Nhar it-Tlieta 11 ta’ Novembru 2014, l-Isqof Charles J. Scicluna mexxa iċ-ċerimonja annwali ta’ gradwazzjoni tal-Istitut ta’ Formazzjoni Pastorali fis-Seminarju, tal-Virtù. Matul din iċ-ċerimonja iggradwaw 142 persuna li, matul l-aħħar sena akkademika, temmew b’suċċess wieħed mit-13-il kors differenti li offra l-Istitut flimkien ma’ entitajiet ohra fil-Knisja. Iċ-ċerimonja tal-gradwazzjoni bdiet b’Quddiesa ta’ ringrazzjament, u wara saret il-presentazzjonijiet taċ-ċertifikati. Il-korsijiet li temmew il-parteċipanti kienu ta’ livelli erbgħa, ħamsa u u sitta tal-Malta Qualifications Framework (MQF) u tal-European Qualifications Framework (EQF) kif ġej:

• Human Experience of God (livell 4)
• General Education Award in Evangelisation (livell 4)
• General Education Award in Youth Leadership (livell 4)
• Higher Education Award in Adolescent and Youth Ministry (livell 5)
• Higher Education Award in Family Ministry (livell 5)
• Higher Education Award in Missiology (livell 5)
• Higher Education Award in Catholic Social Teaching (livell 5)
• Higher Education Award in Liturgy (livell 5)
• Higher Education Award in Christian Leadership II (livell 5)
• Higher Education Award in Parish Nursing (livell 5)
• Higher Education Award in Carmelite Spirituality (livell 5)
• Diploma in Spiritual Accompaniment (livell 5)
• Diploma in Christian Leadership (livell 6)

L-Istitut ta’ Formazzjoni Pastorali twaqqaf fl-2005 biex iwieġeb għas-sejħa li ħarġet mis-Sinodu Djoċesan li joffri formazzjoni lill-Insara għall-ħtiġijiet reali tas-soċjetà u joffri formazzjoni lil dawk il-persuni li iħossu l-bżonn li jimpenjaw ruħħom b’mod attiv fil-fidi tagħhom…

L-Arċisqof Emeritu Pawlu Cremona O.P. f’isem il-Konferenza Episkopali Maltija attenda komemorazzjoni li fakkret iċ-ċentinarju mill-Ewwel Gwerra Dinjija. L-Arċisqof Emeritu flimkien ma’ Isqfijiet mill-Ewropa kollha attendew żewġ servizzi sempliċi, f’Verdun fil-Lvant ta’  Franza. Fiċ-ċimiterju ta’ Ossuaire de Douaumont, l-Isqfijiet poġġew lampi votivi fil-kappella fejn jistrieħu l-għadam ta’ 130,000 suldat mhux identifikati.

Il-pellegrinaġġ kompla fil-Katidral Notre Dame f’Verdun fejn tkantaw il-Vespri…

On Sunday 9th November 2014, four seminarians and a Capuchin friar were ordained deacons by Mgr Charles J. Scicluna, Titular Bishop of San Leone and Apostolic Administrator sede vacante, during a celebration of Mass held at Christ the King Parish Church, Paola. Archbishop Emeritus Mgr. Joseph Mercieca was present for the Mass.

The five new deacons are: Rev. Carlo Calleja from Stella Maris Parish Church, Sliema, Rev…

On Sunday 9th November 2014, Bishop Charles J. Scicluna, Apostolic Administrator sede vacante, celebrated Pontifical Mass on the occasion of Remembrance Day. Mass was held at St John’s Co-cathedral, Valletta. The Apostolic Nuncio, Mgr Aldo Cavalli, concelebrated Mass, which was attended by the President of Malta and Mr Preca, the highest State authorities, as well as other dignitaries. 

Photos: Photocity, Valletta…

Your Excellency,
Brothers and Sisters,

We are gathered here today, as is customary every year on Remembrance Day, to commemorate the victims of the two World Wars, which, as we all know, were great tragedies.  The theologian Karl Rahner once wrote “the memory is the faculty to forget”. If we have a right to forget, today it is our duty to remember!  We call to mind all those innocent victims which were sent to their death by people in power sitting behind their desks. 

Such were the sentiments of frustration, anger and sorrow that were expressed so eloquently by a generation of English poets who are known as The Great War Poets, among them Siegfried Sassoon and Wilfred Owen, who both experienced the horrors of war. 16 million people died during the First World War which began one hundred years ago, in 1914…