Hajja Salesjana JANNAR - FRAR 2009il-212 Óar©a
Dun Bosco 75 sena f’G˙awdex
Jien g˙alikom nistudja
Remembering Father Rua in 2010
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 {wann 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-
dinjau 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:
www.salesiansmalta.org/newsonline
Fuqiex se naqraw
Front Cover: Billi din is-sena ja˙bat ic-çentenarju tas-Salesian Brigade, u billi l’istrenna tar-Rettur Ma©©ur tg˙idilna “nwasslu
l-Van©elu liΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙”, ir-ritratt tal-qoxra juri mumenti fil-˙ajja tas-Salesian Brigade.
D.Bosco: 75 sena f’G˙awdex 9
Boscofest 12
Blessed Michael Rua 14
Malta Salesjana 20
Jien G˙alikom Nistudja 22
Remembering Fr Rua in 2010 24
The Unlocked Door 26
Presentation of Strenna 2010 28
News from Australia 30
Il-FiΩika fil-prattika 34
Editorjal / Pedago©ija / Caledar of events /
Something to think about / Marian Apparitions
3Hajja Salesjana
G˙eΩieΩ Qarrejja,
G˙adna kif tajna bidu g˙al sena o˙ra, opportunita’
©dida fejn spiss in˙ossu l-˙tie©a li nag˙mlu
proponimenti ˙alli ntejbu ˙ajjitna. J’Alla dawn
ix-xhur li resqin fuqna jkunu mimlija barka mill-
Mulej. Id f’id ma’ Dun Bosco, din is-sena se tkun
g˙all-Familja Salesjana ©rajja o˙ra ta’ grazzji u
tifkiriet li g˙andhom iqanqlu fina spirtu m©edded
f’dak li sawwar fina l-ispirtu Salesjan.
Apparti l-festi Salesjani li ©a niççelebraw,
is-sena 2010 se timmarka avveniment speçjali.
Sewwasew, kien id-29 t’Ottubru 1910 li miet
l-ewwel suççessur ta’ Dun Bosco, Don Mikiel
Rua. L-istedina tar-Rettur Ma©©ur hija dik li
ner©g˙u niskopru l-kariΩma u l-persuna ta’ dan
il-bniedem, li sa mill-eta’ bikrija, kien qed jg˙ix
fl-Oratorju ta’ Valdocco, spalla ma’ spalla ma’ Dun
Bosco. Nistg˙u ng˙idu ˙afna ©rajjiet mill-˙ajja ta’
Don Rua. BiΩΩejjed insemmu Ω-Ωew© Ωjajjar li huwa
g˙amel fi gΩiritna biex inawgura l-ftu˙ ta’ l-iskola
ta’ St. Patrick kif ukoll tal-Juventutis Domus, jew
kif inhu mag˙ruf llum, it-Teatru Salesjan.
Meta wie˙ed jitkellem fuq Don Rua, minnufih
jintebah kif f’˙ajtu huwa fittex li jg˙ix jum b’jum,
l-istess spirtu li wiret minn g˙and Dun Bosco. Kien
bniedem li ˙abb il-faqar, li emmen fit-tfal u li,
minkejja r-rwol importanti li ˙addan, ma ddejjaqx
kuljum ikun preΩenti fil-bit˙a mat-tfal. Dak il-lejl
li Dun Bosco miet, Don Rua qattg˙u wa˙du fil-
BaΩilka ta’ Marija G˙ajnuna ta’ l-Insara, ma ©enb il-
©isem mejjet ta’ Dun Bosco, jitlob fis-skiet. Kienet
din il-fiducja f’ Marija li sostnietu fil-mixja tieg˙u
b˙ala Salesjan, saçerdot u missier il-Familja
Salesjana g˙al aktar minn 20 sena. Jekk sal-
mewt ta’ Dun Bosco is-Salesjani kienu qabΩu is-
700, fis-snin li mexxa Don Rua, is-Salesjani kienu
la˙qu telg˙u g˙al aktar minn 3000, mifruxa ma’
˙afna pajjiΩi ©odda. Il-biΩa’ li mal-mewt ta’ Dun
Bosco, il-kongregazzjoni setg˙et tisfaxxa, taret
mar-ri˙ grazzi g˙all-˙idma bla ser˙an tieg˙u. Il-
we©g˙at u l-fer˙at, li kienu bosta fil-˙ajja tieg˙u,
kienu prova li Don Rua fehem dak li snin qabel
Dun Bosco ried jg˙id meta qallu: « Jien u int g˙ad
naqsmu kollox flimkien. »
In˙e©©i©kom biex niskopru d-doni spiritwali li
dan il-Beatu g˙ex u qasam ma’ l-o˙rajn, li b˙al Dun
Bosco, ˙adem sa l-a˙˙ar nifs ta’ ˙ajtu g˙al ©id tat-
tfal u Ω-Ωg˙aΩag˙. J’Alla din is-sena l-©dida tkun
g˙alina lkoll opportunita’ li nixb˙uh fis-sehem
tag˙na fil-qasam edukattiv.
Fr. Paul Formosa SDB – Delegat
Is-Sena ta’ Dun Mikiel Rua
EDITORJAL
“L-istedina tar-Rettur Ma©©ur hija dik li
ner©g˙u niskopru l-kariΩma u l-persuna
ta’ dan il-bniedem, li sa mill-eta’ bikrija,
kien qed jg˙ix fl-Oratorju ta’ Valdocco,
spalla ma’ spalla ma’ Dun Bosco.”
4 Hajja Salesjana
Dear Readers
We just started a New Year, something that gives
us an opportunity to make new resolutions so as
to improve our life. May these coming months
be full of God’s blessings. Hand in hand with Don
Bosco, this year is going to be for us another
event of grace and memories that will awaken in
us a renewed Salesian spirit.
Apart from the Salesian feasts that we usually
celebrate, the year 2010 will also mark a special
event. It was the 29th October 1910 that Don
Michael Rua, the first successor of Don Bosco,
passed away. Now, our Rector Major, invites us
to rediscover the charism and personality of
this man, who, since early childhood lived at the
Oratory of Valdocco, next to Don Bosco. We may
recall many facts about him; enough to mention
his two visits to our island for the opening of St.
Patrick’s School and of the ‘Juventutis Domus’,
known more as the Salesian Theatre.
When one talks about Don Rua, one will soon
realize how much this man tried to live, day by
day, the spirit he had inherited from Don Bosco. He
was a man who loved poverty; he believed in and
loved the young so much that, notwithstanding
the important position he had, he would not miss
being with the boys in the yard. When Don Bosco
died, Don Rua spent the night in the Basilica of
Mary Help of Christians, besides the casket of Don
Bosco, praying in silence. He had a great trust in
Mary and this sustained him as a priest, a Salesian
and a father to the Salesian Family for more than
20 years. If at Don Bosco’s death the Salesians
numbered 700, in the years of Don Rua’s rule
that number went up to more than 3000, spread
in other new countries. The fear that with Don
Bosco’s death our Congregation would crumble,
vanished thanks to Don Rua’s assiduous toil.
There were joys and sorrows in his life, and they
helped him understand the words Don Bosco had
told him, many years before, “You and I will share
things by half.”
I encourage you to discover the spiritual gifts
of this saintly man; how he lived them and shared
them with others especially in working up to his
last breath, like Don Bosco, for the good of the
young. And may this year be for us an opportunity
to imitate him in this most noble mission: the
formation of the young.
Fr. Paul Formosa SDB - Delegate
EDITORIAL
When one talks about Don Rua, one will
soon realize how much this man tried to
live, day by day, the spirit he had inherited
from Don Bosco.
The Year of Bl. Michael Rua
5Hajja Salesjana
G˙al xi snin, issa, ili newdhen fuq l-idea li noffri
lill-Familja Salesjana xi ˙sibijiet sempliçi u
sistematiçi fuq dak li huwa ç-çentru tal-fidi
tag˙na waqt li nenfasizza xi aspetti tat-
tradizzjoni Salesjana li jmorru lura lejn Dun
Bosco. Dan di©à g˙idtu fl-iSTRENNA 2010, fis-
sena taç-çentenarju mill-mewt ta’ Dun Mikiel
Rua: Nimitaw lil Dun Rua, u b˙ala dixxipli vera
u m˙e©©a, inwasslu l-Van©elu liΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙.
F’dar-rigward, il-Papa Benedittu XVI ifakkarna
li, ‘tkun nisrani mhux ir-riΩultat ta’ xi g˙aΩla
etika jew idea g˙olja, imma l-laqg˙a ma’ ©rajja,
ma’ persuna, li tifta˙ g˙all-˙ajja orizzont ©did’
(Deus Caritas est, 1). Il-KristjaneΩmu mhux
©abra ta’ veritajiet li wasalna g˙alihom wara
sekli ta’ ˙sieb, lanqas ta’ xi m©iba morali li
ng˙ixu, imma laqg˙a personali mal-Mulej
Ìesù, li tbiddlilna ˙ajjitna u tag˙milna ‘veri
nsara’ ji©ifieri li «nappartjenu lil Kristu ». Dan
narawh fit-tifsira tal-kelma ‘Van©elu’ li ©ejja
mil-Griek li tfisser «bxara t-tajba» u li San
Mark juΩa’ b˙ala titlu meta jikteb, «Bidu tal-
PEDAGOÌIJA
Salesjana
Kummenti fuq li Strenna 2010:
Il-Van©elu liΩ-Ûg˙aΩag˙
Minn Pascual Chavez – Trad. Joe Cini
AÓBAR TAJBA LILL-BNEDMIN
Ìesù huwa l-‘iva’ ta’ Alla lill-bniedem
u anke it-twe©iba tal-bniedem lil Alla (ara Kor 1, 18-24)
6 Hajja Salesjana
Bxara t-Tajba ta’ Ìesù Kristu, l-Iben ta’ Alla »
(Mk 1.1). Sa mill-bidu, imnebb˙in mill-Ispirtu
s-Santu, l-Insara fehmu li Ìesù kien l-akbar u
l-isba˙ a˙bar g˙an-nies kollha tad-dinja.
Ejjew nirriflettu ftit. Bxara tassew tajba
jkollha tliet kwalitajiet: tkun mhux mistennija;
tkun ©ejja minn “barra’’; timla l-qalb b’fer˙
mhux tas-soltu. Jekk napplikaw dawn g˙all-
KristjaneΩmu nifhmu li mhix kwistjoni ta’
fer˙ uman, iΩda tal-verità meraviljuΩa li Alla
j˙obbna u g˙amilna, fi Kristu, uliedu. Din hija
bil-˙afna l-isba˙ bxara. Il-poplu ta’ Israel
ukoll, g˙alkemm kien stenna il-Messija g˙al
sekli s˙a˙, sfaw im˙awda. Dawk biss li kienu
lesti jbiddlu l-attitudni kollha tag˙hom waslu
biex jaççettaw lil Ìesù b˙ala l-Messija/Kristu.
Irridu però nammettu li din ma kinetx ‘bxara
tajba’ g˙al kul˙add; g˙al dawk li jserr˙u
mo˙˙hom fuq il-qawwa tal-kburija tag˙hom,
fuq il-poter jew l-g˙ana u l-©id (Lk 1, 51-53)
din kienet aktarx ‘bxara ˙aΩina’, u fl-a˙˙ar
din wasslet lil dak li ˙abbha sal-mewt. Meta
wie˙ed imbag˙ad jemmen li l-KristjaneΩmu
huwa l-isba˙ a˙bar g˙all-bnedmin, i˙oss id-
dover li jwassal dil-bxara lid-dinja kollha. “Kif
jistg˙u jsej˙u lil Dak li ma jemmnux fih? Kif
jistg˙u jemmnu f’dak li ma semg˙ux bih?
Kif jistg˙u jisimg˙u jekk ma jxandrulhomx?’’
(Rom 10,14). Li wie˙ed jieqaf milli jxandar
u jkun missjunarju huwa l-akbar infedeltà
lejn Alla u l-akbar azzjoni egoista lejn il-
bniedem. Imma©inaw familja fqira li tirba˙
il-lotterija nazzjonali; jekk min˙abba l-faqar
din ma tistax tkun taf b’din l-a˙bar lanqas
tistà ti©bor il-premju. Xi ˙add li jaf b’dan u
ma jg˙idilhomx, ikun verament egoist mill-
akbar. Issa, f’Ìesù il-bnedmin kollha reb˙u
l-akbar premju imma©inabbli; imma ˙afna u
˙afna minnhom dan ma jafuhx! Bir-ra©un ma
nistg˙ux ma n˙abbrux din l-a˙bar li, kif jg˙id
il-Papa Benedittu, ‘tifta˙ g˙all- ˙ajja orizzont
DIN HIJA BIL-ÓAFNA L-ISBAÓ BXARA. IL-POPLU TA’ ISRAEL
UKOLL, GÓALKEMM KIENU STENNEW IL-MESSIJA GÓAL SEKLI
SÓAÓ, SFAW IMÓAWDA. DAWK BISS LI KIENU LESTI JBIDDLU
L-ATTITUDNI KOLLHA TAGÓHOM WASLU BIEX JAÇÇETTAW
LIL ÌESÙ BÓALA L-MESSIJA/KRISTU.
7Hajja Salesjana
©did’, u twassal g˙all-˙ajja ta’ dejjem.
Meta n˙arsu lejn Dun Bosco nindunaw li 1)
is-sistema edukattiva tieg˙u m’hijiex ©abra
ta’ ideat u regoli imma mixja ta’ fidi li twassal
g˙al-laqg˙a ˙ajja mal-persuna ta’ Ìesù. Huwa
eduka billi mexa fit-triq ta’ twettiq uman u
qdusija nisranija bbasata fuq ˙biberija ma’
Ìesù, mg˙ixa b’impenn. 2) Dun Bosco ˙ass
fil-fond is-sitwazzjoni ta’ dawk li ma kinux
semg˙u l-Bxara t-Tajba u mill-bidunett, skond
ma seta’ jiddisponi, kien ˙abrek g˙ax-xog˙ol
missjunarju u ˙alla din il-marka u ˙e©©a lill-
Familja Salesjana. Ta’ kull sena jiena g˙andi
l-fer˙, permezz ta’ l-g˙otja tal-kurçifiss, li
nibg˙at ˙afna membri tal-Familja Salesjana
lejn l-artijiet tal-missjoni; tradizzjoni li bidet
fl-1875. Imma, jibqg˙u jidwu kliem Ìesù,
<<Il-˙sad huwa kbir imma l-˙addiema ftit>>,
g˙alhekk kull wie˙ed u wa˙da minnkom,
bil-kelma jew bix-xhieda ta’ ˙ajjitkom, skond
il-possibiltà tieg˙u/tag˙ha, irid i©ib il-Bxara
t-Tajba lil ˙utu l-bnedmin, ji©ifieri li a˙na lkoll
ulied Alla li j˙obbna.
TA’ KULL SENA JIENA
GÓANDI L-FERÓ,
PERMEZZ TA’ L-GÓOTJA
TAL-KURÇIFISS, LI
NIBGÓAT ÓAFNA MEMBRI
TAL-FAMILJA SALESJANA
LEJN L-ARTIJIET TAL-
MISSJONI; TRADIZZJONI
LI BIDET FL-1875.
8 Hajja Salesjana
Fri 1 Our Lady, Mother of God. World Day of Peace
Sun 3 Past Pupils of St. Patrick’s Committee Meeting at 9.30 a.m.
Tue 5 Beginning of 2nd Term of school.
Wed 6 Sliema Salesian Cooperators’ Meeting at St. Patrick’s.
Thu 7 2nd Term of School begins
Sun 10 Prayer Day for Salesian Missions
Fri 15 Blessed Luigi Variara SDB
Sat 16 Course in Salesian Spirituality 4
Fri 22 Blessed Laura Vicuna. Feast Day at Laura Vicuna School, Ghasri.
Sun 24 Feast of St. Francis of Sales. Patron saint of Salesian Congregation
Mon 25 Commemoration of Mary Help of Christians
Fri 29 Feasting St. John Bosco at Salesian Schools.
Sun 31 Feast of St. John Bosco. Masses in St. Patrick’s and Sliema Oratory Churches will be
of the Saint. AGM of Past Pupils at St. Patrick’s at 8.45a.m. Special Mass for Salesian
Cooperators and Past Pupils at 11.30 a.m. followed by Feastday Lunch
Wed 3 School Leaving Exams Form 5 at Savio College. Sliema Salesian
Cooperators’ Meeting at St. Patrick’s.
Fri 5 First Friday Devotions at St. Patrick’s Church
Tue 9 Bl. Eusebia Palomino FMA
Wed 10 St. Paul’s Shipwreck. Prayer Day for Salesian Missions
Sat 13 Course in Salesian Spirituality 5
Sun 14 Past Pupils of St. Patrick’s Committee Meeting at 9.30 a.m.
Carnival holidays
Wed 17 Ash Wednesday. Stations of the Cross & Mass at 6.30 p.m. at St. Patrick’s
Thu 25 Sts. A.Versiglia & C.Caravario Salesian missionaries martyred in China
Wed 3 Sliema Salesian Cooperators’ Meeting at St. Patrick’s.
Sat 6 Course in Salesian Spirituality 6
8 – 12 Lenten Sermons at St. Patrick’s
Sun 14 Past Pupils of St. Patrick’s Committee Meeting at 9.30 a.m.
Fri 19 Feast of St. Joseph. Yearly Bikeathlon at Savio College
Read ˙ajja Salesjana on the website: www.salesiansmalta.org
FEASTS & EVENTS
JAN
UA
RY
FEB
RUA
RY
MA
RCH
CALENDAR OF SALESIAN
2010
9Hajja Salesjana
Kien proprju l-1 ta’ April, Óadd il-G˙id tas-‘Sena
Mqaddsa’ ta’ 1934, meta l-Papa Piju XI f’Ruma kien
qed imexxi r-rit tal-Kanonizzazzjoni ta’ Don Bosco
fil-Vatikan, li fi Triq il-Karità, fir-Rabat G˙awdex,
infet˙u g˙all-ewwel darba il-bibien Ωg˙ar ta’ l-
ewwel Oratorju.
75 sena huma ˙afna drabi aktar minn g˙omor
ta’ bniedem, u ftit huma dawk l-ixxurtjati li kienu
Dun Bosco 75 sena f’G˙awdex
minn John Cremona
FL-EWWEL TA’ APRIL TAS-SENA LI
GÓADDIET ÓABAT IL-75 ANNIVERSARJU
MINN META BDIET ISSEÓÓ IL-ÓOLMA
TA’ XI SAÇERDOTI QADDISA FIR-RABAT,
GÓAWDEX. L-ORATORJU ‘DUN BOSCO’,
LI MINN DIK IL-ÌURNATA STORIKA
SAL-LUM QATT MA REÌA’ GÓALAQ
IL-BIBIEN TIEGÓU, QED IFAKKAR B’MOD
XIERAQ DAWN IL-ÌRAJJIET LI HAWN
QIEG˙ED NIRRAKKONTA.
preΩenti dak in-nhar u li l-lum g˙adhom ˙ajjin.
Forsi huma kienu jkunu f’poΩizzjoni a˙jar minni
li jirrakkuntaw x’©ara dak in-nhar, imma jien
se nibbaΩa dawn il-ftit linji fuq kitbiet li ˙alla
l-protagonist ewlieni ta’ din il-©rajja f’G˙awdex,
Dun Pawl Micallef.
Il-Bidu ta’ Xewqa Kbira
Kif g˙edna, kien il-Óadd filg˙odu meta Dun ÌuΩepp
Spiteri, qassis Malti li kien ©ie joqg˙od G˙awdex
feta˙ g˙all-ewwel darba il-bibien ta’ l-Oratorju.
Nist˙ajjilkom tistaqsu “Mela Dun Pawl fejn kien?
Jirrakkonta Dun Pawl;
“Wasal il-jum tant mixtieq ta’ l-1 ta’ April
1934, waqt li jien kont Ruma nassisti ç-çerimonji
sollenni tal-Kanonizzazzjoni tal-Ma˙bub Missier
u Mg˙allem taΩ-Ûg˙aΩag˙, fost ˙lejjaq ta’ nies u
pellegrini li qatt ma kienu dehru daqshom ©o San
Pietru u barra l-knisja, Dun ÌuΩepp hawn G˙awdex
feta˙ il-bibien liç-çkejknin g˙eΩieΩ ta’ D. Bosco.
L-Oratorju ©ie miftu˙! Fost l-ikbar fer˙”.
10 Hajja Salesjana
Il-ftu˙ ta’ l-ewwel Oratorju ma ©iex
b’kumbinazzjoni; qabel din il-©rajja, kien hemm
snin twal ta’ ˙idma, talb u qtig˙ il-qalb g˙al Dun
Pawl Micallef. Huwa nnifsu jistqarr li kien g˙adu
fuq il-bankijiet ta’ l-iskola meta hu u Dun Alwig
Mizzi, li aktar tard kellu jsir Salesjan, kienu dejjem
jitkellmu u jo˙olmu fuq Dun Bosco, is-Salesjani
u l-Oratorju. Huwa kien ja˙dem biex ixerred id-
devozzjoni lejn Dun Bosco kemm permezz ta’
artikli li beda jikteb fil-‘Le˙en is-Sewwa’ kif ukoll
bit-tqassim ta’ santi u kurunelli
L-ewwel opportunità g˙al Dun Pawl ©iet meta
fl-1929 Mons. Kan. Dun Pawl Cauchi, Rettur tal-
Knisja ta’ Savina, re˙a l-g˙aqda tal-Pa©©i tas-
Sagrament f’idejn Dun Pawl Micallef u din serviet
b˙ala l-ewwel opportunità li jibda ji©bor it-tfal.
Din l-g˙aqda ˙adet spinta fl-1931 f’g˙eluq il-25
sena mit-twaqqif tal-Pa©©i tas-Sagrament meta
f’Savina saru festi kbar u t-tfal Ωdiedu fuq li Ωdiedu.
Mons Pawl Cauchi fi tmiem tal-festi kien qal lit-
tfal u lin-nies mi©bura fil-knisja li “L-Oratorju hu
lest, tonqos id-dar u s-Salesjani kemm ji©u jie˙du
˙siebu”.
Kellhom jg˙addu madanakollu sentejn o˙ra
qabel mal-pro©ett li kellu f’mo˙˙u Dun Pawl beda
jie˙u s-sura. IΩ-Ωmien ma kienx wie˙ed sabi˙
f’G˙awdex. Il-livell ta’ g˙ixien kien baxx ˙afna
u l-livell ta’ l-edukazzjoni kien bil-wisq aktar
baxx. G˙al darb’o˙ra ser in˙alli lill-protagonist
biex jirrakkonta huwa stess dwar is-sitwazzjoni
f’G˙awdex; “Id-duttrina fil-Knisja Parrokkjali ta’
San Ìor© kienet wisq sejra lura xi drabi konna
inkunu iktar katekisti milli tfal. Xi qassisin kienu
imorru l-barra g˙ax bla tfal jew il-ftit tag˙hom
kienu jag˙tuhom lil ˙addie˙or. Bruda kbira fit-tfal
u f’min jg˙allem! Imma donnu kollox minn Alla!
Donnu Alla ˙alla li jsir dan biex aktar tidher il-
˙tie©a ta’ Oratorju”.
Bil-ftit il-ftit
Imqanqal minn din is-sitwazzjoni, l-Arçipriet tar-
Rabat Mons Alfons Maria Hili, f’Novembru 1933
re˙a t-tag˙lim tad-duttrina f’idejn Dun ÌuΩepp
Spiteri, mag˙ruf b˙ala l-Malti, li dan kellu ˙afna
mis-sistemi ta’ Dun Bosco. F’xi Ωmien wara Dun
ÌuΩepp talab l-g˙ajnuna ta’ Dun Pawl biex jg˙inu u
“f’malajr t-tnejn sirna qisna qalb wa˙da” jg˙id Dun
Pawl. Biex tattira t-tfal kienu jin˙tie©u s-santi u r-
rigali u g˙alhekk kien hemm ˙tie©a ta’ g˙ajnuna
materjali. Dun ÌuΩepp Spiteri talab lill-isqof biex
ikun jista’ jag˙mel ©abra darba fix-xahar fil-Par-
roçça ta’ San Ìor©, iΩda l-isqof deherlu li a˙jar li
tibda ssir ©abra nhar ta’ Ìimg˙a fil-quddiesa tat-
8.00 (filg˙odu) u l-ewwel ©abra saret fil-21 ta’ No-
vembru 1933 u n©abru ˙dax-il sold u nofs .
F’wa˙da miΩ-Ωjajjar li Dun Bosco g˙amel lill-
Papa Piju IX fil-Vatikan, dan il-Papa qaddis li
g˙araf ukoll il-qdusija ta’ Dun Bosco, talbu biex
jikteb l-istorja ta’ ˙ajtu biex isservi ta’ tag˙lim
g˙al uliedu spiritwali. Dun Bosco, dan wettqu biss
bosta snin wara, meta l-Papa tah ordni biex jikteb
11Hajja Salesjana
il-memorji tieg˙u. Ma nafx g˙al liema ra©uni,
imma Dun Pawl ukoll kiteb il-memorji tat-twaqqif
u tal-ftu˙ ta’ l-ewwel Oratorju. Sfortunatament
din il-ktiba tasal biss sas-sena 1938 imma tag˙ti
˙afna informazzjoni dwar l-ewwel snin ta’
l-Oratorju.
G˙al darb’o˙ra, ir-rakkont ta’ kif akkwista
l-ewwel dar se ner©a’ n˙allih g˙all-pinna ta’
Dun Pawl. “Dak ix-xahar stess (Novembru 1933)
tkellimna fuq il-˙tie©a li nsibu xi dar, konna fuq
il-g˙atba tas-sakristija ta’ S. Ìor©, kien hemm is-
servjent ta’ S. Ìor© M’Ang Agius u kif semag˙na
nitkellmu qabeΩ qalilna: “Hawn dar na˙seb li
tajba, m’hix mikrija g˙ax-jg˙idu li fiha l-˙ares,
hawn qrib No 12,13 Sda Carita, ta’ ÌuΩepp Grech”:
U tassew! Sibna lil ÌuΩepp u f’malajr ftehmna,
bil-patt li 2 ikmamar jifta˙omlna f’wa˙da: u s-sid
kien wisq ©entili mag˙na, g˙amlilna li tlabni˙
u krielna d-dar bi ftit flus. U l-˙ares? Malajr
keççih D. Bosco! Kif konna naraw id-dar, ÌuΩepp
irrakkontalna l-biçça tal-˙ares. Hemmhekk kellu
l-barrin u mal-lejl xi wie˙ed isib ru˙u ma˙lul u
kien jitla u jinΩel it-tara© u l-katina çlikk, çlikk,
kienu ja˙sbu li hemm ix-xjaten il-©irien: u ma
d˙akniex bi ftit”.
L-ewwel dar – jibda l-Oratorju
L-ewwel snin ta’ l-Oratorju kienu karatterizzati
minn diffikultajiet u g˙aks kbir, karatteristiçi li
ssibhom f’kull opra g˙all-glorja ta’ Alla. Id-dar
kienet kwaΩi art u saqaf u kull ma kien hemm
fil-ftu˙ tad-dar kienu xi bankijiet li nxtraw mit-
talkies ta’ Mikiel Vella u mill-KaΩin ta’ Ljun u
sintendi kwadru ta’ Dun Bosco. Is-si©©ijiet g˙all-
katekisti kienu jisselfu minn San Ìor©. Sena
wara mbag˙ad inxtrat l-ewwel magna tal-films
ming˙and Mikiel Vella.
F’din id-dar bdiet issir id-duttrina kuljum u
l-ispjega tal-van©elu fil-Ódud u l-festi filwaqt
li l-quddiesa tal-Óadd kienet issir fil-Knisja ta’
San Ìakbu. Hawn beda wkoll it-teatrin, pilastru
ewlieni fis-sistema ta’ Dun Bosco u l-ewwel dramm
li ttella’ kien proppju Duminku Savio, dramm
maqlub g˙all-Malti minn Dun Pawl Micallef.
F’din id-dar ma damx wisq g˙aliex sa sentejn
wara, Dun Pawl, kien di©a’ trasferixxa l-Oratorju
g˙al 24 Strada Pieta’ illum Triq Mons GuΩeppi
Farrugia li kienet dar akbar fejn ˙oloq teatru
Ωg˙ir u kappella. Dun Pawl ˙aseb ukoll biex jordna
statwa ta’ Dun Bosco, “ming˙and l-istatwarju
Wistin Camilleri “Min g˙and Wistin ˙adniha bit-tfal
ikantaw ‘Don Bosco ritorna’ u ©iet imbierka mill-
Arçipriet Alf. M. Hili fil-Knisja ta’ San Ìor© u ftit
wara bdew il-festi fl-1,2 u 3 ta’ Mejju 1936. G˙asar u
priedka u filg˙odu quddiesa bit-tqarbina tat-tfal. 1
ippriedka D.P. Micallef, 2 D. Lwi© Galea, 3 Mons C.
Fort. Griek: Jum il-festa bil-muΩika: L-istatwa rigal
tieg˙i”.
(Il-kwotazzjonijiet bil-korsiv huma riprodotti
kif miktuba minn Dun Pawl Micallef).
12 Hajja Salesjana
When I went to the initial
meeting held in April, I was
flabber-gasted!!! Over 300
teenagers from all over
Malta were present and
eager to get their place
in Boscofest. It was re-
ally amazing. In the first edition
THE FOURTH EDITION OF BOSCOFEST WAS
UNDERWAY AS WAY BACK AS APRIL 2009!
AND THE PLANNING WAS ALREADY IN
HAND AS WAY BACK AS DECEMBER 2008.
TO BE HONEST, I WASN’T QUITE
SURE OF WHAT TO EXPECT.
THE PREVIOUS BOSCOFESTS
WERE ALREADY BRILLIANT,
SO I ONLY WONDERED HOW
MUCH BETTER IT COULD
POSSIBLY BE…
The Ultimate Fun Experience
of Boscofest, we performed “The Hunchback of
Notre Dame”, with only 50 participants enrolled.
Later, we pulled off “Oliver Twist”, and the num-
ber had already increased to about 120. Boscofest
2007 was a sure, and about 170 young-
sters participated. Now, it
seemed that for the very
first time some applicants
were going to be turned
down!
One thing I really like
about Boscofest is the big
sense of family-belonging.
Thanks to Fr.Louis Grech, Ms
Mariel Gauci and over 80 helpers
and animators, everyone feels
at home and no one left out.
Everybody gets to know each
other by the end of the first couple
of meetings. We are like a family… a
13Hajja Salesjana
rather big family! Personally, I really love the way
each and every teenager is treated. The animators
are always available to everyone when someone
needed to express oneself.
In Boscofest, the main aim is not to pull off
a magnificent final show. The main goal is that
each youngster grows in his relationship with
God. This summer, over 300 participants made
a walk, through which they grew in relationship
with others and, most importantly, with God. In
fact, in our rehearsals, we had three sessions,
one of which would be a formation session. In this
gathering, we talked about several important life
necessities, like communication, trust, empathy,
etc. These acquired skills helped us to continue
with our rehearsals and our interelationships. If
we hadn’t had these attitudes we surely wouldn’t
have pulled off such an awesome show.
Finally, we had two live-ins where each group
had time to conclude its acts. The first one was for
orchestra, maltese drama, dance & gymnastics,
and the second one was for english drama,
creative arts and mime & impressions. These
live-ins proved vital for each group as all of them
fine-tuned their performances. Of course, in the
live-in, it isn’t all work and no play, that’s for sure!
We laughed together, we ate together, we prayed
together and most importantly we celebrated mass
together. Those are surely moments that each
participant will treasure for life.
As the grande finale was closing in, we also had a
general rehearsal. Everyone got into their costumes
and each group performed as if they were in front
of the audience. I really appreciated the support
each of us gave to the other participants. Then, the
big two days arrived. On Saturday 12th and Sunday
13th September, Savio College was transformed. It
was filled with teenagers performing and showing
their talents. About 3000 people from all over
Malta and Gozo came to witness an amazing show.
Everyone seemed to really enjoy himself and all
had a wonerful time.
All good things come to an end. Unfortunately
Boscofest 2009 is over. But all the memories and
stories of that great summer will still remain
treasured in the hearts of those 300 participants.
We are all eagerly waiting for Boscofest editon 5 to
start all over again!
Ryan Bezzina
Ryan is a student at Savio College
and a participant in Boscofest 2009
14 Hajja Salesjana
Halves in Everything
From the thorough de la Salle Brothers in Turin,
young Michael Rua learned his first lessons in pre-
cision and self-discipline. Their school prospectus
(1848) seemed formidable enough to daunt any
eleven-year-old newcomer: “Besides religious
knowledge, the rules of literature, the system of
weights and measures used in Piedmont; the re-
cently developed decimal metric system, the ge-
ography of Asia and Africa, the history of Savoy,
drawing and handwriting.”
Michelino, as the slightly built Rua was
called, remained undaunted. He would need to.
His father, a supervisor at the Royal Munitions
Factory in Turin, had died when Michael was only
eight, leaving a widow and three sons. As the
youngest and brightest and serious beyond his
years, Michael seemed earmarked for a clerical
job that would hopefully lead up to his father’s
old position at the factory.
But the school chaplain, a 33-year old priest
called Don Bosco, was to open up new vistas for
the lad. Whenever Don Bosco entered the school
chapel for Mass or confessions, the Brothers’
discipline went out the proverbial window. “There
was always a mad rush to greet him or to shake
his hand, the Brothers vainly trying to keep us in
our benches. Each one of us felt genuinely loved
by him,” recalled one student.
Blessed Michael Rua (1)
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 HAD SO
NOBLY SERVED, FATHER MICHAEL
RUA, WHO SHARED DON BOSCO’S
APOSTOLIC LABOURS, NOW
SHARES WITH HIM THE HONOURS
OF THE ALTAR.
15Hajja Salesjana
Halves in everything
Michael had already met Don Bosco on his home
ground. Dazzled by a friend’s bright tie won as a
prize at the Valdocco Oratory, Michael had gone
to see such munificence for himself. He had re-
mained deeply impressed by this priest with the
smiling eyes who could tolerate any amount of
youthful exuberance. But his mother Giovanna
soon curtailed such visits. It was all right for his
older brother Luigi to be mixing with the rowdy
Oratory kids, but not for Michelino with his match-
stick frame. Besides, on Sundays he had to be on
hand to serve Mass for the elderly factory chap-
lain who had very definite ideas about Don Bosco,
as Rua recalls. “I was deeply distressed when he
once suggested that Don Bosco was sick in the
head.”
Returning from school one day in the Porta
Palatina marketplace, Michael and his schoolmates
met Don Bosco and, as usual they lined up for a
medal. Each received his medal except Michael.
Instead the priest held out his open left hand and
pretended to cut it in half with his right. “Take it
Michelino, take half!”
It was a cryptic invitation to be deciphered
only with the passing years – for Rua would go
halves in Don Bosco’s life and mission: halves in
everything.
At Don Bosco’s Oratory
It was not easy for Rua, reserved and studious,
to settle down in the Oratory. From early morn-
ing till late afternoon the boys were out at vari-
ous private schools or trade centres; Rua’s group
who went to Professor Bonzanino’s school of
classics, were known locally as “Don Bosco’s
little Latinists.” Such a casual nomadic existence
seems to have thrown Rua’s methodical study
system out of gear for a while. Yet by the end of
the year Michael’s teacher was praising “his mar-
velous progress and enthusiasm”. At the Oratory
itself, the neatly dressed, soft-spoken Rua must
have felt awed by the rough-and-tumble country
youngsters who spared neither plants nor people
in their sweeping playground battles.
Typical of them was John Cagliero. This John
was to leave a fine reputation as the first Salesian
bishop, cardinal, and musical composer. He
recalls the quiet newcomer for us. “Our youthful
recklessness made a great contrast to Rua’s self-
control and sense of duty. On Sunday mornings
while Don Bosco heard confessions before Mass,
Michael took it upon himself to stand guard near
the playground water pump, to remind forgetful
ones of the Eucharist fast (i.e. the old regulations).
As our assistant on the way to school he would
try, usually in vain, to hurry us on. Later on, as
evening tutor to companions of his own age, he
would quietly but firmly assert his authority at the
start of the class.”
16 Hajja Salesjana
Tall, gaunt and eagle-eyed, the student teacher
proved just a little too stiff and unbending at
times. Once when a young pupil by the name
of Dominic Savio (yes the schoolboy apostle)
broke out in a fit of uncontrollable laughter, the
disciplinarian Rua sentenced him to kneel in a
corner. After one such incident, Rua found a small
bottle of oil on his doorstep. “Take a few drops
to loosen up the stiff hinges,” read Don Bosco’s
accompanying note.
Student and cleric and teacher
Michael Rua was the mainspring of the senior stu-
dents who went out during the cholera epidemic
of 1855 to nurse the sick and dying in the Turin
slums, often cutting up Don Bosco’s altar cloths
for sheets and bandages as they worked hero-
ically for weeks on end. Unstinted, self-sacrificing
work would be the test of their authentic Salesian
spirit in this low-keyed religious atmosphere.
Having received the clerical habit, Michael now
took up his theological studies, often having to
rise before dawn because of his regular teaching
duties. Again the irrepressible Cagliero leaves
us a memoir: “Rua and I slept in adjacent rooms,
rising at four o’clock in the winter. With the water
frozen in the basins, we used a handful of snow
to freshen up before sitting down to work: Rua on
his theology or Hebrew, and I at my old battered
piano.”
A religious society was slowly evolving, almost
unnoticed. We find Rua’s name among the first
nineteen dedicated ‘Salesians’. Michael Rua was
at last ordained priest in 1860. Huge banners
hung up in the playground read “Long live Don
Rua.” In his embarrassed, humorous way Michael
contradicted his boys, saying, “No. Long live Don
Bosco.” To this newly ordained assistant, Don
Bosco had passed on a heavy well-worn cloak for
wintry days, adding: “After I am gone, remember
you will have to wear Don Bosco’s cloak full time.”
Later he found a note in Don Bosco’s handwriting
on his desk: “Remember, Michael that you will have
many tribulations as a priest: first the dangerous
Red Sea and long desert to cross, but then, at the
end, you will enter the Promised Land.”
A RELIGIOUS SOCIETY WAS
SLOWLY EVOLVING, ALMOST
UNNOTICED. WE FIND RUA’S
NAME AMONG THE FIRST
NINETEEN DEDICATED
‘SALESIANS’. MICHAEL RUA WAS
AT LAST ORDAINED PRIEST IN
1860. HUGE BANNERS HUNG
UP IN THE PLAYGROUND READ
“LONG LIVE DON RUA.”
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
vocations director, Fr. Louis Grech
SDB at:
Tel. 21 454546 / 21 456257
or e-mail: louismgrech@yahoo.com
for more information www.vocations.
salesiansmalta.org/www.boscofest.org
18 Hajja Salesjana
Something
to think about…
19Hajja Salesjana
What makes me weak? MY FEARS
What makes me whole? MY GOD
What keeps me standing? MY FAITH
What makes me compassionate? MY SELFLESSNESS
What makes me honest? MY INTEGRITY
What sustains my mind? MY QUEST FOR KNOWLEDGE
What teaches me all lessons? MY MISTAKES
What lifts my head high? MY PRIDE, NOT ARROGANCE
What if I can’t go on? NOT AN OPTION
What makes me victorious? MY COURAGE TO CLIMB
What makes me competent? MY CONFIDENCE
Who says I need love? I DO
What empowers me? MY GOD & ME
20 Hajja Salesjana
Malta Salesjana
IS-‘SALESIAN BRIGADE’
TAGÓLAQ 100 SENA
Is- ‘Salesian Boys and Girls Brigade’, minn dis-
sena, se tbiddel isimha u tissejja˙ ‘Salesian
Brigade’. Din hija biss wa˙da mill-bidliet li
sejrin ise˙˙u fil-‘Brigade’, parti mill-proçess ta’
rinnovament. Infatti din is-sena 2010 timmarka
iç-`çentenarju minn meta l-‘Brigade’ in˙olqot
©ewwa l-Oratorju Salesjan f’Tas-Sliema. IΩ-
Ωmien huwa tajjeb sabiex jer©a’ ji©i eΩaminat
l-ispirtu u l-iskop li bihom titmexxa is-‘Salesian
Brigade’.
Dan iΩ-Ωmien qeg˙din ji©u kkunsidrati
diversi punti importanti, b˙al ma huma t-ti©did
fil-gradi ta’ l-uffiçjali, id-d˙ul ta’ mexxejja u
membri ©odda, uniformi ©dida kif ukoll il-
mod kif niddie˙su aktar fil-Familja Salesjana.
Hija ˙a©a nkora©©anti li tara d-dedikazzjoni
u l-˙e©©a min-na˙a ta’ l-uffiçjali u membri
sabiex ji©u implementati dawn l-isfidi ©odda.
Il-‘Brigade’ bdiet sena o˙ra ta’ servizz min nhar
id-9 t’Ottubru bid-d˙ul ta’ 22 membri ©odda
wara kampanja sabiex nuru l-‘Brigade’ b˙ala
attività attraenti. Issa wasal il-˙in li nistaqsu,
« Tista’ l-‘Brigade’ toffri possibiltà ta’ ‘Salesian
Scouting’ ? Tista’ l-‘Brigade’ tkun lok fejn
siner©ija Salesjana issir possibli?
SR. MARINELLA ÛÛUR LILL-FMA
Dan l-a˙˙ar, Swor Marinella Scano
FMA, ©iet ma˙tura Provinçjala
tan-na˙a t’isfel ta’ l-Italja. Hija
g˙o©obha ΩΩur id-djar tas-
Sorijiet Salesjani ta’ Victoria u
ta’ Tas-Sliema matul l-ewwel
©imgha ta’ Ottubru. G˙alkemm
damet ftit ©ranet biss, setg˙et
tie˙u viΩjoni s˙i˙a ta’ dawn iΩ-
Ωew© komunitajiet u tal-missjoni
tag˙hom. Din iΩ-Ωjara kellha
sinifikat speçjali g˙all-komunità ta’
Tas-Sliema min˙abba li dak inhar
©iet ikkonfermata il-preΩenza
©dida tal-FMA billi tqaddset quddiesa fir-residenza tag˙hom, tpo©©a s-Sagrament
fit-tabernaklu u tbierek il-post. Fr. Paul Formosa u Fr. Eric iççelebraw dawn ir-riti.
21Hajja Salesjana
MUSBIEÓ GÓAL RIÌLEJJA
Musbie˙ G˙al Ri©lejja wasal fit-tielet sena tieg˙u.
27 programm dehru s’issa fuq il-Favourite Channel
nhar ta’ Sibt (5.00 p.m. - 6.00 p.m.). Is-sehem taΩ-
Ωg˙aΩag˙ f’dan il-programm huwa importanti
g˙aliex jag˙tih dehra friska u Ωag˙Ωug˙a. It-
tielet serje rat xi bidliet fil-format, Ωg˙ar imma
bΩonnjuΩi. Qeg˙din nag˙mlu kuntatt ma’ diversi
g˙aqdiet taΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ waqt li ninkora©©uhom ji©u
u jippreΩentaw il-kariΩma jew l-ispirtu tag˙hom.
Dawn il-gruppi m’g˙andomx bil-fors ikunu fi ˙dan
il-Knisja, imma jridu jkunu j˙addnu valuri morali u
sodi li jaqblu mat-tag˙lim tal-Knisja
BOSCOcrew jie˙u ˙sieb l-iffilmjar ta’ kull
grupp interessat li jie˙u sehem. Xi w˙ud mill-
membri huma impenjati jag˙tu sehemhom,
g˙as-sej˙a tal-Papa liΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙, sabiex
jevan©elizzaw permezz tal-medja. BOSCOcrew
wasal biex jinawgura l-laboratorju tax-xog˙ol li
sejjer ikollu fl-Oratorju Tas-Sliema; u fil-Ìimg˙at
li ©ejjin se ji©i organizzat ‘live-in/workshop’ li
jis˙aq fuq koperazzjoni u formazzjoni g˙al dawk
kollha interessati jitg˙allmu u ja˙dmu fl-editing
u filming, waqt li jkollhom ukoll l-opportunità
jiltaqg˙u ma’ rappreΩentant tal-Knisja fil-medja u
komunikazzjoni.
FL-INDJA MINDU KELLU 15 –IL SENA
Bro. Carmel Muscat SDB mill-Indja fejn hu
missjunarju, kien hawn Malta dan l-a˙˙ar u ©ie
jΩurna. Huwa twieled il-Mosta fl-1938. Darba kien
iltaqa’ ma’ Dun Karm Attard, missjunarju Salesjan
fl-Indja, u baqa’ impressjonat tant bih, li fl- 1953, fl-
età ta’ 15-il sena telaq lejn Shillong, fl-Indja ta’ fuq,
sabiex isir Salesjan. Fis-sena 1955 –1956 g˙amel in-
novizzjat f’Yercaud u l-ewwel professjoni tieg˙u
b˙ala Brother nhar 24 ta’ Mejju 1956. Óa l-voti
perpetwi nhar is- 26 ta’ Mejju 1962. Huwa ˙adem
l-aktar f’Shillong, fid-‘Don Bosco Technical School’
b˙ala g˙alliem mastrudaxxa, kap tas-sezzjoni
ta’ ‘electro-mechanics’, kap tad-dipartiment tal-
illegar tal-kotba, u kull fejn kien me˙tie©. F’dawn
il-jiem huwa Bursar ta’ l-iskola u responsabbli tal-
‘Attard Fund’. Bro. Muscat huwa stmat u ma˙bub
˙afna min nies Khasi ta’ Shillong. Jitkellem sew
l-ilsien tag˙hom u jaf id-drawwiet tag˙hom.
Nixtiequ lil Bro. Muscat kull barka ta’ Alla u ˙ajja
twila sabiex jifla˙ ikompli x-xog˙ol tal-Mulej.
22 Hajja Salesjana
Sa mill-bidu tas-sena 1859 Dun Ruffino kien beda
jinnota b’reqqa kbira kull kelma jew g˙emil ta’
Dun Bosco li ra b’g˙ajnejh stess, u fl-1861 ifforma
g˙aqda fost s˙abu bl-iskop li jniΩΩlu bil-miktub
kull ma’ Dun Bosco kien jag˙mel, biex jibqa’ tifkira
g˙all-©ejjieni. F’wie˙ed mill-˙ames pitazzi mik-
tubin minn Dun Ruffino matul is–snin 1861 u 1864
insibu il-fraΩi li g˙adna kemm semmejna. Din l-st-
ess fraΩi llum insibuha fil-Kostituzzjoni Salesjana
tal-1984, artiklu 14.
Ma’ l-ewwel daqqa t’g˙ajn wie˙ed jista’ ja˙seb
li l-kliem “jien g˙alikom nistudja” ifissru biss
l-istudju ta’ Dun Bosco b˙ala saçerdot u edukatur,
iΩda dawn il-kelmtejn ifissru wisq aktar.
Tifsir tal-kelma “nistudja”
Il-kelma “nistudja’’ fuq ilsien Dun Bosco kien jista’
jkollha tifsira wisq akbar minn b˙al meta tifel
ta’ l-iskola jg˙id: “Se mmur nistudja.’’ Fl-ilsien
Jien g˙alikom nistudja
FIL-KTIEB ÌRAJJIET TA’ L-ORATORJU
TA’ DUN DOMENICO RUFFINO, WIEÓED
MIS-SALESJANI TA’ ÛMIEN DUN BOSCO,
INSIBU DAN IL-KLIEM LI DARBA WAÓDA
DUN BOSCO QAL LIT-TFAL TIEGÓU: “JIEN
GÓALIKOM NISTUDJA, GÓALIKON NAÓDEM,
GÓALIKOM JIENA LEST UKOLL NAGÓTI
ÓAJTI.’’ (ARCHIVIO SALESIANO CENTRALE
110, QUADERNO NO.5, P.10).
23Hajja Salesjana
Piemontis il-kelma “studie’’ tista tfisser li wie˙ed
ja˙seb u jirrifletti fuq xi xog˙ol li jkun qieg˙ed
jag˙mel, ifittex kif isolvi xi problema, jara kif
jag˙mel biex iwettaq xi pro©ett, u Dun Bosco kien
ta’ spiss jikteb u jitkellem bil-Pjemontis. Fil-fatt,
waqt li kien jikteb bit-Taljan kien aktarx ja˙seb
bil-Pjemontis. Dan insibuh l-aktar meta l-kitba ma
kinitx tkun g˙all-istampa, b˙al meta kiteb “Tifkiriet
ta’ l-Oratorju ta’ San Fran©isk ta’ Sales’’ u wisq
aktar meta kien jikteb xi kelmtejn lis-Salesjani
jew lit-tfal. In˙arsu lejn xi eΩempji: f’ittra tat-23
ta’ Lulju 1861 liΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ ta’ l-Oratorju ta’ Sant
Injazju qrib Lanzo, Dun Bosco kiteb: “Jekk tridu
tag˙mlu xi ̇ a©a tassew tajba u fl-istess ̇ in tag˙tu
pjaçir lil Ìesu, studjaw kif titolbu bl-attenzjoni’’.
(E243).
F’ittra o˙ra kiteb, “Nistudja kif nista’
mpattilkom g˙an-nuqqas tieg˙i li ma ©ejtx
narakom, billi meta ni©i noqg˙od mag˙kom aktar
fit-tul’’.
Lill-istudenti tal-kullegg ta’ Lanzo fis-26 ta’
Lulju 1867 kiteb: “Domt daqshekk ma niktbilkom
g˙ax kelli ˙sieb li ni©i narakom qabel il-vaganzi
iΩda min˙abba x-xog˙ol ma stajtx ni©i; issa
qieg˙ed nistudja kif niltaqa’ mag˙kom permezz
tal-kitba’’ (573).
Fl-ittra minn Becchi lil Dun Rua, fil-5 ta’Ottubru
1874 fuq l-im©iba tat-tfal, fost ˙wejje© o˙ra Dun
Bosco kiteb: “Rossingnoli biss a˙jar li ma ji©ix;
jekk ji©i jag˙tina x’nistudjaw’’ ji©ifieri j©ibilna
˙afna nkwiet. (mill-Pjemontis: dé da studié). Kif
nistg˙u naraw f’dawn l-erba’ eΩempji, il-kelma
nistudja jista’ jkollha ˙afna tifsiriet. Mela ner©©˙u
lejn il-famuza fraΩi ta’ Dun Bosco.
« Jien g˙alikom nistudja » Interpretazzjoni ta’
Don Vecchi.
Ir-Rettur Ma©©ur tas-Salesjani Dun Juan
Vecchi, fl-ittra çirkolari lis-Salesjani bid-data ta’15
ta’ Settembru 1997 jurina biç-çar l-interpretazzjoni
tal-kliem « jien g˙alikom nistudja » (ACG No.
361).
Wara li semma ‘l-˙tie©a fi Ωmienna g˙al-livell
kulturali g˙oli, u allura l-˙tie©a g˙as-Salesjani,
b˙ala edukaturi, li jiddedikaw ru˙hom g˙all-
istudju b˙ala mezz ta’ formazzjoni s˙i˙a, Dun
Vecchi spjega li l-kelma « studju » f’din il-fraΩi
ta’ Dun Bosco ma tfissirx biss studju akkademiku,
u kompla jg˙id: «Niftakru f’Dun Bosco, fid-
determinazzoni tieg˙u biex isolvi problemi, biex
jipprova mezzi ©odda u jag˙mel minn kollox
biex ixerred it-tag˙lim nisrani ; hu stess kiteb
siltiet mill-Kotba Mqaddsa adattati g˙al idejn iΩ-
Ωg˙aΩag˙ u l-poplu… »
«Jien g˙alikom nistudja » ifakkarna fil-˙idma
ta’ Dun Bosco biex jipproduçi sistema edukattiva
ori©inali ; ifakkarna fil-pro©ett Oratorju-Dar-Skola
adattat g˙all-˙tie©a taΩ-Ωmien. Dun Bosco kien
qieg˙ed jitg˙allem mill-˙ajja, kien jimxi ‘l quddiem
u mhux jikkuntenta ru˙u g˙ax dejjem kien isir
hekk.
Ma’ Dun Bosco illum !
Il-Familja Salesjana illum, g˙andha quddiemha
sfidi ©odda li je˙tie© naffrontawhom bil-qalb u
l-˙sieb ta’ Dun Bosco. In-nuqqas ta’ reli©ion f’˙afna
familji qieg˙ed jirrizulta li Ω-Ωg˙aΩag˙ jag˙tu
importanza biss lil dak li jidher u jintg˙o©ob. Minn
hawn il-˙tiega ta’ evan©elizazzjoni ©dida fejn
ting˙ata formazzjoni tassew nisranija. « Ma’ Dun
Bosco illum ! »
J’Alla l-Missier u G˙alliem taΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙
jag˙ti l-g˙ajnuna lill-Familja Salesjana llum biex
tqieg˙ed fil-prattika il-kliem tieg˙u : « Jiena
g˙alikom nistudja, g˙alikom na˙dem, g˙alikom
ng˙ix, g˙alikom jien lest nag˙ti ˙ajti ».
Mit-Taljan ta’ Natale Cerrato Il Tempio di Don Bosco,
Sett-Ott 2009.
24 Hajja Salesjana
The following comes from the Salesian News Service in Rome: In a short letter addressed to all Salesians, the Rector
Major officially announces the celebration
of the centennial of the death of the first
successor of Don Bosco,Blessed Michael
Rua. The commemorative year will begin on
January 31, 2010, and conclude on the same
day in 2011, the day on which “Father Rua
took the tiller, to continue the journey on
which the Founder had embarked,” following
Don Bosco’s death in 1888.
As Father Chavez points out, for the
Salesians 2010 will be “a continuation of this
present jubilee year; it will help us to bring
to fuller maturity our consecrated Salesian
vocation.”
The Rector Major indicates for the
Salesians three “focal points” to be borne in
mind for spiritual and pastoral planning for
the coming year, at personal, community,
and province level. He promises to develop
them further in a future letter
Father Rua, “the faithful disciple of Jesus
in the footsteps of Don Bosco,” is for each
Salesian the model for “preserving fidelity
to the vocation of consecration,” a fidelity
which needs nourishing by drawing “deeply
from the wells of the life of the disciple and
the apostle, from the fountains of fidelity
to our vocation: Sacred Scripture, through
lectio divina and the Eucharist.”
The second “point” indicated by Father
Chavez is inspired by the commitment Father
Rua assumed: “In Mirabello I shall try to be
Don Bosco.” The Salesian Constitutions,
whose importance and spirit need to be
rediscovered, are the point of reference in
order to be Don Bosco today, the role being
asked of every Salesian.
The last point starts from the passion
which the first successor of Don Bosco had
for Da mihi animas. “The mission called him to
respond to the needs of the young and to find
pastoral ways suited to reaching them with
the proclamation of the gospel,” the Rector
Major says, inviting Salesians to take up the
commitment to the evangelization of the
young as the last general chapter requested
and according to the Strenna for 2010.
The celebration of the first centennial of the
death of Father Rua—the Rector Major points
out in his short letter—ought to help Salesians
to be “conscious of the historical situation,
that from the death of Don Bosco until our
own days, the Congregation has had a great
and significant development, taking steps
forward, having second thoughts, making
fresh starts, reflecting deeply. The identity of
the Congregation can be understood better,
in fact, through its history, knowing the forms
and expressions it has assumed at different
times and in different places.”
Remembering
Father Rua in 2010
25Hajja Salesjana
26 Hajja Salesjana
She left home, deciding to become a woman
of the world. Before long, however, she was
dejected and unable to find a job, so she took to
the streets to sell her body as a prostitute.
The years passed by, her father died, her
mother grew older, and the daughter became
more and more entrenched in her way of life. No
contact was made between mother and daughter
during these years. The mother, having heard of
her daughter’s whereabouts, made her way to
the skid-row section of the city in search of her
daughter.
She stopped at each of the rescue missions
with a simple request. “Would you allow me to put
up this picture?” It was a picture of the smiling,
grey-haired mother with a handwritten message
at the bottom: “I love you still...come home!”
Some more months went by, and nothing
happened. Then one day the daughter wandered
into a rescue mission for a needed meal. She sat
The Unlocked door
IN GLASGOW, SCOTLAND, A YOUNG
LADY, LIKE A LOT OF TEENS TODAY,
GOT TIRED OF HOME AND THE
RESTRAINTS OF HER PARENTS. THE
DAUGHTER REJECTED HER FAMILY’S
RELIGIOUS LIFESTYLE AND SAID, “I
DON’T WANT YOUR GOD. I GIVE UP.
I’M LEAVING!”
27Hajja Salesjana
absentmindedly listening to the service, all the
while letting her eyes wander over to the bulletin
board.
There she saw the picture and thought, ‘Could
that be my mother?’ She couldn’t wait until the
service was over. She stood and went to look. It
was her mother, and there were those words, “I
love you still...come home!” As she stood in front
of the picture, she wept.
It was too good to be true. By this time it was
night, but she was so touched by the message that
she started walking home. By the time she arrived
it was early in the morning. She was afraid and
made her way timidly, not really knowing what to
do.
As she knocked, the door opened on its own.
She thought someone must have broken into the
house. Concerned for her mother’s safety, the
young woman ran to the bedroom and found her
still sleeping. She shook her mother awake and
said, “It’s me! It’s me! I’m home!”
The mother couldn’t believe her eyes. She
wiped her tears and they fell into each other’s
arms. The daughter said, “I was so worried!
The door was open and I thought someone had
broken in!” The mother replied gently, “No dear.
From the day you left, that door has never been
locked.”
Robert Strand
28 Hajja Salesjana
On the occasion of the centenary of the death of
Don Michael Rua, who was totally faithful to Don
Bosco and to his charism, I want to invite the
whole Salesian Family to act as a real movement
Presentation
of the 2010 Strenna
By the Rev. Fr. Pascual Chaves Villanueva – Rector Major
TRULY, NOTHING IS MORE BEAUTIFUL
THAN TO KNOW CHRIST AND TO MAKE
HIM KNOWN TO OTHERS 1
of disciples and apostles of Jesus and to be
committed to the evangelisation of the young.
Being committed to evangelisation is the fruit
and the consequence of being the disciple of
the Lord Jesus, who following Him becomes his
zealous missionary. In this way we want to take
up the challenge of helping the young «to look
on this other person not simply with my eyes and
my feelings, but from the perspective of Jesus
29Hajja Salesjana
Christ»2 The 2010 Strenna takes its cue from the
year of St Paul which has almost finished and
from the Synod on the Word of God during which
I spoke about the passage in St Luke about the
disciples on the way to Emmaus, which on account
of the contents and the method is seen as a model
for the evangelisation of the young.
“Sir, we want to see Jesus”
In imitation of Don Rua,
as authentic disciples and zealous apostles
let us bring the Gospel to the young
Many groups of the Salesian Family see
themselves already in harmony with this
commitment. By way of example I refer you to two
quotations from the General Chapters of the SDB
and the FMA.
The XXVI General Chapter of the Salesians
recognises the urgent need to evangelise and the
centrality of proposing Jesus Christ: «We perceive
evangelisation as the principal requirement of
our mission, aware that the young have a right
to have Jesus proclaimed to them as the source
of life and promise of happiness now and in
eternity»3. Our fundamental purpose is that of
proposing that everyone should live their human
life as Jesus lived it. «…at the centre … should
be the proclamation of Jesus Christ and of his
Gospel, together with the call to conversion, to
the acceptance of the faith, to their taking their
place in the Church; then from this will come faith
journeys and forms of catechesis, liturgical life
1 BENEDICT XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis, n. 84.
2 BENEDICT XVI, Deus caritas est, n. 18.
3 GC26 SDB, n. 24.
4 BENEDICT XVI, Letter to Fr Pascual Chávez Villanueva,
Rector Major of the Salesians, on the occasion of the
XXVI General Chapter, 1 March 2008, n. 4.
5 Cr. BENEDICT XVI, Deus caritas est, n. 18. <?> Cr. BENE-
DICT XVI, Deus caritas est, n. 18.
6 GC XXII FMA, The greatest of these is love, n. 33.
and the witness of charitable work »4.
Then the XXII General Chapter of the Daughters
of Mary Help of Christians recognises that it is the
Love of God which urges us on: «The Upper Room
where the apostles were together is not a place
for them to stay but one from which to launch
out. The Spirit changes them from fearful men
into zealous missionaries who, full of courage,
carry the good news of the Risen Jesus along the
world’s highways. Love leads to exodus and to
a going out of oneself towards new frontiers to
make a gift of oneself: love grows through love.5
Mary, who from the Upper Room teaches us to
throw open the doors was the first to experience
the exodus and to set out on her journey. The first
to be evangelised became the first evangeliser.
Carrying Jesus to others, she offers her service,
brings joy, makes love an experience»6.
OUR FUNDAMENTAL
PURPOSE IS THAT
OF PROPOSING THAT
EVERYONE SHOULD LIVE
THEIR HUMAN LIFE AS
JESUS LIVED IT
30 Hajja Salesjana
A day outing
A entertaining bus trip to
Yarrawonga country, Victoria.
(photo) Members disembarking
the boat after a lunch cruise on
Lake Mulwala
Mr. Joe Portelli, President, welcoming the dignitaries,
members and guests at the 50th Anniversary Ball
In his speech, Mr. Portelli said that by attending functions,
like this Ball, Dinner Dances, Get Togethers, Day Outings and
all other social activities, it helps the Association to raise
money for the Salesian Missions. Mr. Portelli encouraged
everyone to continue with the support
Our first activity of the year was
on the first Sunday in February.
Members gathered at Rupertswood Salesian
College to celebrate the feast of our Patron,
Saint John Bosco
31Hajja Salesjana
Children’s Christmas Party
Keeping to the Oratory old tradition, of a
Children’s Party where presents with the
theme, “The Birth of Jesus Christ”,
are given to every child
The committee that made it happen
November Picnic Day
In the month of November members meet
at the Rupertwood Salesian College to pray
for families and Past Pupils that has gone to
Eternal Rest. After the church celebrations,
members gather for a picnic, meeting and
chatting with friends
32 Hajja Salesjana
B˙ala kollezzjonista tas-santi u mid˙la tas-
Salesjani g˙al aktar minn ˙amsa u ˙amsin sena
ma jistax jonqos li San Giovanni Bosco jkollu post
preferenzjali fil-kollezzjoni tieg˙i. Bl-ebda mod
ma qieg˙ed nippretendi li g˙andi kollezzjoni li ma
hawnx b˙alha, iΩda meta tqis li din illum tla˙˙aq
sew fuq l-erba’ mija bejn santi u kartolini na˙seb
li g˙andha çertu valur u interess. Numru sabi˙ ta’
santi u kartolini fil – kollezzjoni jistg˙u jitqiesu
b˙ala rari jew g˙allinqas mhux komuni u g˙alhekk
nibet il-˙sieb li nibdew nistampaw xi u˙ud minn
dawn f’kull ̇ arga tal-˙ajja Salesjana, biex inkomplu
insebb˙u din il-pubblikazzjoni b’imma©ni antiki u
varjati tal-kbir patrun tag˙na Dun Bosco u anke
biex dawn ma jibqg˙ux mag˙luqa f’ l-album tieg˙i
iΩda jarawhom kemm jista’ jkun nies. Qed ninkludu
ukoll il-kartolini m˙abba l-fatt li ˙afna imma©ni
ji©u stampati kemm fil-forma ta’ santi u kemm
f’dik ta’ kartolini.
NOTA STORIKA DWAR IS-SANTI
Is-santi, baΩikament huma bçejjeç tal-karti
ta’ daqs li jista’ jin©arr façilment u li jkollhom
stampat fuqhom xi xbieha sagra. Dawn jag˙mlu
parti integrali mill-kultura viΩiva tal-knisja, b˙ala
ma huma l-vari, statwi, pittura, skultura u tiΩjin
ie˙or. Dawn is-santi li ˙afna drabi jkollhom ukoll
xi talba, jg˙inu lid-devot biex i˙ossuhom aktar
qrib tal-qaddis li tieg˙u jkun qed jitlob l-g˙ajnuna
jew l-interçessjoni. L-g˙eruq tal-kultura tas-santi
jmur lura g˙as-seklu tnax, fejn naraw simboli
reli©juΩi jitnaqqxu jew jinΩebg˙u fuq affarijiet
b˙al ma huma ˙itan, o©©etti tad-dar, riedni taΩ-
Ωwiemel, tarki tal-gwerra, elmijiet, ilbies, etç. Aktar
tard fiΩ-Ωmien ta’ meta kienu jinkitbu l-manuskritti
fil-monasteri, biççiet minn dawn b’xi versi mill-
Bibbja jew xi tpin©ija sagra, kienu jin©arru fuq il-
persuna b˙ala wens u sens ta’ protezzjoni divina.
Wara dan bdew ji©u mag˙mula forma ta’ santi fuq
biççiet tal-parçmina b’xi imma©ni sagra ddekorata
mpin©ija fuqha. Dan ix-xog˙ol kien isir kollu bl-idejn
l-aktar mis-sorijiet fil-monasteri. Kull wa˙da minn
dawn is-santi tista’ titqies b˙ala biçça xog˙ol ta’
arti fiha nfisha u xi eΩempji ta’ din l-epoka g˙adhom
jeΩistu f’muΩewijiet kbar madwar id-dinja. Mal-
mi©ja tal-karta u l-iΩvilupp fil-metodi ta’ stampar,
b˙ala ma’ huma il-‘woodcuts’, L-inçiΩjoni fuq il-
metall, il-litografija u anke iΩjed tard il-fotografija,
il-produzzjoni tas-santi saret aktar façli. L-istampar
g˙amel is-santi aççessibli g˙al kull˙add u g˙alhekk
il-popolarità Ωdidet bil-kbir. L-eqdem santa stampata
li teΩisti hi xbieha ta’ San Kristofru, stampata minn
fuq xbieha maqtug˙a fi blokka ta’ l-injam (wood-cut)
f’1423. Il-lum g˙alkemm il-faxxinu li kellhom is-santi
ta’ dari spiçça, xorta g˙adna naraw is-santi jintuΩaw
mhux biss g˙ad-devozzjoni iΩda g˙al kull okkaΩjoni
b’rabta reli©juΩa b˙al Ωwie©, mewt, l-ewwel tqarbina,
ordni sagri u kommemorazzjonijiet reli©juΩi o˙ra.
Se nibdew din is-sensiela b’tlett santi tat-tip
msej˙a ‘die-cut, li fost id-dilettanti Maltin huma
mag˙rufin b˙ala tal-pizzi. Dan g˙aliex it-truf
tag˙hom huma maqtug˙a b’xi disinn li jsir permezz
ta’ magni apposta. It-tlieta li huma ©ew possibilment
stampati bil-proçess msejja˙ ‘cromolithografia’
madwar l-1910 u ©ew ippubblikati meta Dun Bosco
kien g˙adu Venerabbli.
Dun Bosco
fis-santi u kartolini
33Hajja Salesjana
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.
Ix-xbieha ta’ Dun Bosco f’din is-santa tidher li hi me˙uda minn xi
pittura, fejn Dun Bosco jidher pjuttost avvanzat fl-età. Fuq wara
tas-santa nsibu biografija qasira ta’ Dun Bosco, u ta’ interess huwa li
fuq wara wkoll hemm il-firma ta’ Dun Allegra (aktarx timbru) li kien
is-suççessur ta’ Dun Urso b˙ala Direttur ta’ l-Oratorju Salesjan f’Tas-
Sliema. Din is-santa tahieli ©entilment Fr. Joseph Forte SDB. Is-Santa
giet ippubblikata mill- i‘Scuole Professionali Salesiane’.
(12.5cm x 7.2cm)
Ix-xbieha li qed naraw hi aktarx me˙uda minn wie˙ed mir-ritratti
li jeΩistu ta’ Dun Bosco, iΩda b’xi ‘retouching’ qabel l-istampar.
Id-dekorazzjoni madwar il-wiçç hi ta’ stil ‘Arts and Crafts’ li kien
popolari ˙afna lejn tmiem is-seklu dsatax u bidu ta’ l-g˙oxrin. Minn
dan il-moviment fid-dekorazzjoni Ωviluppa l-istil ‘Art Nouveau’ li ©ie
uΩat ˙afna fis-santi ta’ dik l-epoka. Din is-santa ©iet ippubblikata
mil-librerja ‘Buona Stampa’ ta’ Turin. Fuq wara hemm l-istess
biografija ta’ Dun Bosco b˙al f’dik ta’ qabilha.
(10.6cm x 6.1cm)
It-tielet santa g˙andha ukoll l-istess tip ta’ dekorazzjoni b˙al ta’ qabilha
u ©iet ippubblikata mill-istess dar. Hawn naraw tpin©ija ta’ Dun Bosco
monokromatika li wisq probabbli saret apposta g˙al-din is-santa. Ma
g˙andniex ˙jiel min kien l-artist. Fuq wara nsibu stampat kif g˙andha
ssir novena lil Marija AwΩiljatriçi skond ma jirrikkmanda Dun Bosco;
flimkien ma’ talba lil Alla biex isse˙˙ il-beatifikazzjoni tieg˙u.
(10cm x 5.8cm)
34 Hajja Salesjana
Fil-bidu ta’ dis-sena skolastika, fil-klassi
tag˙na ©ewwa St. Patrick’s, kellna lezzjoni
mhux tas-soltu. Dik lezzjoni! Kieku possibli
jkunu kollha hekk il-lezzjonijiet!
Kienet lezzjoni tal-FiΩika li konna ilna
nippreparaw g˙aliha mis-sena l-o˙ra. U
t-teacher tag˙na kien kellimna fuq din
l-esperjenza li kellna nag˙mlu, g˙alhekk
konna qeg˙din nistennewha.
F’hix ta˙sbu li kienet tikkonsisti
dil-lezzjoni ? Bnejna çattra. Tg˙iduli
x’g˙andha x’taqsam mal-fiΩika? Óafna.
Jid˙ol kalkulazzjoni ta’ pressjoni, sa˙˙a ta’
strutturi, densità, flotazzjoni, volumi…. Biex
ma nsemmiex ukoll daqqa t’g˙ajn lejn il-
kurrenti kemm tal-ba˙ar u kemm tar-ri˙.
Isma’ timma©inawx xi ˙a©a Ωg˙ira kemm
kemm tifla˙ Ωew©t itfal. Mela! Din kienet
tifla˙ g˙axra minna. U kellna na˙dmu b˙ala
tim, kemm biex armajnieha u kemm biex
qdifna. Fi ftit ˙in irnexxielna narmawha u
salpajna minn ˙dejn il-pont ta’ tas-Sliema.
Kollox kien ‘home-made’, biex ng˙idu hekk;
bl-imqadef b’kollox. U bil˙aqq, urejna li a˙na
ba˙rin mhux tal-bnazzi biss; g˙aliex meta
wasalna f’nofs il-bajja, jinqasam seratizz.
Wara ftit tal-paniku rnexxielna nsalvaw is-
sitwazzjoni billi irbatnieh b’˙abel u g˙oqiedi
bis-sens, hekk kif konna tg˙allimna matul
is-sena.
Kienet esperjenza edukattiva mill-aqwa
u ˙adna g˙awma wkoll. Ng˙idu prosit u
grazzi lill-g˙alliem tag˙na tal-fiΩika. Issa ta’
lanqas, problema tal-fiΩika n˙arsu lejha mod
ie˙or g˙ax bla fiΩika ç-çattra kienet tispiçça
‘submarine’!
Ming˙and l-istudenti tal-Form 4
Il-Fiƒika fil-Prattika
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
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.
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
Apparitions of Our Lady
NEWSPAPER POST
ST. PATRICK’S SCHOOL, ST. JOHN BOSCO STREET, SLIEMA SLM 1925
A Marian Apparition is
a visible manifestation
of the Virgin Mary to a
visionary, whose purpose
is to convey an important
message to mankind,
such as the need of
conversion and prayer.
While the Bible and the
Dogmas of the Church
are considered as public
revelation, which every
Catholic must accept by
faith, Marian Apparitions,
even those approved by the Church, are classified as
private revelation, which a faithful may or may not accept
as true. As far as Marian Apparitions are concerned,
the Church can make only three statements: 1) TRUE:
established as a supernatural event; 2) MAY BE TRUE: not
established as a supernatural event; 3) FALSE: established
as a non-supernatural event. Of the thousands reported
Marian Apparitions studied by the Church throughout the
centuries, only very few have been approved.
Introduction to Marian Apparitions
