˙ajja
Salesjana

NOVEMBRU DIÇEMBRU 2009
il-211 Óar©a

Jiena nista’ ng˙ix fil-qawwa ta’ l-Ispirtu s-Santu

The Packing Mistake

Vendetta ta’ Ìurdien

Fl-1877, Dun Bosco beda jippubblika “Il Bibliofilo Cattolico”. Wara sentejn, semmih
- Bollettino Salesiano”. Kien jo˙or©hu bi ˙sieb li jg˙aqqad lil dawk kollha li g˙andhom
g˙al qalbhom il-˙idma Salesjana fid-dinja kollha, billi jwasslilhom tag˙rif fuq il-˙ajja
tal-Kongregazzjoni Salesjana. Tag˙lim siewi g˙all-˙ajja Nisranija. Insibuh imxerred
mad-dinja kif iddur, mitbug˙ f’aktar minn g˙oxrin ilsien ewlieni … fosthom il-Malti

wkoll fiç-çokon tieg˙u. F’sena jitqassmu ‘l fuq minn g˙axar miljun kopja. Hawn Malta
jo˙ro© ta˙t l-isem ‘˙ajja Salesjana’ u kull xahrejn, barra x-xhur tas-sajf – Lulju, u

Awissu. Jitqassam b’xejn lil kull min jitolbu. G˙alhekk wie˙ed jista’ jikteb lill-Editur:

Óajja Salesjana
c/o St. Patrick’s School, Triq San Ìwann Bosco,

Sliema SLM 1925, Malta.
Tel: 2133 0238 e-mail: joecini@onvol.net

Jie˙u ˙sieb Fr. Joe Cini SDB

Bord Editorjali Fr. Paul Formosa SDB
Margaret Buhagiar
Andre’ Camilleri
Josie Grech

Jg˙inuh ukoll Fr. Charles Cini SDB
Eileen Alden
Joyce Scicluna
Joe M. Busuttil

Óajr minn qalbna lill-˙bieb tag˙na li jibag˙tu xi
˙a©a tal-flus g˙an-nefqa biex il-Óajja Salesjana
jista’ jintbag˙at b’xejn lil

• Dawk li mqar bit-talb tag˙hom jg˙inu
fil-˙idma Salesjana

• Dawk li jg˙inu l-vokazzjonijiet g˙all-˙ajja
Reli©juΩa Salesjana

Infakkru lill-qarrejja tag˙na li l-˙idma Salesjana
Maltija tinfirex ukoll fl-Afrika ta’ fuq, fit-TuneΩija.

Designed & Printed by Salesian Press

Fuqiex se naqraw

Il-Bullettin Salesjan 3
Pedago©ija Salesjana 5
Calendar of Events 7
Jiena nista’ ng˙ix fil-qawwa
ta’ l-Ispirtu s-Santu 8
Il-Kamp Annwali tas-Sajf
tas-Salesian Brigade 10
Crimes 10 12
Course in Salesian Spirituality
for the Maltese Salesian Family 15
The Packing Mistake 16
Something to think about… 18
Grupp Ìdid ta’ Kooperaturi f’Savio College 20
Vendetta ta’ Ìurdien 22
Mulej, Int Sejja˙tli… 24
I˙allina Pawlu Vella 1943-2009 26
Il-Beatu Filippu Rinaldi (1856-1931) 27
The Life of St. Paul (5) 28
Il-KawΩa g˙all-Beatifikazzjoni
ta’ Dun Giuseppe Quadrio 30
Fr. Fabio’s visit in England 31
Could God be calling Me? 32
Evangelisation boom in Korean Church 34

Front Cover: Is-si©ra tal-Familja Salesjana, is-Si©ra tal-Milied, mhux ming˙ajr Ìesù.

3˙ajjaSalesjana

Editorjal

Barkiet tas-Sema Matul is-Sena
F’Jannar li g˙adda kont g˙edtilkom kif ir-
Rettur Ma©©ur tag˙na kien sejja˙ din is-sena
2009, li kienet qieg˙da tibda, b˙ala ‘sena ta’
grazzja g˙all-Familja Salesjana’. Din hija s-sena
li matulha qeg˙din infakkru
l-150 anniversarju mit-twaqqif
tal-Kongregazzjoni Salesjana.
G˙ad baqg˙alna okkaΩjoni
o˙ra li fiha niççelebraw dan
l-avveniment; din hija t-18
ta’ Diçembru, il-jum li fih
infakkru kif, 100 sena ilu,
kienet saret il-laqg˙a formali
ta’ l-ewwel membri ma’ Dun
Bosco. G˙alhekk, nhar it-18
ta’ Diçembru ta’ dis-sena, is-
Salesjani madwar id-dinja sejrin
i©eddu l-professjoni reli©juΩa
tag˙hom, b˙ala turija ta’
fedeltà lejn is-sej˙a Salesjana
u ta’ g˙aqda bejniethom ilkoll.
Dan ikun jum ta’ grazzja ta’
Alla.

Din is-sena kienet wkoll
‘sena ta’ grazzja’ g˙all-Familja
Salesjana f’Malta u G˙awdex
g˙aliex kellna 2 okkaΩjonijiet
ta’ professjoni. L-ewwel il-
professjoni (8 ta’ Settembru) kienet tan-novizz
Kenneth Micallef li g˙adu kemm re©a’ lura
Malta wara sena ta’ novizzjat ©ewwa Turin
u issa ©ie jkompli l-istudji tieg˙u. It-tieni
professjoni kienet dik ta’ Bros. Jeremy Vella u
Gerald Mangion (11 ta’ Settembru) li g˙amlu
professjoni g˙al dejjem qabel ma jmorru
jkomplu l-istudji tat-teolo©ija li twassalhom
g˙ad-Djakonat u s-saçerdozju (ara artiklu
©ewwa). Dawn ukoll kienu mumenti ta’
grazzja.

Waqt li qieg˙ed nitkellem fuq il-grazzja ta’
Alla, ma rridx ninsa nsemmi mument ie˙or ta’
grazzja li kienet iΩ-Ωjara qasira imma sinifikanti
tal-Vigarju tar-Rettur Ma©©ur, ir-Rev. Dun
Adriano Bregolin, akkumpanjat minn Dun.

Fabio Attard. L-okkaΩjoni
kienet it-twaqqif uffiçjali tal-
grupp ta’ Salesjani Koperaturi
ta’ Savio College. Il-mixja
spiritwali li g˙amlu dawn il-
Koperaturi ©odda wasslithom
mimlijin ˙e©©a u grazzja
g˙al dak il jum tal-‘Weg˙da’
tag˙hom (ara artiklu ©ewwa).

G˙alina l-Maltin kollha
kemm a˙na, din kienet ‘sena
ta’ grazzja’ g˙aliex, wara li
mal-Knisja kollha fakkarna l-
2000 anniversarju tat-twelid
ta’ San Pawl, issa smajna li
sejrin ikollna x-xorti li nilqg˙u
fostna lill- Qdusija Tieg˙u
l-Papa Benedittu XVI. B˙all-
Papa ta’ qablu huwa j©ibilna
barka u entuΩjaΩmu sabiex
inkomplu ng˙ixu l-fidi tag˙na.
Lilna s-Salesjani jfakkarna fir-
rispett u l-g˙oΩΩa li fihom
Dun Bosco kien iΩomm lis-

Suççessur ta’ Pietru.
G˙eΩieΩ qarrejja ta’ ˙ajja Salesjana, ejjew

nie˙du sehem spiritwalment f’dan il-moviment
ta’ qdusija li Dun Bosco, ir-Rettur Ma©©ur u
s-Salesjani qeg˙din joffrulna. Nilqg˙u l-grazzja
ta’ Alla, speçjalment fil-jiem ta’ festi li ©ejjin
fl-ista©un tal-Milied u nimtlew b’entuΩjaΩmu
qaddis.

Nixtiqilkom ilkoll il-Festi t-Tajba.

Il-Bullettin Salesjan

˙ajjaSalesjana4

Blessings from Heaven during the Year
Last January I had told you that our Rector
Major had called this year 2009, which
had just started, ‘a year of grace for the
Salesian Family’. During this year we have
been celebrating the 150 anniversary of
the founding of the Salesian
Congregation. We still have
one more day to celebrate
this event; this is the 18th
December, the day when we
recall the first formal meeting
of the first members with Don
Bosco. Thus, on that day, all
Salesians around the world
will renew their religious
vows, as a sign of fidelity to
their Salesian calling and of
union amongst them. This will
be a day of grace of God.

This year can be considered
a year of grace also for the
Salesian Family in Malta and
Gozo because we have had 2
religious professions. The first
(8th September) was of the
novice Kenneth Micallef, who
just returned to Malta from
Turin to further his studies
over here. The second profession was that of
Brothers Jeremy Vella and Gerald Mangion
(11th September), who pronounced their
perpetual profession. They will be leaving
for Italy to complete their theological studies
leading to the priesthood. These were
occasions of grace. (See article inside)

Since I am writing about the Grace of God
for us, I must not forget to mention another
event of grace: this was the brief but very

significant visit of the Vicar of the Rector Major,
Rev. Fr. Adriano Bregolin, accompanied by
Fr. Fabio Attard. The occasion of his visit, in
May, was the beginning of the new group
of Salesian Cooperators at Savio College.
The spiritual pathway followed by these new

Cooperators led them, full of
enthusiasm and zeal, to the
day of their ‘Promise’. (See
article inside)

This year, again, was
a year of grace for us
Maltese, because, after
commemorating the 2000th
anniversary of the birth of
St. Paul together with whole
catholic Church, we hear
now the happy news of the
coming visit of H.H. Pope
Benedict XVI. Like the Pope
before him, he also will bring
us blessings and enthusiasm
so we can continue living
our faith with conviction. As
Salesians, we are reminded
of the great respect and
affection that Don Bosco had
for the Successor of Peter.

Dear Readers of ˙ajja
Salesjana, let us spiritually take advantage
of this holy time that Don Bosco, our Rector
Major and the Salesians are offering us. Let
us open to the grace of God, especially in the
coming Festive Season of Christmas.

I wish you all a Happy Christmas Time.

The Salesian Bulletin

5˙ajjaSalesjana

Pedago©ija Salesjana

Minn Pascual Chavez – Trad. Joe Cini

Kummenti fuq li ‘Strenna 2009’: “Moviment Kbir Favur iΩ-Ûg˙ar’’

G˙eΩieΩ qarrejja u ˙bieb, a˙na werrieta u
n˙addnu kariΩma edukattiva li tippromwovi
l-kultura tal-˙ajja u l-bidla ta’ l-istrutturi.
G˙aldaqstant g˙andna d-dover li n˙addmu
d-drittijiet tal-bniedem. L-istorja tal-Familja
Salesjana u l-mod kif infirxet anki f’kulturi u
reli©jonijiet g˙al kollox diversi minn dawk li
fihom twieldet, hija prova li s-sistema ta’ Dun
Bosco hija triq sgura fl-edukazzjoni. “Óudu
˙sieb speçjalment il-morda, iΩ-Ωg˙ar, ix-xju˙
u l-foqra u hekk tirb˙u l-barka ta’ Alla u r-rieda
tajba tal-bnedmin,” kien il-kliem ta’ Dun
Bosco lill-missjunarji. Sensibbli g˙ax-xewqa
tieg˙u inkomplu nedukaw, speçjalment
liΩ-Ωg˙ar, fid-drittijiet tal-bniedem; g˙aliex
meta nitkellmu fuq drittijiet umani, nistg˙u

Id-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem
Dun Bosco ma setax jitkellem fuq

drittijiet tal-bniedem li jirrigwardaw

iΩ-Ωg˙ar u Ω-Ωg˙aΩag˙ (il-kunçett

©uridiku ma kienx g˙adu jeΩisti);

imma huwa kien di©à beda jwettaq

bosta mill-aspetti li llum jitqisu

b˙ala sisien ta’ dawn id-drittijiet.

˙ajjaSalesjana6

nift˙u djalogu ma’ kulturi l-aktar diversi u
naqsmu mag˙hom l-istil ta’ edukazzjoni
tag˙na s-Salesjani.

Drittijiet u Dinjità

Id-Drittijiet tal-Bniedem huma ta’ kull
individwu, inkwantu bniedem; ma
jiddependux mir-razza, reli©jon, ilsien, pajjiΩ,
età jew sess. Huma universali, ming˙ajr ma
jistg˙u ji©u mça˙˙da jew mibdula – imma
dejjem ji©©eddu. Id-drittijiet çivili u politiçi
li bdew mar-Rivoluzzjoni FrançiΩa (1789),
˙ar©u mill-fatt li numru ta’ libertajiet
fundamentali kienu mça˙˙da lill-biçça
l-kbira tal-poplu: id-dritt g˙all-˙ajja, g˙all-
attività politika, g˙as-sigurtà, g˙al-libertà
tal-˙sieb, tar-reli©jon, ta’ l-espressjoni u ta’
l-assoçjazzjoni. Imbag˙ad, id-Drittijiet ta’
l-Ekonomija, tal-Óajja Soçjali u tal-Kultura
twaqqfu mill-Universal Declaration of 1948:
dritt g˙all-edukazzjoni, g˙ax-xog˙ol, g˙ad-
dar, g˙as-sa˙˙a, g˙ar-rieda personali ˙ielsa,
g˙all-paçi, g˙all-iΩvilupp, g˙all-kontrol tar-
riΩorsi naturali u l-˙arsien ta’ l-ambjent.

Issa, dawn kollha, huwa dmirna li
nirrispettawhom. Sfortunatament, huma
ji©u miksura ta’ kuljum, u ma hemmx
mod jew manjiera kif dan jista’ jitwaqqaf.
Imma anke f’dis-sitwazzjoni, a˙na rridu
na˙dmu sabiex id-dinjità ta’ l-individwu
tkun dejjem rispettata. Il-Knisja tiddikjara li
l-interpretazzjoni korretta u l-˙arsien effikaçi

tad-drittijiet tal-bniedem, jiddependu fuq
kif wie˙ed i˙ares lejn l-umanità mill-aspetti
kollha li jiffurmaw in-natura tal-bniedem.

Is-Salesjani u d-Drittijiet taΩ-Ûg˙ar

Kull tifel u tifla je˙tie©u jkunu edukati f’kull
aspett tal-˙ajja. Dan irid isir ukoll bil-mod
kif in-Nisrani j˙ares lejn il-persuna. Din it-tip
ta’ edukazzjoni hija espressjoni ta’ impenn
lejn soçjetà li dejjem tinbidel, u g˙andha
g˙an ambizzjuΩ, li huwa li ma jibqax min
hu mwarrab mis-soçjetà. Is-sitwazzjoni
dinjija, f’dan l-aspett, g˙adha mwieg˙ra:
g˙ad hemm bosta u bosta tfal u Ωg˙aΩag˙
fil-periklu. G˙all-familja umana, l-g˙ajta
tag˙hom tibqa’ ma tinstemax; g˙as-soçjetà
le˙inhom jibqa’ piΩ fuq il-kuxjenza. Waqt
li fid-dinja hemm sforz sabiex l-ekonomija
ti©i globalizzata, ma hemmx sforz simili
sabiex id-dinjità ta’ kull bniedem tin©ieb ’il
quddiem. Tfal suldati, tfal tat-triq, abbuΩati,
skjavi, ˙absin, bla skola, bla familja,
abbandunati, im©ew˙a…din hija l-isfida li,
fuq il-kuxjenza, ilkoll irridu naffrontaw.

Is-Salesjani huma maΩ-Ωg˙ar, g˙aliex
b˙al Dun Bosco g˙andhom fiduçja fihom,
fix-xewqa tag˙hom li jistudjaw, li jo˙or©u
mill-faqar, li jfasslu l-futur tag˙hom. Is-
Salesjani jemmnu fil-valur ta’ l-individwu,
li dinja diversa hija possibli, u fuq kollox
fil-valur kbir ta’ l-edukazzjoni. Is-Salesjani
jinvestu fiΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ u mad-dinja kollha
huma impenjati fl-edukazzjoni sabiex i˙ejju
©ejjieni poΩittiv g˙ad-dinja kollha. Huma
jippruvaw imexxu liΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ sabiex jg˙ixu
is-sej˙a tag˙hom ta’ wlied Alla. U dan huwa
fost l-akbar kontributi li s-sistema edukattiva
Salesjana tag˙ti lit-tfal u Ω-Ωg˙aΩag˙, meta
tipprova tag˙milhom çittadini onesti u
nsara tajbin: bennejja ta’ soçjetà umana,
individwi attivi u responsabbli, li jag˙rfu d-
dinjità tag˙hom, miftu˙a lejn l-ispirtu, lejn
l-o˙rajn u lejn Alla.

7˙ajjaSalesjana

CalenDarof Events
C A L E N D A R O F S A L E S I A N F E A S T S & E V E N T S

For any other info about the Salesians: www.sdb.org / www.youtube.com/user/anSchannel
Salesians in Malta: www.salesiansmalta.org / www.salesiantheatremalta.com
www.saviocollege.edu.mt / www.spysmalta.org/spysint / www.stpatrickspastpupils.org

nov
2 – 3 Mid-Term Holidays for schools
Wed 4 Sliema Salesian Cooperators’ Meeting at St. Patrick’s.
Fri 6 Bl. Joseph Calasanz and 93 companions (Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War).
Parents’ Day form 5 at Savio College
Tue 10 Prayer Day for Salesian Missions. Delegation Council’s meeting
14 – 15 Thriller by Atturi Salesjani at Salesian Theatre, Sliema
Sun 15 Bl. Maddalena Morano FMa
Tue 17 Meeting for Savio College Salesian Cooperators
Sat 21 Symposium for the Salesian Family at Salesian Theatre, Sliema.
Tue 14 Commemoration of Mary Help of Christians at St. Patrick’s: 6.30 p.m.
Mon 20 World Children’s Day. Cultural tours for St. Patrick’s School.
Wed 25 Commemoration of Mamma Margherita.
One day trip to Catania by St. Patrick’s Past Pupils
27 – 29 Salesian youth Centre ‘BOSCOcrew’ live-in workshop
Sun 29 1st Sunday of Advent. Sale of Poinsettias at St. Patrick’s.

DeC
Tue 1 Delegation Council’s meeting
Wed 2 Sliema Salesian Cooperators’ Meeting at St. Patrick’s.
Fri 4 First Friday Devotions at St. Patrick’s Church (6.15 p.m.)
Sat 5 Bl. Philip rinaldi, 2nd successor of Don Bosco
Mon 7 ‘Akkademja’ in honour of Our Lady at Savio College. ½ day school
Tue 8 Immaculate Conception of Mary. Public Holiday
Thu 10 Prayer Day for Salesian Missions
Sat 12 annual Christmas Concert at St. Patrick’s Church (7.30 p.m.)
12 – 13 ‘Dominic Savio’ the musical - at Salesian Theatre Hall, Sliema.
Sun 13 Oratory Past Pupils Xmas lunch
15 – 18 Christmas activities at St. Patrick’s School
Thu 17 Christmas Novena at Salesian Oratory, Sliema
Sat 19 Course in Salesian Spirituality, Lecture 3
Mon 21 Xmas Parties. End of 1st Term at Savio College
Thu 31 Te Deum Mass at St. Patrick’s (6.30 p.m.)
New Year’s Eve Disco Party at Salesian Oratory, Sliema

JanuarY 2010
Fri 1 our lady, Mother of God. World Day of Peace
Tue 5 Beginning of 2nd Term of school.
Wed 6 Sliema Salesian Cooperators’ Meeting at St. Patrick’s.
Thu 7 2nd Term at Savio College
Sun 10 Prayer Day for Salesian Missions
Sat 16 Course in Salesian Spirituality 4

˙ajjaSalesjana8

Fit-t˙abbira tal-Mulej, Immanuel,
“Alla Mag˙na’’, jitnissel fil-©uf tal-
Ver©ni Marija bil-qawwa tal-Ispirtu
s-Santu. Filwaqt li fiç-çentru tax-
xena qieg˙da sse˙˙ l-Inkarnazzjoni,
isse˙˙ ukoll xi ˙a©a o˙ra li hi g˙al
kollox unika: kreatura umana
ting˙ata l-milja tal-qawwa mill-
Ispirtu s-Santu sabiex hija tg˙ix
g˙al Alla.

Marija: Il-mudell tag˙na
Dik il-kreatura umana u umli hi Marija,
meta hi tag˙ti l-kunsens tag˙ha sabiex tkun
l-Omm ta’ l-istess Iben t’Alla. U g˙alina hi
l-mudell tal-fidi. Dan ifisser li jekk a˙na
nimxu fuq l-eΩempju tag˙ha, a˙na wkoll
inkunu nistg˙u ng˙ixu fil-qawwa ta’ l-Ispirtu
s-Santu. Fit-t˙abbira tal-Mulej hija turina
kif g˙andna ng˙idu “iva’’ lil Alla, ninsew il-
pjanijiet tag˙na stess, u nift˙u qalbna bera˙
g˙all-Ispirtu. Iç-çavetta sabiex a˙na nibqg˙u
mag˙qudin ma’ l-Ispirtu b˙ala l-ener©ija
spiritwali tag˙na, hi li kuljum nintelqu g˙al
kollox f’idejh u ng˙oΩΩu fi qlubna s-sinjali
meraviljuΩi ta’ l-im˙abba u l-attenzjoni
tieg˙u. Imbag˙ad, b˙al Marija a˙na nkunu
nistg˙u ng˙ixu l-©urnata tag˙na fi spirtu
ta’ tif˙ir, talb u radd il-˙ajr lil Alla, filwaqt li
nag˙tu servizz lilu u lill-o˙rajn.

Issa din g˙alija hija a˙bar tajba. Ta’ spiss
ji©rili li nsib lili nnifsi maqtug˙ mill-Ispirtu
matul il-©urnata tieg˙i. B’mod speçjali
n˙ossni li ma nistax inkompli g˙ax nitfixkel
meta l-affarijiet ma ja˙dmux skond kif inkun
ippjanajthom jiena.

Il-bΩonn li nibqg˙u fil-kontroll
Na˙seb li naf x’inhi r-ra©uni. Niddependi
ΩΩejjed mill-pjanijiet tieg˙i. Hija ˙a©a tipika li
nibqa’ na˙seb fuq ix-xog˙ol li jkolli quddiemi
g˙ax ikolli f’mo˙˙i kemm ˙in g˙andi g˙ad-
dispoΩizzjoni tieg˙i. B’hekk ma nkunx miftu˙
g˙all-gwida ta’ l-Ispirtu s-Santu u g˙all-
g˙ajnuna li nista’ nirçievi ming˙and persuni
o˙rajn.

Dan hu li jfisser meta jiena nipprova
nΩomm ir-riedni f’idejja meta l-˙ajja ssir
diffiçli, u spiss ji©ri li nitlef il-battalja. Dawk
li suppost jg˙inuni fuq ix-xog˙ol jimirdu; xi
kultant insibha diffiçli li nikteb jew neditja
xi artikli partikulari; id-dar, marti u wliedi
jimirdu, jew xi ˙add minn uliedi jistieden xi
˙abib, u d-dar titqalleb kollha kemm hi. Dik
hi l-˙ajja! Li g˙andi bΩonn hu li nçedi ˙ajti
f’idejn Alla u minflok il-pjanijiet tieg˙i nimxi
fuq il-pjanijiet Tieg˙u. Imbag˙ad inkun nista’
nibda ng˙ix fil-qawwa ta’ l-Ispirtu s-Santu
g˙alkemm imdawwar bit-toqol tal-˙ajja.

Fiduçja biss
Marija wrietna kif g˙andna nag˙mlu dan
meta hija qalet “iva’’ lil Mulej. Hija laqg˙et
il-pjan Tieg˙u minflok dak tag˙ha. Na˙seb
li Ωgur stag˙©bet x’kien se ja˙seb ÌuΩeppi
dwar dan it-tnissil mirakoluΩ. Allura, li kieku
ÌuΩeppi jissosspetta li hi ma baqg˙etx fidila
lejh u jiddeçiedi li jiddivorzjaha pubblikament,
setg˙et ti©i akkuΩata b’adulterju u wkoll ti©i
m˙a©©ra. Issa a˙na nafu mill-Evan©elju ta’
San Mattew li ÌuΩeppi ddeçieda li jibg˙at
lil Marija bil-kwiet, imma mbag˙ad je˙odha
b’martu meta l-an©lu jurih il-verità dwar din
it-tarbija speçjali. (Mt 1: 18-25). Marija dan

Jiena nista’ ng˙ix fil-qawwa
ta’ l-Ispirtu s-Santu David Came

9˙ajjaSalesjana

g˙adha ma tafux; imma xorta wa˙da hija,
bla ebda kundizzjoni, tafda r-rieda tag˙ha
f’idejn Alla. U fil-waqt li tag˙mel dan, hija
tpo©©i fil-©enb il-pjanijiet li kellha g˙al ˙ajja
miΩΩew©a rispettabli f’NaΩaret.

lezzjoni Iebsa
G˙andkom tkunu tafu li daqs tliet snin ilu,
jiena u marti kwaΩi tlifna t-tifel tag˙na.
Mattew, qabduh attakki qawwija ta’
puplesija, u f’dik is-sitwazzjoni kien diffiçli
˙afna g˙alija li nafda fil-Mulej. Kien g˙ad
g˙andu biss ˙ames snin. L-attakki qawwija
ta’ puplesija bdew f’daqqa wa˙da, u
kellna mmorru ni©ru b’Mattew l-isptar
bl-ambulanza. L-isptar qabadni paniku
©ewwa fija: f’daqqa wa˙da rrealiΩΩajt li
kulma stajt nag˙mel kien li ng˙ajjat lil Alla
u nitolbu jkollu ˙niena minn ibni. Jiena ma
stajt nag˙mel xejn. Kollox kien f’idejn Alla.
Meta sa fl-a˙˙ar jiena po©©ejt il-˙ajja ta’ ibni
f’idejn Alla, kelli tip ta’ esperjenza spiritwali.

Fit-tieni ©urnata li Mattew g˙amel fis-sala
tal-kura intensiva, sa fl-a˙˙ar wasalt fil-punt
li stajt nafda l-˙ajja ta’ ibni g˙al kollox f’idejn
il-Mulej. F’dak il-punt ˙assejt ©ewwa fija
çerta paçi u ˙assejt l-Ispirtu s-Santu jsejja˙li
biex bis-sempliçità noqg˙od nitlob g˙al ibni
filwaqt li kont ma©enbu.

Fortunatament il-kundizzjoni tieg˙u ©iet
g˙all-a˙jar b’mod drammatiku wara jumejn.
Imma jien iddeçidejt li nibqa’ mieg˙u lejl
u nhar matul il-©img˙a kollha li g˙amel l-
isptar, ˙lief lejl wie˙ed meta serr˙itni marti.

Jiena u marti nirringrazzjaw lil Alla li t-tifel
tag˙na issa jidher li m’g˙adux fil-periklu u
ilu 18-il xahar ma jie˙u l-mediçina kontra l-
attakki tal-puplesija. Jiena wkoll grat lejn Alla
li tani lezzjoni prezzjuΩa ferm f’dak iΩ-Ωmien
li jiena qattajt ma’ ibni; g˙ax jiena skoprejt
li kulma stajt nag˙mel fl-isptar kien li nkun
hemm g˙al ibni – biex nitkellem u nilg˙ab
mieg˙u x’˙in ikun mqajjem, filwaqt li kont
nistrie˙ fuq sodda ma©enb tieg˙u x’˙in kien
ikun rieqed.

Qalb mimlija tif˙ir u gratitudni
Issa filwaqt li jiena ner©a’ noqg˙od na˙seb
fuq dak iΩ-Ωmien, nirrealizza li l-˙a©a
verament importanti kienet li jiena nkun
hemm g˙al uliedi b˙ala missierhom filwaqt
li nag˙ti radd il-˙ajr u tif˙ir lil Alla g˙al kull
wie˙ed u wa˙da minnhom. Meta nag˙mel
dan insir iktar konxju tal-bΩonnijiet tag˙hom
u nie˙u iktar paçenzja bihom. Dan huwa
l-mod kif il-Madonna g˙exet fil-qawwa
ta’ l-Ispirtu. U dan kien ifisser li hi kienet
f’kuntatt kontinwu ma’ l-Ispirtu u attenta
sabiex isservi l-bΩonnijiet ta’ l-o˙rajn f’kull
mument.

A˙sbu kif, preçiΩ wara t-t˙abbira tal-Mulej,
Marija tmur t˙affef biex taqdi lil ku©initha
EliΩabetta, li kienet tqila bi Ìwanni l-Battista.
Marija m’hix qed ta˙seb fiha nnifisha u x’se
ji©ri mit-tqala mirakoluΩa tag˙ha. Il-premura
tag˙ha hija g˙al EliΩabetta, li nisslet fi
xju˙itha u kien se jkollha bΩonn l-g˙ajnuna
biex t˙ejji g˙at-tarbija (Lq 1, 39-56).

Bil-qawwa sabiex taqdi
Kemm fid-dwejjaq kif ukoll fil-fer˙ tal-
˙ajja, din id-dispoΩizzjoni ©ewwa l-qalb
g˙enet lil Madonna tibqa’ mag˙quda
ma’ l-Ispirtu b˙ala dak li jag˙tiha l-qawwa
sabiex tibqa’ dejjem fidila lejn is-sej˙a
tag˙ha. Hija tinsab hemm mg˙obbija
bid-dwejjaq ta˙t is-salib, ta˙seb, titlob
u t˙obb. Hija tinsab ukoll flimkien mad-
dixxipli ta’ Binha meta l-Ispirtu s-Santu
niΩel fuqhom bil-qawwa f’G˙id il-Óamsin,
mimlija b’fer˙ kbir meta twieldet il-Knisja.

Il-lezzjoni g˙alija u g˙alik hija çara: a˙na
msej˙in kuljum sabiex ng˙idu “iva’’ lill-Ispirtu
s-Santu. Imbag˙ad, a˙na nistg˙u nibqg˙u
mag˙qudin ma’ l-Ispirtu meta nfa˙˙ru
u nirringrazzjaw lill-Mulej g˙all-˙wejje©
meraviljuΩi li Hu jag˙mel f’˙ajjitna. Ukoll fit-
tgerfix tal-˙ajja a˙na nistg˙u nibqg˙u fidili
g˙as-sej˙a tag˙na, bil-qawwa ta’ l-Ispirtu
sabiex naqdu lil Mulej u lill-o˙rajn.

˙ajjaSalesjana10

‘Work hard, play hard’ kienet it-tema
tal-kamp annwali tas-sajf li s-Salesian
Brigade (mag˙rufa wkoll bl-isem ta’
qabel Salesian Boys’ and Girls’ Brigade)
organizzat bejn id-9 u s-16 ta’ Awwissu
2009. Madwar 22 camper u 16-il helper
li jinkludu uffiçjali u leaders tal-Brigade
qattg˙u ©img˙a sabi˙a flimkien fi
spirtu Salesjan. Ta˙t it-tmexxija ta’ Joe
Camilleri u Leonard Falzon u l-preΩenza
taç-Chaplain Fr.Eric Cachia SDB, il-
campers kollha kellhom esperjenza
unika ta’ camping, fost entuΩjaΩmu kbir
u kompetittivita’ li n˙olqot mit-tliett
teams parteçipanti.

Il-campers kellhom programm imballat
b’attivitajiet diversi b˙al-log˙ob ta’ kull tip,
mixjiet bil-lejl u nature trail, quddies, ˙ar©iet
bil-private, g˙awm, sajd u snorkelling, quiz,
istruzzjonijiet mill-Malta Red Cross fuq l-
ambulanzi tag˙hom, fire drill, wide games,
treasure hunt, u campfire.

Ir-rutina ta’ kuljum tal-kamp kienet
perfetta. Bir-rise and shine filg˙odu kmieni,
keep-fit exercises, fall-in u tlug˙ tal-bandiera
Maltija u tal-Brigades bil-bugles u talb,
kolazzjon u tindif wara kull ikla. Kull team
irid ikun duty jiddependi mill-˙in tal-©urnata.
Id-duty sa˙ansitra tiΩgura li anke t-toilets
u x-showers ikunu nodfa. Kull team ikollu
l-punti fuq id-duties, log˙ob kompetittiv
u inspection tat-tinda. Dawn il-punti
jing˙addu fl-a˙˙ar biex ikun hemm team
rebbie˙ li jing˙ata premju. L-inspection
tinvolvi spezzjoni tat-tinda in ©enerali, il-
madwar tag˙ha u l-basket/haversack ta’ kull

camper. Kull team kellu leader u convenor
li jara li kollox imur sew. Kien hemm uffiçjali
ukoll li jaraw li kull ma jin˙tieg rigward issues
tat-tfajliet u issues tal-©uvintur ji©u ttrattat
separatament. Wara l-ikla ta’ nofsinhar,
jerga’ jkun hemm duties u wara mistrie˙. Fl-
g˙axija ikun hemm ix-showers, flag down u
talba bil-fall-in u l-bugles, u wara BBQ bid-
duty wkoll.

Waqt il-kamp ikun hemm attivita’ s˙i˙a li
tibda minn kmieni filg˙odu, bil-master cook
tipprepara l-kolazzjon u l-ikla ta’ nofsinhar.
Din tkun mg˙ejuna minn assistenta u grupp
ta’ helpers li jaraw li kollox imur sew fil-
preparamenti u tqassim ta’ l-ikel. Leaders
o˙ra ikunu qed jippreparaw l-attivitajiet tal-
©urnata waqt li o˙rajn jaraw li jsir ix-xiri ta’
kuljum.

B’kollox ittellghu 7 tined tat-tip Icelandic,
ridge tent, dining shelter, u 5 tined o˙ra
tal-helpers u l-familji tag˙hom. Il-façilitajiet
tal-campsite tal-iScouts kienu utli bl-uΩu
ta’ kamra store, kçina, toilets u showers,
campsite kbira, amfiteatru u parke©©.

Is-sa˙˙a u sigurtà tat-tfal hija importanti,

Il-Kamp annwali tas-Sajf
tas-Salesian Brigade

Joe Camilleri
Lieutenant SB

11˙ajjaSalesjana

g˙alhekk kull camper kellu jimla consent
form (g˙all-minuri) u dikjarazzjoni fuq
is-sa˙˙a. Saru diversi struzzjonijiet fuq
l-ewwel g˙ajnuna u fire drills. Il-kit tal-
ewwel g˙ajnuna ikun prezenti kullimkien
fir-responsabbiltà tal- first aider. Kull attivita’
tat-tfal ikollha uffiçjal jew helper biex jara li
kollox imur sew. Fl-attivitajiet ta’ bil-lejl ji©i
Ωgurat li fejn ikun hemm mixi fit-triq ikun
hemm biΩΩejjed sinjali li jidhru fid-dlam. It-
tfal iridu jixorbu l-ilma, jieklu sew, jindilku
bis-sunblock, ma ji©rux fix-xemx qalila bejn
l-10 u l-4 ta’ wara nofsinhar. Jekk ikunu
ma jifil˙ux ji©u spezzjonati mill-ewwel u
l-©enituri tag˙hom avΩati immedjatament.

Waqt il-Kamp isiru laqg˙at g˙all-uffiçjali
u leaders biex nanalizzaw x’mar tajjeb
u x’mar ˙aΩin u ˙adna l-opportunita’
nitkellmu fuq il-’pjan pastorali’ li ˙ejja
l-Oratorju tas-Salesjani ta’ Tas-Sliema, it-

tibdiliet li jridu jsiru, u ç-çelebrazzjonijiet
li s-Salesian Brigade se tkun qed t˙ejji
g˙aç-çentinarju tag˙ha, is-sena li ©ejja.

Çajt u fer˙ ma naqsux l-anqas, bil-famuΩi
ghost hunt, dlik bit-toothpaste, u l-famuΩ
campfire li kien mimli bi sketches u kant
tradizzjonali ta’ waqt il-campfire. Numru
sabi˙ ta’ ©enituri u ˙bieb tas-Salesjani
attendew serata mill-isba˙, waqt li kull˙add
xorob u kiel. Il-Kmandant tal-SB is-Sur Joe
Giorgio, kebbes uffiçjalment il-˙u©©ie©a tal-
campfire.

Insomma, kif ng˙idu, kien kamp bomba.
L-importanti li t-tfal u Ωg˙aΩag˙ jibqg˙u
jiftakru dan il-kamp g˙al g˙omorhom kollu.
Importanti wkoll li jitg˙allmu d-dixxiplina
biex ’il quddiem ikunu ’Çittadini onesti
u Nsara tajbin’…dejjem kif kien jg˙id u
jridhom San Ìwann Bosco.

˙ajjaSalesjana12

Crimes 10
Excerpts from the book “ Crimes of the Innocent” by Fr. Charles Cini S.D.B.

Abridged extracts

It was late at night, when I came back
home after I had a long meeting with
the family of a drug-addict who tried
to take an overdose. I meditated on
the experience of the day.

Something I could not forget was
the suffering face of the poor mother.
The following morning I met that
same woman and we spent a good
long time talking. “It is very painful
to recall the story of my son”, she told
me “he’s been abusing drugs for the
last eight years. But if this means that I
can be of help to others through my sad
experience, I am willing to do it. “

“What is your opinion about
drug addicts?”

“My experience with drug addicts
proves that they are not the horrible
people we normally imagine. They are
extremely sensitive and in need of affection
and attention. It is under the influence of
the substance, that they really become
insensible.

Is it difficult to accept that
your son is an addict?

“It is, and a lot of courage was needed,
when the time to face the truth arrived.
Indeed, it was a moment of extreme
panic! But I managed to control myself

a dialogue with the mother
of a drug-addict

13˙ajjaSalesjana

and take action. At first I thought about
the gossip there would be by friends and
relatives, when they found out, but then
I reasoned that my son needed total
support and was of more importance
than the gossip.

What makes you suffer most in
front of this problem?

“I would say it is the fact that I feel
helpless towards my son. I have to face
two personalities, i.e. the real one and
the fake one. I feel betrayed by the
behaviour of this same child to whom I
dedicated my whole life and being.

Does an addict change the
atmosphere in a family?

“The expert that was guiding us always
insisted that we should be frank with him
and with each other. He had been fooling
all of us because we were too afraid to
talk openly about the problem. Then we
learned that the only possibility of victory
was to be sincere with each other. I was the
worst of them all, because I always tried

to excuse him and hide his faults. I learnt
that to succeed with a drug addict, the
full support of all the family was needed.
I learnt also that even parents require
therapy. Fathers have a great role to play,
since the child needs the strength of his
father behind him. Solidarity between
mother and father is essential.”

Could you get deeper about
some details ?

“The thing that I hated most was that
I was being accused by all the family. I
was loving and gave total attention to
my son to the point that I was neglecting
the rest of my family. I used to send my
youngest son away to his aunts, because
I didn’t want him to be a witness of the
situation in which his brother was. I used
to have clashes with my husband since we
never agreed about what to do. I arrived
at the stage of wishing him dead, and
sometimes contemplated the thought
of killing him to end the sufferings of a
mother’s heart. How wretched and weak I
felt, even as my health deteriorated. I used
to confront myself and tried to drive away

˙ajjaSalesjana14

the evil thoughts, the quick palpitations,
the doubts, the fear, the anxiety, the
hate, and I used to look back in anger: I
used to remember my son as a wonderful
person, sweet and caring; but now he is a
completely different person.”

Then she continued: “I have been
robbed; all my family’s jewellery is gone.
He stole it so that he would buy his stuff.
We lived with the anxiety that we would
wake up and find more things missing.
On one particular occasion, Christmas, I
was laying the table and went to get my
Maltese silver cutlery. To my dismay, it
was all gone! It had been in the family for
more than four generations. However the
worst suffering for the mother of a drug
addict is the psychological aspect of it.
I feel guilty about my son’s addiction. It
was I that spoiled him so much; but then
again, he was treated like his other two
brothers. Maybe he was different and

needed a different approach. “

Does a mother really wish to
save her son from drugs?

“I lived with contradictions in my
heart, but my only wish before I die is
to see him recovered. I want to save him
from death. When I hear news of people
dying of overdoses I say that my son will
be the next. I asked for opinions about
the best therapeutic community in which
to place him. When I used to see him
in the condition which drug withdrawal
provokes, I was sometimes tempted to go
out and buy drugs for him. To think that
I was willing to buy death for him!”

While thanking her for being so

genuine, I encouraged her not to lose
heart.

15˙ajjaSalesjana

lecture 1: St. John Bosco, profoundly human and profoundly man of God.
Speaker: Rev. Fr. Charles Cini sdb

Date: 10th October 2009

lecture 2: The Preventive System –
Speaker: Rev. Fr. Joe Boenzi sdb

Date: 21st November 2009

lecture 3: The active presence of Our Lady Help of Christians
Speaker: Sr. Theresa Curmi FMA

Date: 19th December 2009

lecture 4: The influence of Mamma Margherita on Don Bosco
Speaker: Rev. Fr. Francis Zammit sdb

Date: 16th January 2010

lecture 5: The impact of St. Francis of Sales’ spirituality on Don Bosco and the Salesians.
Speaker: Rev. Fr. Eunan McDonnell sdb

Date: 13th February 2010

lecture 6: The identity of the Salesian (both consecrated and lay) today
Speaker: Rev. Fr. Manuel Camilleri sdb

Date: 6th March 2010

lecture 7: Don Bosco’s outlook on life and the human person
Speaker: Rev. Fr. Jack Finnegan sdb

Date: 17th April 2010

lecture 8: Travelling life’s journey today with Don Bosco’s wisdom
Speaker: Rev.Pascual Chavez sdb, Rector Major.

Date:15th May 2010 (?)

venue and time: Salesian Theatre hall, Sliema, beneath the main Chapel at 19.00 hours
and end by 20.30 hours, with a 20 minutes tea / coffee break Every meeting will be held on
Saturday.
Payment: €35 for adults and €20 for students. Cheques are to be payable to ‘Salesians of
Don Bosco’. All applications are to be mailed to: Salesianity Course Coordinator, 10 St John
Bosco Street, Sliema SLM 1922.

Course in Salesian Spirituality
for the Maltese Salesian Family

˙ajjaSalesjana16

About a week before Christmas, our family
bought a new nativity crib. When we
unpacked it, we found two figures of the
Baby Jesus. ‘Someone must have packed
this wrong,’ mother said. ‘Oh dear! I
suppose some set, down at the store, is
missing a Baby Jesus because we have two.’
‘You two run down to the store and tell the
manager to put a sign on the boxes saying
that if a set is missing a Baby Jesus, call 7126.
Put on your warm coats, it’s freezing cold
out there.’ The manager of the store copied
down mother’s message.

All week long we waited for someone
to call. Each time the phone rang, mother
would say, ‘I bet that’s about Jesus,’ but
it never was. Father tried to explain, there
are thousands of these scattered over
the country and the figurine could be
missing from a set in Florida or California.
He suggested we just put the extra Jesus
back in the box and forget about it.
When no call had come by 5 p.m. on
Christmas Eve, mother insisted that father
just run down to the store to see if there
were any sets left. ‘Run down to the store?’
father thundered. ‘It’s 15 below zero out
there!’ ‘Oh, Daddy, we’ll go with you,’
Tommy and Mary began to put on their
coats then ran ahead as father reluctantly
walked out in the cold. Mary got to the
store first and pressed her nose up to the
store window. ‘They’re all gone, Daddy,’ she
shouted. ‘Every set must have been sold.’
When we got back into the house we

noticed that mother was gone and so
was the extra Baby Jesus figurine. Then
the phone rang. Father yelled, ‘Answer
the phone and tell ‘em we found a home
for Jesus.’ But it was mother calling with
instructions for us to come to 205 Chestnut
Street immediately, and bring three
blankets, a box of cookies and some milk.
‘Now what has she gotten us into?’ my
father groaned as we bundled up again.
‘205 Chestnut -. Why, that’s across town.
Why can’t we all just get on with Christmas?
It’s probably 20 below out there now. Of all
the crazy things to do on a night like this.’
When we got to the house it was the darkest
one on the block. Only one tiny light burned
in the living room. The moment we set foot
on the porch steps, my mother shouted,
‘Oh thank God you got here, Ray! You kids
take those blankets into the living room and
wrap up the little ones on the couch. I’ll take
the milk and cookies.’

‘’Would you mind telling me what is
going on, Ethel?’ my father asked. ‘We have
just walked through below zero weather
with the wind in our faces all the way.’
‘Never mind all that now,’ my mother
interrupted. ‘There is no heat in this house
and this young mother is so upset she doesn’t
know what to do. Her husband walked out
on her and those poor little children will
have a very bleak Christmas, so don’t you
complain.’

My mother strode off to the kitchen
to warm the milk while my brother and
I wrapped up the five little children who
were huddled together on the couch. The
children’s mother explained to my father
that her husband had run off, taking
bedding, clothing and almost every piece
of furniture, but she had been doing all right
until the furnace broke down. ‘I saw your
number every day there on those boxes
at the store. When the furnace went out,

THE PACKING

M I S T A K E

17˙ajjaSalesjana

that number kept goin’ through my mind
-- 7162, 7162. It said on the box that if a
person was missin’ Jesus, they should call
you. That’s how I knew you were good
Christian people, willin’ to help folks. So I
called your missus. I’m not missin’ Jesus,
mister, because I sure love the Lord. But
I have no money to fix that furnace.’
‘Okay, Okay,’ said father. ‘Now let’s see.
Shouldn’t be too hard to fix that burner.’
Mother came into the living room carrying
a plate of cookies and warm milk. As she
set the cups down on the coffee table, I
noticed the figure of Baby Jesus lying in
the centre of the table. It was the only sign
of Christmas in the house. The children
stared wide-eyed with wonder at the plate
of cookies my mother set before them.
Father finally got the oil burner working but
said, ‘You need more oil. I’ll make a few calls
tonight and get some oil. Yes ma’am, you
came to the right place,’ father grinned.
On the way home father did not complain
about the cold weather and had barely set
foot inside the door when he was on the
phone. ‘Eddie, hey, how are ya, Ed? Yes, Merry
Christmas to you, too. Say Ed, we have kind
of an unusual situation here, I know you’ve
got that pick-up truck. Do you still have some
oil in that barrel on your truck? You do?’
By this time the rest of the family were pulling
clothes out of their closets and toys off of their
shelves. It was long after our bedtime when
we were wrapping gifts. The pickup came.
On it were chairs, three lamps, blankets and
gifts. Even though it was 30 below, father
let us ride along in the back of the truck.
No one ever did call about the missing
figure in the nativity set, but as I grow older,
I realize that it wasn’t a packing mistake at
all. Jesus saves, that’s what He does and He
works in mysterious ways to do it! Have a
Happy and Holy Christmas.

˙ajjaSalesjana18

The four blessed looks:

Look back and thank God.
Look forward and trust God.
Look around and serve God.
Look within and find God!

I asked God, ‘How do I get the best out of life?’
God said, ‘Face your past without regrets.
Handle your present with confidence.
And prepare for the future without fear!’

Without God, our week is:
Mournday, Tearsday, Wasteday, Thirstday,
Fightday, Shatterday and Sinday.
Remember: seven days without God make ‘one
weak’.
So, allow Him to be with you every day!

Life is short, so forgive quickly.
Believe slowly. Love truly. Laugh uncontrollably.
Never regret anything that makes you happy.

And have a wonderful New Year!

19˙ajjaSalesjana

˙ajjaSalesjana20

Kien proprju fis-sajf ta’ l-2008 waqt laqg˙a
soçjali mas-Salesjani, fejn b˙ala grupp
imdaqqas ta’ ©enituri li t-tfal tag˙na kienu
jew iggradwaw minn Savio College jew li
waslu biex, urejna x-xewqa li din l-esperjenza
Salesjana li g˙amilna matul dawn il-˙ames
snin sekondarji ma’ wliedna, ma tispiççax
hawn. Kollha konna tal-fehma u kollha
wrejna x-xewqa li dak li ˙adna minn g˙and
is-Salesjani u t-tag˙lim validu u prattiku
ta’ Dun Bosco nkomplu nikbru fih sabiex
imbag˙ad ng˙adduh lill-o˙rajn.

Kien proprju Fr. Fabio Attard sdb li ˙are©
bl-idea sabi˙a li jing˙ata bidu g˙at-twaqqif
ta’ dan il- grupp ta’ Kooperaturi u fil-pront
hu nkariga lili flimkien ma’ Fr. Joe Portelli sdb
u Fr. Sandro Camilleri sdb biex niltaqg˙u
u no˙or©u bl-idejat tag˙na dwar kif se
jitwieled dan il-moviment u jikber mhux
biss f’Savio College iΩda fi djar o˙ra Salesjani
Maltin. Wara li ntbag˙tu applikazzjonijiet

biex in-nies juru l-interess tag˙hom, kellna
twe©iba tajba ˙afna minn g˙add ta’ ©enituri
u f’Ottubru 2008 bdejna l-laqg˙at tag˙na ta’
formazzjoni sabiex nag˙rfu u nifhmu l-pass li
xtaqna nie˙du x’kien ifisser fil-prattika.

F’dawn il-laqg˙at li saru minn diversi
Salesjani, komplejna nsiru nafu fid-dettal
min hu Dun Bosco. Bdejna mit-trobbija
tieg˙u u x’ kienet tfisser g˙alih ommu
Mamma Margerita u l-prinçipji sodi u
reli©juΩi li rabbietu fihom. Rajna ukoll l-
mixja tieg˙u lejn is-saçerdozju, kif g˙aΩel
li jibda ja˙dem maΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ imwarrba ta’
Turin u kif twaqqaf l-ewwel Oratorju. Rajna
wkoll kif se˙˙ bil-mod il-mod it-twaqqif tal-
Familja Salesjana, familja li tg˙odd l-eluf
imxerrda ma’ l-erbat irjie˙ tad-dinja u li hi
mibnija fuq il-prinçipji ta’ ra©uni, im˙abba
u reli©jon. Tkellimna wkoll fuq l-importanza
tax-xhieda nisranija b˙ala Kooperaturi
Salesjani waqt li Ωammejna quddiemna

Grupp Ìdid ta’ Kooperaturi f’Savio College

Il-mixja tieg˙i biex nsir membru
Tanya Borg (Branch Manager HSBC)

21˙ajjaSalesjana

l-eΩempju ta’ Mamma Margerita, dwar il-
˙tiega ta’ ˙ajja attiva ta’ talb fuq l-eΩempju
ta’ San Domenico Savio, dwar is-sisien sodi
li ˙ajja sagramentali tista’ tipprovdilna f’din
il-missjoni tag˙na u dwar is-sigriet tax-
xog˙ol kollu Salesjan – is-Sistema Preventiv
li issa a˙na rridu naddottaw fil-˙ajja familjari
tag˙na u anke fir-relazzjonijiet tag˙na fuq il-
post tax-xog˙ol.

Dawn il laqg˙at g˙alija personali fissru
˙afna. Komplejt nifhem aktar l-g˙eruq tas-
Salesjani u er©ajt g˙ext l-esperjenza tieg˙i
tal-pellegrina©© ta’ Turin, esperjenza li
nibqa’ dejjem ng˙oΩΩ. In˙ossni fortunata
˙afna li rajt u missejt b’idejja kull post li
tkellimna fuqu matul dan il-pellegrina©© u
Ωgur li dan kompla ˙e©©e© fija x-xewqa li
ning˙aqad mal -Kooperaturi Salesjani.

Fl-a˙˙ar waslet il-©urnata tas-16 ta’
Mejju 2009, il-©urnata fejn grupp sabi˙
ta’ madwar erbg˙in persuna ersaqna biex
nag˙mlu l-‘weg˙da’ li nsiru Kooperaturi
Salesjani. Kien mument sabi˙ ˙afna g˙alija.
Ma nistax nesprimi l-emozzjoni li ˙assejt
kif rajt lil Dun Adriano Bregolin, Vikarju
Ìenerali tas-Salesjani, lil Fr. Fabio Attard u
lill-kommunità Salesjana ta’ Savio College u
ta’ Tas-Sliema telg˙in iqaddsu flimkien g˙al
din l-okkaΩΩjoni.

Il-preΩenza ta’ Dun Adriano u ta’ Fr. Fabio
di©à kienet biΩΩejjed biex turi s-sinjifikat
tal-mument u dan kompla jissa˙˙a˙ bil-
preΩenza qawwija tal-komunità Salesjana
f’ Malta. Don Adriano g˙addilna messsa©©
çar dwar id-dover li issa g˙andna, ji©ifieri
li naqsmu u nwasslu l-prinçipji Salesjani ta’
Reli©jon, Im˙abba u Ra©uni fil-familji tag˙na
u fuq il-postijiet tax-xog˙ol tag˙na. Dawn il-
prinçipji, meta mg˙ixa minna kif suppost,
Ωgur se jbiddlu l-˙ajja ta’ dawk li niltaqg˙u
mag˙˙om waqt li nkomplu na˙dmu mal-
komunità Salesjana.

Illum f˙imt li din il-mixja g˙alija bdiet
mad-d˙ul tat-tifel tieg˙i f’Savio College
tmien snin ilu. Sa minn dak in-n˙ar bdejt
insir naf lis-Salesjani aktar mill-qrib, komplejt
ninbena minn ©ewwa permezz tal-laqg˙at
tal-Lectio Divina ta’ kull xahar u issa,
flimkien mar-ra©el tieg˙i u ma’ s˙abi l-o˙ra,
wasalt biex nifforma parti mill- Kooperaturi
Salesjani. Ûgur li dan mhux tmiem ta’ storja
imma bidu ta’ impenn li min jaf fejn se
jo˙odna.

Nispera li bl-g˙ajnuna t’Alla u ta’ Marija
G˙ajnuna ta’ l-Insara nkunu ta’ eΩempju
tajjeb g˙al o˙rajn u x˙ieda denji ta’ Dun
Bosco. Viva Dun Bosco u s-Salesjani!

˙ajjaSalesjana22

Filg˙odu kmieni, hekk kif waslet l-Indja u
l-kowç ˙aditha fil-belt, malli dawk li jafuha
lem˙uha, ma naqsux li ji©ru lejha, jifir˙u
biha u jo˙dulha b’idejha, kuntenti li fl-a˙˙ar
re©g˙et lura fosthom. Fi ftit ˙in ˙afna nies
resqu madwar Sister Filomena j©orrulha

Vendetta ta’ Ìurdien
Sister Filomena, missjunarja fl-Indja, wara xahrejn
vaganzi, rikbet l-ajruplan biex ter©a’ lura fil-Missjoni.

l-basktijiet u soror li ©abet mag˙ha.
Madwarha qamet ge©wi©ija s˙i˙a g˙ax mill-
kbar saΩ-Ωg˙ar kollha riedu jg˙idu tag˙hom.
Kellha biçça xog˙ol iebsa Sister Filomena
biex tkompli ma’ kul˙add. Imma ma damitx
ma waslet id-dar skortata mill-folla b˙ala
l-persuna l-aktar importanti.

Fost il-kaxxi tal-kartun li ©arret mag˙ha,
kien hemm wa˙da li setg˙et tifta˙ dak il-˙in
stess. Din kienet spiritiera ‘valor’ li tag˙ti nar
qawwi u ssajjar malajr. G˙al dik il-g˙odwa,
ir-ross tal-komunita’ kien ©a lest, u allura
l-ispiritiera setg˙et tiΩΩanΩan g˙at-tisjir ta’
filg˙axija. L-g˙ajnejn ta’ kul˙add kienu
kollha kurΩita’ u Sister Filomena kellha tifta˙
xi pakketti Ωg˙ar o˙ra. Imbag˙ad ftakret li
kellha ti©ri lejn il-knisja sabiex tirringrazzja ‘l
Alla g˙all-wasla tag˙ha lura qawwija u s˙i˙a
u talli sabet lill-˙bieb u l-katekisti kollha
f’posthom.

Wara nofsinhar Sister Filomena, fer˙ana
bl-ispiritiera tag˙ha, marret fuq wara tad-
dar, mat-tfajliet tal-kçina sabiex flimkien
jibdew it-tisjir. L-ispiritiera ©dida kellha
toqg˙od f’rokna g˙all-kenn. Imlewha bil-
pitrolju, stennew il-ftila tixxarrab u xeg˙luha.
IΩda din ma ridetx tixg˙el kif suppost, b’dik
il-fjamma blu. In-nar deher fjakk, il-˙in kollu
jilg˙ab, jiççaqlaq u kultant idda˙˙an. Bilfors
li kien hemm xi ri˙ minn xi mkien. Ressqu ftit
l-ispiritiera minn postha u ndunaw li warajha
kien hemm toqba. Minnha beda g˙addej

23˙ajjaSalesjana

ftit ri˙ sewwa. G˙alhekk din kellha tinstadd
immedjatament. Sister Filomena ressqet idha
biex tara jekk hix fonda u …tikk, tikk…Ωew©
sinniet fini niggΩulha subg˙ajha!

In˙asdet sew u beΩg˙et. Billi kienet taf
˙afna stejjer ta’ nies li ©ralhom b˙alha, u
w˙ud la˙qu mietu, pront bdiet tg˙ajjat
imwerwra: ‘Gidimni s-serp…gidimni s-
serp…’’

Dawk li kienu fil-qrib malajr ©rew g˙all-
g˙ajnuna. Qamet konfuΩjoni kbira. Kien
hemm min ried jg˙ajjat lis-sa˙˙ar li jservi
anki ta’ tabib. O˙rajn, skond l-uΩanza li
teΩisti hawnhekk, bdew jorbtu u jissikkaw
kemm jifil˙u drieg˙ is-soru ˙alli d-demm
velenuΩ ma jil˙aqx jitla’ ‘l fuq lejn il-qalb.
Wie˙ed qabad xafra u beda jxoqq is-saba’
fost u©ig˙ u demm iqattar…u hekk il-velenu
jkun jista’ jo˙ro© mill-©isem.

Riedu jie˙du s-soru l-isptar, imma billi
kienu fil-qofol tal-festi, it-trasport pubbliku

kien wieqaf. Malajr instab xi ˙add li kellu
jeep u aççetta li je˙odha malajr hu. Intant,
in-nies imdawra mas-soru safra u anzjuΩa,
bdew jikkunslawha u jg˙idulha forsi ma
kienx serp dak li gidimha.

Sister Filomena waslet l-isptar kwaΩi
mitlufa minn sensiha bl-u©ig˙ li kellha
min˙abba dak l-irbit kollu ta’ drieg˙ha.
Sarulha t-test tad-demm u l-kura me˙tie©a.

F’sag˙tejn intbag˙tet id-dar ˙ielsa minn
kull periklu. Hekk kif niΩlet mill-karrozza t-tfal
©rew g˙al fuqha jassigurawha li ma kienx is-
serp li gidimha, imma ©urdien! Meta ̇ aduha
lejn l-isptar, it-tfal da˙˙lu lasta fit-toqba u l-
©urdien ˙are© sparat min-na˙a l-o˙ra.

Dak inhar ix-xitan ma ˙amilx jara kollox
©ej tajjeb g˙al Sister Filomena. Inqeda
b’vendetta ta’ ©urdien! Kellha ©urnata
tassew mimlija dak l-ewwel jum ta’ missjoni,
wara xahrejn mistrie˙ f’art twelidha. Tibqa’
tiftakarha!

˙ajjaSalesjana24

Wasal il-jum li fih kellhom i©eddu l-voti l’Alla,
fil-˙ajja reli©juΩa, iΩ-Ωew© Ωg˙aΩag˙ Gerald
Mangion u Jeremy Vella. It-tnejn li huma,
deçiΩi li jibqg˙u jimxu wara l-Mulej Ìesù fuq
l-eΩempju tal-˙ajja qaddisa ta’ San Ìwann
Bosco, wieg˙du lil Alla ˙ajja ta’ ubbidjenza
lejn is-Superjuri tag˙hom, ˙ajja ta’ faqar
ma’ s˙abhom is-Salesjani u ˙ajja ta’ safa’ fis-
servizz taΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙. U dan minn issa u g˙al
˙ajjithom kollha.

Gerald u Jeremy, barra mit-triq tal-
˙ajja reli©juΩa, qeg˙din isegwu wkoll it-
triq li twassal g˙as-saçerdozju. Huma di©à
temmew l-ewwel sentejn fil-kors tag˙hom
tat-teolo©ija. L-istudentat fejn qeg˙din jinsab
fil-belt ta’ Turin, fl-Italja ta’ Fuq - il-belt li fiha

g˙ex u ˙adem il-fundatur tas-Salesjani, San
Ìwann Bosco. Hemmhekk, ma’ Salesjani
studenti o˙ra minn pajjiΩi diversi, huma
qeg˙din mhux biss jie˙du l-g˙erf bΩonnjuΩ
g˙all-˙idma pastorali tag˙hom, imma wkoll
l-ispirtu Salesjan li jinsab tant ̇ aj f’˙afna mill-
in˙awi ta’ Turin fejn hemm opri Salesjani u
memorji li jag˙tu xhieda tal-kariΩma ta’ Dun
Bosco. Bl-g˙ajnuna ta’ Alla, is-sena li ©ejja,
iΩ-Ωew© Brothers jordnaw djakni, l-a˙˙ar
pass qabel is-saçerdozju.

Nhar il-Ìimg˙a, 11 ta’ Settembru, il-knisja
parrokkjali ta’ San Girgor il-Kbir f’Tas-Sliema,

Mulej, Int Sejja˙tli…
Çertament wa˙da mill-isba˙ ©rajjiet

g˙all-Familja Salesjana dawn l-a˙˙ar
jiem kienet l-okkaΩjoni tal-Voti

Perpetwi ta’ Bro. Gerald Mangion u
Bro. Jeremy Vella.

25˙ajjaSalesjana

Fr. Fabio Attard, beda r-rit tal-Professjoni.
F’dal-mument il-Brothers fissru l-intenzjoni
tag˙hom li jimxu wara Kristu l-Mulej fil-
Kongregazzjoni Salesjana, imbag˙ad
mteddu minn tulhom, wiççhom ma’ l-art,
sakemm tkantat il-litanija tal-Qaddisin. Wara
dan huma g˙amlu l-Professjoni, li kienet
segwita minn talba ta’ konsagrazzjoni li
ç-çelebrant talab fuqhom. Salib çkejken tal-
bronΩ, li kull Salesjan jirçievi f’din l-okkaΩjoni,
Ing˙ata f’dan il-mument lil Gerald u Jeremy.
Il-quddiesa tkompliet b˙as-soltu sa l-a˙˙ar.

Din il-Festa ma kinetx tkun kompluta
kieku naqas il-fer˙ tal-laqg˙a ta’ flimkien.
Din hija parti importanti fis-sistema
Salesjana, ji©ifieri l-espressjoni ta’ fer˙ meta
l-membri jiltaqg˙u biex jesprimu sentimenti
ta’ g˙aqda bejn il-ferg˙at kollha tal-Familja
Salesjana u mal-˙bieb u ©enituri. Dun Bosco
kien dejjem isib okkaΩjoni biex iferra˙ lit-tfal
ta’ l-Oratorju, u kien i˙obb wisq jiççelebra
il-festi b’teatrini, log˙ob u anke ikel propju
tal-festa.

G˙aldaqstant, wara ç-çerimonja tal-
knisja, il-©emg˙a kollha n©abret fil-bit˙a ta’
l-Oratorju fejn xi voluntiera servew xorb u
ikel lil kul˙add. Kien il-mument meta wara
s-solennità u s-skiet rispettuΩ ta’ waqt il-
funzjoni, issa kul˙add juri s-sodisfazzjon
tieg˙u, jifra˙ ma’ s˙abu, jiltaqa’ mal-˙bieb
u jawgura liΩ-Ωew© Brothers u lill-familjari
tag˙hom.

kienet ma˙nuqa bin-nies li ©ew jassistu g˙al
din iç-çerimonja. Barra mill-membri tal-familji
taΩ-Ωew© reli©juΩi, kien hemm bosta ˙bieb,
Brothers, Past Pupils, Salesjani Koperaturi,
Sorijiet Salesjani u o˙rajn, kollha mid˙la tas-
Salesjani. Spikkaw f’din il-folla, numru kbir
ta’ Ωg˙aΩag˙ li kienu qeg˙din jew jassistu
minn posthom, jew jie˙du sehem attiv f’dak
li kien qieg˙ed ji©ri, jew jg˙inu fuq l-altar,
jew koristi jew b˙ala ushers, inkella jie˙du r-
ritratti uffiçjali.

Il-Professjoni Perpetwa issir waqt quddiesa
solenni. Sabiex imexxi din iç-çerimonja
kien hawn wie˙ed mis-Superjuri ma©©uri
tag˙na minn Ruma, Fr. Fabio Attard, li huwa
nkarigat mill-Movimenti taΩ-Ûg˙aΩag˙ fid-
dinja Salesjana. Jikkonçelebraw mieg˙u
kien hemm il-Provinçjal Fr. John Horan mill-
Irlanda u d-Delegat tieg˙u f’Malta, Fr. Paul
Formosa. Ma’ dawn, b’fer˙ kbir f’qalbhom u
f’solidarjetà maΩ-Ωew© Brothers kien hemm
g˙oxrin saçerdot ie˙or.

Fuq l-artal, b˙ala wie˙ed mill-‘abbatini’,
kien hemm ukoll is-Salesjan ©did Bro.
Kenneth Micallef. Kenneth kien g˙adu kemm
g˙amel l-ewwel professjoni f’Turin nhar it-8
ta’ Settembru, tlett ijiem biss qabel.

Din il-quddiesa kienet imΩewqa b’kant
ferm sabi˙, kant animat minn kor immexxi
minn Ms. Dorienne Portelli u akkumpanjat
mill-©emg˙a kollha fil-knisja. Wara l-qari
mill-Iskrittura Mqaddsa u l-omelija minn

˙ajjaSalesjana26

Kienet g˙afsa ta’ qalb g˙alija meta smajt bl-
a˙bar tal-mewt tal-˙abib tag˙na Pawlu Vella.

Pawlu kien twieled il-Belt Valletta, iΩda
g˙adda Ωg˙oΩitu ©ewwa tas-Sliema. Meta
ΩΩewwe© kien mar joqg˙od Óal Balzan u
hemm baqa’ sa ma miet.

Fil-Óamsinijiet, jiena u Pawlu, b˙al bosta
Ωg˙aΩag˙ o˙rajn minn Tas-Sliema u l-in˙awi
madwarha, konna mmorru l-Oratorju
Salesjan. Konna attivi ˙afna fil-Boys’ Brigade
(ara ritratt) kif ukoll abbatini flimkien.
Imma, bil-maqlub tieg˙i, Paul kien atleta
prim, wie˙ed mill-ftit li kien i˙obb ji©ri fit-
tul b’suççess (cross country, long-distance
running). L-a˙˙ar li rajtu tlett snin ilu, urini
siltiet mill-pa©ni ta’ l-isports tal-gazzetti The
Times of Malta u l-Berqa, li jitkellmu fuq it-
ti©rijiet li kien ˙a sehem fihom, fejn kien
jirrappreΩenta Ω-Ωg˙aΩag˙ Salesjani jew lil
Malta u kien reba˙ numru ta’ premjijiet.

Meta ma bqajniex immorru aktar
l-Oratorju, Paul emigra lejn l-Ingilterra fis-
sena 1965 u jiena mort l-Awstralja fl-1973.
G˙addew 35 sena u er©ajt g˙amilt kuntatt
mieg˙u wara dak iΩ-Ωmien kollu, permezz tal-

website Malta Global Friends, li tag˙ha Paul
kien kontributur regulari.

Ta’ atleta prim li kien, fl-Ingilterra Paul
malajr t˙ajjar u kkwalifika b˙ala tennis
umpire. Huwa la˙aq veru livell g˙oli, tant
li kien fi grad li jirreffja anki d-Davis Cup.
Hemmhekk, ukoll kien involut ˙afna fl-iscouts
u g˙amel karriera ja˙dem mal-British Airways.
Wara 15-il sena irritorna Malta, iltaqa’ ma’
Massie u ΩΩewwe© meta huwa kellu ma’
l-erbg˙in sena.

F’Malta, Paul kellu l-kumpanija tieg˙u tal-
kompjuters u ta’ spiss kien jikteb fit-Times u
jorganizza esibizzjonijiet u korsijiet dwar il-
kompjuters.

F’kelma wa˙da, Paul kien bniedem ta’
˙afna talenti, g˙ax kien ukoll dilettant kbir tas-
sajd tal-lampuki u tkabbir tal-frott tal-©nien.

IΩda l-isba˙ tifkiriet tieg˙u, kien stqarr
mieg˙i meta stedinni d-dar tieg˙u f’Óal
Balzan, kienu ta’ l-Oratorju Salesjan g˙ax
kien qalli li hemm ‘˙adna trobbija soda u
formazzjoni nisranija fil-karattru tag˙na.’

Minn hawn nixtieq insellem lil Paul waqt li
nag˙ti l-g˙omor lil martu Massie u lil bintu Martina.

IÓallIna PaWlu vella 1943-2009

Il-membri tas-SBB
f’dan ir-ritratt huma:
Benny Grech;
Patrick Pullicino;
Paul Vella u Alfred Briffa.
(Ta˙t) John Green;
Alfred Sacco; Rene Sacco u
Mark Caruana

Dan ir-ritratt gie me˙ud
kmieni fis-Snin Sittin
wara parata tas-St John’s
Ambulance Brigade. Fil-fatt
kul˙add g˙andu l-badge tas-
St John’s.

apprezzament minn Mark Caruana

27˙ajjaSalesjana

Elett b˙ala Rettur Ma©©ur tal-
Kongregazzjoni, huwa wera aktar minn
qabel id-doni ta’ missier u l-˙ila li jibda
xog˙lijiet ©odda, b˙al ma huma l-kura tal-
vokazzjonijiet, twaqqif ta’ çentri spiritwali
g˙all-g˙ajnuna lill-˙addiema Ωg˙aΩag˙,
gwida u kura©© lis-sorijiet Ulied Marija
G˙ajnuna ta’ l-Insara fi Ωmien importanti
ta’ l-istorja tag˙hom. Kien hu li sa˙˙a˙ lis-
Salesjani Koperaturi u waqqaf il-Federazzjoni
Dinjija tal-Past Pupils Salesjani. Waqt li kien
jg˙in u ja˙dem ma’ grupp jismu ‘Zelatrici di
Maria Ausiliatrice’ ©ieh f’mo˙˙u u baqa’ sa
ma wettqu, il-pjan li jwaqqaf forma ©dida ta’
˙ajja kkonsagrata fid-dinja, dak li wara kellu
jikber u jsir l-Istitut Sekulari tal-‘Voluntiera ta’
Dun Bosco’ (VDB).

Dun Filippu Rinaldi ©ie elett Rettur
Ma©©ur tas-Soçjetà Salesjana fl-1922. Huwa
ffoka l-ener©ija tieg˙u sabiex jadatta l-ispirtu
ta’ Dun Bosco g˙aΩ-Ωminijiet u s-sitwazzjoni

kurrenti. Fuqu, l-istoriku Dun Francesia kiteb
hekk, ‘Dun Rinaldi kellu nieqes biss il-le˙en
ta’ Dun Bosco; mill-bqija kellu kollox!’ Kien
espert fil-˙ajja Salesjana u l-ispiritwalità
tag˙ha, u g˙alhekk ©ab rinnovament fil-˙ajja
interjuri tas-Salesjani, tama s˙i˙a f’Alla u
fiduçja bla tarf f’Marija G˙ajnuna ta’ l-Insara.
Huwa talab lil Papa Piu XI g˙all-indul©enza
g˙al min iqaddes ix-xog˙ol tieg˙u. Óa
˙sieb u qawwa l-missjonijiet u bag˙at bosta
Salesjani Ωg˙aΩag˙ sabiex jitg˙allmu l-ilsna
u uΩanzi barranija sabiex hekk setg˙u jkunu
aktar mog˙nija bil-kulturi lokali u jxandru l-
Van©elu b’mod aktar effettiv.

Dun Rinaldi miet nhar il-5 ta’ Diçembru
ta’ 1931 u kien mag˙mul Beatu mill-Papa
Gwanni Pawlu II nhar id-29 ta’ April 1990.
Il-fdalijiet tieg˙u huma meqjuma fil-kripta
tal-Basilika ta’ Marija G˙ajnuna ta’ l-Insara
f’Turin, u t-tifkira tieg˙u ti©i ççelebrata nhar
il-5 ta’ Diçembru.

Il-Beatu Filippu Rinaldi
(1856-1931)

Filippu twieled nhar it-28 ta’ Mejju 1856 fir-
ra˙al ta’ Lu Monferrato (Alessandria) fil-
Pjemonte (Italja). Meta kellu 21 sena huwa
ng˙aqad ma’ Dun Bosco. Malli la˙aq qassis,
l-ewwel responsibiltà mog˙tija lilu kienet
il-formazzjoni ta’ l-aspiranti u n-novizzi. Fl-
1889 Don Rua bag˙tu Spanja b˙ala Rettur
tal-komunità fil-belt ta’ Sarria. Wara,
imbag˙ad, ©ie mitlub ikun Provinçjal, u
f’din il-kariga huwa ta kontribut deçisiv
g˙all-iΩvilupp tas-Salesjani fi Spanja.

˙ajjaSalesjana28

A brief account of the Life
of the Apostle Paul. This is

the fifth and last part.

The Life of
St. Paul (5)

A Prisoner for Christ (contd.)

In autumn AD 60, Paul and other prisoners
were put on board a ship sailing to Rome
but they were shipwrecked off the coast
of Malta. This was his fourth such perilous
experience, but the Lord assured him that
all the passengers would be saved, and so it
proved. They spent the winter months on the
island and on one occasion, Paul was bitten
by a snake as he was collecting firewood.
Since he was unharmed, he was regarded
as something of a god, an opinion further
strengthened when he healed the father of
Publius, the Prefect of the island. Others were
brought to him to be cured and, by the time
he boarded another ship three months later,
he had won the veneration of the Maltese
people. Accompanied by Luke, he landed at

Puteoli and from there went on foot to Rome
where Christians came out to welcome him
at the Appian Market and escort him on the
final stage which some have likened to his
Master’s Way of the Cross.

For two years Paul was under house-arrest
in his own rented accommodation, but this
did not slow the progress of the Gospel
even as far as the Praetorian Guard who

29˙ajjaSalesjana

lodged with him, and the Imperial palace
itself. “He welcomed all who came to visit
him, proclaiming the Kingdom of God and
teaching the truth about the Lord Jesus with
complete freedom and without hindrance
from anyone.” (Ac 28: 30-31.) The Four
“Captivity Letters show his determination
not to allow circumstances to hinder his
teaching. From the fullness of his heart he
writes to his beloved Philippians about the
peace and spiritual joy he experiences and
which he wants them, his children, to share.
In his letter to the Ephesians he celebrates
the eternal love of the Holy Trinity which
is poured out for the salvation of mankind,
the triumphant supremacy of Christ, and
the abundance of grace which flows from
Him to His body which is the Church. To the
Colossians he explains Christ’s pre-eminence
and warns them against the plausible
arguments with which some inhabitants
of the Lycus valley might try to adapt the
faith to their own philosophy. The Letter
to Philemon, the only one addressed to an
individual about a personal matter, reveals
the writer’s warmth, charm, and attitude to
social and political evil.

Release and Last Journey

St. Clement (d. AD 101) in his Epistle (5:5-
7) and St. John Chrysostom (349-407) both
attest that, after his release, Paul ventured as
far west as Spain, and the Letters mention
some of the stopping places on his last
missionary journey eastward. At Crete he left
Titus to correct any errors that still persisted
and he entrusted Ephesus to Timothy’s

benevolent supervision. He wrote to them
from Macedonia urging them to be good
ministers for Jesus Christ, to encourage
sound doctrine, and persuade those who
dissented to a better frame of mind. He
spent the winter in Nicopolis where he
was joined by Titus en route to Dalmatia
after his successful mission in Crete, before
making quick visits to Troas, Miletus and
Corinth. As soon as he arrived back in
Rome he was arrested again, but this time
the earlier, civilized custody was replaced
by a confinement where he was virtually
incommunicado.

The atmosphere in Rome had changed
and Christians were under siege with only
their faith to sustain them. Paul’s last letter
to his dear friend Timothy begged him to
come quickly for he was expecting the end,
though with confidence unshaken. “All
there is to come now is the righteousness
reserved for me, which the Lord, the
righteous judge, will give to me on that
day, and not only to me but to all those
who have longed for his coming.” (2 Tim
4:8.) Like Peter, Paul was a victim of Nero’s
persecution and was beheaded at Aquae
Salviae a few miles outside the walls of
Rome on the Ostia road, and was buried by
his friends in a cemetery some way towards
the city. In the fourth century Constantine
built the great Basilica of ‘Saint Paul outside
the Walls’ where the Apostle and Martyr
lay. The Epistle which Pope Saint Clement
(d. 101) sent to the Corinthians gives
evidence of the residence, co-operation
and martyrdom in Rome of both Peter and
Paul.

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Fil-Konsulta li saret sabiex ti©i studjata l-
kawΩa ta’ beatifikazzjoni ta’ dan is-saçerdot,
id-disa’ teologi qablu kollha li jirrikonoxxu
l-qdusija ta’ ˙ajja u ta’ virtujiet ta’ dan il-
Qaddej ta’ Alla. Qablu wkoll li tkun ˙a©a
tajba li dan kollu jkun mag˙ruf, g˙aliex
l-eΩempju ta’ ˙ajtu seta’ jkun ta’ stimolu
g˙as-saçerdoti matul din is-sena, iddedikata
lis-saçerdozju minn Benedittu XVI, u li bdiet
nhar id-19 ta’ Ìunju ta’ din is-sena.

Li jonqos issa hija l-opinjoni definittiva
tal-Kardinali u l-Isqfijiet membri tal-
Kongregazzjoni tal-KawΩi tal-Qaddisin. Jekk
din tkun poΩittiva, il-Papa jitlob lill-Prefett
tal-Kongregazzjoni, li huwa l-Arçisqof
Angelo Amato, Salesjan, sabiex ixandar
id-digriet tal-qdusija ta’ Dun Giuseppe
Quadrio, li minn dak il-waqt ikollu t-titlu ta’
Venerabbli. Dan aktarx li jsir qabel l-a˙˙ar ta’
dis-sena. Sadattant, fejqan mirakoluΩ li ©ara
bl-interçessjoni tal-Qaddej ta’ Alla, qieg˙ed
ji©i investigat. Dan ©ara fl-Ekwador (Amerika
t’Isfel), f’post tal-missjoni jismu Zumbagua.
Id-dokumenti sabiex ji©i ppreΩentat dan il-

miraklu ilhom sentejn jin©abru; din m’hix
˙a©a dakshekk façli f’territorju tal-missjoni.

Dun Quadrio kien mag˙ruf g˙all-˙idma
tieg˙u fir-riçerka u t-tag˙lim tat-teolo©ija,
kif ukoll g˙all-formazzjoni ta’ l-istudenti
tal-Fakultà Pontifiçja tat-Teolo©ija Salesjana
ta’ Turin (Crocetta). Huwa kien ukoll dekan
tal-fakultà bejn l-1954 u l-1959. Baqg˙et
mag˙rufa id-‘disputa’ pubblika li kien mexxa
hu fit-12 ta’ Diçembru 1946 fl-Università
Gregorjana, fil-preΩenza ta’ udjenza distinta,
fost l-o˙rajn Mgr. Giovanni Battista Montini
(li mbag˙ad sar Papa Pawlu VI). Dun Quadrio
kien iddefenda b’suççess il-possibiltà ta’
definizzjoni dogmatika ta’ tlug˙ is-sema,
©isem u ru˙, ta’ Marija Santissma. Erba’ snin
wara, matul is-Sena Mqaddsa 1950, il-Papa
Piu XII, solennement iddefinixxa din id-
domma Marjana.

Dun Giuseppe Quadrio miet fit-23 ta’
Ottubru 1963 b’tumur qerriedi. Hu offra
˙ajtu g˙as-suççess tal-Konçilju Vatikan II li
kien beda s-sena ta’ qabel.

Il-KawΩa g˙all-Beatifikazzjoni
ta’ Dun Giuseppe Quadrio

Dun Giuseppe Quadrio, Salesjan, twieled f’Vervio
– Sondrio nhar it-28 ta’ Novembru 1921
u miet fl-Istudentat tat-Teolo©ija ‘La Crocetta’,
Turin fit-23 ta’ Ottubru 1963.

31˙ajjaSalesjana

Il-KawΩa g˙all-Beatifikazzjoni
ta’ Dun Giuseppe Quadrio

Fr. Fabio’s visit in England
Sr. Maria Debono FMA

This year the Salesians in England,
had the Canonical visit done by
Fr.Fabio Attard SDB, in the name
of the Rector Major. Fr. Fabio in
the Counsellor for Youth Pastoral.
He visited all the communities
and the various branches
of the Salesian Family here.
While he was visiting the
community of Cowley-Oxford, he
came to see the FMA community.
He also came to visit the school
where I teach. During this visit he
was accompanied by Fr.Kieran
Anderson, Parish Priest of Cowley.
When he arrived at the school, he
was welcomed by the Headmistress,
Mrs.Hilary Webb and by me,
Sr.Maria Debono. He went round
all the classes and talked to the
teachers and their assistants. The
children were very happy a major
superior of our Congregation. It
was a very quick visit but we were
all very pleased to see him, since he
is representing our Rector Major.

˙ajjaSalesjana32

1

Could God be
calling Me?

Yes! God calls each of us to life, to wholeness, and to service. The task of the young adult is to discern what path God wants him or her to follow: marriage or religious life as a Sister, Brother or Priest. We call this the discernment process.

2

3

4

5

Pray
Spend a few moments each day in thoughtful
conversation with the Lord. Ask the Lord,
“Lord, what do you want me to do with my
life?”

Investigate
Talk to people whose opinion you respect.
Ask questions. Talk to a vocation director.

Get involved
A great way to understand how you would
enjoy ministry is to get involved. The Church
needs the energy of dedicated young
people.

experience
Visit religious communities, your parish or
seminary. See how they live and work.

Decide
The bottom line question is, “Can I see
myself as a religious, a church minister?” If
the answer is yes, it is time to act.

33˙ajjaSalesjana

For more info about
The Salesians, contact:
Fr. louis Grech SDB
Savio College, Dingli.
Tel.21454546/ 21456251.
louismgrech@yahoo.com
www. vocations.salesiansmalta.org
Sr. elsa Gretter FMa
20,republic Street, victoria vCT1012
Tel. 21556614. fmagozo@yahoo.com

Vocation- a personal journey
of discovery
Vocation means a ‘Calling’ - a personal
and unique invitation from God to follow
a path of personal discovery where he will
guide you.

A dream come true
In Don Bosco, our Founder, his sense of
being called first hit him in his famous
dream at the age of nine. He found himself
surrounded by a ravening crowd of wild
beasts, like some of the youngsters he
knew and struggled with. He was inspired
to ‘shepherd them with kindness and
goodness, not with blows’. He often used
to say: It is not enough for youngsters to be
loved; they must know they are loved.’ This
became his programme of life.

Who are the Salesians?
The Salesians were founded by Saint John
Bosco, an Italian priest who lived and worked
in Turin in the 19th century. He dedicated
his life to working for the welfare of young
people. Even today, 120 years after his
death, the Salesians carry on his mission to
poor and abandoned young people helping
them become ‘Good Christians and honest
citizens’.

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If the Salesian Parish at Guro 3 Dong Church
in Seoul is something to go by, evangelisation
is booming in the Korean Church. Seventy
one people received baptism there on
Saturday 4th April, including the cook
from the provincial house nearby. She is
an immigrant from Manchuria. The rite of
baptism was celebrated by parish priest Fr
Benjamin Kim SDB.
Baptisms are held monthly at the parish,
on an odds and evens basis - odd months
for children and evens for catechumens.

The catechumens
go through the
usual preparation
process envisaged

Evangelisation boom
in Korean Church

by the RCIA, usually in groups of 30, with
the assistance of various parish ministers.
Almost every two months throughout
the year, then, there are significantly large
numbers of catechumens ready for baptism.
Around Easter and Christmas they bring more
than one group together, accounting for the
70 or so this time around. So with something
like 250 new baptisms of catechumens
annually, a smaller number of children, the
number of baptisms per year is 300 plus.
Most of the catechumens are younger adults.
The Catholic Church in Korea makes up
10% of the population and numbers around
5 million. It is estimated that annually this
number increases by around 150,000.

U l-Verb sar bniedem u g˙ammar fostna,
U a˙na rajna l-glorja tieg˙u,
Il-glorja li g˙andu mill-Missier
b˙ala Ibnu l-wa˙dieni,
Mimli bil-grazzja u l-verita (Ìw.1,14)

Season’s greetings to all our readers,
friends, helpers and benefactors.