Sacred Heart Major Seminary

1 Sacred Heart Major Seminary Affiliated to the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (Rome) DIRECTORY no. 41 2010 - 2011 Triq Enrico Mizzi, Victoria VCT 2042, Gozo, Malta. Tel.: (+356) 2155 6479 Fax: (+356) 2155 3770 http://www.gozodiocese.org/sem.htm 2 3 MISSION STATEMENT The Major Seminary welcomes candidates for the ministerial priesthood and offers them a program of formation in conformity with the mind of the Catholic Church and with due consideration of the needs and potentials of the local Christian Community. It provides the students with the appropriate environment to pursue their vocation and acquire the human, spiritual, theological and pastoral formation, essential to the formation in pastoral charity and to carry out effectively the ministry of the Catholic priesthood. The Seminary seeks to support them THE BISHOP OF GOZO in the growth of that fraternal unity H.L. MGR. MARIO GRECH which binds the diocesan presbyterium with the bishop, J.C.D., J.U.L. as well as in the awareness of the multi-cultural milieu of contemporary society and Born at Qala, Gozo: 20 February 1957 a particular sense of universal mission. Ordained priest: 26 May 1984 Appointed Bishop: 26 November 2005 Also, it fosters the new vocations and Consecrated Bishop: 22 January 2006 supports the on-going formation of priests. Residence “Majorca” 156, Triq l-Avukat Anton Calleja, Kerċem KĊM 1114, Gozo. Tel.: 2155 6378 email: [email protected] 4 5 Benedict XVI to the priests in Malta: THE GOZO SEMINARY A Historical Note More than any of the cargo we might carry with us – in terms of our THE SEMINARY human accomplishments, our possessions, our technology – it is our The building which now houses the Seminary knows its origin to the relationship with the Lord that provides the key to our happiness and munificence of several persons who in 1778 decided to erect a new our human fulfilment. And he calls us to a relationship of love. Notice hospital for women in the island of Gozo. The former Saint Julian Hospital, the question that he put three times to Peter on the shore of the lake: founded in 1454, was proving itself too small. The venture was made “Simon, son of John, do you love me?” On the basis of Peter’s affirmative possible through a sizable donation of the Grand Prior of the Conventual response, Jesus assigns him a task – the task of feeding his flock. Here Church of Saint John, Fra Melchior Alferan, through bequests of the we see the basis of all pastoral ministry in the Church. It is our love for Reverend Joseph Agius and his sister Rose Pluman, and, finally, due to the Lord that must inform every aspect of our preaching and teaching, the encouragement and help of the Bishop of Malta and Gozo, Vincenzo our celebration of the sacraments, and our care for the people of God. It Labini, who promised to meet one third of all costs. Their portraits still is our love for the Lord that moves us to love those whom he loves, and hang in the Seminary corridors. to accept gladly the task of communicating his love to those we serve. Bishop Labini laid and blessed the first stone on 3 May 1783. Work During our Lord’s Passion, Peter denied him three times. Now, after the progressed briskly under the direction of Don Gianmarija Cauchi, and, Resurrection, Jesus invites him three times to avow his love, in this way due especially to the free work offered by many Gozitans the new Saint offering him healing and forgiveness and at the same time entrusting him Julian Hospital was soon able to receive the first patients. It consisted of with his mission. The miraculous catch of fish underlined the apostles’ two halls of the letter L and had a bed-capacity of fifty. Later on some dependence on God for the success of their earthly projects. The dialogue beds were set aside for incurables and a maternity for unwed mothers between Peter and Jesus underlined the need for divine mercy in order was also provided. In 1838, its scope was greatly reduced as the Saint to heal their spiritual wounds, the wounds of sin. In every area of our lives John the Baptist Hospital for males was opened also to women. The Saint we need the help of God’s grace. With him, we can do all things: without Julian Hospital closed down on 30 November 1864. him we can do nothing. [...] Meanwhile, on 16 September 1864, Blessed Pope Pius IX had Dun Ġorġ Preca was a priest of remarkable humility, goodness, established Gozo and Comino as a separate Diocese. After a suggestion meekness and generosity, deeply devoted to prayer and with a passion by the promoters of the Diocese, the Bull of Erection, Singulari Amore, for communicating the truths of the Gospel. Let him serve as a model and stipulated that the Seminary of the new Diocese should be housed instead an inspiration for you, as you strive to fulfil the mission you have received of Saint Julian Hospital. The new bishop of Gozo, Mgr. Francesco Buttigieg to feed the Lord’s flock. Remember, too, the question that the Risen Lord soon ordered its closure and through his Vicar General and the chief put three times to Peter: “Do you love me?” That is the question he asks promoter of the Diocese, Monsignor Pietro Pace, he engaged a Roman each of you. Do you love him? Do you wish to serve him through the gift architect to prepare a plan for its conversion. Through the efforts of the of your whole lives? Do you long to bring others to know and love him? indefatigable Mgr. Pace, work soon got under way. With Peter, have the courage to answer, “Yes, Lord, you know I love you,” and accept with grateful hearts the beautiful task that he has assigned On 28 May 1865, the bishop asked Fr. Pierre-Jean Becks, Superior you. The mission entrusted to priests is truly a service to joy, to God’s joy General of the Society of Jesus, to allow the Sicilian Jesuits to take over which longs to break into the world. the running and direction of the new Seminary. This he accepted and on 11 September 1866, three Jesuits arrived from Sicily to assume the (Mass at the Floriana Granaries, 18 April 2010) responsibility of the Seminary: Fr. Antonio Tommasi S.J., who was to be 6 7 the first Rector, Fr. Salvatore di Pietro S.J., who was to be the first Minister which operated until 1909, were from 1885 published in the Summary and at the same time teach Mathematics and Physics, and Brother Antonio and Review of International Meteorological Observations printed THE SEMINARY Ardagna S.J. Bishop Buttigieg, who had worked so hard to set this new monthly by the War Department at Washington D.C. THE SEMINARY venture on a good and solid basis, unfortunately died the previous July The Seminary also became the centre of many ecclesiastical and cultural and the official opening was delayed until the election of his successor. activities of the Diocese, and the Jesuits held meetings for priests, gave The inauguration eventually took place on 4 November 1866, in the public lectures and talks, held religious activities and produced dramatic afternoon. The ceremony was presided over by the Apostolic Administrator shows both for the Seminarians and for the people at large, many of whom of Gozo, H.L. Mgr. Paolo Micallef O.E.S.A. and the Provincial of the Sicilian came even from Malta. Province of the Society of Jesus, Fr. Pietro Fontana S.J. The inauguration Owing to certain administrative difficulties as well as to shortness of address was delivered by the Vicar General Mgr. Pietro Pace, later Bishop personnel, the Sicilian Jesuits left the Seminary on 9 August 1909. Bishop of Gozo (1877-89) and Archbishop of Malta (1889-1914). On the previous Giovanni Maria Camilleri passed over its running to Diocesan priests. In 15 September, he had blessed the new chapel in the Seminary, initially the first months the Rector was an Italian priest but after 1910 most of dedicated to Saint Julian, but since 8 December 1866, it was rededicated the Rectors were Gozitans. Since 1970, the Sacred Heart Seminary has to the Immaculate Conception. That same day, the spiritual director, Fr. again been directed by a Jesuit till 1997. Salvatore Spinelli S.J. founded the Marian Congregation with sixteen The Seminary, under the guidance of Bishop Mario Grech, the eighth members. In remembrance of the inauguration three marble coats-of- successor of Bishop Buttigieg, still enjoys to a great extent the good name arms were eventually placed over the door of the Seminario del Gozo: it originally achieved. The immense influence that it had in the educational one of Pope Pius IX flanked by those of Bishop Labini on the left and and cultural fields in Gozo cannot be denied particularly when one Bishop Buttigieg on the right. realizes that for a long time it was practically the only secondary school The Jesuits did much to enhance the standard of education at the in the island and that a vast number of Gozitan priests, men of profession, Seminary and indeed, the reputation of this school spread far and wide. civil servants and businessmen, nay even Maltese, owe their secondary So much so that, from the very beginning, not only the sons of the best education to the Seminary. families in Gozo, but also many intellectually talented boys from Malta By its decree of 13 April 1994, the Congregation for Catholic Education and even from Sicily, attended the Jesuit-run Seminary.

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