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Salesian Bulletin (Malta) No. 221 Sep-Oct 2011

Hajja Salesjana Settembru-ottubru 2011il-221 Óar©a

The Yellow Kite

Il-Beatu Ìwanni Pawlu II

A miraculous encounter with Don Bosco in Malta

The Logo of the Salesians of Don Bosco is made up of two superimposed images: in
the background a stylised “S” (Salesians) in white marked to the right and left by two
cuttings between the hills (a road). The second image is in the centre of the globe: an
arrow pointing upwards resting on three perpendicular legs on top of which are three
closed circles making a stylised image of three people: the first of these in the midde
and taller (the Salesian) appears as if embracing the side figures (the young). The three
stylised figures can also be viewed as an arrow pointing upwards (education / formation)
or simply as a dwelling (Salesian house) with three pillars holding it up (reason, religion,
loving kindness).

The coat of arms of the Salesian Congregation shows the shining star, the large anchor,
the heart on fire symbolizing faith, hope and charity; the figure of St. Francis de Sales
recalling the Patron of the Society; the small wood in the lower part reminds us of the
Founder (Bosco) the high mountains signify the heights of perfection towards which
members strive; the interwoven palm and laurel that enfold the shield either side are
emblematic of the prize reserved for a sacrificial and virtuous life. The motto Da mihi
animas, caetera tolle (give me souls, take the rest) expresses every Salesian’s ideal.

Óajja Salesjana
St. Patrick’s School, Triq San Ìwann Bosco,
Sliema SLM 1925 – MALTA
Tel. (+356) 2133 0238 / (+00356) 9986 1586
e-mail: hajjasal@salesiansmalta.org

Il-Bulettin Salesjan, imsejja˙ b’diversi ismijiet, ji©i
stampat f’56 edizzjoni u f’ 29 ilsien madwar id-
dinja u huwa mxerred fi 131 nazzjon

Responsible: Fr. Paul Formosa SDB
Director/ Editor: Fr. Joseph Cini SDB
Editorial Board : Margaret Buhagiar,
Andre Camilleri, Matthew Borg, Josie Grech.
Office: Eileen Alden, Joyce Scicluna.
Design & Printing: Salesian Press, Sliema.

Tista taqra ˙ajja Salesjana fuq il-kompjuter:
http://www.salesiansmalta.org

Fuqiex se naqraw

Front Cover: Sensiela ta’ xbihat tal-Madonna.

Editorjal / Pedago©ija / Caledar of events /
Something to think about / Marian Apparitions

Maltese Salesian Past Pupils Of Victoria Australia 9

A miraculous encounter with Don Bosco in Malta 10

Don Bosco Around the World 12

Il-Beata Alessandrina Marija da Costa 14

Il-Beatu Ìwanni Pawlu II 16

Malta Salesjana 20

Saint Mary Mazzarello 22

The yellow kite 24

Salesjani fl-Afrika 25

Marija ma©enbi 26

Il-Lejl it-tajjeb… imma mhux dejjem! 28

Dun Bosco fis-santi u kartolini 30

SPYS: Ûg˙aΩag˙ B’Inizzjattiva! 33

3Hajja Salesjana

editorjal

Tajjeb li l-qarrejja tag˙na jkunu jafu li hemm rabta
çara u qawwija bejn il-festa ta’ Marija G˙ajnuna
tal-Insara, li tinΩamm nhar il-24 ta’ Mejju, u l-festa
tal-Madonna tar-RuΩarju li niççelebraw nhar is-7
ta’ Ottubru.

Fis-sena 1571, il-kmandant tal-flotta Torka, li
kienu qeg˙din jheddu li jinvadu u jeqirdu r-reli©jon
nisranija mill-Ewropa kollha, ©ie meg˙lub fl-ib˙ra
ta’ Lepanto nhar is-7 ta’ Ottubru, u l-biçça l-kbira
tal-flotta Musulmana waqg˙et f’idejn l-Insara.
Sabiex tibqa’ titfakkar din ir-reb˙a kbira, il-Papa
Piu V ordna li titlu ©did ta’ MARIJA GÓAJNUNA
TAL-INSARA ji©i miΩjud fil-litanija tal-Ver©ni
Mbierka. Fl-anniversarju ta’ din ir-reb˙a, l-istess
Papa introduça l-Festa tal-Madonna tar-RuΩarju
li kellha tinΩamm kull sena nhar is-7 ta’ Ottubru,
il-jum meta Marija G˙ajnuna tal-Insara g˙enet lill-
Insara f’Lepanto sabiex isalvaw u jippreservaw il-
fidi fl-Europa.

Óafna snin wara, fl-1815, il-Papa Piu VII, malli
n˙eles minn ta˙t idejn Napuljun, amar li l-festa
ta’ Marija G˙ajnuna tal-Insara tibda tinΩamm
nhar l-24 ta’ Mejju. Hekku mbag˙ad li fl-1861, il-
Madonna tg˙arraf lil San Ìwann Bosco li hija
xtaqet li tinxtered devozzjoni lejha bit-titlu ta’
‘G˙ajnuna tal-Insara’. Dun Bosco wettaq ix-xewqa
tal-Madonna u mhux biss bena BaΩilka f’Turin
u waqqaf, ma’ Marija Domenica Mazzarello, is-

Marija: Óarsien u G˙ajnuna
Sorijiet Salesjani li jissej˙u ‘Ulied Marija G˙ajnuna
tal-Insara’, imma wkoll ta bidu g˙al Assoçjazzjoni
ta’ ‘Devoti ta’ Marija AwΩiljatriçi’. Huwa kiteb u
ppubblika artikli u kotba fuq Marija, insista fuq ir-
reçta ta’ kuljum tar-RUÛARJU, b’devozzjoni, b˙ala
l-aqwa talba lil Marija.

Wara dan li g˙idna, wie˙ed jista’ jara
l-konnessjoni çara bejn iΩ-Ωew© titli tal-Madonna,
dak ta’ Marija G˙ajnuna tal-Insara u dak ta’ Sidtna
tar-RuΩarju; u jara li did-devozzjoni ma jinsihiex
speçjalment matul ix-xhur ta’ Mejju u Ottubru.

Imma nistg˙u ng˙idu li teΩisti rabta o˙ra
bejn l-Ewropa tal-1571 u l-Ewropa tal-2011 li fuqha
nixtieq ni©bed l-attenzjoni tag˙kom. Ser ikollna
forsi ng˙idu li t-tne˙˙ija tal-fidi fl-Ewropa, li ma
se˙˙itx fl-img˙oddi permezz tal-©lied u gwerer,
qieg˙da titwettaq illum bil-˙afna nies nhux
insara li da˙lu fl-Ewropa u bis-sekularizzazzjoni?
Ma g˙adniex kemm smajna li kien hemm min
ried ine˙˙i l-Kurçifiss minn kull post pubbliku fl-
Ewropa? G˙adna nistg˙u nasserixxu li l-Ewropa
hija nisranija?

X’sejrin nag˙mlu g˙al dan kollu? Jiena
nissu©©erixxi t-talba tar-RuΩarju b˙ala l-a˙jar
soluzzjoni, sabiex Sidtna Marija G˙ajnuna tal-Insara
tista’ dejjem tibqa’ OMM U SULTANA TAL-EWROPA.

Fr. Francis Zammit SDB

Sabiex tibqa’ titfakkar din ir-reb˙a
kbira, il-Papa Piu V ordna li titlu ©did
ta’ MARIJA GÓAJNUNA TAL-INSARA ji©i
miΩjud fil-litanija tal-Ver©ni Mbierka.

4 Hajja Salesjana

editorial

I would like to draw the attention of our readers to
a clear and strong relation which exists between
the Feast of Mary Help of Christians, held on May
24th and the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary, held
on October 7th.

In the year 1571, the Commander of the
Turks, who were threatening to invade and
dechristianize the whole of Europe, was defeated
on the waters of Lepanto on October 7th, and
most of the Moslem fleet fell under the power of
the Christians.

In order to perpetuate the memory of this
great victory, Pope Pius V ordered that a new
invocation, MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS, be
added to the litany of the Blessed Virgin. On
the anniversary of the victory, the same Pope
introduced the Feast of Our Lady of the Rosary
to be held each year on October 7th, the day
Mary Help of Christians helped the Christians in
Lepanto to save and preserve the Christian faith
in Europe.

In 1815, Pope Pius VII, upon being freed from
imprisonment, fixed the Feast of Mary Help of
Christians

on May 24th. In 1861, Our Lady made known to
St.John Bosco that she wished devotion to her to
be spread under the title of ‘Help of Christians’.
To comply with her wish, Don Bosco not only built
her a great Basilica in Turin and co-founded a

Religious Congregation of women, the Salesian
Sisters, but he also started a lay association of
devotees. He wrote and published books and
articles about her, and also insisted on saying THE
ROSARY, with devotion, every day as one of the
best prayers to Mary Help of Christians.

Therefore, one can now see that there is a
clear link between the two titles of the Madonna,
that of Mary Help of Christians and the other one
of Our Lady of the Rosary, a devotion which we
should not forget to practise during the months
of May & October.

There is yet another actual relation between
Europe of 1571 and Europe of 2011 to which I would
like to draw the attention of our readers. Can
it be said that, the dechristianizing of Europe
which failed to be successful then through
confrontation and fighting, is being done today
through infiltration and secularization? Was it
not suggested lately that even the Crucifix should
disappear from Europe’s public life? Can we still
boast of a Christian Europe?

What are we going to do about it? May I
suggest the praying of the rosary as one of the
best things to do so that Our Lady, Mary Help of
Christians, will always remain THE MOTHER AND
QUEEN OF EUROPE.

Fr.Francis Zammit SDB

In order to perpetuate the memory of this
great victory, Pope Pius V ordered that a new
invocation, MARY HELP OF CHRISTIANS, be
added to the litany of the Blessed Virgin.

5Hajja Salesjana

PEDAGOÌIJASalesjana
Minn Pascual Chavez – Trad. Joe Cini

Kummenti fuq li Strenna 2011 : Ejjew u Taraw

Il-BEaTu alBErTu MarvEllI (1918-1946)
Il-vokazzjonI Ta’ PasT PuPIl salEsjan
Huwa l-ewwel Past Pupil Salesjan li ©ie
ddikjarat Beatu. Dan huwa rikonoxximent
lis-sistema edukattiva Salesjana li kapaçi
tifforma qaddisin. Alberto g˙ex il-vokazz-
joni tieg˙u b˙ala lajk fid-dinja, mhux b’sens
negattiv, imma b˙allikieku kienet l-g˙alqa
tal-Mulej, fejn ˙adem bi bΩulija u m˙abba.
F’kull çirkustanza li fiha sab ru˙u, Albertu
g˙exha ta’ qaddis, bil-kura©© u l-im˙abba,

“Il-Óajja hIja vokazzjonI”
G˙eΩieΩ ˙bieb, qarrejja tal-Bullettin

Salesjan, hekk kif matul is-sena li
g˙addiet kellimtkom fuq ‘Ìesù tieg˙i’,

din is-sena sejjer nikteb fuq Il-˙ajja
b˙ala vokazzjoni. U bi ˙siebni niktbilkom

dwar persuna©©i li b˙ala bnedmin u
nsara g˙exu l-˙ajja bis-s˙i˙ g˙aliex

skoprew u g˙exu l-vokazzjoni tag˙hom.

6 Hajja Salesjana

u bidilha f’okkaΩjoni ta’ salvazzjoni g˙al
kul˙add. Il-˙ajja ta’ Albertu Marvelli u l-in˙awi
fejn immatura u kiber huma l-Oratorju Salesjan
ta’ Rimini u l-Parroçça ta’ Marija G˙ajnuna tal-
Insara. Is-sej˙a ta’ Alla ©ietu minn ˙dan il-familja
u minn ˙ajja tassew nisranija.

L-eΩempju u l-©ibda lejn Domenico Savio
kienu qawwijin: Albertu kien jitlob b’attenzjoni,
jg˙allem il-katekiΩmu b’dedikazzjoni, u juri Ωelu,
m˙abba, kalma u safa. Huwa kien jintg˙aΩel minn
s˙abu tal-Oratorju min˙abba dawn il-virtujiet kif
ukoll g˙ax kien jag˙mel kollox b’mod spontanju
u ming˙ajr ebda xkiel: propju bi stil Salesjan. Ta’
15–il sena intg˙aΩel b˙ala Delegat tal-Aspiranti
u b˙ala wie˙ed mil-leaders fl-Oratorju fejn kien
jag˙ti sehmu b’dedikazzjoni kbira u jmexxi liΩ-
Ωg˙aΩag˙ fil-log˙ob u d-divertiment. Bniedem
©eneruΩ, bravu, b’memorja tajba u personalità
qawwija, mmexxija minn sens profond ta’
responsabbiltà u ©ustizzja. Huwa kien ta’

eΩempju qawwi g˙al s˙abu u rrispettat minn
kul˙add g˙all-kwalitajiet sbie˙ tieg˙u.

jIMxI wara ÌEsù
Ir-reb˙a fuqu nnifsu ©rat bil-mod u b’diffikultà.
F’dawn il-mumenti kibret ©ewwa fih ix-xewqa pro-
fonda li jkun ta’ Ìesù u li jimxi warajH. Hekk jikteb
fid-djarju tieg˙u: “Ma hemmx lok g˙all-g˙aΩla:
wie˙ed ma jistax jaqdi lil Ìesù u lix-Xitan, lill-
grazzja u lid-dnub. Jien irrid inkun kollni ta’ Ìesù,
kollni kemm jien. Jekk sa issa ma kontx g˙adni
çert, minn issa ’l quddiem m’hemmx aktar tlaqliq;
g˙aΩilt it-triq: li nbati kollox imma li ma nidnibx
aktar. Ìesù, il-mewt iva, id-dnub le; g˙inni nΩomm
dil-weg˙da’’

Re©a’ kiteb hekk: “Li taqdi huwa a˙jar milli
tkun moqdi. Ìesù jaqdi!’’ Meta la˙aq perit u beda
ja˙dem fil-bini tal-belt wara l-gwerra, ma kienx
joqg˙od lura milli jie˙u ˙sieb il-bΩonnijiet tan-
nies. Meta xi ˙add rah tant impenjat u qallu sabiex

Albertu kien jitlob
b’attenzjoni, jg˙allem
il-katekiΩmu
b’dedikazzjoni, u juri
Ωelu, m˙abba, kalma u
safa. Huwa kien jintg˙aΩel
minn s˙abu tal-Oratorju
min˙abba dawn il-virtujiet
kif ukoll g˙ax kien jag˙mel
kollox b’mod spontanju
u ming˙ajr ebda xkiel:
propju bi stil Salesjan.

7Hajja Salesjana

jag˙ti aktar kaΩ tal-affarijiet tal-knisja, wie©eb,
“Dan ukoll huwa qadi ta’ Kristu’’, u b’hekk wera
s-siwi tal-vokazzjoni ta’ lajk mehdi fix-xog˙ol
fis-soçjetà. Kien jie˙u ˙sieb xi foqra wkoll, u kien
jitlob g˙alihom.

Fis-sajf tal-1946, wara Ωmien twil ta’ riflessjoni,
jiddeçiedi dwar il-vokazzjoni tieg˙u li g˙al xi
Ωmien ma kienx jaf kinetx ser tkun b˙ala reli©juΩ
jew b˙ala saçerdot. Imm’ issa ddeçieda: jibda
familja u jitlob lil Marilena Aldè minn Lecco
li tkun is-sie˙ba tieg˙u. Min˙abba l-˙biberija
spiritwali li kien hemm bejniethom meta kienu
studenti, Albertu ˙aseb li jkellem lil Marilena
dwar l-intenzjoni tieg˙u. Nhar is-27 ta’ Awwissu
kitbilha fit-tul. “…qed in˙oss qalbi t˙abbat u
niftakar fik, wara li rajtek, sabi˙a b˙al dejjem, u
g˙ajnejk daqsxejn imnikkta imma mimlijin ˙niena.

Hu forsi dan qawmien ta’ m˙abbti?...’’ Ma ©iet
ebda risposta g˙al din l-ittra ; imma Albertu huwa
m˙ejji anke g˙al dan id-diΩappunt. “In˙obb lil
Alla wisq biex issa nirvella jew inxerred id-dmug˙
dwar ir-rieda tieg˙u… lil din ir-rieda je˙tie© li
nissagrifikaw xewqatna u l-˙olm ta’ din l-art.’’

Il-˙ajja ta’ Albertu hija sej˙a qawwija lil-lajçi
kollha, “sabiex tkunu xhieda tal-fidi permezz
tal-virtujiet proprji tag˙kom… Tonqsux li turu
li l-Van©elu huwa ta’ Ωmienna u li l-fidi ma
taqtag˙niex mill-istorja imma t˙awwilna fiha
aktar fil-fond…’’ Hekk kiteb Ìwanni Pawlu II.

8 Hajja Salesjana

FeaStS & eVeNtS
Sep

tem
ber

oct
ob

er
No

Vem
ber

caleNdar oF SaleSiaN
2011

Read ˙ajja Salesjana on the website: www.salesiansmalta.org
Pictures of Don Bosco set to reflective music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1dVsM9KAbw

Fri 2 First Friday Devotions at St. Patrick’s, at 6.15 p.m.
Wed 7 Salesian Cooperators – Sliema – monthly meeting at 6.00 p.m.
Sat 10 Prayer Day for Salesian Missions
Thu 22 Blessed Spanish Martyrs (killed by Communists during Spanish Civil War)
Mon 26 Start of the new Scholastic Year. Commemoration of Mary Help of Christians
at St. Patrick’s– 6.30 p.m.

Wed 5 Blessed Alberto Marvelli (Lay member of the Salesian Family).
Salesian Cooperators – Sliema – monthly meeting at 6.00 p.m.
Fri 7 First Friday Devotions at St. Patrick’s, at 6.15 p.m.
Mon 10 Prayer Day for Salesian Missions
Thu 13 Blessed Alessandrina M da Costa (Salesian Cooperator)
Sun 16 Norwegian Choir will sing at 10.15 Mass in St. Patrick’s, and give short
concert after Mass.
Sat 22 Blessed John Paul II
Mon 24 Commemoration of Mary Help of Christians at St. Patrick’s – 6.30 p.m.
Blessed Luigi Guanella (Óadem ma’ D.Bosco u kien Salesjan g˙al 3 snin)
Sat 29 Blessed Michael Rua (First Successor of Don Bosco)

Tue 1 All Saints Day
1-2 Mid-Term school holidays
Wed 2 Salesian Cooperators – Sliema – monthly meeting at 6.00 p.m.
Fri 5 First Friday Devotions at St. Patrick’s, at 6.15 p.m.

9Hajja Salesjana

Mourning of a friend and a Past Pupil
In 1932 at the age of 7, Dominic Bonello started
attending the Salesian Oratory in Sliema, Malta.
Most of his younger days were spent at the Ora-
tory until he joined the army during World War 2.

In 1955 Dominic migrate to Australia, with his
wife Annie and settled in Melbourne.

In 1958 the group ‘Salesian Old Boys’ was
formed and Dominic was one of its first member.

Dominic has been an active committee member
of the group, serving as a PRO, President and Vice
President for 50 years, when in 2008 Dominic had
to retire due to health reasons. In 1998, Dominic
was made the first Life Member of the Association.

On Saturday 28th May 2011, although not well in
health and feeling very tired, Dominic was present
for the 52nd Annual Charity Ball and some of his
last words to me were, “This is my last time, Joe.”
And so it was.

Fr Bertagnolli on the Queens Birthday Honours list
On Monday 13 June, the Australian Government released the traditional
Queens Birthday Honours list for 2011 with the names of those honoured
for their distinguished services to the community. Among those awarded
the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) was Fr Ferruccio Bertagnolli SDB,
currently the Rector of the Salesian community in Hobart, Tasmania. Fr
Bertagnolli, known as Frank in his community, received this honour for his
“services to youth and to the Order of the Salesians of Don Bosco”.

Maltese Salesian Past Pupils

Dominic is certainly with God enjoying eternal
rest, but he will always be present with us, Past
Pupils, in many memories of good times spent in
his company. - Appreciation by Joe Sacco.

By Joe Sacco

Of Victoria Australia

10 Hajja Salesjana

Although we noticed that English was

widely spoken in this country as we started to

plan our journey, it was not until a couple of

weeks before the trip that we realised the small

number of English masses in this archipelago.

As we browsed through the list downloaded

from Maltese Church website, we could not

make up our mind which church we should go

to on Sunday mornings because of the different

timings of masses at different locations. We left

this with God and decided to go wherever we

could.

A miraculous encounter
with Don Bosco in Malta

Chines parishioners in St. Patrick’s

Anthony Lui – Hong Kong

It dated back to last
December that my wife and I

chose Malta as our honeymoon
destination. We would admit

that the scenery, the history, the
buses and the people besides the
strong presence of the Catholic
Church, attracted my wife and
me to this tiny dot on the map,

thousands of miles from another
tiny dot where we lived.

11Hajja Salesjana

We tried to read the list more carefully in the

hotel on Saturday evening and discovered that

St Patrick’s church suited our time most. The

name of the street where it situated told us that

it must be operated by the Salesian Fathers.

As we approached the church long before

the mass time, we strolled through the nearby

streets and lanes. The statues, the names of

oratory, schools, clubs, residences and theatre

surrounding the church gave me an impression

that a small Salesian district had been built

here.

As we arrived at the church, the chaplain

greeted us and asked where we came from. He

was surprised that a Hong Kong couple turned

up in a church in such an inconspicuous location

in Sliema. He was more surprised that we had

heard of the Salesian Fathers. He was delighted

to know that I am a Salesian Co-operator.

We were equally surprised that the priest

introduced us to meet other Chinese in the

church and learnt that quite a few Chinese lived

in a country which we Chinese had barely heard

of. With the participation of believers from

different parts of the world, the atmosphere of

the mass was a complete contrast from facing

the expressionless congregation of the elderly

we read scripts of every Sunday. As a Salesian

Co-operator, I felt I fulfilled a tiny bit of my duty

as I delivered the offerings of bread and wine

to the altar.

Divorce Referendum was a very hot topic

in this Catholic country during our visit. Pros

and cons flooded the contents of newspapers,

television and even billboards. Although 98%

of the population is said to be Catholic, we

felt sorry to see that not as many people

stand firm on the Church’s doctrine. However,

this had reminded us to treasure our divine

responsibility of marriage.

Amongst other beautiful memories, churches

and statues around the country, the experience

in the mass had reminded us to always give God

the highest priority.

Anthony Lui and Fr. Joe

12 Hajja Salesjana

Don Bosco Around the World
In preparation for the celebration of the Bi-Centenary of the birth of St. John Bosco
(16th August 1815), the relics of the saint are going around the Salesian world. The
urn contains a life-size statue of the saint, a copy of the one in the Basilica of Mary Help
of Christians in Turin, with some bones of the saint in it. In 2014 it will visit Malta.

China - Hong Kong – On the occasion of the vis-
it of Don Bosco’s casket, on Sunday 27 March – 1st

April, the presence of the relics was the occasion
to recall the real value of devotion to the saints
and relics, and the importance of the sacrament
of Reconciliation.

On the evening of 30 March the confreres
renewed their vows and re-offered themselves to
Mary Help of Christians in a night prayer meeting.
On Thursday 31 March, the casket was taken to
the Cathedral of Hong Kong. There the Salesian
Cardinal Joseph Zen Ze-kiun, presided at a
concelebrated Mass. On 1 April, Don Bosco’s casket
was taken on board a boat for Macao.

13Hajja Salesjana

(India - Manipur) On 2 May the reliquary of Don Bosco reached the villages of Puni Pfosemai, Pan-
gomoul and Senapati. Hundreds of people gave homage to the founder of the Salesians. In Pangmoul
Don Bosco received the veneration and prayers of the Kuki tribe. In Senapati, enlivened by the St John
Bosco parish choir, a total of about 5000 people prayed in front of the casket. The following day it was
the turn of Don Bosco College Maram, the only Salesian College in Manipur, to welcome the reliquary.
A thousand more students and local members of the Salesian Family met the casket 5 km from the
campus and accompanied it in procession, carrying banners and wearing traditional costumes, singing
hymns and involving the local people in the welcome ceremony. On Wednesday 4 May the casket paused
in the village of Mao Gate greeted with a firework display and cries of ‘Viva Don Bosco’ from the 8000
present. On the morning of Thurday 5 May, the reliquary was brought to Kohima Cathedral for a solemn
Mass of Thanksgiving.

China – Macao. The arrival of Don Bosco’s
relic in Macau was a momentous occasion for
the Salesian communities there. The 2nd April
was Salesian Youth day in Macau and this gave
thousands of young people a chance to encoun-
ter the Saint, pray and play. The climax of the
Macau visit was the procession with the Relic
to the Macau Cathedral and the subsequent sol-
emn Mass celebrated by Bishop Lai and con-
celebrated by Salesians and diocesan priests.

14 Hajja Salesjana

MIraklu Óaj Tal-EwkarIsTIja
It-13 ta’ Ottubru ˙afna nies jafuh b˙ala
l-anniversarju tad-dehra tal-Madonna u tal-
miraklu tax-xemx ©ewwa Fatima, imma ja˙bat
ukoll l-anniversarju tal-mewt tal-mistika u ru˙
vittma PortugiΩa, il-Beata Alessandrina Maria
da Costa, li ˙ajjitha kienet marbuta mil-qrib
mal-©rajjiet ta’ Fatima. Fl-2004, il-Papa Ìwanni
Pawlu II ddikjara beata lil Alessandrina u ordna
li l-festa tag˙ha ssir f’din id-data – ji©ifieri fit-13
ta’ Ottubru.

Kliem tal-Mulej Ìesù: “Imberkin l-erwie˙ li
g˙ad isej˙u lil ismek meta inti tkun il-Ìenna.”
(mid-Djarju tal-Beata Alessandrina).

Alessandrina twieldet fit-30 ta’ Marzu 1904
f’Balasar, ra˙al çkejken fil-kampanja xi 40 mil
in-na˙a ta’ fuq minn Porto. Meta kellha 14-il
sena, attentat fuq il-virtù tag˙ha kellu j˙alli
warajh konsegwenzi tremendi. Fl-1918 filwaqt li
Alessandrina, o˙tha Deolinda u ˙abiba tag˙hom
kienu jinsabu d-dar, tlett ir©iel fis-sakra da˙lu
fuqhom biex jistuprawhom. Biex te˙les minn
dan l-attakk, Alessandrina qabΩet minn tieqa
u waqg˙et 12- il pied fuq art iebsa. RiΩultat ta’
dan kien li x-xewka ta’ daharha ©arrbet ˙sara
irriversibbli. Il-kundizzjoni tag˙ha bdiet sejra
g˙all-ag˙ar u fl-24 ta’ April 1924, fl-g˙omor ta’
g˙oxrin sena nxte˙tet f’qieg˙ ta’ sodda.

Alessandrina bdiet tifhem li t-tbatija kellha
tkun il-vokazzjoni tag˙ha. Fl-1931, hija da˙let
f’estasi u semg˙et lill-Mulej Ìesù jikkonfermalha
l-vokazzjoni tag˙ha b˙ala ru˙ vittma, meta
talabha: “T˙obb, tbati u tag˙mel riparazzjoni.’’
Hija tat il-kunsens tag˙ha u talbet lill-Mulej Ìesù

jag˙tiha l-grazzja li kienet te˙tie© biex taqdi
l-missjoni tag˙ha ta’ tbatija g˙all-umanità.

Din kienet l-ewwel wa˙da minn ˙afna drabi li
fihom da˙let f’estasi.

Madwar l-1935 Alessandrina bdiet tirçievi
messa©©i ming˙and il-Mulej Ìesù li wissieha
li t-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija kienet sa sse˙˙ b˙ala
kastig g˙ad-dnubiet tal-umanità, u setg˙et tkun
evitata biss permezz tal-konsagrazzjoni tad-
dinja lill-Qalb bla tebg˙a ta’ Marija. Ìesù ˙e©©e©
lill-Alessandrina, permezz tad-direttur spiritwali
tag˙ha, biex titlob lill-Qdusija tieg˙u l-Papa
jag˙mel din il-konsagrazzjoni, u hi kellha titlob u
toffri t-tbatijiet tag˙ha biex dan ise˙˙. Minn dak
iΩ-Ωmien ’il quddiem, hija offriet kollox g˙al din
l-intenzjoni.

Alessandra qalet iva g˙at-talba ta’ Ìesù li
kull nhar ta’ Ìimg˙a hija tg˙ix b’mod mistiku
l-Passjoni ta’ Kristu biex isse˙˙ il-konsagrazzjoni
tad-dinja lill-Qalb bla tebg˙a ta’ Marija. Fit-3 ta’
Ottubru 1938, bdew l-estasi tal-Passjoni, u dawk
kollha li kienu preΩenti fil-kamra tag˙ha baqg˙u
mistag˙©bin b’dak li ©ara. Din il-mara, li kienet
ilha fis-sodda kompletament ipparalizzata g˙al
iktar minn 14-il sena, f’daqqa wa˙da qamet u
setg˙et iddur mal-kamra. Kull nhar ta’ Ìimg˙a
sal-1942, waqt dawn l-estasi, Alessandrina sofriet
kollox mill-Agunija sal-Kruçifissjoni. Ìesù qalilha
li l-Papa kien iddeçieda li jikkonsagra d-dinja lill-
Qalb bla tebg˙a ta’ Marija. Il-Papa Piju XII g˙amel
il-Konsagrazzjoni fil-31 ta’ Ottubru 1942, ˙a©a li
naqqset minn kemm kellha ddum it-Tieni Gwerra
Dinjija. G˙alkemm Alessandrina fer˙et fuq li
fer˙et li l-konsagrazzjoni kienet saret, il-missjoni

Il-Beata Alessandrina Marija da Costa
30 ta’ Marzu 1904 – 13 ta’ Ottubru 1955

15Hajja Salesjana

tag˙ha tat-tbatija kienet g˙ada ma waslitx fit-
tmiem. Fil-fatt kellha tid˙ol f’faΩi ©dida u aktar
tal-g˙a©eb – sawma ta’ tlettax-il sena li matulha
kellha tg˙ix b’mod mirakuluΩ bl-Ewkaristija biss.

Is-sawma s˙i˙a ta’ Alessandrina
kkonfermawha t-tobba fl-isptar. Tabib qal
f’rapport uffiçjali li, “Hija ˙a©a assolutament
çerta li waqt 40 ©urnata f’qieg˙ ta’ sodda fl-
isptar, il-marida la kielet u lanqas xorbot…u a˙na
nemmnu li dan il-fenomenu seta’ wkoll se˙˙
fix-xhur li g˙addew, forsi matul dawn l-a˙˙ar
tlettax-il xahar…u ma nistg˙ux nifhmu kif dan
seta’ ji©ri.”

Filwaqt li dan il-fenomenu ˙add aktar ma
seta’ jispjegah, Alessandrina kienet taf minn fejn
kien ©ej, b˙alma l-Mulej Ìesù kien qalilha: “Inti
qieg˙da tg˙ix bl-Ewkaristija biss g˙ax jiena
rrid nag˙ti prova tal-qawwa tal-Ewkaristija u
tal-qawwa tal-˙ajja tieg˙i fl-erwie˙.”

Wara snin ta’ tbatija kbira fit-13 ta’ Ottubru
1955, wara li kellha dehra tal-Qalb bla tebg˙a ta’
Marija, li qaltilha li hi kienet se te˙odha l-©enna,
Alessandrina tqarbnet g˙all-a˙˙ar darba, u
wasslet l-a˙˙ar messa©© imqanqal tag˙ha
lill- umanità kollha, u qalet. “Tidinbux, il-pjaçiri
ta’ din il-˙ajja ma jiswew xejn. Tqarbnu. G˙idu
r-RuΩarju kuljum. Dan ji©bor fih kollox.’

Hija mietet fit-8.29 ta’ fil-g˙axija.
Mudell ta’ safa u perseveranza fil-fidi,

speçjalment g˙aΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙; adoratriçi m˙e©©a
ta’ Ìesù fis-Sagrament imqaddes; ispirazzjoni
u g˙inuna g˙al dawk li qeg˙din ibatu b’xi
mod; messa©©iera fidila ta’ Fatima. Kienet
Kooperatriçi Salesjana. Il-Beata Alessandrina hija
dawn l-affarijiet kollha, u ˙afna iΩjed. Óafna nies
di©à bbenefikaw mill-grazzji li kisbu permezz tat-
tbatijiet u t-talb tag˙ha, u bla ebda dubju ˙afna
aktar g˙ad jibbenefikaw fil-futur. In˙e©©ukom
titolbu biex hija ma ddumx ma ti©i kkanonizzata.

TALBA
O Trinità Qaddisa, jiena nadurak u

nirringrazzjak g˙aliex tajtna l-eΩempju
tal-Beata Alessandrina, xrara l-iΩjed safja

ta’ m˙abbtek.

Nitolbok tg˙inni nimitaha fl-im˙abba
t˙e©©e© tag˙ha g˙all-Ewkaristija, fl-

im˙abba devota ta’ bint lejn Ommha Marija,
fl-ispirtu tag˙ha ta’ talb profond, fit-telqa
g˙amja tag˙ha g˙ar-rieda tieg˙ek. B’hekk
inkun nista’ nkattar fija x-xenqa qawwija li

ning˙ata f’idejk u g˙al ˙uti.

O Trinità Qaddisa, nitolbok li bl-
interçessjoni qawwija tal-Beata

Alessandrina naqla’ l-grazzji li b’qalb
˙erqana tant nixtieq (semmi l-grazzji li

g˙andek bΩonn).

Missierna, Sliema u Glorja.
Beata Alessandrina, ˙arisna

u itlob g˙alina.

16 Hajja Salesjana

Ba˙ar ta’ nies ˙onoq Piazza San Pietro
f’Ruma u miljuni ta’ nies o˙ra segwew fuq it-
TV tlett dati storici fil-˙ajja tal-Papa Ìwanni
Pawlu II. Dawn kienu il-jum ta’ mewtu nhar
it-2 ta’ April 2005, il-jum tal-funeral tieg˙u
ftit jiem wara u nhar il-Óadd 1 ta’ Mejju 2011
fl-okkaΩjoni tal-beatifikazzjoni ta’ dan il-
ma˙bub Papa. Óafna minnkom li qeg˙din
taqraw dan l-artiklu tiftakruhom sew dawn it-
tlett okkaΩjonijiet. IΩda forsi li tiftakru l-iΩjed
hija dik l-aktar riçenti tal-1 ta’ Mejju, meta
Benedittu XVI iddikjara lil Ìwanni Pawlu II,
beatu.

Kien l-istess Papa Benedittu li nhar it-28
ta’ April 2005, meta huwa ©ie elett Papa ftit
©ranet wara l-mewt ta’ Ìwanni Pawlu, li ta
bidu g˙all-proçess ta’ beatifikazzjoni tal-Papa
ta’ qablu.

Eluf ta’ nies jiftakru lil dan il-persuna©©
g˙aliex kienu rawh ˙aj, jew meta Ωaru Ruma u
l-Vatikan huma stess jew meta Ìwanni Pawlu

II kien ©ie hu stess f’pajjiΩhom. Dan il-Papa,
infatti, kien g˙adda ˙afna jiem barra mill-
Vatikan sabiex seta’ jΩur knejjes, santwarji,
komunitajiet insara u pajjiΩi fl-Italja u madwar
id-dinja. Infatti l-istatistiçi juruna li dan il-Papa
wettaq 146 vja©© fl-Italja u 104 barra f’pajjiΩi
o˙ra, kollha bi skop li jxandar lil Kristu. Hekk
huwa Ωar 259 lokalità fl-Italja u 131 f’pajjiΩi
o˙ra. Dan juri li huwa g˙adda 822 jum barra
mill-Vatikan, u dan barra l-jiem tas-sajf li kien
jg˙addi f’Castel Gandolfo u, wara l-attentat
fuq ˙ajtu nhar it-13 ta’ Mejju 1981, l64 jum
ie˙or fl-isptar ‘Gemelli’ g˙al-diversi drabi.

karatteristika mill-isba˙ ta’ dan il-Papa
kienet l-im©iba tieg˙u maΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ li tant
kien i˙obb. Permezz ta’ din l-attitudni huwa
ne˙˙ielhom l-idea li l-Knisja kienet saret xi
˙a©a g˙ax-xju˙ u antikwata. Il-gost tieg˙u
kien li jkun fosthom, jiddjaloga mag˙hom u
jimlihom b-entuΩjaΩmu lejn Kristu u Ommna
Marija. Kienet tieg˙u l-idea li jwaqqaf ‘Il-

J.Cini sdb

Il-Beatu Ìwanni Pawlu II

Nhar is-Sibt 22 ta’ Ottubru, u kull 22 ta’ dax-xahar, minn
dis-sena ’l quddiem, l-Insara jkunu jistg˙u jiççelebraw il-

festa tal-Beatu Ìwanni Pawlu II. J’Alla ma ndumux ma
nkunu nistg˙u insej˙ulu qaddis : San Ìwanni Pawlu II !

17Hajja Salesjana

Ìurnata Mondjali taΩ-Ûg˙aΩag˙’.
L-ewwel darba li din se˙˙et kien Óadd il-

Palm, il-31 ta’ Marzu 1985 u li g˙alija attendew
madwar 350,000 Ωg˙aΩag˙. Minn dak inhar
din baqg˙et issir u dejjem tikber. Óafna minn
dawn iΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ kienu preΩenti fi Pjazza
San Pietru kemm waqt l-agunija tieg˙u, g˙all-
funeral tieg˙u, imbag˙ad g˙all-beatifikazzjoni
tieg˙u.

G˙al-˙afna u ˙afna nies dan il-Papa huwa
qaddis di©à. Fl-istess jum tal-funeral tieg˙u,
dehru kartelluni bil-kliem <santo subito>:
irriduh qaddis issa! Iva, qaddis ma’ ˙afna
qaddisin u beati li huwa stess kien tella’ fuq
l-altari. Infatti, sabiex jista’ joffri mudelli ta’
qdusija minn kull tip ta’ nies, matul ir-renju
tieg˙u ta’ Papa, huwa ddikkjara 483 qaddis u
qaddisa u bbeatifika 1345 ru˙ o˙ra. Hekk huwa
wera li hu possibli li n-nisrani jg˙ix ˙ajja tajba
u jil˙aq il-qdusija, fi kwalunkwe poΩizzjoni tal-
˙ajja huwa jinsab.

x’tag˙lim ˙allielna dan il-Papa? X’kienu
l-messa©©i tieg˙u? Liema kliem minn
tieg˙u ser nibqg˙u niftakru? Çertament id-
dinja kattolika kollha g˙ad g˙andha jidwu
f’widnejha l-kliem li beda l-pontifikat tieg˙u
bihom u li huwa baqa’ dejjem ifakkar : la
tibΩg˙ux. Ift˙u bera˙ il-bibien lil kristu !
Dawn il-kliem, nistg˙u ng˙idu li kienu
l-programm tal-missjoni tieg˙u b˙ala Papa.
Imma mbag˙ad, sabiex tg˙inu u twettqu f’din
il-missjoni, u sabiex tag˙tih kura©© jg˙id il-

verità kull fejn hu mar iΩur, afda ru˙u f’idejn
Marija Santissma permezz tal-motto li huwa
kien g˙aΩel : Totus tuus : jiena kollni kemm
jien tieg˙ek, o Marija !

B’dawn iΩ-Ωew© stendardi jmexxuh
u j˙arsuh, huwa kellem ˙afna drabi lil
diversi kategoriji ta’ nies, xandar is-
sewwa tal-Van©elu b’ilsna ta’ ˙afna ©nus u
f’okkaΩjonijiet ta’ kull kwalità. Kellem lill-
isqfijiet u s-saçerdoti, lill-gvernanti u nies ta’
awtorità, u lin-nies tax-xog˙ol u tad-dar, liΩ-
Ωg˙aΩag˙ u tfal.

U lilna wkoll, permezz ta’ dawn il-kliem
profetiçi tieg˙u, qieg˙ed jg˙idilna sabiex ma
nibΩg˙ux in˙allu lil Kristu jid˙ol f’˙ajjitna, fi
djarna, fil-familja tag˙na, imqawwijin mill-
protezzjoni ta’ Ommna Marija.

18 Hajja Salesjana

Something
to think about…

19Hajja Salesjana

do Good…
Confucianism Do not do to others what you would not like done
to yourself. Then there will be no resentment against
you, either in the family or in the state. (Analects)

Buddhism Hurt not others in ways that you yourself would
find hurtful. (Udana-Varga)

Christianity All things whatsoever you would that men should
do to you, do you so to them; for this is the Law
and the Prophets. (Gospel of Matthew)

Hinduism This is the sum of duty; do naught onto others
what you would not have them do unto you.
(Mahabharata)

Islam No one of you is a believer until he desires for his
brother that which he desires for himself. (Sunnah)

Judaism What is hateful to you, do not do to your fellowman.
This is the entire Law; all the rest is commentary.
(Talmud)

Taoism Regard your neighbour’s gain as your gain, and your
neighbour’s loss as your own loss. (Tai Shang Kan Yin P’ien)

Zoroastrianism That nature alone is good which refrains from doing
to another whatsoever is not good for itself.
(Dadisten-I-dinik)

20 Hajja Salesjana

Malta Salesjana

augurI lIs-saçErdoTI Ìodda.
Nhar il-Óadd 3 ta’ Lulju kien jum li çertament
jibqa’ mfakkar fid-Delegazzjoni Salesjana Maltija
b˙ala jum ie˙or ta’ fer˙ kbir. Alla l-Imbierek
Ωejjinna b’Ωew© ministri tieg˙u ©odda fis-
Saçerdoti Gerald Mangion u Jeremy Vella. Huma
©ew ordnati fil-Konkatidral ta’ San Ìwann fil-
Belt Valletta mill-Arçisqof tag˙na Mons. Pawlu
Cremona OP. Il-Familja Salesjana kollha tifra˙
b’dan id-don li Alla g˙o©bu jag˙tina u minn
qalbna lit-tnejn nixtiqulhom ˙ajja ta’ qdusija,
perseveranza u servizz. AD MULTOS ANNOS ET
AD MULTAS CORONAS.

ParTITa FuTBol EççEzjonalI
Kien il-Óadd, 5 ta’ Ìunju li g˙adda meta ntlag˙bet
dil-partita fil-bit˙a tal-Oratorju tas-Salesjani
f’Tas-Sliema. Din kienet it-tielet darba li din il-
partita ©iet organizzata g˙all-‘Old Boys’ tas-sena
1993. Ma’ kull log˙ba li tintlag˙ab in-numru ta’
dawn l-‘Old Boys’ jiΩdied bi r©iel o˙ra li jsibu li
kienu ji©u s-Salesjani f’dawk is-snin. Sa˙ansitra
˙a sehem Mr. Charles Saliba li kien hawn Malta
mill-Ingilterra! Nittamaw li ma ndumux ma naraw
il-grupp kollu ta’ dik is-sena. Jekk inti wie˙ed
minnhom u taf lil xi ˙add li kien hemm f’dik is-
sena, infurmah!

sPYs: BEjgÓ Ta’ kEjkIjIET
Is-Salesian Youth Pastoral Service (SPYS) if-
forma grupp Ωg˙ir minnu stess, u dawn iΩ-
Ωg˙aΩag˙, matul ix-xahar ta’ Lulju, organiz-
zaw is-‘Summer Camp’ ta’ ©img˙atejn fid-Dar
Salesjana tal-Isla (Youths Engage in Senglea =
YES). Sabiex itellg˙u fondi g˙al dan il-‘Camp’
huma kellhom bejg˙ ta’ kejkijiet fis-sala ta’
quddiem il-knisja ©ewwa St. Patrick, Sliema.
Kien hemm minn kull kwalità ta’ kejkijiet li
˙mew l-istess Ωg˙aΩag˙ sabiex ibig˙uhom. Il-
bejg˙ kien suççess u l-flus li n©abru fiΩ-Ωgur
jg˙inu mhux ftit sabiex is-‘Summer Camp’
ukoll kien suççess kbir.

21Hajja Salesjana

kTIEB MIll-IsBaÓ
Nhar il-Festa ta’ San Ìor© ©ewwa Victoria,
G˙awdex, fit-tielet Óadd ta’ Lulju, ©ie ippublikat il-
ktieb sabi˙ “St. George – Gozo’s Golden Basilica’’.
Kienet il-˙olma ta’ Fr Charles Cini SDB li jipproduçi
ktieb ta’ din ix-xorta. G˙alhekk, malli l-Arçipriet ta’
San Ìor© aççetta din l-idea, huwa beda mill-ewwel
ix-xog˙ol fuq dal-ktieb. Il-fotografu G˙awdxi Dan-
iel Cilia, mag˙Ωul sabiex jie˙u ˙sieb il-fotografija,
dam tnax il-xahar isegwi l-attivitajiet u çerimonji
tal-Parroçça. Dan il-ktieb juri biç-çar il-©id u l-ko-
bor li jista’ jinkiseb, anke ©ewwa Parroçça Ωg˙ira
fi gΩira Ωg˙ira, meta l-parruççani jiddedikaw
ru˙hom. Il-ktieb, b’qoxra iebsa, b’xi 320 ritratt
bil-kulur u stampat l-Italja qieg˙ed jimbieg˙ g˙al
€50 mill-BaΩilka ta’ San Ìor©.

aTlETa EççEzjonalI
IΩ-Ωag˙Ωug˙ ta’ 14-il sena Kurt Dalli, student ta’
Savio College, g˙alaq sta©un tal-atletika eççez-
jonali fejn huwa reba˙ it-ti©rijiet kollha middle
distance ta’ dan l-ista©un: 18-il wa˙da! Dawn it-
ti©rijiet ikunu ta’ bejn 800 metru u 3 kilometri tul.
L-ista©un beda f’Ottubru 2010 b’dik imsej˙a Endur-
ance League ta’ kwaΩi 3 km. Kurt reba˙ il-5 ti©rijiet
b˙al li kieku xejn! F’Diçembru saru l-Inter School
Cross Country Championships (Marsa) u kontra 61
atleta ie˙or, Kurt re©a’ reba˙. Wara dan bdew it-
ti©rijiet fuq it-track u Kurt, bejn Diçembru u Mejju
reba˙ 11 il-ti©rija ta’ distanzi varji. F’©img˙a wa˙da,
f’Mejju li g˙adda, reba˙ 5 midalji tad-deheb! Nifir˙u
mill-qalb lil dan l-atleta Ωag˙Ωug˙ u lil min jorganiz-
za l-atletika f’Savio College, Fr Francis Clifton SDB.

22 Hajja Salesjana

4Saint
Mary Mazzarello

This is the story of a “woman
with a backbone,” as Pope Pius XI
called her. The story of a soul who

passed through a life of hunger, toil
and contradiction. The story of a

leader, a foundress, a saint.

MoThEr’s huMIlITY
Mother Mazzarello was not one to put on airs. No,
her humility was real. Studiously she attended
class with the other Sisters and learned how to
read and write. This was no small task for a woman
of thirty-five and she made silly blunders, but she
would laugh them off with the other Sisters and
persistently try again. Her lifelong friend, Sister
Petronilla, one day asked her, “Mother, don’t you
think our community is becoming too important?
Look at all the intelligent young ladies who are
entering!”

“Hush,” whispered Mother Mazzarello. “Not
so loud! You and I are just plain oxen. Let’s be
thankful that they don’t throw us out!”

In 1936, Pope Pius XI proclaiming the heroic
nature of Mother Mazzarello’s virtues aptly
summarized her remarkable life thus: “Here is
a woman of simplicity, extreme simplicity – a
simplicity as pure as that of the simple elements,
as simple and unmixed as gold without alloy.”

EvEnIng sTar
Mother Mazzarello, leaning heavily on the arms

of two Sisters, stumbled into the convent of the
Daughters of Mary Help of Christians at Nice-on-
the-Sea. Smiling to all the good nuns, she tried to
brush away their fears with gentle reassurances,
but her face was taut with pain and haggard with
long days of illness. Her companions rushed her to
a room and set her into an armchair.

“Thank you,” she said gratefully, attempting
a light laugh and failing miserably. “I’m feeling
so much better already. Now, Sisters, why those
tears? Is that the way to greet your Mother after
such a long absence? You must not grieve so. I feel
my strength returning already. Now go about your
work again, and let me rest a moment.” The Sisters
reluctantly obeyed, leaving her with an attendant.

In the hall, the companions of Mother
Mazzarello were the focus of all attention. How
was the Mother? Was she improving any? She
looked so poorly! The information was far from
pleasant.

Mother Mazzarello had left Mornese some two
months before to accompany a group of Sisters
who were to go to the Missions of South America.
From Genoa she decided to take a ship with a

23Hajja Salesjana

part of the Missionary contingent, to stop off at
Marseilles, and from there to visit the houses of
the Sisters in France. Throughout the journey,
she suffered from persistent seasickness, but,
true to her native stubbornness, she hid her pain
behind a smile and a thousand little attentions on
her companions. At Marseilles, their ship broke
down in sight of the harbour and had to be towed
into drydock for repairs.

Late at night the little group of tired Sisters
ventured into the unlit waterfront streets of
Marseilles in search of an address where they had
been told lodgings had been prepared for them.
But due to a careless blunder, no beds had been
made up for the nuns. Noticing her host’s utter
confusion Mother Mazzarello speedily assured
him they could care for themselves.

‘We have clean bedclothes with us. If you can
give us some straw, we will shift for ourselves
quite easily.”

And so plying her needle, Mother Mazzarello
set the example by sewing up an armful of straw
in a sheet, setting the bed on the floor, and lying
fully clothed upon it. Her companions good-
naturedly imitated her. The next morning, Mother
Mazzarello was unable to rise. A high fever kept
her on her straw pallet. Her Sisters clustered
about her. But the next morning she staggered
to her feet and escorted the Missionaries to
their ship, bidding them a tender farewell. Once
she arrived at St.Cyr, she was put to bed. But
the unrelenting fever developed into pleurisy,
followed by complications of the respiratory
organs.

For forty days the saintly Mother was confined
to her bed, running high temperatures, spending
interminable hours in burning heat and acute
pain. Yet, throughout it all, she always remained
the centre of joy in the house, chatting amiably
with the Sisters, and endeavouring to make
herself as little bother as possible, never realizing
that the Sisters treasured every moment they
could shower their solicitude on her.

As soon as she felt her strength returning,
she decided to return to Italy, so as to die, she
said, in her own community. The Sisters had been
reassured by Don Bosco, who had been to see
her, that she would not suffer by it. Mother had
decided to make the journey in short stages. With
two companions she would remain at Nice-on-the
Sea for a few days and then proceed to cross the
Italian border.

While the Sisters outside hustled about their
task, their frail patient remained in her room,
trying to recover her strength. By good fortune,
Don Bosco had just arrived a few hours before her.
Knowing of her presence, he went to call on her.
In that little room the two Saints faced each other
for the last time. St. John Bosco, sixty years old,
looking tired and a little stooped at the shoulders,
smiled upon the drawn features of this forty-
two-year-old woman who had been God’s chosen
instrument to fulfill a great part of his apostolate
for youth. Their names, he knew, would forever be
linked together.

“Father,” asked Mother Mazzarello, “will I ever
recover?”

After a moment’s pause, the priest ran his
fingers through his bushy hair.

“Mother,” he said diplomatically, “I want to tell
you a story. Once Death decided to pay a call to
a convent, ‘Come with me Sister,’ he said to the
portress as she opened the door. ‘Oh, but I cannot,’
the Sister responded. ‘There is no one to take my
place, and the convent must have a portress.’
Death crossed the threshold and stalked through
the convent halls. His order was the same for
everyone he met: ‘Come with me!’ The response
was invariably ‘I cannot! I have so much work
to do!’ Finally Death knocked at the door of the
Superior’s room. ‘Come with me,’ he announced.
‘I cannot!’ was the startled reply. But Death would
take no excuse. ‘If no one else will come, you
must!’ he ordered, and taking her by the hand, he
took her through the convent halls into the dark
night.”

(to continue...)

24 Hajja Salesjana

The yellow kite
My son was my one reason for not giving up on
life - and his small prayer changed it.

I stood at the window and watched the
neighbourhood children flying their kites on the
hill behind our house. Next to me, my four-year-
old son, Michael, pressed his face against the glass.
Ever since he had first seen them on the hill, he had
been asking if he could have a kite like the other
children, and I always gave him the same answer:
“Wait until you are a little older.”

Michael hid his face in my skirt, something he
always did when he was going to cry.

I felt like crying myself. I had lost three children
through miscarriages, and the complications
that followed caused me to be constantly under a
doctor’s care.

Because of my health I simply didn’t have the
strength or energy to fly a kite with Michael. My
husband worked long, irregular hours, and even so
we kept going deeper in debt. As a result, a tension
had grown between us. It all looked so hopeless;
God seemed to have forgotten us.

Michael was the one spark of life left for me.
As I tucked him into bed that evening, he said,
“Mommy, may I pray to God to send me a yellow

kite? Maybe he doesn’t think I’m too young.”
“Yes,” I said. “We will leave it up to him.” Maybe

that would make Michael stop talking about it. He
fell asleep with a smile on his face.

The next morning I raised the shade in the
kitchen, and stared at the sight that met my eyes:
- a string hanging down in front of the window. I
ran out the back door and into the yard. Caught on
the roof, with its string hanging down, was a kite.
A yellow one!

Michael clapped his hands and jumped up and
down. “Mommy, I knew God would answer my
prayer!”

I didn’t believe! I realized I had lost my faith.
Maybe that was why I had been so depressed.

We asked all over the neighbourhood but we
never found the kite’s former owner. In the years
that followed we moved several times, but at each
new place I would hang the kite in some corner
where I could see it.

My depression lifted, and as my health
improved, so did my relationship with my husband.
All I needed was a reminder that no matter how
bad things may seem, God hears our prayers. Big
or small.

By Beverly Newman, Santa Rosa, California

25Hajja Salesjana

Fix-xahar ta’ Ìunju, meg˙juna mill-Unjoni Afrikana,
il-pajjiΩi ta’ dan il-kontinent iççelebraw ‘Jum it-Tfal
Afrikani’. Is-Salesjani, li ilhom aktar minn 100 sena
f’dan il-kontinent, kienu bdew u g˙adhom imexxu
diversi pro©etti b’risq iΩ-Ωg˙ar u Ω-Ωg˙aΩag˙
l-aktar batuti fost il-popolazzjoni. Din l-esperjenza
qieg˙da ti©i mwettqa anke f’Addis Abeba.

Is-Salesjani ilhom ja˙dmu fl-Etiopja sa mill-
1975 u dejjem ippreferew lit-tfal u dawk iΩ-
Ωg˙aΩag˙ l-aktar imwe©©a’ mis-soçjetà. L-opri
Salesjani aktarx li jipprovdu edukazzjoni primarja
u sekondarja; imma huma nvoluti wkoll fi pro©etti
g˙all-iΩvilupp s˙i˙ tal-persuna b˙alma huma l-ilma
g˙ax-xorb, provvisti tal-ikel, mediçina preventiva,
g˙ajnuna b’ur©enza u biedja.

Fil-kapitali tal-pajjiz, Addis Abeba, sa mill-1998,
il-Brother Salesjan Donato Galletta, organizza
pro©ett hekk imsejja˙: Donato’s Children of
the Beggars. Dan il-pro©ett jirçievi g˙ajnuna
finanzjarja mill-Uffiçju Missjunarju Salesjan fi
New Rochelle, New York, USA, minn A©enzija
Umanitarja Amerikana, il-United States Agency
for International Development (USAID) kif ukoll
permezz tal-programm internazzjonali CARING
Orphans and Vulnerable Children.

u huwa wkoll mudel g˙al kull min ja˙dem fir-
rijabilitazzjoni tat-tfal fil-periklu fit-toroq tal-
belt. Fl-ewwel post ji©u dawk li jg˙ixu mal-©enituri
tag˙hom imma jg˙addu l-©urnata jittalbu fit-
triqat. Dawn it-tfal veru jg˙ixu f’kundizzjonijiet
mill-ag˙ar u l-©enituri tag˙hom, jew dawk li
jie˙du ˙siebhom, ma jistg˙ux jibag˙tuhom
l-iskola u lanqas jitimg˙uhom kuljum. Is-Social
Workers li ja˙dmu ma’ Bro. Donato imorru fil-belt
u personalment ikellmu lill-©enituri jew min jie˙u
˙sieb dawn it-tfal tallaba. Huma jikkonvinçuhom
jibag˙tu lit-tfal fid-Don Bosco Youth Centre ta’
Makanissa, ˙dejn Addis Abeba. Meta t-tfal jibdew
imorru hemm, huma ji©u mitmug˙a u mog˙tija
xi ikel g˙al matul il-jum. Imbag˙ad ji©u m˙ajra
jibdew l-iskola jew ifittxu g˙ajnuna f’dak li hu
me˙tie© biex isolvu xi ftit il-problemi tag˙hom.

Fil-preΩent hemm 513-il tifel u tifla miktuba
fil-‘Programm ta’ Bro. Donato g˙at-Tfal tat-
Tallaba’ li qeg˙din ji©u m˙arr©a sabiex ikunu
jistg˙u jibdew l-iskola regolari. Dan il-programm
jipprovdi wkoll g˙all-bΩonnijiet ta’ dawk il-fuq
minn 15-il sena sabiex jitg˙allmu seng˙a u jibdew
xog˙ol onest fejn jistg˙u jaqilg˙u paga xierqa.
Waqt li juΩaw is-sistema edukattiv ta’ Dun Bosco,
s-Salesjani jg˙allmu lit-tfal kif jiffaççjaw il-˙ajja u
jrabbu fihom valuri umani waqt li qeg˙din jikbru.

Salesjani fl-Afrika
Ulied il-Fqar ta’ Addis Abeba

26 Hajja Salesjana

Dak li ©rali g˙odwa wa˙da meta ndunajt li ma
kellix fuqi l-ID g˙all-Pentagon. Kienet fil-kartiera,
li kont ˙allejt warajja d-dar. Bdejt na˙seb bejni
u bejn ru˙i “Hekk mhux sewwa. Sejjer inqaddes
fost il-©img˙a g˙all-ir©iel u n-nisa tal-militar tal-
Amerika, u m’g˙andix fuqi l-unika ˙a©a li g˙andi
bΩonn biex nid˙ol fil-bini tal-uffiççini militari –
il-karta tal-identità. G˙ax ukoll jekk tkun liebes
ta’ saçerdot, jekk min ikun g˙assa jkollu arma
ppuntata lejk, ma tantx g˙andek çans tparla u
tinnegozja. Hekk kont qed na˙seb filwaqt li sibt
ru˙i ser ninΩel minn karozza tal-linja biex nirkeb
o˙ra. X’ser nag˙mel?

Indur lejn Marija fil-bΩonn tieg˙i
G˙al mument ©ieni l-˙sieb li ndur lura lejn id-
dar. “Le, g˙allinqas nista’ nipprova,’’ ˙sibt bejni
u bejn ru˙i. “Jekk tal-g˙assa ma jda˙˙lunix, al-

menu jistg˙u jikkuntattjaw l-uffiççju tal-kappillan.
Imbag˙ad inkun nista’ nispjega l-problema u
ng˙arrafhom li g˙al-lum ma jkunx possibbli nqad-
des.’’

Imbag˙ad ©ietni l-ispirazzjoni. Jiena sejjer
hemm sabiex noffri s-sagrifiççju tal-Quddiesa u
ikel spiritwali lill-poplu ta’ Alla. Çertament dan
ifisser xi ˙a©a. Fil-pront ˙sibt fil-Madonna u kont
çert li, jekk kienet ir-rieda t’Alla li l-Quddiesa
ti©i ççelebrata, hija setg˙et issib il-mezz biex
idda˙˙alni hemm ©ewwa.

B˙ala iben tajjeb ta’ Marija Immakulata, jiena
mbag˙ad bdejt mill-ewwel nitlob il-‘Memorare’
wa˙da wara l-o˙ra – talba qawwija lill-Madonna, li
tispiçça hekk: O Omm tal-Verb Inkarnat, twarrabx
it-talb tieg˙i, imma fil-˙niena tieg˙ek, ismag˙ni u
we©ibni.’’

Imtlejt bit-tama. Irkibt it-tieni karozza tal-linja
mimli bil-paçi, issa li kont intlaqt g˙ar-rieda ta’
Alla; kont mimli fiduçja fil-qawwa tal-interçessjoni
tal-Ver©ni Marija.

X’˙in wasalt fl-istazzjon tal-g˙assa d˙alt fil-
bini tas-sigurtà, li hu Ωg˙ir u maqtug˙ g˙alih.
Hemmhekk spjegajt is-sitwazzjoni tieg˙i lil tal-
g˙assa. Ma mpressjonajtux! Imbag˙ad tkellem
sie˙bu u staqsieni jekk ismi kienx irre©istrat fuq xi
lista. Jiena g˙edtlu “iva.’’ Saret telefonata. Tajt in-
numru tieg˙i tas-Sigurtà Soçjali u , f’˙akka t’g˙ajn
sibt ru˙i die˙el fil-Kwartieri biex noffri l-Quddiesa.
Ikun imfa˙˙ar Alla, ‘Grazzi, Omm tieg˙i’.

Kollox jibda meta jkollna dik
is-sensazzjoni li nirrealizzaw li

niffaççjaw il-konsegwenzi.
B˙alma t˙ossok meta jwaqqfek

pulizija jew meta f’daqqa wa˙da
tirrealizza li soqt meta d-dawl
kien a˙mar u ‘speed camera’ li
ma kenitx hemm qabel g˙adha
kif ˙aditlek ritratt u qabditek

fil-fatt.

27Hajja Salesjana

nieqaf u na˙seb fuq kemm il-Madonna hija qrib
tieg˙i fil-˙ajja ta’ kuljum. Çertament, li wie˙ed
jinsa l-kartiera warajh, jaqla’ çitazzjoni, jew jitlef
xi ˙a©a, ma tistax issej˙ilha kriΩi. Imma meta jkoll-
na problemi b˙al dawn jinkwetawna, u l-Madonna
tkun taf x’inhu ji©ri. Hija tkun tixtieq tg˙inna g˙ax
hija t˙obbna u ©enwinament jimpurtaha mid-
dettalji ta’ ˙ajjitna. A˙sbu ftit kif hi indunat meta
l-g˙arajjes tat-tie© ta’
Kana naqashom l-inbid.
(Ìw. 2: 1-11)

Dan l-a˙˙ar ©ieni
f’mo˙˙i wkoll li Marija
hi daqshekk attenta
g˙all-bΩonnijiet tag˙na
mhux biss g˙ax hija
t˙obbna b˙ala ommna
imma g˙ax hija qasmet
mag˙na t-taqbida tal-
˙ajja tag˙na ta’ kuljum
b˙ala bnedmin. Niftakru
kif hi tilfet lil Ìesù
meta kellu tnax-il sena
meta kienu sejrin lura
NaΩaret u kellha tmur
lura Ìerusalemm sabiex
issibu. Façli g˙alina li
ninsew li qabel ma ©iet
imtellg˙a s-sema u saret Re©ina, hi kienet tg˙ix
b’saqajha mal-art. A˙sbu fuq x’u˙ud mill-affarijiet
l-o˙rajn li l-iskrittura tg˙idilna li kellha tiffaççja:
bidla fil-pjanijiet tal-vokazzjoni tag˙ha, it-
theddida tad-divorzju, li tmur tg˙ix f’pajjiΩ ie˙or,
u ma kellhiex flus biΩΩejjed.

G˙aliex Ommna tas-Sema tant kellha saqajha
fl-art fl-umanità tag˙ha, hija setg˙et tara çar il-
qawwa ta’ kif ja˙dem Alla. G˙alhekk ma kenitx
qieg˙da tiççajta meta ru˙ha fa˙˙ret il-kobor
tal-Mulej (Lq. 1: 46-55). Hija fehmet il-limitazzjoni
tal-umanità tag˙ha kif ukoll is-setg˙a ta’ Alla li

Il-Madonna tinterçedi g˙alina
Is-solennità tat-Tlug˙ fis-sema ta’ Marija fil-15
t’Awwissu tg˙inna nirriflettu fuq il-˙ajja ta’ Marija
f’din l-art. F’dan il-misteru, a˙na qeg˙din mhux
biss niffokaw fuq kif hi ©iet imtellg˙a fis-sema

bir-ru˙ u bil-©isem,
imma qeg˙din nirriflet-
tu wkoll il-˙ajja tag˙ha
bla ebda dnub u mimlija
virtù, li g˙amlitha pos-
sibli g˙aliha li hi tirçievi
privile©© glorjuΩ b˙al
dan.

Kienet l-umanità
tag˙ha mimlija bil-
grazzja li ©iet imtellg˙a
fis-sema min˙abba dik
l’iva’ kontinwa li hi tat
lil Alla fiç-çirkostanzi
kollha ta’ ˙ajjitha.

wkoll id-dixxiplu perfett tieg˙u. G˙alhekk hi
qieg˙da tinterçiedi g˙alina fis-sema fl-umanità
gglorifikata tag˙ha.

U hekk jiena ner©a’ ndur lura g˙al dettall
sinifikanti fl-istorja li bdejt biha: l-g˙assa fil-bini
tas-sigurtà li g˙enitni kienet mara. Jiena dan
˙adtu b˙ala sinjal li r-Re©ina tas-Sema kienet
se ta˙dem permezz ta’ mara o˙ra biex tg˙in fil-
bΩonn tieg˙i.

Iva, Ommna tas-Sema tafha sewwa l-umanità
tag˙na. L-ewwel darba li ssib ru˙ek f’xi bΩonn dur
lejha.

28 Hajja Salesjana

rIEdunI norqod B’saqajja ’l Barra
Darba minnhom, kont f’ra˙al ’il bog˙od, fejn
in-nies ja˙dmu l-qasab tal-bambu’. Filg˙axija,
wara li kilt ma’ dawk il-˙bieb, in©barna lkoll

fil-kappella tal-qasab g˙ar-ruΩarju. Imbag˙ad,
g˙ajjenin wara ©urnata xog˙ol, kul˙add ta lil
xulxin il-lejl it-tajjeb u dabbru rashom biex
jorqdu. Lili qaluli biex nibqa’ fil-kappella
g˙ax kienu lestewli speçi ta’ friex imdendel
bil-˙bula li jag˙mlu huma stess. Imma hekk
kif rajtu, dak il- friex kien Ωg˙ir wisq g˙alija
g˙ax ma kienx it-tul tieg˙i. Qaluli biex norqod
fuqu mkebbeb…inkella dritt b’saqajja ’l barra.
Kellhom skop f’mo˙˙hom, g˙ax in-nies
t’hawnhekk huma superstizzjuΩi ˙afna. Il-
friex jag˙mluh qasir apposta g˙ax jemmnu li
jekk inti torqod komdu tkun qed tistieden il-
mewt malajr, li dda˙˙lek kollok minn rasek sa
saqajk ©ol-kaxxa! Mela allura jaqbillek torqod
b’saqajk ’l barra jekk trid tibqa’ tg˙ix g˙al
˙afna snin aktar!

Madankollu lili xejn ma g˙o©bitni dik l-idea.
Dakinhar jien kont ili nimxi minn sbie˙ il-jum
u issa ˙assejtni g˙ajjien mejjet. Kelli bΩonn
nistrie˙ sewwa u mhux ng˙addi l-lejl nitqalleb,
niççaqlaq u b’saqajja mikxufa kes˙in sil©.

Bdejt niftakar ukoll illi dawk in-nies xejn
ma kienu j˙obbu l-indafa. Is-‘sodod’ tag˙hom
tal-qasab malli jis˙nu jo˙or©u minnhom id-
dud u l-insetti. M’hawnx g˙alija kemm kont se
ng˙addi lejl tajjeb!...

Bil-˙lewwa kollha irringrazzjajthom
u wrejthom li ma xtaqtx norqod fuq dak

Il-Lejl it-tajjeb…
imma mhux dejjem!

G˙all-a˙˙ar tax-xahar ta’
Ottubru, niççelebraw Jum

stejjer ta’ missjunarju
jkellmuna fuq it-tbatija li

minnha jg˙addu u jfakkruna
nitolbu g˙alihom.

29Hajja Salesjana

il-friex jitbandal. G˙alija kien biΩΩejjed
jekk i©ibuli ˙asira ˙a nifrixha mal-art u xi
˙a©’o˙ra biex nitg˙atta biha. IΩda huma dritt
berrqu g˙ajnejhom f’wiççi u qaluli: “Ara ma
jfettillekx torqod mal-art Fadar!...Minn bejn
il-qasab immermer, mal-lejl jid˙lu Ω-Ωrin©ijiet
u warajhom is-sriep biex jaqbdu lil dawn…
Tissograx…g˙ax jigdmek xi serp u filg˙odu
nsibuk iebes!...Ng˙idilkom is-sewwa, kexkxuni.
“Kollox sew,’’ g˙edtilhom. “Mela mn’Alla qed
tg˙iduli.’’

Imbag˙ad x˙in telqu u ˙allewni wa˙di,
kontra qalbi ppruvajt dik is-‘sodda’ imma kif
stajt noqg˙od? Dik g˙at-tfal tajba. Óassejtni
skomdu g˙all-a˙˙ar. Bdejt in˙oss qriΩ u tingiΩ
ma’ ©ismi kollu. Anki rasi bdiet tikolni. Bilfors
kelli nqum minn hemm u nintefa’ xi mkien
ie˙or.

Naturalment, il-˙sieb tal-periklu li avΩawni
bih ma ˙alliniex nag˙laq g˙ajnejja. U qg˙adt
na˙seb f’kemm postijiet o˙ra qabel kont
g˙addejt iljieli mqajjem.

BIl-PjançI TaÛ-ÛIngu jTIru Fuq rasI
Darb’o˙ra wkoll, f’ra˙al ie˙or g˙andna

kappella-skola bis-saqaf taΩ-Ωingu. Din tidher
a˙jar mill-o˙ra. U jiena qtajtha li kelli ng˙addi
l-lejl fiha. Imma billi dik il-lejla qam riefnu
qawwi, il-katekista ˙ajjarni mmur norqod
g˙andu mall-familja, u l-aktar g˙ax qalli:
“It-travi li jΩommu l-pjançi xejn m’g˙adhom
b’sa˙˙ithom g˙ax kollha msewsin.’’ Imma
jien minn qaddisi ma n˙obbx indejjaq in-
nies u peress li bsart li dak ukoll ma kienx
a˙jar minn s˙abu fl-i©jene, ma xtaqtx inkun
itturmentat mid-dud u l-insetti g˙al lejl s˙i˙.
Ipperswadejtu li r-ri˙ dalwaqt ibatti u hekk
stajt norqod hemm ©ew, ta˙t dak is-saqaf.

Wara xi nofs sieg˙a, ir-riefnu flok waqaf
aktar Ωdied. Qamet maltempata mill-kbar
nett, bir-ri˙ ivenven u jag˙mel ˙sejjes tal-
biΩa’. Ried jaqla’ kollox mill-qieg˙.

Qomt nag˙mel xi puntali mal-bieba li
kienet t˙abbat. St˙ajjiltni se ntir b’kollox.
Il-pjançi wkoll kienu jiççaqalqu u jperpru
u j˙abbtu u jog˙lew b˙al folji ta’ pitazz. Ir-
rag˙ad, il-beraq u s-sajjetti kienu juru l-a˙˙ar
tad-dinja. Ìieni ˙sieb inda˙˙al rasi ta˙t l-artal
u mn’Alla…g˙ax fil-˙in buffura kbira qalg˙et
pjança minn postha u din niΩlet b’sabta kwaΩi
fuqi. Issa r-ri˙ fis-saqaf aktar beda juri snienu
g˙ax il-pjançi bdew jinqalg˙u u jtiru wa˙da
wara l-o˙ra. Beda wkoll jil˙aqni t-taqtir tax-
xita. Issaqsunix kemm il-©akulatorja g˙edt u
kemm-il darba g˙amilt l-att tal-indiema. Imma
fl-a˙˙ar dak il-lejl twil g˙adda wkoll.

Tajjeb kultant niftakru minn x’hiex
g˙addejna fl-img˙oddi waqt li g˙adna
qawwijin u s˙a˙. Dan biex nirringrazzjaw lil
˙anin Alla u niftakru li Hu dejjem mag˙na biex
i˙arisna mill-perikli, sakemm ikun g˙adu jrid
jinqeda bina skond il-pjan tieg˙u g˙alina.

30 Hajja Salesjana

Dun Bosco
fis-santi u kartolini

minn Renè Sacco

id-Disa’ parti

Appell: Nixtieq nie˙u din l-opportunità biex nistieden lil min g˙andu xi santi ta’ Dun Bosco li
jista’ jiddisponi minnhom biex jg˙addihomli ˙alli titkompla tikber il-kollezzjoni. Il-kollezzjoni
tinkludi ukoll lil S. Fran©isk ta’ Sales, S. Domenico Savio, Maria AwΩiljatriçi, u l-erwie˙ tajba

kollha Salesjani. Ni©bor ukoll domni, bolli, midalji u materjal ie˙or b’konnessjoni ma’ Dun
Bosco jew is-Salesjani. Grazzi bil-quddiem.

F’din id-disa’ parti tas-sensiela tag˙na ser
naraw ftit santi, xi ftit antiki b˙as-soltu, li barra
l-ikonografija, fi kliem ie˙or l-imma©ni jew stampa,
jinkludu ukoll xi ˙a©a o˙ra li tissejja˙ relikwa. Il-
kelma relikwa tfisser xi fdalijiet mill-©isem proprju
tal-qaddis, xi fdalijiet minn affarijiet li kienu
jappartjenu jew uΩati mill-qaddis, jew affarijiet li
©ew mimsusa ma’ xi ˙a©a minn dawn li g˙adna kif
semmejna. Relikwi mill-©isem proprju tal-qaddis,
b˙al ng˙idu a˙na g˙adam u xag˙ar, jissej˙u
relikwi tal-ewwel klassi; filwaqt li dawk ©ejjin
minn xi affarijiet li ©ew f’kuntatt mall-qaddis,
b˙alma huma ilbies, g˙odda, kotba, g˙amara,
eçç., jirreferu g˙alihom b˙ala relikwi tat-tieni
klassi. Dawk ir-relikwi, normalment biççiet Ωg˙ar
tad-drapp li ©ew mimsusa ma’ relikwi tal-ewwel
jew tat-tieni klassi, jissej˙u tat-tielet klassi u
huma l-iΩjed komuni. Fil-waqt li r-relikwi tal-ewwel
u t-tieni klassi insibuhom fil-knejjes, katidrali,

muΩewijiet jew monasteri, dawk tat-tielet klassi
jistg˙u jkunu g˙and kul˙add. Kif nistg˙u naraw
tajjeb mis-santi li g˙andna ma’ din il-kitba, metodu
façli kif dawn ir-relikwi ji©u mxerrda fost il-fidili
huwa li jitwa˙˙lu mas-santi.

Mil-lat storiku, jista’ jing˙ad li r-relikwi tal-
martri, qaddisin, affarijiet u o©©etti marbuta ma’
xi ©rajja b’aspett sagru jew reli©juΩ, mill-bidu
nett kienu jinΩammu b’qima u g˙oΩΩa kbira, u
dan mhux biss fir-reli©jon nisranija iΩda anke
f’reli©jonijiet o˙ra madwar id-dinja. Matul l-istorja
mqallba tal-knisja, ir-relikwi mhux darba jew tnejn
kienu l-qofol ta’ kontroversja , u l-Knisja, fil-waqt
li tapprova l-qima lejn ir-relikwi, twissi serjament
kontra s-superstizzjoni. B’dan irridu nfissru li kull
grazzja ti©i minn Alla; il-qaddisin huma l-qaddejja
tieg˙u u r-relikwi, g˙eΩieΩ kemm huma g˙eΩieΩ, ma
g˙andhom ebda qawwa fiΩika li jaqilg˙u grazzji jew
jag˙mlu mirakli. Il-funzjoni tar-relikwi, b˙al ˙afna

31Hajja Salesjana

affarijiet viΩivi o˙ra, hija li j©ag˙luna n˙ossu
aktar il-viçinanza tal-qaddis jew qaddisa, u hekk
in˙ossuna aktar qrib lejn Alla.

Fl-era bikrija tal-KristjaneΩmu u fiΩ-Ωminijiet
tan-nofs, ir-relikwi tant kienu popolari li l-knejjes
u katidrali kienu b˙al f’pika min ikollu l-iΩjed
˙a jkun jista jattira aktar pellegrini u viΩitaturi.
Dan wassal g˙al sitwazzjoni fejn l-awtentiçità
ta’ xi u˙ud mir-relikwi bdiet ti©i fid-dubju u anke
Ωviluppa ammont konsiderevoli ta’ xettiçiΩmu.
Fost l-aktar relikwi famuΩi u meqjuma nsibu
affarijiet li g˙andhom x’jaqsmu mall-passjoni ta’
Kristu b˙all-imsiemer, biççiet mis-salib, xewk,
eçç., kif ukoll ammont kbir ta’ g˙adam ta’ ˙afna
qaddisin u martri.

Ng˙addu issa biex naraw is-santi li g˙andna
ma’ din it-taqsima. Is-santi numru 9.1 sa 9.4, ©ew
stampati meta Dun Bosco kien g˙adu beatu u
fuq wara tal-ewwel wa˙da (9.1) hemm appell biex
min irid xi relikwi tal-beatu, jixtieq jirraporta xi
grazzja jew jag˙mel xi offerta g˙all-kawΩa tal-
kanonizzazzjoni, g˙andu jag˙mel dan billi jikteb
lir-‘Rettor Maggiore dei Salesiani – Torino (109) Via
Cottolengo, 32 (Italia)’. It-tip ta’ relikwi li hemm
fuq is-santi bin-numru 9.1, 9.2, 9.5, u 9.6 huma
msej˙a ‘EX INDUMENTIS’ li tfisser illi n-nitfa drapp
imwa˙˙la mas-santa kienet minn xi lbies tal-
qaddis. B’differenza, ir-relikwi li hemm imwa˙˙la
mas-santi 9.3 u 9.4 huma hekk imsej˙a ‘EX CAPSA’.
Dan jindika li l-laqxa njam imwa˙˙la mas-santa

9.1
9.2

9.3

32 Hajja Salesjana

hija me˙uda mit-tebut jew kaxxa li fija hemm il-
fdalijiet ta’ ©isem il-qaddis. F’dawn l-a˙˙ar snin,
pero’ dehru santi u domni ta’ diversi qaddisin
fejn ir-relikwi ©o fihom kienu biss intmessu mal-
˙wejje© jew tebut tal-qaddisin! G˙aldaqstant,
b’referenza g˙al dak li g˙edna iktar kmieni, is-
santi bir-reliwki jitqiesu tat-tieni klassi; filwaqt
li dawk moderni li biss intmessu mal-˙wejje© jew
tebut tal-qaddis/a huma tat-tielet klassi.

Normalment dawn it-tip ta’ relikwi jsiru billi
tittaqqab toqba Ωg˙ira fis-santa, ̇ afna drabi b˙ala

parti mid-disinn tal-imma©ni (eΩ. Numru 9.1, 9.3 u
9.4); din ti©i mg˙ottija b’biçça plastik, ir-relikwa
titpo©©a ta˙tha u ti©i ssi©illata permezz ta’ speçi
ta’ tikketta li tixhed il-verità u l-awtentiçità tag˙ha
(ara numru 9.7). IΩda mhux dejjem hekk. Jekk
in˙arsu lejn is-santa numru 9.2, insibu li g˙alkemm
fid-disinn tas-santa ©ie inkluΩ spazju g˙ar-relikwa,
din twa˙˙let fil-post ming˙ajr protezzjoni ta’ xejn
u bla ebda sinjal ta’ verifika.

9.4
9.5

9.6

9.7

33Hajja Salesjana

Bi t˙ejjija g˙al dawn il-vja©©i missjunarji, dawn il-voluntiera qeg˙din ji©u m˙arr©a permezz ta’ xi
esperjenzi fejn huma jridu jag˙tu sehemhom u jid˙lu g˙al xi biçça xog˙ol. Allura, nhar is-Sibt 4 ta’ Ìunju
or©anizzaw car-wash fil-parke©© ta’ ‘Tigne Point’ Shopping Centre. Fil-˙ames sig˙at li damu ja˙dmu
u ja˙slu, lestew 75 karozza u g˙amlu s-somma ta’ €650.00. Wa˙da mill-managers ta’ ‘The Point’, Ms.
Alison Gauçi Ωiedet tathom €120 b˙ala donazzjoni, liema flus Ωiedu l-entuΩjaΩmu tal-voluntiera. Óajr
ukoll imur lil Mr. Kevin Baker li g˙in ˙afna sabiex jittella u jirnexxi dan il-pro©ett.

Fost dawk li ˙adu l-karozza tag˙hom g˙all-˙asil, kien hemm ukoll xi awtoritajiet lokali li b’hekk riedu
juru l’appo©© tag˙hom g˙al din l-attività g˙all-karità li fija Ω-Ωg˙aΩag˙ urew ˙afna entuΩjaΩmu, fer˙,
©enerosità u koperazzjoni.

Wara din l-avventura li kienet suççess kbir, nhar it-28 ta’ Ìunju, proprju lejlet l-Imnarja, li SPYS
organizzaw “SPYS Up Summer Music Fest”. Dan il-kunçert sar fi Ìnien Indipendenza f’Tas-Sliema, bil-
kollaborazzjoni tal-Kunsill Lokali ta’ Tas-Sliema, u fih ˙adu sehem numru ta’ rock bands ta’ Ωg˙aΩag˙
minn Tas-Sliema stess. L-iskop ta’ dal-kunçert kien ukoll sabiex jin©abru fondi g˙all-pro©etti li fihom
ser ikunu nvoluti l-istess voluntiera.

Waqt illi jferr˙u u ji©bru xi flus, dawn l-attivitajiet jg˙inu mhux ftit sabiex dawk li ser imorru ja˙dmu
fuq pro©etti jit˙arr©u, jirb˙u kunfidenza fihom infushom u jitg˙allmu jaffrontaw sitwazzjonijiet li
jistg˙u ikunu diffiçli. Fl-img˙oddi wkoll, bil-fondi mi©bura u bl-ener©ija ta’ dawn iΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙, inbenew
laboratorju tal-computers u hostel sabiex jg˙inu tfal fil-bΩonn.

Pastoral Service (SPYS) sabiex imur iqatta’ xi ©img˙at ta’ xog˙ol missjunarju volontarju
f’artijiet barra minn Malta: il-Kenja, il-Ghana u l-Indja. Dawn iΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ sejrin ikunu

34 Hajja Salesjana

“A good priest is a truly human person who
expresses his love for God in prayer and in
love for people. These gifts are sanctified
and focused through the grace of ordination
when he becomes ‘a man for others’.”
Cardinal Cormac Murphy – O’Connor

• Do I really want to follow Jesus and show
his love to others, especially to the young,
as Don Bosco did?

• Is prayer and my own relationship with God
at the centre of my life?

• Do I want to be honest and ‘real’ before
God and others?

• Do I enjoy the life and company of other
people? Am I approachable?

• Am I concerned for the young, the poor
and vulnerable?

way of life?

Are you
being calledto the

priesthooD

And to the

salesian
If you believe you have a calling to be a
Salesian priest then contact the voca-
tions director, Fr. Louis Grech SDB at:

Tel. 21 454546 / 21 456251
or e-mail: vocations@salesiansmalta.org

for more information
www.vocations.salesiansmalta.org

Çempel lil Fr Eric Cachia SDB fuq 21 331 447

X’inhi BorÛa ta’ StuDju?
hija somma ta’ flus li tg˙inna biex in˙allsu parti mill-formazzjoni
ta’ Ωag˙Ωug˙ li qed i˙ejji ru˙u biex isir saçerdot Salesjan.

KEmm triD tagÓti BiEX twaqqaF BorÛa ta’ StuDju?
Kapital ta’ b600

jEÓtiEÌ li BilForS tagÓti S-Somma F’Daqqa?
le. wie˙ed jista’ jag˙tiha biçça biçça, tant fix-xhar jew tant fis-sena.

jEÓtiEÌ li BilForS iS-Somma tKun mogÓtija minn wiEÓED BiSS?
le. jistg˙u jiftehmu flimkien iktar minn persuna wa˙da u kul˙add jag˙ti sehmu.
iΩda min jo˙ro© wa˙du s-somma kollha, ikun fundatur ta’ dik il-BorΩa.

jiStÀ wiEÓED iÓalli l-BorÛa BÓala lEgat wara mEwtu?
jistà. u min jag˙mel hekk, jistà jikteb fit-testment: “in˙alli b˙ala legat lis-Salesjani ta’ Don
Bosco, is-somma ta’ g˙all-formazzjoni ta’ Ωag˙Ωug˙ malti fl-istess Soçjetà.

BorΩa ta’ Studju

huwa fatt ta’ swied il-qalb li llum ˙afna Ωg˙aΩag˙ huma:
• vittma ta’ min juΩahom biex jistg˙ana
• abbuΩati sesswalment
• uΩati mill-mexxejja tad-droga
• imça˙˙din minn valuri essenzjali fil-˙ajja

int tistà tg˙inna. meta qed tag˙mel hekk, int tkun qed tie˙u sehem fil-
˙idma ta’ Don Bosco. alla biss ikun jaf il-©id li tkun qed tag˙mel.

G˙in il-˙idma Salesjana

Dawk li huma l-iΩjed fil-periklu l-aktar ji˙tie©u g˙ajnuna. Dawk li m’g˙andhomx le˙en
je˙tie©u xi ˙add jiddefendihom. San Ìwann Bosco kien jafu dan. hu ˙adem f’˙ajtu kollha
g˙aΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙, g˙all-foqra u g˙al dawk li huma l-aktar fil-bΩonn.

Apparitions of Our Lady

NEWSPAPER POST
St. PatriCK’S SChool, St. john BoSCo StrEEt, SliEma Slm 1925

Our Lady of the Rosary
According to a venerable
tradition, the Rosary was
revealed to St. Dominic
by the Blessed Mother.
In the year 1214, as St.
Dominic withdrew into
a forest near Toulouse,
France, for three days of
prayer and penance, the
Virgin Mary appeared
to him, accompanied by
three angels, and gave
him the Holy Rosary. She
said: “Dear Dominic, do
you know which weapon
the Blessed Trinity wants
to use to reform the
world? I want you to
know that, in this kind
of warfare, the principal
weapon has always been
the Angelic Psalter (the
Hail Mary), which is the

foundation-stone of the New Testament. Therefore, if
you want to reach these hardened souls and win them
over to God, preach my Psalter.” Our Lady said that
any time people recite the Hail Mary they are giving
her a beautiful rose, and that at each complete Rosary,
they make her a crown of roses, in Latin Rosarium.
Accordingly, St. Dominic promoted the Rosary for the
rest of his life, witnessing an outpouring of graces and
conversions.