Hajja Salesjana MEJJU - ÌUNJU 2012il-225 Óar©a
Il-Madonna bil-Bambin
Qalb Sabi˙a u Ru˙ Sabi˙a
G˙allimni Nitlob
Darba kien hemm tifel...
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: hajjasal@salesiansmalta.org
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 SDB
Director/ Editor: Fr. Joseph Cini SDB
Editorial 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
Qalb Sabi˙a u Ru˙ Sabi˙a 7
News from Australia 9
G˙allimni Nitlob 12
Brief Life of St. John Bosco 14
New Churches 16
Grandma’s Hands 20
Malta Salesjana 22
My Mommy Will Hear Me Play 24
Il-Madonna bil-Bambin 26
Well Done Lads 29
Darba kien hemm tifel... 30
How to plant the garden of your daily living 33
Editorjal / Pedago©ija / Calendar of events /
Something to think about / Don Bosco Around the World
3Hajja Salesjana
editorjal
IppreΩentajt ru˙i lil wie˙ed Ωag˙Ωug˙, u b’nofs
çajta g˙edtlu li jiena qassis, “undercover”! “B˙al
Becky mela,” qalli mill-ewwel, b’referenza g˙al
serje televiΩiva popolari mal-Maltin.
Xi drabi noqg˙od na˙seb kif jarawna
l-o˙rajn. Jafu n-nies li s-Salesjani g˙andhom g˙al
qalbhom il-©id tat-tfal u Ω-Ωg˙aΩag˙ li huma fqar,
abbandunati jew fil-periklu? Jidher, dan, minn kif
nitkellmu u nippreΩentaw ru˙na? Jo˙ro© mill-
websites tag˙na? G˙aliex dan, çertament, kien
fil-qalb tal-˙idma ta’ Dun Bosco sa mil-bidu nett.
Kien ukoll l-g˙an li g˙alih konna msej˙a sabiex
ni©u na˙dmu f’Malta fl-1903, u jibqa’ dejjem parti
integrali tal-identitá tag˙na s-Salesjani.
Is-soltu a˙na nesprimu l-kariΩma tag˙na
permezz tal-edukazzjoni formali fl-iskejjel u
l-formazzjoni nisranija. Imma f’dawn iΩ-Ωminijiet
g˙andna sfida wkoll li inwe©buh f’soçjeta' fejn
il-faqar, b’diversi modi, akkwista dimensjoni
aktar ur©enti fil-˙ajja ta’ ˙afna tfal u Ωg˙aΩag˙. U
g˙alkemm sikwit ma jkunux Ωg˙aΩag˙ “tal-Knisja,”
l-ur©enza tal-bΩonnijiet primarji tag˙hom titlob
minna li noffru risposta g˙all-˙ti©ijiet illi dawn
ikollhom: u dan b˙ala parti integrali tal-missjoni
tag˙na u mhux b˙ala “optional extra”.
A˙na s-Salesjani, f’dawn l-a˙˙ar snin, qed
noffru servizzi ©odda, u fta˙na çentri fejn tfal u
Ωg˙aΩag˙ fi bΩonn gravi jsibu min jilqag˙hom,
jikkurahom, jedukahom u jurihom fiduçja. B’hekk
qed noffru liΩ-Ωg˙ar g˙ajnuna ta’ vera u konkreta
biex jikbru ˙alli jsibu posthom fid-dinja u fis-
soçjetà.
Dawn is-servizzi qeg˙din nag˙tuhom f’St.
Patrick’s u f’Dar Osanna Pia f’Tas-Sliema, kif ukoll
f’Don Bosco House, Óal Balzan. Qed in˙ejju wkoll
Dar Mamma Margherita. B’konsultazzjoni ma’ nies
esperti f’diversi oqsma, nimmiraw g˙al kwalita'
g˙olja ta’ servizz ˙alli b’hekk no˙olqu ambjenti
dinjituΩi fejn it-tfal u Ω-Ωg˙aΩag˙ i˙ossuhom
milqug˙a u tassew indukrati.
Dun Bosco ma kienx sempliçement qassis:
kien ukoll appostlu taΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙. B˙alu, a˙na
s-Salesjani, Fathers u Brothers, nag˙tu xhieda tal-
im˙abba t’Alla billi niddedikaw ru˙na g˙al xog˙ol
fejjiedi mat-tfal u Ω-Ωg˙aΩag˙ foqra u abbandunati.
Ma’ dawn mhux dejjem jaqbel li tilbes kullar:
imma jekk tg˙arrex sew kapaçi ssibna na˙dmu
“undercover”.
Fr. Antoine Farrugia.
"Jafu n-nies li s-salesJani
gÓandhom gÓal qalbhom il-Ìid
tat-tfal u Û-ÛgÓaÛagÓ li huma
fqar, abbandunati Jew fil-periklu?"
Qassis, kwaΩi
bil-mo˙bi
4 Hajja Salesjana
editorial
Introducing myself to a young lad, I joked, saying
that I am a priest, undercover. “Like Becky then”
was the spontaneous reply, referring to a popular
TV detective soap.
Sure, at times I wonder how other folk perceive
us. Are people aware that Salesians have at
heart the welfare of the young who are poor,
abandoned and in danger? Is this evident in the
stories we tell about ourselves? Does it shine
through our websites? For it has certainly always
been at the heart of Don Bosco’s work right from
the beginning. It was also the purpose for which
we were invited to Malta in 1903 and remains part
and parcel of our Salesian identity.
Our traditional responses are channelled
through the medium of formal education and
Christian formation. Today we are also challenged
to respond to a society in which poverty in its
diverse forms has become ever more prevalent,
acquiring a tragic dimension in the lives of many
young people. Though often distrustful of the
Church, their urgent situations prompt us to
provide a qualified presence in response to their
needs: as a major part of our mission, not an
optional extra.
Lately, our responses came in the shape of
services and centres where young people at risk
find acceptance, care, educational priming and
support. Thus we offer the young real, practical,
help to engage with a process of growth and find
their way in the world.
Such services are mainly delivered through
St Patrick’s and Dar Osanna Pia in Sliema, as
well as Don Bosco House in Balzan. Dar Mamma
Margherita is also in the pipeline. Drawing on
professional expertise we always aim for higher
standards in order to create dignified spaces
where young people can feel welcomed and truly
cared for.
Ask anyone about Don Bosco: he was not just
a priest, he was an apostle of the young. Like him,
as committed Religious brothers and priests, we
Salesians evangelise by dedicating ourselves
to the social dimensions of charity. Yeah, even
undercover.
Fr. Antoine Farrugia
"are people aware that salesians have
at heart the welfare of the young who
are poor, abandoned and in danger?"
Priest,
undercover
5Hajja Salesjana
PEDAGOÌIJASalesjana
Minn Pascual Chávez Villanueva – Trad. Joe Cini
Lejla wa˙da, f’Mejju 1862, Dun Bosco beda
jirrakkonta hekk: “Imma©inaw ru˙kom mieg˙i
fuq xatt il-ba˙ar, jew a˙jar, fuq irdum ˙iere©
fuq il-ba˙ar mnejn ma tarax art. Il-wesg˙a ta’
ba˙ar quddiemna hija miksija bi flotta ta’ xwieni
lesti g˙at-taqbida, bil-ponta tal-pruwa armata
b’munqar qisu lanza kapaçi jkisser kull ma ji©ih
quddiemu. Kollha huma armati b’kanuni, bombi,
azzarini ta’ kull xorta – anke kotba – u resqin
lejn vapur kbir u maestuΩ, aktar qawwi minnhom
kollha.
Waqt li huma resqin, jippruvaw ja˙btu mieg˙u,
jatuh in-nar u jkissruh kemm jistg˙u. Dan il-vapur
huwa mdawwar minn o˙rajn iΩg˙ar. L-irjie˙ u
l-mew© jiffavurixxu lill-g˙edewwa. F’nofs dak il-
ba˙ar imqalleb, Ωew© kolonni mdaqqsa, xi ftit ‘il
bog˙od minn xulxin, jitilg˙u lejn is-sema; wa˙da
g˙andha fuqha statwa tal-Ver©ni Immakulata bil-
kliem Auxilium Christianorum ta˙t ri©lejha; l-o˙ra,
aktar g˙olja u ˙oxna, g˙andha fuqha ostja kbira, u
miktub ta˙t din, il-kliem Salus Credentium.
Il-kmandant tal-vapur maestuΩ - Il-Papa – jsuq
fost dawk il-qawwiet g˙edewwa u jwassal il-vapur,
qawwi u s˙i˙, bejn dawk iΩ-Ωew© kolonni li mag˙hom
hemm ˙afna ankri u gançijiet marbuta ma’ ktajjen,
u hemmhekk jirmonka mag˙hom, l-ewwel ma’ dik
bl-ostja fil-quççata tag˙ha u mbag˙ad ma’ l-o˙ra,
bl-istatwa tal-Madonna. F’dal-mument ti©ri xi ˙a©a
straordinarja: il-vapuri g˙edewwa jit˙arbtu u
jitferrxu, ja˙btu ma’ xulxin u jg˙arrqu lil xulxin.
Insiru nafu lil Dun Bosco 3
Kolonna
Devozzjoni lejn Marija G˙ajnuna tal-Insara, il-qalb tal-˙idma Salesjana.
6 Hajja Salesjana
Isem ©did u antik
Dun Albera jg˙idilna kif lejla wa˙da ta’ Diçembru
ta’ dik is-sena, wara li kien qarar lit-tfal sal-˙dax
ta’ bil-lejl, Dun Bosco mar jiekol xi ˙a©a. Deher
im˙asseb. F’daqqa wa˙da qal, “Kien hemm
˙afna qrar illejla, imma verament, ma nafx eΩatt
x’g˙amilt u x’g˙edt, g˙aliex kelli xi ˙a©a tberen
f’mo˙˙i. Kont qieg˙ed na˙seb: il-knisja li g˙andna
hija Ωg˙ira wisq; inda˙˙lu t-tfal tag˙na b˙as-
sardin. Hemm bΩonn nibnu wa˙da akbar u isba˙,
wa˙da ddedikata lil Marija G˙ajnuna tal-Insara.
B˙alissa m’g˙andix sold, u ma nafx minn fejn ser
insib il-flus, imma dak mhux importanti. Jekk Alla
jrid, g˙ad tinbena.”(Memorie Biografiche 7,197).
Qasam ˙sibijietu ukoll ma’ Dun Cagliero, “Sa issa
ççelebrajna l-festa tal-Immakulata Kunçizzjoni
bis-solennità kollha(…) Imma l-Madonna tridna
nonorawha ta˙t it-titlu ta’ Marija, G˙ajnuna tal-
Insara. IΩ-Ωminijiet huma hekk koroh li verament
ne˙tie©u l-g˙ajnuna tag˙ha sabiex inΩommu u
n˙arsu l-fidi.” (MB 7, 197)
Fl-ewwel xhur tal-1863 beda ja˙dem sabiex
jakkwista l-permessi g˙al-bini; fl-1865 tpo©©iet
l-ewwel ©ebla u fl-1868 ix-xog˙ol kien spiçça.
L-Ikona li titkellem
Dak li qawwa lil Dun Bosco ma kienx biss ˙sieb
prattiku (li jkollu knisja akbar) jew dak politiku
u reli©juΩ (l-antiklerikaliΩmu qalil li kien jhedded
lill-Knisja). U l-istampa titulari tal-Madonna, tal-
pittur Lorenzoni, tatina ˙jiel sew ta’ x’kien il-˙sieb
profond ta’ Dun Bosco. Il-mod kif kien jifhem
l-istorja tas-salvazzjoni ©ieg˙lu jpo©©i l-Knisja
fil-qalba tad-dinja, waqt li b˙ala qalba tal-Knisja
huwa ra lil Marija, G˙ajnuna tal-Insara, l-Omma
l-aktar qawwija, li tirba˙ il-˙aΩen.
Il-Madonna kienet dejjem preΩenti fil-˙ajja
ta’ Dun Bosco. Fil-˙olma tieg˙u ta’ 9 snin, Ìesù
jintroduçi ru˙u hekk: “Jiena bin dik il-mara li
ommok g˙allmitek issellem tlett darbiet kuljum.”
Imma l-punt çentrali tad-devozzjoni tieg˙u
lejha g˙andu post speçifiku: il-knisja ta’ Valdocco.
“U din,” jikteb Dun Egidju Viganò, “kienet ser
tibqa’ l-ikona definittiva tal-Madonna; il-punt
ewlieni ta’ numru dejjem jikber ta’ vokazzjonijiet,
u ç-çentru minfejn tinxtered il-kariΩma tieg˙u ta’
fundatur. Fil-G˙ajnuna tal-Insara, Dun Bosco sa fl-
a˙˙ar jag˙raf ix-xbieha ta’ dik is-Sinjura li kienet
hemm sa mil-bidu tal-vokazzjoni tieg˙u, u li kienet
u dejjem baqg˙et g˙alih ispirazzjoni u g˙alliema.”
Marija bniet dar g˙aliha
Is-Santwarju ta’ Valdocco isir is-sinjal li jin˙ass
u ta’ veru tal-preΩenza ta’ Marija fil-˙ajja ta’
Dun Bosco u tal-Kongregazzjoni. Din hija l-Knisja
Matriçi tal-Familja Salesjana. Il-popolin malajr
jara l-intisa meraviljuΩa bejn Marija G˙ajnuna
tal-Insara u Dun Bosco. Hija issa ser tkun g˙al
dejjem “il-Madonna ta’ Dun Bosco.” U Dun Bosco
jsir “Il-qaddis ta’ l-G˙ajnuna tal-Insara.” Ha©a
verament rari li titlu tal-Madonna, kwaΩi mhux
mag˙ruf, jinxtered mad-dinja daqshekk malajr.
B’umiltà Dun Bosco qal, “Mhux jien dak li nag˙mel
l-g˙e©ubijiet li qeg˙din taraw; huwa l-Mulej, hija
l-Imqaddsa Marija li jog˙©obha tag˙mel uΩu minn
qassis msejken. Jiena ma tajt xejn minn tieg˙i:
Aedificavit sibi domum, Maria” (Marija bniet hija,
darha). Kull ©ebla u kull tiΩjin huma grazzji.”
Dan is-Santwarju ta’ Valdocco huwa dik il-
knisja li s-Salesjani, mad-dinja kollha, i˙arsu
lejh aktar bil-qalb milli bl-g˙ajnejn. U ©ewwa fih
kul˙add i˙ossu “fid-dar tieg˙u.”
"Mhux jien dak li nag˙mel l-g˙e©ubijiet li qieg˙din taraw;
huwa l-Mulej, hija l-Imqaddsa Marija
li jog˙©obha tag˙mel uΩu minn qassis msejken.”
7Hajja Salesjana
Qalb Sabi˙a u Ru˙ Sabi˙a
Nhar il-Óadd, 6 ta’ Mejju, ta˙bat il-festa ta’ San Duminku Savio. Huwa miet fid-9 ta’ Marzu 1857,
kien mag˙mul Beatu nhar il-5 ta’ Marzu 1950 u msejja˙ qaddis nhar it-12 ta’ Ìunju 1954 mill-Papa
Piu XII. Infakkru fil-qosor min kien Duminku Savio.
Il-mewt, imma le nidneb
Duminku twieled nhar it-2 ta’ April 1842 f’San
Giovanni di Riva, mhux bog˙od minn Chieri,
provinçja ta’ Turin. Trabba ©o familja g˙anja fil-
valuri nsara, u minn çkunitu kien mog˙ni b’çerta
maturità ta’ ˙ajja umana u kristjana. Kien jasal il-
knisja qabel is-saçerdot u jistennih, kultant waqt
li nieΩla l-borra, sabiex jg˙inu fil-quddiesa. Kien
dejjem fer˙an. Fl-istess waqt kien ukoll tifel serju,
tant hu hekk li t˙alla jag˙mel l-ewwel tqarbina fl-
età ta’ 7 snin, u dawk il-jiem kien ˙aΩΩeΩ fuq pitazz
çkejken il-programm ta’ ˙ajtu. “Nersaq lejn il-qrar
ta’ spiss u lejn it-tqarbin kull darba li l-konfessur
jippermettili. InΩomm qaddisa il-jiem ta’ festa
kmandata. Il-˙bieb tieg˙i ikunu Ìesù u Marija. Il-
mewt, imma le nidneb.”
Jiltaqa’ ma’ Dun Bosco
Kellu 12-il sena meta ltaqa’ ma’ Dun Bosco u talbu
jkun milqug˙ l-Oratorju ta’ Turin. Huwa jixtieq,
b’qalbu kollha, jistudja sabiex isir saçerdot. Dun
Bosco, mistag˙©eb, kien qallu, “Jidhirli li g˙andna
biçça drapp tajba.” U Duminku kien wie©eb, “Jiena
nkun id-drapp u inti il-˙ajjat, allura!”
Ìie milqug˙ l-Oratorju, kif xtaq, u mill-ewwel
talab lil Dun Bosco jg˙inu “sabiex isir qaddis.”
Tfajjel twajjeb, dejjem seren u fer˙an, kien
jag˙mel attenzjoni kbira g˙ad-doveri tieg˙u ta’
student, u sabiex jaqdi b’˙afna modi lil s˙abu
billi jg˙allimhom id-duttrina, jie˙u ˙sieb il-morda,
iwaqqaf il-©lied.
Lil dawk it-tfal li kienu jaslu l-Oratorju
g˙all-ewwel darba, kien jg˙idilhom, “Kunu afu
li hawnhekk il-qdusija tfisser li nkunu dejjem
fer˙anin.” Nie˙du ˙sieb dejjem “li nevitaw id-dnub
b˙ala l-akbar g˙adu li jisraqilna l-grazzja ta’ Alla
u l-paçi ta’ ru˙na; u li dejjem naqdu, eΩattament,
id-doveri tag˙na.”
Il-Kumpanija tal-Immakulata
Huwa nnifsu kien josserva dan il-program ta’ ̇ ajja.
Kien imwieΩen f’dan mis-sagramenti mqaddsa
u mid- devozzjoni lejn Marija; jag˙mel bil-fer˙ xi
sagrifiççu u mimli bid-doni ta’ Alla. Nhar it-8 ta’
Diçembru 1854, meta l-Papa Piu IX ipproklama
d-domma tal-Immakulata, Duminku ikkonsagra
lilu nnifsu lil Marija u beda miexi b’˙effa fit-triq tal-
qdusija. Fl-1856, flimkien ma’ xi ˙bieb tal-Oratorju,
waqqaf “Il-Kumpanija tal-Immakulata” sabiex
jistg˙u jag˙mlu ©id spiritwali fost s˙abhom.
“..˙add ma jisboq il-qalb sabi˙a u r-ru˙ sabi˙a
ta’ Duminku”
Mamma Margerita, omm Dun Bosco, li kienet
tg˙ix u tg˙in fl-Oratorju, qalet lil Dun Bosco, “Int
g˙andek ˙afna Ωg˙aΩag˙ twajba, imma ˙add
ma jisboq il-qalb sabi˙a u r-ru˙ sabi˙a ta’ Savio
Duminku.” U spjegat ru˙ha hekk, “Jiena narah
dejjem jitlob; jibqa’ fil-knisja wara l-o˙rajn; kuljum
jitlaq xi ftit mil-log˙ob sabiex jag˙mel viΩta lis-
Santissimu Sagrament… u fil-knisja qisu xi an©lu
tas-sema.”
Duminku miet f’Mondonio nhar id-9 ta’ Marzu
1857. Dun Bosco kiteb ˙ajtu u kien jibki kull meta
jer©a’ jaqraha. Ir-relikwi ta’ Duminku qeg˙din
fil-baΩilka ta’ Marija AwΩiljatriçi, f’Turin. Il-festa
tieg˙u ti©i ççelebrata fis-6 ta’ Mejju. Il-Papa Piu XI
kien sejja˙lu “©gant Ωg˙ir, anzi kbir, tal-ispirtu.”
Huwa l-patrun tal-ommijiet li qed jistennew tarbija,
u kull sena ji©u nnutati numru konsiderevoli ta’
grazzji li jinqalg˙u bl-interçessjoni tieg˙u.
8 Hajja Salesjana
FeaStS & eVeNtSCaleNdar oF SaleSiaN2012
ma
y
juN
e
jlu
y
Tue 1 St. Joseph Patron Saint of Workers
Wed 2 Salesian Cooperators – Sliema: monthly meeting at 6.00 p.m.
Fri 4 Celebrations in honour of St. Dominic Savio at Savio College & St. Patrick’s
First Friday: Adoration and Mass at St. Patrick’s at 6.15 p.m.
Sun 6 Feast of St. Dominic Savio (a pupil of St. John Bosco). Sports Day at Savio
College
Thu 10 Prayer Day for Salesian Missions
Sun 13 St. Mary Domenica Mazzarello (With Don Bosco she founded the ‘Daughters of
Mary Help of Christians’). Celebrations by the Salesian Sisters.
Thu 24 Mary Help of Christians (Principal Patroness of the Salesian Congregation).
Celebrations in all Salesian Houses. Evening Mass at St. Patrick and Sliema Oratory.
Sun 27 Procession of Mary Help of Christians in Sliema at 6.15 p.m. All Salesian Family
is invited.
Tue 29 Bl. Joseph Kowalski (Salesian martyr in Auschwitz in 1942)
Fri 1 First Friday Devotions at St. Patrick’s at 6.15p.m.
Mon 4 Start of Schools’ half-day programme.
Sun 10 Prayer Day for Salesian Missions
Tue 12 Bl. Francis Kety and Companions (Polish Oratory youths martyred by Nazis
in 1942)
Wed 13 Monthly Meeting for Salesian Cooperators, Sliema. Outdoor activity.
Sat 16 Form 5 Graduation Ceremony at Savio College
Mon 18 Start of Final Exams at Savio College
Sun 24 Feast of St. John Baptist: Feast of the Rector Major
Mon 25 Commemoration of Mary Help of Christians at St. Patrick and the Oratory-Sliema
Thu 28 Last day of school-year. Mnarja Night Buffet Dinner at Sliema Oratory and Savio College.
Fri 29 Feast of Imnarja – Sts. Peter and Paul
Fri 6 First Friday devotions at St. Patrick’s at 6.15 p.m.
Sat 7 Bl. Maria Romero Meneses FMA
Fri 4 Prayer Day for Salesian Missions
Tue 24 Commemoration of Mary Help of Christians at St. Patrick’s and Oratory - Sliema
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
9Hajja Salesjana
Keeping the tradition of our younger days, at the
Oratory, the committee organised a Children’s
Christmas Party.
Starting the party with rosary and Christmas
Carols, helped the kids tune themselves into the Holy
Spirit of Christmas
Maltese Salesians Past
Pupils Of Victoria By Joe Sacco
Christmas 2011
Celebrating the feast of St. John Bosco
The celebration started with
mass at the Chapel of St.
Paul, the Maltese Community
Centre in Parkville; and was
celebrated by Fr. Joe Pulis SDB,
who is currently celebrating
his 50th Anniversary of his
ordination as a priest.
Fr. Joe is the Chaplin and Spiritual Director of
the Association. This is quite a commitment, as
Fr. Joe, is based in Bairnsdale Victoria, over a 3
hour drive from Melbourne and travel to be with
us during our functions; thank you Fr. Joe.
When Mass ended, everyone was invited to the
hall for a scrumptious lunch, complemented with
chats and laughter.
The formalities has had to come; and the
President, Mr. Joe Portelli, spoke about our
Association, asking for more support and
refreshing the minds, that, money raised goes
to the Salesian Missions. During the years the
Association donated $150,000 to these Missions.
It was late afternoon, when the hard working
committee had their rest. Well done.
The Maltese Salesian Past Pupils Association of Victoria celebrated the feast of St. John Bosco
on the 5th February 2012.
Some of the children at the party
Fr. Joe Pulis
10 Hajja Salesjana
Don Bosco Around the World
TOGO
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 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
Africa
The visit of the casket in Africa
imagine turned out!
As February began the casket of Don Bosco
arrived in several centres in Mali. At the airport
of, Bamako, where there was a simple but joyful
welcoming ceremony, with many youngsters also
from Senegal and Guinea Conakry who played
their drums and sang in honour of the “father and
teacher of youth.” On Thursday 2 the relic went to
the Salesian centre in Sikasso to the sound of the
horns of the escort of cars. Waiting at the house
11Hajja Salesjana
was an impressive welcoming party
of authorities: the Bishop, the Governor,
the Head of the Police, religious leaders
including Muslims and those of traditional
cults, together with a large crowd of the Christian
faithful and the young, who kept shouting “Our
Father has come to visit us.”
On Saturday afternoon 4 February the casket
crossed the frontier between Burkina Faso and
Togo. It arrived in the small town of Cinkassé where
it was warmly welcomed by the parish. A young
man from the Moba tribe, danced and greeted the
casket with a spear in his hand to pay homage to
Don Bosco, considered a “warrior” of holiness.
Fr Faustino García Peña, presided at Mass. In the
evening after public veneration there was a prayer
vigil. The following day the casket was taken to the
Cathedral in Dapaong. During the procession to the
altar the faithful covered the casket with cloths,
scarves and clothing. At the end of the well-attended
Mass the relics were taken to a house of the “Little
Work of Divine Providence” in Bombouaka. In the
afternoon the casket was taken to Kara, where an
enormous crowd was waiting: young seminarians,
religious, students from the house of philosophy at
Tchitchao, political and administrative authorities
and the faithful. On Monday 6 February the casket
made its entrance into Bénin. The first stop was
in the city of Parakou, where the young people
kept shouting “Don Bosco, welcome to Parakou”
and some youngsters performed on horseback. In
the usual festive spirit all the community escorted
the casket to the Cathedral, to the Don Bosco
Technical Institute and to the parish of Mary Help
of Christians. Here Archbishop Nestor Assorba
presided at a Mass lasting 3 hours and concluding
with a hymn sung by the young people: “Don Bosco
don’t leave us, stay with us.”
12 Hajja Salesjana
gÓallimni nitlob
ma˙bub alla, g˙allimni
nitlob. g˙allimni ng˙olli
mo˙˙i u qalbi lejk,
nitkellem mieg˙ek, sabiex
isse˙˙ il-laqg˙a taΩ- Ωew©
im˙abbiet tag˙na. g˙inni
sabiex inkun onest fit-talb
tieg˙i, waqt li nesprimi
l-˙ti©ijiet u x-xewqat
l-aktar profondi. g˙inni
ni©i nitlob anke meta
na˙seb li t-talb tieg˙i
huwa fqir, diffiçli jew ta’
dwejjaq. kompli fakkarni li
kull lok huwa tajjeb sabiex
fih inkellmek.
mulej, niΩΩik ˙ajr tad-drabi
meta t-talb tieg˙i kien ta’
fara©, u anke tad-drabi
meta kien ta’ nkwiet –
b˙al meta inti stedintni
sabiex inbiddel fehemti,
l-attitudni, il-pjanijiet
tieg˙i.
g˙inni wkoll niftakar li
jien ma nitlobx sabiex
nakkwista xi ˙a©a, imma
sabiex in˙obbok u nsir dik
il-persuna li qed issejja˙li
sabiex insir, pass çkejken
wara pass çkejken ie˙or.
ammen.
(mill-Ittra ta’ Medjugorji)
13Hajja Salesjana
Huwa hu ˙iere© mill-klassi, iç-çkejken
Robert, ta’ 9 snin, qal lis-Sister, “Sister
Michelle, tista’, jekk jog˙©bok, tg˙id talba
g˙alija llum?”
“DaΩΩgur, Robert,” qaltlu s-Sister.
Imbag˙ad staqsietu, “G˙andek xi problema
jew xi ra©uni speçjali g˙aliex tridni nitlob
g˙alik?”
“Le,” wie©eb Robert. “Gieni f’mo˙˙i,
sempliçement, li tkun ˙a©a sabi˙a li jkollok
lil xi ˙add li jitkellem ma’ Alla kuljum,
ikellmu fuqi wkoll!”
G˙alkemm Robert kellu biss 9 snin,
induna b’xi ˙a©a importanti. Is-Sister kienet
wa˙da li titkellem ma’ Alla kuljum. Kienet
mara li titlob. Wie˙ed mil-lati definittivi ta’
spiritwalità nisranija f’sa˙˙itha huwa t-talb.
Definizzjoni tat-talb li tog˙©obni ˙afna
hija dik ta’ Catherine de Hueck Doherty li
kitbet hekk, “It-talb huwa m˙abba. Huwa
m˙abba espressa fil-kliem, u m˙abba
espressa fis-skiet. B’mod ie˙or nistg˙u
ng˙idu li t-talb huwa laqg˙a ta’ Ωew©
im˙abbiet: l-im˙abba ta’ Alla mal-im˙abba
tag˙na.” Óabiba tieg˙i darba fissret it-
talb b’mod simili. Qalet, “It-talb huwa li
nkun preΩenti quddiem xi ˙add li n˙obb
u li j˙obbni.” Dan kollu jg˙inna nag˙mlu
mistoqsija importanti: G˙alfejn hemm
bΩonn nitolbu? Jekk Alla jag˙raf kollox,
g˙aliex noqog˙du nitolbu? Wara kollox,
il-Mulej di©à jaf x’g˙andna f’mo˙˙na u
f’qalbna, allura g˙alfejn nitilfu l-˙in ng˙idu
lill-Mulej dak li di©à jaf?
Hemm Ωew© twe©ibiet g˙al din il-
mistoqsija. L-ewwel: veru li Alla jista’ jaf
dak li hemm f’mo˙˙na u f’qalbna, imma
a˙na nafu? Il-˙ajja tista’ tkun tant mimlija
u mg˙a©©la, xi drabi, li a˙na façli nitilfu
l-kuntatt mal-˙sibijiet u s-sentimenti
tag˙na. Hekk it-talb iservi b˙ala ‘waqfa’
mill-istorbju tal-˙ajja sabiex nistg˙u niflu
l-˙ti©ijiet u x-xewqat profondi tag˙na.
G˙alhekk, wa˙da mir-ra©unijiet g˙aliex
nitolbu lil Alla li jaf kollox, hija din: sabiex
niskopru dak li veru qieg˙ed inikket
lil mo˙˙na u lil qalbna. Talba onesta
tg˙inna nag˙mlu dan. U g˙aliex huwa tant
importanti li niskopru dak li veru qieg˙ed
jimla l-˙sibijiet u l-qalb tag˙na? Proprju
g˙aliex huwa preçiΩament hemm li s-soltu
Alla jkellimna b’mod l-aktar çar.
Ra©uni o˙ra g˙aliex nitolbu hija mhux
biss li niskopru x’na˙sbu u n˙ossu, imma
wkoll sabiex nitg˙allmu xi j˙oss u ja˙seb
Alla. Kif g˙edna qabel, it-talb huwa triq li
tie˙u u ©©ib: meta nitolbu nag˙tu çans lil Alla
li jaf kollox sabiex jikkomunika mag˙na. Dan
fih riskju. Kull talb hu hekk. Meta nistiednu
lil Alla sabiex ikellimna, hemm riskju li Hu
jibdilna, li jkollna l-attitudni tag˙na mibdula,
l-ideat tag˙na mwessa’, il-pjanijiet tag˙na
mxellfa. U jekk inkunu onesti mag˙na
nfusna, irridu nammettu li ˙afna minna ma
j˙obbux il-bidla!
Kont, darba, qieg˙da nitkellem ma’
wa˙da mara li meta kienet Ωg˙ira kienet ©iet
abbuΩata mill-©enituri tag˙ha, issa mejtin.
G˙al ˙afna snin baqg˙et tobg˙odhom.
Issa kienet ukoll waqfet titlob. Meta
staqsejtha g˙aliex kienet waqfet titlob, qaltli
sempliçement, “G˙ax nibΩa’ li jekk nitlob, il-
Mulej b’xi mod jikkonvinçini sabiex na˙fer lil
ommi u missieri, u jien ma nistax nag˙mlu
dan; almenu mhux g˙alissa.” Ammirajt
l-onestà tag˙ha. Kliemha qalli wkoll li hija
kienet taf eΩattament fhiex jista’ jwassalha
t-talb: li Alla jipperswadiha tinbidel, u, f’dal-
kaΩ, ta˙fer lill-©enituri tag˙ha – xi ˙a©a li
hija ma riditx tag˙mel, “almenu g˙alissa.”
Ir-risposta ta’ dil-mara tatni tama li xi darba
g˙ad t˙alli ru˙ha titmexxa mill-im˙abba ta’
Alla; u smajt li wara xi Ωmien dan ©ara’.
14 Hajja Salesjana
WeLCOMe HOMe
Two weeks later, doctors released John from
the hospital. In the courtyard outside, his young
friends awaited him. When Don Bosco appeared,
they rushed to him, picked him up, and carried him
on their shoulders through Turin’s streets. Filled
with joy, they sang, shouted and cheered. Even
the city’s proper citizens were moved to tears.
These street kids and gutter children proved their
magnificent loyalty and devotion to their father.
MAMA MARGAReT ARRIveS
Until a short time before his illness, a wealthy
noblewoman, the Marchioness of Barolo, provided
John’s living quarters in Turin. When the priest,
absorbed in his own work, was unable to direct one
of her charities, a girl’s orphanage, she ordered
John out of the apartment. So, when he came
from the hospital, he actually had no place to lay
his head. It was no pressing problem however, for
he had decided to go to his mother’s home in the
farm country some twenty miles outside Turin for
a period of recuperation.
When John returned to the city, reasoning that
his mother’s presence would lessen suspicion of
his own activities, John asked Margaret to make
the painful sacrifice of leaving the farm she loved
to be a house - mother in the narrow confines of a
city apartment. “Do you think it is God’s will?” she
asked her son. “Yes mother, I do,” responded
John. That was all Margaret needed, and
in November of 1846 she gathered her
poor possessions and set out with her
son for the city. The two, mother and
son, walked the entire twenty miles
from farm to city, because they had
no money for transportation.
Saint John Bosco
A 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 3
15Hajja Salesjana
A WORLD OF YOuNG PeOPLe
Soon after John’s mother arrived at the Oratory,
the children dubbed her “Mamma Margaret”.
Bosco would often say to her, “Mother some
day this whole place will be a playground, with
schoolrooms, workshops, there will be helpers
and a world of children.” Margaret aware of John’s
natural exuberance listened skeptically to her son.
All the priest had was a piece of land of dubious
value, a half underground chapel, an apartment
in a building that was contributing significantly
to Turin’s urban blight, and a weekend invasion of
some 600 boys. However, John was determined to
establish a world of children and he would build
that step by step.
He determined first of all to provide a solid
practical education for his boys. Starting at ground
zero, he taught the three R’s. He first held classes in
his Pinardi apartment. As more and more students
came, they overflowed the tiny rooms into the
chapel and the sacristy. Even this was not enough
and John finally persuaded Mr. Pinardi to rent him
the whole house.
The curriculum expanded. To the original three
R’s. John soon added geography, grammar and
drawing. He also added singing, stating that “an
Oratory without singing was a body without a soul.”
To ensure a steady supply of teachers for his ever-
expanding school, John worked out an agreement
with some of the school’s more gifted students.
He trained them in secondary studies, Italian,
literature, Latin, French and mathematics, with
the understanding that they would, in turn, teach
for a period of time in the grammar school. The
arrangement benefited both John and his teaching
staff. Don Bosco had a fine faculty drawn from the
ranks of the pupil-teachers of the Oratory itself.
The new teachers now had sufficient education
to enter studies that would lead to professional
careers. Thus they could break the cycle of poverty
into which many of them had been born.
THe HIve SWARMS
Within a year of settling the Pinardi’s property,
John had under instruction between six and
seven hundred children, ranging anywhere in age
from eight to eighteen. These earnest youngsters
jammed every available inch of space in the
Pinardi house and the chapel. John refused to
turn anyone away. Yet there was simply no more
room. Undismayed, John summoned the whole
Oratory one night and resolved the crisis. “When
a beehive overflows,” he explained, “it swarms and
its’ surplus goes out to fill another hive. And so it
is with us. In playtime we are all upon one another;
at chapel we are packed like herrings in a barrel.
There is no room to move. Let us copy the bees and
go and seek another Oratory.”
The fact that he had no money did not disturb
him at all. He knew God would provide. As usual, he
was right. Not one, but two Oratories soon opened
in Turin.
THe BOY WHO CAMe TO DINNeR
One cold rainy night in May 1847, Margaret
responded to a tap on the Pinardi house door. A
youngster, wet to the bone, stood trembling on the
steps. Margaret immediately brought the child in,
set him before a roaring fire, dried him, fed him
and then put him to bed. He turned out to be “the
boy who came to dinner.” He was an orphan and
his gentle knock opened a whole new door for Don
Bosco. The plight of Turin’s orphaned and homeless
boys weighed heavily on Don Bosco’s heart since
his arrival in the city.
(to continue…)
16 Hajja Salesjana
uLAANBAATAR
The Catholic Church has celebrated 20 years in
Mongolia in April. “God has done great things
for us, and we are glad!” said Bishop Wenceslao
Padilla, apostolic prefect of Ulaanbaatar. The
Filipino prelate arrived with two other priests in
1992 to open the Mongolian mission. Today, 64
missioners from 18 countries belonging to nine
religious congregations and a Korean diocese,
together with six lay missioners from three
countries, serve the local Church. For want of
accurate statistics, the number of Catholics in
the country is estimated to be between 500-700,
probably closer to the latter.
“We are establishing a local Church, but most
of the pastoral agents are foreigners.” For this
reason “it is high time to encourage vocation,
animation and recruitment in the parishes among
the baptised youth,” Bishop Padilla has said.
The Catholic Mission in Mongolia now has four
New
Churches
parishes. They are Sts Peter and Paul, St Mary’s,
Good Shepherd and Mary Help of Christians, a
Salesian Parish, which was added in January 2007
in Darkhan, Mongolia’s second-largest city with
80,000 inhabitants, 200 kilometres north of the
capital.
The Salesians began their mission in Mongolia
in 2001 and set up the much-appreciated Don
Bosco Technical Skills Center in Ulaanbaatar. The
number of Catholics initially was nil! A single room
was set aside as a chapel for catechumens and
the regular celebration of Mass, then as numbers
grew into the hundreds, the Salesians purchased
an abandoned ice cream factory nearby and used
that as a church. Now they have gone a long way
towards building the Church of Maria Auxilium,
after the turning of the first sod on 24 May last
year.
darkhan: the ‘turning of the sod’ last year at darkhan, mongolia, for the new
church and associated offices. here is our story in mongolia
17Hajja Salesjana
HuA HIN – THAILAND
Saturday 5 February was a significant day for
many associated with the Salesian presence in
Thailand, the solemn opening of a spectacular
new Parish Church at Hua Hin. The Salesians have
been at Hua Hin for over 70 years. Some 48 years
ago a larger Church was built, due to the growing
size of the community, and to the fact that Hua
Hin was becoming a popular tourist resort. That
Church has since been further expanded. The
Salesians offer three Thai Masses and an English
Mass (for tourists and the large expatriate
community) every week.
Four years ago an ambitious new project
began. In collaboration with the Bishop of Surat
Thani, the Salesian Joseph Prathan, space was
allocated for a large Church and surrounding
gardens. Set within beautifully landscaped
gardens, a beautiful Church that can hold up to
500 people has been almost completed. Bishop
Prathan opened and blessed it. About 60 Priests
from the Thai Dioceses, from the Salesians and
other Religious Orders, along with about 3,000
faithful, were present. Those who were not able
to enter the Church followed from the grounds on
special screens. The distribution of communion
was never-ending, and Priests heard confessions
for most of the morning. After the Eucharist a
meal was served, Thai style, for about 5,000
people.
The Church itself is extremely beautiful.
Soaring into the sky, and looking down upon the
Gulf of Thailand, is a roof made up of three sail-like
features. The inside of the Church is uncluttered,
spacious, and open to the gardens that surround
the Church. Fifteen steps lead up to all the
entries into the Church: the Way of the Cross +
the Resurrection. For this Church, the three sails
are a symbol of the Trinity. In his homily, Bishop
Prathan based his words on the text from the
Prophet Ezekiel about the waters flowing from the
Temple. He prayed that this might be the future
of this Church, which opens East, and looks down
upon the waters of the Gulf of Thailand.
18 Hajja Salesjana
Something
to think about…
Smile
A merry heart makes a cheerful countenance (Proverbs
15:13)
A smile is a light in the window of the soul indicating the
heart is at home.
A smile is the lighting system of the face and the heating
system of the heart.
Most smiles are started by another smile. (Frank A. Clark)
19Hajja Salesjana
Smiles are the language of love. (David Hare)
Nobody needs a smile so much as those who have none to
give.
Wear a happy face! It’s your display counter, your show
window, your best advertisement! (David Brandt Berg)
Smile at each other, smile at your wife, smile at your
husband, smile at your children, smile at each other – it
doesn’t matter who it is – and that will help you to grow up
in greater love for each other. (Blessed Theresa of Calcutta)
20 Hajja Salesjana
Grandma, some ninety plus years, sat feebly on
the patio bench. She didn't move, just sat with her
head down staring at her hands…
When I sat down beside her she didn't
acknowledge my presence and the longer I sat I
wondered if she was OK.
Finally, not really wanting to disturb her but
wanting to check on her at the same time, I asked
her if she was OK. She raised her head and looked
at me and smiled. 'Yes, I'm fine, thank you for
asking,' she said in a clear, strong voice.
'I didn't mean to disturb you, grandma, but you
were just sitting here staring at your hands and
I wanted to make sure you were OK,' I explained
to her.
'Have you ever looked at your hands,' she
asked. 'I mean really looked at your hands?'
I slowly opened my hands and stared down
at them. I turned them over, palms up and then
palms down. No, I guess I had never really looked
at my hands as I tried to figure out the point she
was making.
Grandma smiled and related this story:
'Stop and think for a moment about the
hands you have, how they have served you well
throughout your years. These hands, though
wrinkled shrivelled and weak have been the tools
I have used all my life to reach out and grab and
embrace life.
They braced and caught my fall when as a
toddler I crashed upon the floor.
They put food in my mouth and clothes on
my back. As a child, my mother taught me to fold
them in prayer. They tied my shoes and pulled on
my boots. They held my husband and wiped my
tears when he went off to war.
They have been dirty, scraped and raw, swollen
and bent. Decorated with my wedding band they
showed the world that I was married and loved
someone special. They were uneasy and clumsy
when I tried to hold my newborn son.
They wrote my letters to him and trembled and
shook when I buried my parents and spouse.
They have held my children and grandchildren,
consoled neighbours, and shook in fists of anger
when I didn't understand.
They have covered my face, combed my hair,
and washed and cleansed the rest of my body.
They have been sticky and wet, bent and broken,
dried and raw. And to this day when not much of
Grandma's
Hands
21Hajja Salesjana
anything else of me works real well
these hands hold me up, lay me
down, and again continue to fold in
prayer.
These hands are the mark of
where I've been and the ruggedness
of life.
But more importantly it will be
these hands that God will reach out
and take when he leads me home.
And with my hands He will lift me
to His side and there I will use these
hands to touch the face of God'.
I will never look at my hands the
same again. But I remember God
reached out and took my grandma's
hands and led her home. When my
hands are hurt or sore or when I
stroke the face of my children and
husband I think of grandma. I know
she has been stroked and caressed
and held by the hands of God.
I, too, want to touch the face
of God and feel His hands upon my
face.
22 Hajja Salesjana
Malta Salesjana
GÓAJNuNA MILL-GveRN
Nhar l-24 ta’ Jannar, Festa tal-Patrun
tag˙na San Fran©isk ta’ Sales, il-Gvern
ta’ Malta qassam €400,000 lil 28 NGO
Maltin li jg˙inu f’xi art tal-missjoni. B’hekk
ix-xog˙ol Salesjan fil-Ghana, fejn hemm
ja˙dem Fr. Richard Ebejer SDB, kien
wie˙ed mill-gruppi li rçieva €14,000.
Dawn il-flus ser iservu sabiex tinbena dar
o˙ra li tilqa’ fiha ‘tfal tat-triq’. Presenti
g˙al din l-g˙otja kien hemm Fr Eric Cachia
SDB li ffirma l-kuntratt mal-Gvern f’isem
is-Salesjani tal-Ghana. Fiç-çerimonja ta’
dawn l-g˙otjiet ©ew imfa˙˙ra il-missjunarji
Maltin kollha, li huma mbaxxaturi tal-qlub
©eneruΩi tal-Maltin.
‘HOT CHOCOLATe DAY’
Il-Kunsill tal-Iskola ta’ Savio College, bil-
koperazjoni ta’ xi facilitators, organizzaw
din l-attività. Kien hemm xi ˙las Ωg˙ir u
l-qlig˙ mar b’risq it-tisbi˙ li qieg˙ed isir
fl-istess skola. L-istudenti setg˙u jixtru
kokkotina s˙una kontra l-bard ta’ filg˙odu
ta’ Óad-Dingli. Dawn l-attivitajiet iservu wkoll
sabiex isir ta˙ri© f’dak li huwa team work u
mumenti sbie˙ fejn studenti bi bΩonnijiet
speçjali i˙ossuhom li kapaçi jie˙du u jag˙tu
sehemhom.
KARNIvAL FIL-YOuTH CeNTRe - SLIeMA
Disco tal-Karnival g˙aΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ tal-Youth Centre
Salesjan, Sliema, kien organizzat nhar it-Tnejn 20 ta’ Frar.
Il-kuluri tal-kostumi sebb˙u u Ωejjnu l-ambjent kollu ̇ ajja u
fer˙ mal-muΩika taΩ-Ωmien. IΩ- Ωg˙aΩag˙ tag˙na, kollhom
ener©ija u ˙e©©a, ma waqfux jiΩfnu u jaqbΩu g˙ad-daqq
tal-muΩika. Waqt dan kollu, ma naqsitx il-kompetizzjoni
g˙all-isba˙ kostum, u l-bejg˙ ta’ “mocktails”- cocktails
tal-frott mag˙sur – minflok xorb alkoliku. Kienet verament
lejla ferrie˙a, mimlija briju u da˙q, tipikament Salesjana –
“G˙ax g˙alina l-qdusija hija li nkunu fer˙ana.”
23Hajja Salesjana
FeSTA TA’ D.BOSCO F’ST. PATRICK, SLIeMA
Sabiex infakkru il-qaddis tat-tfal u Ω- Ωg˙aΩag˙, l-iskola ta’
St. Patrick kellha program speçjali g˙al nhar il-31 ta’ Jannar.
B˙alma ji©ri f’˙afna skejjel Salesjani, a˙na wkoll bdejna
l-©urnata bil-quddiesa kollha daqq u kant, li qaddisha Fr Joe
Cini flimkien mal-Fathers tal-iskola. Hija tradizzjoni fl-iskola
hawnhekk li jkum hemm log˙ob organizzat g˙all-istudenti
mill-g˙alliema tag˙hom. Kienet ©urnata ta’ ksieh imma dan
malajr intesa meta kul˙add da˙al jiekol platt ravjul il-forn,
mlesti minn xi w˙ud mill-istudenti. Imma grazzi u prosit irid
imur ukoll lil g˙alliema li tant taw sehem kbir f’kollox.
CARNIvAL PARTY F’SAvIO COLLeGe.
G˙alkemm f’nofs iΩ-Ωmien tal-eΩamijiet, g˙al dan il-
Party ©ew 250 Ωg˙aΩag˙. Bdejna bil-quddiesa fis-7.30
pm u mbag˙ad beda d-daqq u Ω-Ωfin fid-da˙la spazjuΩa
tas-sala/gymnasium, kul˙add liebes kostum tal-
karnival. Fost iΩ- Ωg˙aΩag˙ kien hemm grupp imdaqqas
mill-Isla ma’ Fr. Victor u Bro. Leli Gatt. Atmosfera ta’ fer˙
kienet tin˙ass u l-briju Ωdied meta il-Fathers Sandro u
Eric dehru libsin kostum huma wkoll. Prosit lill-Aspiranti
u l-animaturi kollha, fosthom David u Rita Bezzina, li
g˙inu sabiex kollox ikun organizzat kif imiss.
DRAMA FL-ORATORJu
Fl-Oratorju ta’ Tas-Sliema, bil-kollaborazzjoni tal-
“Atturi Salesjani”, ©ie organizzat kors fid-drama.
Immexxi minn John Frendo, meg˙jun minn Cheryl
Camilleri, il-kors kien miftu˙ kemm g˙al Juniors
u kemm g˙as-Seniors tal-Oratorju. F’kull lezzjoni,
John Frendo kien jiffoka fuq kwalità partikulari b˙al
kif tiftakar il-parti, kif tikkomunika mal-udjenza, kif
tifhem il-karattru li tkun qed tippreΩenta, eçç. Kien
hemm ukoll min kellimhom fuq kif tivvinta fil-pront
(Joe Camilleri), kif tlesti ru˙ek fiΩikament (Leonard
Falzon), u anke tag˙rif fuq il-le˙en (Norma Camilleri)
u fuq il-‘make-up’ (Renè Sacco). IΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ urew
kemm kienu tg˙allmu f’serata tal-palk, li waqtha
©ew mog˙tija wkoll çertifikati.
My name is Mildred Honor and I am a
former elementary school music teacher
from DesMoines, Iowa . I have always
supplemented my income by teaching
piano lessons - something I have done for
over 30 years. During those years I found
that children have many levels of musical
ability, and I have taught some very talented
students. However, I have also had my
share of what I call ‘musically challenged’
pupils - one such pupil being Robby.
Robby was 11 years old when his mother (a
single mom) dropped him off for his first
piano lesson. Robby said that it had always
been his mother’s dream to hear him play
the piano, so I took him as a student. Well,
Robby began his piano lessons and from
the beginning I thought it was a hopeless
endeavour. As much as Robby tried, he
lacked the sense of tone and basic rhythm
needed to excel. But he dutifully reviewed
his scales and some elementary piano pieces
that I require all my students to learn.
Over the months he tried and tried
while I listened and cringed and tried to
encourage him. At the end of each weekly
lesson he would always say ‘My mom’s going
to hear me play someday’. But to me, it
seemed hopeless, he just did not have any
inborn ability. I only knew his mother from a
My Mommy
24 Hajja Salesjana
Will Hear Me Play
This is a beautiful and touching
story of love and perseverance...
distance as she dropped Robby off or waited
in her aged car to pick him up. She always
waved and smiled, but never dropped in.
Then one day Robby stopped coming for
his lessons. I thought about calling him, but
assumed that because of his lack of ability
he had decided to pursue something else. I
was also glad that he had stopped coming -
he was a bad advertisement for my teaching!
Several weeks later I mailed a recital flyer
to the students’ homes. To my surprise,
Robby (who had received a flyer) asked me
if he could be in the recital. I told him that
the recital was for current pupils and that
because he had dropped out, he really did
not qualify. He told me that his mother had
been sick and unable to take him to his piano
lessons, but that he had been practicing.
‘Please Miss Honor, I’ve just got to play’
he insisted. I don’t know what led me to
allow him to play in the recital - perhaps
it was his insistence or maybe something
inside of me saying that it would be all right.
The night of the recital came and the high
school gymnasium was packed with parents,
relatives and friends. I put Robby last in
the program. I thought that any damage
he might do would come at the end of the
program and I could always salvage his poor
performance through my ‘curtain closer’.
Well, the recital went off without a hitch,
the students had been practicing and it
showed. Then Robby came up on the stage.
His clothes were wrinkled and his hair looked
as though he had run an egg beater through
it. ‘Why wasn’t he dressed up like the other
students?’ I thought. ‘Why didn’t his mother
at least make him comb his hair for this
special night?’
Robby pulled out the piano bench, and I
was surprised when he announced that he
had chosen to play Mozart’s Concerto No.
21 in C Major. I was not prepared for what
I heard next. His fingers were light on the
keys, they even danced nimbly on the ivories.
He went from pianissimo to fortissimo, from
allegro to virtuoso; his suspended chords
that Mozart demands were magnificent!
Never had I heard Mozart
played so well by anyone his age.
Everyone was on their feet in wild applause!
Overcome and in tears, I ran up on stage and
put my arms around Robby in joy. ‘I have
never heard you play like that Robby, how
did you do it?’
Through the microphone Robby
explained: ‘Well, Miss Honor ... remember I
told you that my mom was sick? Well, she
actually had cancer and passed away this
morning. And well ... she was born deaf, so
tonight was the first time she had ever heard
me play, and I wanted to make it special.’
There wasn’t a dry eye in the house
that evening. As the people from Social
Services led Robby from the stage to be
placed in to foster care, I noticed that even
their eyes were red and puffy. I thought
to myself then how much richer my life
had been for taking Robby as my pupil.
No, I have never had a prodigy, but that night
I became a prodigy ... of Robby. He was the
teacher and I was the pupil, for he had taught
me the meaning of perseverance and love
and believing in yourself, and may be even
taking a chance on someone and you didn’t
know why.
Robby was killed years later in the
senseless bombing of the Alfred P. Murray
Federal Building in Oklahoma City in April,
1995.
25Hajja Salesjana
Hemm diversi ikoni orjentali antiki li
jikkonsistu fix-xbiha tal-Madonna ripetuta
˙afna drabi bi ftit tad-differenza fil-qag˙da
ta’ wiççha jew idejha, jew fil-posizzjoni
tal-Bambin. G˙alija dawn l-ikoni huma
meraviljuΩi, mhux biss g˙aliex huma sbie˙,
imma wkoll g˙aliex l-ikonografi li kitbuhom
(pin©ewhom) kellom kapaçità kbira biex
f’biçça xog˙ol hekk limitata, jinkludu dawk
ix-xbihat kollha. (Fig.1)
Jekk t˙ares lejhom sew tinduna li
˙afna jixxiebhu jew huma l-istess, g˙ax kif
nimma©ina li tafu, ir-regoli dwar l-ikoni ma
nbidlu qatt: li jkun hemm hu biss xi dettall
differenti, imqar il-poΩizzjoni tal-id jew tar-
ras.
Fl-ikonografija tal-Knejjes tal-Lvant,
minn dejjem ing˙atat aktar importanza lill-
ispiritwalità milli l-lat artistiku. G˙alhekk
b˙al kull xbieha o˙ra, l-ikona tal-Ver©ni Omm
Alla, baqg˙et dejjem l-istess. Tidher liebsa
xall imsejja˙ maphorion, fuq il-libsa tag˙ha
li huwa kwaΩi dejjem imberfel bid-deheb.
Ninnutaw ukoll, ˙afna drabi, tliet kwiekeb
tad-deheb, wa˙da fuq ©binha u t-tnejn l-o˙ra
fuq l-ispallejn, g˙alkemm kultant tidher
wa˙da meta hija tkun qed terfa’ lil Ìesù u
g˙alhekk ikun qed jg˙attilha l-o˙ra. Dawn
il-kwiekeb ifissru l-ver©inità ta’ Marija qabel,
fit-twelid u wara t-twelid ta’ Ìesù. Fil-©enb ta’
rasha niltaqg˙u dejjem ma’ dawn l-ittri bil-
Grieg: ΜΡ θΥ, Meter Theou, ji©ifieri Omm
Alla. Hawnhekk ser nag˙tu spjega ˙afifa tal-
ikoni l-aktar miktuba ta’ Marija.
Il-Ver©ni Hodigitrija (dik li turi t-Triq,
gwida tal-Knisja. Fig 2)
Il-Madonna
bil-Bambin
fl-Ikonografija
vincent Mangani
Fig 1: Old Russian Ikons
Fig 2: Hodigritia (Ver©ni ta’ Smolensk)
26 Hajja Salesjana
Din hija l-ikona tal-Madonna l-aktar
popolari. Skont il-le©©enda, San Luqa
l-Evan©elista kien l-ewwel wie˙ed li kiteb
din l-ikona biex b’hekk ˙oloq il-mod ta’ kif
il-Ver©ni g˙andha ti©i murija. “Hodigitria”
litteralment tfisser “dik li turi t-Triq”.
L-ikona ta’ dan it-tip turi lit-Theotokos,
ji©ifieri Omm Alla, li b’idejha l-leminija turi
lil binha Ìesù b˙ala tarbija li qed terfa’
fuq idejha x-xellugija. Tidher maestuΩa
g˙alkemm xi ftit awstera fl-istess ˙in biex
tenfasizza aktar id-divinità ta’ binha Ìesù.
Kemm il-Ver©ni kif ukoll Binha qed i˙arsu
dirett f’g˙ajnejn min qed i˙ares lejn l-ikona u
b’hekk tin˙oloq linja ta’ komunikazzjoni bejn
il-figuri tal-ikona u l-persuna li qed t˙ares
lejha. Ìesù jidher b’idejh il-leminija merfug˙a
‘l fuq tbierek, waqt li f’idu x-xellugija jΩomm
‘scroll’. Fl-istatura, Ìesù jidher tifel imma
wiççu jidher li hu ta’ bniedem adult biex
jixhed id-divinità u l-maturità. Mo˙˙ Ìesù
jidher kbir g˙ax jissimbolizza l-G˙erf. Il-fatt
li Marija qed tipponta lejn Ìesù tfisser li qed
turina t-triq li rridu naqbdu jew nimxu fiha.
Qed turina wkoll li Ìesù huwa din it-triq li
twassal g˙as-salvazzjoni. “She speaks to
humanity and declares that Christ is the path
towards salvation.” Probabbilment, l-aktar
mag˙rufa huma l-Ver©ni ta’ Smolensk, il-
Ver©ni ta’ Tikhvin, u l-Ver©ni ta’ Iveron.
IL-veRÌNI
eLeOuSA
(Óanina)
Il-Ver©ni Eleousa,
hija kelma Griega li
tfisser ‘il-˙anina’;
hija mag˙rufa
minna tal-punent
b˙ala l-Ver©ni
tal-qalb tajba jew
tat-tenerezza. Din
l-ikona Eleousa,
hi varjazzjoni tal-Hodigitria. Id-differenza hi
l-©esti ta’ ©entilezza li hemm g˙addejin bejn
Marija u Ìesù. Dan g˙aliex waqt li l-Hodigitria
tenfasizza d-divinità ta’ Ìesù, l-Eleousa
tiffoka iΩjed fuq in-natura umana tieg˙u.
Innutaw ftit il-˙arsa ta’ Ìesù waqt li
l-˙arsa tieg˙u qieg˙da fuq wiçç Ommu, Marija
li tkompli t˙ares lejna, b˙al donnha qed
tistedinna nersqu lejhom Marija qed tmejjel
rasha lejn Binha u b’hekk wiççhom it-tnejn
qed imissu ma’ xulxin. Ìesù muri jg˙annaq
lil Ommu, ©eneralment b’idejh it-tnejn. Minn
wiççha, Marija tidher ˙osbiena g˙ax f’dik
it-tg˙annieqa intima u mimlija m˙abba, fl-
istess ˙in qed i©©ib quddiem g˙ajnejha dak
li Binha kellu jbati. B’hekk din l-ikona, Marija
ssir xbieha ta’ dawk kollha li fid-dinja qed
ibatu. IΩda dan kollu ma jnaqqas xejn mill-
maestà li biha tidher Marija g˙ax mhix tbati
g˙ax m’hemmx x’tag˙mel iΩda kumpassjoni
profonda g˙all-bniedem mu©ug˙.
Probabbilment, il-Ver©ni ta’ Vladimir,
li qed t˙ares in-na˙a l-o˙ra hija l-iktar
wa˙da mag˙rufa, g˙alkemm a˙na l-Maltin
g˙andna wa˙da aktar antika minnha. Din hija
l-Madonna Damaxena li qieg˙da fil-Knisja
Kattolika tar-rit Grieg, fil-Belt Valletta.
IL- veRÌNI
GLYKOPHILOuSA
B i l - G r i e g ,
“Glykophilousa” tfisser
“dik li qed tbus bi
˙lewwa”. Hija verΩjoni
tal-Ver©ni Elousa.
Id-differenza hi li
l-espressjoni tal-Ver©ni
hija aktar tenera. Waqt
li fl-Elousa Marija qed
taççetta t-tg˙annieqa
ta’ Binha, fl-ikona
Glykophilousa hija Marija li qed tg˙annaq lil
Binha.Eleousa (Vergni ta’ Vladimir)
Il-Madonna Ta’ Damasku,
Valletta
27Hajja Salesjana
28 Hajja Salesjana
IL-veRÌNI ORANTA (li titlob)
Hawnhekk g˙andna ikona ta’ Marija ming˙ajr
Binha, xbieha xi ftit rari fl-ikonografija ˙lief
f’dan il-kaΩ. Tidher b˙ala figura s˙i˙a, bil-
wieqfa. Il-minkbejn jidhru merfug˙a ‘l fuq sa
fejn rasha u tidher li qieg˙da f’attitudni ta’
talb. Oranta bil-Grieg tfisser “titlob”. Affreski
tat-Theotokos Oranta huma fost l-eqdem li
nstabu fil-katakombi u jmorru lura g˙ar-raba’
seklu W.K. Ikona tixba˙ha iΩda differenti hi
dik imsej˙a l-Ver©ni tas-Sinjal, l-ikona li ser
nispjegaw wara din.
THeOTOKOS BLACHeRNITISSA
(il-ver©ni tas-Sinjal)
Din l-ikona hi bbaΩata fuq il-profezija li nsibu
fil-Ktieb tal-Profeta Isaija 7, 14: “G˙alhekk is-
sinjal jag˙tihulkom Sidi stess: Araw, ix-xebba
titqal u tiled iben, u ssemmih G˙immanu-el.”
Din hija ikona li ©eneralment titpo©©a wara
l-artal, fl-apside tal-Knisja. Id-differenza minn
ta’ qabilha hi li fuq ˙dan il-Ver©ni Marija
hemm çirku u f’nofs dan iç-çirku hemm Ìesù
tifel. It-tifsira hija çara: hu tnissel fi ˙dan il-
Ver©ni. Inkunu Ωbaljati jekk na˙sbu li l-ikona
Blachernitissa tintrabat biss mal-misteru
tal-Inkarnazzjoni. Il-Messa©© huwa çar: Ìesù
jista’ ji©i u jg˙ammar fina…jekk in˙alluh.
B˙alma tnissel fil-©uf ta’ Ommu, hekk ukoll
jista’ jitnissel ©ewwa fina. L-idejn merfug˙a
tal-Ver©ni qed jistidnuna ning˙aqdu mag˙ha
fil-Fidi u fl-Ubbidjenza. San Ambro© kiteb: “kull
persuna li temmen tnissel u twelled il-Kelma
t’Alla. A˙na nsiru lkoll ommijiet ta’ Ìesù g˙ax
bil-fidi tag˙na a˙na nwellduh.
L-ikona titpo©©a fl-apside biex tfakkar lil
kull min ikun qed jadura li l-iskop ta’ ̇ ajjitna hu
li n˙allu lil Ìesù jikber ©o fina. Idejha miftu˙in
jistidnuna nilqg˙u lil Ìesù u b’hekk insiru nies
li n©orru lil Ìesù kulfejn inkunu. Qed jistednuna
wkoll ning˙aqdu mag˙ha fit-talb indirizzat
lejn Binha, il-‘Pantocrator”, li x-xbieha enormi
tieg˙u tinsab fis-saqaf jew fil-koppla tal-Knisja.
Ma ninsewx li, wara kollox, it-Theotokos kienet
strumentali biex Alla sar bniedem. B’hekk,
Marija tg˙aqqad id-dinja mas-sema.
THeOTOKOS KYRIOTISSA
(il-ver©ni fuq it-Tron)
F’din l-ikona, it-Theotokos hija raffigurata
bilqieg˙da fuq it-tron biex turina li hi l-bniedma
perfetta fost il-bnedmin kollha. F’˙o©orha
hemm Ìesù tifel. It-tnejn jidhru b’poΩa
maestuΩa u solenni. B˙alma rajna fl-ewwel
ikona mag˙rufa b˙ala l-Hodigitria, f’ikoni simili
©ieli jkun hemm l-an©li madwar it-tron.
Nixtieq nispiçça dan l-artilu b’din il-
kwotazzjoni, ˙allejtha bl-IngliΩ g˙ax billi
di©à hi maqluba minn lingwa o˙ra titlef mill-
kontenut u l-˙sieb. “It is fitting and right to
call you blessed, O Theotokos: you are ever-
blessed and all –blameless and the Mother of
our God. Higher in honour than the Cherubim
and more glorious without compare than the
Seraphim, you gave birth to God the Word in
virginity. You are truly the Mother of God: you
do we exult!” (Byzantine Worship).
Artiklu me˙ud mir-Rivista ta’ Spiritwalita Vol.XXIII - Óar©a 158
Theotokos Blachernitissa
29Hajja Salesjana
Well Done Lads!
SPYS awarded Kerygma's Youth of the Year Award
Friday 2nd March was a very special night for SPYS.
The Salesian Pastoral Youth Service received
the Youth of the Year Award as recognition for
voluntary work carried out during 2011. What made
the night even more memorable was the fact that
the Award was presented by H.E. President George
Abela.
SPYS was set up in 1995 in the spirit of St. John
Bosco and is made up of a number of experienced
religious and lay youth leaders with the two-fold
aim of person building and community building.
They perform this voluntary work on a national
and international basis. They also organise
summer camps for children coming from needy
areas in Malta itself.
SPYS is made up of two sections - one
responsible for local activities, the other covers
initiatives in other countries. The local section
organises seminars and training courses for
members and representatives of its member
organisations.
The award was announced by Kerygma director
general Fr Charles Fenech OP and the trophy was
presented by President George Abela at the end of
mass at St Dominic's Church in Rabat. This trophy
is awarded annually in memory of the late Rudolph
Saliba, the movement's first president.
"Premju tal-President g˙all-volontarjat".
"2011 has been dedicated to voluntary work. It is
indeed an enriching area, particularly in Malta,
where thousands of young people are directly
involved in voluntary work." These were some of
the valued words which made up the speech of
the President of Malta, H.E. Dr. G. Abela during the
First Edition of the "Premju tal-President g˙all-
Volontarjat". About 11 NGO's or persons made
it through the final after a long and meticulous
judgment by an ad hoc jury set up by the Office
of the President. Under the patronage of Dr Abela,
the invited guests were able to watch a brief
feature depicting the ethos of the finalists, among
whom was BOSCOFEST, the Salesian summer
activity synonymous with the youth and vocation
ministry held at Savio College but not limited to
its students. Fr. Louis Grech was the nominated
person, he being the initiator of this event and
under whose guidance, several young people
have acquired skills and experience as animators
while others have considered becoming Salesians
themselves. A big well done to these tireless young
people who give selflessly of themselves for the
welfare of young people. Along with Fr.Louis
Grech were members of the Dingli community, lay
collaborators and two young animators.
30 Hajja Salesjana
Darba, a˙na lkoll konna tfal, imma ...
L-g˙axra ta’ bil-lejl. Kont fil-kamra tieg˙i
ççassata n˙ares minn ©ol-˙©ie© tat-tieqa
lejn id-dlam u l-ba˙˙ ... fil-˙emda. Ódejna
sew hawn dar o˙ra, b’Ωew© btie˙i jifirduna.
Mhux Ωew© btie˙i biss jifirduna, muntanji ta’
ostakli bejnietna. Imma l-qalb ma tifhimx. Ma
tirra©unax. Ili xahrejn s˙a˙, lejla wara l-o˙ra
nistenna, nistenna u nittama forsi xi darba
jse˙˙ il-miraklu. Jg˙idulek li m’g˙adux Ωmien
il-mirakli. B’dankollu g˙adni nemmen fihom.
Kemm hu ikrah id-dlam! Kemm hu bla tama
il-ba˙˙ u kemm g˙andu tog˙ma ta’ mewt is-
skiet! Ji©u waqtiet meta lkoll li a˙na nixtiequ
li nserr˙u g˙ajnejna minn dawl ilellex u
nfittxu d-dlam, jew inkella niddejqu minn
ge©wi©ija ta’ ˙sibijiet u nixtiequ na˙arbu
xi mkien fejn mo˙˙na jitbattal biex i˙ossu
e˙fef, drabi o˙ra nixxenqu g˙al ftit kwiet
biex ne˙ilsu mill-˙amba tal-˙ajja. Imma l-kaΩ
tieg˙i ma kienx hekk.
Dawk tad-dar l-o˙ra mod ie˙or minna.
Missieri avukat, tag˙hom ˙addiem it-Tarzna.
Ma jixraqx li tifla ta’ avukat ikollha familjarità
ma’ nies b˙al dawk, missierhom ta’ ftit skola
barra mill-fatt li ommhom kellha tmidd
g˙onqha g˙ax-xog˙ol, tag˙mel xi ˙asla
tal-˙wejje© lin-nies. Dak iΩ-Ωmien ta’ qabel
il-˙amsinijiet ma kienx hawn magni tal-˙asil
tal-˙wejje©. U kellha g˙al min ta˙dem, kienu
sitt itfal.
Mag˙na fid-dar kellna ‘l-granmamà Nella,
omm missieri, il-kuntrarju tal-mamà, g˙ax
t˙ares lejn il-©irien b˙ala proxxmu. Mela
darba, meta kelli xi g˙axar snin, il-mamà
˙ar©et g˙al jum pellegrina©© G˙awdex.
X˙in wasalt id-dar mill-iskola, skantajt g˙ax
mal-mejda tal-kçina nara wie˙ed mit-tfal
ta’ dik ta’ warajna li quddiemu kellu platt
minestrina. Il-granmamà hemΩitni biex ma
nsaqsi xejn, qaltli biss: “Helga, dan Martin
ta’ warajna. Ìie kmieni mill-iskola g˙ax ma
jifla˙x. Kumbinazzjoni ndunajt bih fuq it-
tar©a tal-bieb jterter bil-bard, g˙edtlu li a˙jar
jid˙ol jistenna hawn sa ma tasal ommu.”
Bejn wie˙ed u ie˙or dan kien tampari, tifel
gustuΩ b’ras nokkli suwed jg˙attulu mo˙˙u
kollu. Refa’ rasu minn ©ol-platt, tani ˙arsa
fit-tul, tbissima ˙elwa u daqshekk. Jien
bqajt nhewden: alla˙ares kien hawn ommi, li
dejjem tippriedka biex na˙arbu ‘l min g˙andu
flissjoni jew is-sog˙la; u l-granmamà da˙˙let
tifel li ma jifla˙x, mhux talli da˙˙litu imma
temg˙etu wkoll, mill-istess platti tag˙na!
Wara li telaq ma bqajtx lura biex nistaqsieha
x’©aralu dak it-tifel. G˙all-ewwel ma we©bitx,
imma mbag˙ad qalet xi ˙a©a li bilkemm
fhimtha: “Miskin dak tifel sfortunat, twieled
marid, b’toqba f’qalbu u jekk ma jmurx g˙al
xi operazzjonijiet m’g˙andux ˙ajja twila. Ra
‘l s˙abu jilag˙bu l-ballun u xtaq jag˙ti xi
Lina Brockdorff
kien hemm tifel ...
Darba
31Hajja Salesjana
daqqtejn hu wkoll. ˙assu ˙aΩin u ˙allewh ji©i
lura d-dar.”
“Possibli? Imma ma jidhirx li hu marid!
Daqs kemm hu ˙elu! Allura g˙aliex ma
jag˙milx l-operazzjoni mill-ewwel?" staqsejt
jien.
“Dawn l-operazzjonijiet isiru Londra u
qed jistenna biex jibag˙tu g˙alih; il-©enituri
tieg˙u ma jistg˙ux i˙allsu operazzjoni b˙al
dik fil-privat. Jekk jag˙mel din l-operazzjoni
jkollu bΩonn jistrie˙ g˙al Ωmien twil u wara
jkollu bΩonn ta’ operazzjoni o˙ra la jikber.”
Impressjonajt ru˙i b’din l-istorja. Ma
stajtx naççetta l-fatt li dak it-tifel b’wiçç li
ma tpin©iehx, li tani tbissima b˙al dik, jinsab
fil-periklu tal-mewt u nimma©ina li xi darba
ser narah ˙iere© mejjet ©o tebut mill-bieb
ta’ ˙dejna. Kemm xtaqt li kont kbira u li
kelli l-flus biex nag˙tihomlu ˙alli jfittex ji©i
f’sikktu, inkella li kont xi tabiba gwappa li
stajt noperah jien bla ˙las ... kont nag˙mel
minn kollox biex narah jie˙u sa˙˙a ©dida
...f’kelma wa˙da dik ix-xena ta’ Martin jiekol
il-minestra fil-kçina tag˙na da˙let f’mo˙˙i u
f’qalbi tant li ma stajt ne˙les minnha b’xejn.
Kont nie˙u r-ru˙ meta ninzertah sejjer
l-iskola jew il-knisja, inkella nara d-dawl fil-
kamra tas-sodda filg˙axijiet, dik il-kamra
çkejkna li ti©i faççata tal-kamra tieg˙i. Mur
g˙idlu kemm kont qed ninkwieta g˙alih!
G˙addew ftit xhur meta smajna li Martin
mar Londra u li dalwaqt ji©i lura. Ftakart li
kont ili ma narah mit-tieqa. Bdejt ng˙odd il-
©ranet sa ma ji©i lura, u fl-a˙˙ar wasal. Deher
tajjeb u g˙alhekk g˙edt lili nnifsi li ma kellix
g˙alfejn ninkwieta aktar fuqu.
IΩ-Ωmien beda jgerbeb. Meta kellu xi
˙mistax-il sena bdejt nisimg˙u jipprattika
studju fuq il-vjolin. Skantajt u darba staqsejt
‘il-granmamà dwar dan. Qalet li missieru kien
imur spiss il-kaΩin tal-Banda u li kien hemm
surmast li offra li jg˙allmu b’xejn, sa˙ansitra
silfu vjolin.
L-istudju tal-vjolin, jista’ jkun ftit tedjuΩ
g˙al min jisimg˙u tard filg˙axija, imma lili
qatt ma dejjaqni. G˙all-kuntrarju kien qisu
jΩommli kumpanija, kien iserra˙li mo˙˙i li
Martin kollox sew; kont iffissata fuqu. S˙abi
tal-iskola er˙ilhom i©emmg˙u r-ritratti
tal-artisti tal-films ta’ dak iΩ-Ωmien: Rock
Hudson, Clark Gable, Jeffrey Hunter, Robert
Donat, Ronald Coleman ... imma g˙alija ˙add
ma kien joqg˙od ˙dejn Martin.
Hekk kont norqod imxa˙x˙a b’dak id-
daqq tal-istudju tal-vjolin li minn studju
elementari ta’ skajjel, arpe©©i u siltiet bla
sens bdew isiru melodiji qosra, imbag˙ad ftit
itwal u itwal. Darba ©ie ma’ pjanista jdoqqu
fil-kunçert tal-Milied fl-iskola tag˙na. Kont
fl-a˙˙ar sena. Kemm bdejt ng˙ir g˙al dik it-
tfajla pjanista qrib tieg˙u li t˙ares lejh b’dik
iç-çerta ˙arsa, u li trid tkun tfajla o˙ra biex
tinterpretaha. Tg˙id kien i˙obbha? Kienu
namrati? Tfajla xxortjata! Daqqu tliet siltiet
sbie˙ tassew. Fl-interval g˙amilt il-kura©©
u mort ng˙idilhom ‘prosit’. Kelli suspett li
mhux ser jag˙rafni, darba biss kien rani mill-
qrib, imma ma kienx hekk.
“Inti s-sinjorina li toqg˙od ˙dejna hux
hekk?” qalli qabel ma l˙aqt fta˙t fommi.
Wiççi sar vampa nar malli tani dik it-tbissima
li fakkritni fl-ewwel tbissima li kien tani fil-
kçina ˙dejn il-platt tal-minestrina. Kull ma
g˙edtlu kien: “Prosit tassew. Jisimni Helga.”
Kemm xtaqt ng˙idlu aktar minn hekk!
Xtaqt ng˙idlu: “Mhux biss jien is-sinjorina
li noqg˙od qribkom ... ibda biex, a˙seb fija
b˙ala Helga u mhux sinjorina, jien dik li kull
filg˙axija nithenna bid-daqq tieg˙ek, jien li
ninkwieta fuqek, jien li tant iffissata fuqek,
jien li ma nistax ng˙ix ming˙ajrek ...” Dak li
xtaqt ng˙idlu u aktar, imma ma stajtx. Dak
iΩ-Ωmien tfajla trid toqg˙od attenta,
je˙tie© li tibqa’ lura, tkun prudenti, ma
tintremiex. Aktarx li f’qalbi kelli toqba akbar
minn tieg˙u li tnixxi demm kull meta niftakar
fih ... u dan kien tul il-jum kollu waqt li tul
l-iljieli no˙lom bih, nimma©ina li ninsab
˙dejh.
G˙addew ˙ames snin o˙ra. Ninsab
f’nofs il-kors tal-li©i. Ìa bdejt ng˙in ‘il-
papà b’xi xog˙ol ta’ kitba. Drabi ji©u d-dar
xi avukati li g˙adhom kemm la˙qu biex il-
papà i˙arri©hom. Qed ninduna li jressaqhom
‘l hawn bi skop ie˙or ukoll. Jien, l-unika wild
tag˙hom xi darba jkolli nag˙Ωel sie˙eb; u xi
jkun a˙jar milli dan is-sie˙eb ikun fl-istess
professjoni? Il-mamà lanqas ma kienet tibqa’
lura b’çerti kummenti tag˙ha.
Imma jien kont da˙˙alt ‘il Martin f’qalbi
biex minn hemm ma jo˙ro© qatt! Ìennata.
L-aktar min˙abba l-istat ta’ sa˙˙a li kien fih.
Liema garanzija kelli li ser jibqa’ ˙aj wara
tant operazzjonijiet? U min˙abba l-livell
soçjali tieg˙u. Imma hekk kien. Bqajt in˙obbu
ming˙ajr ma qatt tani l-içken sinjal li ja˙seb
fuqi ˙lief li jien ‘is-sinjorina ta’ ˙dejhom’.
L-aqwa li jasal filg˙axija, nitfi d-dawl tal-
kamra tieg˙i, inwarrab il-purtieri biex
nipprova narah idoqq il-vjolin, nifta˙ it-tieqa,
ukoll jekk nirΩa˙ bil-kes˙a, basta nisimg˙u.
Beda jdoqq ma’ xi orkestri g˙ax nara ismu
fil-gazzetti u drabi r-ritratti tal-kwartet li
jkun idoqq. InΩomm kull biçça gazzetta fejn
kien hemm ismu jew jidher ir-ritratt, er˙ili
na˙bihom li ma tmurx issibhom il-mamà.
Dak iΩ-Ωmien, g˙al nofs il-˙amsinijiet,
beda jintwera l-film “The Glass Mountain” li
g˙andu melodija tassew romantika. Martin
tg˙allimha, er˙ilu wara l-istudji l-o˙ra jdoqq
din is-silta. U lili j©enninni u jsa˙˙arni aktar
g˙alih ...Smajt li kien wasal iΩ-Ωmien li jer©a’
jitla’ g˙all-a˙˙ar operazzjoni. Tani fer˙ ta’
©enn. X’kien ser jg˙addi ming˙alih? Kemm
xtaqt li stajt nitla’ jien mieg˙u, imma b’liema
dritt?
X’wa˙x u xi dwejjaq kien hemm f’dik is-
sikta filg˙axijiet ming˙ajr id-daqq tieg˙u!
Mhux biss g˙ax ming˙ajr id-daqq, imma g˙ax
nimma©inah ta˙t l-operazzjoni, jilg˙ab mal-
˙ajja tant prezzjuΩa. Tg˙id g˙ad jer©a’ jasal
lura? Kemm bkejt g˙alih tul l-iljieli! U jekk
ji©i lura ming˙ajr ma tirnexxi l-operazzjoni,
x’ser nag˙mel?
Da˙˙altha f’rasi li wasal iΩ-Ωmien tad-
deçiΩjoni. Ikolli mmidd ri©lejja g˙all-pass
li qed nibΩa’ sew minnu. Je˙tie© li nurih
b’im˙abbti. Ma jimpurtax jekk malli jkun jaf
jarmiha, iwarrabha, jaqsamli qalbi. Imbag˙ad
x’nag˙mel jien? Mhux a˙jar nibqa’ ng˙ix fid-
dubju milli nkun naf il-verità qarsa? Dak id-
dubju xorta kien qed jeqridni. Imma l-ewwel
pass huwa li nistenna sa ma ji©i lura.
Lejla minnhom il-granmamà qaltli li Martin
kollox sew, kien wasal minn Londra, rathom
de˙lin bil-bagalji minn ©ot-taksi. Donnha
kienet xammet xi ˙a©a. Bejniet nannti u
bejni kien hemm b˙al ˙olqa misterjuΩa li
nifhmu sa˙ansitra l-˙arsa ta’ xulxin. Xtaqt
ng˙annaqha u nbusha, imma ne˙tie© nimxi
bil-mod. L-aqwa li Martin huwa tajjeb, li jinsab
lura, li forsi l-lejla jaqbad il-vjolin ...
Bis-sabar kollu u b’qalbi t˙abbat b˙all-
mi©nuna tfejt id-dawl kmieni kemm jista’
jkun. Iva, hemm kien. Feta˙ it-tieqa, warrab il-
purtieri u beda jdoqq “The Glass Mountain”.
Qalbi riedet tieqaf. Xg˙elt id-dawl u xejjirtlu
biex nurih li hemm kont qed nistennih, biex
infehmu kemm kont kuntenta li rnexxielu ji©i
lura wara l-operazzjoni. Kemm deher sbejja˙
u fer˙an! Tbissimli u tefag˙li bewsa!
Kompla jdoqq g˙al Ωmien twil u jien bqajt
hemm nisma’. Il-muntanji kbar miksija bis-
sil© ˙assejthom li qed idubu. L-aqwa li kien
i˙obbni!
32 Hajja Salesjana
33Hajja Salesjana
PLANT THRee ROWS OF PeAS:
1. Peace of mind
2. Peace of heart
3. Peace of soul
PLANT FOuR ROWS OF SQuASH:
1. Squash gossip
2. Squash indifference
3. Squash grumbling
4. Squash selfishness
PLANT FOuR ROWS OF LeTTuCe:
1. Lettuce be faithful
2. Lettuce be kind
3. Lettuce be patient
4. Lettuce really love one another
NO GARDeN IS WITHOuT TuRNIPS:
1. Turnip for meetings
2. Turnip for service
3. Turnip to help one another
TO CONCLuDe OuR GARDeN We MuST
HAve THYMe:
1. Thyme for each other
2. Thyme for family
3. Thyme for friends
HOW
TO
PLANT
THE
GARDEN
OF
YOUR
DAILY
LIVING
WATeR FReeLY WITH PATIeNCe AND CuLTIvATe WITH LOve.
THeRe IS MuCH FRuIT IN YOuR GARDeN BeCAuSe YOu ReAP WHAT YOu SOW.
34 Hajja Salesjana
“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: vocations@salesiansmalta.org
for more information
www.vocations.salesiansmalta.org
way of life?
Are you
being calledto the
priesthooD
And to the
salesian
jj l j
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-Delegazzjoni
Savio College, Buskett Road, Dingli DGL2702
Tel: 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’ Studju
X’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 legat
lis-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
