Hajja Salesjana SETTEMBRU-OTTUBRU 2010il-216 Óar©a
Salesian Brigade: 100 sena ta’ attività kontinwa
John Henry Newman: Appostlu tal-Konvertiti
New Light on the Shroud
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: Billi din is-sena ja˙bat iç-çentenarju tas-Salesian Brigade, u billi l-istrenna tar-Rettur Ma©©ur tg˙idilna “Nwasslu
il-Van©elu liΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙”, ir-ritratt tal-qoxra juri mumenti fil-˙ajja tas-Salesian Brigade.
Il-Pellegrina©© ta’ Turin 7
A Healing Experience 9
Triq Nru. 7 10
Salesian Bishops 11
John Henry Newman:
Appostlu tal-Konvertiti 12
Blessed Michael Rua (4) 14
Malta Salesjana 20
Dejjem Ìo Qalbna 22
New Light on the Shroud 23
Salesian Brigade
100 sena ta’ attività kontinwa 26
Tunisia Experience 28
Who Holds My Hand... 29
Don Bosco fis-Santi u kartolini (4) 30
Alla, G˙ani fil-Óniena 33
Editorjal / Pedago©ija / Caledar of events /
Something to think about / Marian Apparitions
3Hajja Salesjana
editorjal
ARMONIJA
... meta nibdew na˙sbu g˙al-
rasna, tibda tonqos l-armonija
u jibdew l-istonaturi
Dan l-a˙˙ar kelli l-˙in li nattendi g˙al kunçert
mill-Orkestra Filarmonika ta’ Malta, ta˙t it-tre©ija
ta’ Christopher Muscat, ©ewwa l-BaΩilika ta’
Maria Bambina, l-Isla. Barra l-g˙aΩla sabi˙a ta’
biççiet sagri li ndaqqew, ˙a©a li g˙o©bitni ˙afna
kienet l-armonija li kienet teΩisti fl-eΩekuzzjoni
ta’ dawn il-biççiet tant sbie˙ u mag˙rufin. Fl-
orkestra kien hemm madwar 50 ru˙ idoqqu tant
strumenti differenti, iΩda, ilkoll f’armonija wa˙da,
qbil assolut li bil-fors jpaxxi l-widnejn u j©ieg˙lek
tapprezza li hawn tant nies b’talent muΩikali li
kapaçi f’kuncert jag˙tu tant pjaçir.
Il-kelma ‘Armonija’ hija assoççjata mad-
daqq tal-muΩika iΩda ˙afna drabi wkoll tintuΩa’
f’relazzjonijiet ta’ bejnietna l-bnedmin. Kemm hu
importanti li bejnietna jkun hemm din l-armonija.
Kul˙add g˙andu l-parti tieg˙u xi ‘jdoqq’ iΩda hu
importanti li b˙al muΩiçisti, kul˙add jag˙mel ˙iltu
biex iΩomm l-armonija ta’ bejnietna. Ûgur li jekk
kull muΩiçist ifettillu jmur g˙ar-rasu ming˙ajr ma
jΩomm mar-ritmu u g˙ad- direzzjoni tas-surmast,
minflok armonija jkun hemm biss stonaturi. U
hekk ji©ri fil-˙ajja tag˙na ta’ kuljum meta tonqos
bejnietna l-armonija. Minflok jirrenjaw qbil, paçi u
serenità, jibda ˙afna diΩgwid u stonaturi li minflok
jg˙inuna biex ng˙ixu ˙ajja trankwilla u fer˙ana,
jitfg˙una f’ba˙ar ta’ nkwiet u ©lied. Kul˙add
g˙andu s-sehem tieg˙u x’jag˙ti. Forsi mhux dejjem
nsibuha façli g˙aliex hemm bΩonn nammettu li
f’kull persuna hemm xi ftit ta’ egoiΩmu. IΩda, tkun
˙asra jekk qatt ikun hemm xi muΩiçist li jfettillu
ja˙seb g˙al-rasu waqt l-eΩekuzzjoni ta’ xi biçça
muΩika, biex juri kemm jaf, g˙aliex Ωgur jo˙loq
stonaturi kbar. Hekk ukoll fil-˙ajja tag˙na ta’
kuljum, meta nibdew na˙sbu g˙al-rasna, tibda
tonqos l-armonija u jibdew l-istonaturi. Ikun
hawn li l-˙ajja nibdew nag˙mluha tant diffiçli g˙al
xulxin, tibda tirrenja l-firda, il-pika, l-g˙ejra, il-
mibeg˙da minflok armonija li ©©ib fer˙ u g˙aqda.
G˙alhekk importanti li kull persuna tag˙mel
˙ilitha kollha biex l-ewwel ˙a©a tkun f’armonija
mag˙ha nnifisa, li taççetta lilha nnifisa kif inhi,
iΩda ukoll li tag˙mel ˙ilitha li ti©©ieled kull forma
ta’ egoiΩmu ©ewwa fiha. Jekk nibdew minn hawn
allura hemm çans tajjeb li ng˙ixu f’armonija
ma’ dawk ta’ madwarna, li nkunu wkoll kapaçi li
naççettaw lil kul˙add bit-tajjeb u l-˙azin li hemm
fina lkoll. Ma nistg˙ux nistennew li kul˙add idoqq
l-istess nota. F’orkestra hemm ˙afna strumenti,
kollha b’noti differenti, iΩda meta jindaqqu
f’daqqa, f’armonija, allura kull ma jinstema jkun
biss ˙oss wie˙ed li jpaxxi l-widnejn u jag˙ti pjaçir
lil min qieg˙ed jisma’. J’alla fil-˙ajja tag˙na jkollna
l-˙ila nsibu din l-armonija g˙aliex b’hekk biss
nistg˙u nkunu tassew kuntenti u nkunu qeg˙din
nag˙tu sehemna g˙al dinja a˙jar.
Fr. Alfred Sacco SDB
4 Hajja Salesjana
editorial
Harmony
... when we start being egoists:
life’s melody diminishes and
things get distorted
Some time ago I went for a concert at the
Basilica of Our Lady in Senglea, given by the
Malta Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Mro.
Christopher Muscat.
I liked the programme of nice, well known,
sacred pieces, but more than that I was
struck by the harmony that flowed from their
execution. There were about fifty musicians
playing different instruments, who together, with
absolute precision, produced one single harmony
which could not but please the audience. It
makes one appreciate the fact that there are so
many talented musicians capable of giving such
pleasure.
The word harmony is mostly associated with
music, but it may also be used to describe human
relations. For this harmony to exist amongst us,
each and every one of us has a part “to play” and
it is important that, like musicians, we all make
an effort to keep harmony amongst us. If the
musicians were to go it alone, without rhythm or
direction, the resulting cacophony would sound
chaotic. In our life too, when harmony is absent,
our peace, understanding, and serenity will
be replaced by confusion, anger and noise and
instead of living a peaceful and happy life, we will
have created a sea of trouble and fighting.
Everyone has his part to play; and it might not
always be easy because, one has to admit that
there is some egoism in every person. However
it would be a great pity if there were to be a
“musician” who went his own way during the
execution of a piece, just to show off, as this
would certainly create mayhem. The same thing
happens in our daily life when we start being
egoists: life’s melody diminishes and things get
distorted. It is then that life becomes unbearable
for many, that disunity, separation, pique and
hate come to the fore instead of harmony which
brings joy and unity.
It is therefore important that, first and
foremost, every person does his level best to
get rid of any egoism and create harmony within
himself. If we all start doing this, then there will
be a great possibility of living harmoniously with
those around us, and to be able to accept others,
in spite of all their failings. The same way as I was
struck by this orchestra where each instrument,
although played in a particular way, produced a
harmonious sound which delighted our ears and
gave pleasure to all of us who were listening.
How wonderful it would be if we were all to
live in such harmony. It would make us really
happy and we will have played our part in creating
a better world.
Fr. Alfred Sacco SDB
5Hajja Salesjana
PEDAGOÌIJA
Salesjana
Kummenti fuq li Strenna 2010:
Il-Van©elu liΩ-Ûg˙aΩag˙
Minn Pascual Chavez – Trad. Joe Cini
‘Ìesù tela’ fuq l-g˙olja, u sejja˙ lejh lil dawk li ried.
Huma resqu lejh, u hu g˙aΩel tnax li semmiehom
appostli biex jibqg˙u mieg˙u u biex jibg˙athom
jippridkaw, u jkollhom is-setg˙a li jkeççu x-xjaten’
(Mk 3, 13-15). Dan jinsab fl-erba’ Van©eli b˙ala xi
˙a©a li Ìesù g˙amel fil-bidu tal-˙ajja pubblika
tieg˙u. Dan juri li l-Bxara t-Tajba hija marbuta ma’
komunità li fiha d-dixxiplu jg˙ix ma’ Ìesù u jaqsam
fil-missjoni tieg˙u. Fil-qalba tad-dixxipulat u
l-mixja wara Kristu dejjem insibu laqg˙a persunali
mieg˙U li tbiddel il-˙ajja. Xi drabi Ìesù sej˙ilhom
waqt ix-xog˙ol : ‘Waqt li kien g˙addej ma’ xatt
il-ba˙ar tal-Galilija lema˙ lil Xmun u ‘l ˙uh Indrì
qeg˙din ikalaw ix-xbiek fil-ba˙ar, g˙ax kienu
sajjieda. U Ìesù qalilhom: Ejjew warajja u nag˙mel
minnkom sajjieda tal-bnedmin’ (Mk 1, 16-18).
L-istess ji©ri minn Ìakbu u Ìwanni (ibid vv19-20).
G˙al kuntrarju, Mattew jissejja˙ waqt li kien fid-
dwana (Mt 9, 9). F’din il-g˙aΩla tad-dixxipli hemm
‘kriterju’ fl-a©ir ta’ Alla: il-˙sibijiet tieg˙u ma’
humiex il-˙sibijiet tag˙na (ara Is 55,8). Dan insibuh
diversi drabi fl-Antik Testment, per eΩempju fil-
g˙aΩla ta’ David: ‘Il-bniedem i˙ares lejn is-sura ta’
barra, imma l-Mulej i˙ares lejn il-qalb (cfr 1 Sam
16,7). Kien ©ara l-istess ma’ Abraham, xi˙ u bla tfal,
ma’ Mosè, xi˙ u jtemtem, ma’ Ìeremija, Ωag˙Ωugh
u ming˙ajr esperjenza...ma’ Marija!
Is-Sej˙a
Jekk iseJJaÓlek, m’inti ser issib qatt mistrieÓ (Charles Péguy).
6 Hajja Salesjana
Fil-Van©elu nsibu d-diversi tipi ta’ nies
mag˙Ωula: xi w˙ud huma sajjieda, l-ewwel wie˙ed
Pietru u ̇ uh Indrì, ulied Ûebedew. Imma hemm ukoll
Pubblikan, Mattew – Levi, u o˙rajn li jappartjenu
g˙all-partit g˙adu tieg˙u b˙al Xmun ‘l-im˙e©©e©’
(Lk 6,5), u Natanael li jistmerr lil Galilin (Ìn 1,45s).
Diffiçli ssib grupp aktar mifrux. Lit-Tnax, wie˙ed
jista’ japplikalhom l-kliem ta’ San Pawl: ‘Qisu min
minnkom kien imsejja˙. G˙ax ma humiex ˙afna
fostkom li huma g˙orrief skond il-qjies tad-dinja,
ma humiex ˙afna s-setg˙ana, ma humiex ˙afna
n-nobbli’ (1 Kor 1,26). Fil-kas ta’ Xmun Pietru, Luqa
juri il-‘faqar’ ta’ dak li kellu jsir il-kap tal-appostli,
meta ma rnexxiex fix-xog˙ol proprju tieg˙u ta’
sajjied (Lk 5,4-10). Mela jekk ner©g˙u mmorru
g˙all-kliem ta’ San Mark, id-dixxipulat jirrekjedi
g˙ixien ma’ Ìesù, s˙ubija u ˙biberija mieg˙U u
sehem fil-missjoni tieg˙U: ix-xandir tas-Saltna ta’
Alla flimkien ma’ sinjali li juru lilha tassew.
Kif g˙andna nifhmuh dan id-dixxipulat li
Ìesù jsejja˙ g˙alih? Fi Ωminijietna, il-mixja wara
Ìesù ˙adet xejra bibblika u teolo©ika qawwija. Fi
Ωmien Ìesù kwaΩi ˙add ma jitlob li jkun dixxiplu
tieg˙u: ‘Mhux intom g˙aΩiltu lili imma jiena g˙aΩilt
lilkom’(Ìw 5,6). Barra minn dan, li timxi wara Ìesù
jfisser t˙alli kollox: dak li g˙andek, xog˙lok, il-
familja... Óadd ˙lief Alla ma jista’ jitlob li wie˙ed/
wa˙da jinqata’ mill-˙wejje© l-aktar sagri tal-˙ajja:
‘Min i˙obb lil missieru jew lil ommu iΩjed minni ma
jist˙oqqlux li jkun mieg˙i; min i˙obb lil ibnu jew
lil bintu iΩjed minni ma jist˙oqqlux li jkun mieg˙i
(Mt 10, 37-38). Ippermettuli hawn nag˙mel paragun
maç-çirkustanza li b˙ala Familja Salesjana g˙adna
kemm iççelebrajna: il-150 anniversarju tat-twaqqif
tal-Kongregazzjoni tag˙na. Dun Bosco kien sejja˙
madwaru grupp ta’ Ωg˙aΩag˙ sabiex ‘joqog˙du
mieg˙u’ u mieg˙u jaqsmu l-missjoni li Alla kien
afdalu: is-salvazzjoni tat-tfal u Ωg˙aΩag˙ fqar
u abbandunati. G˙al dan il-grupp Ωg˙ir nistg˙u
napplikaw il-kliem ta’ San Pawl lill-Korintin (1 Kor
1,26): ma kienx hemm g˙alihom xi prospettivi kbar;
biΩΩejjed niftakru li d-Direttur Spiritwali ta’ dis-
Soçjetà ©dida kellu biss 22 sena, Mikiel Rua! Dun
Lemoyne, fil-‘Hajja ta’ Dun Bosco’ kiteb li: ‘Kienu
kollha Ωg˙aΩag˙ u kellhom quddiemhom g˙aΩla
ta’ ˙ajja, b’fiduçja biss f’Dun Bosco.’ Xi whud ma
kienux çerti. ‘Aktar minn wie˙ed gerger: Dun
Bosco jrid jag˙milna kollha patrijiet.’ (AGC 404, 10).
Ir-risposta taΩ-Ωag˙Ωug˙ Giovanni Cagliero, ‘Patri
jew mhux, jiena ma’ Dun Bosco nibqa’, tfakkarna
fir-risposta ta’ Pietru lil Ìesù: ‘Mulej, g˙and min
immorru? Int g˙andek il-kliem tal-˙ajja ta’ dejjem’
(Gw 6, 68). U huwa lil Ìesù li Cagliero jixtieq jag˙ti
˙ajtu, b˙all-o˙rajn kollha; u g˙alihom, Dun Bosco
huwa fil- prattika l-le˙en ta’ Alla u tal-missjoni li
Hu jrid jafdalhom.
... li timxi wara Ìesù jfisser t˙alli kollox ...
7Hajja Salesjana
Minn dak inhar ‘l hawn dejjem bqajt nixtieq li
mmur Turin u nara fejn bdew l-g˙eruq Salesjani, u
meta qaluli li sejrin jibag˙tuni, tg˙idx kemm ˙adt
gost. Malli rajna d-data tat-tluq indunajna li kien ser
ja˙bat l-G˙id il-Kbir, kif ukoll g˙eluq snini!
Dakinhar qomna kmieni u tlaqna g˙all-ajruport.
Wasalna hemm fis-sitta u nofs ta’ filg˙odu u sibt lil
xi ftit minn s˙abi di©à hemm. Kont ˙erqan ˙afna
biex nitla’ fuq l-ajruplan u nibda dan il-vja©©. Fil-fatt
dawk il-ftit sig˙at rajthom ma jridu jg˙addu b’xejn.
Meta fl-a˙˙ar tlajna fl-ajruplan kelli seba’ mitt sena
biex naslu sa Malpensa u nibdew l-avventura tag˙na
barra minn Malta.
Mal-wasla tag˙na morna sa Becchi u rajna fejn
Don Bosco g˙ex sakemm kellu 16-il sena, kif ukoll
id-dar ta’ ˙uh li ©iet mibdula f’muΩew. EΩatt wara
morna nqaddsu l-quddiesa tal-G˙id fil-kappella
ta’ Marija G˙ajnuna tal-Insara li, fl-opinjoni tieg˙i,
kienet l-isba˙ quddiesa li kellna kemm domna Turin.
It-tieni ©urnata kienet ©urnata li fiha g˙ajjejna u
˙adna ̇ afna gost fl-istess ̇ in. Morna mixja mill-Colle
sa Mondonio, il-post fejn kien miet San Domenico
Savio. Minn hemm bqajna sejrin sa Murialdo u wara
lejn Capriglio fejn g˙exet Mamma Margherita. Matul
it-triq kien hemm ˙afna tajn u kul˙add spiçça bl-
islipper ma˙mu© u l-qalziet imxammar. F’Capriglio
rajna skola Ωg˙ira fejn Father Sandro u Father Eric
re©g˙u spiççaw tfal! Dawn bdew jirreçtaw taparsi
qed jag˙mlu xi eΩami u l-ie˙or qed jipprova jikkopja!
(x’eΩempju tajjeb Father!)
Nhar it-Tlieta morna naraw il-kmamar ta’ Dun
Bosco u hemm, il-˙a©a li l-aktar laqtitni kienet
l-altar tal-estasi fejn Don Bosco kien iqaddes u waqt
il-konsagrazzjoni jinqata’ mill-art. Dakinhar rajna
wkoll il-BaΩilka ta’ Valdocco u tlajna fuq Superga
fejn kien ̇ abat ajruplan bit-tim tal-futbol tat-Torino.
L-g˙ada morna sa Riva Di Chieri fejn twieled
San Domenico Savio. F’dan il-post jiena bqajt
impressjonat bl-ammont ta’ Beati Salesjani riçenti.
Fil-fatt l-a˙˙ar wie˙ed miet fis-sena elfejn. Aktar
tard dakinhar morna nag˙mlu xi xiri ming˙and
il-˙anut tal-Juventus u mill-˙anut tal-Kappa fejn
g˙all-ewwel darba f’˙ajti ˙adt pjaçir nixtri!
Il-Óamis imbag˙ad g˙addejt l-aktar ©urnata li
˙adt gost fiha. Morna fuq il-muntanja Sestriere u
tg˙idx x’xalata g˙amilna bis-sil©. Father Sandro ma
damx ma ©ie ˙dejna, imma ma kinitx idea li ©ietu
f’rasu g˙ax tg˙idx kemm issuttajnih bis-sil© filwaqt
li Father Eric qag˙ad jid˙ak bih u je˙odlu r-ritratti!
L-a˙˙ar ©urnata li kellna hemmhekk, ji©ifieri il-
Ìimg˙a, morna naraw postijiet tas-sorijiet Salesjani
b˙al Mornese, fejn Don Bosco ltaqa’ ma’ Maria
Mazzarello g˙all-ewwel darba u Valponasca fejn
hija kienet ta˙dem fl-g˙elieqi. Ûorna wkoll l-in˙awi
ta’ Ìenova.
Fl-opinjoni tieg˙i din kienet l-isba˙ esperjenza
li qatt g˙ext u kieku jkolli ç-çans Ωgur li nara kif
nag˙mel biex ner©a’ mmur. Forsi, min jaf, sena o˙ra
nitilg˙u b˙ala familja jekk Alla jrid!
Il-Pellegrina©© ta’ Turin Andrej Calleja Form 4G
L-ewwel darba li smajt dwar il-pellegrina©© ta’ Turin kien fl-ewwel sena tieg˙i fl-
iskola ta’ Savio College. Kien ilni li staqsejt lill- ©enituri jekk nistax immur minn
dak inhar li smajt dwaru, iΩda huma qaluli li ma stajtx immur min˙abba li kont
g˙adni Ωg˙ir wisq biex insiefer wa˙di. Qaluli wkoll li meta nkun wasalt fil-form 3
jew fil-form 4 i˙alluni mmur g˙al din l-esperjenza jekk inkun g˙adni bil-˙sieb.
8 Hajja Salesjana
FeaStS & eVeNtS
SeP
teM
Ber
oCt
oB
er
No
VeM
Ber
CaleNdar oF SaleSiaN
2010
Read ˙ajja Salesjana on the website: www.salesiansmalta.org
Pictures of Don Bosco set to reflective music:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1dVsM9KAbw
For any other info about the Salesians: www.sdb.org
Salesians in Malta : www.salesiansmalta.org
(www.boscofest.org)
Wed 1 Sliema Salesian Cooperators’ Meeting at St. Patrick’s
Fri 3 First Friday Devotions at St. Patrick’s – 6.15 p.m.
Fri 10 Prayer Day for Salesian Missions.
Wed 22 Bl. G. Calasanz and Companions (Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War)
Fri 24 Commemoration of Mary Help of Christians. St. Patrick’s at 6.30 p.m.
Mon 27 Start of New School Year at Savio College and St. Patrick’s
Fri 1 First Friday Devotions at St. Patrick’s – 6.15 p.m.
Tue 5 Bl. Alberto Marvelli (Member of Salesian Family)
Wed 6 Sliema Salesian Cooperators’ Meeting at St. Patrick’s.
Fri 8 Savio College PTA Annual General Meeting
Sun 10 Prayer Day for Salesian Missions.
Wed 13 Bl. Alessandrina da Costa (Salesian Cooperator)
Fri 15 St. Patrick’s School celebrates Missions’ Day
Fri 22 Post-Savio College meeting with Past Pupils and Parents
Sun 24 Bl. Louis Guanella (Priest, collaborator of St. John Bosco)
Mon 25 Commemoration of Mary Help of Christians. St. Patrick’s at 6.30 p.m.
Fri 29 Bl. Michael Rua (First Successor of St. John Bosco)
29 – 31 International Congress on Don Rua at Generalate in Rome
1 – 3 Mid-Term Holidays
Wed 3 Sliema Salesian Cooperators’ Meeting at St. Patrick’s.
Fri 5 First Friday Devotions at St. Patrick’s – 6.15 p.m.
Wed 10 Prayer Day for Salesian Missions
9Hajja Salesjana
It was May 2008 when I was invited to the
screening of a film called The Life of Don Bosco
at the Salesian Oratory in Sliema. That day I was
hesitant to go, yet I kept the appointment to attend.
It was during the film when a particular scene
struck me, deeply, like a two-edged sword. I still
remember vividly Mamma Margherita who was
then at the Oratory helping Don Bosco. She went
out to the garden to hang up the clothes. Just
then our spirits met. Instantly, I felt a deep change
in all my senses. Tears trickled down my cheeks. I
was breathless. A sense of awe overwhelmed me.
Something had happened to me! It was as if I had
been struck by a bolt of lightning. I was feeling
embarrassed and did not want anyone to notice
my tears - not even my dearest husband sitting
next to me. I felt peaceful and serene. My first
thought was, “Mamma Margherita, you are simple
and illiterate. Yet you are noble hearted, silent,
hardworking and a loving mother to all! I want to
be like you.” She did not speak to me verbally but
her presence on screen penetrated my innermost
being. She had passed on her loving warmth to me.
I kept silent. I knew I had changed. I began to
feel better every day and so I gradually phased
out the pills I had been taking for such a long
time. By the beginning of July I was free from
my anxiety and depression and have remained
thus. Thank you Mamma Margherita! Bless us all.
A mother
A Healing Experience
For several years, I had been
taking anxiety pills. I used to be
very depressed.
10 Hajja Salesjana
“Minn fejn tg˙addi biex tmur Triq Nru.7, jekk
jog©˙bok?”
“SkuΩani ˙abib imma mg˙a©©el, m’g˙andix
çans infehmek.”
“X’imkien lil hemm ara...”
“Ma nafx ng˙idlek, imxi iktar u saqsi ‘l hemm
isfel ara, hemm xi nies...”
Imma ©o qalbi bdejt ng˙id, “ Ìo dan ir-ra˙al
˙add ma jaf xejn jew? Dan kif ˙add ma jg˙inek?’’
Er©ajt staqsejt, “Ara ˙abib...’’, qalli wie˙ed
liebes flokk u jeans iswed, “...inΩel din it-triq, dur
fuq il-lemin tieg˙ek, u g˙andek tara triq wiesg˙a u
mimlija dwal, ˙wienet u nies imxerrdin ‘l hemm u
‘l hawn. Dik hija t-triq li jfittxu ˙afna, ˙abib, mur u
ççekkjaha, g˙andha tog©˙bok tafx.’’
“Ejja! Fl-a˙˙ar kien hawn xi ˙add li jaf imur
man-nies! Mela nibdew mexjin...’’
Hekk kif wasalt f’din it-triq, kienet eΩatt kif
iddeskrivihieli dak ir-ra©el. Ifhem, ma tistax
tg˙idlu ikrah id-dawl li kien hemm, g˙o©obni.
Pero, li dejquni n-nies. Hekk! kienu wisq ming˙ajr
emozzjoni, qishom iddisprati, u dawk tal-
˙wienet jaraw kif jag˙mlu biex ibig˙ulek xi ˙a©a
minn tag˙hom. Ma nafx kellix nibqa’ hemm,
ma ˙assejtnix komdu. Wie˙ed ried itini b’forza
kbira qishom pajpijiet irqaq, mimlijin b’likwidu
u b’labra fit-tarf. Beda jg˙idli, “Iva isma’ darba
minni ˙abib, ˙u mqar wa˙da minnhom, mhux ˙a
jiddispjaçik, tie˙u pjaçir.’’ Kont sejjer ‘l hemm,
iΩda kif rani sejjer qabad u deffisli din il-labra,
“A˙˙˙...x’g˙amiltli?’’, iΩda imbag˙ad ˙assejt rasi
ddur u niftakar li waqajt ma’ l-art. Wara xi ˙in
stenba˙t. “Le din mhix it-triq li suppost ©ejt fiha,
ara xi ©rali, da˙˙akt in-nies bija. Bil˙aqq! Kif insejt!
G˙andi mappa fil-basket. Dik g˙andha turini, le?’’
Domt ˙afna nfittex. Imma kont qed in˙ossni
noqrob viçin lejha kuljum li jg˙addi. Kien hemm
˙afna toroq b˙al dik li sibt ru˙i fiha l-ewwel
©urnata, imma bdejt inwarrabhom, bdejt nimxi
biss mal-mappa. Ìurnata minnhom, vera ˙assejt li
kont qed nfittex g˙alxejn, iΩda f’˙in minnhom rajt
triq li kont g˙oddni l-anqas indunajt biha. Aktar
ta˙sibha xi sqaq milli triq. D˙alt f’din it-triq. Mall-
ewwel ˙assejt li l-arja kienet tikkalmak. Fit-tarf
tat-triq rajt bieb Ωg˙ir bajdani u mort in˙abbat.
Feta˙li Ωag˙Ωug˙ liebes libsa bajda. Wiççu u lbiesu
dehru jixeg˙lu. B’le˙en mill-isba˙ qalli, “G˙addi
˙abib, l-img˙allem g˙andu bΩonnok.’’ D˙alt u ma
˙assejtnix iΩjed vojt, anzi ntlejt bil-fer˙. Alla, g˙ax
hekk jismu l-img˙allem, g˙annaqni u qalli,
“Ibni, dik it-triq tal-bidu ma xtaqtekx tg˙addi
minnha, imma ˙allejtek liberu. IΩda issa taf int
stess x’toffri. Jiena biss huwa t-triq tal-verita’
u l-˙ajja. Min isib lili jg˙ix g˙al dejjem. Dawk in-
nies li inti ltqajt mag˙hom fil-bidu, m’g˙enukx, u
sa˙ansitra wie˙ed bag˙tek fit-triq tat-telfien, triq
sabi˙a fil-g˙ajn iΩda li ttelliflek il-paçi. Ibni, dawk
huma n-nies tad-dinja, li huma mog˙mija b’dak li
qieg˙da toffri d-dinja. U dik il-mappa li uΩajt int,
ma hija xejn ˙lief il-kmandamenti, g˙ax meta
mxejt mag˙hom, irnexxielek issibni. Kun imbierek
ibni, jien dejjem in˙obbok, l-g˙aΩla hija f’idejk biex
timxi warajja, fi Triq Nru.7.’’
Triq
Nru.
minn
Mark Anthony Schembri
Din kont ktibta fiÛ-Ûmien meta
kont nara Óafna minn sÓabi li kont
qeD noÓroÌ magÓhom ser JaqbDu
JitÓarbtu,u kont konxJu ta’ Dak li
qeD Jigri maDwari. hiJa storJa bi
Ósieb sPiritwali, u li fil-fehma tiegÓi
tgÓin biex tÓares iÛJeD ‘il quDDiem.
11Hajja Salesjana
Between 21 and 5 May in Turin, at the Mother
House, Salesian Bishops met the Rector Major,
Fr Pascual Chávez Villanueva, and the members
of his Council. The meeting, took place within a
series of anniversaries and other events. After
the 26 General Chapter held in 2008 the Salesian
Congregation is studying and developing its
fidelity to the charism of its founder and re-
launching its apostolic endeavours. It has been
helped in its efforts by the 150th anniversary of
the founding of the Congregation (1859-2009), the
centenary of the death of the first successor of
Don Bosco, Blessed Michael Rua, (1910-2010) and
the preparations for the bi-centenary of the birth
on Don Bosco in 2015. In particular, the meeting of
the Salesian Bishops follows the 125th anniversary
of the consecration of Bishop Giovanni Cagliero
(7 December 1884), the first Salesian Bishop and
Cardinal.
Of the 119 Salesian Bishops (of whom 5 are
Cardinals), 93 were present.
From Bishop John Cagliero until the present
there have been 243 Salesian Bishops.
Don Bosco was able to see one of his most
vivacious boys (Cagliero) clothed as a Bishop with
his violet cassock, mitre, pectoral cross, and ring...
to his great satisfaction. As the Congregation
Salesian Bishops
gradually grew and the Church needed new
pastors, his successors saw many others. While
Don Rua was Rector Major there were 3 Salesians
made bishops. Then under Fr Albera, second
successor of Don Bosco, there were 8 bishops and
another one appointed after his death and before
the election of his successor, Fr Rinaldi during
whose tenure there were 13. Under Fr Ricaldone
there were 33 bishops, and again another one
appointed after his death and before the election
of his successor. When Fr Ziggiotti was Rector
Major, there were 27 and under Fr Ricceri 28 new
ones. Fr Viganò had 60 Salesian Bishops, and two
more before the election of Don Vecchi when
27 new ones were consecrated and three again
before the election of Fr Chavez in 2002 – since
when there have been a further 36 appointed.
As far as the successive Popes are concerned,
the Salesians appointed and consecrated Bishops
were 3 under Leo XIII, 3 under Pius X, 6 under
Benedict XV, 24 under Pius XI, 35 under Pius XII, 14
under John XXIII, 30 under Paul VI, no one under
John Paul I, 102 under John Paul II and, up to now,
26 under Benedict XVI.
12 Hajja Salesjana
JOHN HENRY NEWMAN:
APPOSTLU TAL-KONVERTITI
13Hajja Salesjana
Fil-lejl tat-8 ta’ Ottubru 1845, fl-eqqel ta’
maltempata kbira, is-saçerdot Passjonista
Taljan Dun Domenico Barberi wasal
f’Littlemore, villa©© çkejken ftit ‘il barra
minn Oxford. Dun Domenico kien ©ie riekeb
fuq karozzin u kien imxarrab g˙asra. Id-
destinazzjoni tieg˙u kienet xi stalel mibdula fi
speçi ta’ dar, fejn il-predikatur anglikan famuΩ
John Henry Newman u xi ˙bieb tieg˙u kienu
qeg˙din jg˙ixu waqt li jixtarru r-rieda ta’ Alla
f’˙ajjithom. Hekk kif il-qassis missjunarju kien
qed jipprova jnixxef ˙wej©u quddiem in-nar,
Newman da˙al fil-kamra, resaq lejh u ntefa’
f’ri©lejh. Hu talab li jkun aççettat fi ˙dan “il-
mer˙la wa˙da u vera tar-Redentur’’ u talab
lil Dun Domenico sabiex jisma’ l-qrara tieg˙u
minnufih.
Il-qrara tkompliet il-©urnata ta’ wara, kif
g˙amlet ukoll dik taΩ-Ωew©t i˙bieb tieg˙u, u
filg˙axija lkoll g˙amlu l-istqarrija tal-fidi u
rçevew il-mag˙mudija kundizzjonali. Fl-10 ta’
Ottubru, dik il-mejda li fuqha Newman kien
qatta’ xi sentejn jew aktar jikteb il-manuskritt
On the Development of Christian Doctrine
serviet biex fuqha tqaddset il-quddiesa li
fiha Newman irçieva g˙all-ewwel darba
l-ewkaristija mqaddsa b˙ala Kattolku.
Newman, aktar tard, kien obbligat li j˙alli
daru f’Littlemore sabiex jing˙ata b’servizz
g˙all-Knisja. Huwa ma kienx aktar bniedem
Ωag˙Ωug˙ imma kellu esperjenza kbira;
g˙alkemm sew ˙biebu kif ukoll niesu tal-
familja mhux dejjem kienu jifhmuh. Wara xi
snin jokkupa l-poΩizzjoni g˙olja ta’ Fellow jew
sie˙eb fil-Kulle©© ta’ Oriel tal-Università ta’
Oxford, kif ukoll ja˙dem fi ˙dan il-moviment
kontroversjali Anglo-Kattoliku msejja˙
Oxford Movement, huwa beda jit˙ejja g˙as-
saçerdozju li ’l quddiem kellu jirçievi f’Ruma.
Newman wettaq dan kollu fis-skiet, ming˙ajr
daqq ta’ trumbetti, iΩda f’qalbu konvint li kien
˙a l-a˙jar deçiΩjoni. Ûmien wara, hu qal li wara
˙afna ra©unament, ried ikun çert li wasal g˙ad-
deçiΩjoni t-tajba. G˙alhekk hu sar mudell g˙al
˙afna o˙rajn biex iwettqu x-xewqa tag˙hom li
jaqbdu it-triq lejn Ruma u jsiru Kattoliçi.
L-elementi ta’ dik l-g˙axija ta’ Ottubru
1845 – il-maltempata, it-talba fuq l-irkobbtejn
u l-˙e©©a ©ewwa fih - li ©ieb flimkien dawn iΩ-
Ωew©t ir©iel minn sfond hekk differenti, ilkoll
swew b˙ala muftie˙ g˙all-˙ajja ta’ Newman.
Kemm b˙ala Anglikan kif ukoll b˙ala Kattoliku
kien i˙oss fih b˙al tempesta ta’ kontroversji.
G˙alkemm kien bniedem ta’ intellett qawwi,
hu g˙araf jissottometti l-g˙erf tieg˙u g˙al
dak tal-Knisja, speçjalment fil-mumenti tqal
ta’ meta ma kienx mifhum, kif ukoll f’dibattiti
ekkleΩjali mqanqla. Newman kellu wkoll
m˙abba kbira lejn Alla u din l-im˙abba kienet
tidher fis-servizz li kien jag˙ti g˙all-o˙rajn,
fil-˙idma pastorali fost in-nies, bil-˙sieb u bil-
kitba u bl-azzjonijiet tieg˙u kollha. Newman
huwa sikwit meqjus b˙ala l-Missier tal-Konçilju
Vatikan II.
f’ Dan ix-xahar ta’ settembru l-PaPa seJJer JagÓmel ÛJara fir-renJu unit. nhar
it-18 tax-xahar, Ìewwa Coventry, huwa Jibbeatifika lil John henry newman.
Dan il-beatu kien bnieDem gÓaref li kkonverta mill-ProtestanteÛmu, sar qassis
u wara kien Ìie magÓmul karDinal. inÌibu hawnhekk storJa mill-ÓaJJa tiegÓu
mill-kteJJeb ta’ meriol trevor, maqlub gÓall-malti minn Dun geoffrey g attarD.
14 Hajja Salesjana
Blessed Michael Rua (4)
WhILe STILL A Boy, MIChAeL RuA MeT
SAInT John BoSCo AnD WAS Soon Won
oVeR By hIM. he LIVeD In The ShADoW
oF The SAInT, WAS hIS MoST TRuSTeD
heLPeR, AnD BeCAMe hIS SuCCeSSoR
AS heAD oF hIS WoRLDWIDe ReLIGIouS
oRDeR, The SALeSIAn SoCIeTy.
DeCLAReD “BLeSSeD” By The ChuRCh
he So noBLy SeRVeD, FATheR MIChAeL
RuA, Who ShAReD Don BoSCo’S
APoSToLIC LABouRS, noW ShAReS
WITh hIM The honouRS oF The ALTAR.
look at the saint
During one of his visits to Sicily, Don Rua was
disconcerted by a little girl shouting “Look at the
saint; look at the saint!” Don Rua did share with
his founder a virile stout-hearted piety that found
expression in self-sacrifice for Christ’s Church.
“Coming out from Mass,” Father Vespigniani
remembers, “Don Rua greeted all of us Salesians
and boys with a glowing countenance and serene
smile; both arms extended as if wanting to take
the whole world in his embrace after the charity
of Christ.”
His prayer life was always profound and
intense. Besides this Eucharistic piety, his strong
devotion to Mary as Mother of the Christian
Church was prominent. At a Rome convention, Don
Rua once corrected a Salesian speaker. “How can
we possibly speak of Salesian expansion, without
singling out Mary’s powerful help?”
Yet one must return to a major theme of the
Scriptures to understand Don Rua’s particular
holiness at a deeper level: the concept of the Poor
Ones of Yahweh. After their return from exile, the
remnant of God’s people found their only hope in
an utter childlike dependence on the Lord; totally
abandoning their private plans for the future, to
be simple servants at the Lord’s beck and call. All
this was in contrast to the stiff-necked worldly
shrewdness and self-sufficiency that had once
led them to disaster. It was precisely this spirit
that Christ exalted in the Sermon on the Mount:
“Blessed are the Poor in Spirit.” It reached its
zenith in the Suffering Servant, who had totally
emptied his life of self-will, and in his Mother, who
as a lowly maid-servant would magnify her Lord.
Accordingly, only as a little child could anyone
gain the kingdom.
15Hajja Salesjana
In this light, all the accusations of Don Rua,
being a passive shadow, a second-string Salesian,
fade to nothing.
Miracles in Don Rua’s life there were too, but
usually of the charming, insignificant type which
we would come to expect from this self-effacing
man of God: multiplying toffees from a small
bag; asking a deaf man if he would become a
Salesian cooperator if cured; or ridding a convent
kitchen of ants by having them march in file to
an accommodating ditch nearby. There are many
more documented.
From 1885 onward, he had shouldered most
of the work for the aging Don Bosco. At his death
in 1888, the founder’s last words for his disciple
were “Don Rua, make yourself loved.” He would,
for certain.
taking the wheel
On paper one would have thought it was a
matter of simple succession; “Don Bosco is dead,
long live Don Rua.” For had not Cagliero earlier
declared, “Don’t call Don Rua Don Bosco’s right-
hand man: in fact he’s Don Bosco’s heart, head
and hands!” Besides with the unanimous consent
of his chapter, Don Bosco had actually drawn up
a document of succession. In practice, however,
it was far more complex than that. Not only had
the succession document been mislaid, but also
in 1888 Rome had its doubts about this newly
launched congregation with the wind in its sails
and an unproved newcomer at the wheel. So
much so that there was serious talk at the Curia
of merging the Salesians with an older, more
experienced religious order.
In his very first letter to the widespread
Salesian family, Don Rua clearly set out his
intended programme: “To maintain and develop
Don Bosco’s work while faithfully carrying on
the founder’s own familiar spirit and life style.”
Even so, Don Rua would have to trim his sails for
a time at least. “Slow down,” Pope Leo XIII had
good-naturedly advised, “you are expanding too
rapidly and sending mere boys as superiors to
South America.”
Despite this, during his 21 years as Superior
General, Don Rua would see the original 64
Salesian houses grow to 314, and the Salesians
themselves increase from 774 to 4,010. Such
increased manpower, Rua insisted, should be
diverted toward the children of the poor in
Oratory work.
“If you wish to save a poor neighbourhood,
open a festive Oratory. Even without grounds and
buildings, if you are real Salesians, the Oratory
will be in you.” His followers took him at his
word. In Seville, Spain, for example, the terrorized
citizens were relieved when, at a Salesian
brother’s prompting, over 500 youngsters laid
their slingshots at the foot of Our Lady’s statue.
Streetlights would now shine again, and the
district could sleep in peace!
16 Hajja Salesjana
Faced with new problems, Rua was not slow to
diversify the Salesian work: whether a school for
deaf children in Naples, a rehabilitation centre
for young offenders in Malta, a bike racing club in
Milan, or a Christian co-operative and trade union
centre in Switzerland.
He was too realistic, however, to be deceived
by mere numbers. “Don’t be deluded,” he wrote,
“by fictitious progress; only houses built on piety
and Christian conduct will flourish. Vocations
are always the only true index of progress and
God’s blessing. Music, drama, and sport are all
praiseworthy, but our chief aim is to sanctify
feast days by the teaching of catechism as our
unforgettable Don Bosco wanted us to.”
In that initial period, vigilance was essential
for the slightest sign of division. Church history
has shown too many young congregations split
down the middle by a simple fracture.
Darba San Ìwann Bosco kien qed jivvja©©a bil-
ferrovija u jit˙addet ma’ qassis ie˙or ma©enbu. Faççata
tag˙hom kien hemm Ωew© sorijiet. It-tnejn kienu semg˙u
xi ˙a©a dwar Don Bosco iΩda qatt ma kienu rawh qabel.
Xtaqu ˙afna li jkellmuh. Wa˙da minnhom bdiet t˙ares
minn ta˙t lejn Don Bosco biex ma t˙allihx jinduna biha.
Bejnha u bejn ru˙ha bdiet ta˙seb: “Imma dan veru Don
Bosco? … Kont na˙seb li hu xi ra©el twil u mbaççaç. Issa
qed nara li hu qassis komuni b˙all-o˙rajn. U din kif inhi,
li g˙andu par widnejn daqshiex!’’
Kien f’dal-˙in li Don Bosco beda jitkellem b’vuçi
kemxejn g˙olja. Beda jg˙id lill-qassis ta’ ˙dejh: “Darba
jien mort nie˙u ritratt u stag˙©ibt mhux ftit meta tawni
r-ritratt f’idejja. Kont dejjem na˙seb li jiena ra©el twil u
mbaççaç, imma rajt li jiena qassis ordinarju b˙all-o˙rajn.
U fuq kollox ittendejt li g˙andi par widnejn kbar daqs ta’
˙mar!’’
Dik is-soru saret ˙amra nar u kienet se tqum minn
postha meta Don Bosco qara ˙sieb ie˙or li hi kellha
f’rasha. Dar fuqha u saqsieha: “Inti sejra tg˙allem fl-
orfanatrofju tal-bniet?’’ Is-soru mistag˙©ba u mifxula
qaltlu: “Iva’’. Imma Don Bosco qalilha: “G˙andek Ωball;
inti sejra tg˙allem lis-subien u mhux lill-bniet’’.
Ftit ©ranet wara dik is-soru saret taf li tassew se
tg˙allem lis-subien u mhux lill-bniet. Minn dakinhar, is-
soru qatt ma ˙asbet aktar f’widnejn Don Bosco. Minflok
bdiet issemmi l-profeziji tieg˙u li b˙ala qassis kbir beda
jag˙mel. Dan kien S. Ìwann Bosco li huwa l-fundatur tas-
Soçjetà tag˙na s-Salesjani. Huwa g˙andu profeziji bil-
wisq aqwa u aktar importanti minn dawk li qal lis-soru.
Fil-˙olm misterjuΩ li kellu, Don Bosco kien jara l-futur
tieg˙u personali u dak tas-soçjetà tieg˙u. Fost affarijiet
o˙ra huwa ra l-ibliet ta’ Santiago, Valparaíso, Pekin,
Hong Kong, Calcutta u l-Madagascar fejn kellhom imorru
il-missjunarji tieg˙u! Kien jg˙id: “Ne˙tie©u l-missjunarji,
˙afna missjunarji…G˙al kull missjunarju, il-Mulej Ωgur li
jibg˙atilna Ωew© vokazzjonijiet tajba’’. L-ewwel grupp
ta’ missjunarji bag˙tu hu stess lejn l-Ar©entina nhar il-
11 ta’ Novembru 1875 ta˙t id-direzzjoni ta’ Don Giovanni
Cagliero, dak li darba kien wie˙ed mill-ewwel tfal imqarba
li kien ©abar u kabbar Don Bosco fl-oratorju tieg˙u.
Óafna drabi Alla jinqeda bin-nies komuni, umli,
dg˙ajfa… li f’g˙ajnejn id-dinja jitqiesu b˙ala ˙mir!
Par Widnejn
daqs ta’ Ómar
17Hajja 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
18 Hajja Salesjana
Something
to think about…
monday - wash Day
lord, help me wash away all my
selfishness and vanity, so i may
serve you with perfect humility
through the week ahead.
tuesday - ironing Day
Dear lord, help me iron out all
the wrinkles of prejudice i have
collected through the years so that
i may see the beauty in others.
wash Day...
19Hajja Salesjana
wednesday - mending Day
o god, help me mend my ways so i will
not set a bad example for others.
thursday - Cleaning Day
lord help me to dust out all the many
faults i have been hiding in the secret
corners of my heart.
friday - shopping Day
o god, give me the grace to shop wisely
so i may purchase eternal happiness for
myself and all others in need of love.
saturday - Cooking Day
help me, lord, to brew a big kettle of
brotherly love and serve it with clean,
sweet bread of human kindness.
sunday - the lord’s Day
o god, i have prepared my house for
you. Please come into my heart so i
may spend the day and the rest of my
life in your presence.
20 Hajja Salesjana
Malta Salesjana
ÛewÌ DJakni ÌoDDa - turin
24 studenti Salesjani mill-Kulle©© Internazzjonali tat-Teolo©ija f’Turin, li huma minn
tmin pajjiΩi differenti, ©ew ordnati Djakni mill-Kard. Severino Poletto, Arçisqof ta’
Turin. Dan ©ara’ nhar it-12 ta’ Ìunju, fil-BaΩilka ta’ Marija G˙ajnuna tal-Insara. Tnejn
minn dawn kienu s-Salesjani Maltin Gerald Mangion u Jeremy Vella. Dun Enrico
dal Covolo, Postulator Ìenerali g˙all-qaddisin tal-Familja Salesjana, u issa Rettur
tal-Università tal-Lateran, qara’ telegramm mibg˙ut mill-Kard. Tarcisio Bertone,
Segretarju tal-Istat tal-Vatikan u
Salesjan hu ukoll. Frs. Paul Formosa
u Savio Vella irrapreΩentaw lis-
Salesjani ta’ Malta meta ng˙aqdu
mal-familjari taΩ-Ωew© Djakni. Waqt
li nifir˙u u nawguraw liΩ-Ωew© Djakni
tag˙na f’din l-okkaΩjoni mportanti
ta’ ˙ajjithom, nitolbu wkoll g˙alihom
waqt li j˙ejju ru˙hom g˙all-jum kbir
ta’ meta jordnaw saçerdoti.
novizzi ÌoDDa - Dingli
Din is-sena il-Mulej g˙o©bu jbierek il-Provinçja
ta’ l-Irlanda bil-vokazzjoni ta’ Novizz, Sean
Feeney, u lid-Delegazzjoni ta’ Malta bil-
vokazzjoni ta’ Ωew© Novizzi ©odda, Pierre
Bonnici u Jake Mamo. Dawn ikunu flimkien
©ewwa n-Novizzjat ta’ Pinerolo qrib Turin fl-
Italja, min Settembru li ©ej. A˙na nitolbu sabiex
fuq l-eΩempju ta’ dawn it-tlieta, Ωg˙aΩag˙
o˙ra jkollom ir-rieda li jwie©bu g˙as-sej˙a ta’
l-Img˙allem u jimxu warajH. Nitolbu wkoll g˙al
dawn it-tlitt Novizzi sabiex jintxeg˙lu bl-Ispirtu
ta’ Dun Bosco fis-servizz lejn iΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ fil-
bΩonn, waqt li nawgurawlhom sena novizzjat
mimlija barka ta’ Alla.
21Hajja Salesjana
7 ta’ ÌunJu: Jum l-oratorJu- sliema
B˙ala parti mill-attivitajiet ta’ Jum l-Oratorju,
il-membri flimkien ma’ xi ©enituri, ˙adu sehem
f’log˙ob tal-ilma. L-organizzaturi ˙asbu sabiex
ikun hemm mat-13 il-log˙ba. Il-fer˙, id-da˙k, iΩ-
Ωlieq, il-frisk mill-ilma f’©urnata s˙una u l-˙afna
ilma kollha g˙inu sabiex ikun hemm atmosfera
ta’ briju u serenità li minnha qasmu dawk kollha li
˙adu sehem. Spirtu ta’ familja kien jirrenja matul
din l-okkaΩjoni li kienet tassew mimlija b’fer˙
Salesjan. Kull min ˙a sehem, Ωg˙ar, Ωg˙aΩag˙ u
adulti, kollha jistaqsu meta okkaΩjoni o˙ra b˙al
din ser ter©a’ ssir !
xogÓol fit-teatru salesJan
G˙al darb’o˙ra, il-Past Pupils tal-Oratorju ta’
Tas-Sliema, meddew g˙onqom g˙ax-xog˙ol
b’˙e©©a kbira u b’entuΩjaΩmu. Din id-darba wkoll
sar xog˙ol ferm siewi fit-teatru minn numru
ta’ voluntiera. Óa©a sabi˙a kienet li tara’ xi
Ωg˙aΩag˙ jaqsmu x-xog˙ol max-‘xju˙’ fl-akbar
ftehim sabiex kollox mexa sew u sar fiΩ-Ωmien
ippjanat. Dan g˙aliex kien hemm kordinazzjoni
s˙i˙a u ppjanar tajjeb. Dan ix-xog˙ol kien
jikkonsisti fi bdil ta’ madum fil-vestwarju t’isfel
u fil-‘Bar’, fi bdil ta’ armarji, g˙al darb’o˙ra fil-
vestwarju t’isfel, fi tqeg˙id ta’ sistema tad-dawl
©dida f’dawn il-kmamar u tibjid u Ωebg˙a fl-istess
kmamar. Prosit lil kull min ta sehem.
iÛ-ÛgÓar ta’ l-iskola – tunes
Nhar il-Ìimg˙a 18 ta’ Ìunju, l-Iskola tas-
Salesjani f’Manouba, Tunes, kella l-ewwel
kunçert minn tlieta li jsiru f’g˙eluq is-sena. Dan
kien il-kunçert tal-iΩg˙ar tfal li hemm fl-iskola.
Kull wa˙da mill-erba’ klassijiet ippreΩentat
xi kanzunetti u reçti qosra, li kienu tassew
˙elwin. Imma dawk li ntog˙©bu l-aktar kienu
l-grupp taΩ-Ωeffiena flimkien. Lilhom kienu li
l-©enituri çapçpu l-aktar. Ippreparati tassew
tajjeb mill-g˙alliema tag˙hom u b’dixxiplina
kbira, Ωifnu b’gost g˙alihom infushom waqt li
ferr˙u lill-udjenza numeruΩa li kien hemm. Il-
©enituri huma ferm sodisfatti bil-progress ta’
wliedhom fl-iskola tas-Salesjani.
22 Hajja Salesjana
Fir-ritratt jidhru (mix-xellug) Charles Mifsud (Sydney); Paul De Bono (ex-Melbourne); Marlene Dimech (Sydney);
Marthes Ryan and Paul Camilleri (both Melbourne); Lawrence Dimech oAM and Alfred Fenech oAM (both Sydney).
Dejjem Ìo Qalbna
Kull emigrant li ji©i jΩur lil art twelidu, i˙obb imur
f’dawk il-postijiet li fihom ikun qatta’ xi snin ta’
tfulitu: il-belt jew ir-ra˙al, l-iskola, il-MUSEUM,
l-Azzjoni Kattolika, il-knisja parrokkjali, eçç. Dawk
l-emigranti li kienu g˙exu fin-na˙iet ta’ Tas-
Sliema u li kienu ji©u s-Salesjani jew kienu tfal
fl-iskola ta’ St. Patrick, ma jonqsux li ji©u jΩuru
dawn il-postijiet. Fihom isibu Salesjani “©odda’’,
u allura jibdew isaqsu g˙al dawk is-Salesjani li
huma jiftakru. Jie˙du gost jiltaqg˙u mag˙hom,
jekk ikunu g˙adhom ˙ajjin, jew inkella jitkellmu
fuqhom malli jsiru jafu li dawk marru g˙and il-
Mulej. Meta ji©u f’dawn id-djar Salesjani, jibdew
ukoll jiftakru fik id-dar kienet mod ie˙or fi
Ωmienhom, u ˙allihom jiddeskrivu x’kienu jag˙mlu
hawn, kemm kienu jilag˙bu hemm, fejn kienu
jistudjaw jew jitg˙allmu l-katekiΩmu.
Bog˙od minn Malta g˙ad baqg˙alhom xi ˙a©a
li tfakkarhom fi tfulithom, u din hija il-Bullettin
Salesjan (˙ajja Salesjana). Huma jirçevuh u
jaqrawh b’interess kbir. G˙al xi whud mill-Past
Pupils imsefrin, dan sar issa l-unika ˙olqa mal-
post ta’ tfulithom u mas-Salesjani ta’ Malta. Hu
g˙alhekk li meta ji©u ©ewwa St. Patrick, fejn
jinsab l-uffiççju ta’ ‘˙ajja Salesjana’, huma j˙obbu
jg˙addu sa dan l-uffiççju sabiex jg˙idu kelma mal-
Father, i©ibulu t-tislijiet tal-o˙rajn tal-G˙aqda tal-
Past Pupils and Friends of Don Bosco, u jag˙tuh
xi a˙barijiet.
Matul ix-xhur li g˙addew, l-uffiççju ta’ ‘˙ajja
Salesjana’ kellu diversi Ωjarat minn dawn in-nies.
Nafu li skond lista uffiççjali, attendew 86 delegat
g˙all- Konvenzjoni g˙all-Maltin ta’ Barra li saret
f’Malta f’Mejju 2010. Minn dawn kien hemm 27 mill-
Awstralja, imma mhux kollha Past Pupils tag˙na.
Hawnhekk qeg˙din in©ibu ritratt ta’ meta
grupp ©mielu ©ew, kollha flimkien, jaraw daqsxejn
l-iskola u jiltaqg˙u ma’ xi Salesjani. Dawn iΩ-Ωjarat
jag˙tuna ˙afna pjaçir u jsa˙˙u l-˙biberija li g˙ada
teΩisti, avolja hawn tant bog˙od u g˙adda tant
Ωmien. Insellmu lill-Past Pupils and Friends kollha
li jinsabu f’artijiet imbeg˙din minn Malta, iΩda
dejjem qrib qalbna.
23Hajja Salesjana
“As a professional historian I have been
studying the Shroud of Turin for a number of
years. I have analysed and scrutinized in a most
meticulous manner troves of ancient documents,
especially the ones that have surfaced recently,
and I have come to the conclusion that the
Shroud dates from the first century of our era. In
actual fact there is a great deal of evidence that
suggests that the Shroud originated in the first
thirty years of that century.”
These words were spoken by Dr. Barbara Frale,
a young and promising historian, who has become
an authority on the Knights Templar and the
Shroud.
“I know practically every facet of all the
scientific examinations conducted on the
Shroud in the last 20 years, including the famous
Carbon-14 test which was used to proclaim to the
world that the relic was nothing but a medieval
forgery. I have also studied carefully the claims of
those who have tried to reproduce a similar relic
in their laboratories using the same means and
equipment that a medieval scientist had at his
disposal. They claim that the Shroud could easily
have been produced in a medieval laboratory. I
can confirm that these claims are outdated. The
latest discoveries on the relic turn the tables on
these skeptics, and reaffirm what tradition has
always maintained, that is, that the famous linen
cloth kept in Turin really did cover the body of a
man who lived at the beginning of our era.”
Barbara Frale has committed her findings to a
bulky, 392-page volume called La Sindone di Gesù
Nazareno, which was recently published in Italy.
year of the shrouD
From April 10 to May 23 the Shroud was again
in the news. There was a solemn exposition of
the relic at the Cathedral of Turin, where it has
been kept since 1578. This is the ninth time it was
exhibited in over a century. The last time was
in 2000, the Jubilee Year, when over a million
pilgrims thronged to Turin, including our late
Pope, John Paul II. This year, Pope Benedict XVI
visited on May 2.
The Shroud is truly the most enigmatic relic
in the world, and has baffled eminent forensic
scientists for years. Top-ranking pathologists
have established that the man who was covered
in that linen-cloth died from crucifixion, that his
body bore the marks of over 700 wounds, and that
on his forehead the traces of the crown of thorns
are clearly visible.
The Church has made no comment on the
Shroud for it is not a doctrinal matter, but it
recognizes its value to help us increase in our
devotion in honouring the suffering that Our Lord
underwent for his sacred Passion.
New Light on the Shroud
Comments by Barbara Frale, the young historian whose discoveries on the linen cloth kept in
turin are revolutionising the way we see one of Christendom’s most sacred relics.
a reporte by renzo allegri
24 Hajja Salesjana
vatiCan seCret arChives
Barbara Frale is an engaging 39-year-
old woman, and a highly qualified scientist.
She is married to an engineer and has two
beautiful children. After graduating in Medieval
Archaeology, she specialized in Palaeography,
Diplomatics and Archives Administration and
then in Greek Palaeography, and in 2000 obtained
a PhD in Historical research at the Ca’ Foscari
University in Venice. She has worked in important
archives both in Italy and abroad and for the last
couple of years she has been historian on staff
at the Vatican Secret Archives, where the world’s
most important documents are kept.
CritiCism of 1988 C-14 tests
The scientists who conducted that Radiocarbon
test on certain specimens of the Shroud concluded
that the relic could not have originated prior
to 1260, but the documents unearthed showed
that the relic was in existence at least 60 years
before that date. For the same reason, the same
documents also disprove those who maintain that
the Shroud was produced by Leonardo da Vinci,
because Leonardo was born centuries later in
1452.
There are inscriptions found around the face
of the man of the Shroud. They can only be seen
through highly sophisticated equipment. The
inscriptions are highly reminiscent of graffiti
found in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, and
in papyri from the era of Tiberius, the man who
was emperor of Rome when Jesus was crucified.
Those inscriptions are called ‘traces of
transferred writing,’ that is traces of writing
impressed on an object (in our case the Shroud)
that has been in contact with a written text. The
writing is in Hebrew, Greek, Latin and Aramaic.
Thanks to computerized reading systems, those
traces have been deciphered.
Back in 1978 Piero Ugolotti, a chemist, noted
that on the negative of a photo of the Shroud
strange signs could be seen that looked like
letters. He turned to an expert in ancient
languages, Aldo Marastoni, a renowned Latinist,
and Marastoni confirmed the existence of Greek
and Latin inscriptions all around the face on the
Shroud. They are words of the type: ‘Nazarenos’
and ‘in nece (m)’, a Latin expression meaning
‘to death’. On the forehead there are the letters
IBEP, which suggests the Greek word for Tiberius
(TIBEPIO), as well as other words in Hebrew.
These findings have generated great
enthusiasm among the Shroud scholars, but
then the C-14 test dealt the death blow to all this
promising research. In those days, the C-14 test
was regarded as practically infallible, much like a
DNA test nowadays. The Shroud was dismissed as
a fake, and to study it was regarded as a waste
of time.
25Hajja Salesjana
exCiting DisCoveries
In 1994, research on the Shroud was taken up
again as the shortcomings of the C-14 test came
to light. Some French scientists started examining
the inscriptions discovered by Piero Ugolotti.
Professor André Marion, who teaches at the Institut
Superieur d’Optique d’Orsay in Paris, examined
the Shroud with the aid of specific software
capable of detecting old or ancient writings that
are no longer visible to the naked eye. Now, right
under the face, he found the Greek word ‘HOY’
which could be interpreted as ‘IHOY’. This is the
Greek translation of the Semitic original ‘Yeshua’,
which stands for ‘Jesus’. This word when placed
next to the one discovered by Marastoni, forms
‘IHOY NAZAPHNO’ that is ‘Jesus Nazarene’. Marion
also found other signs in Greek and Latin placed
around the face, and published these findings
in a scientific magazine. He then consulted with
other specialists from the Sorbonne University
who concluded that the inscriptions were from
the first Christian centuries perhaps even from
before the third century after Christ.
Professor Marion’s studies were continued by
the French analyst Professor Thierry Castex, who
was able to discern the fragment of a text with a
central phrase, which could be translated as ‘we
found’ or as ‘because found’. These words bring
to mind the accusation which members of the
Sanhedrin levelled against Jesus in the presence
of Pontius Pilate, ‘We found this man perverting
our nation…” (Luke 23:2). Professor Castex sent
me these words and asked for my opinion. I
examined them carefully and then sought out
the opinion of two renowned scholars of Hebrew.
These inscriptions, along with the ones found by
Professor Marion, really do give the impression of
being the trace of an original document regarding
the burial of a person called Jesus of Nazareth,
which in the local idiom was ‘Yeshua Nazarani’.
My book is a long, detailed and meticulous
study of those writings, and I have come to the
conclusion that they lead us back to Jerusalem at
the time of Tiberius, who reigned from AD 13 to 37.
So my conclusion is that, from a historical point of
view, there is a plethora of facts connecting the
Shroud of Turin to the first thirty years of our era.
I am a scientist; it is not my task to determine
if that linen cloth actually enveloped the body
of the Son of God, if the blood stains on it really
are those of the God-Man. My task is to study all
documents regarding the Shroud, to interpret
them, to arrange them in systematic order, and
then to draw logical conclusions from them.
exPlanation of nos in PiCture
1. (I)esou(s) “Jesus”
2. Nnazarennos “Nazarene”
3. (o)pse kia(tho) “taken down in the
early evening”
4. in nece(m) “to death”
5. pez(o) “I execute”
26 Hajja Salesjana
Nhar il-Óadd, 6 ta’ Ìunju 2010, f’din is-sena ta’
g˙eluq il-mitt sena minn mindu twaqqfet is-Sale-
sian Brigade, fost stennija kbira, inbiddlu g˙all-
˙ames darba il-‘Colours’ (Il-Bandiera) li tissim-
bolizza l-prinçipji li j˙addnu l-membri. L-Onorevoli
Prim Ministru Dr. Lawrence Gonzi u s-Sinjura tieg˙u
onorawna bil-preΩenza tag˙hom flimkien ma’
mistiednin distinti, past pupils, familjari u ˙bieb.
Il-Commanding Officer Joe Giorgio ta mer˙ba lill-
Prim Ministru.
Fil-qilla tax-xemx ta’ Ìunju, il-bit˙a tal-Oratorju
kienet miΩg˙uda bin-nies, u wie˙ed seta’ jara’
t-tbissima fuq fomm kul˙add. Il-banda tal-Brigade
ta˙t it-tmexxija tal-Captain Leonard Falzon, u
l-membri tas-Salesian Brigade, taw parata preçiΩa
u simbolika, b’nostal©ija kbira g˙al dawk il-bosta
‘old boys’ li kienu preΩenti. Xi w˙ud minhom
ng˙aqdu ma’ s˙abhom tal-img˙oddi, waqt li
o˙rajn, min˙abba xi ra©uni jew o˙ra, forsi g˙ax
˙assuhom li ma setg˙ux iΩommu l-pass mg˙a©©el
mal-banda, baqg˙u fil-©enb jammiraw liΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙
jimmarçjaw.
Tqassam program b˙ala rikordju li fih ing˙ata
tag˙rif fuq l-istorja u fuq xi avvenimenti speçjali li
fihom ˙adet sehem il- Brigade matul 100 sena ta’
attività. Kienet ˙a©a tassew interresanti li wie˙ed
i˙ares lura lejn l-istorja ta’ dan il-moviment li kien
©ie mwaqqaf fuq inizzjattiva ta’ Dun Vincenzo
Allerga, direttur ta’ l-Oratorju fis-sena 1910.
Flimkien ma’ Dun Edgar Salomone, is-Sgt. Joseph
Mifsud u xi nies o˙ra huma taw bidu g˙al din
l-attività fi ˙dan l-Oratorju Salesjan f’Tas-Sliema.
Kif qal tajjeb Fr. Eric Cachia, il-Kappillan attwali
tas-Salesian Brigada, wasal iΩ-Ωmien li n˙arsu
l-quddiem, b’Ωelu ©did, bl-istess entuΩjaΩmu tal-
img˙oddi. Il-Prim Ministru sema’ kif tul medda
ta’ mitt sena l-attività ma waqfet qatt, sa˙anistra
matul it-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija. Huwa sellem lill-
old boys, li lil xi w˙ud minhom kien jafhom
personalment f’diversi oqsma tas-soçjetà Maltija.
100 sena ta’ attività kontinwa
Salesian Brigade
minn lino Ferris
27Hajja Salesjana
Waqt li dan kollu kien g˙addej fil-bitha tal-
Oratorju flimkien mal-˙oss tal-banda, ftakart fil-
fizjali tal-img˙oddi ta’ Ωmieni, fosthom Leonard
Falzon Sr., Carmelo Briffa, Salvino Vella, Charles
Izzo, Joe Cassar u Tony Gatt. B’nostalgija kbira fost
l-past pupils preΩenti, wara li ltqajna fuq it-tara© ta’
St. Patricks sabiex nie˙du ritratt flimkien, kul˙add
beda jsemmi tifkiriet tal-img˙oddi, il-parati ta’ jum
l-Vitorja fil-‘main guard’ il-belt, campings fis-sajf,
il-festa ta’ San Bastjan kull Jannar, u l-laqg˙at ta’
kull nhar ta’ Ìimg˙a. G˙adni niftakar lil Dun Ìwann
Degorgio, li beda jmexxi l-Brigade minn 1933, u
li kul˙add kien jmur isellimlu wara l-laqg˙a, kif
b’paçenzja kbira kien jg˙addi l-uniformi tax-xitwa
minn membru g˙all-ie˙or meta kul˙add jitwal b’xi
pulzier min sena g˙al o˙ra.
Niftakar meta Fr. Joseph Borg ˙a f’idejh it-
tmexxija tal-moviment fis-sena meta ©ie lura
mill-Awstralja. Fl-g˙omor sabi˙ ta’ 90 sena, Fr.
Borg, kien preΩenti, g˙al din il-parata li saret
nhar il-Óadd, 6 ta’ Ìunju u li Ωgur ©abitlu memorji
sbie˙. Jien niftakar ukoll kif, g˙odwa wa˙da, meta
konna qeg˙din ng˙umu Tas-Sliema ma’ Fr. Borg,
huwa qalilna fuq l-idea tieg˙u li l-bandiera tal-
Brigade g˙anda tinkludi s-si©ra tal-Awrikarja. Dan
min˙abba l-fatt li ma©enb l-Oratorju fi Triq Karm
Galea, kien hemm dis-si©ra dritta u g˙olja li kienet
tidher min kull na˙a tad-dawra ta’ Tas-Sliema
meta ˙afna mill-bini kien g˙adu fuq Ωew© sulari.
Din, fil-fatt, ittie˙det b˙ala simbolu u tpo©©iet
fil-bandiera. Forsi ftit jiftakru dan l-episodju
interessanti u kif ukoll Ωvol©iet l-idea tal-virtujiet
ma˙ru©a minn kull ponta tas-salib ta’ Malta li
qieg˙ed ukoll fil-bandiera tal-Brigade.
Fis-sena 1989, meta Fr.Francis Zammit kien
direttur tal-Oratorju, il-moviment laqa’ fi ˙danu
l-bniet. G˙alhekk rajna l-bidla mill-isem ta’
Salesian Boys Brigade, g˙al Salesian Boys and
Girls Brigade. Kien xieraq li din is-sena f’g˙eluq
il-mitt sena, il-moviment jibda jissejja˙ bl-isem
inklussiv ta’ Salesian Brigade. Il-membri g˙adhom
jiltaqg˙u kull nhar ta’ Ìimg˙a sabiex ji©u m˙arr©a
fid-drill u l-banda, kif wkoll f’dixxiplini o˙ra b˙al
trekking, hiking, expeditions, abseiling u camping.
Hija tradizzjoni li kull sena is- Salesian Brigade
jorganizzaw camp fis-sajf fejn fl-a˙˙ar ©urnata
jsir camp fire u ˙allu l-membri juru t-talenti
tag˙hom tal-kant u sketches qosra u ˙elwin. Ji©u
organizzati wkoll weekend campings fix-xitwa
fejn l-membri ji©u m˙arr©a fit-tisjir u f’inizjattivi
o˙ra bΩonjuΩi g˙all-˙ajja. Kemm nixtieq li g˙adni
Ω-Ωag˙Ωug˙ sabiex ner©a’ ng˙ix dawk is-snin sbie˙
li g˙addejt fil-Brigade!
Hija x-xewqa ta’ kul˙add, li dan il-moviment,
minkejja d-diffikultajiet kollha li wie˙ed jiltaqa’
mag˙hom fiç-çirkostanzi tal-lum, jibqa’ attiv fl-
edukazzjoni u l-formazzjoni tat-tfal u Ω-Ωg˙aΩag˙
˙alli jΩommu g˙oli l-motto tag˙hom ‘Ne Cede
Malis’ (La ççedix g˙all-˙aΩen). J’alla jer©a’ jinkiteb
kapitlu ie˙or simili fis-sena 2110.
28 Hajja Salesjana
on 5th june -13th june 2010 a group of Form 5 students
from Savio College went for a voluntary experience at
Manouba, tunisia with Fr louis Grech. this is their
experience.
One’s perception of a holiday is always one in
which a person relaxes, enjoys another country’s
culture and meets other people. We did all this, but
with a twist.
After five years of living the Salesian manner
of youth encounter, we had the opportunity
to convey our experience to a school of young
Tunisian students, without the necessity to
mention anything about our religious beliefs.
We went out to meet them the children during
their breaks. Some of them gave us an uncertain
smile, while others had no idea what to think of us.
Were we intruders? No, of course not. After being
studied from head to toe, they warmed towards us
making us feel totally welcome. There was no need
for us to be either fluent in their language, or know
their culture. We thought communication would be
a great obstacle, but surprisingly enough we easily
eliminated it using simple body gestures, topping
it off with a mixture of languages.
The main objective of this Salesian school in the
heart of Manouba is not only to provide academic
education but to be a major part in the important
socialisation following the footsteps of Don Bosco.
This is not done by preaching about Christ but by
showing love, respect and a sense of belonging in
a Salesian environment.
In the same way, during our one week visit, we
joined the children in various activities such as:
playing football, participating in Physical Education
lessons and exchanging names. Astonishingly
enough, they asked us for our autographs with the
addition of a handful of photographs.
To help support the Salesian work in Manouba,
we were asked to do some labour work. This
consisted of removing a sandpit instead of which
toilets for the kindergarten students will be
constructed. We were also asked to relocate and
stack a pile of bricks. Despite the hard work which
we were not used to, the final satisfaction and
appreciation by both ourselves and the community
was well worth the aches and pains.
To conclude, we managed to strengthen as a
whole group and mature individually, which was
the utmost aim of this experience. Other than what
is mentioned above, we also went on excursions
together and participated in group building
evaluation.
Finally, to reach the climax of our everyday
activities we celebrated Holy Mass every evening
as a family.
Article by: Kenneth Terribile, Kurt Portelli, Matteo Azzopardi,
Kieth Tanti and Mark Anthony Schembri.
Tunisia Experience
29Hajja Salesjana
I was stuck in traffic on Interstate 81, just below
the Virginia state line, (Bristol, Tennessee), due to
a traffic accident. This accident involved a tanker
truck hauling a hazardous material load that
developed a leak, which meant that we weren’t
going anywhere for several hours, until the clean
up was completed. I set my brakes on the truck
and got out to stretch my legs. Other truck drivers
did the same, and at one point there were 5 of us
standing there by my truck, complaining.
Sitting right beside me in the left lane, were two
elderly people in a ‘Silverado’ pick up truck, which
was loaded quite well. The man, (Joe), lowered his
window and asked what was going on regarding the
traffic situation. Soon we were all talking with this
couple. The lady, (Anna), said that they had plenty
of water, and sodas in the cooler in the bed of the
truck, and she said that she had plenty of tuna
salad made up, and asked if we would be interested
in a sandwich. We agreed to a sandwich. While Anna
was making the sandwiches on the tailgate of the
truck, she was singing like a songbird. To be close
to 70, (I guess), she had a remarkable voice.
I noticed a Mississippi license plate on their
truck. I inquired as to what part of Mississippi they
were from. Joe said Biloxi. Knowing that Biloxi had
been ravaged also by hurricane Katrina, I asked
if they sustained any damage. Joe said that they
lost everything but what they had on them and
what was in the pickup. All of us drivers tried
unsuccessfully to pay them for their drinks and the
sandwiches. They would have nothing to do with it.
Joe said that their son was living around
Harrisonburg, Virginia and that they were going
there; there was a home that became open,
and that they were going to start all over again
there. Staring over at their age would not be easy.
I will soon be 48 years old, and I have to say
that I have never eaten a tuna sandwich with
side orders of reality and humility. These people
lost everything except the pictures, important
documents, and some clothes. Joe had managed
to get their antique heirloom grandfather clock
into the bed of the truck and Anna got her china
and silverware, but that was all. These wonderful
people lost practically everything they owned and
still would not accept any money for their food and
drinks. Joe said that “it was better to give than it
is to receive.”
When the hurricane had struck, they sought
refuge behind a block wall that he had built years
ago, and they watched their belongings and
their home disappear in the winds of Hurricane
Katrina. Joe said that during all this he had one
hand holding onto Anna and the other holding
onto God. They and their truck came out of Katrina
unscathed.
As I stated before, Anna was singing a song
while making the sandwiches. The song is titled
“I know who holds tomorrow,” an old gospel
song. She knew every word, and was quite a gifted
singer of it. Have you ever heard it?
The chorus of this song is, “Many things about
tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand. But I know
who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my
hand.”
Who holds
My Hand…
30 Hajja Salesjana
Dun Bosco
fis-santi u kartolini
minn Renè Sacco
Nota: Qed nag˙mlu appell biex min ikun irid jibg˙at xi kumment jew iΩid xi ˙a©a ma’ dak li
qieg˙ed jidher f’din is-sensiela, ma joqg˙odx lura iΩda jikkuntattja lil Fr.Joe Cini (joecini@
onvol.net) jew lil Rene’ Sacco (rene.sacco@gmail.com). Nirringrazzjawkom bil-quddiem.
Ir-Raba’ parti
L-ewwel santa li g˙andna din id-darba, g˙andha madwar 80
sena, u aktarx li ©iet stampata proprju fis-sena tal-beatifikazzjoni
ta’ Dun Bosco, ji©iefiri l-1929. Dan jixhdu l-fatt li fuq wara, barra talba
lil Dun Bosco, hemm ukoll konçessjoni ta’ 200 ©urnata indulgenza
bl-awtorità tal-Kardinal Giuseppe Gamba, Arçisqof ta’ Turin, meta
ting˙ad it-talba li hemm fuq wara u li ©©ib id-data tat- 2 ta’ Ìunju
1929. Din is-santa, li g˙andha daqs ta’madwar 6.5 x 10.5çm. hi ftit
mg˙arrqa, iΩda g˙alija xorta g˙andha pre©ju.
Interessanti ferm hija l-inkonografija ta’ din is-santa. Hawn
qeg˙din naraw lil Dun Bosco waqt iç-çelebrazzjoni tal-quddiesa,
preçiΩament waqt l-elevazzjoni. F’dan il-mument, Dun Bosco
kien spiss jdher jinqata’ mill-art f’estasi. Dan il-fatt dokumentat
kien jissuççiedi fil-kappella tal-Casa Madre tas-Salesjani, Turin
(Valdocco), fejn Dun Bosco g˙adda l-a˙˙ar snin ta’ ˙ajtu, u fejn
kien iqaddes fuq l-istess artal li jidher fis-santa. Dan l-artal g˙adu
jeΩisti fil-post sal-lum u hu mag˙ruf b˙ala l-artal ta’ l-estasi. Wie˙ed
jista jara dan l-artal meta jΩur il-‘Camerette’ ta’ Dun Bosco ©ewwa
Valdocco.
Din is-santa hi stampata ‘monochrome’ bil-kulur sepja, u x-xifer
hu mdawwar b’faxx ta-deheb. Sfortunatament fis-santa ma hemmx
indikazzjoni min pin©a din l-imma©ni.
Wasalna g˙ar-raba’ parti ta’ din is-sensiela li jidher li qed tqajjem çertu interess. Proprju g˙al din
il- parti ˙sibt biex nuri tlett santi li fihom naraw lil Dun Bosco fil-funzjoni tieg˙u b˙ala saçerdot.
31Hajja Salesjana
It-tieni santa hija wa˙da minn sett ta’ 25 santa (preçiΩament in-nru. 12), li juru episodji ewlenin mill-
˙ajja ta’ Dun Bosco permezz ta’ imma©ni mpittra mill-artist bravu Corrado Mezzana li dwaru di©a g˙edna
xi ˙a©a fil-˙ar©a li g˙addiet. Dan is-sett hu meqjus b˙ala klassiku u pre©jat ˙afna mill-kollezzjonisti. Kull
santa f’dan is-sett g˙andha l-istess format u kuluri b˙al dik li qed naraw, ovvjament il-parti t’isfel turi
episodju differenti f’kull wa˙da. Fuq wara ta’ kull santa f’dan is-sett, hemm rakkont ta’ l-episodju li jidher
fuq quddiem. Id-daqs tas-santi huwa ta’ 7.0 x12.2 çm.
F’din is-santa partikulari naraw l-episodju providenzjali li kellu jkun dak li ta bidu g˙all-fenomenu
ta’ l-Opra Salesjana. Dun Bosco jidher qieg˙ed jitkellem ma’ Bartolomeo Garelli Ωag˙Ωug˙ ta’ sittax-il
sena fis-sagristija tal-knisja ta’ San Frangisk ta’ Assisi fil-belt ta’ Turin. Bartolomeo, li kien iltiem, fqir u
illitterat kien g˙adu kif qala’ çanfira mis-sagristan, iΩda Dun Bosco flok ˙allieh jitlaq, stiednu biex jibda
ji©i u j©ib lil ˙biebu biex jibdew jitg˙allmu xi ftit tal-qari, kitba, duttrina , kif ukoll jilag˙bu f’ambjent
ming˙ajr periklu g˙al sa˙˙ithom, iΩda aktar u aktar g˙al ru˙hom. Dan ©ara nhar it-8 ta’ Diçembru 1841
il-festa tal-Immakulata Kunçizzjoni, ©urnata li baqg˙at titfakkar b˙ala l-‘birthday’ tas-Salesjani. Is-
sagristija fejn se˙˙et din il-©rajja, g˙adha sal-lum, eΩatt kif kienet dak in-nhar.
Dan is-sett ©ie stampat bil-proçess tal-kromolitografija madwar l-1930 u huwa proprjetà riservata
tas-‘Società Editrice Internazionale’ ta’ Turin. (Nota: Is-sett li g˙andi jonqsu in-nru.8 biex ikun komplut,
jekk xi ˙add g˙andu din is-santa u jkollu il-pjaçir jg˙addihieli, inkun ferm grat).
32 Hajja Salesjana
nixtieq in©edded l-istedina g˙all-kummenti kif ukoll l-appell g˙al xi kontribuzzjoni g˙all-
kollezzjoni (mhux flus). S’issa kellna donazzjonijiet ta’ materjal tajjeb ˙afna ming˙and
is-Sinjuri Jean Scott u John Cardona u ming˙and Fr Alfred Sacco sdb.
Renè Sacco: rene.sacco@gmail.com
Fit-tielet stampa ta’ din id-darba naraw santa li aktar g˙andha daqs ta’ kartolina, fil-fatt il-qisien
tag˙ha fir-realtà huma 10.2 x 16.2 çm; iΩda peress li mag˙mula minn karta ratba, ma nqisuhiex b˙ala
kartolina. F’din is-santa naraw lil Dun Bosco jamministra s-sagrament tat-tqarbin. Ta˙t l-imma©ni hemm
skrizzjoni bl-Ispanjol li bil-Malti tfisser ‘Beatu Ìwann Bosco, appostlu tat-tqarbin ta’ sikwit’ (frekwenti) xi
˙a©a li Dun Bosco kien jis˙aq ferm fuqha.
Din is-santa hija ppubblikata mil-biblijoteka ‘Angel Custodio’ ta’ Bahia Blanca ©ewwa l-Ar©entina, li,
b˙al speçi ta’ reklam, stampat fraΩi probabilment ta’ Dun Bosco ukoll, li tg˙id hekk ‘Ktieb tajjeb huwa
x-xemx tar-ru˙’.
G˙alkemm isem l-awtur ta’ din il-pittura ma jidhirx, l-indikazzjonijiet huma li din hi wa˙da mix-xog˙lijiet b’
Dun Bosco b˙ala tema li wettaq il-pittur Carlo Thermignon (1857-1938). Jidher li l-viΩjoni ta’ Marija G˙ajnuna
tal-Insara fl-isfond kienet element karatteristiku ta’ dawn ix-xog˙lijiet artistiçi. Din l-istampa partikulari hija
kromolitografija u ©iet stampata qabel l-1930. Din l-imma©ni tinsab f’diversi daqsijiet o˙ra, ˙afna minnhom
stampati b’kulur wie˙ed (monochrome).
33Hajja Salesjana
Riflessjoni fuq paragrafi 408-412 mid-Djarju ta’
Santa Fawstina Kowalska.
G˙al darb’o˙ra llum ing˙atajna l-grazzja
nisimg˙u ftit mill-˙sibijiet u l-esperjenzi li Santa
Fawstina kitbet fid-Djarju tag˙ha.
Punt li mill-ewwel laqatni hu l-fatt li wara li
Sor Fawstina taqsam mag˙na dak li tara waqt li
tkun timmedita fuq il-passjoni ˙arxa li Sidna Ìesù
Kristu bata g˙alina, hi tg˙idilna dawn il-preçiΩi
kelmiet “Kull ru˙ g˙andha tirrifletti x’kien qed
ibati Ìesù f’dak il-waqt.’’ U g˙aldaqstant jiena
nistaqsi: kemm nieqfu u na˙sbu u napprezzaw dak
kollu li bata Ìesù g˙alina? Kemm nag˙rfu li a˙na
swejna ˙afna g˙al Ìesù u li hu g˙amel dan g˙ax
Hu mi©nun bl-im˙abba g˙alina? Issa huwa l-waqt
li tirrifletti fuq dan, u fuq kollox tirringrazzja lill-
Mulej ta’ kemm g˙amel g˙alina lkoll.
Noqog˙du attenti li ma naqg˙ux fir-rutina u
l-medjokrità bil-konsegwenza li l-passjoni ˙arxa
ta’ Ìesù tispiçça li ma trieg˙edx iktar il-©ewwieni,
il-kuxjenza tag˙na.
Punt ie˙or sabi˙ u elokwenti fis-sempliçità u
l-messa©© çar tieg˙u hu meta Fawstina tistqarr
mag˙na. “Li kieku l-erwie˙ kollha kienu jafu min
hemm jg˙ix fil-knejjes tag˙na ma kienx ikun
hemm daqshekk insulti u daqshekk nuqqas ta’
rispett f’dawn il-postijiet qaddisa!’’ Hekk hu…
alla, g˙ani fil-Óniena
alla, gÓani fil-Óniena’ huwa Programm mtella’ mill-aPPostolat tal-Óniena
Divina fuq raDJu mariJa kull nhar ta’ ÌimgÓa mit-8.00 sat 8.30 P.m. Dak li se
taqraw huwa minn wie˙eD minn Dawn il-Programmi.
kemm-il darba meta nid˙lu fil-knisja nispiççaw
l-ewwel immorru quddiem xi statwa li hi biss
rappreΩentazzjoni bla ˙ajja tal-g˙aΩiΩa Ommna
Marija jew ta’ xi qaddisa fil-waqt li ninsew li fit-
tabernaklu hemm Gesù ˙aj jistenniena? Jew min
jaf kemm-il darba ng˙addu quddiem it-tabernaklu
bla ma biss nag˙mlu reverenza, inkin jew turija
o˙ra ta’ rispett?
Min jaf kemm-il darba aktar inkun mo˙˙i ng˙id
kelma ma’ ta’ ˙dejja fuq il-bank jew noqg˙od
ng˙arrex min hemm fil-knisja milli nitkellem u
nifta˙ qalbi quddiem l-img˙allem tieg˙i mistur
Fr. Sandro Camilleri sdb
34 Hajja Salesjana
wara l-ispeçi Ewkaristika? Kieku nag˙rfu li tassew hemm Ìesù ˙aj fit-tabernaklu kemm immorru nΩuruh
iktar ta’ spiss, kemm nilbsu a˙jar u iktar modest meta mmorru quddiemu fis-sajf, kemm in˙affef immur
f’ri©lejh!!
Marbut ma’ dan il-punt, iktar ‘l quddiem, din is-soru qaddisa, s-segretarja u l-appostlu tal-Óniena
Divina, kif kien isej˙ilha Ìesù stess, tistqarr mag˙na li hi dejjem tag˙mel dak li jog˙©ob l-iktar lil Ìesù.
Mhux li kien li int u jien u a˙na lkoll li ng˙idu li a˙na dixxipli ta’ Ìesù, l-Insara, nag˙mlu hekk ukoll!
Kieku lill-Mulej ara kemm nag˙tuh ©ie˙, glorja u fer˙. Kieku ara kemm nevitaw sitwazzjonijiet ta’
dnub. Ejjew nag˙mlu l-qalb u b˙al Fawstina naraw x’nistg˙u nag˙mlu kull ˙in biex lil Ìesù nag˙tuh pjaçir
u mhux dispjaçir.
Bla dubju, jekk se nippruvaw nag˙mlu dan kollu, l-g˙adu tag˙na x-xitan se jara kif jag˙mel biex
ifixkilna, ixekkilna, jaqtg˙alna qalbna. IΩda ejjew inΩommu sod, niffissaw ˙arsitna fuq Ìesù, inΩommu
ru˙na f’kuntatt mieg˙u kuljum, nirçevuh ta’ spiss fl-Ewkaristija, mmorru u nistqarru ˙tijietna fil-qrar
u nsostnu ru˙na bi ˙bieb tal-istess g˙anijiet b˙al tag˙na ˙alli hekk nibqg˙u nimxu ‘l quddiem u nsiru
persuni li fihom Ìesù jsib l-g˙axqa tieg˙u g˙ax g˙alkemm dg˙ajfa u midinba, qed nippruvaw in˙obbuH
g˙ax jixraqlu u qed in˙alluH isaltan f’˙ajjitna u jibdilna f’nisa u r©iel skont qalbu.
Iva, nixtieq ng˙in lis-Salesjani. Se nibg˙at
q5 q10 q25 q50
kull xahar kull tliet xhur kull
sena
b˙ala g˙ajnuna g˙all-missjoni tag˙kom. Naf li din
ma tqieg˙ed l-ebda obbligazzjoni fuqi u li nistà
nwaqqaf il-kontribuzzjoni tieg˙i meta rrid.
Isem
Indirizz
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.
A˙na s-Salesjani fil-quddies u t-talb tag˙na, niftakru f’dawk
kollha li jg˙inuna b’xi mod jew ie˙or. Ma tit˙ajjarx tg˙inna int
ukoll? Il-Mulej li qal: “Dak li tag˙mlu ma’ l-içken fost ˙utkom
tkunu qed tag˙mluh mieg˙i”, Ωgur ibierek g˙al kull g˙ajnuna
li tista’ tag˙ti.
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.
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 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.
jiSta wieÓed iÓalli l-BorÛa BÓala legat wara mewtu?
Jista’. U min jag˙mel hekk, jista’ 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
Çempel lil Fr Eric Cachia SDB fuq 21 331 447
Apparitions of Our Lady
newSPaPer PoSt
ST. PATRICK’S SCHOOL, ST. JOHN BOSCO STREET, SLIEMA SLM 1925
On September 19,
1846, the Virgin Mary
appeared in La Salette,
France, to two children,
Melanie Mathieu (14)
and Maximin Giraud (11),
while they tended their
sheep. Our Lady, aglow
with light sat on a rock;
she was weeping for the
sins of mankind and called
for conversion to avoid
God’s punishment. Our
Lady complained about
people’s corruption and
greed, as well as their
religious indifference and
disregard for God’s Commandments especially by cursing
the name of God and working on Sundays. She chastised
evil priests and religious, saying: “Woe to the priests and
to those dedicated to God who by their unfaithfulness and
their wicked lives are crucifying my Son again;” as well as
corrupted civil authorities: “All the civil governments will
have the plan to abolish every religious principle to make
way for materialism, atheism, and vices of all kinds”
Our Lady Of La Salette
