Hajja Salesjana NOVEMBRU-DIÇEMBRU 2011il-222 Óar©a
A Baby’s Hug
Tradizzjoni g˙aΩiΩa tal-Avvent
Il-Premju Nobel lil Isqof Salesjan
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.
Editorjal / Pedago©ija / Caledar of events /
Something to think about / Marian Apparitions
San Martin 9
Don Bosco Around the World 10
A Baby’s Hug 12
Knisja Ûag˙Ωug˙a u Óajja 14
Boscofest 16
Malta Salesjana 20
Saint Mary Mazzarello 22
Tradizzjoni g˙aΩiΩa tal-Avvent 24
Five short stories: From Vietnam to Japan 25
Ix-Xitla tal-Ponsjetta 26
Id-Dun Bosco ta’ Tonj 28
Dun Bosco fis-santi u kartolini 30
Il-Premju Nobel lil Isqof Salesjan 33
3Hajja Salesjana
EDITORJAL
Il-Jum Dinji taΩ-Ûg˙aΩag˙ ©ewwa Madrid, di©à
g˙adda b˙ala avveniment. Issa, dak li g˙andu
jibqa’ huma l-effetti li din l-esperjenza qajmet fil-
qlub ta’ ˙afna Ωg˙aΩag˙. Jekk nisimg˙u u niflu
l-kliem tal-Papa Benedittu VXI, jidhirli li nistg˙u
niffokaw fuq erba’ punti.
L-ewwel punt huwa dak fejn il-Papa jistieden
liΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ sabiex ma jibΩg˙ux! Huwa
j˙e©©i©hom, kemm-il darba sabiex ma jaqtg˙ux
qalbhom min˙abba l-ambjent madwarhom li
huwa tant kontra l-fidi, ambjent li jiddie˙aq
b’min jag˙Ωel li jipprattika il-fidi tieg˙u. Kliem il-
Papa kien ta’ wens, mhux ta’ konfront.
Fit-tieni punt il-Papa jsejja˙ liΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙
sabiex jirb˙u l-medjokrità billi jeg˙lbu dik il-
kultura vojta li l-bnedmin ta’ Ωmienna qeg˙din
jeg˙rqu fiha. Kull min jg˙ix tassew il-fidi, jog˙la
’l fuq mix-xejn tad-dinja u jiskopri s-sbu˙ija tal-
misteru li jag˙ti sens liΩ-Ωmien u lill-istorja.
It-tielet punt li l-Papa mbag˙ad joffrilhom,
huwa dak li jkunu ankrati fi Kristu, ji©ifieri li
jibnu ̇ ajjithom kollha fuq ‘il-blat’, qawwija fil-fidi.
Dan ma kienx xi kliem bla tifsira g˙aΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ u
g˙all-istorja ta’ ˙ajjithom. Nista’ ng˙id dan g˙aliex
˙assejt kemm huma laqg˙u kliem il-Papa waqt is-
sig˙at li g˙addejt inqarar f’El Retiro Park, f’dawk
il-jiem f’Madrid.
L-a˙˙ar punt important tal-Jum Dinji taΩ-
Ûg˙aΩag˙ ©ewwa Madrid kien stedina sabiex
immorru lura d-dar fer˙ana; imma dal-fer˙ ma
jΩommuhx mag˙luq ©ewwa fihom, g˙ax min ikun
sab verament lil Kristu mhux sew li jΩommu g˙alih
biss. G˙alhekk il-Papa talab liΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ sabiex
ikunu xhieda fidili u fer˙ana – iΩ-Ωew© modi kif
wie˙ed jg˙ix il-fidi.
G˙alina s-Salesjani – il-Familja Salesjana kollha -
kull attività li ng˙ixu mat-tfal u Ω-Ωg˙aΩag˙ g˙andha
tkun esperjenza li timmarkalhom ˙ajjithom b’effett
dewmieni, u mhux biss okkaΩjoni li tg˙addi u
tintesa. Dun Bosco jistedinna nag˙tuhom il-veru
fer˙ li jwassal g˙all-qdusija. U qdusija ma g˙andha
tkun qatt kelma li ©©ib mist˙ija, iΩda qawwa!
Fr Fabio Attard SDB
Jum Dinji TaΩ-Ûg˙aΩag˙
GÓALINA S-SALESJANI – IL-FAMILJA SALESJANA
KOLLHA - KULL ATTIVITÀ LI NGÓIXU MAT-TFAL
U Û-ÛGÓAÛAGÓ GÓANDHA TKUN ESPERJENZA LI
TIMMARKALHOM ÓAJJITHOM B’EFFETT DEWMIENI,
U MHUX BISS OKKAÛJONI LI TGÓADDI U TINTESA.
4 Hajja Salesjana
EDITORIAL
World Youth Day in Madrid is now over in terms
of an event. But what is not over are the effects
this experience would have aroused in the hearts
of many young people. Listening and re-reading
Benedict XVI’s addresses, I think there are four
key terms in this celebration of faith.
The first word is one that invites young
people to “not be afraid”. The Pope repeatedly
urged young people not to be discouraged by
an environment hostile to faith, an environment
which even ridicules the very choice of faith. His
words were comfort, not confrontation.
The second goal the Pope indicated to young
people was to “overcome mediocrity” by
overcoming the culture of emptiness that people
find themselves swamped by. Anyone who accepts
the challenge of faith leaves the merely horizontal
level behind and discovers the beauty of the
mystery that gives meaning to time and history.
Then the Pope offered a third way forward:
that of being anchored in Christ, meaning to
build one’s own life-story on rock, steadfast in
the faith. Pope Benedict’s invitation does not
come as something alien to young people and
their personal story. Someone like me who spent
several hours in the confessional at El Ritiro Park
during the days in Madrid knows how young people
welcomed the Pope’s words.
The last key point of World Youth Day in
Madrid was the Pope’s invitation to them to go
back home happy, but not only in themselves.
Someone who has encountered Christ cannot keep
Him selfishly to him or herself. The Pope asked
young people to be faithful and happy witnesses
- the two sides of a life of faith.
For us Salesians every activity we live with
the young is meant to offer them true and lasting
experiences, not just events. Experiences that will
mark their lives and not just entertain them for a
while. Don Bosco invites us to give them the true
happiness that is the path to holiness. And holiness
must no longer be a word that brings shame, but
only strength!
Fr Fabio Attard SDB
World Youth Day
FOR US SALESIANS EVERY ACTIVITY WE LIVE
WITH THE YOUNG IS MEANT TO OFFER THEM TRUE
AND LASTING EXPERIENCES, NOT JUST EVENTS.
EXPERIENCES THAT WILL MARK THEIR LIVES AND
NOT JUST ENTERTAIN THEM FOR A WHILE.
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-BEATU FILIPPU RINALDI (1856 - 1931)
KOPJA ÓAJJA TA’ DUN BOSCO.
Il-vokazzjoni ta’ Ωag˙Ωug˙ li kellu jil˙aq Rettur
Ma©©ur.
In-na˙at ta’ Lu Monferrato, fl-Italja ta’
Fuq, post mag˙ruf g˙all-inbid tajjeb, jistg˙u
jissej˙u l-G˙alqa tal-Mulej min˙abba l-g˙add
ta’ vokazzjonijiet li nibtu hemmhekk. L-isba˙
eΩempju hu dak tal-familja Rinaldi. Il-Mulej
g˙o©bu jsejja˙ 7 itfal minn dik il-familja:
2 bniet sorijiet Ulied Marija G˙ajnuna tal-
6 Hajja Salesjana
Insara (Salesjani) li, mibg˙uta Santo Domingo
(fil-Karribew) kienu pijunieri kura©©uΩi u
missjunarji; u 5 subien li kollha saru Saçerdoti
Salesjani. L-aktar wie˙ed mag˙ruf huwa Dun
Filippu Rinaldi, tielet suççessur ta’ Dun Bosco,
bi storja ta’ vokazzjoni straordinarja u b˙ala
˙abrieki g˙all-vokazzjonijiet. Huwa kien i˙obb
itenni li l-fidi tal-familji ta’ Lu ‘Kienet fidi li
tqanqal lill-©enituri jg˙idu: il-Mulej tana ulied
u jekk Hu isej˙ilhom, a˙na ma nistg˙ux ng˙idu
le!’
Dun Bosco kien feta˙ l-ewwel dar Salesjana
barra minn Turin fir-ra˙al ta’ Mirabello.
Hemmhekk, Filippu kellu jiltaqa’ ma’ Dun Bosco
u jqerr g˙andu u jinduna li ‘wiçç Dun Bosco
xeg˙el f’daqqa b’mod misterjuΩ.’ Din il-viΩjoni
baqg˙et ma’ Filippu; f’çertu sens ©riet warajh,
anke meta, wara waqaf mill-iskola, mar lura
ja˙dem fl-g˙elieqi g˙al 10 snin. Dun Bosco b˙al
baqa’ jimxi mieg˙u u jinkura©©ih jie˙u deçiΩjoni.
Meta mbag˙ad kellu 20 sena u re©a’ ltaqa’ ma’
Dun Bosco, re©g˙et ©rat l-istess ˙a©a: ‘Allura
wiççu ntxeg˙el u dawl qawwi idda, aktar mix-
xemx, sakemm wara ftit mumenti wiççu rega’
lura g˙an-normal.’ Issa Filippu kien çert mis-
sej˙a tieg˙u: ‘Sellimt g˙all-a˙˙ar darba lill-
familjari tieg˙i u dawwart wiççi minn dik id-
dinja li kienet serqitli l-a˙jar snin ta’ ˙ajti.’
Sar Salesjan u baqa’ dejjem ta˙t g˙ajnejn
Dun Bosco li fdalu diversi xog˙lijiet u pro©etti
li g˙alihom Filippu dejjem kien ubbidjenti u
sottomess. Billi kien bniedem matur, sena
biss wara l-ordinazzjoni tieg˙u, fl-1883 Dun
Bosco po©©ieh b˙ala direttur spiritwali ta’
Dun Bosco kien feta˙ l-ewwel
dar Salesjana barra minn
Turin fir-ra˙al ta’ Mirabello.
Hemmhekk, Filippu kellu
jiltaqa’ ma’ Dun Bosco u jqerr
g˙andu u jinduna li ‘wiçç Dun
Bosco xeg˙el f’daqqa b’mod
misterjuΩ.’ Din il-viΩjoni
baqg˙et ma’ Filippu; f’çertu
sens ©riet warajh, anke meta,
wara waqaf mill-iskola, mar
lura ja˙dem fl-g˙elieqi g˙al
10 snin. Dun Bosco b˙al baqa’
jimxi mieg˙u u jinkura©©ih
jie˙u deçiΩjoni.
7Hajja Salesjana
‘Ulied Marija’, dawk li mda˙˙la fiΩ-Ωmien, xtaqu
jsiru saçerdoti u Salesjani. Dun Bosco dejjem
Ωamm g˙ajnejh fuqu matul dawk il-˙ames snin
li dam f’Turin li matulhom Filippu kien imur
iqerr g˙andu kull ©img˙a waqt li jirçievi minn
g˙andu sinjali ta’ fiduçja spiritwali li qawwuh
b˙ala Saçerdot u Salesjan.
Imbag˙ad intbag˙at fi Spanja fejn firex il-
presenza Salesjana mal-pajjiΩ, bil-g˙ajnuna tas-
Sorijiet Ulied Marija G˙ajnuna tal-Insara, u beda
xog˙ol Salesjan f’21 skejjel u kulle©©i. Nistg˙u
infatti ng˙idu li Dun Rinaldi huwa l-fundatur
tal-opra Salesjana fi Spanja. Meta ©ie lura Turin
b˙ala Vigarju Ìenerali tal-Kongregazzjoni,
©ewwa l-BaΩilka ta’ Marija G˙ajnuna tal-Insara,
kien jg˙addi aktar minn sag˙tejn kull filg˙odu
jisma l-qrar, jag˙ti pariri u jmexxi spiritwalment
lil min kellu vokazzjoni. Dam jag˙mel dan sal-4
ta’ April 1922 meta ©ie elett Rettur Ma©©ur tas-
Soçjetà Salesjana. B˙ala t-tielet suççessur ta’
Dun Bosco ried jadatta l-ispirtu tal-fundatur
g˙aΩ-Ωminijiet ©odda; f’dan wera d-doni
tieg˙u ta’ missier ˙abrieki billi ˙e©©e© g˙all-
vokazzjonijiet, feta˙ çentri ta’ assistenza
spiritwali u soçjali g˙all-˙addiema Ωg˙aΩag˙,
mexxa u sa˙˙a˙ lis-sorijiet Salesjani, ©ab ’l
quddiem l-G˙aqda tal-Salesjani Koperaturi u
waqqaf il-Federazzjoni Mondjali tal-Past Pupils.
Dun Rinaldi wera nteress ukoll fi grupp ta’
nisa msejja˙ ‘Zelatrici’, u waqt li apprezzahom,
mexxihom fuq ˙ajja spiritwali li wasslet sabiex
tati l-frott bit-twaqqif tal-Istitut Sekulari tal-
‘Volontarji ta’ Dun Bosco’. L-impetu li ta lill-
missjonijiet Salesjani kien enormi, g˙aliex
waqqaf Istituti Missjunarji, g˙aqdiet u rivisti
hekk li, waqt li kien hu Rettur Ma©©ur, mal-
1,800 Salesjan telqu lejn l-artijiet tal-missjoni
fid-dinja kollha. G˙as-Salesjani u g˙all-Ulied
Marija G˙ajnuna tal-Insara, Dun Rinaldi huwa
l-Img˙allem tal-Ispiritwalità g˙aliex bix-xhieda
ta’ ˙ajtu u bit-tag˙lim sempliçi u prattiku
tal-istil ta’ ˙ajja Salesjana, huwa mela lill-
Kongregazzjoni b’˙ajja ©dida. Fi Ωmienu
l-vokazzjonijiet g˙addew minn 4000 g˙al 8000,
u d-djar Salesjani, minn 400 g˙al 650!
Il-Beatifikazzjoni ta’ Dun Bosco fl-1929
inkurunatlu ̇ ajtu u offrietlu l-opportunità jer©a’
jqajjem il-kariΩma tal-Fundatur hekk kif kienet
fil-bidu. Dun Filippu Rinaldi kien sar ‘kopja ˙ajja
ta’ Dun Bosco’ , u kif kien jg˙id wie˙ed mill-
ewwel Salesjani, ‘kull ma kien jonqos f’Dun
Rinaldi kien il-le˙en ta’ Dun Bosco’.
8 Hajja Salesjana
FEASTS & EVENTS
NO
VEM
BER
DEC
EM
BER
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
Tue 1 All Saints Day
1-3 Mid-Term school holidays at Savio College and St. Patrick’s School
Wed 2 Salesian Cooperators, Sliema – monthly meeting at 6.00 p.m.
Fri 4 First Friday Devotions at St. Patrick’s Church at 6.15 p.m.
Thu 10 Prayer Day for Salesian Missions
Fri 11 Exhibition and Sale of paintings by Peter Quinn in aid of St. Patrick’s Boys.
Sun 13 Bl. Artemide Zatti, a Salesian Lay Brother. Dlood Donation Drive by Salesian
Brigade, at Sliema, St. John Bosco Street – all morning.
Tue 15 Bl. Maddalena Morano FMA.
Sat 19 Italian Men’s Choir from Valsusa (Italy) at 7.30 p.m. at St. Patrick’s
Mon 21 St. Patrick’s School Day Outing to celebrate ‘Children’s Day’
Thu 24 Commemoration of Mary Help of Christians at St. Patrick’s:6.30 p.m.
Sat 26 Day of Recollection for SDB’s and FMA’s. Symposium for Salesian Family at
Salesian Theatre, Sliema at 7.00p.m.
Sun 27 1st Sunday of Advent. Sale of Poinsettias at St. Patrick’s Church- for charity
Fri 2 First Friday devotions at St. Patrick’s Church at 6.15 p.m.
3 – 8 St. Patrick’s Boys’ Pilgrimage to Turin
Mon 5 Bl.Philip Rinaldi, Rector Major, 3rd Successor of St. John Bosco.
Emerald Society Carols’ Evening & party at St. Patrick’s
Wed 7 Concert in honour of Our Lady – Savio College/ St. Patrick’s School: 1/2 day
Holiday. Salesian Cooperators, Sliema – monthly meeting at 6.00 p.m.
7 - 11 Sale of Sicilian ceramics at St. Patrick’s – Sliema.
Thu 8 Immaculate Conception. Public holiday
Sat 10 Prayer Day for Salesian Missions
Tue 13 Republic Day. Public holiday – Traditional Christmas Concert at St. Patrick’s
Church: 7.30 p.m.
Mon 19 Christmas Party and End of Term at Savio College.
Thu 22 Christmas Pageant/Mass and School Party at St. Patrick’s School
Sun 25 Christmas Day: A Happy Christmas to All our Readers.
Sat 31 New Year’s Eve. Te Deum Mass at St. Patrick’s at 6.30 p.m. NY Eve parties
at Salesian Oratory, Sliema and Savio College.
9Hajja Salesjana
Fl-antik, it-tfal kienu jdendlu borΩa ˙dejn is-
sodda biex filg˙odu jsibuha mimlija b’˙elu u frott.
Mag˙rufa minn kul˙add hija l-g˙anja: ÌewΩ, lewΩ,
qastan, tin; min i˙obbu ’l-San Martin! Imbag˙ad
g˙andna l-kliem “Is-Sajf ta’ San Martin” g˙aliex
madwar dak iΩ-Ωmien soltu jkollna temp sabi˙. Ma
nafx jekk dan isirx f’Malta, imma fi Sqallija, kont
smajt, l-g˙assara jduqu l-inbid il-©did fil-festa ta’
San Martin. Fir-ra˙al çkejken tal-Ba˙rija, insibu
knisja Ωg˙ira, ˙elwa u antika, u din hija ddedikata
lil San Martin. Hekk ukoll, il-knisja parrokkjali
l-©dida fil-Ba˙rija hija ddedikata lil San Martin u
hemmhekk ti©i ççelebrata l-festa tieg˙u.
Hawn ta˙t, silta mill-poeΩija ta’ Patri Marjanu
Vella li jisimha “San Martin”
Jekk dakinhar tit˙ajjar ti©i s’g˙andi,
©ib San Martin fil-borΩa ta’ tfulitna;
irrid ninfatam minn daΩ-Ωmien ta’ issa.
U nilg˙ab çiknatur bil-©ellewΩ mimli,
naqsam il-©ellewΩ imkennen f’qoxra rqiqa,
u nsoff il-benna tar-rummiena ˙amra.
Il-˙obΩa Ωg˙ira b’kisja ©elu abjad,
il-qastan b’ri˙a taqsam tal-furnata,
jintrassu mal-larin©a b’werqa wieqfa.
Imbag˙’d ismag˙ni kelma qabel titlaq,
g˙ax ili s-snin nissajja biex ng˙idhielek;
wasal il-waqt, wasal il-˙in imbierek.
…
Jekk dakinhar tit˙ajjar ti©i s’g˙andi,
tinsiex lil San Martin;
qastan u lewΩ, rummiena u larin©a,
çappa marsusa tin…
San Martin
Nhar il-11 ta’ Novembru l-Knisja tiççelebra
l-festa ta’ San Martin ta’ Tours. Ma’ din il-
festa hemm marbuta drawwiet u g˙ajdut.
Hekk, hawn Malta, g˙andna d-drawwa
nag˙tu lit-tfal borsa bi frott tal-ista©un.
Patri Marjanu (1927 – 1988)
kien Fran©iskan. Il-poeΩija
tieg˙u kienet aktarx ixxaq-
leb lejn su©©etti reli©juΩi;
imma fost ix-xog˙lijiet
tieg˙u insibu trattati wkoll
xi tradizzjonijiet Maltin.
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.
THE CASKET OF DON BOSCO IN INDIA
Matunga- Mumbai - On August 16 the Casket bear-
ing Don Bosco’s relics reached this city. At the Don
Bosco’s Madonna Shrine, Church leaders and people
of every class and creed paid homage to the saint
of the young. The Salesians there had set up a full
day’s programme: at 6 and 7 am two Masses were
celebrated in the sanctuary while at 11 am a solemn
Mass of departure was celebrated. This Eucharist
was attended by three bishops: Bishop Stanislaus
Fernandes, Archbishop of Gandhinagar, Bishop
Godfrey de Rozario, Bishop of Baroda, and Bishop
Thomas Macwan, Bishop of Ahmedabad. Also pres-
ent were Fr Michael Fernandes, Provincial INB, and
Fr Edwin D’Souza, Rector of the Shrine at Matunga.
11Hajja Salesjana
Panjim and Goa -In the second half of August
the journey of Don Bosco’s casket continued to
the Indian Province of Panjim. At the “Don Bosco
Oros”, where the casket stopped on 17 August,
about 5,000 faithful visited each day. Along
the road between Oros and Panjim the crowd
gathered spontaneously and followed the relics in
procession all the way for about 10 km. At Panjim
the Mass alone on the first day was attended by
over 3,000 people and the faithful continued to
arrive in their thousands throughout the day. In
addition to the Christians, many Hindus, Muslims
and members of other faiths joined the line of
those venerating the relics. Then, at the south
of Goa, in a mainly Catholic area, the Salesian
community, the past pupils and volunteers had to
keep finding new ways to accommodate the flow
of pilgrims in numbers far higher than expected.
Also in the Karnataka region the devotion of the
faithful was expressed in their large numbers. Fr
Felix Serrao, Rector of Sirsi, said that the response
of the pilgrims was double that expected, and the
short journey to Trasi, had to be extended further
because of the crowds of faithful who gathered.
Bangalore –On 26 August, Salesians, members of
the Salesian Family, Past Pupils and the faithful
gathered for this occasion and began to pray. In
the afternoon in the Cathedral of the city, there
was a Mass to welcome the casket at which the
local Archbishop Bernard Moras presided. On
Sunday 28 the casket visited both Provincial
Houses, SDB’s and FMA’s, where, in little more
than an hour, about 600 people came to pray
and sing. Very significant was the visit of the
casket to the “Kristu Jyoti College” theological
studentate. The formation community led by the
Vice Rector Fr James Kadankavil, had organised
a large-scale night-time procession ending
with a Vigil in the Chapel of the Institute. The
following days the casket visited other cities in
the Province: Davangere, Hospet and Bellary. Here
in the church of Christ the King there was Mass,
concelebrated by 20 priests. On Saturday 3, in
the city of Deodurga, the casket was welcomed
enthusiastically by the school commuinity,
relatives of the students and the local authorities.
The Centres at Yadagiri, Gulbarga and Bidar were
the final stops in the Bangalore Province.
12 Hajja Salesjana
I looked around and saw the source of his mer-
riment. It was a man whose pants were baggy
with a zipper at half-mast and his toes poked
out of would-be shoes. His shirt was dirty and
his hair was uncombed and unwashed. His whis-
kers were too short to be called a beard and his
nose was so varicose it looked like a road map.
We were too far from him to smell, but I was
sure he smelled. His hands waved and flapped
on loose wrists. ‘Hi there, baby; hi there, big
boy. I see ya, buster,’ the man said to Erik.
My husband and I exchanged looks, “What do
we do?’Erik continued to laugh and answer, ‘Hi.’
Everyone in the restaurant noticed and looked
Hug
We were the only family with children in the restaurant. I sat
Erik in a high chair and noticed everyone was quietly sitting
and talking. Suddenly, Erik squealed with glee and said, ‘Hi.’
He pounded his fat baby hands on the high chair tray. His
eyes were crinkled in laughter and his mouth was bared in a
toothless grin, as he wriggled and giggled with merriment.
a
Baby’s
at us and then at the man. The old geezer was
creating a nuisance with my beautiful baby. Our
meal came and the man began shouting from
across the room, ‘Do ya patty cake? Do you
know peek-a-boo? Hey, look, he knows peek-a-
boo.’
My husband and I were embarrassed. We ate
in silence; all except for Erik, who was running
through his repertoire for the admiring skid-
row bum, who in turn, reciprocated with his cute
comments. We finally got through the meal and
headed for the door.
My husband went to pay the check and told
me to meet him in the parking lot. The old man
13Hajja Salesjana
sat poised between me and the door. ‘Lord, just
let me out of here before he speaks to me or
Erik,’ I prayed. As I drew closer to the man, I
turned my back trying to sidestep him. As I did,
Erik leaned over my arm, reaching with both
arms in a baby’s ‘pick-me-up’ position. Before I
could stop him, Erik had propelled himself from
my arms to the man.
Suddenly a very old, smelly man and a
very young baby consummated their love and
kinship. Erik in an act of total trust, love, and
submission laid his tiny head upon the man’s
ragged shoulder. The man’s eyes closed, and I
saw tears hover beneath his lashes. His aged
hands full of grime, pain, and hard labour,
cradled my baby’s bottom and stroked his back.
No two beings have ever loved so deeply for so
short a time. I stood awestruck. The old man
rocked and cradled Erik in his arms and his eyes
opened and set squarely on mine. He said in a
firm commanding voice, ‘You take care of this
baby.’
Somehow I managed, ‘I will,’ from a throat
that contained a stone. He pried Erik from his
chest, lovingly and longingly, as though he
were in pain. I received my baby, and the man
said, ‘God bless you, ma’am, you’ve given me
my Christmas gift.’ I said nothing more than a
muttered thanks.
With Erik in my arms, I ran for the car. My
husband was wondering why I was crying and
holding Erik so tightly, and why I was saying, ‘My
God, my God, forgive me.’ I had just witnessed
Christ’s love shown through the innocence
of a tiny child who saw no sin, who made no
judgment; a child who saw a soul, and a mother
who saw a suit of clothes. I was a Christian who
was blind, holding a child who was not. I felt it
was God asking, ‘Are you willing to share your
son for a moment?’ when He shared His for all
eternity. How did God feel when he put his baby
in our arms 2,000 years ago?
The ragged old man, unwittingly, had
reminded me that, ‘To enter the Kingdom of God,
we must become as little children.’ Sometimes,
it takes a child to remind us of what is really
important. We must always remember who we
are, where we came from and, most importantly,
how we feel about others. The clothes on your
back or the car that you drive or the house that
you live in does not define you at all; it is how
you treat your fellow man that identifies who
you are. ‘It is better to be liked for the true you,
than to be loved for who people think you are...’
‘‘The man’s eyes closed, and I saw
tears hover beneath his lashes.
His aged hands full of grime, pain,
and hard labour, cradled my baby’s
bottom and stroked his back’’
14 Hajja Salesjana
Matul din is-sena ddedikata lill-Volontarjat,
speçjalment matul is-sajf li g˙adda, kelli
okkaΩjonijiet li nkun maΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ f’diversi
attivitajiet fejn ˙are© ˙afna çar l-impenn, id-
dedikazzjoni, l-altruiΩmu, il-valuri sodi, u fuq
kollox, l-im˙abba ta’ numru sew ta’ Ωg˙aΩag˙
g˙al Kristu.
Matul Lulju kelli x-xorti li nkun ma’ grupp
ta’ Ωg˙aΩag˙ li akkumpanjaw Ωg˙aΩag˙
o˙rajn b’diΩabbiltà g˙al kamp internazzjonali
organizzat mill-Ordni ta’ Malta f’Lignano,
l-Italja ta’ fuq. Kienet ©img˙a fejn mal-400
Ωag˙Ωug˙ u Ωag˙Ωug˙a b’diΩabbiltà minn
Knisja Ûag˙Ωug˙a
u Óajja
Óafna drabi tisma’, sa˙ansitra
f’diskorsi uffiçjali, lil min ifa˙˙ar
liΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙, u biex jinkura©©ihom
il-kelliem jg˙idilhom li “Intom
Il-futur tal-Knisja”! G˙al xi ra©uni,
jien dejjem ˙assejt li kelli riΩervi
g˙al dan it-tif˙ir. Bla dubju ta’ xejn
huwa tif˙ir ©ej minn konvinzjoni
©enwina tal-kelliem innifsu
li Ω-Ωg˙aΩag˙ huma forza qawwija
li t˙alli ˙afna impatt fil-˙ajja
tal-Knisja.
Fr.Savio Vella SDB
15Hajja Salesjana
madwar id-dinja ji©u mistiedna u akkumpanjati
sabiex jie˙du sehem f’attivitajiet li j˙ossuhom
li huma kapaçi g˙alihom, ming˙ajr xkiel tad-
diΩabbiltà tag˙hom. Ìimg˙a eççezzjonali
fejn kelli x-xorti nara Ωg˙aΩag˙ ©eneruΩi,
kura©©uΩi u determinati li jag˙tu minnhom
infushom g˙al xulxin. Ûg˙aΩag˙ b’diΩabbiltà
jg˙inu lill-o˙rajn u viçi-versa. Ìimg˙a ta’ fer˙
©enwin fejn g˙amilna esperjenΩa ta’ Kristu fil-
prattika.
Ftit ©img˙at wara kont ma’ ©rupp
imdaqqas ta’ Ωg˙aΩag˙ li telg˙u Spanja g˙al
World Youth Day. KwaΩi Ωew© miljun Ωag˙Ωug˙
jag˙tu xhieda tal-im˙abba tag˙hom g˙al
Kristu u g˙al Knisja. Kien hemm inçidenti
Ωg˙ar ta’ sfida g˙alihom ukoll meta xi w˙ud
©ew wiçç imb’wiçç ma’ persuni antiklerikali
u anti-Papa u r-risposta taΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ kienet
skiet, rispett u talb. Kellhom mumenti sbie˙
ta’ talb, tag˙lim u esperjenzi li sa˙˙ewhom fil-
fidi tag˙hom.
F’Settembru akkumpanjajt grupp ta’ adulti
Ωg˙aΩag˙ li fittxew li jitwarrbu, u filwaqt li
jg˙inu fl-organizzazzjoni tal-˙idma li ssir
Lourdes, kellhom ukoll ˙in g˙ar-riflessjoni
personali u talb flimkien; Ωg˙aΩag˙ li jemmnu
bis-s˙i˙ fit-talb u fl-impenn ta’ servizz g˙all-
o˙rajn.
Dan huwa dak li g˙addejt minnu jien
personalment fis-sajf li g˙adda. Xi ng˙idu
g˙an-numru kbir ie˙or ta’ Ωg˙aΩag˙ li kienu
impenjati fil-volontarjat barra minn pajjiΩna,
fis-summer schools tag˙na, f’ ‘Bosco Fest’ li ©ie
organizzat fid-dar tag˙na f’Óad-Dingli, fil-˙idma
filantropika u ta’ g˙ajnuna g˙al min fil-bΩonn
f’pajjiΩna stess, fil-˙idma ta’ evan©elizzazzjoni
b’kull mod u f’˙idma ta’ t˙ejjija pastorali g˙al
matul ix-xitwa li de˙lin fiha!
Na˙seb li g˙andi ra©un niddarras meta
nisma’ min isejja˙ liΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ “Il-futur tal-
Knisja”. G˙alija, iΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ huma verament
il-preΩent tal-Knisja, huma il-protagonisti
(kif isej˙ilhom id-dokument tas-Sinodu), kif
jinkura©©ihom li jkunu l-Arçisqof tag˙na Pawlu
Cremona, kif ifa˙˙arhom u jmexxihom biex
ikunu l-Papa Benedettu XVI.
Grazzi Mulej g˙aΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ tag˙na. Grazzi
g˙all-Knisja ˙ajja, Ωag˙Ωug˙a, u kura©©uΩa.
16 Hajja Salesjana
Dingli- a tiny, rural village known for its scenic land-
scapes and peaceful quiet. But during the hot summer
months of August and July, a project took place at
Savio College-Dingli, that brought with it all the spirit
and energy of youth from all over the island to this
small town. It was an experience which is now syn-
onymous to ‘incredible’, ‘life-changing’ and ‘unforget-
table’ to the young people involved. It was the experi-
ence of Boscofest.
WHAT IS BOSCOFEST?
Boscofest knows its origins in 2005, when founder Fr.
Louis Grech SDB organised a summer-long project for
young people to prepare a small production of the
musical ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame’, a project in-
volving around 80 teenagers. From then on, Boscofest
exploded, growing in number of participants and scale
and changing its format with almost every edition.
The aim of the Boscofest experience is to help
the participant express himself through the media of
music, drama and other performing arts while provi-
ding him or her with a socially and spiritually forma-
tive experience.
THE INITIAL STAGES
This year, Fr. Louis along with his team of about 40
animators decided to give Boscofest a different di-
mension. While in previous years we were accustomed
to sharing our talents and joy to the somewhat limited
audiences who came to watch our shows, this year
we decided to abandon our comfort zones within the
walls of Savio College and go perform in other loca-
tions, hence the term ‘reaching out’. Furthermore, in
this year dedicated to voluntary work, we chose to not
only reach out, but to reach out to those people in our
society which are most in need of care and affection.
Hence, while the month of July was dedicated
to weekly rehearsals and a four-day live-in expe-
rience to which previous Boscofest participants were
already accustomed, the first two weeks of August
were devoted to an adventure entirely new to all of
us: the outreach experience, which took place in Id-
Dar tal-Providenza, St. Vincent de Paul Residence and
Dar Sagra Familja.
During the rehearsals and live-ins, the Boscofest
group, consisting of more than 200 young people,
had the opportunity to not only prepare our items,
rehearse and develop our artistic talents, but also
to bond with each other and as a group. We were
able to cultivate a culture of love and acceptance in
which education occurs with the same loving passion
passed on from St. John Bosco, the founder of the
Salesian family, from whom the name ‘Boscofest is
derived’.
THE EXPERIENCE
The outreach experience, however, allowed us to
build on all of this by passing on the joy between us
to others. All the energy that was built between us
during our preparations exploded and radiated to the
individuals we met in the residences we visited. Every
smile that was created on the faces of these resi-
dents was reflected by ours, making this experience
unique and enriching. We became aware of our duty
to be altruistic to those who are not afforded certain
comforts. During the six days of the outreach, we did
not just perform for the residents, but we shared our
time completely for the entire day. We talked to them,
ate with them and did our best to entertain them and
give them the best time possible.
ARTICLE BY CLINT RIZZO
17Hajja Salesjana
That said, I must admit it wasn’t an entirely easy
experience. Some of the realities we faced shocked
us and shook us to our core. However, rather than al-
lowing these emotions to dampen our experience, we
persevered towards our goal, making the days of our
outreach uplifting and memorable ones. In the words
of Fr. Louis himself, “When you give, you end up recei-
ving much, much more.”
Of course, we also upheld our tradition of holding
final nights at Savio College so as to share our expe-
riences with our loved ones and the Salesian family.
While these events were not the focus of the entire ex-
perience, they still were spectacular and outstanding
nights filled with sketches, mimes, dance, animation
and live music while also giving our audiences a taste
of Boscofest using documentaries that chronicled the
previous two months.
CHRIST AT THE HEART
What makes the experience of Boscofest truly
unique is that while it celebrates art and culture, at
no point do these become the main stake of the pro-
ject. Rather, Boscofest’s intention remains focused
on giving the participant a personally and spiritually
formative journey. In each rehearsal, each day of the
live-in and each day of outreach, space was given to
Holy Mass, formation sessions and moments of reflec-
tion and prayer.
All this allowed us to discover the love of Christ
within ourselves, so that when we came face to face
with the residents during our outreach, we were able
to share it through our actions. Boscofest therefore,
gave us not only the opportunity to find hope in those
around us, but also gave us the chance to discover
ourselves and all that makes us special in the first
place.
MANY THANKS
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those
people who made Boscofest 2011 possible. I would like
to thank the Salesian Community for their help and
support. I would like to thank all Boscofest partici-
pants, including my fellow animators, for making this
summer unique with their energetic presence. I would
like to thank David and Rita Bezzina, for their patience
and sacrifice and of course, I would like to thank Fr.
Louis, for his vision and passion towards this project.
But more than anyone else, I would like to thank
God, without whose grace and love Boscofest would
not exist. Boscofest 2011 has been an inspiring adven-
ture; a celebration of life and the value of charity; a
journey of love.
18 Hajja Salesjana
Something
to think about…
19Hajja Salesjana
The strength of a Nation is not found in the blind commitment to a political party.
It is found in the undying devotion to one’s family and country.
The strength of a nation is not found in the celebration of the rich and the famous.
It is found in the acknowledgment and assistance of its poor and forgotten.
The strength of a nation is not found in the symbolic ceremonial praise of God.
It is found in each individual’s dedication to God’s word and law.
The strength of a nation is not found in banks, stores, safes, boardrooms,
and conventions.
It is found in homes, in schools, and in the heart of each individual willing
to make a difference.
The strength of a nation is not found in the ability to wage war or keep peace.
It is found in the wisdom and purity that sees no need for either.
The strength of a nation is not found on a flag or in its written history.
It is found in the love, compassion, kindness, and generosity of each of its citizens.
Author: Steve Maraboli
The strength of a nation!
20 Hajja Salesjana
Malta Salesjana
NOVIZZ ÌDID Din is-sena wkoll il-Mulej Alla ried jag˙ti rigal lis-Salesjani
ta’ Malta fiΩ-Ωag˙Ωug˙ Paul Spiteri li din is-sena ser jag˙mel in-novizzjat
tieg˙u. Huwa telaq lejn Turin (Pinerolo) u beda s-sena li twasslu g˙all-ewwel
professjoni nhar it-8 ta’ Settembru tas-sena d-die˙la. Paul digà ggradwa
b˙ala Perit mill-Università ta’ Malta. Il-Familja Salesjana tifra˙ u ssegwih
bit-talb sabiex i˙ejji ru˙u sewwa g˙all-˙ajja tieg˙u b˙ala Salesjan, mimli bl-
ispirtu ta’ Ìesù, fuq il-passi ta’ Dun Bosco. L-isba˙ xewqat.
ÛEWÌ SALESJANI ÌODDA Nilqg˙u fostna liΩ-Ωew©
Ωg˙aΩag˙ Bro. Pierre Bonnici u Bro. Jake Mamo li g˙adhom kemm
©ew lura minn Turin fejn kienu g˙as-sena tan-Novizzjat tag˙hom.
Huma pprofessaw fil-Kongregazzjoni Salesjana nhar it-8 ta’
Settembru li g˙adda. Biex imexxi din iç-çerimonja kien hemm
is-Superjur Ìenerali tag˙na inkarigat mid-dinja taΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙, Fr
Fabio Attard. Dawn issa jibdew l-istudji tag˙hom fil-filosofija fl-
Università ta’ Malta. Nifir˙ulhom u nweg˙duhom it-talb tag˙na.
STUDJI F’RUMA Mistieden mis-Superjuri tag˙na, Fr Manwel Camilleri
ser ikompli l-istudji tieg˙u li jwasslu g˙ad-dottorat fl-Ispiritwalità
Salesjana. G˙aldaqstant huwa issa jinsab Ruma, fl-Università Pontifiçja
Salesjana. Fr Manwel ̇ adem bis-s˙i˙ fost it-tfal ta’ St. Patrick – Sliema, kien
ma˙bub minn ˙afna ex-studenti ta’ San Alwi©i – Birkirkara, fejn g˙allem
g˙al xi snin, u kien apprezzat ˙afna g˙all-priedki tieg˙u. Waqt li nixtiequlu
l-akbar suççess fl-istudji tieg˙u, lilu wkoll nakkumpanjawh bit-talb tag˙na.
IL-KOMUNITÀ TAS-SORIJIET Konna semmejna li hawn Malta kienet
qieg˙da ti©i mwaqqfa komunità ta’ Sorijiet Salesjani (Ulied Marija G˙ajnuna tal-
Insara FMA). G˙adda Ω-Ωmien u dan il-pro©ett kien g˙adu ma se˙˙x. Imma dan
l-a˙˙ar tlett sorijiet FMA ©ew flimkien u ffurmaw l-ewwel komunità li ©iet imsej˙a:
San Ìwann Bosco. Is-Superjura hija Sr. Theresa Curmi, li kienet ©iet hawn Malta
sa mill-bidu nett, espressament sabiex dan ise˙˙. Sr Theresa g˙andha ˙afna
esperjenza g˙aliex kienet g˙al xi snin wa˙da mis-Superjuri Ìenerali. Inbierku lill-
Mulej g˙al dan ir-rigal ie˙or li g˙o©bu jag˙ti lill-Familja Salesjana f’Malta.
21Hajja Salesjana
GRAZZI FR ERIC Wara 6 snin b˙ala Direttur tal-Youth Centre
f’Tas-Sliema kif ukoll Bursar fil-Komunità ta’ San Alfonsu - Sliema, Fr
Eric Cachia mexa g˙al Savio College-Dingli. Hemmhekk , g˙alissa, huwa
ser ikun Deputy Headmaster, ser jibqa wkoll Bursar tad-Delegazzjoni
tag˙na u jibqa wkoll imexxi il-BOSCO crew li hu kien ˙oloq. Fr. Eric
huwa bniedem ta’ ener©ija u ta’ ideat li hu çertament ser i©orr mieg˙u
fil-kariga ©dida li ng˙atatlu. Il-˙idma t-tajba lil Fr. Eric.
MERÓBA Iva, mer˙ba lil Sr Geogina Grech li ng˙aqdet mal-Komunità tas-Sorijiet
©ewwa tas-Sliema. Hekk, hija, flimkien ma’ Sr. Ines Bonello, li kienet giet hawn sa
mill-bidu ma’ Sr. Theresa Curmi (Ìunju 2009), issa tifforma parti mill-komunità
l-©dida tas-Sorijiet FMA. B˙ala soru, Sr. Georgina ˙admet G˙awdex, l-Ingilterra u
l-Italja. G˙andha ˙afna esperjenza u, çertament, b˙as-sorijiet l-o˙rajn s˙aba, hija
ser i©©ib spirtu poΩittiv u formattiv fost iΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙: dan qieg˙ed jidher sewwa fil-
Youth Centre – Sliema, fejn is-sorijiet jit˙alltu sew maΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙, it-tfal u l-familji.
ÓABIB TAT-TFAL Wara l-odinazzjoni saçerdotali (Lulju), Fr Jeremy
Vella ser jibda l-˙idma tieg˙u ©ewwa St. Patrick – Sliema, fejn gie mitlub
jie˙u ˙sieb it-tfal b˙ala Assistant Head of Care. Dan huwa xog˙ol verament
impenjattiv, imma billi Fr Jeremy kien digà ˙adem mat-tfal ©ewwa St.
Patrick’s, mhux ser jaqta’ qalbu! G˙andu esperjenza, entuΩjaΩmu u m˙abba
kbira lejn it-tfal, li hu jaf jeduka u jifforma l-karattru tag˙hom, eΩatt b˙al
ma kien g˙amel Dun Bosco mat-tfal fil-bΩonn. Il-˙idma t-tajba!
RIGAL IEÓOR Rigal ie˙or li l-Mulej tana u li issa ser ikun hu rigal g˙aΩ-
Ωg˙aΩag˙ tal-Youth Centre-Sliema, huwa Fr Gerald Mangion. Infatti Fr Gerald ser
jie˙u post Fr Eric b˙ala Direttur hemmhekk, waqt li wkoll jakkumpanja lis-Salesian
Brigade b˙ala l-Kappillan tag˙hom. Jekk dan mhux biΩΩejjed, Fr Gerald ser ikun
ukoll il-Bursar tal-Komunità tal-Oratorju (San Alfonsu). Fr Gerald g˙adu Ωg˙ir (!)
u mimli ˙e©©a u ener©ija, b’wiçç da˙kan u d˙uli ma’ kul˙add: l-a˙jar kwalitajiet
biex ta˙dem f’post fejn nies ta’ kull età jin©abru kulljum f’attivitajiet formattivi.
JIBDA L-ÓIDMA Wara s-sena tan-Novizzjat u sentejn studju tal-filosofija
(formazzjoni), Bro. Kenneth Micallef irid jg˙addi sentejn o˙ra f’˙idma prattika
Salesjana (Practical Training). L-Oratorju Salesjan ta’ Tas-Sliema huwa xxurtjat
li ser ikollu wkoll lil Bro. Kenneth ja˙dem hemm fost it-tfal u Ω-Ωg˙aΩag˙. Huwa
ser ikollu f’idejh liΩ-Ωg˙ar (Pre-teens). Flimkien ma’ Bro. Robert Falzon u ma’ Fr
Gerald, dan ix-xog˙ol Salesjan g˙at-tfal u Ωg˙aΩag˙ g˙andu jimxi ’l quddiem sew,
jikbru l-attivitajiet kif ukoll il-formazzjoni çivili u spiritwali tal-membri kollha.
Nifir˙u u nawguraw lil Bro. Kenneth
22 Hajja Salesjana
5Saint
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.
Come, Bride of Christ
Mother Mazzarello sat perfectly still, her head
bowed, her hands folded on her lap. Now she
looked up at Don Bosco, smiling at his delicate
handling of a difficult task. The priest arose;
he had not been mistaken when he had chosen
her years ago to be the cornerstone of the new
Community of Sisters. Now, as then, she was
still the guileless, humble, self-effacing peasant
who considered it her greatest privilege to be
God’s little girl, to do the lowliest tasks for Him,
and to rest confident in His all-embracing love.
He blessed her, knowing that from her, too, a
blessing flowed into him and into the house
that sheltered her. Slowly he turned around and
left the room. Mother Mazzarello was still smil-
ing, fingering her Rosary.
Exhausted and feverish, Mary Mazzarello
arrived at Mornese in early April. After a few
days’ rest in her invigorating native air, she felt
much stronger and got up from bed, maintaining
that she was no exception in the house and had
to do her work along with the other Sisters.
For several days she stubbornly followed
the routine of the community till, finally, her
resistance broke down and she collapsed. The
doctor analysed it as a relapse into pleurisy and
recommended absolute rest.
But Mother Mazzarello knew her days were
numbered. There was little time to lose now,
and she used every moment in prayers or in the
care of Sisters, the needs of the houses, and the
individual problems of those who daily came to
her with their troubles. To all, she was ever the
considerate, sympathetic mother, hiding her
own pain in solicitous regard for her daughters,
giving her undivided attention to every detail.
But, toward the end of April, she steadily grew
worse. No remedies brought her relief. Her only
comfort in the long days and nights of pain was
the thought of Our Blessed Lady, to whom she
23Hajja Salesjana
End
would pray aloud or even sing hymns in a soft
undertone. She asked for the Last Sacraments
and followed the ceremony and prayers
attentively. At the end, she looked at the priest
and asked cheerfully, “Now that all my papers
are in order, I suppose I may leave at any time
at all?”
But for three more weeks she lingered on,
often in pain, always in prayer. One particular
evening she became so weak that she thought
it was the end and called the superiors of the
Congregation to her. Grasping for a few painful
breaths of air, she whispered her last counsels:
“I am afraid jealousies will crop up among you
after my death, envy of a younger Sister who
may be placed as Superior. Remember that
Our Lady is Superior of this Congregation.
Always obey the one who receives the task of
commanding. And, secondly, always help each
other, but let your spiritual guidance be in the
hands of the one appointed for that purpose.”
Finally in a soft undertone, she sighed. “The
Sisters must not leave the world only to build
up a new one of their own in the Congregation!
And then they say they desire Christ! Dear Lord,
if they only knew You as I know You now!”
The few days remaining of her earthly life
Mother Mazzarello passed in prayer and final
words of counsel. As she lay on her deathbed,
her resoluteness was so reminiscent of the
hardy peasant girl of Mornese who persisted
in her stubborn determination never to yield
to any one or to any thing! Not even illness
or death! But if her sickness was marked by
an enviable calm, the last hour of her life was
tortured. It was three o’clock in the morning
of May 14, as the mountain ridges outside her
window were scarcely outlined against the first
haze of a spring sky, that Mother Mazzarello
entered her purgatory of spiritual agony. She
moaned and tossed about, uttering prayers to
Our Lady, trying to boost her trust in God.
“Don’t give in, Mary,” she pleaded with herself.
“Where is your courage? Tomorrow you are going
to begin the Novena to Mary Help of Christians.
You must not give in! Take heart! Come, sing
Mary’s praises!” Then straining every nerve and
muscle, in a feeble broken voice she painfully
sang a hymn to Our Lady. With that, the struggle
was over. As the hymn died away on her lips, she
sank back in restful sleep. The priests and sisters
about her began the Church’s prayers for the
dying. As they neared the end, she feebly raised
her hand and whispered, “Good-bye. I am going
now. I will see you in heaven.” With the names
of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph on her lips, she paid
her last tribute of obedience to the Divine Will, in
utter confidence of His limitless mercy.
At the age of forty-four, she had lived a
complete life, had carried out all the work God
had assigned to her and was ready to return to
her Divine Master.
The peasant girl of Mornese became the
Mother of a Congregation of Sisters that today
covers the globe and numbers thousands. On that
religious body of self-sacrificing souls is stamped
the indelible character of Mother Mazzarello’s
humility and in each one of the Sisters she lives
again and continues her apostolate for the souls
of girls. Thus, St. Mary Mazzarello walks today
in the broad streets of European and American
cities, in the jungle paths of the Amazon, on the
sun-drenched deserts of Africa, in the mudflats of
India, in the mountain recesses of the Andes. She
lives a Citizen of the World, for there is no death
for God’s Saints.
24 Hajja Salesjana
L-g˙emil tal-presepju ©ewwa d-dar jista’ jservi
ta’ mod sempliçi imma effettiv ta’ kif wie˙ed
jippreΩenta t-twemmin tag˙na lil uliedna. Il-prese-
pju jg˙ina nikkontemplaw il-misteru tal-im˙abba
ta’ Alla li tintwera fil-faqar u fis-sempliçità tal-
g˙ar ta’ Betlehem.
San Fran©isk ta’ Assisi tant kien mimli m˙abba
lejn il-misteru tal-Iben ta’ Alla mag˙mul bniedem,
li ried jurih lin-nies fil-presepju ˙aj li ˙ejja fil-
grotta ta’ Greccio. Minn dak il-fatt ˙ar©et id-
drawwa popolari li sal-lum g˙ad g˙andha l-qawwa
li tg˙allem il-van©elu.
Tassew, il-presepju jista’ jg˙inna nifhmu is-
sigriet tal-veru Milied, g˙aliex jitkellem u juri
l-umiltà u t-tjieba ˙anina ta’ Kristu, li ‘g˙alkemm
kien g˙ani g˙amel lilu nnifsu fqir’ proprju
g˙alina. Il-faqar tieg˙u jag˙ni lil dawk li j˙addnu
din il-kundizzjoni, u l-Milied i©ib fer˙ u sliem lil
dawk kollha li, b˙ar-rg˙ajja ta’ Betlehem, jilqg˙u
f’qalbhom il-kliem tal-an©lu: ‘B˙ala sinjal ikollkom
dan:issibu tarbija mfisqija u mimduda f’maxtura’.
Dan g˙adu sal-lum is-sinjal g˙alina wkoll, ir©iel
u nisa tat-tielet millenju. Ma hemmx Milied mod
ie˙or.
Papa Benedittu VXI
Tradizzjoni g˙aΩiΩa tal-Avvent
Hemm tradizzjoni tant sabi˙a u g˙aΩiΩa, u li g˙andha g˙eruq sodi, dik li ˙afna familji
jibdew ilestu l-presepju minnu fih wara l-festa tal-Immakulata Kunçizzjoni. Qishom
jixtiequ jg˙ixu ma’ Marija dawk il-jiem anzjuΩi ta’ qabel ma twieled binha Ìesù.
25Hajja Salesjana
I am John Le Pham Nghia Phu. I was a
Salesian aspirant in Vietnam and my four
years with the Salesians and especially
the contact with the ethnic minorities
in K’long in Vietnam, lie behind my mis-
sionary vocation. Being with the young
and speaking of God’s love to them helps
me to be a better person. The Japanese
language is difficult. I am doing my best
to get to know Japanese society and
culture.
I am Joseph Nguyen Giao Hoa and before coming
to Japan five years ago I studied some Japanese,
thinking to become a Salesian priest in my newly
adopted country. It was during my experience
working with young people at the oratory that I
discovered my vocation to be a missionary. The
example of my Japanese confreres has helped
me a lot and in a particular way the missionaries.
A serious difficult I feel is that Christianity does
not attract the Japanese.
My name is Joseph Nguyen Khac Diep, a post-novice studying philosophy. Before coming to
Japan as an aspirant to Salesian life perhaps it was more the spirit of adventure than the mis-
sionary vocation that attracted me. During the pre-novitiate I found myself in crisis but then
came to understand more clearly that being in this country means being a missionary with the
task of spreading the Gospel of Jesus. However for now I am but a missionary in formation.
My name is Andrew Tran Minh Hai and I
must be honest and say that when I came
to Japan as a Salesian aspirant my mis-
sionary vocation, if indeed it existed, was
weak and insecure. It was towards the end
of the novitiate that I felt myself called to
share with others the graces received and
the spirit of the Gospel, and I owe this to
the exemplary lives of the missionaries I
have met. Living in Japan and assimilating
the culture is not easy. St Paul’s words here
are a help to me: “It is no longer I who live,
but Christ who lives in me”.
I am Joseph Nguyen Duy Hun, and arrived in
Japan four years ago as an aspirant after two years
of preparation in my native land, Vietnam. I have to
admit that my vocation to be a missionary began
here. It was a discovery more than something which
came about naturally. In fact, working with young-
sters at the oratory, almost none of whom were
Christians, I discovered that I was being called to be
a missionary for their sake. My fellow Vietnamese
have been an important source of support for me
and of course the help of Mary our Mother. Japan is
very much a developed nation and it is difficult to
spread the Gospel.
Five short stories:
From Vietnam to Japan
>>
>>
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>>
26 Hajja Salesjana
Fil-Messiku u fil-Guatemala jsej˙ulha Noch Buena,
il-Fjura tal-Lejl Qaddis (il-Milied). Fi Spanja dil-
fjura hija mag˙rufa b˙ala Flor de Pascua, li tfisser
Fjura tal-G˙id. Kemm fiç-Çile u fil-Perù hija bdiet
tissejja˙ Kuruna tal-Andes. Tikber u titwal anke
sa sular, b˙alma naraw f’xi ©onna privati, imma
b’kimika apposta, il-pjanta tinΩamm Ωg˙ira u
tikber biss sa xi tletin çentimetru.
Le©©enda ˙elwa tg˙id li tfajla Messikana
kienet ˙dejn knisja, lejliet il-Milied, tara n-nies
de˙lin bir-rigali jpo©©uhom quddiem Ìesù’
Bambin. Min˙abba l-faqar tag˙ha ma kellhiex
x’toffri lil Ìesù u bdiet tibki. An©lu tas-sema
deherilha u qalilha biex tmur taqta’ xi ˙axix ˙aΩin
u tippreΩentah b˙ala l-offerta tag˙ha lill-Bambin.
Sakemm waslet il-weraq tal-bukkett ˙axix sar
a˙mar bellusi, u hi kollha fer˙ana po©©iethom
quddiem il-Bambin. Minn dakinhar ‘l-quddiem il-
weraq ta’ din il-pjanta selva©©a jsir a˙mar meta
jkun qorob Ωmien il-Milied. Hekk tawha l-isem
tal-Fjura tal-Lejl Qaddis. Fis-seklu 17 il-patrijiet
Fran©iskani tal-Messiku bdew juΩaw dawn il-pjanti
fit-tiΩjin tal-Milied.
Dix-xitla xterdet mal-Amerika ta’ fuq u
mbag˙ad ma’ Lvant Nofsani kif ukoll mal-Ewropa
b’dan il-mod. Fl-1828, l-Ambaxxatur Amerikan
g˙all-Messiku, Joel R. Poinsett, dilettant tal-
botanika, ˙a pjanta ˙amra u ˙adra mill-Messiku
g˙all-Amerika. Din il-pjanta, li ssemmiet ponsjetta
g˙al Poinsett, bdiet tidher fis-serer mis-snin 1830.
Fl-1870, il-˙wienet fi New York bdew ibig˙uha
wkoll matul il-Milied, u sas-sena 1900 saret
simbolu universali ta’ din il-festa. Il-popolarità ta’
din il-pjanta kompliet tikber tant li fl-Istati Uniti
biΩ-Ωmien ˙olqulha wkoll jum nazzjonali – it-12 ta’
Diçembru, jum il-mewt ta’ Poinsett. Il-ponsjetta
hija wkoll imkabbra fl-E©ittu sa mill-1860. Kien
©abha hemm l-istess Amerikan Joel Poinsett, u
tal-Ponsjetta
Ix-Xitla
Din hi xitla li tikber fil-klima s˙una tal-Messiku u l-Amerika Çentrali. L-isem botaniku
tag˙ha hu Euphorbia pulcherrima. Il-kelma pulcherrima tfisser l-iΩjed sabi˙a.
27Hajja Salesjana
Fi ©nien çkejken rajtha tikber,
fi ©nien çkejken tal-©irien,
bdiet titbissem u tinbixni
l-akbar warda f’dak il-©nien.
Kienet g˙adha ˙adra u dg˙ajfa,
kienet g˙adha Ωg˙ira sew,
issa kibret, l-a˙mar libset,
tperper l-hena sa hawn ©ew.
Tg˙id lid-dinja ta’ madwarha
biex tit˙ejja g˙all-Milied,
tg˙id lill-g˙onja, tg˙id lill-foqra
biex jinsew twehir u ©lied.
L-a˙mar tag˙ha m˙abba jixhed,
l-a˙mar lewn is-slaten kbar;
l-a˙bar jg˙id “ibqa’ ittama,
insa kollox dak li mar.’’
G˙andha wkoll ftit tikki sofor,
qalb tad-deheb mill-aktar fin,
tg˙allem dejjem it-tjubija,
tferra˙, thenni qlub safjin.
Ftit jiem o˙ra tkun telqitni
il-ponsjetta kollha nar,
ftit jiem o˙ra zokk biss jibqa’
jkun qatag˙ha dak il-©ar.
G˙ax il-©ar ser jarma grotta,
g˙al ulied ta’ nies fqajrin
u madwar il-grotta jarma
˙afna laned, mhux deheb fin.
F’dawn il-laned bil-©ulbiena,
hemm il-qam˙, ix-xg˙ir ukoll,
f’nofshom sewwa sjuna kbira
bil-ponsjetta lewn il-qroll.
Fi ©nien çkejken ta˙t it-tieqa,
il-ponsjetta m’g˙adhiex hemm.
Il-Bambin qed jitbissmilha
lilu twennes sa tintemm!
Milied ’78
hemmhekk hija mag˙rufa b˙ala Bent El Consul, li
tfisser It-tifla tal-konslu. Fit-Turkija, fejn dix-xitla
tikber ukoll, tissejja˙ Il-fjura ta’ Ataturk, waqt illi
fl-Italja, il-ponsettja tissejja˙ Stella di Natale, li
tfisser Kewkba tal-Milied.
G˙alkemm il-kulur tal-ponsettja hu a˙mar, il-
lum g˙andek issib ukoll ponsjetti roΩa u bojod.
Wie˙ed jie˙u kura tag˙ha billi jqieg˙da f’post
imdawwal u s˙un, f’temperatura ta’ bejn l-10 u l-20
grad Celsius. G˙anda tissaqa biss meta l-˙amrija
tkun kwaΩi xotta. Jekk tara li l-weraq qed jitbiel,
saqqi mill-ewwel. Qatt ma g˙andek issaqqi ˙afna
iΩda kemm kemm iΩΩomm il-˙amrija niedja. Din il-
xitla tista’ tibqa’ tg˙ix sa xhur wara l-Milied.
PONSJETTA PoeΩija ta’ Lina Brockdorff
28 Hajja Salesjana
Dun Lee kien mar missjunarju s-Sudan, fil-
komunità Salesjana ta’ Tonj, ftit wara li kien ordna
Saçerdot, nhar l-24 ta’ Ìunju 2001. Huwa kien tabib,
muΩiçista, g˙alliem, Salesjan. G˙ix ˙ajja ddedikata
imma sempliçi u miet fl-età Ωg˙ira ta’ 47 sena,
f’Seoul, nhar l-14 ta’ Jannar 2010, wara 13-il xahar
jikkumbatti mal-marda tal-kançer.
John kien Ωag˙Ωug˙ Salesjan b’˙afna talenti.
Meta kien g˙adu g˙alliem fil-Komunità ta’ Dae Rim
Dong, fdawlu tmenin Ωag˙Ωug˙ diffiçli sabiex jie˙u
˙siebhom. Huwa g˙amel uΩu g˙aqli tal-muΩika
kemm fil-bit˙a u kemm fil-klassi. Imma©inaw 80
minnhom ta’ madwar 18-il sena li g˙adhom qed
jitg˙allmu jiktbu l-alfabet Korean! Imma dawn
l-istess Ωg˙aΩag˙, kull nhar ta’ Óadd filg˙axija,
kienu jkantaw it-Tantum Ergo bil-Latin fil-kappella,
fuq muΩika kemxejn Pop miktuba minn Bro. John
Lee.
Wara dawn is-sentejn, John ©ie mibg˙ut
l-Università Salesjana ta’ Ruma sabiex jistudja
t-teolo©ija (1997). Meta mbag˙ad ordna Djaknu,
talab li jmur l-Afrika matul is-sajf sabiex jara jsibx
post fejn jista’ ja˙dem b˙ala Saçerdot. Bil-g˙ajnuna
ta’ Alla u tal-Provinçjal Fr James Pulickal, John Lee
wasal is-Sudan t’Isfel li dak iΩ-Ωmien kien fi gwerra
mas-Sudan ta’ Fuq. Qatta xi jiem fil-Komunità ta’
Tonj, u l-laqg˙a tieg˙u mal-lebbruΩi li jg˙ixu fl-
in˙awi reb˙itlu qalbu! Wara li ordna Saçerdot, mar
lura f’Tonj u g˙ix ̇ ajja ta’ Salesjan, saçerdot u tabib
sabiex jista’ jikkura lil-lebbruΩi b˙allikieku lil Ìesù.
Issa Fr John kien parti mill-Komunità li fiha
kien hemm Salesjani minn diversi pajjiΩi. Il-˙idma
ta’ TONJ
Id-Dun Bosco
Minn Václav Klement SDB
Nhar l-24 ta’ Ìunju 2011 saret
konferenza fuq “Dun Bosco – Tonj :
il-˙ajja u l-ispiritwalità ta’ Dun John
Lee Taeseok». Din il-konferenza kienet
organizzata mis-Salesjani ta’ Seoul,
fil-Korea t’Isfel proprju sena u nofs wara
l-mewt ta’ dal-missjunarju ma˙bub.
29Hajja Salesjana
tag˙hom kienet pjuttost li jer©g˙u jibnu l-komunità
nisranija, l-Oratorju, l-iskejjel u l-missjonijiet
f’˙afna villa©©i. Min˙abba l-karattru ferrie˙i tieg˙u
u l-˙biberija tieg˙u speçjalment maΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙,
Fr John kien imsejja˙ “Fr Jolly’’. Bil-g˙ajnuna ta’
˙afna nies, irnexxielu jwaqqaf klinika Ωg˙ira u ankè
jakkwista strumenti g˙all-banda! Kien beda Radio
Station li issa beda jxandar ta˙t l-isem ta’ Don
Bosco Radio 91. F’Tonj qieg˙da wkoll tinbena skola
sekondarja u ©ew stampati u mqassma Ω-Ωew©
kotba li Fr John kiteb fit-tmin snin li dam f’Tonj:
The Rays of the Sun in Africa Are Still Sad, Will You
Be My Friend ?
Waqt dawn it-tmin snin ukoll, l-istazzjon tat-TV
Korean KBS ©ie u ffilmja dokumentarju fuq kull ma
kien qieg˙ed isir f’Tonj. Anke l-Isqof Mons. Paul
Choi ta’ Suwon (Korea) ©ie sabiex jara lil dan il-
missjunarju tabib Salesjan.
Il-figura u l-kariΩma ta’ John Lee, li g˙ex il-
vokazzjoni tieg˙u bil-fer˙, ottimiΩmu, ˙afna
m˙abba u spirtu ta’ familja, ©ibdu madwar 30,000
ru˙ lejn il-John Lee Foundation li tg˙in ix-xog˙ol
missjunarju Salesjan fis-Sudan.
IL-GVERN TAL-KOREA JONORA LIL
FR JOHN LEE
Il-figura ta’ Fr John Lee qieg˙da dejjem aktar tkun
mag˙rufa fil-Korea. F’Ìunju li g˙adda, fil-gazzetta
tal-gvern, ˙ar©et stqarrija mill-Ministeru tal-
Amministrazzjoni Pubblika u Sigurtà, li kienet tg˙id
hekk:
Qassis Kattoliku Korean li miet sena ilu wara 8
snin ta’ ˙idma volontarja fis-Sudan sejjer jircievi
onoranza rikmandata mill-pubbliku.
Il-Ministeru tal-Amministrazzjoni Pubblika u
Sigurtà ˙abbar lista ta’ 24 çittadin li sejrin jircievu
©ie˙, mitlub miç-çittadini, f’nofs Lulju li ©ej.
Dan il-©ie˙ ji©i mog˙ti lil nies li kkontribwew
lejn is-soçjetà permezz ta’ ˙idma volontarja,
donazzjonijiet jew azzjoni qalbenija f’xi diffikultà.
Mibdi fi Frar, din l-onorifiçenza hija ntiΩa sabiex
iç-çittadini ordinarji jistg˙u jag˙Ωlu u jippremjaw
lill-eroj tag˙hom.
Fr John Lee Taeseok li miet dan l-a˙˙ar ser
ji©i mog˙ti l-g˙ola midalja tal-Ordini Mugunghwa.
Lee ©ie mag˙ruf mill-pubbliku mid-dokumentarju
“Don’t Cry For My Sudan”, muri fis-swali taç-çinema
f’Settembru li g˙adda, fejn dehret id-dedikazzjoni
tieg˙u lejn il-Poplu SudaniΩ. Lee miet bil-kançer
f’Jannar 2010 fl-età ta’ 47 sena.
L-Ordni ta’ Mugunghwa, imsemmi g˙all-Warda
ta’ Sharon, il-warda nazzjonali tal-Korea, huwa
l-©ie˙ Çivili l-aktar g˙oli. Dan soltu ji©i mog˙ti lill-
Presidenti u çittadini tal-g˙ola grad tas-soçjetà
Koreana li jkunu kkontribwew g˙at-titjib u s-sigurtà
tan-nazzjon. (Fittxu Don’t Cry for me Tonj jew John
Lee Taeseok fuq internet)
30 Hajja Salesjana
Dun Bosco
fis-santi u kartolini
minn Renè Sacco
L-G˙axar 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.
Wara l-waqfa g˙all-ista©un tas-
sajf, wasalna g˙all-g˙axar parti
tas-sensiela tag˙na. G˙addew
sentejn minn meta nidejna dan
il-pro©ett, u bi qbil mal-editur,
Fr. Joe Cini SDB, ©ie deçiΩ li din
tkun l-a˙˙ar parti tas-sensiela
kif inhi. Qieg˙ed ng˙id hekk
g˙aliex mhux eskluΩ li fil-©ejjieni
jkun hemm kitbiet simili, iΩda
mhux li jiffurmaw parti minn din
is-sensiela. Meta n˙arsu lura wie˙ed i˙oss
çertu sodisfazzjon, kemm g˙all-interess li
qajmet din is-sensiela, kif ukoll g˙all-materjal
(ji©ifieri s-santi u kartolini) li diversi individwi
g˙o©obhom jibag˙tuli. Ta’ dan nirringrazzjahom
mill-qalb u bil- quddiem g˙al xi donazzjonijiet
o˙rajn.
Kellna ˙sieb li g˙al din il-parti, nittrattaw
xi santi moderni jew kontemporanji, iΩda wara
qtajnieha li nkomplu bl-antiki, anke
biex is-serjè tibqa’ omo©enja, u
l-moderni ji©u ttrattati fil-futur
f’kitbiet g˙alihom.
Mela ni©u g˙as-santi tal-lum.
Fil-grupp ta’ santi li qed jidhru ma’
dan l-artiklu, bl-eççezzjoni tal-ewwel
wa˙da, Dun Bosco jidher mdawwar
bit-tfal li jidhru ta’ età pjuttost
tenera. Dawn l-imma©ni aktarx li
kienu ji©u mpin©ija u riprodotti
f’santi biex aktar tiΩdied il-promozzjoni g˙ad-
dehra ta’ Dun Bosco b˙ala protettur tat-tfal
u Ωg˙aΩag˙. Ta’ nteress kemm xejn aktar
mill-o˙rajn hija s-santa Nru 10.5 u dan g˙aliex
il-grupp tat-fal mdawra ma’ Dun Bosco huma
kollha bniet. L-unika ra©uni g˙al dan li stajna
na˙sbu fija hija li din ©iet ippubblikata minn xi
kommunità ta’ sorijiet Salesjani. Hi x’inhi, din is-
santa hija antika ©mielha u l-g˙amla u d-disinn
31Hajja Salesjana
10.1
10.2
10.3
tag˙ha jag˙tuk x’tifhem li kienet teΩisti qabel
il-kanonizzazzjoni ta’ Dun Bosco, u bil-kliem
‘San Giovanni Bosco’ stampati wara li Dun
Bosco kien ©ie ddikjarat qaddis. Fil-fatt fil-
kollezzjoni g˙andi kopja o˙ra ta’ din is-santa
bil-kliem ‘Beato Don Bosco – educatore della
gioventù.’ Is-santa hija stampata bil-proçess
uΩat fl-img˙oddi msejja˙ ‘kromolitografija’
u l-bordura tag˙ha g˙anda disinn maqtug˙
permezz ta’ ‘die-cut’.
Xi ftit tal-kurΩità tista’ wkoll tqum dwar
is-santa Nru.10.6. F’din is-santa, it-tfal jidhru
libsin speçi ta’ bluΩa dritta li tasal sa ta˙t
l-irkoppa jew aktar, b’kuluri çari ˙afna.
L-istess hawn, ma g˙andniex spejgazzjoni
definita, iΩda wie˙ed jista jassumi li dan jista’
jkun qed jissimbolizza l-innoçenza, il-purezza
tal-qalb u l-˙sieb tat-tfal li Dun Bosco proprju
ddedika ˙ajtu biex jipprotie©i.
It-tlett santi l-o˙ra, Nru. 10.2, .3 u .4, aktarx
kienu stampati fis-snin ˙amsin, huma semplici,
b’messa©© devozzjonali dirett, kif g˙idna
aktar qabel. Dawn is-santi g˙alkemm mhux
neçessarjament ta’ xi livell artistiku g˙oli, jixhdu
il-popolarità ta’ Dun Bosco u d-devozzjoni lejh.
Is-santa bin-Nru 10.1 qed in˙allieha g˙all-
a˙˙ar g˙ax g˙alija hija ta’ nteress kbir. Din is-
santa waslet g˙andi dan l-a˙˙ar u saret wa˙da
mill-aktar g˙al qalbi fil-kollezzjoni. Apparti
l-antikità tag˙ha, g˙ax ©ejja miΩ-Ωmien meta
Dun Bosco kien g˙adu venerabbli ( A.D.1907),
g˙anda xbieha ta’ Dun Bosco tajba ˙afna,
aktarx me˙uda minn inçizjoni. Biex ikompli
jΩid mal-interess ta’ din is-santa, ta˙t ix-xbieha
32 Hajja Salesjana
10.4
10.5
10.6
tal-qaddis, hemm kitba li tg˙id ‘Alla jbierek
u jirrikompensa l-benefatturi kollha tag˙na’,
kopja ta’ sentenza miktuba u ffirmata minn id
Dun Bosco. Barra l-istatwa ta’ Maria g˙ajnuna
tal-Insara, fis-santa tidher ukoll plakka
ta˙t il-kurçifiss bil-motto ta’ Dun Bosco ‘ da
mihi animas caetera tolle’. Fuq wara tas-
santa hemm biografija qasira ta’ Dun Bosco
b’aççenn partikulari g˙as-santwarji li Dun
Bosco rrnexxielu jibni ma’ tul ˙ajtu.
G˙alissa nieqfu hawn, nispera li ̇ adtu gost
taraw u taqraw dwar ‘Dun Bosco fis-santi u
l-kartolini’. Sinçerament in˙oss li l-iskop li xi
ftit santi jo˙or©u mill-album biex igawduhom
aktar nies intla˙aq. Min ikun jixtieq jara
l-kollezzjoni, nitolbu jikkuntatjani.
Nixtieq qabel nag˙laq, nirringrazzja
b’mod speçjali lil Fr. Joe Cini SDB, l-editur
ta’ dan il-Bullettin li mill-ewwel emmen f’dan
il-pro©ett u tani support u inkora©©iment
kontinwu. Ner©a’ nirringrazzja li dawk
kollha li g˙addewli kummenti favorevoli u
speçjalment li dawk li tawni xi materjal g˙all-
kollezjoni. Inselli g˙al kul˙add u j’Alla l-˙arsa
u l-barka ta’ Dun Bosco u Maria G˙ajnuna tal-
Insara jibqg˙u fuqna tul ˙ajjitna.
Nota ta’ l-awtur: Nixtieq nirreferi g˙all-
artiklu ta’ qabel dan, ji©ifieri parti 9, fejn
na˙seb li hemm punt li jrid ji©i ççarat aktar. Il-
kliem ‘ ex indumentis’ u ‘ex capsa’ li jidhru fuq
santi li jkollhom relikwa, jfissru li dik in-nitfa
material mwa˙˙la fis-santa b˙ala relikwa
©iet MINSUSA jew ma’ xi ilbies (indumentis)
tal-qaddis, jew mal-kaxxa/tebut (capsa) bil-
fdalijiet tieg˙u, u mhux ©ejja direttament
minn dawn kif wie˙ed seta’ fehem.
33Hajja Salesjana
“Dan ikun ©ie˙ xieraq u rikonoxximent tal-
˙idma tieg˙u dawn l-a˙˙ar 25 sena sabiex
i©ib il-paçi u l-qbil. G˙al ˙afna snin l-Arçisqof
Menamparampil ˙adem bis-s˙i˙ g˙all-paçi, qbil
u stabbilità fit- Tramuntana Lvant tal-Indja. Din
in-na˙a tal-pajjiΩ kien hemm ©lied kontinwu
rigward territorju u bejn xi tribujiet. Il-˙idma
tal-Isqof hija mfa˙˙ra mill-mexxejja çivili u
reli©juΩi tal-post u rikonoxxuta u apprezzata
madwar l-Indja u l-Asja kollha. Paçi u qbil,
f’isem il-Van©elu, hija l-missjoni li g˙alija huwa
ddedika ˙ajtu. G˙aldaqstant l-Isqfijiet tal-Indja,
bil-qalb kollha juru x-xewqa tag˙hom li ismu ji©i
mressaq g˙all-Premju Nobel g˙all-Paçi.’’
B˙alissa l-Arçisqof Menamparampil huwa
l-President tal-Konferenza Episkopali tat-
Tramuntana Lvant tal-Indja kif ukoll tal-
Kummissjoni g˙all-Edukazzjoni u Kultura tal-
Konferenza tal-Isqfijiet tal-Indja (CBCI). Barra
minn dan jag˙mel ˙idma fuq livell kontinentali
fil-Federazzjoni tal-Isqfijiet tal-Asja (FABC) u
huwa ‘chairman’ tal-Kummissjoni g˙at-Tixrid
tal-Van©elu. Il-˙idma tieg˙u hija apprezzata mill-
Isqfijiet kollha tal-kontinent.
L-idea li huwa ji©i msemmi g˙all-Premju Nobel
bdiet minn artiklu li nkiteb fil-Bullettin Salesjan
Taljan fil-˙ar©a ta’ Ìunju li g˙adda. Dan l-artiku
ddedikat lilu kien intitulat “Un Vescovo da Premio
Nobel’’.
Ma hemm ebda dubju dwar il-˙idma wtieqa
tal-Arçisqof ta’ Gawhati favur il-paçi, stabbilità u
progress fit-Tramuntana Lvant tal-Indja, fejn huwa
nda˙al personalment sabiex tinstab soluzzjoni
g˙ad-diversi nuqqasijiet ta’ qbil bejn it-tribu
tal-Bodo u tal-Adivasi (1996); bejn dik tal-Kuki u
tal-Paite (1998); bejn id-Dimasa u l-Hmar (2003);
bejn Karabi u Kuki (2003); bejn id-Dimasa u l-Karbi
(2004); bejn il-Bodo u l-Misilmin ta’ Udalguri (2010)
u dan l-a˙˙ar bejn it-tribujiet Rabha u Garo (2011).
l-Arçisqof Thomas Menamparampil stess
jiddeskrivi l-metodu tieg˙u meta jg˙id li huwa
“j˙alli l-Kelma ta’ Alla ssib postha fil-qlub u fil-
˙ajja tan-nies u tal-gruppi li jkunu mi©©ielda. Wara
dan il-paçi tinbet we˙ida.’’
Il-Premju Nobel
lil Isqof Salesjan
Dawn l-a˙˙ar jiem Ωdied in-numru ta’
dawk li qeg˙din iressqu l-kandidatura
ta’ Mons. Thomas Menamparampil SDB
g˙all-Premju Nobel g˙all-Paçi. Konferma
ta’ dan ©iet mill-kelliem f’isem il-
Konferenza Episkopali tal-Isqfijiet tal-
Indja (CBCI) Fr Joseph Karakombil, kif
ikkwotat mill-Agenzija Fides.
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 ta’ 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.
NEWSPAPER POST
ST. PATRICK’S SCHOOL, ST. JOHN BOSCO STREET, SLIEMA SLM 1925
TibΩg˙ux, g˙ax araw,
qieg˙ed in˙abbrilkom fer˙ kbir…
Illum, fil-belt ta’ David, twildilkom Salvatur,
li hu l-Messija, il-Mulej.
U b˙ala sinjal ikollkom dan:
issibu tarbija mfisqija u minduda f’maxtura.
(Luqa: 2, 10-12)
Dawk kollha li ja˙dmu sabiex jitlesta u jaslilkom Óajja Salesjana jixtiequ
lil qarrejja, ˙bieb u benefatturi tag˙hom kull risq, hena u barka fil-©ranet tal-
Milied li ©ejjin, u s-Sena t-Tajba wkoll.
