ax hu tabil˙aqq ta’ min i˙obbu!
28 Hajja SalesjanaHajja Salesjana
li kont u g˙adek tirrispettani … u jien … ma nafx
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On May 1 Pope Benedict XVI beatified the most famous one-time parishioner of the Salesians, Karol Wojtyla from St. Stanislaus Kostka Parish in the Debniki - Krakow, Poland. The world now knows him as Blessed Pope John Paul II.
Extraordinary Salesian Parishioner
By Michael Mendl, SDB
In August 1938, 18-year-old Karol and his father moved from their native Wadowice into tiny quarters at 10 Tyniecka St. in Krakow, a three-minute walk around the corner from St. Stanislaus Church at 6 Konfederacka St., where Karol attended Mass daily at 6:00 a.m. Karol would be counted as a parishioner until 1944, well into his seminary years.
Pope John Paul himself wrote in Gift and Mystery, “I cannot fail to mention one particular place … from [which] I really received much during that period. The place was my parish, dedicated to Saint Stanislaus Kostka…. I believe that the presence of the Salesians played an important role in the formation of my vocation” (G&M, p. 23).
The Pope spoke further of his vocation when he travelled to Turin in September 1988. At the end of the beatification Mass of Bl. Laura Vicuna, he thanked Providence for the gift of Don Bosco and then added some very personal remarks: “I bring my own gratitude because I also lived for five or six years in a Salesian parish. And when I find myself here at Colle Don Bosco…, when I look at the imposing facade of this great church, it brings to my mind that of another church: the parish church of St. Stanislaus Kostka in Krakow. ..And so I too come here in pilgrimage with all of you to give thanks for the part played by St. John Bosco, his spiritual Family, and his charism in my life” (Acts of the General Council, n. 328, p. 19).
John Paul also notes the “special devotion there to Mary, Help of Christians.” It was precisely in front of the image of Mary Help of Christians venerated in the church in Debniki that young Karol came to the decision to devote himself entirely to the service of the Lord and his Church. Germany launched World War II in Europe by invading Poland on Sept. 1, 1939. In the first year of the German
occupation, writes Weigel, the Salesians “at the risk of their lives … tried to continue this [youth] apostolate…, conducting underground catechetical programmes for elementary and high school students” (p. 59). Another biographer, Tad Szulc, singles out a pre-Easter retreat they organized in 1940 for the young people of the parish as a significant moment. “The retreat having proved successful,” he writes in Pope John Paul II, “the Salesians requested a priest who lectured at the Jagiellonian University to hold weekly theological encounters for twenty to thirty young people between the ages of sixteen and twenty-five, who
had come to the original r e t r e a t ” (p. 112). From these g a t h e r i n g s the Salesians came up with the idea of “the Living Rosary” to
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maintain a clandestine network among the youths to circumvent the Nazis’ wariness of church organizations. Karol’s experience of Salesian pastoral care for the young must have made a profound impression on him, not only in terms of his vocation and his Marian devotion, as he has testified, but also in his interest in young people, so evident throughout his own priestly, episcopal, and papal ministry. Writing to the Salesians on Feb. 22, 2002, Pope John Paul remarked: “Your life, my dear sons, is lived out among the boys as Don Bosco wanted it to be. You are happy among them, and they enjoy your friendly presence. Yours are ‘houses’ in which they feel at ease.” (Acts of GC25, n. 145). Surely the Holy Father was speaking from personal experience. If Pope John Paul II “connected” with the young and inspired so many of them to deepen their faith in Jesus Christ and even to pursue religious or priestly vocations, may we attribute that in good part to the Salesians of Debniki?
One participant in the youth gatherings following this Lenten retreat of 1940, by no means one of the younger ones, was a
Karol enrolled (cf. G&M 12-13). During his last visit to Poland, John Paul
II stopped in front of St. Stanislaus Church on August 17, 2002, and declared: “I always remember those Salesians who were taken away from this parish to the concentration camp.... I also remember Mr. Jan Tyranowski’s Living Rosary...” (ANS). He was a special “person from whom I received much during that period” (G&M 23); from this spiritual mentor Karol “learned the basic methods of self-formation which would later be confirmed and developed in the seminary program. Tyranowski…helped me to read the works of Saint John of the Cross and Saint Teresa of Avila, something uncommon for a person my age” (G&M 24). Many of the Living Rosary Group eventually became priests or religious.
After his ordination on Nov. 1, 1946, Fr. Wojtyla returned to St. Stanislaus on Nov. 3 to celebrate one of his “first Masses” as a priest, “with a beaming Jan Tyranowski present” (Szulc, p. 133).
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39-year-old tailor named Jan Tyranowski who offered to take charge of the Living Rosary. The Salesians, recognizing “his gifts of good sense, piety, and apostolic zeal” (ANS), entrusted the pastoral care of the young men and women to him. This unpretentious and devout man was steeped in the spirituality of the Carmelite mystics, especially St. John of the Cross and St. Teresa of Avila.
When the Gestapo arrested Fr. Jan Swierc, St. Stanislaus Kostka’s pastor, and 11 other Salesians from the parish and the Salesian
seminary on Tyniecka St. on May 23, 1941, the parish was left with only one elderly priest and the provincial, Fr. Adam Cieslar. Within 12 months Fr. Swierc and 7 others had been killed at Auschwitz. One, Fr. Joseph Kowalski, is among 108 Polish martyrs of the Nazis beatified in 1999, including 5 young leaders of the Salesian youth centre in Poznan—evidence of just how dangerous youth gatherings were, during the occupation, and for that matter, the underground seminary program that Archbishop Sapieha of Krakow organized in the fall of 1942 and in which
Dad had been a lumberjack in Washington and Oregon. He had entered gruelling lumberjack competitions, and had placed often. The shelves in his house were filled with trophies that attested to his prowess. The years marched on relentlessly. The first time he couldn't lift a heavy log, he joked about it; but later that same day I saw him outside alone, straining to lift it. He became irritable whenever anyone teased him about his advancing age.
Four days after his sixty-seventh birthday, he had a heart attack. At the hospital, Dad was rushed into an operating room. He was lucky; he survived. But something inside Dad died. His zest for life was gone. My husband, Dick, and I asked Dad to come live with us on our small farm. We hoped the fresh air and rustic atmosphere would help him adjust. Within a week after he moved in, I regretted the invitation. He criticized everything I did. I became frustrated and moody.
Alarmed, Dick sought out our pastor and explained the situation. The clergyman set up weekly counselling appointments for us. At the close of each session he prayed, asking God to soothe Dad's troubled mind. But the months wore on and God was silent. Something had to be done and it was up to me to do it.
The next day I sat down with the phone book and methodically called each of the mental health clinics listed in the Yellow Pages and I explained my problem. Just when I was giving up hope, one of the voices suddenly exclaimed, "I just read something that might help you! Let me go get the article..." The article described a remarkable
study done at a nursing home. All of the patients were under treatment for chronic depression. Yet their attitudes had improved dramatically when they were given responsibility for a dog.
I drove to the animal shelter that afternoon. I moved down the row of pens, each contained five to seven dogs all jumping up trying to reach me. As I neared the last pen a dog in the shadows of the far corner struggled to his feet, walked to the front of the run and sat down. It was a pointer, but this was a caricature of the breed. Years had etched his face and muzzle with shades of gray. But it was his eyes that caught and held my attention. Calm and clear, they beheld me unwaveringly.
I pointed to the dog. "Can you tell me about him?" The officer looked, then shook his head in puzzlement. "He's a funny one. Appeared out of nowhere and sat in front of the gate. We brought him in, figuring someone would be right down to claim him. That was two weeks ago and we've heard nothing.” I looked at the pointer again. The calm brown eyes awaited my decision. "I'll take him," I said. When I reached the house I honked the horn twice. I was helping my prize out of the car when Dad shuffled onto the front porch. "Ta-da! Look what I got for you, Dad!" I said excitedly.
Dad looked, then wrinkled his face in disgust. "If I had wanted a dog I would have gotten one. And I would have picked out a better specimen than that bag of bones. I don't want it". Anger rose inside me. It squeezed together my throat muscles and pounded into my temples. "You'd better get used to him, Dad. He's staying!"
CHEYENNE THE DOG AND DAD Story by Catherine Moore
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Dad ignored me. "Did you hear me, Dad?" I screamed. At those words Dad whirled angrily, his hands clenched at his sides, his eyes narrowed and blazing with hate. We stood glaring at each other like duellists, when suddenly the pointer pulled free from my grasp. He wobbled toward my dad and sat down in front of him. Then slowly, carefully, he raised his paw... Dad's lower jaw trembled as he stared at the uplifted paw. Confusion replaced the anger in his eyes. The pointer waited patiently. Then Dad was on his knees hugging the animal.
It was the beginning of a warm and intimate friendship. Dad named the pointer Cheyenne. Together he and Cheyenne explored the community. They spent long hours walking down dusty lanes. They spent reflective moments on the banks of streams, angling for tasty trout. They even started to attend Sunday services together, Dad sitting in a pew and Cheyenne lying quietly at his feet. Dad 's bitterness faded, and he and Cheyenne made many friends. Then late one night I was startled to feel Cheyenne's cold nose burrowing through our bed covers. He had never before come into our bedroom at night. I put on my robe and ran into my father's room. Dad lay in his bed, his face serene. But his spirit had left quietly sometime during the night.
Two days later my shock and grief deepened when I discovered Cheyenne lying dead beside Dad's bed. I wrapped his still form in the rag rug he had slept on. As Dick and I buried him near a favourite fishing hole, I silently thanked the dog for the help he had given me in restoring Dad's peace of mind. The morning of Dad's funeral I was surprised to see the many friends Dad and Cheyenne had made filling the church. The pastor began his eulogy. It was a tribute to both Dad and the dog who had changed his life. And then the pastor
turned to Hebrews 13:2. "Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by this some have entertained angels without knowing it."
"I've often thanked God for sending that angel," he said. For me, the past dropped into place, completing a puzzle that I had not seen before: the sympathetic voice that had just read the right article, Cheyenne 's unexpected appearance at the animal shelter, his calm acceptance and complete devotion to my father, and the proximity of their deaths.
And suddenly I understood. I knew that God had answered my prayers after all. God answers our prayers in His time... not ours! (Edited)
dusty lanes. They spent reflective moments on the banks of streams, angling for tasty trout. They even started to attend Sunday services together, Dad sitting in a pew and Cheyenne lying quietly at his feet. Dad 's bitterness faded, and he and Cheyenne made many friends. Then late one night I was startled to feel Cheyenne's cold nose burrowing through our bed covers. He had never before come into our bedroom at night. I put on my robe and ran into my father's room. Dad lay in his bed, his face serene. But his spirit had left quietly sometime during the night.
Two days later my shock and grief deepened when I discovered Cheyenne lying dead beside Dad's bed. I wrapped his still form in the rag rug he had slept on. As Dick and I buried him near a favourite fishing hole, I silently thanked the dog for the help he had given me in restoring Dad's peace of mind. The morning of Dad's funeral I was surprised to see the many friends Dad and Cheyenne had made filling the church. The pastor began his eulogy. It was a tribute to both Dad and the dog who had changed his life. And then the pastor
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“A good priest is a truly human person who expresses his love for God in prayer and in love for people. These gifts are sanctified and focused through the grace of ordination when he becomes ‘a man for others’.”Cardinal Cormac Murphy – O’Connor
• Do I really want to follow Jesus and show his love to others, especially to the young, as Don Bosco did?
• Is prayer and my own relationship with God at the centre of my life?
• Do I want to be honest and ‘real’ before God and others?
• Do I enjoy the life and company of other people? Am I approachable?
• Am I concerned for the young, the poor and vulnerable?
If you believe you have a calling to be a Salesian priest then contact the voca-tions director, Fr. Louis Grech SDB at:
Tel. 21 454546 / 21 456251 or e-mail: [email protected]
for more information www.vocations.salesiansmalta.org
way of life?
Are youbeing calledto the
PRIESTHOOD
And to the
SALESIAN
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Testmenti
Il-kontribuzzjonijiet kollha, kemm Ωg˙ar u kemm kbar, huma dejjem apprezzati.
Ibg˙at il-kontribuzzjonijiet tieg˙ek lil:Fr. Eric Cachia SDB - Amministratur tad-DelegazzjoniSavio College, Buskett Road, Dingli DGL2702Tel: 2145 4546
Tista’ tg˙inna fix-xog˙ol li a˙na nag˙mlu mat-tfal u maΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ foqra billi tiftakar fina fit-testment tieg˙ek jew tibg˙at donazzjoni.
Huwa bil-g˙ajnuna ta’ nies b˙alek li x-xog˙lijiet li g˙andna madwar id-dinja jibqg˙u jag˙tu l-frott.
BorΩa ta’ StudjuX’INHI BORÛA TA’ STUDJU?Hija somma ta’ flus li tg˙inna biex in˙allsu parti mill-formazzjoni ta’ Ωag˙Ωug˙ li qed i˙ejji ru˙u biex isir saçerdot Salesjan.
KEMM TRID TAGÓTI BIEX TWAQQAF BORÛA TA’ STUDJU?Kapital ta’ b600
JEÓTIEÌ LI BILFORS TAGÓTI S-SOMMA F’DAQQA?Le. Wie˙ed jista’ jag˙tiha biçça biçça, tant fix-xhar jew tant fis-sena.
JEÓTIEÌ LI BILFORS IS-SOMMA TKUN MOGÓTIJA MINN WIEÓED BISS?Le. Jistg˙u jiftehmu flimkien iktar minn persuna wa˙da u kul˙add jag˙ti sehmu. IΩda min jo˙ro© wa˙du s-somma kollha, ikun fundatur ta’ dik il-BorΩa.
JISTÀ WIEÓED IÓALLI L-BORÛA BÓALA LEGAT WARA MEWTU?Jistà. U min jag˙mel hekk, jistà jikteb fit-testment: “In˙alli b˙ala legatlis-Salesjani ta’ Don Bosco, is-somma ta’ g˙all-formazzjoni ta’Ωag˙Ωug˙ Malti fl-istess Soçjetà.
NEWSPAPER POST ST.PATRICK’S SCHOOL, ST. JOHN BOSCO STREET, SLIEMA 1925
