Hajja Salesjana NOVEMBRU - DIÇEMBRU 2012il-227 Óar©a
Il-Madonna ta’ Guadalupe
Pubblikazzjonijiet Salesjani
Il-Beata Maria Troncatti
A Gift from the Heart
The Logo of the Salesians of Don Bosco is made up of two superimposed images: in
the background a stylised “S” (Salesians) in white marked to the right and left by two
cuttings between the hills (a road). The second image is in the centre of the globe: an
arrow pointing upwards resting on three perpendicular legs on top of which are three
closed circles making a stylised image of three people: the first of these in the midde
and taller (the Salesian) appears as if embracing the side figures (the young). The three
stylised figures can also be viewed as an arrow pointing upwards (education / formation)
or simply as a dwelling (Salesian house) with three pillars holding it up (reason, religion,
loving kindness).
The coat of arms of the Salesian Congregation shows the shining star, the large anchor,
the heart on fire symbolizing faith, hope and charity; the figure of St. Francis de Sales
recalling the Patron of the Society; the small wood in the lower part reminds us of the
Founder (Bosco) the high mountains signify the heights of perfection towards which
members strive; the interwoven palm and laurel that enfold the shield either side are
emblematic of the prize reserved for a sacrificial and virtuous life. The motto Da mihi
animas, caetera tolle (give me souls, take the rest) expresses every Salesian’s ideal.
Óajja Salesjana
St. Patrick’s School, Triq San Ìwann Bosco,
Sliema SLM 1925 – MALTA
Tel. (+356) 2133 0238 / (+00356) 9986 1586
e-mail: hajjasal@salesiansmalta.org
Il-Bulettin Salesjan, imsejja˙ b’diversi ismijiet, ji©i
stampat f’56 edizzjoni u f’ 29 ilsien madwar id-
dinja u huwa mxerred fi 131 nazzjon
Responsible: Fr. Paul Formosa SDB
Director/ Editor: Fr. Joseph Cini SDB
Editorial Board : Margaret Buhagiar,
Andre Camilleri, Josie Grech.
Office: Eileen Alden, Joyce Scicluna.
Design & Printing: Salesian Press, Sliema.
Tista taqra ˙ajja Salesjana fuq il-kompjuter:
http://www.salesiansmalta.org
Fuqiex se naqraw
Front Cover: It-tfal u Ω-Ωg˙aΩag˙ huma r-ra©uni
li g˙aliha jeΩistu s-Salesjani
Pubblikazzjonijiet Salesjani 7
Beata Maria Troncatti 9
Don Bosco Around the World 10
News from Australia 16
FMA 140th Anniversary 20
Il-Madonna ta’ Guadalupe 22
Il-Qalb Tg˙ix Biss bl-Im˙abba 26
L-Ewwel Jiem ta’ Novembru 29
Stejjer Qosra fuq Don Bosco 30
A Gift from the Heart 32
Editorjal / Pedago©ija / Calendar of events /
Something to think about / Don Bosco Around the World
3Hajja Salesjana
EDITORJAL
Kienet ©urnata kiefra meta Ìesù salvani. Kemm
jiena grat g˙at-tbatija ˙arxa u l-mewt li ˙a
g˙alija? Jist˙oqqli, jiena, din l-im˙abba? Inwie©eb
b`im˙abba g˙al din l-im˙abba? Ma˙luq fix-xbieha
tieg˙u, hija din li l-o˙rajn jaraw fija? Óafna mill-
mistoqsijiet tal-˙ajja ji©u mwie©ba biss meta
jintemm il-vja©© tal-˙ajja f’did-dinja.
Sadattant hemm bΩonn nag˙mel il-
Kmandamenti ta’Alla r-regola ta’ ̇ ajti. Dawn huma
frott tal-im˙abba kbira u nfinita ta’ Alla g˙all-
bnedmin. Permezz tag˙hom wie˙ed jista’jkun
tassew ˙ieles u hieni, issa w g˙al-dejjem.
Kristu ta bidu g˙as-Seba’ Sagramenti li issa,
l-Knisja li Hu waqqaf, tg˙addilna u toffrilna.
Hu dover tieg˙i li nie˙u sehem minn dan l-ikel
spiritwali li jqawwi u jg˙ajjex, u li jwassalni g˙all-
glorja bla tmiem.
Kemm nafu verament lil Kristu mill-qari
tal-Iskrittura? Kemm a˙na familjari mieg˙u,
kemm a˙na qrib ta’xulxin? Ja˙asra kif timlielna
rasna il-media bil-˙afna vuçijiet li ji©bduna u
jbeg˙duna minn Ìesù li huwa s-Sewwa! Min˙abba
f’hekk je˙tie© ng˙addu ˙in, regolarment, fit-
talb u l-qari tal-Bibbja. Ne˙tie©u nimlew mo˙˙na
bil-veritajiet tal-Van©elu sabiex inxejnu l-˙afna
messa©©i kuntrarji li nisimg˙u madwarna. Je˙tie©
li nΩommu sod mal-Veritajiet baΩiçi: li din il-˙ajja
tg˙addi, li Ìesù miet g˙al dnubietna, qam rebbie˙
mill-imwiet g˙al ˙ajja ©dida u jer©a’ ji©i sabiex
iwaqqaf saltnatu bis-s˙i˙. B˙ala persuna li g˙aliha
Kristu ˙allas prezz hekk g˙oli sabiex jifdiha,
in˙obb xejn jiena lill-˙ajja u l-˙olqien ta’madwari?
Dan kollu jkellimni fuq Alla? In˙ossni wie˙ed man-
natura, ma’ ˙uti l-bnedmin u ma’ Alla : jiena fiH u
Hu fija? Il-filosofu Germaniz Nietzsche darba kien
qal : «Li kieku l-insara jidhru aktar mifdija, kont
forsi nemmen f’min fdiehom.»
Huwa l-Ispirtu s-Santu dak li jqanqalni u
jmexxini? Il-˙ajja moderna hija m˙amm©a minn
©ibdiet pagani u mmorali. Il-mod kif nilbes, dak
li s-soltu nag˙mel, il-postijiet fejn sikwit immur:
dawn kollha jridu jg˙idu biç-çar, «Jiena nimxi
wara Kristu.» Jekk mhux hekk, ˙ajti ta’ nisrani
hija superfiçjali. «Og˙qod attent kif tg˙ix,» qal
il-g˙aref, «inti tista’tkun l-unika Bibbja li n-nies
jaqraw.»
Br. Leli Gatt SDB
"NEÓTIEÌU NIMLEW MOÓÓNA BIL-VERITAJIET
TAL-VANÌELU SABIEX INXEJJNU L-ÓAFNA
MESSAÌÌI KUNTRARJI LI NISIMGÓU MADWARNA."
Mag˙qudin
ma’Alla
4 Hajja Salesjana
EDITORIAL
Jesus saved me one very bitter day. How
grateful am I for the terrible torture and death He
endured for my sake? Do I prove myself worthy of
His love? Do I return love for love? I am created
in His image, is that what my fellow brothers and
sisters see in me? Many of life’s questions are
only answered after life’s journey on earth comes
to an end.
Meanwhile I must make God’s Ten
Commandments my rule of life. These are the fruit
of God’s immense and infinite love for humanity,
whereby a person can be truly free and happy now
and hereafter.
Christ initiated Seven Sacraments as handed
down and offered to me by the Church he founded.
It is another must that I partake in this nourishing
and life-giving spiritual food that will carry me to
eternal glory beyond.
How well do I know Jesus through Sacred
Scriptures, how familiar am I with Him, how
close together are we? Alas mass media today
bombards us by many voices, which can be
seductive and lure us away from Jesus, the
Truth. This is why we need to spend regular time
praying and reading the Bible. We need to fill our
minds with the truths of the Gospel if we are to
withstand the many contrary messages we hear
around us. We must hold firm to the basic Truths:
that this life passes away, that Jesus died for our
sins, rose victoriously from the dead to new life
and will return to establish His Kingdom fully.
As a person for whom Christ paid such a dear
price in order to redeem him, am I in love with
life and the awesome creation around me? Does it
all speak to me of God? Do I feel one with nature,
with my fellow brothers and sisters and with God,
I in Him and He in me? The German philosopher
Nietzsche once remarked, “If Christians looked
more redeemed I might believe in their Redeemer.”
Is it the Holy Spirit who moves and guides me?
Modern life is polluted with pagan and immoral
trends. The way I dress, the things I indulge in, the
places I frequent must speak out loud and clear,
“I follow Jesus!” If my Christianity does not effect
the way I live, then it is only superficial. “Take
care how you live,” said a wise person, “you may
be the only Bible some people read.”
Br. Leli Gatt SDB.
"WE NEED TO FILL OUR MINDS WITH THE
TRUTHS OF THE GOSPEL IF WE ARE TO
WITHSTAND THE MANY CONTRARY MESSAGES
WE HEAR AROUND US."
In Tune
With God
5Hajja Salesjana
PEDAGOÌIJASalesjana
Minn Pascual Chávez Villanueva – Trad. Joe Cini
Dun Bosco qatt ma ddejjaq jittallab. Sabiex jid˙ol is-Seminarju mar jittallab ; din kienet l-ewwel darba
minn dak li mbag˙ad g˙amel ˙afna drabi matul ˙ajtu.
“Dak li kien fadal issa kien li jiddubbawlu suttana u l-affarijiet o˙ra ta’ qassis li ommu ma setg˙etx
tipprovdilu. Dun Cinzano g˙arraf b’dan lil xi parruççani…is-Sur Sartoris tah is-suttana, is-Sindku
Pescarmona, il-kappell, il-Kurat, il-mantell tieg˙u stess. O˙rajn, min ©ablu l-kullar, il-berittin, xi par
kalzetti, waqt li mara twajba g˙amlitlu ©abra sabiex tixtrilu Ωarbun. Il-Mulej, ˙anin, jer©a’ jag˙mel
hekk mieg˙u fis-snin ta’ wara. Permezz ta’ nies tar-ru˙, Alla wieΩen lil Giovanni f’kull ma g˙amel. A˙na
smajna lil Dun Bosco jg˙id, g˙al aktar minn darba, “Jiena dejjem g˙andi bΩonn ta’ kul˙add” (Memorie
Biografiche 1, 274-5).
Insiru nafu lil Dun Bosco 5
L-Idea tal-Koperaturi fil-˙sieb ta’ Dun Bosco
“Jiena dejjem g˙andi bΩonn l-g˙ajnuna ta’ kul˙add”
6 Hajja Salesjana
Il-Koperaturi ta’ Dun Bosco
Dun Bosco dam ˙afna ja˙sibha x’isem jag˙ti lil
dawk li kienu jg˙inuh waqt li ma kienux reli©juΩi bil-
voti. Fl-Introduzzjoni tar-Regolamenti ppubblikati
f’Albegna fl-1876, insibu dawn il-kliem: “Lill-Qarrej;
malli kienet bdiet il-˙idma tal-Oratorji fl-1841, xi
qassisin u lajçi twajba u ΩeluΩi ©ew jg˙inu sabiex
nie˙du ˙sieb il-˙idma fost il-˙afna tfal u Ωg˙aΩag˙
fil-periklu. Dawn il-˙addiema u koperaturi tieg˙i
kienu dejjem l-aqwa g˙ajnuna f’dawk ix-xog˙lijiet li
l-Providenza Divina po©©iet f’idejna.”
Mela mhux biss Koperaturi li g˙amlu l-Wieg˙da,
imma firxa wieg˙sa ta’ g˙ajnuniet, ta’ ˙biberiji,
ta’ g˙otjiet ta’ karita`…kollha kkurati sewwa
minnu. Hemm bΩonn ner©g˙u inwettqu din l-idea
ori©inali ta’ Dun Bosco, Ωviluppata minn Dun Rua u
s-Suççessuri tieg˙u, li permezz tag˙ha kien possibli
g˙as-Salesjani li jitferrxu mad-dinja kollha.
Dun Bosco kellu çerti ideat f’mo˙˙u b˙al l-idea
li jorganizza mill-©did lill-Kattolçi sabiex i©edded
il-fidi fil-pajjiΩ; l-idea li jkun hemm g˙ajnuna
finanzjarja lix-xog˙lijiet Salesjani; l-idea ta’ xog˙ol
volontarju mil-lajçi flimkien mal-Kleru (tag˙lim
tal-katekiΩmu, g˙ajnuna lill-Kleru) u fis-soçjeta`
(edukazzjoni, assistenza, ta˙ri© u kura tal-fqar).
Dak li Dun Bosco qal u dak li g˙amel jg˙inna nifhmu
x’ried ifisser u kif kien jist˙ajjel dil-koperazzjoni.
Bosta drabi huwa uΩa’ l-espressjoni “modi prattiçi
ta’ karita`”. Meta tkellem f’konferenza nhar 1 ta’
Ìunju 1885, huwa ddikjara: “Li tkun Koperatur
Salesjan ifisser li tikkopera ma’ nies o˙rajn sabiex
isir xi xog˙ol li l-iskop tieg˙u jkun li jg˙in lill-Knisja
fil-bΩonnijiet tag˙ha l-aktar immedjati. Meta wie˙ed
jag˙mel dan, ikun qieg˙ed iwieΩen inizjattiva li hija
g˙all-qalb tal-Papa min˙abba l-fatt li b’hekk it-tfal
ji©u edukati fil-virtu` u mmexxija lejn il-qdusija.
L-g˙an ewlieni tal-koperazzjoni huwa l-edukazzjoni
taΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ li dawn il-jiem huma l-mira tal-˙Ωiena,
u li tippromwovi l-im˙abba lejn ir-Reli©jon fid-dinja,
fl-iskejjel, fil-‘hostels’, fl-Oratorji u fil-familji, u li
tippromwovi wkoll il-morali, it-talb, is-sagramenti,
u affarijiet b˙al dawn.”
Il-Koperaturi llum
“Ir-Regolamenti l-Ìodda tas-Salesjani
Koperaturi” li kienu ©ew approvati mis-Santa
Sede nhar id-9 ta’ Mejju 1986, u li kienu mbag˙ad
imxandra mir-Rettur Ma©©ur Dun E©idju Vigano`
ftit jiem wara, fl-24 ta’ Mejju, jatuna stampa tas-
Salesjan Koperatur fil-bidu tas-Seklu XXI. Huma
jitkellmu fuq l-identita`, l-ispirtu, il-missjoni u
l-organizzazzjoni tal-G˙aqda.
“Koperaturi huma dawk il-Kattoliçi li waqt li
jg˙ixu l-fidi fil-kundizzjoni tal-˙ajja tag˙hom ta’
kuljum, ji©u mnebb˙in mill-pro©ett apostoliku
ta’ Dun Bosco: billi jikkommettu ru˙hom g˙al dik
l-istess missjoni fost iΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ u l-fqar, flimkien
u b˙al a˙wa; f’g˙aqda s˙i˙a mal-membri l-o˙ra tal-
Familja Salesjana; f’˙idma li twassal g˙all-©id tal-
Knisja u tas-soçjeta`; mill-a˙jar li jistg˙u.”
Dawk li kitbu dan l-artiklu tar-Regolament xtaqu
jmorru lura lejn l-intenzjoni ewlenija ta’ Dun Bosco,
li skont hu, l-Koperaturi huma tassew Salesjani
fid-dinja; fi kliem ie˙or Insara, lajçi jew qassisin,
li ming˙ajr l-irbit tal-voti reli©juΩi, jg˙ixu s-sej˙a
tag˙hom ta’ qdusija waqt li jaqdu fix-xog˙ol taΩ-
Ωg˙aΩag˙ u tal-klassi tal-˙addiema, skont l-ispirtu
ta’ Dun Bosco. Jekk nifhmuhom hekk, il-Koperaturi
g˙andhom tlitt karatteristiçi: huma Kattoliçi, fid-
dinja u Salesjani.
"Li tkun Koperatur Salesjan
ifisser li tikkopera ma’ nies
o˙rajn sabiex isir xi xog˙ol
li l-iskop tieg˙u jkun li jg˙in
lill-Knisja fil-bΩonnijiet
tag˙ha l-aktar immedjati. "
Matul is-sena ji©u ppublikati ˙afna kotba,
kullimkien. Dawn ikunu ta’ diversi tipi, xi w˙ud
fihom biss stejjer, fittizji jew storiçi, waqt li o˙rajn
ikunu studji xjentifiçi ta’ grajjiet jew dokumenti.
Hemm ukoll kotba li jitkellmu fuq arti jew tisjir,
bliet jew knejjes, teΩori u muΩewijiet. Issib minn
kollox.
Xi whud minn dawn il-kotba ji©bdu l-attenzjoni
min˙abba il-kwalita` g˙olja tag˙hom: g˙andhom
qoxra ta’ barra iebsa u li ti©bed l-g˙ajn, huma
stampati fuq karta ta’ kwalita` u waqt li jittrattaw
su©©etti varji, jkunu mimlijin ritratti sbie˙. Dawn
huma dawk li jissej˙u Coffee Table Books.
G˙adu kemm ©ie f’idejja ktieb ta’ din ix-xorta;
huwa l-ktieb Victoria, a Portrait of a City.
Dan huwa l-a˙˙ar ktieb ippubblikat
mis-Salesjani ta’Dun Bosco, Malta, u
©ie mog˙ti lili mill-istess editur tal-
ktieb, Fr Charles Cini SDB. Huwa ktieb
sabi˙ ˙afna, b’ aktar minn 250 pa©na
u miΩg˙ud b’ritratti ta’ kwalita`
me˙udin mill-artist/fotografu
Daniel Cilia. It-Text tal-ktieb huwa
miktub minn Rev. Dr. Joseph Bezzina, storiku li
g˙araf jag˙ti stampa rikka ta’ dik li hija l-istorja,
il-kultura u l-˙ajja fil-Belt Victoria.
Kif g˙edt, dan huwa l-a˙˙ar ktieb minn sensiela
ta’ pubblikazzjonijiet ta’
Fr Charles. Kotba o˙ra tal-istess kwalita` u
pre©ju kienu ©ew ippubblikati mis-Salesjani ta’
Dun Bosco u editjati minn Fr Charles matul dawn
l-a˙˙ar snin; u hemm il-˙sieb li ji©u ppubblikati
o˙rajn fil-©ejjieni.
Dawn il-Kotba jinsabu g˙all-bejg˙ fil-˙wienet
ewlenin tal-kotba. G˙al min hu interessat jew
jixtieq jati xi rigal ta’ valur u pre©ju matul il-festi
li ©ejjin, din hija lista tal-a˙˙ar kotba ppubblikati :
• The Great Siege of Malta 1565 (2009)
• A Temple to Our Lady: Ta’Pinu Basilica (2010)
• St. George, Gozo’s Golden Basilica (2011)
• The Maritime History of Malta (2011)
• Victoria, a Portrait of a City (2012)
7Hajja Salesjana
Pubblikazzjonijiet Salesjani
Joe Cini SDB
8 Hajja Salesjana
FEASTS & EVENTSCALENDAR OF SALESIAN2012
NO
VEM
BER
DEC
EM
BER
JAN
UA
RY
Thu 1 All Saints Day
Fri 2 All Souls Day, First Friday Devotions at St. Patrick’s, at 6.15 p.m.
Salesian Communities’ One Day Retreat
First Friday: Adoration and Mass at St. Patrick’s at 6.15 p.m.
1-2 Mid-Term Holidays
Sat 3 Salesian Family Course in Salesianity: St. Patrick’s at 7.00 p.m.
Sat 10 Prayer Day for Salesian Missions
Tue 13 Bl. Artemide Zatti, Salesian Lay Brother
Thu 15 Bl. Maddalena Morano, Daughter of Mary Help of Christians
17-18 Dramm - Il-Ìuri Tas-Soru – Salesian Theatre, Sliema
Wed 21 Salesian Cooperators – Sliema – monthly meeting at 6.00 p.m.
Mon 26 Commemoration of Mary Help of Christians: St Patrick’s at 6.30 p.m.
Sat 1 Salesian Family Course in Salesianity: St. Patrick’s at 7.00 p.m.
Sun 2 First Sunday of Advent. Sale of Poinsettias at St. Patrick’s
Tue 4 1/2 Day Retreat open to all – by Magnificat Chapter Malta: 9.00 – 13.00hrs
5 – 9 Sale of Sicilian Ceramics at St. Patrick’s – Sliema
Fri 7 First Friday Devotions at St. Patrick’s at 6.15 p.m. Emerald Society’s Xmas Carol
Evening & Drinks at 7.30 p.m. All welcome.
Sat 8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Public Holiday
Mon 10 Prayer Day for Salesian Missions
Wed 12 Salesian Cooperators- Sliema- Monthly Meeting: Outdoor Activity
Magnificat Chapter Advent ½ Day Retreat, 10.00 – 13.00.
Thu 13 Republic Day- Public Holiday. Traditional Christmas Concert by Amadeus Choir at
St.Patrick’s, 7.30 p.m. All welcome.
Sun 16 Sale of Mince Pies and Honey Rings at St. Patrick’s.
Tue 25 Christmas Day – A Happy Feastday to All our Readers
Mon 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 at Savio College
2013
Tue 1 New Year’s Day. Happy New Year to all our Readers. Our Lady Queen of Peace.
Fri 4 First Friday Devotions at St. Patrick’s at 6.15 p.m.
Sat 5 Salesian Family Course in Salesianity: St. Patrick’s at 7.00 p.m.
Mon 7 Beginning of 2nd Scholastic Term
Wed 9 Salesian Cooperators- Sliema- Monthly Meeting
For any other info about the Salesians: www.sdb.org
Daughters of Mary Help of Christians: www.cgfmanet.org
Salesians in Malta : www.salesiansmalta.org
Hajja Salesjana On Line : www.salesiansmalta.org/hajjasalesjana
9Hajja Salesjana
Il-Beata MARIA TRONCATTI (1883-1969)
Qalb Ûag˙Ωug˙a miftu˙a g˙al Alla
Maria Troncatti
twieldet
f’Cortegno
Golgi (Brescia)
nhar is-16 ta’
Frar 1883.
Kibret dejjem
ferrie˙a u
bieΩla f’familja
numeruΩa.
Kienet tg˙addi
l-˙in bejn
ix-xog˙ol fir-
razzett u l-kura
ta’ ˙utha. Regolarment kienet tmur g˙all-
katekiΩmu fil-Parroçça minn fejn rabbiet
spirtu nisrani profond u minn fejn nibtet
il-vokazzjoni reli©juΩa tag˙ha.
Sabiex tobdi lill-kappillan tal-parroçça,
hija stenniet sa ma kibret sew qabel ma
da˙let soru. Ing˙aqdet mal-Istitut ta’ Ulied
Marija G˙ajnuna tal-Insara u g˙amlet
l-ewwel professjoni fl-1908, fid-Dar ta’ Nizza
Monferrato. Matul l-Ewwel Gwerra Dinjija,
Maria g˙amlet kors ta’ infermiera u ˙admet
mar-Red Cross fl-isptar militari ta’ Varazze.
Din l-esperjenza kella sserviha ˙afna matul
il-˙ajja twila ta’ missjunarja fil-foresti tal-
AmaΩonja, fl-Ekwador.
Missjunarja fl-Ekwador
Telqet lejn l-Ekwador fl-1922 u ©iet
mibg˙uta ta˙dem fost it-tribu` Xuar.
Mag˙ha kellha Ωew© sorijiet o˙ra, u flimkien
bdew, bil-mod u bi tbatija, jxerrdu l-bxara
tal-Evan©elju. Habbtu wiççhom ma’ kull
xorta ta’ perikli: annimali selva©©i, xmajjar
mfawra, qsim tax-xmajjar fuq xi pont tal-
˙abel jew fuq l-ispalel tal-Indjos.
Id-Djar tas-Sorijiet f’Macas, f’Sevilla Don
Bosco, u f’Sucúa huma l-mirakli tal-˙idma
ta’ Swor Maria Troncatti, Djar li g˙adhom
sejrin sal-©urnata tal-lum. Hija kienet taf
tkun infermiera li tikkura, tabiba li tag˙mel
operazzjonijiet, dentista; imma fuq kollox
kienet katekista u appostlu, mimlija bil-
virtujiet tal-fidi, tal-paçenzja u ta’ m˙abba
lejn kul˙add.
Il-˙idma tag˙ha favur in-nisa Xuar tat il-
frott tag˙ha fil-mijiet ta’ familji nsara ©odda,
liema familji kienu mwaqqfa fuq g˙azla
personali u ˙ielsa min naha tal-koppja.
Swor Maria mietet tra©ikament meta
©©arraf l-ajruplan li fuqu kienet sejra lura
lejn il-missjoni tag˙ha, mhux bog˙od minn
Sucúa, nhar il-25 ta’Awwissu 1969. Il-fdalijiet
taghha jinsabu f’Macas, fil-Provinçja ta’
Morona (Ekwador).
Il-Q T il-Papa hu tal-fehma li r-Rit tal-Beatifikazzjoni tal-Qaddejja ta’Alla Maria Troncatti, soru
Salesjana (Ulied Marija G˙ajnuna tal-Insara) isir ©ewwa Macas, fl-Ekwador, nhar is-Sibt 24 ta’
Novembru 2012. Din l-a˙bar giet mog˙tija mill-Kardinal Angelo Becciu lil Dun Pierluigi Cameroni li
huwa il-Postulatur Generali tas-Socjeta` Salesjana. Il-Kardinal Angelo Amato SDB, f’isem il-Papa,
sejjer jippresjedi ç-çerimonja. L-Istitut ta’ Ulied Marija G˙ajnuna tal-Insara u l-Familja Salesjana
kollha jilqg˙u din l-a˙bar bl-akbar fer˙, u b˙ala sinjal ta’ ˙ajja u ˙e©©a tal-kariΩma Salesjan.
10 Hajja Salesjana
ZIMBABWE
The casket arrived on Monday afternoon 16 July in
Harare. Welcoming the casket at the airport were
a group of Salesians and lay people led by the
archbishop of Harare. Mons. Robert Christopher
Ndlovu. The parish community of All Saints in
Kambuzuma organised a marvellous welcome
to Don Bosco who spent two days with them.
Afterwards the relics of Don Bosco moved to
Warren Park (a suburb of Harare) where hundreds
of people awaited its arrival.Then it was transported
to Hwange, where there is a community of 4
Salesians working in the parish, in mission stations
and in an oratory. The the people sang and danced
to welcome Don Bosco in their midst.
Don Bosco Around the World
SOUTH AFRICA
Cape Town–On the evening of 10 July the casket
arrived at the Salesian Institute where the relic
was moved into the hall for public veneration. The
following day a youth Mass was celebrated, and in
the evening the relic was moved to Our Lady Help
of Christians Lansdowne. On Friday the 13th the
relic was moved to Delft, and in the afternoon it
was taken to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish,
Hanover Park, where many young people were
present. On Saturday 14th, it was the turn of St.
John Bosco Parish Westridge. The Church was so
packed that some could not even get in.
BgsjdbThe visit of the casket in
11Hajja Salesjana
ZAMBIA
Some of the more significant moment were in
Lusaka, where the Salesians and the Daughters of
Mary Help of Christians have various works and in
Kabwe, where for the last few months there has
been a Salesian Bishop, Mons. Clement Mulenga.
On 20 July Don Bosco’s relic was given a warn
welcome at Thorn Park by the students and the
Sisters with singing and dancing. Two days later 22
July the casket reached Kabwe, where the faithful
from the parish of Our Lady surrounded the relic.
Almost all the people in the town joined in the
celebrations. During the Mass the Salesian cleric
Macario Mpundu made his perpetual profession,
and another 16 people made their promise as
Salesians-Cooperators.
ANGOLA
The casket containing the relic of Don Bosco arrived
in East Angola from Benguela at Luena airport on
the morning of 8th August. A numerous and lively
crowd was there to greet it. The casket was carried
in procession for more than three hours, passing
through the streets of Luena amid great numbers
of curious and astonished people.
MADAGASCAR
The Casket arrived in Fianarantsoa, in a cathedral
overflowing with people. On Sunday 20 August the
Casket was brought to the Salesian community in
Ankofafa, one of the poorest suburbs of the city. At
the end of this celebration, the Casket moved on to
Ambositra. Along the national highway the crowd
had completely blocked the road in their eagerness
to see Don Bosco. The cortège then continued to
Antsirabe, with a stopover in two villages: Ilaka
and Manandona. After the Mass there was a prayer
vigil in Antsirabe Cathedral.
12 Hajja Salesjana
From September 2012 onwards, the Pius XI Rome
Junior School entry classes as well as the entry
Upper Secondary classes started off their school
year using digital technology tools. Each student
has a Tablet in which text books can be stored in
digital format.
Each classroom has an Interactive Multimedia
Whiteboard and Internet connection, and all
teaching activities will be geared towards helping
the young person find direction in a sea of
knowledge and through a cooperative learning
structure.
The plan, approved by the Schools
Administrative Council, has been enthusiastically
taken up by parents of newly-enrolled students
and by teachers who have been holding study
seminars on Teaching 2.0 since June. The school
then worked with the “Imparadigitale” (digital
learning) organisation as part of its efforts in the
complex renewal going on in a network of schools
and associations which have been working with
new digital technology tools since 2010.
Pius XI school, the Don Bosco school in Rome,
now joins the handful of Roman and for that
matter of Italian schools with a teaching approach
which is part of the world of young people today,
using the tools that the students themselves are
so well-known for using.
This simple but revolutionary paradigm has all
the elements of the cultural revolution that Don
Bosco brought about through his contemporary,
modern pedagogy. At Pius XI School the aim is to
enable each area in educational terms: Alternative
techniques and tools but maintaining the same
Salesian spirit.
A school that prepares for life, life that
requires ever new learning by young people
about knowledge which is constantly developing.
A school where people can grow up happily,
where evaluation is a shared, organised process
and where lessons are based on a logic of
cooperation: the student, then, will never be
left facing difficulties alone. A school which is
an educative community because it responds
faithfully to a religious charism which does not
impede but which makes an enriching difference.
Italy
Back to School
with a Tablet
13Hajja Salesjana
Spain
International
literacy day
8 September is International literacy day.
According to information from the United Nations
Education, Science and Culture Organisation
(UNESCO) there are about 790 million people
in the world who are illiterate: a figure which
has a negative impact on world conflicts and
development possibilities.
171 million people would no longer live in
poverty if they knew how to read and write,
reducing world poverty by 12%; those between 15
and 24 years of age are about 125 million, while
women and girls constitute almost two thirds of
those who are illiterate. These are some of the
statistics published by UNESCO on the occasion
of International Literacy Day which this year
focuses on the fundamental relationship between
Literacy and Peace.
“This relationship has an enormous
significance in out troubled times,” said Irina
Bokova, Director General of UNESCO, in a message
issued for the occasion. “Countries marked by
violence have some of the lowest levels of literacy
in the whole world. Conflicts remain one of the
main obstacles to achieving ‘Education for All’
and the Millennium Development Objectives’”.
“Literacy also speeds up development
enabling societies to grow in a more inclusive and
sustainable way.”
The Salesian Mission Office in Madrid has
issued a statement for the occasion, in which it
points out the significance of education from a
Salesian perspective and launches an appeal for
literacy and education for women: “educating a
woman is educating a people.”
The appeal is based on proven fact and
examples of good missionary practice in progress:
in Togo, for example thanks to training courses
just for women, the knowledge taught in small
groups of peasant women was then passed on
to other women in the nearby villages creating
a movement which has already lifted over 1,000
women out of poverty.
“We want the women to have a voice and to
take part in decision making” the statement ends.
14 Hajja Salesjana
THE LAST YEARS
As Don Bosco grew into his 60’s his health
became more and more fragile; but he continued
his exhausting pace. His days were filled with
teaching, counselling and supervising his endless
projects. By the early 1880’s his Salesians had
spread beyond the borders of Italy, establishing
themselves in France and Spain. When Pope Leo XIII
in 1883, asked him to journey to France to beg for
funds to complete the construction of the Sacred
Heart Basilica in Rome, John cheerfully complied.
He could beg for the Pope – and visit his spiritual
sons.
Bosco’s heart was deeply moved by the warm,
enthusiastic welcome the French people gave
him. “Never had such a crowd gathered in Paris
around a priest since the visit of Pius VIII,” one
eyewitness recalled. Don Rua, remembering the
visit to France, said, “If we had seven secretaries,
many letters every evening would still have had to
be left unanswered.” The journey however, exacted
a terrible toll on John’s already fragile health.
John’s right eye, injured years earlier in a fall,
pained constantly. Phlebitis made his walking
so unsteady that two Salesians stood on either
side of him. Three years later Don Bosco made
a similar trip to Spain and was greeted with the
same enthusiasm. He preached in the most famous
cathedrals in both France and Spain. Although he
could speak both French and Spanish, he hardly
possessed “an orator’s tongue.” The people,
however, understood him well, for he spoke to
them with the language of the heart.
THE FINAL DAYS
“You have burnt away your life by
working to excess. Your whole
constitution is like a coat worn
threadbare by too much use. You
must completely rest.” Don Bosco
had heard his doctor’s advice
before. The reply was always
Saint John Bosco
A brief account of his life
Throughout history, God has sent prophets and saints to warn, teach and lead His people.
Modern times are no exception. God has sent saints to found religious orders of men and women
for particular needs. He has sent martyrs as witnesses to the Faith, virgins as defenders of
chastity, and holy men, such as Don Bosco, to teach virtue and apostleship to a special portion
of God’s people – namely youth. This is his life story.
Part 5
15Hajja Salesjana
the same: “Doctor you know that’s the only remedy
I cannot take. There’s too much work yet to be
done.”
Right up until his very last days, Don Bosco,
held up on either side by two Salesian companions,
journeyed through Turin, visiting the poor, begging
from the rich, cheering the hearts of those who
were sad. He knew death was imminent. “I want to
go to heaven,” he would say, “for there I shall be
able to work much better for my children. On earth
I can do nothing more for them.” Bosco’s doctor
now advised Salesian authorities: “He is not dying
of any disease, he is like a lamp dying from want
of oil.”
The famous Bosco humour did not fade. He
advised the Salesians who carried him from place
to place to “put it on the bill. I’ll settle up everything
at the end.” At one time gasping for breath, he
whispered to a Salesian bending anxiously over
him, “Do you know where there is a good bellows
maker?” “Why?” the puzzled Salesian asked.
“Because I need a new pair of lungs, that’s why!”
The illness dragged on. Don Rua took over
the government of the Salesian Society. His first
command was to request every Salesian who could
possibly do so to come to Turin and bid farewell to
their father. From all over, these sons came. One
by one they passed by him to receive his blessing.
Next came all the boys who had gone through
the Oratory at Turin. Hundreds of them came and
passed by his bed, two by two. John blessed them
all, his face calm, almost young.
On the night of January 31, 1888, he turned to
Don Rua and said: “Tell my children that I am waiting
for them all in Paradise.” And with those words one
of the nineteenth century’s most magnificent men
breathed forth his strong and valiant spirit. During
his lifetime he often said he wanted to die poor.
On the day of his death, the Turin Oratory, with
800 mouths to feed was penniless, but that did
not stop the baker from delivering the bread on
schedule. The baker, like everybody else, knew that
Don Bosco would find money as he always did, in
heaven to feed his boys on earth.
In 1934, Pope Pius XI canonised St. John Bosco
as saint of the Catholic Church, and in 1988, Pope
John Paul II called him “Father and Teacher of
Youth.”
THE MISSIONARY THRUST
As a young priest, Don Bosco had applied to be a
missionary, but his seminary professor told him
gently: “No you will not go, but you will send out
many to preach and teach the Word of God.” In 1875,
sixteen years after he first founded the Salesian
Society, he sent his first band of ten to begin
mission work in Argentina. The first ten Salesian
missionaries left on the 11th of November 1875 and
reached Buenos Aires, where they established their
headquarters. They began to work immediately
among the immigrants in the impoverished quarter
at the port known as “La Boca” (The Devil’s Mouth)
Half the group headed south for Indian territory
and were instrumental in helping bring about peace
in the war with the Indians. Plunging southward
across the vast Pampas, they finally reached
the southern tip of the continent, the “Tierra del
Fuego” (The Land of Fire) at that time the haven
of escaped convicts, smugglers and international
adventurers. In the space of twenty years, they
explored the country, established agricultural
schools, cultivated vast tracts of land and spread
the Word of God. The missionaries’ advance was
a succession of conquests, sometimes paid for in
their own blood. By the turn of the century, the
Salesians were working in almost every country in
Latin America.
The End
16 Hajja Salesjana
The blessing of the stained glass window
of St. John Bosco
On the fourth Saturday in June, we, the Maltese
Past Pupils of Don Bosco, in Sydney, braved the
cold winter morning to hop on a coach trip to the
South Coast. Once we reached and passed the
famous Hampden Bridge, our member from the
South Coast, Louis Sammut, was waiting for us
on the road to lead us to St. Joseph’s Church, a
church built in 1888.
There we were greeted by the sound of a small
bell, followed by the tone of a big bell announcing
Holy Mass. After the reading of the Gospel, the
priests who were concelebrating Mass, stepped
down from the altar and walked down the aisle
to bless a new stained glass window of St. John
Bosco, which was kindly donated by our generous
member Louis Sammut. It was a very touching
moment for us Past Pupils and I wonder if Louis,
during his days at the Oratory in Sliema, had
ever dreamt of one day being able to present the
people of Kangaroo Valley, this fine piece of art
portraying the image of Don Bosco. The rich voice
of a young boy singing Pie Jesu brought a tear to
those of us who, as young boys, used to attend
the chapel at the Oratory every evening to sing a
hymn to our patron Saint John Bosco.
After Mass, we had lunch at Huskisson Bowling
Club, followed by afternoon tea in a park opposite
Huskisson Beach, prepared for us by our dear
member Louis Sammut. The time for us to return
to Sydney was slowly approaching and we found it
hard to say good bye to our beloved friend Louis,
who not only spread the Spirit of Don Bosco in
Kangaroo Valley, but also made sure that we were
looked after during the whole time we spent at
the South Coast.
Thank you Louis – our Association is very
proud of you. Thank you also to our new Social
Organiser, Charlie Muscat, who together with our
committee, organized this coach trip.
http://www.nowraparish.org.au/parish-churches/
st-josephs-kangaroo-valley
Spreading our wings
to Kangaroo Valley
left to right, Marlene Dimech, Emanuel Zammit,
Louis Sammut who donated the stained glass
window, and Lawrence Dimech (the treasurer of
the Maltese Past Pupils of Don Bosco in Sydney)
Fr. Francis Zammit S.D.B.
17Hajja Salesjana
Prof David Plowman honoured
at Queen’s Birthday Honours
Prof David Plowman is a past pupil of St Patrick’s
School and a former child migrant to Western
Australia. In the early nineties, he attended
our Gala Ball as our special guest speaker and
graced us with his presence. We wrote to him to
congratulate him on having been chosen this year
to receive a Queens Birthday Honour.
Prof David Plowman wrote back saying: Thank
you for your kind wishes. I was in Malta in March
and visited the Salesian community. The attached
photo was taken on that occasion. On either side
of me are (left) Joseph Fonde SDB who is now 82
and Fr. Carmelo Mifsud (92). Both of them taught
me in Malta 60 years ago!
18 Hajja Salesjana
Something
to think about…
A Philosophy of Life
19Hajja Salesjana
A man with one watch knows what time it is;
a man with two watches is never quite sure.
Don’t look where you fall, but where you
slipped.
Look at life through the wind-screen, not
through the rear mirror.
People may doubt what you say, but they will
believe what you do.
Be nice to people on your way up because
you’ll need them on your way down.
Never explain - your friends do not need it,
and your enemies will not believe it.
While seeking revenge, dig two graves – one
for yourself.
Courage is not a lack of fear, but the ability
to act while facing fear.
You’ve got to do your own growing, no
matter how tall your father was.
The best way to predict your future is to
create it.
20 Hajja Salesjana
world Consecrated Life is necessary to affirm the
option for the poorest and the least in society;
in a world where individualism is making ever
greater headway Consecrated Life is a prophecy
of fraternity.’
The message of the Rector Major to the FMA
(Figlie di Maria Ausiliatrice) continued as follows.
‘This celebration was planned and intended as
a great stimulus for the spiritual renewal and
pastoral conversion of the Daughters of Mary
Help of Christians, so that they can continue to
be a sign of the anticipating love of God for girls
and young women today. This is a beautiful sign
and a demonstration of the fidelity of God and of
yourselves. It is like the birth of many new hands,
embracing your project of life, and that of Don
Bosco.
FMA 140th Anniversary
Dreaming the future
with imagination and generosity
The Rector Major spoke to the sisters who were
concluding their retreat. He reminded them that
Consecrated Life was going through a severe
crisis, but was more indispensable than ever. ‘In
a secular world Consecrated Life is necessary to
affirm the absoluteness of God; in a neo-liberal
‘I have come to Mornese, just as Don Bosco did 140 years ago. He came to set up the Institute, together
with Mother Mazzarello. I have come to give praise to the Lord who has worked wonders with you.’ So
began the message which the Rector Major sent to Mother Yvonne Reungoat, Superior General, on the
5th August, the 140th anniversary of the foundation of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary
Help of Christians. In this little village in Alto Monferrato, cradle of the Institute, Don Chávez presided
at the perpetual profession of five Sisters.
21Hajja Salesjana
‘Dearest Mother Yvonne, today you have a
beautiful story to tell about your Institute, with
examples from the expansion, the growth of
vocations and the holiness of the sisters. However
it is not enough to look back on the past with
gratitude. The 140th Anniversary is an occasion
to face up to the present, so different from the
days of your origins, with fidelity and courage to
respond to the new challenges which our life and
mission must take into account. But not only this.
The 140th Anniversary is also an opportunity to
dream the future with imagination and generosity,
with even greater fidelity to God, to the Church
and to Society, in particular to the world of youth.’
Mother Reungoat replied: ‘Thank you for your
precious words and for your fatherly heart which
is so like that of Don Bosco. 140 years ago our
founder went to Mornese for the first professions
of 11 young women as FMA. It is good that today
his Ninth Successor is repeating the visit to give
praise to the Lord.
‘There are so many life stories in these 140
years. But as well as cultivating memories of the
past, we wish to launch ourselves into the future
where we expect challenges and opportunities
we intend to meet, combining ‘imagination and
generosity’ as you recommend. Here in America,
the echo of Maria Domenica’s letter is still alive.
‘Mary Help of Christians will help us to sing
the Magnificat together for the great things God
has accomplished in each of his daughters and in
these 140 years of the history of the Institute.’
22 Hajja Salesjana
Ûewg rapporti, it-tnejn miktubin fl-1640, wie˙ed bl-
iSpanjol u l-ie˙or bin-Nahuatl (djalett tal-Messiku),
jg˙idulna kif, waqt li l-gabillot Juan Diego kien
sejjer mir-ra˙al tieg˙u lejn il-belt, kmieni filg˙odu
nhar id-9 ta’Diçembru 1531 ( meta allura
kienet ti©i ççelebrata l-festa tal-
Immakulata fl-Imperu Spanjol) huwa
sema’ l-g˙ana ˙elu tal-g˙asafar u
l-le˙en ˙elu ta’ xbejba li ssejja˙lu.
Dan ©ara fuq ix-xaqliba tal-g˙olja
ta’ Tepeyac u l-le˙en kien ©ej
minn dehra ta’ tfajla ta’ xi sittax
jew sbatax il-sena, mdawwra bid-
dawl.
Waqt li kelmitu bin-Nahuatl,
l-ilsien tal-post, hija talbitu
sabiex tinbena knisja, fuq dak
il-post, ad unur tag˙ha. « Hija
xewqa kbira tieg˙i li tinbena
hawnhekk knisja, fejn jiena
nkun nista’ nuri kull im˙abba,
mog˙drija, g˙ajnuna u protezzjoni
tieg˙i.» Mill-kliem tag˙ha, Juan
Diego g˙araf li din is-Sinjura kienet il-
Ver©ni Marija.
Diego mar mill-ewwel jg˙id dil-©rajja lill-
Arçisqof Fray Juan de Zumárraga, li talbu jmur
lura fuq l-g˙olja Tepeyac u jitlob lis-Sinjura sinjal
mirakuluΩ li juri l-identita` tag˙ha. Is-Sinjura
re©g˙et dehret lil Juan Diego u qaltlu sabiex jaqta’
˙afna ward minn fuq l-g˙olja Tepeyac. U g˙alkemm
Diçembru huwa tard fl-ista©un sabiex
wie˙ed isib xtieli jwarrdu, fuq dik
l-g˙olja xag˙rija Juan Diego sab
u qata’ ward Castiljan, li ma
jikbirx fil-Messiku. Is-Sinjura
po©©iethom fil-mantell
(tilma) tieg˙u, u meta huwa
fethu quddiem l-Arcisqof
Zumárraga, nhar it-12 ta’
Diçembru, il-ward waqa’ma
l-art, imma minn flokhom,
fuq il-mantell, kien hemm
ix-xbieha tal-Ver©ni ta’
Guadalupe, li b’miraklu
stampat ru˙ha fuqu. Wara
dan, l-Arçisqof iddeçieda li
jibni knisja fuq il-post tad-
dehriet.
Il-mantell ta’Juan Diego,
mag˙mul minn fibra tal-kaktus
u ta’ kwalita` fqira, u li s-soltu
ma jdumx aktar minn 20 sena sabiex jitmermer,
g˙adu ma juri ebda sinjal ta’ ˙sara wara aktar
Il-Madonna
ta’ Guadalupe
23Hajja Salesjana
minn 480 sena. Ix-xjenzjati g˙adhom sa sabux
spjegazzjoni g˙al dan il-fenomenu. Il-mantell
qieg˙ed fil-BaΩilka tal-Madonna ta’ Guadalupe,
fejn ta’ kull sena jmorru f’pellegrina©© bejn 18 u
20 miljun ru˙ ; dan g˙alhekk huwa s-santwarju
li jilqa’ l-aktar nies fid-dinja nisranija. Din l-ikona
(it-tilma, il-mantell) bix-xbieha tal-Madonna fuqu,
huwa l-aktar ˙a©a reli©juΩa popolari fil-Messiku,
u j©ib it-titlu ta’ Sultana tal-Messiku. Fl-1999, il-
Papa Ìwanni Pawli II pproklama lill-Vergni Marija
ta’ Guadalupe Patruna tal-Amerika, Imperatriçi
tal-Amerika Latina u Protettriçi tat-Trabi mhux
imwielda.
Il-fama li kisbet ix-xbieha tal-Madonna qajmet
ukoll interess kbir fi Juan Diego. Fl-1666, il-
Knisja, bil-g˙an li to˙loq festa f’©ie˙u,
bdiet ti©bor tag˙rif min nies li qalu
li kienu jafuh. Hekk, fl-1723, ©iet
ordnata inkjesta formali fuq
il-˙ajja tieg˙u u n©abar
˙afna tag˙rif. Fl-1987,
ta˙t il-Papa Ìwanni
Pawlu II li kien were interess speçjali fil-qaddisin,
il-Kongregazzjoni tal-KawΩi tal-Qaddisin, iddikjarat
lil Juan Diego b˙ala « venerabbli ». Imbag˙ad, fis-
6 ta’ Mejju 1990, huwa ©ie bbeatifikat mil-Papa
nnifsu waqt quddiesa fil-BaΩilka tal-Madonna ta’
Guadalupe fil-Belt tal-Messiku, u ©ie ddikjarat
Protettur u Avukat tal-Popli Indi©eni. Il-festa
tieg˙u ti©i ççelebrata nhar id-9 ta’ Diçembru.
Huwa mbag˙ad ©ie ddikjarat qaddis fl-2002.
Il-Festa tal-Madonna Ta’ Guadalupe ti©i
ççelebrata nhar it-12 ta’ Diçembru. Jer©a kien il-
Papa Ìwanni Pawlu II li fl-1999, fl-omelija tieg˙u
waqt il-quddiesa solenni fil-BaΩilka tal-Madonna,
meta kien qieg˙ed iΩur is-Santwarju g˙at-tielet
darba, iddikjara d-data tat-12 ta’
Diçembru b˙ala Festa
Litur©ica g˙all-
Kontinent kollu
tal-Amerika.
24 Hajja Salesjana
Malta Salesjana
STUDENTI ÌODDA F’SAVIO COLLEGE
Ambjent ©did u ˙bieb ©odda jistg˙u jo˙olqu
problemi. G˙alhekk l-istudenti l-©odda ta’
Savio College – Dingli, kellhom ©urnata
ddedikata g˙alihom qabel ma jid˙lu
l-iskola. Huma ©ew introdotti g˙al dak li
huwa “spirtu ta’familja” li jifforma parti
mill-kariΩma Salesjan. Bros. Pierre, Jake
u Paul Ωammew lit-tfal mhedija f’log˙ob
li g˙inhom isiru jafu lil xulxin. Dil-©urnata
kienet organizzata minn Fr Eric, li matul
il-©img˙at ta’qabel kien Ωar il-familji tal-50
student ©did. “Ming˙ajr ˙biberija u m˙abba,
ma jistax ikun hemm vera edukazzjoni” kien
jg˙id Dun Bosco.
SPYS FIL-KENJA
Bosco Boys of Langata, fil-Kenya, kien il-
post fejn 3 Ωg˙aΩag˙ Maltin marru jag˙mlu
xog˙ol ta’ volontarjat matul is-sajf li g˙adda:
Rachel Caruana, Godfrey Camilleri u David
Leone Ganado, it-tlieta membri ta’ SPYS
(Salesian Youth Pastoral Service). Huma
kienu milqug˙a mill-Komunita` Salesjana
fejn hemm çentru ta’ rijabilitazzjoni g˙at-
tfal li jkunu g˙ixu fit-toroq ta’ madwar
Nairobi. It-3 Ωg˙aΩag˙ kienu nkura©©uti f’din
l-avventura tag˙hom mill-˙afna g˙ajnuna
ta’ ˙bieb u benefatturi Maltin.
SALESJANI FOOTBALL LEAGUE
Anke matul is-sajf ta’ din is-sena, l-Oratorju
tas-Salesjani, Sliema, organizza league tal-
football bejn 9 timijiet, maqsuma f’Ωew© gruppi.
Il-log˙ob kien isir nhar ta’ Tlieta u Óamis fil-
bit˙a tal-Oratorju. Il-Finali saret fil-bit˙a ta’ St.
Patrick School fejn it-tim “San Girgor” reba˙ fuq
“Swallows Bananas”. Prosit lil Edward Mifsud u
Maria Chiara Leone li organizzaw kollox.
25Hajja Salesjana
‘MEET ME TOO’ – FI SPANJA
Grupp ta’ 5 studenti kienu telqu lejn El Campello – Spanja,
sabiex jing˙aqdu ma’ Ωg˙aΩag˙ o˙ra minn kull na˙a tal-
Ewropa. L-eta` tag˙hom kienet bejn it-18 u s-27 sena, u
b’kollox kienu 35. Huma ltaqg˙u sabiex jaqsmu bejniethom
esperjenzi kulturali u edukattivi matul ©img˙a s˙i˙a. Kien
hemm attivitajiet kemm ta’ ©ewwa u kemm fil-bera˙; dejjem
bil-g˙an li kul˙add jikber fit-tag˙rif tal-kulturi, drawwiet u
modi ta’ ˙ajja. Il-grupp Spanjol li kien jospita lill-o˙rajn ma
naqasx li jg˙allem lill-o˙rajn xi ftit spanjol, idewwaqhom
ikel spanjol u jorganizza l-©ranet fuq stil ta’ ˙ajja spanjola.
Prosit lil min ˙a sehem.
NERGGÓU INKEBBSU L-FJAMMA
Dawk kollha li jiffurmaw il-Worship Team tal-Oratorju
Salesjan, Sliema, qattg˙u week-end flimkien sabiex
jit˙e©©u u j˙ejju ru˙hom ghas-servizz ta’ kant illi
jag˙tu fil-kappella tal-Oratorju. Mexxew u animaw
dan il-week-end Fr Gerald, Dorienne Portelli, Edward
Mifsud u Mattea Galea. Kull˙add kien involut
f’sessjonijiet ta’ tag˙lim, prattika u diskussjoni.
Il-grupp kien attiv ukoll f’lejla ta’ Adorazzjoni tas-
Sagrament u fiç-çerimonja tat-ti©did tal-voti ta’
Bro. Kenneth u Bro Robert. Fost dawn iΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙
kien jin˙ass ˙afna il-fer˙, l-entuΩjaΩmu u l-ener©ija
spiritwali.
TIÌDID TAL-VOTI
Nhar il-©img˙a 7 ta’Settembru Bro. Robert Falzon
u Bro. Kenneth Vella ©eddu il-Voti tag˙hom fil-
Kongregazzjoni Salesjana. Numru sabi˙ ta’qraba,
˙bieb u Ωg˙aΩag˙ attendew g˙al din il-funzjoni li
fiha ˙adu sehem g˙add ta’ Fathers Salesjani. IΩ-
Ωg˙aΩag˙ tal-Worship Team sebb˙u dan kollu bil-kant
sabi˙ tag˙hom. Issa Bro. Robert di©a` qieg˙ed Torin
sabiex ikompli bl-istudji tieg˙u tat-teolo©ija, waqt li
Bro. Kenneth jissokta bil-˙idma tieg˙u fost it-tfal u
Ωg˙aΩag˙ tal-Oratorju, Sliema.
26 Hajja Salesjana
Ftakret g˙ax skartat li to˙ro©. L-g˙ajat u
l-˙sejjes mit-twieqi ta’ dawk ta’ fuqha kienu
jag˙tuha fastidju. Dak il-˙in kien hemm is-skiet.
Mhux li kienu storbjuΩi ΩΩejjed; g˙all-kuntrarju, nies
prudenti; imma minn mindu nqala’ dak l-g˙aw©
kollu qishom tilfu rashom. U kellhom g˙alfejn
ukoll. Miet g˙al g˙arrieda l-missier b’diΩgrazzja
fuq ix-xog˙ol u ˙alla ‘l-omm Ωag˙Ωug˙a bi tlitt
itfal Ωg˙ar. Milli setg˙et tifhem bilkemm kellhom
g˙axja ta’ lejla. Biex tkun sinçiera, li beda
jdejjaqha l-aktar ma kienx l-g˙ajat daqskemm il-
˙sieb li dawk ta’ fuqha jinsabu nieqsa minn bosta
xorti, forsi bla platt ikel fuq mejda, meta hi kellha
impjieg tajjeb u l-ikel ma naqas qatt.
Ìie f’mo˙˙ha li biex tg˙addi ftit tal-˙in setg˙et
tag˙mel pudina tal-˙obΩ. Tista’ tg˙id li kellha
kollox id-dar: ˙obΩ kemm trid g˙ax qajla kienet
tiekol dan l-a˙˙ar, dqiq, butir, Ωbib, kokotina, ˙alib
u zokkor. Kien hemm ukoll nofs borma qastan
imbuljuta li ddejqet tiekol minnu, dak imur mal-
pudina, jew inkella t˙allih forsi g˙ad ji©iha aptitu.
Óassitha a˙jar li ppjanat x’tag˙mel biex forsi
ttajjar il-˙sibijiet. Kellha kollox lest madwarha,
x˙in bdew l-ewwel tokki tal-qniepen tal-knisja qrib
isej˙u u jfakkru li ser tibda n-Novena tal-Milied.
Ma fel˙itx tismag˙hom, xtaqet tifgahom.
Ma kienx hemm g˙alfejn ifakkruha li wasal il-
Milied. Jum il-Milied! Jum li beda jwerwirha. Malli
tiftakar qalbha ting˙afas ... il-jum li kienet ilha
tistenna biex hi u George jitg˙arrsu ... u minflok,
hi u George nfirdu. Infirdu hekk, ˙abta u sabta xi
©img˙at ilu. Marru biex jixtru ç-çrieket u fit-triq
qalilha li a˙jar ma je˙dux dak il-pass: jistennew,
˙assu mhux Ωgur minnu nnifsu. Kien ilhom erba’
snin jistennew, kemm ser idumu aktar?
Minn dak il-˙in sabet ru˙ha f’infern s˙i˙.
Ma riditx tarah aktar b’g˙ajnejha. Minn banda,
a˙jar tlewmu issa, milli aktar tard. Hekk ipprova
jsabbarha kul˙add; imma qalbha ma riditx taf,
il-qalb ma tafx tirra©una, tg˙ix biss bl-im˙abba,
im˙abba li jag˙tuk l-o˙rajn. Megalie kellha d-dritt
g˙al din l-im˙abba. Mur ˙udu d-dritt! Il-˙olm
sabi˙ tag˙ha tar mar-ri˙! U issa kienet we˙idha
fid-dinja! Kemm hi kerha dik il-kelma ta’ wa˙dek,
kwaΩi twa˙˙xek! Imma l-fatt kien li tabil˙aqq
kienet we˙idha, kien je˙ti©ilha tidra u tara kif
tkompli tg˙ix. Kos, ˙asbet ... hi, Megalie telaqha
l-g˙arus u ˙assitha f’tant dwejjaq u konfuΩjoni,
Lina Brockdorff
Il-QalbTghix
Biss bl-Imhabba
Suppost li ftiehmet ma’ ˙abibtha biex imorru sal-Belt jaraw it-tiΩjin tal-Milied; minflok
çemplitilha li ma kellhiex aptit to˙rog. Hekk saret dan l-a˙˙ar Megalie. Ma tafx xi trid.
Kienu g˙adhom l-erbg˙a ta’ wara nofsinhar, imma bl-ajru mçajpar ma kienx ser idum
ma jidlam. Ma tistenniex a˙jar minn Diçembru. Ma tafx x’ser tag˙mel biha nnifisha.
27Hajja Salesjana
min jaf x’kienet g˙addejja minnu dik l-omm li tilfet
‘il Ωew©ha, missier ta’ tlitt uliedha!
Il-pudina lestietha, u mid-dehra ©iet tajba g˙ax
fwie˙a xxoqq l-istonku ˙ar©et mill-forn. Re©g˙et
bdiet tredden fuq George u kemm kien i˙obb il-
pudina, imma aktar minn hekk ftakret ukoll kif il-
fwie˙a ta’ l-ikel li ssajjar hi kellha ˙abta titla’ sa
fuq, u kif dik li ssajjar il-©ara dejjem tinΩel xi ftit
minnha ‘l isfel. Ta’ fuqha kienu da˙lu, semg˙et il-
passi u semg˙et ukoll il-biki tat-tnejn iΩ-Ωg˙ar, ta’
˙ames u tliet snin. Tg˙id waqg˙u? Forsi we©©g˙u?
Imma g˙aliex kienet qed tiffissa fuqhom? Minn
banda, mhux a˙jar ta˙seb fuqhom milli tibki ‘l
George.
Ìie x’jg˙idilha li setg˙et taqta’ biçça mill-
pudina u tag˙tihielhom biex iduquha. Sa ma
©ratilhom id-diΩgrazzja kienu biss isellmu ‘l xulxin,
imma dan l-a˙˙ar ˙asset li setg˙et tg˙id xi kelma
lil dik il-povra armla, turiha li g˙allanqas hemm hi
li tifhimha. Iva, tag˙tiha biçça pudina.
Skantat u nfixlet l-armla Maria x˙in ratha
hemm fuq. Stednitha tid˙ol. It-tfal daru mag˙ha
u riedu biçça. L-omm fakkrithom li g˙adhom ma
kilux, a˙jar i˙alluha g˙ad-deΩerta, meta dritt
wie©bet TereΩa, il-kbira ta’ seba’ snin: “Ma, int
g˙adek kif g˙edtilna li m’hemmx ikel g˙al-lejla,
xi tridna nieklu?” Sadattant, it-tfal daru mal-platt
tal-pudina u bdew inaqqru u b’idejhom jaqtg˙u
biççiet minnha kif kienet g˙adha ta˙raq.
Megalie ˙assitha imbarazzata. X’suppost li
kellha tag˙mel? Titlaq bla kliem xejn? Tag˙mel
tabirru˙ha li ma semg˙etx xi ntqal? Iddeçidiet.
“Ara, Maria, inΩlu lkoll mieg˙i isfel. G˙andi borma
minestra li sajjart dalg˙odu u ... hemm il-qastan
imbuljuta, naqsmu kollox . Ejjew, ejjew mieg˙i.”
“Le, ma tarax sinjorina ... ma tarax ... x’ji©ifieri
...” “Ibda biex jien jisimni Megalie, it-tieni ... ejjew...
il-veru tag˙tuni pjaçir jekk nieklu flimkien illejla.
Intom we˙idkom u ftakar li jien ninsab wa˙di
wkoll; int g˙andek tlitt itfal u jien m’g˙andi ‘l
˙add; nixtieq ng˙addi l-lejla mag˙kom u ng˙idu
kelmtejn bejnietna. Barra minn hekk kont qed
inlesti l-grotta bil-pasturi u lanqas biss kelli qalb
inkompli. Forsi t-tfal ... min jaf ... it-tfal jie˙du
pjaçir jekk jg˙inuni biex inlestuha. Imxi, itfi dik il-
bozza, ©ib iç-çavetta ˙alli ninΩlu.”
Bilkemm riedu jemmnu li kienu saru l-g˙axra
ta’ billejl x˙in it-tfal ˙assewhom g˙ajjenin u
xtaqu jitilg˙u. Kienu naddfu l-kçina flimkien u
Megalie bdiet t˙ossha li xtaqet timtedd. L-iljieli
g˙aliha kienu saru torturi, ta˙seb u tibki, thewden
u tolfoq. Imma dik il-lejla ˙assitha mod ie˙or.
Ma kien ©ara xejn li jibdlilha l-burdata ˙aΩina li
kienet fiha ftit sig˙at ilu; ˙lief li niΩlu dawk ta’
fuq. Ftakret li lanqas ir-ruΩarju ma kienet g˙adha
qalet, iΩda ˙assitha g˙ajjiena ferm. Da˙let fis-
sodda u fi ftit minuti raqdet. Raqdet! Xi grazzja
mis-sema li torqod lejl b˙al dak. Stag˙©bet x˙in
qamet u ˙arset lejn l-arlo©© u rat li kienu s-sitta
ta’ filg˙odu.
Bdiet tiftakar kull ma kien ©ara filg˙axija.
Kemm ˙adu gost dawk it-tfal jilag˙bu bil-pasturi
u jirran©aw il-grotta, waqt li Megalie u Maria fet˙u
qalbhom ma' xulxin. Aktarx li t-tfal g˙al ftit minuti
nsew id-dulur kiefer tan-nuqqas ta’ missierhom.
Fi Ωmien il-Milied kull dulur t˙ossu doppju. It-tfal
xtaqu li waqt li kienu quddiem il-grotta jkantaw
l-innijiet tal-Milied li tg˙allmu l-iskola u l-MuΩew.
Dik il-lejla kienet tibda n-novena, jistg˙u jkantaw
l-innijiet tal-Milied kull lejla quddiem il-grotta. Dik
kienet ser tkun çelebrazzjoni speçjali bejniethom.
Maria qaltilha li ratha an©lu, an©lu li b’xi grazzja
speçjali ©ab tbissima fuq wiçç uliedha barra mill-
fatt li temg˙athom ukoll.
Xi praspar ukoll! Kienet lejla mhux ippjanata.
Bdiet tammetti li mhux biss tat gost lil dawk
l-erba’ erwie˙ ta’ fuq; aktar minn hekk g˙al xi
ra©uni stramba, hi ˙assitha fer˙ana wkoll. Forsi
bdiet tfiq xi ftit! Mhux li kien ... mhux li kien ma
t˙ossx aktar dak il-vojt ©o qalbha! Indunat li
28 Hajja Salesjana
kienet ser ter©a’ tibda t˙ammem fuq George.
Le! Ma riditx ter©a’ tibda, Ωgur u Ωgur. Kienet ilha
aktar minn xahar tnewwa˙; issa wasal iΩ-Ωmien li
dderri xi ftit. F’salt wie˙ed ftakret fl-a˙˙ar darba li
kienu flimkien, il-famuΩ jum meta suppost marru
jixtru ç-çrieket ... bil˙aqq ... x’kienet g˙amlet b’dak
l-envelowp b’dawk l-erba’ mitt lira taç-çurkett?
Fejn kienet po©©ietu?
QabΩet minn ©os-sodda u bdiet tfittex f’kull
kexxun fejn soltu t˙alli xi flus, f’kull ˙endbeg li
kellha ... imkien. Mulej tal-˙niena! Tg˙id tilfithom
ma’ dik il-˙asda u f’dak l-inkwiet li kienet
g˙addejja minnu? X’nervoΩiΩmu qabadha! Dak
kien jonqosha issa! Ìie x’jg˙idilha biex tfittex
fil-but tal-kowt l-iswed li kienet libset dakinhar
... u b’g˙a©eb kbir tag˙ha sabithom hemm! Imma
kif lanqas biss ˙asbet fihom tul dawn l-a˙˙ar
©img˙at li mo˙˙ha kien imgerfex! Óar©ithom mill-
envelowp u baqg˙et t˙ares lejhom çass.
G˙aliha dawk il-flus qisha reb˙ithom. Ìieha
˙sieb ... baqg˙et fejn kienet quddiem il-mera
tal-gwardarobba u rat ir-rifless tag˙ha fil-mera
u stag˙©bet. Stag˙©bet g˙ax rat lilha nnifisha
titbissem, rat lilha nnifisha fer˙ana. Baqg˙et
titbissem g˙ax ˙sibijiet sbie˙ bdew g˙addejjin
minn rasha. Kien je˙ti©ilha tg˙a©©el g˙ax dalwaqt
tisma’ t-tfal wara l-bieb ta’ barra biex jag˙mlu
n-novena bil-kant ˙elu tag˙hom. G˙al dakinhar
kellha sorpriΩa lesta. Wara n-novena kienu ser
jer©g˙u jieklu hemm, xtrat pizez biΩΩejjed g˙al
kul˙add, u kien fadal il-pudina. Kellha seba’ mitt
sena sa ma tara dawk l-uçu˙ ˙elwin madwar il-
mejda. Dawk l-erbg˙a min-nies mhux biss kienu
da˙lu f’darha u mlewha, imma aktar importanti,
kienu da˙lu f’qalbha u re©g˙u tawha l-˙ajja.
Kellha eççitament li qatt qabel ma ˙asset.
Jumejn o˙ra l-Milied. Kellhom imorru g˙all-
quddiesa ta’ nofsillejl flimkien. Óejjiet kollox, u
kollox mo˙bi. G˙all-Milied mhux biss lestiet ikla,
imma ˙ar©et fin-nofs si©ra li ta˙tha kien hemm
bosta pakketti: tibdila ˙wejje© ©odda u par Ωarbun
g˙al kull membru mill-familja ta’ fuq, u somma
ta’ flus g˙all-omm ... kollox bi flus iç-çurkett li ma
kellhiex bΩonn ...
Kien Milied speçjali. Filg˙axija, wara li telaq
kul˙add, Megalie ntefg˙et bilqieg˙da fuq tapit
quddiem il-grotta u bdiet tkellem ‘il-Bambin:
“Çkejkna Tarbija, grazzi ta’ kemm g˙amiltni
fer˙ana. Bdejt biex nifhem xi ˙a©a. Veru li l-qalb
tg˙ix biss bl-im˙abba. Qabel kont xi ftit egoista,
kont na˙seb li jekk ma nirçevix im˙abba ma
nkunx kuntenta. Issa tg˙allimt li minflok nistenna
l-im˙abba minn ˙addie˙or nista’ nkun jien li
nag˙tiha ‘l-o˙rajn. Fuq kollox Int hekk g˙amilt,
hux veru?”
Damet hemm quddiem il-grotta, tgawdi dak is-
se˙er ta’ kuntentizza li kellha fuqha. Iva, damet
tixxotta d-dmug˙. Imma kien dmug˙ ta’ fer˙ u
m˙abba ... kellu jkun l-isba˙ Milied ta’ ˙ajjitha!
29Hajja Salesjana
L-ewwel ©urnata ta’ dan ix-xahar ta’
Novembru, il-Knisja ddedikatha lill-Qaddisin
Kollha, ji©ifieri lil dawk kollha li, skont
l-Apokalissi, «©ejjin mit-ta˙bit il-kbir u li
˙aslu lbieshom fid-demm tal-Óaruf», u li issa
qeg˙din igawdu lil Alla wiçç imb’wiçç.
Dak li beda din il-festa kien il-Papa San
Bonifaçju IV (AD 608 – 615) u din it-tifkira
tinΩamm fl-anniversarju tad-dedikazzjoni tal-
Pantheon, dik il-knisja f’Ruma li ©iet mibnija
g˙all-allat mill-Imperatur Agrippa fis-sena
27 qabel Kristu u li wara ©iet mog˙tija lill-
istess Papa Bonifaçju mill-Imperatur BiΩantin
Phoca.
Il-festa tal-Qaddisin kollha bdiet ti©i
ççelebrata barra minn Ruma fis-seklu IX u
sas-seklu XI kienet di©a’ mxerrda mad-dinja
kollha. Din kienet tkun festa kmandata.
F’dan il-jum jibda x-xahar ta’ Novembru, ix
–xahar mag˙ruf b˙ala tal-mejtin. L-g˙ada tal-
festa tal-Qaddisin Kollha l-Knisja tiddedikah
lill-erwie˙ tal-purgatorju, dawk ˙utna li
temmew il-˙ajja ta’ din l-art u li issa qeg˙din
ipattu fil-purgatorju jistennew sakemm
jitilg˙u fis-saltna ta-sema. Sa mill-bidu nett
tal-Knisja l-insara kienu jitolbu g˙all-mejtin.
Dan kien tkomplija ta’ dak li kienu jag˙mlu
l-Lhud qabel Kristu, g˙ax dawn ukoll kienu
jitolbu g˙all-mejtin (II Macc. XII, 43).
Hija drawwa ferm sabi˙a li ˙afna nsara
f’dawn il-jiem iΩuru ç-çimiterji biex jitolbu fuq
l-oqbra tal-qraba u l-˙bieb tag˙hom. F’dil-
©urnata, is-saçerdoti jistg˙u jqaddsu tliet
Quddiesat li ji©u applikati g˙all-erwie˙ tal-
purgatorju’.
L-G˙id tal-Imwiet ma kienx jeΩisti sa mill-
bidu nett tal-Knisja; dak li waqqaf dil-©urnata
kien San Odilone, wara li kellu xi viΩjonijiet,
fil-bidu tas-seklu XI. Id-devozzjoni xterrdet u
L-G˙id tal-Imwiet kien wasal biex ji©i mfakkar
mad-dinja kollha fis-seklu XII.
IL-GÓID TAL-IMWIET
Fiç-Çimiterju tal-Addolorata
Donnhom mexjin tnejn tnejn
kollhom ˙osbiena
Is-si©ar taç-çipress fuq art l-imwiet:
Óamra x-xemx nieΩla, u le˙en ta’ qanpiena
Donnu q’ed jibki u jikser dan is-skiet.
Qalb slaleb u oqbra li jitolbu ˙niena
Tg˙addi n-nies ˙iemda u jtennu xi talbiet :
« Mulej ag˙ti l-mistrie˙ lil min ˙alliena,
U lilhom jiddi d-dawl minn tas-smewwiet.”
Dlonk ˙sieb minn mo˙˙i jg˙addi u jfakkarni
F’xi w˙ud li jien ̇ abbejt, u d-dmug˙ f’g˙ajnejja
JaqbeΩ, u qalbi ddub f’˙asra qawwija.
Il-knisja tal-quççata imma ssabbarni,
Fejn Omm imnikkta b’Binha mejjet ˙dejha
Fuq l-oqbra ta’ kul˙add t˙ares Marija.
Dun Karm Psaila
L-Ewwel Jiem
ta’ Novembru
IL-LUPU FOST IN-NAGÓAÌ
Ìurnata wa˙da fi Frar tal-1886, Dun Bosco
qal lil Dun Mikiel Rua, is-segretarju tieg˙u
u dak li kellu jkun Superjur warajh, : “Trid
immorru sa Spanja, inΩuru d-Djar tag˙na?”
“Kif tixtieq int, g˙aΩiΩ Dun Bosco.”
“Tajjeb. Mela jaqbillek iΩΩomm ru˙ek lest.”
G˙addew xi sitta jew sebat ijiem, u darba
wa˙da, wara l-ikel, Dun Bosco qal lil Dun Rua,
“Ikteb lil Dun Branda (li kien id-Direttur tad-
Dar ta’ Sarria`, Barçellona) u staqsieh jekk
g˙amilx dak li g˙idtlu biex jag˙mel.”
“U jekk jistaqsini x’kien li kellu jag˙mel? Kif
ser inwie©bu?”
“Hu jaf x’kellu jag˙mel.”
U kif ! li kien jaf. Qalilna hu stess u fuq
©urament semmieh fil-proçess tal-
beatifikazzjoni ta’ Dun Bosco.
Stejjer Qosra fuq
Dun Bosco Qaddis
Me˙udin mill-Ktieb ta’ Claudio Russo: Don Bosco e il soprannaturale.
Il-Kardinal Vives Y Tuto`, li ddefenda l-kawΩa tal-kanonizzazzjoni ta’ Dun Bosco, kien
qal: “Matul ˙ajti eΩaminajt bosta kawΩi imma qatt ma ltqajt ma’ wa˙da tant mimlija
bis-soprannatural daqs din.” Il-Mulej kien g˙o©bu jg˙ani r-ru˙ ta’ Dun Bosco b’kariΩmi
speçjali, b˙al ma kienu li jkollu viΩjonijiet u ˙olm, li jara l-©ejjieni , jg˙id profeziji, u
jaqra fil-kuxjenza.
30 Hajja Salesjana
31Hajja Salesjana
Hawn hi l-istorja:
“Lejl wie˙ed, ma nafx eΩattament kif, smajt
min i˙abbat il-bieb tal-kamra tieg˙i. “Id˙ol”
g˙edt jiena. Imma ma wie©eb ˙add. Komplejt
ir-raqda, imma ner©a’ nisma min i˙abbatli
g˙at-tieni darba. Issa kont çert li kien hemm
xi ˙add u qomt nilbes. Mort nifta˙ il-bieb u
hemm nara il-figura g˙aΩiΩa ta’ Dun Bosco.
“Dan kif inti hawn?”staqsejtu mg˙a©©eb u
konfuΩ. “Kieku taf kemm hawn nies jixtiequ
jarawk! Imm’ a˙na xtaqna nag˙tuk mer˙ba
xierqa…”
Xtaqt ng˙idlu affarijiet o˙ra wkoll, imma
ma deherx li ried jisma’. B˙al wie˙ed li hu
mg˙a©©el qalli sabiex immur mieg˙u.
“Imma inti taf tmur?”
“Ejja, qed ng˙idlek.”
Beda miexi u jien warajh… Stag˙©ibt mhux
ftit meta rajtu miexi dritt lejn wie˙ed mid-
dormitorji tat-tfal u, dejjem miexi quddiemi,
urieni wie˙ed li kien rieqed.
“Qed tarah lil dan? Huwa lupu, u hemm bΩonn
li twarrbu. Óares lejh sew! Ma jist˙oqqlux
joqg˙od iktar mag˙na!”
Malli qalli hekk, ma deherx aktar. Jiena sibt
ru˙i f’kamarti, u malli fta˙t g˙ajnejja, g˙edt,
bejni u bejn ru˙i: M’n Alla li din kienet biss
˙olma. PerswaΩ minn dan, ma tantx tajtha
importanza. Iva, Ωammejt g˙ajnejja fuq dak
it-tali, imma ma ˙assejtx li kelli g˙alfejn
ninkwieta g˙al dak li kien ©ie muri lili b˙ala
lupu fost in-nag˙a©.
IΩda, malli rçevejt l-ittra ta’ Dun Mikiel Rua,
intba˙t li l-˙olma li kelli kienet viΩjoni. Mal-
ewwel obdejt dak il-kmand li kien tani Dun
Bosco f’dik il-˙olma.”
We met a little girl seven years ago, during one of
my daughter's occasional hospital stays. Her name
was Beth and she was my daughter's room mate
for a week. Beth was a very happy girl despite her
medical problems. Her long blonde curls always
seemed to bounce with her smile. The girls got
to know each other well and had become good
friends. On the pediatric floor of the hospital,
we saw many seriously ill children. It was so sad,
even though my daughter had an incurable kidney
disease and not a very good chance of living to
see old age herself. We always saw many children
with all kinds of cancer, and sadly enough Beth
was one of those children. She was doing two
weeks of chemo and radiation. I was amazed
at her will and determination to never give up
despite how very sick her treatments made her.
She was always concerned about my daughter
and the other children with cancer she grew to
know over her many hospital stays.
My daughter's IV treatments were done after
a week and I was happy to finally bring her home.
We were awaiting the final discharge orders when
Beth appeared from the other side of the curtain
that separated their beds. She said, "I want you to
have this. I know you need a new kidney, so keep
this angel pin with you till you get better. She will
watch over you so you smile all over. My friend,
John gave this to me to watch over me, but it's
time for this angel to watch over you. When you
get your new kidney and smile, you can give this
angel to someone that needs her too. I'm done
reading my book so here's my bookmark that has
a poem on it called, Don't Quit!, I know it by heart
anyhow."
A Gift from the Heart
Story by Bonnie, A Heartprint Original
32 Hajja Salesjana
This is a story about a child that saw the importance of giving and never thought about giving up.
Some may think a child isn't old enough to carry enough wisdom to teach us all a lesson in living.
But I've learned a heart grows from life's many challenges and sometimes a child's challenges can
be far greater than some adults.
33Hajja Salesjana
My daughter thanked her and the girls
exchanged hugs and big smiles. I knew, we may
never see Beth again, but we never forgot the gift
she gave from her heart that day. During that year,
we found out Beth has passed away. It was so sad
to know such a beautiful little girl was no longer
bouncing smiles to everyone she would meet. Her
sincere kindness will stay with us forever.
We kept that angel for six more years. My
daughter had gone beyond what medical journals
had studied and expected from her disease. Was
it the angel watching over her or pure luck? My
daughter ended up on kidney dialysis for over
a year, and one month after almost loosing her,
a kidney became available and she received a
transplant. My heart tells me, an angel upstairs
was watching with a loving smile. My daughter
had kept that angel pin and now she felt it was
time to give it to someone who needed watched
over till they could smile again. She gave it to
an elderly man trying to overcome the damage
from heart problems and undergoing extensive
therapy. His family has informed us, that when
he returns home he wants to give the angel to
someone he knows suffering from a brain tumor.
How many families and hearts this angel has
touched no one knows for sure. But all it took was
one single gift of kindness that has and will touch
an endless amount of hearts forever.
So this Christmas season, look around and see
the gift that can't be bought. Create a tradition
with your children or maybe someone you love.
Make someone's day and do the unexpected, let a
friend know you care, or greet a stranger with a
warm smile. Give the gift that keeps on giving. It's
open twenty-four hours a day, three hundred and
sixty-five days a year, it's a gift from your heart.
After all, isn't that what Christmas is all about?
34 Hajja Salesjana
“A good priest is a truly human person who
expresses his love for God in prayer and in
love for people. These gifts are sanctified
and focused through the grace of ordination
when he becomes ‘a man for others’.”
Cardinal Cormac Murphy – O’Connor
• Do I really want to follow Jesus and show
his love to others, especially to the young,
as Don Bosco did?
• Is prayer and my own relationship with God
at the centre of my life?
• Do I want to be honest and ‘real’ before
God and others?
• Do I enjoy the life and company of other
people? Am I approachable?
• Am I concerned for the young, the poor
and vulnerable?
If you believe you have a calling to be a
Salesian priest then contact the voca-
tions director, Fr. Louis Grech SDB at:
Tel. 21 454546 / 21 456251
or e-mail: vocations@salesiansmalta.org
for more information
www.vocations.salesiansmalta.org
way of life?
Are you
being calledto the
PRIESTHOOD
And to the
SALESIAN
jj l j
Testmenti
BorΩa ta’ Studju
€
NEWSPAPER POST ST.PATRICK’S SCHOOL, ST. JOHN BOSCO STREET, SLIEMA 1925
“NiΩel mis-smewwiet g˙alina l-bnedmin
u g˙all-fidwa tag˙na;
u ˙a l-©isem bis-setg˙a tal-iSpirtu s-Santu
min Marija Ver©ni u sar bniedem.”
Il-Komunità Salesjana ta’Malta
flimkien ma’ dawk kollha li ja˙dmu fl-Uffiçju
ta’Óajja Salesjana jixtiqulkom kull risq u barka
fil-©ranet tal-Milied li ©ejjin u s-Sena t-Tajba.
