Hajja Salesjana MARZU-APRIL 2011il-219 Óar©a
Signs of Sorrow and Love
The Pastor and the Son
Is-Salesjani fÕ tas-Sliema
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, Matthew Borg, 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: Sensiela ta’ xbihat tal-Madonna. Il-Madonna tad-Duluri.
Signs of Sorrow and Love 7
13,000 batterija uΩata 9
Don Bosco Around the World 10
Is-Salesjani f’tas-Sliema 12
The Pastor and the Son 15
How to Fast 17
Malta Salesjana 20
Saint Mary Mazzerello (2) 22
ÌuΩeppi x-xhud sieket 24
The Mysterious ‘Grigio’ 26
Il-festa ta’ San Patrizju 28
Dun Bosco fis-santi u kartolini 30
Haiti Commemoration and hope 33
Editorjal / Pedago©ija / Caledar of events /
Something to think about / Marian Apparitions
3Hajja Salesjana
EDITORJAL
Kull darba li n˙ares lejn il-Pietà ta’ Michelangelo
nibqa’ ming˙ajr kliem. Ebda fomm ma jista’
jiddeskrivi bis-sew din is-sbu˙ija. Tabil˙aqq is-
sbu˙ija mhijiex xi ˙a©a li wie˙ed jista’ verament
jiddefinixxieha. G˙ax g˙alkemm is-sbu˙ija hija
fil-mo˙˙, imma tisboq lil dan ukoll. Tul is-sekli,
˙afna identifikaw is-sbu˙ija ma’ Alla. Óafna wkoll
identifikawha mal-Arti. Dan ©ab li l-Arti tkun
meqjusa b˙ala tfittxija tas-Sbu˙ija, dik is-Sbu˙ija
li ma hi qatt imfissra bis-sempliçi kliem.
San Ìwann tas-Salib huwa eΩempju brillanti
ta’ dan. Il-mod l-aktar effettiv kif hu seta’ jispjega
l-esperjenzi mistiçi tieg˙u kien bil-poeΩija; tant
hu hekk li g˙adu sal-lum meqjus b˙ala wie˙ed
mill-aqwa poeti ta’ Spanja. A˙na nafu li l-poeΩija
toffri lill-qarrej ˙afna aktar mill-istess kliem li
fiha. L-istess jista’ jing˙ad minn Michelangelo.
Jiena na˙seb li n-novella bijografika joqg˙odilha
sewwa ˙afna t-titlu: L-Agunija u l-Estasi (The
Agony and the Ecstasy ta’ Irving Stone). G˙aliex
kif jista’ wie˙ed jispjega b’mod komplet dik is-
Sbu˙ija li kienet to˙ro© minn idejn Michelangelo?
Huwa min˙abba f’hekk li anke jekk id-dulur ta’
Sidna Marija mhuwiex xi ˙a©a li wie˙ed isejja˙
sabi˙, imma quddiem il-Pietà g˙adna nistg˙u
nieqfu mistg˙a©ba bis-sbu˙ija li naraw fiha.
Hija s-Sbu˙ija tar-Redenzjoni tag˙na riflessa fil-
kapulavur ta’ Michelangelo.
Dan kollu jista’ wkoll jing˙ad g˙al ˙afna
xog˙lijiet muΩikali. EΩempju klassiku hija l-Missa
Solemnis ta’ Beethoven, li kitibha meta kien trux
g˙al kollox.
Sfortunatament, matul dan l-a˙˙ar seklu,
is-Sbu˙ija tilfet postha b˙ala l-o©©ett primarju
tal-arti. Din ma g˙adiex titkejjel bis-Sbu˙ija
li tista’ tesprimi. Qeg˙din ng˙ixu fil-perijodu
‘post-modern’ fejn valuri b˙as-Sewwa u
s-Sbu˙ija soçjetà post-moderna t˙addan biss ir-
relativiΩmu b˙ala assolut. Wie˙ed façilment jara
l-kontradizzjoni f’dan, imma dan hu l-paradoss ta’
Ωmienna. F’soçjetà b˙al din, iΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ tag˙na
jinsew it-tfittxija g˙as-Sbu˙ija. Dan jag˙melhielna
façli nindunaw bin-nuqqas ta’ popularità tar-
Religjon waqt li jiΩdied l-ispiritwaliΩmu. Dan hu
‘il-Vojt’ li sikwit isemmi r-Rettur Ma©©ur tag˙na,
Fr Chavez.
L-Arti, fil-forom diversi tag˙ha u b˙ala tfittxija
tas-Sabi˙, tista’ tkun mezz qawwi sabiex no˙or©u
minn dil-mentalità dg˙ajfa. U jiena nemmen, li
a˙na, b˙ala Familja Salesjana, g˙andna ng˙inu
liΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ jer©g˙u jiskopru did-dimensjoni li
tinsab fl-arti. L-Arti tistà tassew tkun mezz effikaçi
sabiex tre©©ag˙hom lejn Alla. Meta nammiraw is-
sbu˙ija tal-BaΩilka ta’ Marija G˙ajnuna tal-Insara
f’Turin, ma nistg˙ux ma ninteb˙ux li l-uΩu tal-arti
li g˙amel minnu Dun Bosco fil-pedago©ija tieg˙u,
ma kienx sempliçement mod kif jokkupa ˙in it-tfal.
Kien il-mod g˙aqli tieg˙u kif iressaqhom lejn Alla.
Xewqa tas-sbu˙ija
“Tul is-sekli, ˙afna identifikaw is-sbu˙ija ma’ Alla.
Óafna wkoll identifikawha mal-Arti. Dan ©ab li l-Arti
tkun meqjusa b˙ala tfittxija tas-Sbu˙ija, dik
is-Sbu˙ija li ma hi qatt imfissra bis-sempliçi kliem.”
4 Hajja Salesjana
EDITORIAL
Unfailingly everytime I look at Michelangelo’s Pi-
età I remain speechless. No words can faithfully
describe such beauty. Indeed Beauty is not some-
thing one can really speak of. Although Beauty
embraces the rational, it goes beyond it. Along
the centuries many have identified Beauty with
God. Many have also identified it with Art.
Thus for many centuries Art has been
considered as a search for Beauty, that Beauty
that cannot be explained in simple words. St
John of the Cross is a brilliant example of this.
His most effective way of explaining his mystical
experiences was through writing poetry; so much
so that he is to this day considered as one of the
best poets of Spain. We know that poetry delivers
much more to the reader than the simple words it
contains. The same can be said of Michelangelo. I
think the biographical novel, is very appropriately
named: “The Agony and the Exctasy”. For how can
one rationally explain such Beauty that flowed
from Michelangelo’s hands? It is for this reason
that even though Our Lady’s Sorrows are not
something to be described as beautiful as such, in
front of the Pietà we still can stand amazed at the
Beauty it has. It is the Beauty of our Redemption
reflected in Michelangelo’s work.
And the same can be said of innumerable
musical works. One example is Beethoven’s Missa
Solemnis written when he was totally deaf.
Yet for the past century, beauty has lost its
place as the primary subject of art. Art is no longer
meausured with Beauty as a standard.
We are living in a postmodern period when
values such as Truth and Beauty have been
rendered relative and therefore have lost all
meaning. The postmodern society in which we
live is one that holds only the value of relativity
as absolute. One can easily see the contradiction
in this and yet it is the paradox of our times. In
such a society, our youths have forgotten to
search for Beauty. It is also easy to correlate this
with the decline in popularity of Religion and rise
in popularity of spiritualism. It is the nihilism, the
Rector Major has often spoken of.
Art in its various forms, as a search for Beauty,
may be one of the means to come out of this
nihilistic mentality. I believe we, as a Salesian
family, must help the youths rediscover this
dimension in art. Art may indeed be an effective
means to take them to God.
When we see the beauty in the Basilica of Mary
Help of Christians in Valdocco, we cannot but see
that Don Bosco’s use of art in his pedagogy was
not merely a way of occupying his children’s time!
It was one of his subtle ways of taking them to
God.
Longing for Beauty
“Although Beauty embraces the rational,
it goes beyond it. Along the centuries
many have identified Beauty with God.
Many have also identified it with Art”.
5Hajja Salesjana
PEDAGOÌIJASalesjana
Minn Pascual Chavez – Trad. Joe Cini
Kummenti fuq li Strenna 2011 : Ejjew u Taraw
“IL-ÓAJJA HIJA VOKAZZJONI”
G˙eΩieΩ ˙bieb, qarrejja tal-Bullettin Salesjan…
Hekk kif matul is-sena li g˙addiet kellimtkom fuq
Ìesù tieg˙i, din is-sena sejjer nikteb fuq Il-˙ajja
b˙ala vokazzjoni… U bi ˙siebni niktbilkom dwar
persuna©©i li b˙ala bnedmin u nsara g˙exu l-˙ajja
bis-s˙i˙ g˙aliex skoprew u g˙exu l-vokazzjoni
tag˙hom.
IL-VENERABBLI MARIA TRONCATTI
(1883-1969)
Nibdew din is-serjè qasira bi storja ta’ mara li
kienet missjunarja u ©ganta tal-im˙abba g˙all-
fqar. Nhar il-25 ta’ Awissu 1969, f’Sucúa (Eqwa-
dor), l-ajruplan çkejken li kien i©orr lis-Sister
Maria Troncatti, ikkraxxja qrib foresta li g˙al 50
sena kienet ‘il-post tal-qalb’ fejn Sr. Maria kienet
˙admet b’qalbha kollha g˙an-nies ‘Shuar’. Maria
kienet g˙amlet l-a˙˙ar titjira tag˙ha li ̇ aditha lejn
is-sema! Kellha 86 sena: Óajja mog˙tija b’im˙abba.
Kitbet hekk: ‘Kuljum in˙ossni aktar kuntenta bil-
vokazzjoni missjunarja tieg˙i’.
TIDÓOL SORU
Marija twieldet f’Corteno Golgi (Brescia- Italja)
nhar is-16 ta Frar 1883 ©o familja numeruΩa u
6 Hajja Salesjana
kibret fil-fer˙ u l-bΩulija fl-g˙elieqi u d-dar tie˙u
˙sieb ˙utha, mwieΩna mill-eΩempju tal-©enituri
tag˙ha.
Fidila lejn il-katekiΩmu fil-parroçça u lejn is-
sagramenti, Marija kellha spirtu nisrani profond,
li nibbet u rawwem fiha l-vokazzjoni reli©juΩa.
B’ubbidjenza lejn missierha u l-kappillan, hija
stenniet til˙aq l-età ta’ 18 –il sena qabel ma talbet
sabiex tid˙ol fl-Istitut ta’ Ulied Marija G˙ajnuna
tal-Insara (Sorijiet Salesjani) fejn g˙amlet l-ewwel
professjoni fl-1908, f’ Nizza Monferrato. Sa mill-
bidu ppjanat li ‘t˙obb anke g˙all-prezz li titqatta’
biççiet’.
Matul l-Ewwel Gwerra Dinjija (1915-1918) Sr.
Marija g˙amlet kors ta’ infermiera ©ol-belt ta’
Varazze u ˙admet b˙ala ‘nurse’ tas-Salib l-A˙mar
©o sptar militari. Din l-esperjenza kienet ser tigiha
siewja ˙afna matul il-˙ajja twila ta’ missjunarja
fil-foresta tal-AmaΩonja fl-Ekwador. Hija telqet
lejn l-Ekwador fl-1922 u ma re©g˙et qatt lura;
©iet mibg˙uta ta˙dem fost l-Indjani Shuar sabiex
flimkien ma’ Ωew© sorijiet o˙ra tibda x-xog˙ol
diffiçli tat-tag˙lim (Evan©elju u edukazzjoni)
imdawra minn perikli ta’ kull xorta mhux inqas
minn dawk ta’ annimali tal-foresta jew xmajjar
imfawra li riedu jinqasmu jew minn ©o nofshom
jew minn fuq pontijiet fra©li jew inkella fuq
spallejn l-istess Indjani.
XOGÓOL BLA HEDA
Fil-©ungla ekwatorjali Marija xandret u wriet
l-im˙abba tal-Missier lil kul˙add. Hija saret ‘l-omm
Ωg˙ira’ dejjem lesta biex iΩΩur lill-morda jew kull min
kellu bΩonn g˙ajnuna jew tama. Postijiet b˙al Macas,
Sevilla Don Bosco u Sucúa huma ‘mirakli’ tal-˙idma
wtieqa ta’ Sr. Maria Troncatti fejn kienet infermi-
era, tabiba, dentista, professura... imma fuq kollox,
katekista u ˙abbara tal-Van©elu, mΩejna b’fidi ˙ajja,
b’˙afna paçenzja u m˙abba tal-proxxmu. Il-˙idma
tag˙ha man-nisa Shuar, ta frott ta’ mijiet ta’ familji
nsara li g˙aΩlu, minn rajhom, lil Kristu.
‘Óarsa lejn il-Kurçifiss tatini ˙ajja u kura©©
g˙ax-xog˙ol’- din kienet il-fidi qawwija li sa˙˙itha
f’˙ajjitha u fil-missjoni tag˙ha. F’kull attività,
sagrifiççju jew periklu, kienet t˙ossha meg˙juna
mill-presenza materna ta’ Marija G˙ajnuna tal-
Insara. Wie˙ed mill-missjunarji ta’Ωmienha, Dun
Giovanni Vigna, ˙allielna miktub fuq Sr. Marija dan
li ©ej: ‘Hija s-sempliçità nnifisha u l-g˙aqal tal-
Van©elu. Kemm taf tirba˙ il-qlub! G˙al kull problema
ssib soluzzjoni li, mill-esperjenza, turi li hija l-a˙jar.
Qatt ma tinsa li qieg˙da ma’ nies umani debboli u
midinba. Jiena rajtha tit˙abat man-natura umana ta’
kull xorta, anke l-aktar imsejkna; imma hija tag˙mel
dan bl-akbar g˙aqal u ˙niena li fiha kienu spontanji
u naturali. Dak li jg˙a©©ibni huwa kif f’dan kollu hija
baqg˙et dejjem ‘mara’. U aktar ma kienet reli©juΩa
aktar kienet omm’.
7Hajja Salesjana
I kiss the wounds in your Sacred Feet
With sorrow deep and true
May every step I take today
Be a million acts of love for you.
I kiss the wounds in your Sacred Head
With sorrow deep and true
May every thought in my mind today
Be a million acts of love for you.
I kiss the wound in your Sacred Heart
With sorrow deep and true
May every beat of my heart today
Be a million acts of love for you.
Signs of
Quoted in The Catholic Prayer Book. Servant Publications: Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1986. Pg 42-43
I kiss the wounds in your Sacred Shoulder
With sorrow deep and true
May every cross I bear today
Be a million acts of love for you.
I kiss the wounds in your Sacred Hands
With sorrow deep and true
May every touch of my hands today
Be a million acts of love for you,
Of love for you dear Lord.
Sorrow
Love
and
8 Hajja Salesjana
FEASTS & EVENTS
MA
RCH
APR
IL
MA
Y
CALENDAR OF SALESIAN
2011
Read ˙ajja Salesjana on the website: www.salesiansmalta.org
Pictures of Don Bosco set to reflective music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1dVsM9KAbw
Wed 2 Sliema Salesian Cooperators monthly meeting at 6.00 p.m.
7 – 8 Carnival holidays for schools
Wed 9 Ash Wednesday: Evening Mass and Way of the Cross at St. Patrick’s: 6.30 p.m.
Thu 10 Prayer Day for Salesian Missions
Fri 11 One Day Lenten Retreat for St. Patrick’s Boys.
Every Friday: Way of the Cross and Holy Mass at St.Patrick’s at 6.30 p.m.
12 – 13 “Counter Balance – 201 File.” A show by Salesian Brigade at Salesian
Theatre, Sliema
Thu 17 Parents Day at Savio College: Form 2 & 4. St. Patrick’s Day.
Fri 18 Parents day at Savio College: Forms 1 & 3
Sat 19 Saint Joseph. Annual Bikeathlon at Savio College. Prize day at
St. Patrick’s School
Thu 24 Commemoration of Mary Help of Christians at St. Patrick’s – 6.30 p.m.
Fri 1 School Leaving Ceremony Form 5 at Savio College
4-8 Lenten Talks at St. Patrick’s at 7.00pm.
Wed 6 Sliema Salesian Cooperators Prayer Meeting at St. Patrick’s
7-10 Book Fair at St. Patrick’s School
Sat 9 Concert by King’s College Choir at St. Patrick’s at 7.00 p.m.
9 – 10 Atturi Salesjani; “Laura, fjur fil-gnien tal-Mulej” at the Salesian Theatre - Sliema
Sun 10 Prayer Day for Salesian Missions
Fri 15 Devotional Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows.
Thu 21 Maundy Thursday: Solemn Holy Mass at St. Patrick’s at 6.30 p.m.
Fri 22 Good Friday: Adoration of the Cross at 3.00 p.m.
Sat 23 Holy Saturday: Easter Vigil and Mass at 8.30 p.m.
Sun 24 Easter Sunday.
24 – 1 May Turin Pilgrimage
Mon 25 Commemoration of Mary Help of Christians at St. Patrick’s – 6.30 p.m.
Mon 2 Start of School Term
Wed 4 Sliema Salesian Cooperators monthly meeting at 6.00 p.m.
Fri 6 St. Dominic Savio. Festivities in Salesian Schools
Tue 10 Prayer Day for Salesian Missions
9Hajja Salesjana
Is-sena li g˙addiet l-iskola ta’ St. Patrick’s ip-
parteçipat f’kampanja nazzjonali g˙al ©bir ta’
batterija uΩata. Il-qofol ta’ din il-kampanja kienet
il-kompetizzjoni “Battery Buster Campaign Com-
petition” li kienet miftu˙a g˙all-iskejjel kollha ta’
Malta u G˙awdex. Min jipparteçipa seta’ jid˙ol biç-
çans li jirba˙ wie˙ed minn bosta premijiet sbie˙ u
l-iskola li ti©bor l-akbar piΩ ta’ batteriji se ting˙ata
tag˙mir sportiv jew edukattiv b’valur ta’ €2,000.
L-iskejjel wa˙edhom ©abru iktar minn 14-il tun-
nellata ta’ batteriji. Din il-kampanja ©iet imnedija
mill-kumpanija WasteServ Malta Ltd u sponsor-
jata mill-FIMBank plc. L-g˙an ewlieni ta’ din il-
kampanja kien li ji©i enfasizzat l-impatt negattiv
li l-batteriji uΩati jistg˙u jikkawΩaw jekk ma ji©ux
trattati kif suppost.
Ir-rebbie˙a ta’ din il-kompetizzjoni kienet
l-iskola ta’ St. Patrick’s li ©abret l-ikbar ammont
ta’ batteriji uΩati b’total ta’ 167.55 kg. Din ir-
reb˙a kienet possibli grazzi g˙al impenn u
dedikazjoni li wera William Zerafa, student ta’
tlettax-il sena, li wa˙du rnexxielu ji©bor iktar minn
13,000 batterija uΩata. Waqt iç-çerimonja li saret
f’Jannar li g˙adda, fejn fiha kien hemm preΩenti
l-Ministru g˙ar-RiΩorsi u l-Affarijiet Rurali, George
Pullicino u c-chairman tal-Wasteserv, il-Perit Ben
Farrugia, William spjega kif wara l-iskola kien
jarma kaxxa kbira u jmur maz-ziju tieg˙u jdur it-
toroq u l-˙wienet ji©bor batteriji uΩati. William ˙a
din il-kampanja bis-serjeta’ u rnexxielu jrebba˙
lill-iskola tieg˙u s-somma ta’ €2,000 li ntuΩaw
fuq xiri ta’ riΩorsi g˙all-iskola. Sfortunatament
minkejja li ©abar ammont sostanzjali ta’ batteriji,
ma rnexxilux jirba˙ wie˙ed mill-premijiet li
kien hemm g˙all-istudenti, g˙alhekk, b˙ala
rikonoxximent g˙al im©iba eΩemplari tieg˙u,
l-iskola ppremjat lil William xorta wa˙da u ing˙ata
PSP Go. Minkejja li l-kompetizzjoni intemmet,
William g˙adu g˙addej bil-missjoni tieg˙u u qed
jistenna bil-˙erqa li ter©a’ ti©i mnieda kampanja
o˙ra g˙all-©bir ta’ batteriji uΩati. Prosit tassew
William!
13,000 batterija uΩata
Studenti mill-iskola taÕ
St. PatrickÕ s ing˙aqdu flimkien maÕ
skejjel o˙ra ©ewwa • -‚ entru ‚ iviku
g˙all-iskart goff ©ewwa l-Imrie˙el,
biex isegwu t-tluq taÕ 3.5 miljun
batterija uΩata li ©ew mormija
bÕ mod g˙aqli. Dawn
il-batteriji telqu g˙all-vja©© tag˙hom
lejn l-Italja sabiex ji©u rri• iklati.
Õ Õ
• ‚ ‚
SUSANNE CALLUS
10 Hajja Salesjana
Don Bosco Around the World
In preparation for the celebration of the Bi-Centenary of the birth of St. John Bosco
(16th August 1815), the relics of the saint are going around the Salesian world. The
urn contains a life-size statue of the saint, a copy of the one in the Basilica of Mary Help
of Christians in Turin, with some bones of the saint in it. In 2014 it will visit Malta.
Philippines and Vietnam
(ANS – Rome) – Accounts have arrived in the
editor’s office of the travels of the casket of Don
Bosco which in these days has completed its pil-
grimage in the Salesian houses in the “Saint John
Bosco” Province of Northern Philippines and on
Sunday 16 January moved on to Vietnam.
Coming from San Jose City, on 10 January the
relics of Don Bosco arrived in Victoria, in Tarlac,
the Philippines, welcomed by Fr Ramon Borja,
Rector of the house in Tarlac, and the Mayor
Candido Guiam, accompanied by a large number
of children from Salesian schools, the citizens,
the band and a crowd of people of all sorts.
The arrival of the casket was seen as a cause
of great celebration in the city. The Mayor, a
Salesian Past Pupil had insisted that it pass
through the city, saying the presence of the
founder of the Salesians would be a great
blessing for himself and for all the citizens. It
was also an opportunity to celebrate the sixty
years presence of the Salesians in Tarlac and
aroused great enthusiasm among the Past Pupils
who organised various events: some organised a
collection of funds, other promised to provide a
new school hall, others were providing personal
scholarships, and others again produced
valuable works of art in honour of Don Bosco.
Much was also done in Pampanga, where the
casket was taken after its time in Tarlac. On its
arrival in the city on 12 January, there was a Mass
in the Metropolitan Cathedral of San Fernando,
at which the local Archbishop Paciano Aniceto
presided in the presence of a large number of
young people from the “Don Bosco Academy”
in Mabalacat. The school band performed “Saint
John Bosco, our dear father,” while there was
a performance of a musical on the life of Don
11Hajja Salesjana
Bosco directed by the Salesian Fr Ding Cortez.
The long pilgrimage of Don Bosco’s casket in
the Northern Philippines which lasted 25 days
concluded with its being taken to the Sanctuary of
Mary Help of Christians in Parañaque. After a long
and careful spiritual and practical preparation
which involved the various branches of the
Salesian Family on 16 January the relics arrived in
Vietnam and were welcomed at the airport by the
Salesian Provincial Fr Joseph Tran Hoa Hung,
with the Provincial Council, various Rectors and
representatives of the Salesian Family.
The journey to the Provincial House at Xuan
Hiep, in Ho Chi Minh City was accompanied by
an impressive presence of people coming from
all the different parts of Vietnam. It was greeted
with honours by the youngsters from the schools
and from the oratories, in large numbers and very
enthusiastic. In their first day in the country over
10,000 people paid their respects to the relics
of the saint. All the faithful and friends of Don
Bosco took advantage of this occasion for prayer,
reflection and spiritual renewal. On 17 and 18
January Don Bosco’s casket went to a number of
Salesian houses – Ben Cat, Binh Minh, Can Gio, Cau
Bong, Tan Thinh, Cau Lon, Hoc Mon and Binh Chanh.
In view of the large numbers of young people and
parishioners, the organising committee for the
pilgrimage arranged for the groups to take it in
turns to visit the casket and to celebrate Mass.
Among the groups of Tuesday 18 January
were also a group of students and lay people
from Mongolia accompanied by Mgr Wenceslaus
Padilla, Bishop of Ulaanbaatar and Fr. Andrew Tin,
Superior of the Salesian Delegation in Mongolia.
On the morning of 21 January the casket was
taken to the house of the Daughters of Mary
Help of Christians (FMA) at Tam Ha, where it was
welcomed by the Superior in Vietnam, Sr. Teresa
Uong Thi Doan Trang.
12 Hajja Salesjana
IL-BIDU
Sa minn meta fl-1884 kien la˙aq kappillan ta’ tas-
Sliema, Dun F.V. Manchè kien sema’ bl-inizjattiva li
kien ˙a Dun Ìwanni Bosco, li kien iddedika ˙ajtu
g˙all-edukazzjoni u l-formazzjoni tal-karattru ta’
Ωg˙aΩag˙ foqra jew li kienu ©ejjin minn ambjent
diffiçli. Ix-xog˙ol ta’ fejda beda fl-1845 ©ewwa
Valdocco, qrib Torin. Tnax–il sena wara, il-Papa
Piju lX approva t-twaqqif tas-Soçjeta’ Salesjana.
Dik il-˙abta ©ewwa tas-Sliema ˙afna tfal u
Ωg˙aΩag˙ kienu ji©©errew mat-toroq g˙ax ma
kellhomx fejn jg˙addu l-˙in ˙ieles tag˙hom; kien
hemm ukoll il-problema ta’ nuqqas ta’ tag˙lim
peress li ftit kienu dawk li kienu jattendu l-iskejjel
li kienu jeΩistu fil-lokalita’. Is-sistema Salesjana
kienet (u g˙ada) dik ta’ edukazzjoni preventiva u
formazzjoni morali soda.
Dun Ìwanni Bosco li miet fil-31 ta’ Jannar
1888 ˙alla warajh Soçjeta’ ta’ saçerdoti u lajçi
mimlija ˙e©©a g˙all-missjoni fdata
lilhom. Sena wara l-kappillan Manchè kiteb lil Don
Michele Rua ©ewwa Torin fejn talbu biex iwaqqaf
dar tas-Salesjani f’tas-Sliema. Fit-13 ta’ Novembru
1889 irçieva twe©iba negattiva peress li ma kienx
g˙ad hemm biΩΩejjed saçerdoti disponibbli, iΩda
tah il-kelma tieg˙u li ‘l quddiem kien jara kif
jikkuntentah, filwaqt li bag˙atlu ktieb fuq il-˙ajja
ta’ Don Bosco u l-Bollettino Salesiano
Sadanittant fl-1897 il-filantropu Alfonso Maria
Galea informa lill-Gvernatur Freemantle li kien lest
li jag˙ti l-art me˙tie©a u s-somma ta’ elf lira biex
fuqha jinbena istitut li kellu jitmexxa mis-Salesjani.
G˙all-bidu deher li s-segretarju tal-Gvern Gerald
Strickland ma kienx favur dan il-pjan peress li beΩa’
li s-Salesjani kienu jda˙˙lu influwenza Taljana fil-
pajjiΩ f’epoka meta kienet teΩisti polemika kbira
dwar il-kulturi Taljani u IngliΩi, iΩda wara ftit xhur
meta bdew jitfaççaw ukoll Salesjani mill-provinçja
Ing l iΩa/ I r landiΩa ,
il-gvern ivvota
1,800 lira o˙ra biex
jinbeda x-xog˙ol.
Kien l-istess
Gvernatur li fis-17
ta’ Diçembru 1898
qieg˙ed l-ewwel
©ebla tal-Istitut.
Sena wara, is-
Sinjura Giovanna
Pullicino ˙ar©et
is-somma ta’ elf
lira biex bihom
tinbena knisja fl-
istitut. Mal-wasla
minn John Bisazza
Is-Salesjani fÕ tas-Sliema
Fin-nofs: is-Sur Fons
13Hajja Salesjana
tag˙hom f’Malta, is-Salesjani da˙˙lu d-devozzjoni
tant g˙al qalb Don Bosco, dik ta’ Marija G˙ajnuna
tal-Insara, liema titlu kien ©ie mog˙ti lill-Madonna
f’l-1816.
L-EWWEL SNIN TAS-SALESJANI
F’ TAS-SLIEMA
In-negozjati bejn il-kappillan ta’ Stella Maris u
s-Sur Fons (kif kien iΩjed mag˙ruf Alfonso Maria
Galea) mas-Salesjani f’Torin kienu baqg˙u sejrin
sakemm g˙al ˙abta ta’ Novembru 1903 waslu
l-ewwel ulied ta’ Don Bosco f’tas-Sliema. Fis-
16 ta’ Mejju tal-1904 l-Istitut beda jiffunzjona u
ng˙ata l-isem ta‘ St. Patrick’s Salesian School’
ad unur l-ewwel superjur Fr. Patrick O’Grady. Fl-
istess okkaΩjoni tpo©©iet l-ewwel ©ebla tal-Knisja
tal-Istitut, li g˙al ˙afna snin kienet isservi b˙ala
parroçça tal-kattoliçi tal-lingwa IngliΩa, residenti
f’tas-Sliema.
MaΩ-Ωmien diversi Ωg˙aΩag˙ Maltin
b’vokazzjoni saçerdotali bdew jing˙aqdu mal-
Ordni tas-Salesjani.
ÛJARA TAS-SUÇÇESSUR TA’ DON BOSCO
F’l-1906 Don Michele Rua g˙amel Ωjara f’Malta fejn
seta’ jara b’g˙ajnejh il-progress img˙a©©el tas-
Salesjani bil-g˙ajnuna finanzjarja u morali tas-Sur
Fons. Don Rua re©a’ ©ie Malta biex
jinawgura il ‘Juventutis Domus’.
Kienet tassew okkaΩjoni ta’ fer˙
g˙all-Kappillan ta’ Stella Maris
u s-Sur Alfonso Maria Galea li
jaraw il-frott tal-˙idma Salesjana.
Matul il-ftit jiem li dam Malta,
Don Rua kien il-mistieden ta’ dan
tal-a˙˙ar fir-residenza tieg˙u
numru 54, Triq il-Kbira, Sliema,
fejn anke iççelebra Quddiesa.
Is-Sur Fons kompla j˙abrek biex
jinbena ‘Oratorio Festivo’. Fit-23 ta’ Ottubru 1910
fil-bitha tal-Oratorju twaqqfet ‘is-Salesian Boys’
Brigade’.
G˙all-˙abta tal-1913 is-Sur Fons talab lill-
Gvern biex iΩ-Ωew© toroq ta’ madwar l-Istitut ji©u
msemmija g˙al Don Bosco u Don Rua, liema talba
©iet milqug˙a ming˙ajr ebda diffikulta’.
Fl-1920 id-Direttur tal-‘Juventutis Domus’ Don
Vincenzo Allegra feta˙ il Collegio Sant’Alfonso –
l-isem intg˙aΩel b’sens ta’ qima u rispett lejn is-
Sur Fons.
F’inqas minn
tletin sena
i l - k o m u n i t a ’
Salesjana kella
t - t m e x x i j a
ta’ Istitut u
Oratorju. Dan
kollu ma kienx
ise˙˙ kieku ma
kinux is-Sur
Fons u o˙t il-
mara tieg˙u,
i s -s in jor ina
Mary Asphar
li ˙ar©u
l-fondi g˙al
Kappella antika tal-Oratorju
14 Hajja Salesjana
opra hekk fejjieda.
Is-Sur Fons kellu
determinazzjoni
bbaΩata fuq it-
twemmin u l-valuri
mag˙©una fih.
Kien umli u f’kull
okkaΩjoni kont
issibu ja˙rab il-
pubbliçita’.
DUN NAZZARENO
CAMILLERI
MaΩ-Ωmien Ωg˙aΩag˙
b’vokazzjoni saçerdotali bdew jing˙aqdu mal-
Ordni Salesjana. Wie˙ed mill-ewlenin kien is-SlimiΩ
Dun Nazzareno Camilleri. Dun Nazzareno twieled
fi Triq San Vincenz fit-18 ta’Novembru 1906. B˙ala
Ωag˙Ωug˙ kien iservi b˙ala abbati fil-Knisja ta’
Stella Maris sakemm fl-1921 beda n-novizzjat mas-
Salesjani fi Sqallija. Ìie ordnat saçerdot fit-30
ta’ Settembru 1934 mill-Isqof Mauro Caruana fil-
kappella tal-Oratorju Salesjan; ftit tal-jiem wara
qaddes l-ewwel Quddiesa Solenni fil-Knisja ta’
Stella Maris. Huwa g˙ex ©ewwa l-Italja fejn kien
g˙alliem u professur f’numru ta’ istituzzjonijiet
L-iΩjed aspett importanti ma kienx biss l-g]erf
tieg˙u iΩda l-˙ajja mistika li kien jg˙ix; miet f’l-1 ta’
Marzu 1973 f’Ruma. G˙andhom tassew biex ikunu
fer˙ana s-Salesjani Maltin b’ Dun Nazzareno li f’l-
1983 inbdew il-passi g˙al beatifikazzjoni tieg˙u.
ID F’ID MAL-PARROÇÇA TA’ STELLA MARIS
Bil-˙idma f’l-oratorju dejjem tikber, is-Salesjani
kellhom bΩonn l-g˙ajnuna ta’ Ωew© saçerdoti u
katekista lajk; g˙al din is-sej˙a l-kappillan Capurro
inkariga lil Dun Pietru Pawl Grima u lil Dun ÌuΩepp
Busietta, flimkien mas-Sur John Bartolo lajk
involut f’bosta g˙aqdiet tal-parroçça. Dan tal-
a˙˙ar kien mhux biss jie˙u ˙sieb il-katekeΩi taΩ-
Ωg˙aΩag˙ iΩda ˙abrek ˙afna mil-lat rikreattiv u
kulturali tal-istess Oratorju. Il-konferenzi ta’ nhar
ta’ Óadd fit-tijatru tal-Juventutis Domus kienu
jkunu iffrekwentati ˙afna u l-imsemmija Ωew©
saçerdoti tal-parroçça kienu jkunu fost il-kelliema
ewlenin.
F’Mejju 1935 f’g˙eluq is-sena mill-
kanonizzazzjoni ta’ Don Bosco, il-komunità
Salesjana bl-g˙ajnuna tal-Kappillan Capurro
fakkru bil-kbir dik l-okkorrenza li tant kienet
tfisser g˙alihom.
Sentejn wara, sewwa sew fit-8 ta’ Awissu 1937
l-Isqof ta’ G˙awdex Monsinjur Mikiel Gonzi bierek
il-qniepen il-©odda tal-Knisja ta’ Stella Maris fil-
bit˙a tal-Istitut ta’ St. Patrick’s, fejn indaqqet
l-ewwel mota.
Fl-1954 f’l-okkaΩjoni ta’ g˙eluq il-˙amsin
sena mill-wasla tas-Salesjani f’Malta l-Kappillan
Inguanez ˙abrek kemm fela˙ biex f’dik
l-okkaΩjoni l-Knisja Parrokkjali tkun iç-çentru
taç-çelebrazzjonijiet li g˙alihom kien preΩenti ir-
Rettur Ma©©ur tas-Salesjani Don Renato Ziggotti.
Óafna g˙adhom jiftakru s-sehem tas-Salesian
Boys Brigade fil-proçessjonijiet ta’ Corpus Christi
u tal-Qalb ta’ Ìesu li kienu jsiru fil-parroçça.
Ghalkemm illum il-komunita’ Salesjana tinsab
fil-konfini parrokkjali ta’ San Girgor g˙ada teΩisti
rabta intrinsika mal-g˙eruq tag˙ha, il-parroçça
ta’ Stella Maris. Kien bis-sa˙˙a tat-t˙abrik tal-
ewwel kappillan ta’ tas-Sliema u l-©eneroΩita’ tas-
Sur Fons li Tas-Sliema tista’ tifta˙ar li tat lil Malta
opra tant fejjieda.
Riferenzi:
Dun Nazzaren Camilleri ta’ Philip Grech SDB -Salesian Press
Annali Della Societa’ Salesjana (Torin) (1841-1921)
Alfonso M. Galea ta’ Louis A.Grasso - Marsa press
‘]ajja Salesjana’ -Frar 1991 Salesian Press
L-Ossevatore Romano 15.06.35
Noti:
Don Giovanni Bosco (1815-1888) ikkanonizzat f’l-1 ta’ April
1934 mill- Papa Piju Xl
Don Michele Rua ibbeatifikat fid-29 ta’ Ottubru 1972 mill-
Papa Ìwanni Pawlu ll
15Hajja Salesjana
Dad responded, ‘Son, it’s very cold outside and
it’s pouring rain.’
The boy gives his dad a surprised look, asking,
‘But Dad, aren’t people still going to Hell, even
though it’s raining?’
Dad answered, ‘Son, I am not going out in this
weather.’
Despondently, the boy asked, ‘Dad, can I go?
Please?’
His father hesitated for a moment then said,
‘Son, you can go. Here are the tracts, be careful.’
This eleven year old boy walked the streets
of the town going door to door and handing
everybody he met in the street a Gospel Tract.
After two hours of walking in the rain, he was
soaking, bone-chilled wet and down to his very
last tract. He turned toward the first home he saw
and started up the sidewalk to the front door and
rang the door bell. He rang the bell, but nobody
answered. He rang it again and again, but still
no one answered. He waited but still no answer.
He waited, something holding him there on the
front porch! He rang again and this time the door
slowly opened.
Standing in the doorway was a very sad-
looking elderly lady. She softly asked, ‘What can
I do for you, son?’ With radiant eyes and a smile
The Pastor and the Son
Every Sunday afternoon, after the morning service at the church, the
Pastor and his eleven year old son would go out into their town and
hand out Gospel Tracts. One particular Sunday afternoon, it turned
very cold and rain started pouring down. The boy bundled up in his
warmest and driest clothes and said, ‘OK, dad, I’m ready Dad. It’s
time we gather our tracts together and go out.’
16 Hajja Salesjana
that lit up her world, this little boy said, ‘Ma’am,
I’m sorry if I disturbed you, but I just want to tell
you that Jesus really does love you, and I came to
give you my very last Gospel Tract which will tell
you about Jesus and His great love.’ With that, he
handed her his last tract and turned to leave.
She called to him as he departed. ‘Thank you,
son! And God bless you!’
Well, the following Sunday morning in church
Pastor Dad was in the pulpit. As the service
began, he asked, ‘Does anybody have testimony
or want to say anything?’
Slowly, in the back row of the church, an
elderly lady stood to her feet. As she began to
speak, a look of glorious radiance came from her
face, ‘No one in this church knows me. I’ve never
been here before. My husband passed on some
time ago, leaving me totally alone in this world.
Last Sunday, being a particularly cold and rainy
day, it was even more so in my heart that I came
to the end of the line where I no longer had any
hope or will to live. So I took a rope and a chair
and ascended the stairway into the attic of my
home. I fastened the rope securely to a rafter in
the roof, then stood on the chair and fastened the
other end of the rope around my neck. Standing
on that chair, so lonely and brokenhearted I was
about to leap off, when suddenly the ringing of
my doorbell downstairs startled me. I thought, “I’ll
wait a minute, and whoever it is will go away.”
I waited and waited, but the ringing doorbell
seemed to get louder and more insistent. I
thought to myself again, “Who on earth could this
be? Nobody ever rings my bell or comes to see
me.”
I loosened the rope from my neck and started
for the front door. When I opened the door and
looked I could hardly believe my eyes, for there on
my front porch was the most radiant and angelic
little boy I had ever seen in my life. The words that
came from his mouth caused my heart that had
long been dead, to leap to life as he exclaimed,
“Ma’am, I just came to tell you that Jesus really
does love you.” Then he gave me this Gospel Tract
that I now hold in my hand.
As the little angel disappeared back out into
the cold and rain, I closed my door and read slowly
every word of this Gospel Tract. Then I went up to
my attic to get my rope and chair. I wouldn’t be
needing them any more.
You see, I am now a Happy Child of the King.
Since the address of your church was on the
back of this Gospel Tract, I have come here to
personally say thank you to God’s little angel who
came just in the nick of time and by so doing,
spared my soul from an eternity in hell.’
There was not a dry eye in the church. And
as shouts of praise and honour to The King
resounded off the very rafters of the building.
Pastor Dad descended from the pulpit to the front
pew where the little angel was seated. He took his
son in his arms as a tear rolled down his face.
17Hajja Salesjana
Fast from judging others; Feast on Christ dwelling in them.
Fast from apparent darkness; Feast on the reality of light.
Fast from pessimism; Feast on optimism.
Fast from thoughts of illness; Feast on the healing power of God.
Fast from words that pollute; Feast on phrases that purify.
Fast from anger; Feast on patience.
Fast from worry; Feast on Divine Providence.
Fast from unrelenting pressure; Feast on unceasing prayer.
Fast from negatives; Feast on positives.
Fast from complaining; Feast on appreciation.
Fast from hostility; Feast on non-resistance.
Fast from bitterness; Feast on forgiveness.
Fast from anxiety; Feast on hope.
Fast from yourself; Feast on a silent heart.
How
toFast
18 Hajja Salesjana
Something
to think about…
19Hajja Salesjana
SEVEN UPS
1. WAKE UP…Decide to have a good day.
“Today is the day the Lord hath made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.”
(Psalm 118:24)
2. DRESS UP…The best way to dress up is to put on a smile.
A smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.
“The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at outward
appearances; but the Lord looks at the heart.” (I Samuel 16:7)
3. SHUT UP… Say nice things and learn to listen. God gave us two ears
and one mouth, so He must have meant for us to do twice as much
listening as talking. “He who guards his lips guards his soul.”
(Proverbs 13:3)
4. STAND UP... For what you believe in.
Stand for something or you will fall for anything.
“Let us not be weary in doing good; for at the proper time, we will reap a
harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do
good.” (Galatians 6:9-10)
5. LOOK UP... To the Lord.
“I can do everything through Christ who strengthens me.”
(Philippians 4:13)
6. REACH UP... For something higher.
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not unto your own
understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge Him,
And He will direct your path.” (Proverbs 3:5-6)
7. Lift Up... Your Prayers.
“Do not worry about anything; instead pray about everything.”
(Philippians 4:6)
20 Hajja Salesjana
Malta Salesjana
IL-KOPERATURI SALESJANI
TA’ SAVIO COLLEGE
L-a˙˙ar laqg˙a tas-sena 2010 saret nhar it-28 ta’ Diçembru. Numru ©mielu mela s-sala dak inhar
filg˙axija fejn quddiesa ©iet iççelebrata minn Frs. Fabio Attard u Sandro Camilleri. Dan il-grupp
sabi˙ ta’ Koperaturi issa ilu ji©i ffurmat g˙al aktar minn sena u nofs; minn meta xi w˙ud minnhom
kienu g˙amlu l-‘Weg˙da’ nhar is-16 ta’ Mejju 2009, u kienu ©ew mag˙duda fl-Assoçjazzjoni tal-
Koperaturi Salesjani mwaqqfa minn Dun Bosco innifsu. Din is-sena Fr Sandro ippropona pass ie˙or
‘il quddiem g˙all-kobor ta’ din
l-Assoçjazzjoni, ji©ifieri l-g˙aΩla
ta’ Kordinatur Uffiçjali li
jg˙in fit-tmexxija tal-grupp
kemm lokalment kif ukoll biex
jibda komunikazzjoni mal-
Assoçjazzjoni tal-Koperaturi
fuq livell internazzjonali.
Is-SB organizzat il-‘Camp’ tag˙ha tax-xitwa fl-
a˙˙ar ta’ Diçembru, matul il-vaganzi tal-Milied.
26 membru ˙adu sehem u kkampjaw f’Santa
Katarina, limiti tar-Rabat, fejn g˙exu u raqdu
ta˙t it-tined imtella’ fil-post li kienu naddfu sew.
Xi w˙ud li jinqalg˙u l-aktar ˙adu ˙sieb it-tisjir,
waqt li l-Health & Safety Officer dejjem sab
˙atab biΩΩejjed g˙at-tisjir, g˙all-BBQ’s u g˙all-
campfire. Matul dawn il-jiem il-membri kollha
t˙arr©u u g˙amlu l-attivitajiet lis-soltu jsiru
f’kull ‘camp’ kif ukoll ta˙ri© prattiku sabiex il-
membri Ω-Ωg˙ar u dawk ©odda jitg˙allmu jkunu
ta’ g˙ajnuna u jinserixxu ru˙hom fl-ispirtu
u l-attivitajiet kollha. Barra mill-mixja lejn il-
Buskett billejl, fl-a˙˙ar jum Ωaru x-xelters tal-
gwerra u l-katakombi fir-Rabat. Meta re©g˙u
lura kul˙add midd idejh sabiex jin©abar kollox;
imbag˙ad ittie˙ed ritratt tal-okkaΩjoni, tniΩΩlet
il-bandiera u ntemmet din l-avventura tant
sodisfaçenti.
WINTER CAMP TAX-XITWA GÓAS-SB
21Hajja Salesjana
Nhar is-Sibt 22 ta’ Jannar, ©od-dar tad-Delegat f’Tas-
Sliema, saret it-3 laqg˙a fil-kors ta’ formazzjoni
tal-Brothers u Aspiranti. Il-konferenza ©iet mog˙tija
minn Fr Joe Cini u t-tema kienet ‘Missjunarji f’dawn
iΩ-Ωminijiet’. Wara l-konferenza u l-kafè kien hemm
diskussjoni, u wara din, il-Quddiesa. Fr Joe, li kien
missjunarju kemm fl-Indja u kemm fit-TuneΩija,
ippreΩenta tema interessanti u wera kif Dun Bosco,
li kellu qalb ta’ missjunarju, g˙alkemm ma marx
‘VOLUNTEER… FOR A CHANGE’
Madwar 70 Ωag˙Ωug˙a iltaqg˙u dan l-a˙˙ar fis-sala
ta’ St. Patrick School sabiex jaqsmu bejniethom
informazzjoni fuq l-attivitajiet ta’ SPYS (Salesian Youth
Pastoral Service). Din il-laqg˙a ssemmiet ‘Volunteer…
for a Change’ u matulha ©iet mog˙tija informazzjoni fuq
pro©etti Salesjani u Volontarjat fl-Indja, Ghana, Kenya
kif ukoll fuq Summer Camps hawn Malta stess mal-
komunità Salesjana ta’ l-Isla. Dawk li qieg˙din jit˙ajru
jag˙tu sehemhom intwerew lilhom ritratti u videos ta’
voluntiera o˙rajn u setg˙u jisimg˙u esperjenzi li o˙rajn
di©à kellhom. SPYS qeg˙din jorganizzaw korsijiet ta’
t˙ejjija g˙all-voluntiera, u dawn bdew fi Frar. Jekk xi
˙add huwa nteressat fil-volontarjat, sa mis-sajf li ©ej,
jista’ jikkuntattja lil SPYS g˙al aktar informazzjoni fuq
spysint@spysmalta.org
IÌRI JIGI IS-SAJF
Xi sena ilu, grupp ta’ Animaturi Salesjani,
laqg˙u sfida: dik li jibdew jg˙inu fl-
attivitajiet ta’ l-Oratorju tal-Komunità
Salesjana fl-Isla. Fr. Victor Mangion urihom
l-ambjent tad-dar u x-xog˙ol li kien qieg˙ed
isir. Ftit ©img˙at wara dan, ing˙aqdu
ma’ SPYS li kienu qeg˙din i˙ejju g˙al
summercamp proprju hemmhekk. Malajr
bdiet it-t˙ejjija u mag˙ha ©ie l-eççitament.
Kul˙add kellu l-parti tieg˙u u kienu qeg˙din
na˙dmu verament mag˙qudin. Sa mill-
ewwel jum ˙assew li kienu marru tajjeb; it-
tfal li ©ew baqg˙u sodisfatti u fer˙anin. Xi
w˙ud ˙abu o˙rajn mag˙hom. Il-©img˙atejn
taru u di©à bdew i˙ejju l-ispettaklu tal-
a˙˙ar. Ìenituri u qrabat u ˙bieb ©ew sabiex
jaraw lil dawn it-tfal jirreçtaw u jkantaw.
L-Animaturi u t-tfal telqu lil xulxin bil-˙sieb
li jer©g˙u jiltaqg˙u: xi g˙awma, xi BBQ
u party tal-Milied ©ewwa l-Oratorju, fejn
it-tfal huma m˙e©©a sabiex ji©u. Intant
kul˙add qieg˙ed jistenna u j˙ejji ru˙u g˙as-
sajf li ©ej. Minn Claire Falzon
KORS TA’ FORMAZZJONI
hu stess fil-missjoni, bag˙at lill-ulied spiritwali tieg˙u fil-pajjiΩi l-aktar imbieg˙da. Mill-Kostituzzjoni
Salesjana Fr Joe wera kif a˙na missjunarji tat-tfal u Ωg˙aΩag˙ kull fejn inkunu. Waqt id-diskussjoni
issemmiet ˙afna t-TuneΩija, min˙abba dak li qieg˙ed ji©ri f’dan il-pajjiΩ dawn il-jiem. Ng˙inu lill -Knisja
f’dan il-kontinent sabiex terga’ tqum fuq saqajha u tie˙u ˙ajja ©dida.
22 Hajja Salesjana
2Saint
Mary Mazzarello
This is the story of a “woman
with a backbone,” as Pope
Pius XI called her. The story
of a soul who passed through
a life of hunger, toil and
contradiction. The story of a
leader, a foundress, a saint.
MARY GETS TYPHOID
Mrs. Mazzarello noticed the change in her daugh-
ter: her cheeks were flushed, her eyes sunken,
her sturdy body broken by the long hours of work
and sleepless vigils. Within a few hours, she was
in the throes of a consuming typhoid fever which
hungrily burned every ounce of strength out of her
tired body. Long hours of rest and healthful nour-
ishment from the hands of her overjoyed mother
restored colour to her blood-drained face. The fe-
ver ebbed away; then her native strength rallied.
Father Pestarino, who had anxiously watched
her through the days of crisis, brought her Holy
Communion every day, knowing that it would be
her only comfort through the long hours of painful
illness.
The Mazzarello home now became a small
oasis for the Mornese townsfolk, who had heard
of Mary’s heroic venture into the typhoid-stricken
village and had nervously watched her fight with
death. They remembered the sturdy young woman,
and now saw the thin, frail girl that the consuming
typhoid had left behind.
Mary was not blind to reality. Two months
of fever and illness had destroyed her iron
constitution. She knew she would never again be
able to work in the fields, and yet, she reflected,
maybe this was what she had been waiting for
all these twenty years – maybe she and Father
Pestarino would now know what God had wanted
her to do; and as long as it was for God she would
do it – and love it!
VISIONARY
Mary was enjoying her autumn stroll through the
country. Everything was so beautiful in late Octo-
ber. Certainly a Great Artist had planned all this
pageant of splendour, and had lent it the quick-
ening force of life that seemed to speak to her of
Eternal Beauty.
She was convalescing now, and the long walks,
mostly spent in spontaneous prayer, did her a
great deal of good. Over the hilltop she strayed,
but she stopped in surprise – that building set in
the midst of the field: where had it come from? And
23Hajja Salesjana
those sisters playing with the village girls, who
were they? She rubbed her eyes fiercely. Surely
she was not delirious again! She took her hands
from her face and saw…nothing, just the bare field
swept by the wind. The building and the Sisters and
the children were all gone.
Mary turned back. What had she seen? A
vision? Her religious training had always been very
earthly, practical, passed on to her by a plain hard-
working priest who had little trust in visionaries
and dreams. And yet, so many things had come up
of late: her illness, so abruptly changing her, her
growing attachment to the care and teaching of
children – were they accidents? And then Father
Pestarino kept telling her that Don Bosco, the great
priest of Turin was interested in the Immaculate
Conception Society of Mornese. Did it mean
anything?
The Immaculate Conception Society was a
wonderful thing, she knew. Fifteen girls of Mornese,
all of them anxious to leave the world and live the
religious life but drawn to no particular order,
desirous of living at home with their families while
bound by their vows, and benefiting the village
children, that was the Immaculate Conception
Society to which she belonged. Father Pestarino
kept dropping hints, always bringing up the name
of Don Bosco. Certainly, that meant something!
Mary took up her Rosary. She was dizzy with
thought. She needed prayer.
Back in Turin, miles from Mornese, Don Bosco
was also deeply engrossed in thought. A certain
‘dream’ puzzled him. He had strangely found
himself in the midst of a crowd of girls in one of
Turin’s great squares. They rushed to him and
tugged at his cassock.
“Please come to us!” they pleaded. “We need
you too!” Their thin faces, outstretched arms, and
moist eyes begged as no orator could do. Then
they faded into the nothingness from which they
had emerged.
Girls? Was he called also to work for girls? Don
Bosco fingered the letter he had just received from
Father Pestarino. He read again of the Immaculate
Conception Society – fifteen young women, already
partly trained in religious life, anxious to work for
girls, poor girls. Some hand was shaping the future!
He took up his pen and wrote to Mornese. “I shall
come with my boys for a few days. And I would like
to meet and speak to the Immaculate Conception
Society.’’
BEGINNINGS
“Mother” announced Mary one evening after a
meeting of the Immaculate Conception Society. “I
am going to leave home. Father Pestarino is going
to allow some of us girls to live together in the cot-
tage near the church. And I have decided to be one
of them.”
“And what are you going to do there?” her
father asked skeptically. “Starve!”
“Oh no, Papa, we won’t starve. We’ll get a little
something for teaching the girls, enough to live
on.”
“But are you going to teach fancy sewing? You
don’t know it yourself, dear,” broke in her practical
mother.
“Oh, we’re going to learn it, Mother. Mr. Campi,
the tailor, is going to teach us, and the seamstress
in Mornese is going to show us how to cut and piece
dresses. Now, Mother, you know there’s nothing to
fret about! We’ll live just like religious, so God will
take good care of us! Just think of all the good we
can do to the girls of Mornese. We can make fervent
Catholics out of them, and good housewives!”
“It wouldn’t be a bad idea if you became a
housewife, Mary,” chimed in Mr. Mazzarello.
“No Papa,” was the girl’s decisive answer. “You
know I’ve never wanted that. It’s not my life. This is
the life I have always wanted! I know God wants me
to follow it!”
“Very well, Mary,” sighed her mother quietly.
“We won’t hinder you if that is what you really
want.” She struggled to choke a sob. Mary kissed
her mother. “Please Mother, there is nothing to
worry about. God will be with us!”
(to continue...)
24 Hajja Salesjana
Ji©i pproklamat: ˙arries u patrun tal-©ens nisrani
kollu; xempju u avukat tal-familji nsara; patrun tal-
moribondi; mudell u sosten tal-˙addiema; protettur
tal-Konçilju Vatikan II, u sa˙ansitra jkun imqieg˙ed
mill-Papa Ìwanni XXIII b˙ala sie˙eb eΩemplari tas-
saçerdoti, meta jg˙id:
“Min infatti aktar mis-saçerdot jista’ jiffamiljarizza
ru˙u ma’ San ÌuΩepp, li mhux biss kien jara u jisma’,
iΩda wkoll i©orr, ibus, ilibbes u jie˙u ̇ sieb ’l Alla stess?’’
Ìwanni Pawlu II fil-fatt jipproponi mill-©did lil
San ÌuΩepp b˙ala eΩemplar u xempju “lir-rg˙ajja u
ministri tal-knisja sabiex dawn jaqdu l-poplu t’Alla
b’dedikazzjoni attiva u ©eneruΩa b˙alma g˙amel San
ÌuΩepp li serva denjament il-Mulej Ìesù u l-Ver©ni
Marija.’’
G˙al tletin sena s˙a˙ hu kien id-dell tal-Missier
Etern fuq l-Iben Ìesù, g˙ax ˙abbu b’im˙abba ta’
missier, u b’˙e©©a kbira, indokra u ˙ares il-familja
divina’’. Fis-skiet hu g˙allem l-ewwel passi lill-Messija,
u wara ˙allieh jo˙ro© jimxi qalb il-poplu biex iwassal
l-a˙bar it-tajba ta’ salvazzjoni lill-˙olqien kollu.
G˙alhekk fil-mo˙bi hu ssie˙eb b’fedeltà fil-pjan tas-
salvazzjoni g˙all-bnedmin kollha u dan sempliçement
g˙ax g˙araf ikun “il-qaddej umli u ubbidjenti’’ ta’ Alla
fis-sej˙a li Alla stess g˙amillu.
Lil ÌuΩeppi ma nsibuh jg˙id xejn: ebda kelma ma
nsibu miktuba li ˙ar©et minn fommu. Fil-Van©eli
narawh jg˙addi bla ma jag˙mel ˙oss. Ebda daqq ta’
tromba biex ixandar il-grazzja tal-missjoni li rçieva,
ebda ©lied vjolenti biex ja˙bat ikisser lill-g˙edewwa ta’
ibnu.
ÌuΩeppi kien biss ix-xhud sieket tal-ikbar ©rajja li
qatt se˙˙et fl-umanità. U f’dan kien qed jaqdi l-ikbar
missjoni li Kristu ˙alla lid-dixxipli tieg˙u: “li jkunu
xhieda tieg˙u”. Missjoni li ting˙ata f’kull Van©elu, ti©i
mwettqa fl-Atti, u g˙adha fundamentali g˙all-Knisja
fid-dinja tal-lum. L-appostli u s-suççessuri tag˙hom
kienu ta’ xhieda permezz tax-xandir tal-Kelma, iΩda
ÌuΩeppi jag˙mel dan bix-xandira siekta ta’ g˙emilu.
G˙alih jg˙odd ˙afna kliem Kristu meta qal lid-dixxipli:
‘‘G˙ax mhux intom tkunu li titkellmu, imma l-Ispirtu
ta’ Missierkom ikun qieg˙ed jitkellem permezz
tag˙kom” (Mt 10,20).
ÌuΩeppi jiskot u Alla jitkellem permezz ta’ g˙emilu
fih. ÌuΩeppi jsir strument utli f’idejn Alla, j˙alli ja˙dem
permezz tieg˙u. Is-soçjetà tal-lum g˙andha ˙afna
min jg˙allimha u jg˙idilha x’g˙andha tag˙mel imma
min jag˙tiha l-eΩempju huma ftit. Forsi g˙alhekk
kul˙add jrid jesperimenta, g˙ax m’g˙adux jemmen
kliem ˙addie˙or u biex jifhem forsi jrid jara. In-nies ta’
x-xhud sieket
ÌuΩeppi
MID-DJAKNU KRYSTOF BUTTIGIEG
X’g˙amel ÌuΩeppi biex kien jist˙oqqlu l-©ie˙
hekk kbir ta’ patrun universali tal-knisja,
sewwasew ipproklamat mill-Beatu Papa Piju IX
fit-8 ta’ Diçembru tal-1870? X’kien li minn Ωmien
g˙all-ie˙or, il-Knisja kompliet tg˙ollieh ‘il fuq fil-©ie˙,
hekk li, fis-setg˙a tqieg˙du dritt “wara dak tal-g˙arusa mqaddsa tieg˙u?’’
25Hajja Salesjana
eΩempju naqsu g˙ax hu aktar façli li tg˙id u tg˙allem
milli tisma’ u tg˙in bil-fatti.
Tliet darbiet fil-Van©elu ta’ Mattew naraw lil
ÌuΩeppi jisma’ le˙en Alla u ming˙ajr telf ta’ Ωmien jafda
fih u jaqdih kif me˙tie©:
h “ÌuΩeppi, meta qam, g˙amel kif ordnalu l-an©lu tal-
Mulej, u ˙a lil martu g˙andu.” (Mt. 1:24)
h ÌuΩeppi qam, ˙a mieg˙u lit-tifel u lil ommu bil-lejl u
telaq lejn l-E©ittu…” (Mt. 2:14)
h ÌuΩeppi qam, ˙a mieg˙u lit-tifel u lil ommu, u mar
fl-art ta’ IΩrael.” (Mt. 2:21)
G˙alfejn? Biex ise˙˙ dak li kien miktub minn qabel
mill-profeti, ji©ifieri biex isse˙˙ ir-rieda ta’ Alla.
ÌuΩeppi fir-relazzjoni tieg˙u ma’ Alla jg˙allimna
˙a©a ˙afna importanti lilna lkoll. Jg˙allimna
l-importanza tas-skiet: kemm biex tisma’ lil Alla u
kemm biex tag˙mel dak li jrid hu, u kemm biex t˙ossok
ma˙bub minn Alla u kemm t˙obbu lura. San Ìwann tas-
Salib jg˙idilna:
‘‘Dak li l-aktar g˙andna bΩonn biex nimxu ‘l quddiem
hu li nkunu siekta quddiem dan Alla kbir, bix-xewqa u
bl-ilsien g˙al dik il-lingwa li l-aktar huwa jisma’, li hi dik
tal-im˙abba siekta.”
ÌuΩeppi jispirana biex ner©g˙u nsibu s-sbu˙ija ta’
din il-lingwa mo˙bija li tinftiehem aktar mill-kliem, il-
lingwa ta’ l-im˙abba mitkellma fl-iskiet u bil-fatti, bl-
azzjoni. “G˙ax mhux kull min isejja˙li Mulej, Mulej…iΩda
min jag˙mel ir-rieda tal-Missier.”
ÌuΩeppi mhux il-bniedem tal-paroli, imma
l-bniedem tal-azzjoni.
ÌuΩeppi kien sieket:
h mhux g˙ax kien injorant, iΩda g˙ax proprju jifhem
çar.
h Mhux g˙ax kien jibΩa’, imma g˙ax kien jafda.
h Mhux g˙ax kien xi˙ u bla sa˙˙a, imma g˙ax kien sod.
h Mhux g˙ax kien indeçiΩ, imma g˙ax kien ja˙sibha
tajjeb u jag˙mel dak li Alla jridu jag˙mel.
Hawn l-img˙allmin kollha tal-ispiritwalità, ibda
minn Santa Katerina ta’ Siena sa San Ìwann tas-Salib
jg˙inuna nifhmu kif nag˙rfu jekk dak li jing˙add lilna
jkun ©ej minn Alla jew le.
Dak li mhux ©ej minn Alla, jinstema’ tajjeb g˙al bidu,
jkun jidher ta’ ispirazzjoni u taççettah, però mbag˙ad
jinbidel f’sors ta’ dwejjaq, perturbazzjoni, skumdità u
sens ta’ ˙tija. Min-na˙a l-o˙ra dak li jkun ˙iere© minn
fomm Alla, fil-bidu jkun qares, u ma ji©bdekx iΩda
mbag˙ad isir sors ta’ paçi interjuri, kalma u kura©©.
Din il-verità hija l-essenza tad-dixxerniment u
tag˙mel parti mill-EΩerçizzi ta’ Sant’Injazju ta’ Loyola.
Kemm hu importanti g˙alhekk li ru˙na tie˙u s-silenzju
mixtieq biex dawn il-prinçipji ta’ dixxerniment ja˙dmu
fiç-çar u ma jkunux mxekkla.
Hekk ÌuΩeppi fis-skiet kien kapaçi wkoll jag˙raf
il-limiti tieg˙u quddiem l-armata ta’ Erodi. Biex
jiddefendi, ma jfittixx il-©lied, iΩda b’umiltà (kif kien
ordnat jag˙mel) jag˙Ωel li ja˙rab lejn l-E©ittu. Quddiem
il-qawwa tal-g˙adu ˙afna drabi l-g˙aqal jitlob li ta˙rab
u mhux tikkonfronta. Ejjew mela n˙allu l-qawwiet tal-
˙aΩen f’idejn San Mikiel u fuq l-eΩempju ta’ ÌuΩeppi
nag˙rfu d-dg˙jufija tag˙na, ma nisfidawx, iΩda b’kura©©
u b’responabbiltà nirtiraw. Anke Ìesù jag˙mel l-istess
meta ©ew ifittxuh biex joqtluh, jew biex jitfg˙uh minn
fuq is-sies g˙al isfel....hu ja˙rab u jibqa’ sejjer.
Però l-ikbar g˙adu tag˙na xi drabi nafu nkunu a˙na
nfusna bi ˙sibijietna, bis-sens ta’ superjorità li jista’
jkollna, jew bit-tfittxija taç-çertezza u kumdità f’kollox.
Biex tikkumbatti dawn il-qawwiet hemm bΩonn tas-
silenzju interjuri, li tmut g˙alik innifsek, li ma ΩΩomx
b’mod inseparabbli mal-fehmiet ta’ mo˙˙ok.
Jekk nag˙rfu nipprattikaw is-skiet interjuri ma’
Dak li ma jitkellimx u hu kapaçi jg˙allimna kif nibqg˙u
fis-skiet, nibqg˙u mistg˙a©ba kif naraw kull muntanja
titwitta u ssir xejn quddiemna. G˙ax “spirtu b˙al dak...
ma jista’ jitkeçça b’xejn ˙lief bit-talb.”
Ejjew mela “mmorru g˙and ÌuΩeppi” u min g˙andu
nitg˙allmu l-valur tas-skiet fil-˙ajja tag˙na: mezz biex
nsibu lil Alla u biex b’umiltà u m˙abba nkunu xhieda
awtentiçi tal-Kelma tieg˙u.
Referenzi:
- Mons. Lawrenz Sciberras, Il-Mastrudaxxa ta’ Nazzaret, (2009).
- Andrew Doze, Discovering St. Joseph, (1991).
- Federico Suarez, Giuseppe sposo di Maria, (Milano 1988).
- Frere Ephraim, Giuseppe di Nazaret. Il Mistero del Padre,
(Milano 1998).
26 Hajja Salesjana
This huge grey dog which appeared and suddenly
disappeared in moments of danger, and asked
for neither food nor shelter, was savage as a wolf
against an enemy, but gentle as a lamb with the
boys of the Oratory.
Don Bosco was once passing through a thickly
populated quarter, near Valdocco, late at night.
It had a bad reputation and his mother, Margaret
Bosco, was always anxious when her son was out
late at night. One day, Don Bosco had passed the
last buildings of the town when a huge grey dog
appeared and walked by his side.
He was startled at first, but as he found that
the creature seemed friendly, he accepted its
company and went on to the Oratory. When
he reached the door the dog turned around
and trotted off in the direction whence it had
come. Henceforward, when Don Bosco was
out late, the same thing happened. He found
the dog waiting for him whenever there was
a lonely part of the town to be traversed.
One night, he became aware of two suspicious-
looking men who were following him, matching
their pace to his. When he tried to avoid them by
crossing the road, they crossed too. He decided to
run back, but at the moment he did so they were
on him. A cloak was thrown over his head and a
handkerchief thrust into his mouth. He struggled
to free himself and call for help, but it was useless.
Suddenly, with a terrific howl, Grigio appeared
and rushed upon them. Leaping on the one who
held the cloak, he forced him to let go, then bit the
The Mysterious ‘Grigio’
It is absolutely amazing to see the obedience that relatively unintelligent
animals often performed at the bidding of the Saints. St. John Bosco who
was protected on numerous occasions by the mysterious dog whom he named
“Grigio” is one of several amazing episodes in the life of Don Bosco.
27Hajja Salesjana
second and flung him on to the ground. The first
tried to escape but Grigio was after him, he threw
him also into the mud and then stood over them
both, growling furiously.
“Call off your dog!” they cried to Don Bosco.
“I will call him off if you will let me go about my
business,” he replied.
“Yes, anything… only call him off!”
“Come, Grigio,” said Don Bosco, and the dog
immediately obeyed, while the two terrified men
made off in double-quick time.
On another occasion, it was from a whole band
of thugs that this mysterious companion saved
him. Don Bosco had reached a lonely spot when,
hearing steps, he turned to see a man close to
him with an uplifted stick. Don Bosco was a swift
runner in those days, but his enemy was swifter
and soon caught up with him. Don Bosco, with
a well-directed blow of the fist, sent the man
sprawling. His howl of pain brought several others
out of the bushes where they had been hiding.
They were all armed with heavy sticks, and things
now looked black for Don Bosco. Once more, at
the crucial moment, the terrific howl of Grigio
was heard. He ran around and around his master,
growling and showing his formidable teeth until
one by one the ruffians turned and disappeared.
Another evening after supper the dog appeared
in the playroom, and all the boys of Don Bosco’s
Oratory gathered around him and made much of
him. They patted him, pulled his ears, stroked his
head, the little ones rode on him. He regarded them
with grave eyes until at last they brought him into
the refectory where Don Bosco was still at supper.
“Why, Grigio, old fellow, what brings you here?”
he said. Grigio went up to him, put his great head
on the table, looked at him and wagged his tail.
“What do you want, old boy; a bit of cheese
or polenta?” No, he wanted neither. “Then,
if you won’t have anything,” said his master,
stroking the great head, “go home to bed.”
Grigio gave him one long look, turned around and
trotted out. The reason for this unusual visit of
Grigio was never really known, but it does show
the remarkable gentleness and kindness of this
“stray dog” who was nevertheless incredibly
vicious and protective of Don Bosco on numerous
occasions.
The last time Don Bosco saw him was one night
in Castelnuovo. He was going from Murialdo to
Moncucco and it was growing dark. He had to pass
some farms and vineyards that were guarded by
savage dogs. “I wish I had Grigio here,” he said
to himself. As if the wish had suddenly produced
him, Grigio appeared with every sign of delight at
meeting his friend, wagging his tail, and he walked
the whole way with him.
When Don Bosco reached the friend’s house to
which he was bound, they were astonished to see
such a magnificent dog and wondered where Don
Bosco had picked him up. When they sat down to
supper he was lying beside them, but when Don
Bosco rose to give him some food, he was not to
be seen. In fact, that was the last of Grigio. The
enemies of the Saint had grown tired of plotting
against him, and the mysterious protector was
never seen again.
How is it that Grigio mysteriously showed up at
just the right moment on not one, but numerous
occasions to literally save the life of Don Bosco?
Was he simply a dog mysteriously guided by God
to protect Don Bosco? How did he appear out of
nowhere? One thing is sure: God was with Don
Bosco because long before he had given himself
completely to the service of God, and God worked
incredible miracles through his intercession, that
he might be a holy example to all poor boys, who
came to the Oratory that he had founded for
them, which became a heavenly refuge.
28 Hajja Salesjana
Patrizju (Patrick) twieled fl-Ingilterra
madwar is-sena 385 A.D. Missieru
kien kunsillier fil-muniçipju tal-belt u
Nisrani. Meta Patrick kellu 16 –il sena
©ie maqbud minn xi furbani li bieg˙uh
b˙ala lsir fl-Irlanda. Waqt li kien
im©ieg˙el jirg˙a n-nag˙a© huwa kien
jg˙addi ˙afna ˙in fit-talb. Wara sitt
snin f’din il-˙ajja, rnexxielu ja˙rab u
re©a’ mar lura f’pajjiΩu.
Dik l-esperjenza li kellu fl-Irlanda nisslet fih
ix-xewqa li xi darba jikkonverti lil dak il-pajjiΩ
g˙ar-reli©jon nisranija. Mar jistudja fil-monasteru
ta’ Lerins, gΩira fix-xlokk tal-kosta ta’ Franza.
Minn hemm mar Auxerre, dejjem fi Franza, fejn
kompla jistudja meta San Ìermanu kien isqof ta’
dik id-djoçesi. Is-superjuri ekklesjastiçi tieg˙u ma
kellhom ebda ˙sieb jibag˙tu lil Patrick l-Irlanda;
iΩda meta miet Palladju, l-ewwel isqof missjunarju
fl-Irlanda, il-Papa Celestinu I bag˙at lil Patrick
hemm, b˙ala isqof ©did.
Óadd qatt ma kien xandar ir-reli©jon nisranija
fin-na˙a ta’ fuq u fil-Punent tal-Irlanda, proprju
Il-Festa
ta San Patrizju
17 ta’ Marzu
(Tag˙rif mi©bur min Fr Joe Cini SDB)
29Hajja Salesjana
fejn Patrick beda x-xog˙ol u missjoni tieg˙u.
Irnexxielu jit˙abbeb mal-kapijiet tat-tribujiet u
f’qasir Ωmien ikkonverta ˙afna nies. Kemm dam
fl-Irlanda, Patrick waqqaf aktar minn 300 knisja
u g˙ammed aktar min 120,000 ru˙. Bag˙at i©ib
saçerdoti g˙al dawn il-knejjes mill-Ingilterra u
minn Franza. Sa tmiem ta’ ˙ajtu baqa’ ja˙dem
fl-Irlanda, u baqa’ mag˙ruf b˙ala l-Appostlu tal-
IrlandiΩi.
KITBIET TIEGÓU
Patrizju kiteb ktieb imsejja˙ ‘Konfessjoni’. Fih
huwa jispjega kif se˙˙et fih il-missjoni li kien
tah Alla sabiex jikkonverti l-Irlanda. Dan il-ktieb,
flimkien ma’ kitbiet o˙rajn, jag˙tuna ˙jiel tal-
ispiritwalità ta’ Patrizju flimkien ma’ tag˙rif fuq
il-˙ajja u l-istorja ta’ dak iΩ-Ωmien fl-Irlanda.
Óafna stejjer fuq San Patrizju huma fil-fatt
le©©endi. Wa˙da mill-aktar mag˙rufin hija dik li
sa˙˙ar is-sriep kollha tal-Irlanda u bag˙athom
fil-ba˙ar fejn g˙erqu hemm. Le©©enda o˙ra tg˙id
li mit-tlitt werqiet tax-‘shamrock’ irnexxielu
jispjega lin-nies il-misteru tatt-Trinità Qaddisa.
Óafna ja˙sbu lix-‘shamrock’ b˙ala simbolu
tradizzjonali IrlandiΩ, ©ej minn dil-le©©enda.
Fi Ωmienna, l-IrlandiΩi Kattoliçi fid-dinja kollha
jiççelebraw il-festa ta’ dal-qaddis fis-17 ta’ Marzu.
‘ST. PATRICK’S DAY’
Dan il-jum, infatti, ji©i ççelebrat f’˙afna pajjiΩi
barra mill-Irlanda, kull fejn hemm numru ta’
IrlandiΩi li jiltaqg˙u flimkien g˙al din l-okkaΩjoni.
Fl-Irlanda, ‘St. Patrick’s Day’ g˙adha qabel kollox
festa reli©juΩa, b’funzjonijiet solenni fil-knisja u
laqg˙at fil-familji. Dakinhar kul˙add ipo©©i ftit
weraq tax-‘shamrock’ fuq sidru!
Fl-Istati Uniti, dan il-jum huwa festa pubblika
– vaganza. Óafna nies jilbsu l-a˙dar u jie˙du
sehem f’marçijiet u parati tal-okkaΩjoni. L-ewwel
darba li saret is-‘St. Patrick’s Day Parade’ kien fil-
belt ta’ Boston fis-sena 1737. Illum dawn il-parati
kuluriti isiru f’aktar minn 100 belt o˙ra. Jg˙idu li
dik ta’ New York hija l-akbar wa˙da.
Hawn Malta ssir quddiesa fil-knisja parrokkjali
tar-Rabat bil-kant tal-kor. Issir o˙ra ©ewwa
l-knisja ta’ St. Patrick’s f’Tas-Sliema li g˙aliha
jkunu mistiedna l-IrlandiΩi li jg˙ixu Malta u wara
joqog˙du g˙al riçeviment çkejken. S’intendi,
˙afna IrlandiΩi jiççelebraw bil-kbir fil-˙wienet
tax-xorb!
30 Hajja Salesjana
Dun Bosco
fis-santi u kartolini
minn Renè Sacco
is-Seba’ parti
Appell: Nixtieq nie˙u din l-opportunità biex nistieden lil min g˙andu xi santi ta’ Dun Bosco li
jista’ jiddisponi minnhom biex jg˙addihomli ˙alli titkompla tikber il-kollezzjoni. Il-kollezzjoni
tinkludi ukoll lil S. Fran©isk ta’ Sales, S. Domenico Savio, Maria AwΩiljatriçi, u l-erwie˙ tajba
kollha Salesjani. Ni©bor ukoll domni, bolli, midalji u materjal ie˙or b’konnessjoni ma’ Dun
Bosco jew is-Salesjani. Grazzi bil-quddiem.
Huwa fatt storiku li ˙ajjet Dun Bosco kienet
mimlija ˙olm u viΩjonijiet jew dehriet li ˙afna
drabi nebb˙uh u wrewh x’azzjoni g˙andu jie˙u
jew xi triq g˙andu jaqbad biex iwettaq il-˙idma
tieg˙u. Jing˙ad li f’wa˙da minn dawn il-˙olmiet
Dun Bosco sab ru˙u fi pjanura vasta f’pajjiΩ
stramb fejn l-indi©eni kellhom ©ilda qisha
ma˙ruqa bix-xemx u aspett feroçi u ostili. Kienu
lebsin ftit ilbies mag˙mul mill-©ild u suf tal-
annimali. Dawn in-nies kienu qeg˙din jikkaççjaw
u ji©©ieldu bejniethom jew ma’ suldati li kienu
lebsin uniformijiet ewropej. Tant kienu kiefra li lill-
vittmi tag˙hom kienu qed iqqattg˙uhom biççiet
u jwa˙˙lu l-bçejjeç mal-ponot tal-lanez tag˙hom.
F’daqqa wa˙da fost din ix-xena ta’ terrur, dehru
resqin grupp ta’ missjunarji lejn il-post, li ma
damux ma ©ew maqtula u mmassakrati. Wara dan
Dun Bosco lema˙ grupp ie˙or ta’ qassisin resqin
li g˙araf li kienu Salesjani. Hawn Dun Bosco ˙ass
diqa kbira g˙ax ˙aseb li kien ser imisshom l-istess
xorti u b˙al xtaq jg˙idilhom biex ma jersqux u
jmorru lura. IΩda hekk kif l-indi©eni lem˙u lil dawn
il-qassisin resqin b˙al ikkalmaw, waqfu mill-©lied
u laqg˙u lill-missjunarji u qag˙du g˙at-twiddib u
l-kelma tag˙hom.
Fit-tielet parti tas-serjè tag˙na konna wrejna
kartolina ta’ pittura tal-artist çelebri taljan,
Corrado Mezzana, li turi proprju lil Dun Bosco
jimmedita fuq din il-˙olma.
Din il-˙olma re©g˙et kebbset f’qalb Dun Bosco
x-xewqa li dejjem kellu li jifrex l-opra Salesjana,
issa organizzata tajjeb u fis-sod, f’pajjiΩi o˙ra
lilhinn mill-kontinent Ewropew. Dun Bosco kien
baqa’ jhewden fuq din il-˙olma u fejn setg˙et
kienet dik l-art u dawk in-nies. Meta, Ωmien wara,
Dun Bosco ltaqa’ mal-konslu tal-Ar©entina, minn
xi dettalji li dan spjegalu dwar din l-art u n-nies li
jg˙ixu fija, Dun Bosco g˙araf li dan kien il-pajjiΩ li ra
fil-˙olma. G˙alhekk ma damx ma ©ie organizzat
grupp ta’ g˙axar Salesjani li fl-14 ta’ Novembru
1875 salpaw minn Ìenova lejn l-Ar©entina biex
wara tkun tista’ tintla˙aq il-Patagonia u Terra del
Fuoco (fin-nofsinhar tal-pajjiΩ). Wara dan l-ewwel
pass, l-espedizzjonijiet missjunarji bdew isiru
31Hajja Salesjana
aktar spissi u numeruΩi, g˙all-ewwel fl-Amerika
t’Isfel u wara lejn l-Afrika, l-Asja u sal-Ìappun. Il-
Missjoni Salesjana llum tinsab imxerrda mad-dinja
kollha fejn ta˙dem bla heda g˙all-©id spiritwali u
anke materjali tal-umanità. Dan l-impenn jirrikjedi
dedikazzjoni u sagrifiççji mhux Ωg˙ar, u anke
erojΩmu f’kaΩi ta’ ostilità.
G˙al din il-parti (is-seba’) tas-serje tag˙na ˙a
naraw ftit santi u stampi o˙ra mill-kollezzjoni li
jittrattaw dan is-su©©ett, ji©ifieri il-Missjonijiet
Salesjani.
ViΩjoni o˙ra rigward il-missjonijiet li kellu Dun
Bosco kienet proprju ˙dejn is-sodda tat-tfajjel
Giovanni Cagliero moribond. Hawn Dun Bosco ra
kemm kienet kbira l-g˙alqa missjunarja li iΩjed
tard kellu jafda f’idejn l-istess Cagliero li wara kellu
jkun l-ewwel isqof u kardinal Salesjan. Fl-ewwel
stampa li g˙andna (nru 7.1) naraw impressjoni
artistika ta’ din il-©rajja. Din mhiex proprja santa
iΩda wa˙da minn serjè ta’ mitt stampa dwar il-
˙ajja ta’ Dun Bosco, kreazzjoni ta’ M. Vignati ta’
Milan fuq tpin©ija tal-pittur famuΩ Piero Dalle
Ceste (1912-1974). G˙andi impressjoni li dawn
l-istampi kienu jeΩistu ukoll forma ta’ ‘lantern
slides’ li bihom kien jag˙mlilna il-‘lectures’ il-mibki
Dun (Karm) Fenech, meta konna tfal fl-Oratorju
Salesjan ta’ Tas-Sliema. Dawn l-istampi g˙andhom
daqs ta’ 5.0 x 8.0`m.
In-numru 7.2, hija kartolina u fija naraw pittura
sabi˙a tal-artist C. Thermignon bit-titolu ‘Il-Beato
D. Bosco evangelizzatore’. F’din il-pittura nnotaw
li ˙afna mill-figuri g˙andhom karatteristiçi ta’
l-Amerika t’Isfel.
Il-pittura saret
l-1932 u tinsab fis-
Santwarju ta’ Marija
G˙ajnuna tal-Insara,
f’Fortin Mercedes
©ewwa il-Patagonja.
Jiddispjaçini li
g˙ad ma g˙andix
verΩjoni bil-kulur
ta’ din il-pittura.
L-imma©ni numru
7.3 u 7.4 huma Ωew©
santi stampati
‘ m o n o c h r o m e ’ ,
wa˙da sepja u
7.1
7.2
7.3
32 Hajja Salesjana
l-o˙ra bl-iswed.
Fit-tnejn jidhru
nies ta’ razez
d i f f e r e n t i ,
fosthom anke
‘Red Indians’ tal-
Amerika ta’ Fuq.
In-numru 7.3 hija
r i p r o d u z z j o n i
ta’ pittura iΩda
sfortunatament
il-firma tal-
awtur ma
tinqarax. It-
tnejn huma ta’
ori©ini taljana, bin-numru 7.3 stampata proprju
mill-Iskola Tipografika Salesjana ta’ Firenze.
Fin-numru 7.5 qed naraw stampa o˙ra (mhux
proprja santa) mill-famuΩ sett tal-‘Liebig Cards’ li
tkellimna dwarhom fit-tul fil-˙ames parti ta’ din
is-serjè. G˙alhekk ma hemmx g˙alfejn noqog˙du
nirrepetu, iΩda niffokaw mill-ewwel fuq l-istampa
fejn naraw xena paçifika bi grupp ta’ indi©eni
probabbli mill-Amerika t’Isfel attenti g˙all-kelma
tal-missjunarju Salesjan. Fuq wara ta’ dan il-
kupun hemm spjegazzjoni dettaljata dwar l-opra
missjunarja Salesjana. Fost informazzjoni o˙ra
hemm li, skond statistika mi©bura fl-1934, il-
missjunarji Salesjani kienu 1056, li kienu ja˙dmu
f’medda ta’ art ta’ erba’ miljun kilometru kwadru
li tinkludi fija partijiet mill-aktar in˙awi selva©©i u
inospitabbli tal-globu.
L-a˙˙ar imma©ni, numru 7.6, g˙al din it-
taqsima, hija santa ˙elwa b’messa©© sempliçi.
Barra l-figura ta’ Dun Bosco u l-imma©ni ta’ Marija
G˙ajnuna tal-Insara, hemm xena ta’ grupp ta’
Nota: Dan l-a˙˙ar, ma’ xi materjal g˙all-kollezzjoni li ©ibt minn barra, Ωdiedet ukoll santa
˙elwa li ©iet ming˙and Rev. Victor Enriquez, Karmelitan. Grazzi.
7.4
7.5
7.6
indi©eni ta’ xi art tal-missjoni ˙erqana biex jilqg˙u
l-©ifen riesaq lejhom bil-missjunarji. Fuq wara
ta’ din is-santa, mat-talba lil Dun Bosco hemm
konçessjoni ta’ 200 ©urnata indul©enza mog˙tija
mill-Kardinal Fossati, bid-data ta’ 1 ta’ Frar 1934.
B˙ala parti mill-kumpless ta’ Colle Don
Bosco f’Turin hemm muΩew etnografiku li ji©bor
fih kollezzjoni estensiva ta’ o©©etti prezzjuΩi
u sinifikattivi tal-artijiet, çiviltajiet u kulturi
fejn ˙admu u g˙adhom ja˙dmu il-missjunarji
Salesjani g˙all-©id u Ωvilupp umanitarju u
l-evan©elizzazzjoni tal-popli.
33Hajja Salesjana
(ANS – Port-au-Prince) – On the anniversary of
the earthquake, the Salesian Family in Haiti came
together to commemorate all the victims and in
particular the 3 Salesians, and the pupils and teach-
ers who died. Early in the morning the Salesian
community welcomed the families of the three
Salesians who had died: Bro Hubert Sanon aged
86, and the two third-year students of philosophy
Vilbrun Valsaint, 27 and Wilfrid Atsime, 29. After a
few moments together, the community went to the
Quisqueya University, where the two students had
been buried, and here Fr Ducange presided over the
first Mass.
At 3.00 in the afternoon there was a ceremony
in the courtyard of the “Ecole Nationale des Arts
et Métiers – Little Schools of Fr Bohnen” (ENAM –
OPEPB), where over 150 students died when the
building collapsed. The first to speak was Fr Olibrice
Zucchi, the Rector of OPEPB, who led a period of
reflection and prayer. Recalling the sorrow and
pain he had personally experienced during the
tragedy of the earthquake he declared his faith “in
the God of life who can give new life to our mortal
bodies,” Fr Zucchi invited those present to also
have confidence in the volunteers and in all those
working for the re-construction.
This was followed by a Mass of commemoration
at which Fr Ducange presided again and which was
attended by all the Salesian Family of the Vice
Province: the students from the school, from the
Vocational Training Centre and from OPEPB, the
youngsters from the Foyer Lakay, the Daughters of
Mary Help of Christians, the Past Pupils, the members
of ADMA, the Salesian-Cooperators and many other
teachers, staff and friends of the Salesians.
In his homily Fr Ducange gave a brief account of
the lives and work of the three Salesians who died.
He then spoke of the terrible loss of the students
and the teachers of the schools; finally he added:
“The passing of these souls, happening so tragically
in a fraction of a second, rather than striking
us dumb, ought to inspire us to speak out... For
those who believe in God, life is not destroyed but
transformed.”
On this occasion of the anniversary of the tragic
earthquake on 12 January 2010, the Rector Major
Fr Pascual Chávez Villanueva, sent a supportive
message to Fr Sylvain Ducange, Superior of the
Vice Province of Haiti, expressing his personal
closeness and that of the whole Congregation and
renewing his commitment to continue to help with
the massive enterprise of re-construction.
Commemoration and hope
HAITI
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?
way of life?
Are you
being calledto the
PRIESTHOOD
And to the
SALESIAN
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
Çempel lil Fr Eric Cachia SDB fuq 21 331 447
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.
BorΩa taÕ Studju
Huwa fatt ta’ swied il-qalb li llum ˙afna Ωg˙aΩag˙ huma:
• vittma ta’ min juΩahom biex jistg˙ana
• abbuΩati sesswalment
• uΩati mill-mexxejja tad-droga
• imça˙˙din minn valuri essenzjali fil-˙ajja
Int tistà tg˙inna. Meta qed tag˙mel hekk, int tkun qed tie˙u sehem fil-
˙idma ta’ Don Bosco. Alla biss ikun jaf il-©id li tkun qed tag˙mel.
G˙in il-˙idma Salesjana
Dawk li huma l-iΩjed fil-periklu l-aktar ji˙tie©u g˙ajnuna. Dawk li m’g˙andhomx le˙en
je˙tie©u xi ˙add jiddefendihom. San Ìwann Bosco kien jafu dan. Hu ˙adem f’˙ajtu kollha
g˙aΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙, g˙all-foqra u g˙al dawk li huma l-aktar fil-bΩonn.
Apparitions of Our Lady
NEWSPAPER POST
ST. PATRICK’S SCHOOL, ST. JOHN BOSCO STREET, SLIEMA SLM 1925
Our Lady of Lipa
On September 12,1948,
Teresita Castillo, a 19
year old Carmelite
novice, while at prayer
in the convent garden
of Lipa, allegedly saw
a vine shaking and
heard the voice of Mary
requesting to kiss the
ground and to return
to the same spot for
15 consecutive days.
Mary always appeared
hovering on a cloud,
wearing a white robe
and holding a golden
Rosary. The message
of Our Lady was about
penance, prayers for
the clergy, and the necessity of the Rosary. On Septem-
ber 15, 1948, the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, some
rose petals bearing the image of Jesus and Mary fell
miraculously from the sky. On November 27, before she
departed for the last time, the Blessed Virgin requested
that a Mass be held on the 12th day of every month, and
identified herself as the “Mediatrix of All Grace.” In 1951
a commission of Bishops disapproved the apparitions
as a fraud; however, Msgr. Ramon Arguelles, present
Bishop of Lipa, is presently investigating once more the
apparitions by gathering further evidences.
