Hajja Salesjana NOVEMBRU - DIÇEMBRU 2012il-227 Óar©a

Il-Madonna ta’ Guadalupe

Pubblikazzjonijiet SalesjaniIl-Beata Maria Troncatti

A Gift from the Heart

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fuqiex se naqraw

Front Cover: It-tfal u Ω-Ωg˙aΩag˙ huma r-ra©uni li g˙aliha jeΩistu s-Salesjani

Pubblikazzjonijiet Salesjani 7Beata Maria Troncatti 9Don Bosco Around the World 10News from Australia 16FMA 140th Anniversary 20Il-Madonna ta’ Guadalupe 22Il-Qalb Tg˙ix Biss bl-Im˙abba 26L-Ewwel Jiem ta’ Novembru 29Stejjer Qosra fuq Don Bosco 30A Gift from the Heart 32

Editorjal / Pedago©ija / Calendar of events / Something to think about / Don Bosco Around the World

3Hajja SalesjanaHaH jjjja a SSalesjanaH

EDITORJAL

Kienet ©urnata kiefra meta Ìesù salvani. Kemm jiena grat g˙at-tbatija ˙arxa u l-mewt li ˙a g˙alija? Jist˙oqqli, jiena, din l-im˙abba? Inwie©eb b`im˙abba g˙al din l-im˙abba? Ma˙luq fix-xbieha tieg˙u, hija din li l-o˙rajn jaraw fija? Óafna mill-mistoqsijiet tal-˙ajja ji©u mwie©ba biss meta jintemm il-vja©© tal-˙ajja f’did-dinja.

Sadattant hemm bΩonn nag˙mel il-Kmandamenti ta’Alla r-regola ta’ ̇ ajti. Dawn huma frott tal-im˙abba kbira u nfinita ta’ Alla g˙all-bnedmin. Permezz tag˙hom wie˙ed jista’jkun tassew ˙ieles u hieni, issa w g˙al-dejjem.

Kristu ta bidu g˙as-Seba’ Sagramenti li issa, l-Knisja li Hu waqqaf, tg˙addilna u toffrilna. Hu dover tieg˙i li nie˙u sehem minn dan l-ikel spiritwali li jqawwi u jg˙ajjex, u li jwassalni g˙all-glorja bla tmiem.

Kemm nafu verament lil Kristu mill-qari tal-Iskrittura? Kemm a˙na familjari mieg˙u, kemm a˙na qrib ta’xulxin? Ja˙asra kif timlielna rasna il-media bil-˙afna vuçijiet li ji©bduna u jbeg˙duna minn Ìesù li huwa s-Sewwa! Min˙abba f’hekk je˙tie© ng˙addu ˙in, regolarment, fit-

talb u l-qari tal-Bibbja. Ne˙tie©u nimlew mo˙˙na bil-veritajiet tal-Van©elu sabiex inxejnu l-˙afna messa©©i kuntrarji li nisimg˙u madwarna. Je˙tie© li nΩommu sod mal-Veritajiet baΩiçi: li din il-˙ajja tg˙addi, li Ìesù miet g˙al dnubietna, qam rebbie˙ mill-imwiet g˙al ˙ajja ©dida u jer©a’ ji©i sabiex iwaqqaf saltnatu bis-s˙i˙. B˙ala persuna li g˙aliha Kristu ˙allas prezz hekk g˙oli sabiex jifdiha, in˙obb xejn jiena lill-˙ajja u l-˙olqien ta’madwari? Dan kollu jkellimni fuq Alla? In˙ossni wie˙ed man-natura, ma’ ˙uti l-bnedmin u ma’ Alla : jiena fiH u Hu fija? Il-filosofu Germaniz Nietzsche darba kien qal : «Li kieku l-insara jidhru aktar mifdija, kont forsi nemmen f’min fdiehom.»

Huwa l-Ispirtu s-Santu dak li jqanqalni u jmexxini? Il-˙ajja moderna hija m˙amm©a minn ©ibdiet pagani u mmorali. Il-mod kif nilbes, dak li s-soltu nag˙mel, il-postijiet fejn sikwit immur: dawn kollha jridu jg˙idu biç-çar, «Jiena nimxi wara Kristu.» Jekk mhux hekk, ˙ajti ta’ nisrani hija superfiçjali. «Og˙qod attent kif tg˙ix,» qal il-g˙aref, «inti tista’tkun l-unika Bibbja li n-nies jaqraw.»

Br. Leli Gatt SDB

"NEÓTIEÌU NIMLEW MOÓÓNA BIL-VERITAJIET

TAL-VANÌELU SABIEX INXEJJNU L-ÓAFNA

MESSAÌÌI KUNTRARJI LI NISIMGÓU MADWARNA."

Mag˙qudinma’Alla

33333333333333

NA."

4 Hajja Salesjana44 Hajja SaleH

EDITORIAL

Jesus saved me one very bitter day. How grateful am I for the terrible torture and death He endured for my sake? Do I prove myself worthy of His love? Do I return love for love? I am created in His image, is that what my fellow brothers and sisters see in me? Many of life’s questions are only answered after life’s journey on earth comes to an end.

Meanwhile I must make God’s Ten Commandments my rule of life. These are the fruit of God’s immense and infinite love for humanity, whereby a person can be truly free and happy now and hereafter.

Christ initiated Seven Sacraments as handed down and offered to me by the Church he founded. It is another must that I partake in this nourishing and life-giving spiritual food that will carry me to eternal glory beyond.

How well do I know Jesus through Sacred Scriptures, how familiar am I with Him, how close together are we? Alas mass media today bombards us by many voices, which can be seductive and lure us away from Jesus, the Truth. This is why we need to spend regular time

praying and reading the Bible. We need to fill our minds with the truths of the Gospel if we are to withstand the many contrary messages we hear around us. We must hold firm to the basic Truths: that this life passes away, that Jesus died for our sins, rose victoriously from the dead to new life and will return to establish His Kingdom fully.

As a person for whom Christ paid such a dear price in order to redeem him, am I in love with life and the awesome creation around me? Does it all speak to me of God? Do I feel one with nature, with my fellow brothers and sisters and with God, I in Him and He in me? The German philosopher Nietzsche once remarked, “If Christians looked more redeemed I might believe in their Redeemer.”

Is it the Holy Spirit who moves and guides me? Modern life is polluted with pagan and immoral trends. The way I dress, the things I indulge in, the places I frequent must speak out loud and clear, “I follow Jesus!” If my Christianity does not effect the way I live, then it is only superficial. “Take care how you live,” said a wise person, “you may be the only Bible some people read.”

Br. Leli Gatt SDB.

"WE NEED TO FILL OUR MINDS WITH THE

TRUTHS OF THE GOSPEL IF WE ARE TO

WITHSTAND THE MANY CONTRARY MESSAGES

WE HEAR AROUND US."

SDB.Br. Leli Gatt

In Tune With God

5Hajja Salesjana

PEDAGOÌIJASalesjanaMinn Pascual Chávez Villanueva – Trad. Joe Cini

Dun Bosco qatt ma ddejjaq jittallab. Sabiex jid˙ol is-Seminarju mar jittallab ; din kienet l-ewwel darba minn dak li mbag˙ad g˙amel ˙afna drabi matul ˙ajtu.

“Dak li kien fadal issa kien li jiddubbawlu suttana u l-affarijiet o˙ra ta’ qassis li ommu ma setg˙etx tipprovdilu. Dun Cinzano g˙arraf b’dan lil xi parruççani…is-Sur Sartoris tah is-suttana, is-Sindku Pescarmona, il-kappell, il-Kurat, il-mantell tieg˙u stess. O˙rajn, min ©ablu l-kullar, il-berittin, xi par kalzetti, waqt li mara twajba g˙amlitlu ©abra sabiex tixtrilu Ωarbun. Il-Mulej, ˙anin, jer©a’ jag˙mel hekk mieg˙u fis-snin ta’ wara. Permezz ta’ nies tar-ru˙, Alla wieΩen lil Giovanni f’kull ma g˙amel. A˙na smajna lil Dun Bosco jg˙id, g˙al aktar minn darba, “Jiena dejjem g˙andi bΩonn ta’ kul˙add” (Memorie Biografiche 1, 274-5).

Insiru nafu lil Dun Bosco 5

L-Idea tal-Koperaturi fil-˙sieb ta’ Dun Bosco“Jiena dejjem g˙andi bΩonn l-g˙ajnuna ta’ kul˙add”

6 Hajja Salesjana

Il-Koperaturi ta’ Dun BoscoDun Bosco dam ˙afna ja˙sibha x’isem jag˙ti lil

dawk li kienu jg˙inuh waqt li ma kienux reli©juΩi bil-voti. Fl-Introduzzjoni tar-Regolamenti ppubblikati f’Albegna fl-1876, insibu dawn il-kliem: “Lill-Qarrej; malli kienet bdiet il-˙idma tal-Oratorji fl-1841, xi qassisin u lajçi twajba u ΩeluΩi ©ew jg˙inu sabiex nie˙du ˙sieb il-˙idma fost il-˙afna tfal u Ωg˙aΩag˙ fil-periklu. Dawn il-˙addiema u koperaturi tieg˙i kienu dejjem l-aqwa g˙ajnuna f’dawk ix-xog˙lijiet li l-Providenza Divina po©©iet f’idejna.”

Mela mhux biss Koperaturi li g˙amlu l-Wieg˙da, imma firxa wieg˙sa ta’ g˙ajnuniet, ta’ ˙biberiji, ta’ g˙otjiet ta’ karita`…kollha kkurati sewwa minnu. Hemm bΩonn ner©g˙u inwettqu din l-idea ori©inali ta’ Dun Bosco, Ωviluppata minn Dun Rua u s-Suççessuri tieg˙u, li permezz tag˙ha kien possibli g˙as-Salesjani li jitferrxu mad-dinja kollha.

Dun Bosco kellu çerti ideat f’mo˙˙u b˙al l-idea li jorganizza mill-©did lill-Kattolçi sabiex i©edded il-fidi fil-pajjiΩ; l-idea li jkun hemm g˙ajnuna finanzjarja lix-xog˙lijiet Salesjani; l-idea ta’ xog˙ol volontarju mil-lajçi flimkien mal-Kleru (tag˙lim tal-katekiΩmu, g˙ajnuna lill-Kleru) u fis-soçjeta` (edukazzjoni, assistenza, ta˙ri© u kura tal-fqar). Dak li Dun Bosco qal u dak li g˙amel jg˙inna nifhmu x’ried ifisser u kif kien jist˙ajjel dil-koperazzjoni. Bosta drabi huwa uΩa’ l-espressjoni “modi prattiçi ta’ karita`”. Meta tkellem f’konferenza nhar 1 ta’ Ìunju 1885, huwa ddikjara: “Li tkun Koperatur Salesjan ifisser li tikkopera ma’ nies o˙rajn sabiex isir xi xog˙ol li l-iskop tieg˙u jkun li jg˙in lill-Knisja fil-bΩonnijiet tag˙ha l-aktar immedjati. Meta wie˙ed jag˙mel dan, ikun qieg˙ed iwieΩen inizjattiva li hija g˙all-qalb tal-Papa min˙abba l-fatt li b’hekk it-tfal ji©u edukati fil-virtu` u mmexxija lejn il-qdusija. L-g˙an ewlieni tal-koperazzjoni huwa l-edukazzjoni taΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ li dawn il-jiem huma l-mira tal-˙Ωiena, u li tippromwovi l-im˙abba lejn ir-Reli©jon fid-dinja, fl-iskejjel, fil-‘hostels’, fl-Oratorji u fil-familji, u li tippromwovi wkoll il-morali, it-talb, is-sagramenti, u affarijiet b˙al dawn.”

Il-Koperaturi llum“Ir-Regolamenti l-Ìodda tas-Salesjani

Koperaturi” li kienu ©ew approvati mis-Santa Sede nhar id-9 ta’ Mejju 1986, u li kienu mbag˙ad imxandra mir-Rettur Ma©©ur Dun E©idju Vigano` ftit jiem wara, fl-24 ta’ Mejju, jatuna stampa tas-Salesjan Koperatur fil-bidu tas-Seklu XXI. Huma jitkellmu fuq l-identita`, l-ispirtu, il-missjoni u l-organizzazzjoni tal-G˙aqda.

“Koperaturi huma dawk il-Kattoliçi li waqt li jg˙ixu l-fidi fil-kundizzjoni tal-˙ajja tag˙hom ta’ kuljum, ji©u mnebb˙in mill-pro©ett apostoliku ta’ Dun Bosco: billi jikkommettu ru˙hom g˙al dik l-istess missjoni fost iΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ u l-fqar, flimkien u b˙al a˙wa; f’g˙aqda s˙i˙a mal-membri l-o˙ra tal-Familja Salesjana; f’˙idma li twassal g˙all-©id tal-Knisja u tas-soçjeta`; mill-a˙jar li jistg˙u.”

Dawk li kitbu dan l-artiklu tar-Regolament xtaqu jmorru lura lejn l-intenzjoni ewlenija ta’ Dun Bosco, li skont hu, l-Koperaturi huma tassew Salesjani fid-dinja; fi kliem ie˙or Insara, lajçi jew qassisin, li ming˙ajr l-irbit tal-voti reli©juΩi, jg˙ixu s-sej˙a tag˙hom ta’ qdusija waqt li jaqdu fix-xog˙ol taΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ u tal-klassi tal-˙addiema, skont l-ispirtu ta’ Dun Bosco. Jekk nifhmuhom hekk, il-Koperaturi g˙andhom tlitt karatteristiçi: huma Kattoliçi, fid-dinja u Salesjani.

"Li tkun Koperatur Salesjan

ifisser li tikkopera ma’ nies

o˙rajn sabiex isir xi xog˙ol

li l-iskop tieg˙u jkun li jg˙in

lill-Knisja fil-bΩonnijiet

tag˙ha l-aktar immedjati. "

Matul is-sena ji©u ppublikati ˙afna kotba, kullimkien. Dawn ikunu ta’ diversi tipi, xi w˙ud fihom biss stejjer, fittizji jew storiçi, waqt li o˙rajn ikunu studji xjentifiçi ta’ grajjiet jew dokumenti. Hemm ukoll kotba li jitkellmu fuq arti jew tisjir, bliet jew knejjes, teΩori u muΩewijiet. Issib minn kollox.

Xi whud minn dawn il-kotba ji©bdu l-attenzjoni min˙abba il-kwalita` g˙olja tag˙hom: g˙andhom qoxra ta’ barra iebsa u li ti©bed l-g˙ajn, huma stampati fuq karta ta’ kwalita` u waqt li jittrattaw su©©etti varji, jkunu mimlijin ritratti sbie˙. Dawn huma dawk li jissej˙u Coffee Table Books.

G˙adu kemm ©ie f’idejja ktieb ta’ din ix-xorta; huwa l-ktieb Victoria, a Portrait of a City. Dan huwa l-a˙˙ar ktieb ippubblikat mis-Salesjani ta’Dun Bosco, Malta, u ©ie mog˙ti lili mill-istess editur tal-ktieb, Fr Charles Cini SDB. Huwa ktieb sabi˙ ˙afna, b’ aktar minn 250 pa©na u miΩg˙ud b’ritratti ta’ kwalita` me˙udin mill-artist/fotografu Daniel Cilia. It-Text tal-ktieb huwa

miktub minn Rev. Dr. Joseph Bezzina, storiku li g˙araf jag˙ti stampa rikka ta’ dik li hija l-istorja, il-kultura u l-˙ajja fil-Belt Victoria.

Kif g˙edt, dan huwa l-a˙˙ar ktieb minn sensiela ta’ pubblikazzjonijiet ta’ Fr Charles. Kotba o˙ra tal-istess kwalita` u pre©ju kienu ©ew ippubblikati mis-Salesjani ta’ Dun Bosco u editjati minn Fr Charles matul dawn l-a˙˙ar snin; u hemm il-˙sieb li ji©u ppubblikati o˙rajn fil-©ejjieni.

Dawn il-Kotba jinsabu g˙all-bejg˙ fil-˙wienet ewlenin tal-kotba. G˙al min hu interessat jew jixtieq jati xi rigal ta’ valur u pre©ju matul il-festi li ©ejjin, din hija lista tal-a˙˙ar kotba ppubblikati :

• The Great Siege of Malta 1565 (2009)• A Temple to Our Lady: Ta’Pinu Basilica (2010)• St. George, Gozo’s Golden Basilica (2011)• The Maritime History of Malta (2011)• Victoria, a Portrait of a City (2012)

7Hajja Salesjana

Pubblikazzjonijiet SalesjaniJoe Cini SDB

8 Hajja Salesjana8 Hajja SalesjanaH

FEASTS & EVENTSCALENDAR OF SALESIAN2012

NOVEM

BERDEC

EMBER

JANUA

RY

Thu 1 All Saints DayFri 2 All Souls Day, First Friday Devotions at St. Patrick’s, at 6.15 p.m. Salesian Communities’ One Day Retreat First Friday: Adoration and Mass at St. Patrick’s at 6.15 p.m.1-2 Mid-Term HolidaysSat 3 Salesian Family Course in Salesianity: St. Patrick’s at 7.00 p.m.Sat 10 Prayer Day for Salesian MissionsTue 13 Bl. Artemide Zatti, Salesian Lay BrotherThu 15 Bl. Maddalena Morano, Daughter of Mary Help of Christians 17-18 Dramm - Il-Ìuri Tas-Soru – Salesian Theatre, SliemaWed 21 Salesian Cooperators – Sliema – monthly meeting at 6.00 p.m.Mon 26 Commemoration of Mary Help of Christians: St Patrick’s at 6.30 p.m.

Sat 1 Salesian Family Course in Salesianity: St. Patrick’s at 7.00 p.m.Sun 2 First Sunday of Advent. Sale of Poinsettias at St. Patrick’sTue 4 1/2 Day Retreat open to all – by Magnificat Chapter Malta: 9.00 – 13.00hrs 5 – 9 Sale of Sicilian Ceramics at St. Patrick’s – SliemaFri 7 First Friday Devotions at St. Patrick’s at 6.15 p.m. Emerald Society’s Xmas Carol Evening & Drinks at 7.30 p.m. All welcome. Sat 8 Feast of the Immaculate Conception of Mary. Public HolidayMon 10 Prayer Day for Salesian Missions Wed 12 Salesian Cooperators- Sliema- Monthly Meeting: Outdoor Activity Magnificat Chapter Advent ½ Day Retreat, 10.00 – 13.00.Thu 13 Republic Day- Public Holiday. Traditional Christmas Concert by Amadeus Choir at St.Patrick’s, 7.30 p.m. All welcome.Sun 16 Sale of Mince Pies and Honey Rings at St. Patrick’s.Tue 25 Christmas Day – A Happy Feastday to All our ReadersMon 31 New Year’s Eve. Te Deum Mass at St. Patrick’s at 6.30 p.m. NY Eve parties at Salesian Oratory, Sliema and at Savio College

2013Tue 1 New Year’s Day. Happy New Year to all our Readers. Our Lady Queen of Peace.Fri 4 First Friday Devotions at St. Patrick’s at 6.15 p.m.Sat 5 Salesian Family Course in Salesianity: St. Patrick’s at 7.00 p.m.Mon 7 Beginning of 2nd Scholastic TermWed 9 Salesian Cooperators- Sliema- Monthly Meeting

For any other info about the Salesians: www.sdb.org

Daughters of Mary Help of Christians: www.cgfmanet.org

Salesians in Malta : www.salesiansmalta.org

Hajja Salesjana On Line : www.salesiansmalta.org/hajjasalesjana

9Hajja Salesjana 9Hajja Salesjana

Il-Beata MARIA TRONCATTI (1883-1969)

Qalb Ûag˙Ωug˙a miftu˙a g˙al Alla Maria Troncatti twieldet f’Cortegno Golgi (Brescia) nhar is-16 ta’ Frar 1883. Kibret dejjem ferrie˙a u bieΩla f’familja numeruΩa. Kienet tg˙addi l-˙in bejn ix-xog˙ol fir-razzett u l-kura

ta’ ˙utha. Regolarment kienet tmur g˙all-katekiΩmu fil-Parroçça minn fejn rabbiet spirtu nisrani profond u minn fejn nibtet il-vokazzjoni reli©juΩa tag˙ha.

Sabiex tobdi lill-kappillan tal-parroçça, hija stenniet sa ma kibret sew qabel ma da˙let soru. Ing˙aqdet mal-Istitut ta’ Ulied Marija G˙ajnuna tal-Insara u g˙amlet l-ewwel professjoni fl-1908, fid-Dar ta’ Nizza Monferrato. Matul l-Ewwel Gwerra Dinjija, Maria g˙amlet kors ta’ infermiera u ˙admet mar-Red Cross fl-isptar militari ta’ Varazze. Din l-esperjenza kella sserviha ˙afna matul il-˙ajja twila ta’ missjunarja fil-foresti tal-AmaΩonja, fl-Ekwador.

Missjunarja fl-EkwadorTelqet lejn l-Ekwador fl-1922 u ©iet

mibg˙uta ta˙dem fost it-tribu` Xuar. Mag˙ha kellha Ωew© sorijiet o˙ra, u flimkien bdew, bil-mod u bi tbatija, jxerrdu l-bxara tal-Evan©elju. Habbtu wiççhom ma’ kull xorta ta’ perikli: annimali selva©©i, xmajjar mfawra, qsim tax-xmajjar fuq xi pont tal-˙abel jew fuq l-ispalel tal-Indjos.

Id-Djar tas-Sorijiet f’Macas, f’Sevilla Don Bosco, u f’Sucúa huma l-mirakli tal-˙idma ta’ Swor Maria Troncatti, Djar li g˙adhom sejrin sal-©urnata tal-lum. Hija kienet taf tkun infermiera li tikkura, tabiba li tag˙mel operazzjonijiet, dentista; imma fuq kollox kienet katekista u appostlu, mimlija bil-virtujiet tal-fidi, tal-paçenzja u ta’ m˙abba lejn kul˙add.

Il-˙idma tag˙ha favur in-nisa Xuar tat il-frott tag˙ha fil-mijiet ta’ familji nsara ©odda, liema familji kienu mwaqqfa fuq g˙azla personali u ˙ielsa min naha tal-koppja.

Swor Maria mietet tra©ikament meta ©©arraf l-ajruplan li fuqu kienet sejra lura lejn il-missjoni tag˙ha, mhux bog˙od minn Sucúa, nhar il-25 ta’Awwissu 1969. Il-fdalijiet taghha jinsabu f’Macas, fil-Provinçja ta’ Morona (Ekwador).

Il-Q T il-Papa hu tal-fehma li r-Rit tal-Beatifikazzjoni tal-Qaddejja ta’Alla Maria Troncatti, soru Salesjana (Ulied Marija G˙ajnuna tal-Insara) isir ©ewwa Macas, fl-Ekwador, nhar is-Sibt 24 ta’ Novembru 2012. Din l-a˙bar giet mog˙tija mill-Kardinal Angelo Becciu lil Dun Pierluigi Cameroni li huwa il-Postulatur Generali tas-Socjeta` Salesjana. Il-Kardinal Angelo Amato SDB, f’isem il-Papa, sejjer jippresjedi ç-çerimonja. L-Istitut ta’ Ulied Marija G˙ajnuna tal-Insara u l-Familja Salesjana kollha jilqg˙u din l-a˙bar bl-akbar fer˙, u b˙ala sinjal ta’ ˙ajja u ˙e©©a tal-kariΩma Salesjan.

10 Hajja Salesjana

ZIMBABWEThe casket arrived on Monday afternoon 16 July in Harare. Welcoming the casket at the airport were a group of Salesians and lay people led by the archbishop of Harare. Mons. Robert Christopher Ndlovu. The parish community of All Saints in Kambuzuma organised a marvellous welcome to Don Bosco who spent two days with them. Afterwards the relics of Don Bosco moved to Warren Park (a suburb of Harare) where hundreds of people awaited its arrival.Then it was transported to Hwange, where there is a community of 4 Salesians working in the parish, in mission stations and in an oratory. The the people sang and danced to welcome Don Bosco in their midst.

Don Bosco Around the World

SOUTH AFRICACape Town–On the evening of 10 July the casket arrived at the Salesian Institute where the relic was moved into the hall for public veneration. The following day a youth Mass was celebrated, and in the evening the relic was moved to Our Lady Help of Christians Lansdowne. On Friday the 13th the relic was moved to Delft, and in the afternoon it was taken to Our Lady of the Holy Rosary Parish, Hanover Park, where many young people were present. On Saturday 14th, it was the turn of St. John Bosco Parish Westridge. The Church was so packed that some could not even get in.

BgsjdbThe visit of the casket in

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ZAMBIASome of the more significant moment were in Lusaka, where the Salesians and the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians have various works and in Kabwe, where for the last few months there has been a Salesian Bishop, Mons. Clement Mulenga. On 20 July Don Bosco’s relic was given a warn welcome at Thorn Park by the students and the Sisters with singing and dancing. Two days later 22 July the casket reached Kabwe, where the faithful from the parish of Our Lady surrounded the relic. Almost all the people in the town joined in the celebrations. During the Mass the Salesian cleric Macario Mpundu made his perpetual profession, and another 16 people made their promise as Salesians-Cooperators.

ANGOLAThe casket containing the relic of Don Bosco arrived in East Angola from Benguela at Luena airport on the morning of 8th August. A numerous and lively crowd was there to greet it. The casket was carried in procession for more than three hours, passing

through the streets of Luena amid great numbers of curious and astonished people.

MADAGASCARThe Casket arrived in Fianarantsoa, in a cathedral overflowing with people. On Sunday 20 August the Casket was brought to the Salesian community in Ankofafa, one of the poorest suburbs of the city. At the end of this celebration, the Casket moved on to Ambositra. Along the national highway the crowd had completely blocked the road in their eagerness to see Don Bosco. The cortège then continued to Antsirabe, with a stopover in two villages: Ilaka and Manandona. After the Mass there was a prayer vigil in Antsirabe Cathedral.

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From September 2012 onwards, the Pius XI Rome Junior School entry classes as well as the entry Upper Secondary classes started off their school year using digital technology tools. Each student has a Tablet in which text books can be stored in digital format.

Each classroom has an Interactive Multimedia Whiteboard and Internet connection, and all teaching activities will be geared towards helping the young person find direction in a sea of knowledge and through a cooperative learning structure.

The plan, approved by the Schools Administrative Council, has been enthusiastically taken up by parents of newly-enrolled students and by teachers who have been holding study seminars on Teaching 2.0 since June. The school then worked with the “Imparadigitale” (digital learning) organisation as part of its efforts in the complex renewal going on in a network of schools and associations which have been working with new digital technology tools since 2010.

Pius XI school, the Don Bosco school in Rome, now joins the handful of Roman and for that matter of Italian schools with a teaching approach which is part of the world of young people today, using the tools that the students themselves are so well-known for using.

This simple but revolutionary paradigm has all the elements of the cultural revolution that Don Bosco brought about through his contemporary, modern pedagogy. At Pius XI School the aim is to enable each area in educational terms: Alternative techniques and tools but maintaining the same Salesian spirit.

A school that prepares for life, life that requires ever new learning by young people about knowledge which is constantly developing. A school where people can grow up happily, where evaluation is a shared, organised process and where lessons are based on a logic of cooperation: the student, then, will never be left facing difficulties alone. A school which is an educative community because it responds faithfully to a religious charism which does not impede but which makes an enriching difference.

ItalyItaly

Back to School with a Tablet

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SpainSpain

13

International literacy day

8 September is International literacy day. According to information from the United Nations Education, Science and Culture Organisation (UNESCO) there are about 790 million people in the world who are illiterate: a figure which has a negative impact on world conflicts and development possibilities.

171 million people would no longer live in poverty if they knew how to read and write, reducing world poverty by 12%; those between 15 and 24 years of age are about 125 million, while women and girls constitute almost two thirds of those who are illiterate. These are some of the statistics published by UNESCO on the occasion of International Literacy Day which this year focuses on the fundamental relationship between Literacy and Peace.

“This relationship has an enormous significance in out troubled times,” said Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO, in a message issued for the occasion. “Countries marked by violence have some of the lowest levels of literacy in the whole world. Conflicts remain one of the main obstacles to achieving ‘Education for All’ and the Millennium Development Objectives’”.

“Literacy also speeds up development enabling societies to grow in a more inclusive and sustainable way.”

The Salesian Mission Office in Madrid has issued a statement for the occasion, in which it points out the significance of education from a Salesian perspective and launches an appeal for literacy and education for women: “educating a woman is educating a people.”

The appeal is based on proven fact and examples of good missionary practice in progress: in Togo, for example thanks to training courses just for women, the knowledge taught in small groups of peasant women was then passed on to other women in the nearby villages creating a movement which has already lifted over 1,000 women out of poverty.

“We want the women to have a voice and to take part in decision making” the statement ends.

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THE LAST YEARSAs Don Bosco grew into his 60’s his health became more and more fragile; but he continued his exhausting pace. His days were filled with teaching, counselling and supervising his endless projects. By the early 1880’s his Salesians had spread beyond the borders of Italy, establishing themselves in France and Spain. When Pope Leo XIII in 1883, asked him to journey to France to beg for funds to complete the construction of the Sacred Heart Basilica in Rome, John cheerfully complied. He could beg for the Pope – and visit his spiritual sons.

Bosco’s heart was deeply moved by the warm, enthusiastic welcome the French people gave him. “Never had such a crowd gathered in Paris around a priest since the visit of Pius VIII,” one eyewitness recalled. Don Rua, remembering the visit to France, said, “If we had seven secretaries, many letters every evening would still have had to be left unanswered.” The journey however, exacted a terrible toll on John’s already fragile health.

John’s right eye, injured years earlier in a fall, pained constantly. Phlebitis made his walking so unsteady that two Salesians stood on either side of him. Three years later Don Bosco made a similar trip to Spain and was greeted with the same enthusiasm. He preached in the most famous cathedrals in both France and Spain. Although he could speak both French and Spanish, he hardly possessed “an orator’s tongue.” The people, however, understood him well, for he spoke to

them with the language of the heart.

THE FINAL DAYS“You have burnt away your life by

working to excess. Your whole constitution is like a coat worn threadbare by too much use. You

must completely rest.” Don Bosco had heard his doctor’s advice before. The reply was always

Saint John BoscoA brief account of his life

Throughout history, God has sent prophets and saints to warn, teach and lead His people. Modern times are no exception. God has sent saints to found religious orders of men and women for particular needs. He has sent martyrs as witnesses to the Faith, virgins as defenders of chastity, and holy men, such as Don Bosco, to teach virtue and apostleship to a special portion of God’s people – namely youth. This is his life story.

Part 5

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the same: “Doctor you know that’s the only remedy I cannot take. There’s too much work yet to be done.”

Right up until his very last days, Don Bosco, held up on either side by two Salesian companions, journeyed through Turin, visiting the poor, begging from the rich, cheering the hearts of those who were sad. He knew death was imminent. “I want to go to heaven,” he would say, “for there I shall be able to work much better for my children. On earth I can do nothing more for them.” Bosco’s doctor now advised Salesian authorities: “He is not dying of any disease, he is like a lamp dying from want of oil.”

The famous Bosco humour did not fade. He advised the Salesians who carried him from place to place to “put it on the bill. I’ll settle up everything at the end.” At one time gasping for breath, he whispered to a Salesian bending anxiously over him, “Do you know where there is a good bellows maker?” “Why?” the puzzled Salesian asked. “Because I need a new pair of lungs, that’s why!”

The illness dragged on. Don Rua took over the government of the Salesian Society. His first command was to request every Salesian who could possibly do so to come to Turin and bid farewell to their father. From all over, these sons came. One by one they passed by him to receive his blessing. Next came all the boys who had gone through the Oratory at Turin. Hundreds of them came and passed by his bed, two by two. John blessed them all, his face calm, almost young.

On the night of January 31, 1888, he turned to Don Rua and said: “Tell my children that I am waiting for them all in Paradise.” And with those words one of the nineteenth century’s most magnificent men breathed forth his strong and valiant spirit. During his lifetime he often said he wanted to die poor. On the day of his death, the Turin Oratory, with 800 mouths to feed was penniless, but that did

not stop the baker from delivering the bread on schedule. The baker, like everybody else, knew that Don Bosco would find money as he always did, in heaven to feed his boys on earth.

In 1934, Pope Pius XI canonised St. John Bosco as saint of the Catholic Church, and in 1988, Pope John Paul II called him “Father and Teacher of Youth.”

THE MISSIONARY THRUSTAs a young priest, Don Bosco had applied to be a missionary, but his seminary professor told him gently: “No you will not go, but you will send out many to preach and teach the Word of God.” In 1875, sixteen years after he first founded the Salesian Society, he sent his first band of ten to begin mission work in Argentina. The first ten Salesian missionaries left on the 11th of November 1875 and reached Buenos Aires, where they established their headquarters. They began to work immediately among the immigrants in the impoverished quarter at the port known as “La Boca” (The Devil’s Mouth)

Half the group headed south for Indian territory and were instrumental in helping bring about peace in the war with the Indians. Plunging southward across the vast Pampas, they finally reached the southern tip of the continent, the “Tierra del Fuego” (The Land of Fire) at that time the haven of escaped convicts, smugglers and international adventurers. In the space of twenty years, they explored the country, established agricultural schools, cultivated vast tracts of land and spread the Word of God. The missionaries’ advance was a succession of conquests, sometimes paid for in their own blood. By the turn of the century, the Salesians were working in almost every country in Latin America.

The End

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The blessing of the stained glass window of St. John Bosco

On the fourth Saturday in June, we, the Maltese Past Pupils of Don Bosco, in Sydney, braved the cold winter morning to hop on a coach trip to the South Coast. Once we reached and passed the famous Hampden Bridge, our member from the South Coast, Louis Sammut, was waiting for us on the road to lead us to St. Joseph’s Church, a church built in 1888.

There we were greeted by the sound of a small bell, followed by the tone of a big bell announcing Holy Mass. After the reading of the Gospel, the priests who were concelebrating Mass, stepped down from the altar and walked down the aisle to bless a new stained glass window of St. John Bosco, which was kindly donated by our generous member Louis Sammut. It was a very touching moment for us Past Pupils and I wonder if Louis, during his days at the Oratory in Sliema, had ever dreamt of one day being able to present the people of Kangaroo Valley, this fine piece of art portraying the image of Don Bosco. The rich voice of a young boy singing Pie Jesu brought a tear to those of us who, as young boys, used to attend the chapel at the Oratory every evening to sing a hymn to our patron Saint John Bosco.

After Mass, we had lunch at Huskisson Bowling Club, followed by afternoon tea in a park opposite Huskisson Beach, prepared for us by our dear member Louis Sammut. The time for us to return

to Sydney was slowly approaching and we found it hard to say good bye to our beloved friend Louis, who not only spread the Spirit of Don Bosco in Kangaroo Valley, but also made sure that we were looked after during the whole time we spent at the South Coast.

Thank you Louis – our Association is very proud of you. Thank you also to our new Social Organiser, Charlie Muscat, who together with our committee, organized this coach trip.

http://www.nowraparish.org.au/parish-churches/st-josephs-kangaroo-valley

Spreading our wingsSpreading our wings to Kangaroo Valleyto Kangaroo Valley

left to right, Marlene Dimech, Emanuel Zammit, Louis Sammut who donated the stained glass window, and Lawrence Dimech (the treasurer of the Maltese Past Pupils of Don Bosco in Sydney)

Fr. Francis Zammit S.D.BFr. Francis Zammit S.D.B..

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Prof David Plowman honoured at Queen’s Birthday Honours

Prof David Plowman is a past pupil of St Patrick’s School and a former child migrant to Western Australia. In the early nineties, he attended our Gala Ball as our special guest speaker and graced us with his presence. We wrote to him to congratulate him on having been chosen this year to receive a Queens Birthday Honour.

Prof David Plowman wrote back saying: Thank you for your kind wishes. I was in Malta in March and visited the Salesian community. The attached photo was taken on that occasion. On either side of me are (left) Joseph Fonde SDB who is now 82 and Fr. Carmelo Mifsud (92). Both of them taught me in Malta 60 years ago!

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Something Something to think about…to think about…

A Philosophy of LifeA Philosophy of Life

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A man with one watch knows what time it is; a man with two watches is never quite sure.

Don’t look where you fall, but where you slipped.

Look at life through the wind-screen, not through the rear mirror.

People may doubt what you say, but they will believe what you do.

Be nice to people on your way up because you’ll need them on your way down.

Never explain - your friends do not need it, and your enemies will not believe it.

While seeking revenge, dig two graves – one for yourself.

Courage is not a lack of fear, but the ability to act while facing fear.

You’ve got to do your own growing, no matter how tall your father was.

The best way to predict your future is to create it.

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world Consecrated Life is necessary to affirm the option for the poorest and the least in society; in a world where individualism is making ever greater headway Consecrated Life is a prophecy of fraternity.’

The message of the Rector Major to the FMA (Figlie di Maria Ausiliatrice) continued as follows. ‘This celebration was planned and intended as a great stimulus for the spiritual renewal and pastoral conversion of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians, so that they can continue to be a sign of the anticipating love of God for girls and young women today. This is a beautiful sign and a demonstration of the fidelity of God and of yourselves. It is like the birth of many new hands, embracing your project of life, and that of Don Bosco.

FMA 140th Anniversary Dreaming the future

with imagination and generosity

The Rector Major spoke to the sisters who were concluding their retreat. He reminded them that Consecrated Life was going through a severe crisis, but was more indispensable than ever. ‘In a secular world Consecrated Life is necessary to affirm the absoluteness of God; in a neo-liberal

‘I have come to Mornese, just as Don Bosco did 140 years ago. He came to set up the Institute, together with Mother Mazzarello. I have come to give praise to the Lord who has worked wonders with you.’ So began the message which the Rector Major sent to Mother Yvonne Reungoat, Superior General, on the 5th August, the 140th anniversary of the foundation of the Institute of the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians. In this little village in Alto Monferrato, cradle of the Institute, Don Chávez presided at the perpetual profession of five Sisters.

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‘Dearest Mother Yvonne, today you have a beautiful story to tell about your Institute, with examples from the expansion, the growth of vocations and the holiness of the sisters. However it is not enough to look back on the past with gratitude. The 140th Anniversary is an occasion to face up to the present, so different from the days of your origins, with fidelity and courage to respond to the new challenges which our life and mission must take into account. But not only this. The 140th Anniversary is also an opportunity to dream the future with imagination and generosity, with even greater fidelity to God, to the Church and to Society, in particular to the world of youth.’

Mother Reungoat replied: ‘Thank you for your precious words and for your fatherly heart which

is so like that of Don Bosco. 140 years ago our founder went to Mornese for the first professions of 11 young women as FMA. It is good that today his Ninth Successor is repeating the visit to give praise to the Lord.

‘There are so many life stories in these 140 years. But as well as cultivating memories of the past, we wish to launch ourselves into the future where we expect challenges and opportunities we intend to meet, combining ‘imagination and generosity’ as you recommend. Here in America, the echo of Maria Domenica’s letter is still alive.

‘Mary Help of Christians will help us to sing the Magnificat together for the great things God has accomplished in each of his daughters and in these 140 years of the history of the Institute.’

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Ûewg rapporti, it-tnejn miktubin fl-1640, wie˙ed bl-iSpanjol u l-ie˙or bin-Nahuatl (djalett tal-Messiku), jg˙idulna kif, waqt li l-gabillot Juan Diego kien sejjer mir-ra˙al tieg˙u lejn il-belt, kmieni filg˙odu nhar id-9 ta’Diçembru 1531 ( meta allura kienet ti©i ççelebrata l-festa tal-Immakulata fl-Imperu Spanjol) huwa sema’ l-g˙ana ˙elu tal-g˙asafar u l-le˙en ˙elu ta’ xbejba li ssejja˙lu. Dan ©ara fuq ix-xaqliba tal-g˙olja ta’ Tepeyac u l-le˙en kien ©ej minn dehra ta’ tfajla ta’ xi sittax jew sbatax il-sena, mdawwra bid-dawl.

Waqt li kelmitu bin-Nahuatl, l-ilsien tal-post, hija talbitu sabiex tinbena knisja, fuq dak il-post, ad unur tag˙ha. « Hija xewqa kbira tieg˙i li tinbena hawnhekk knisja, fejn jiena nkun nista’ nuri kull im˙abba, mog˙drija, g˙ajnuna u protezzjoni tieg˙i.» Mill-kliem tag˙ha, Juan Diego g˙araf li din is-Sinjura kienet il-Ver©ni Marija.

Diego mar mill-ewwel jg˙id dil-©rajja lill-Arçisqof Fray Juan de Zumárraga, li talbu jmur

lura fuq l-g˙olja Tepeyac u jitlob lis-Sinjura sinjal mirakuluΩ li juri l-identita` tag˙ha. Is-Sinjura re©g˙et dehret lil Juan Diego u qaltlu sabiex jaqta’ ˙afna ward minn fuq l-g˙olja Tepeyac. U g˙alkemm

Diçembru huwa tard fl-ista©un sabiex wie˙ed isib xtieli jwarrdu, fuq dik

l-g˙olja xag˙rija Juan Diego sab u qata’ ward Castiljan, li ma jikbirx fil-Messiku. Is-Sinjura

po©©iethom fil-mantell (tilma) tieg˙u, u meta huwa fethu quddiem l-Arcisqof Zumárraga, nhar it-12 ta’ Diçembru, il-ward waqa’ma l-art, imma minn flokhom, fuq il-mantell, kien hemm ix-xbieha tal-Ver©ni ta’ Guadalupe, li b’miraklu stampat ru˙ha fuqu. Wara dan, l-Arçisqof iddeçieda li

jibni knisja fuq il-post tad-dehriet.

Il-mantell ta’Juan Diego, mag˙mul minn fibra tal-kaktus

u ta’ kwalita` fqira, u li s-soltu ma jdumx aktar minn 20 sena sabiex jitmermer, g˙adu ma juri ebda sinjal ta’ ˙sara wara aktar

Il-Madonna ta’ Guadalupe

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minn 480 sena. Ix-xjenzjati g˙adhom sa sabux spjegazzjoni g˙al dan il-fenomenu. Il-mantell qieg˙ed fil-BaΩilka tal-Madonna ta’ Guadalupe, fejn ta’ kull sena jmorru f’pellegrina©© bejn 18 u 20 miljun ru˙ ; dan g˙alhekk huwa s-santwarju li jilqa’ l-aktar nies fid-dinja nisranija. Din l-ikona (it-tilma, il-mantell) bix-xbieha tal-Madonna fuqu, huwa l-aktar ˙a©a reli©juΩa popolari fil-Messiku, u j©ib it-titlu ta’ Sultana tal-Messiku. Fl-1999, il-Papa Ìwanni Pawli II pproklama lill-Vergni Marija ta’ Guadalupe Patruna tal-Amerika, Imperatriçi tal-Amerika Latina u Protettriçi tat-Trabi mhux imwielda.

Il-fama li kisbet ix-xbieha tal-Madonna qajmet ukoll interess kbir fi Juan Diego. Fl-1666, il-Knisja, bil-g˙an li to˙loq festa f’©ie˙u, bdiet ti©bor tag˙rif min nies li qalu li kienu jafuh. Hekk, fl-1723, ©iet ordnata inkjesta formali fuq il-˙ajja tieg˙u u n©abar ˙afna tag˙rif. Fl-1987, ta˙t il-Papa Ìwanni

n li to˙loq festa f’©ie˙u, g˙rif min nies li qalu Hekk, fl-1723, ©©iet tata f forormamalili f fuquq

u n©n©abbara FFl-l 19198787,

ÌÌÌÌÌwawawawannnnnnniiii i

Pawlu II li kien were interess speçjali fil-qaddisin, il-Kongregazzjoni tal-KawΩi tal-Qaddisin, iddikjarat lil Juan Diego b˙ala « venerabbli ». Imbag˙ad, fis-6 ta’ Mejju 1990, huwa ©ie bbeatifikat mil-Papa nnifsu waqt quddiesa fil-BaΩilka tal-Madonna ta’ Guadalupe fil-Belt tal-Messiku, u ©ie ddikjarat Protettur u Avukat tal-Popli Indi©eni. Il-festa tieg˙u ti©i ççelebrata nhar id-9 ta’ Diçembru. Huwa mbag˙ad ©ie ddikjarat qaddis fl-2002.

Il-Festa tal-Madonna Ta’ Guadalupe ti©i ççelebrata nhar it-12 ta’ Diçembru. Jer©a kien il-Papa Ìwanni Pawlu II li fl-1999, fl-omelija tieg˙u waqt il-quddiesa solenni fil-BaΩilka tal-Madonna, meta kien qieg˙ed iΩur is-Santwarju g˙at-tielet

darba, iddikjara d-data tat-12 ta’ Diçembru b˙ala Festa

Litur©ica g˙all-Kontinent kollu

tal-Amerika.

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Malta SalesjanaSTUDENTI ÌODDA F’SAVIO COLLEGE Ambjent ©did u ˙bieb ©odda jistg˙u jo˙olqu problemi. G˙alhekk l-istudenti l-©odda ta’ Savio College – Dingli, kellhom ©urnata ddedikata g˙alihom qabel ma jid˙lu l-iskola. Huma ©ew introdotti g˙al dak li huwa “spirtu ta’familja” li jifforma parti mill-kariΩma Salesjan. Bros. Pierre, Jake u Paul Ωammew lit-tfal mhedija f’log˙ob li g˙inhom isiru jafu lil xulxin. Dil-©urnata kienet organizzata minn Fr Eric, li matul il-©img˙at ta’qabel kien Ωar il-familji tal-50 student ©did. “Ming˙ajr ˙biberija u m˙abba, ma jistax ikun hemm vera edukazzjoni” kien jg˙id Dun Bosco.

SPYS FIL-KENJA Bosco Boys of Langata, fil-Kenya, kien il-post fejn 3 Ωg˙aΩag˙ Maltin marru jag˙mlu xog˙ol ta’ volontarjat matul is-sajf li g˙adda: Rachel Caruana, Godfrey Camilleri u David Leone Ganado, it-tlieta membri ta’ SPYS (Salesian Youth Pastoral Service). Huma kienu milqug˙a mill-Komunita` Salesjana fejn hemm çentru ta’ rijabilitazzjoni g˙at-tfal li jkunu g˙ixu fit-toroq ta’ madwar Nairobi. It-3 Ωg˙aΩag˙ kienu nkura©©uti f’din l-avventura tag˙hom mill-˙afna g˙ajnuna ta’ ˙bieb u benefatturi Maltin.

SALESJANI FOOTBALL LEAGUE Anke matul is-sajf ta’ din is-sena, l-Oratorju tas-Salesjani, Sliema, organizza league tal-football bejn 9 timijiet, maqsuma f’Ωew© gruppi. Il-log˙ob kien isir nhar ta’ Tlieta u Óamis fil-bit˙a tal-Oratorju. Il-Finali saret fil-bit˙a ta’ St. Patrick School fejn it-tim “San Girgor” reba˙ fuq “Swallows Bananas”. Prosit lil Edward Mifsud u Maria Chiara Leone li organizzaw kollox.

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‘MEET ME TOO’ – FI SPANJA Grupp ta’ 5 studenti kienu telqu lejn El Campello – Spanja, sabiex jing˙aqdu ma’ Ωg˙aΩag˙ o˙ra minn kull na˙a tal-Ewropa. L-eta` tag˙hom kienet bejn it-18 u s-27 sena, u b’kollox kienu 35. Huma ltaqg˙u sabiex jaqsmu bejniethom esperjenzi kulturali u edukattivi matul ©img˙a s˙i˙a. Kien hemm attivitajiet kemm ta’ ©ewwa u kemm fil-bera˙; dejjem bil-g˙an li kul˙add jikber fit-tag˙rif tal-kulturi, drawwiet u modi ta’ ˙ajja. Il-grupp Spanjol li kien jospita lill-o˙rajn ma naqasx li jg˙allem lill-o˙rajn xi ftit spanjol, idewwaqhom ikel spanjol u jorganizza l-©ranet fuq stil ta’ ˙ajja spanjola. Prosit lil min ˙a sehem.

NERGGÓU INKEBBSU L-FJAMMA Dawk kollha li jiffurmaw il-Worship Team tal-Oratorju Salesjan, Sliema, qattg˙u week-end flimkien sabiex jit˙e©©u u j˙ejju ru˙hom ghas-servizz ta’ kant illi jag˙tu fil-kappella tal-Oratorju. Mexxew u animaw dan il-week-end Fr Gerald, Dorienne Portelli, Edward Mifsud u Mattea Galea. Kull˙add kien involut f’sessjonijiet ta’ tag˙lim, prattika u diskussjoni. Il-grupp kien attiv ukoll f’lejla ta’ Adorazzjoni tas-Sagrament u fiç-çerimonja tat-ti©did tal-voti ta’ Bro. Kenneth u Bro Robert. Fost dawn iΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ kien jin˙ass ˙afna il-fer˙, l-entuΩjaΩmu u l-ener©ija spiritwali.

TIÌDID TAL-VOTI Nhar il-©img˙a 7 ta’Settembru Bro. Robert Falzon u Bro. Kenneth Vella ©eddu il-Voti tag˙hom fil-Kongregazzjoni Salesjana. Numru sabi˙ ta’qraba, ˙bieb u Ωg˙aΩag˙ attendew g˙al din il-funzjoni li fiha ˙adu sehem g˙add ta’ Fathers Salesjani. IΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ tal-Worship Team sebb˙u dan kollu bil-kant sabi˙ tag˙hom. Issa Bro. Robert di©a` qieg˙ed Torin sabiex ikompli bl-istudji tieg˙u tat-teolo©ija, waqt li Bro. Kenneth jissokta bil-˙idma tieg˙u fost it-tfal u Ωg˙aΩag˙ tal-Oratorju, Sliema.

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Ftakret g˙ax skartat li to˙ro©. L-g˙ajat u l-˙sejjes mit-twieqi ta’ dawk ta’ fuqha kienu jag˙tuha fastidju. Dak il-˙in kien hemm is-skiet. Mhux li kienu storbjuΩi ΩΩejjed; g˙all-kuntrarju, nies prudenti; imma minn mindu nqala’ dak l-g˙aw© kollu qishom tilfu rashom. U kellhom g˙alfejn ukoll. Miet g˙al g˙arrieda l-missier b’diΩgrazzja fuq ix-xog˙ol u ˙alla ‘l-omm Ωag˙Ωug˙a bi tlitt itfal Ωg˙ar. Milli setg˙et tifhem bilkemm kellhom g˙axja ta’ lejla. Biex tkun sinçiera, li beda jdejjaqha l-aktar ma kienx l-g˙ajat daqskemm il-˙sieb li dawk ta’ fuqha jinsabu nieqsa minn bosta xorti, forsi bla platt ikel fuq mejda, meta hi kellha impjieg tajjeb u l-ikel ma naqas qatt.

Ìie f’mo˙˙ha li biex tg˙addi ftit tal-˙in setg˙et tag˙mel pudina tal-˙obΩ. Tista’ tg˙id li kellha kollox id-dar: ˙obΩ kemm trid g˙ax qajla kienet tiekol dan l-a˙˙ar, dqiq, butir, Ωbib, kokotina, ˙alib u zokkor. Kien hemm ukoll nofs borma qastan imbuljuta li ddejqet tiekol minnu, dak imur mal-pudina, jew inkella t˙allih forsi g˙ad ji©iha aptitu. Óassitha a˙jar li ppjanat x’tag˙mel biex forsi ttajjar il-˙sibijiet. Kellha kollox lest madwarha, x˙in bdew l-ewwel tokki tal-qniepen tal-knisja qrib

isej˙u u jfakkru li ser tibda n-Novena tal-Milied. Ma fel˙itx tismag˙hom, xtaqet tifgahom.

Ma kienx hemm g˙alfejn ifakkruha li wasal il-Milied. Jum il-Milied! Jum li beda jwerwirha. Malli tiftakar qalbha ting˙afas ... il-jum li kienet ilha tistenna biex hi u George jitg˙arrsu ... u minflok, hi u George nfirdu. Infirdu hekk, ˙abta u sabta xi ©img˙at ilu. Marru biex jixtru ç-çrieket u fit-triq qalilha li a˙jar ma je˙dux dak il-pass: jistennew, ˙assu mhux Ωgur minnu nnifsu. Kien ilhom erba’ snin jistennew, kemm ser idumu aktar?

Minn dak il-˙in sabet ru˙ha f’infern s˙i˙. Ma riditx tarah aktar b’g˙ajnejha. Minn banda, a˙jar tlewmu issa, milli aktar tard. Hekk ipprova jsabbarha kul˙add; imma qalbha ma riditx taf, il-qalb ma tafx tirra©una, tg˙ix biss bl-im˙abba, im˙abba li jag˙tuk l-o˙rajn. Megalie kellha d-dritt g˙al din l-im˙abba. Mur ˙udu d-dritt! Il-˙olm sabi˙ tag˙ha tar mar-ri˙! U issa kienet we˙idha fid-dinja! Kemm hi kerha dik il-kelma ta’ wa˙dek, kwaΩi twa˙˙xek! Imma l-fatt kien li tabil˙aqq kienet we˙idha, kien je˙ti©ilha tidra u tara kif tkompli tg˙ix. Kos, ˙asbet ... hi, Megalie telaqha l-g˙arus u ˙assitha f’tant dwejjaq u konfuΩjoni,

Lina Brockdorff

Il-QalbTghix Biss bl-Imhabba

Suppost li ftiehmet ma’ ˙abibtha biex imorru sal-Belt jaraw it-tiΩjin tal-Milied; minflok çemplitilha li ma kellhiex aptit to˙rog. Hekk saret dan l-a˙˙ar Megalie. Ma tafx xi trid. Kienu g˙adhom l-erbg˙a ta’ wara nofsinhar, imma bl-ajru mçajpar ma kienx ser idum ma jidlam. Ma tistenniex a˙jar minn Diçembru. Ma tafx x’ser tag˙mel biha nnifisha.

27Hajja Salesjana

min jaf x’kienet g˙addejja minnu dik l-omm li tilfet ‘il Ωew©ha, missier ta’ tlitt uliedha!

Il-pudina lestietha, u mid-dehra ©iet tajba g˙ax fwie˙a xxoqq l-istonku ˙ar©et mill-forn. Re©g˙et bdiet tredden fuq George u kemm kien i˙obb il-pudina, imma aktar minn hekk ftakret ukoll kif il-fwie˙a ta’ l-ikel li ssajjar hi kellha ˙abta titla’ sa fuq, u kif dik li ssajjar il-©ara dejjem tinΩel xi ftit minnha ‘l isfel. Ta’ fuqha kienu da˙lu, semg˙et il-passi u semg˙et ukoll il-biki tat-tnejn iΩ-Ωg˙ar, ta’ ˙ames u tliet snin. Tg˙id waqg˙u? Forsi we©©g˙u? Imma g˙aliex kienet qed tiffissa fuqhom? Minn banda, mhux a˙jar ta˙seb fuqhom milli tibki ‘l George.

Ìie x’jg˙idilha li setg˙et taqta’ biçça mill-pudina u tag˙tihielhom biex iduquha. Sa ma ©ratilhom id-diΩgrazzja kienu biss isellmu ‘l xulxin, imma dan l-a˙˙ar ˙asset li setg˙et tg˙id xi kelma lil dik il-povra armla, turiha li g˙allanqas hemm hi li tifhimha. Iva, tag˙tiha biçça pudina.

Skantat u nfixlet l-armla Maria x˙in ratha hemm fuq. Stednitha tid˙ol. It-tfal daru mag˙ha u riedu biçça. L-omm fakkrithom li g˙adhom ma kilux, a˙jar i˙alluha g˙ad-deΩerta, meta dritt wie©bet TereΩa, il-kbira ta’ seba’ snin: “Ma, int g˙adek kif g˙edtilna li m’hemmx ikel g˙al-lejla, xi tridna nieklu?” Sadattant, it-tfal daru mal-platt tal-pudina u bdew inaqqru u b’idejhom jaqtg˙u biççiet minnha kif kienet g˙adha ta˙raq.

Megalie ˙assitha imbarazzata. X’suppost li kellha tag˙mel? Titlaq bla kliem xejn? Tag˙mel tabirru˙ha li ma semg˙etx xi ntqal? Iddeçidiet. “Ara, Maria, inΩlu lkoll mieg˙i isfel. G˙andi borma minestra li sajjart dalg˙odu u ... hemm il-qastan imbuljuta, naqsmu kollox . Ejjew, ejjew mieg˙i.”

“Le, ma tarax sinjorina ... ma tarax ... x’ji©ifieri ...” “Ibda biex jien jisimni Megalie, it-tieni ... ejjew... il-veru tag˙tuni pjaçir jekk nieklu flimkien illejla. Intom we˙idkom u ftakar li jien ninsab wa˙di wkoll; int g˙andek tlitt itfal u jien m’g˙andi ‘l

˙add; nixtieq ng˙addi l-lejla mag˙kom u ng˙idu kelmtejn bejnietna. Barra minn hekk kont qed inlesti l-grotta bil-pasturi u lanqas biss kelli qalb inkompli. Forsi t-tfal ... min jaf ... it-tfal jie˙du pjaçir jekk jg˙inuni biex inlestuha. Imxi, itfi dik il-bozza, ©ib iç-çavetta ˙alli ninΩlu.”

Bilkemm riedu jemmnu li kienu saru l-g˙axra ta’ billejl x˙in it-tfal ˙assewhom g˙ajjenin u xtaqu jitilg˙u. Kienu naddfu l-kçina flimkien u Megalie bdiet t˙ossha li xtaqet timtedd. L-iljieli g˙aliha kienu saru torturi, ta˙seb u tibki, thewden u tolfoq. Imma dik il-lejla ˙assitha mod ie˙or. Ma kien ©ara xejn li jibdlilha l-burdata ˙aΩina li kienet fiha ftit sig˙at ilu; ˙lief li niΩlu dawk ta’ fuq. Ftakret li lanqas ir-ruΩarju ma kienet g˙adha qalet, iΩda ˙assitha g˙ajjiena ferm. Da˙let fis-sodda u fi ftit minuti raqdet. Raqdet! Xi grazzja mis-sema li torqod lejl b˙al dak. Stag˙©bet x˙in qamet u ˙arset lejn l-arlo©© u rat li kienu s-sitta ta’ filg˙odu.

Bdiet tiftakar kull ma kien ©ara filg˙axija. Kemm ˙adu gost dawk it-tfal jilag˙bu bil-pasturi u jirran©aw il-grotta, waqt li Megalie u Maria fet˙u qalbhom ma' xulxin. Aktarx li t-tfal g˙al ftit minuti nsew id-dulur kiefer tan-nuqqas ta’ missierhom. Fi Ωmien il-Milied kull dulur t˙ossu doppju. It-tfal xtaqu li waqt li kienu quddiem il-grotta jkantaw l-innijiet tal-Milied li tg˙allmu l-iskola u l-MuΩew. Dik il-lejla kienet tibda n-novena, jistg˙u jkantaw l-innijiet tal-Milied kull lejla quddiem il-grotta. Dik kienet ser tkun çelebrazzjoni speçjali bejniethom. Maria qaltilha li ratha an©lu, an©lu li b’xi grazzja speçjali ©ab tbissima fuq wiçç uliedha barra mill-fatt li temg˙athom ukoll.

Xi praspar ukoll! Kienet lejla mhux ippjanata. Bdiet tammetti li mhux biss tat gost lil dawk l-erba’ erwie˙ ta’ fuq; aktar minn hekk g˙al xi ra©uni stramba, hi ˙assitha fer˙ana wkoll. Forsi bdiet tfiq xi ftit! Mhux li kien ... mhux li kien ma t˙ossx aktar dak il-vojt ©o qalbha! Indunat li

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kienet ser ter©a’ tibda t˙ammem fuq George. Le! Ma riditx ter©a’ tibda, Ωgur u Ωgur. Kienet ilha aktar minn xahar tnewwa˙; issa wasal iΩ-Ωmien li dderri xi ftit. F’salt wie˙ed ftakret fl-a˙˙ar darba li kienu flimkien, il-famuΩ jum meta suppost marru jixtru ç-çrieket ... bil˙aqq ... x’kienet g˙amlet b’dak l-envelowp b’dawk l-erba’ mitt lira taç-çurkett? Fejn kienet po©©ietu?

QabΩet minn ©os-sodda u bdiet tfittex f’kull kexxun fejn soltu t˙alli xi flus, f’kull ˙endbeg li kellha ... imkien. Mulej tal-˙niena! Tg˙id tilfithom ma’ dik il-˙asda u f’dak l-inkwiet li kienet g˙addejja minnu? X’nervoΩiΩmu qabadha! Dak kien jonqosha issa! Ìie x’jg˙idilha biex tfittex fil-but tal-kowt l-iswed li kienet libset dakinhar ... u b’g˙a©eb kbir tag˙ha sabithom hemm! Imma kif lanqas biss ˙asbet fihom tul dawn l-a˙˙ar ©img˙at li mo˙˙ha kien imgerfex! Óar©ithom mill-envelowp u baqg˙et t˙ares lejhom çass.

G˙aliha dawk il-flus qisha reb˙ithom. Ìieha ˙sieb ... baqg˙et fejn kienet quddiem il-mera tal-gwardarobba u rat ir-rifless tag˙ha fil-mera u stag˙©bet. Stag˙©bet g˙ax rat lilha nnifisha titbissem, rat lilha nnifisha fer˙ana. Baqg˙et titbissem g˙ax ˙sibijiet sbie˙ bdew g˙addejjin minn rasha. Kien je˙ti©ilha tg˙a©©el g˙ax dalwaqt tisma’ t-tfal wara l-bieb ta’ barra biex jag˙mlu n-novena bil-kant ˙elu tag˙hom. G˙al dakinhar kellha sorpriΩa lesta. Wara n-novena kienu ser jer©g˙u jieklu hemm, xtrat pizez biΩΩejjed g˙al kul˙add, u kien fadal il-pudina. Kellha seba’ mitt sena sa ma tara dawk l-uçu˙ ˙elwin madwar il-mejda. Dawk l-erbg˙a min-nies mhux biss kienu da˙lu f’darha u mlewha, imma aktar importanti, kienu da˙lu f’qalbha u re©g˙u tawha l-˙ajja.

Kellha eççitament li qatt qabel ma ˙asset. Jumejn o˙ra l-Milied. Kellhom imorru g˙all-quddiesa ta’ nofsillejl flimkien. Óejjiet kollox, u

kollox mo˙bi. G˙all-Milied mhux biss lestiet ikla, imma ˙ar©et fin-nofs si©ra li ta˙tha kien hemm bosta pakketti: tibdila ˙wejje© ©odda u par Ωarbun g˙al kull membru mill-familja ta’ fuq, u somma ta’ flus g˙all-omm ... kollox bi flus iç-çurkett li ma kellhiex bΩonn ...

Kien Milied speçjali. Filg˙axija, wara li telaq kul˙add, Megalie ntefg˙et bilqieg˙da fuq tapit quddiem il-grotta u bdiet tkellem ‘il-Bambin: “Çkejkna Tarbija, grazzi ta’ kemm g˙amiltni fer˙ana. Bdejt biex nifhem xi ˙a©a. Veru li l-qalb tg˙ix biss bl-im˙abba. Qabel kont xi ftit egoista, kont na˙seb li jekk ma nirçevix im˙abba ma nkunx kuntenta. Issa tg˙allimt li minflok nistenna l-im˙abba minn ˙addie˙or nista’ nkun jien li nag˙tiha ‘l-o˙rajn. Fuq kollox Int hekk g˙amilt, hux veru?”

Damet hemm quddiem il-grotta, tgawdi dak is-se˙er ta’ kuntentizza li kellha fuqha. Iva, damet tixxotta d-dmug˙. Imma kien dmug˙ ta’ fer˙ u m˙abba ... kellu jkun l-isba˙ Milied ta’ ˙ajjitha!

29Hajja Salesjana

L-ewwel ©urnata ta’ dan ix-xahar ta’ Novembru, il-Knisja ddedikatha lill-Qaddisin Kollha, ji©ifieri lil dawk kollha li, skont l-Apokalissi, «©ejjin mit-ta˙bit il-kbir u li ˙aslu lbieshom fid-demm tal-Óaruf», u li issa qeg˙din igawdu lil Alla wiçç imb’wiçç.

Dak li beda din il-festa kien il-Papa San Bonifaçju IV (AD 608 – 615) u din it-tifkira tinΩamm fl-anniversarju tad-dedikazzjoni tal-Pantheon, dik il-knisja f’Ruma li ©iet mibnija g˙all-allat mill-Imperatur Agrippa fis-sena 27 qabel Kristu u li wara ©iet mog˙tija lill-istess Papa Bonifaçju mill-Imperatur BiΩantin Phoca.

Il-festa tal-Qaddisin kollha bdiet ti©i ççelebrata barra minn Ruma fis-seklu IX u sas-seklu XI kienet di©a’ mxerrda mad-dinja kollha. Din kienet tkun festa kmandata.

F’dan il-jum jibda x-xahar ta’ Novembru, ix –xahar mag˙ruf b˙ala tal-mejtin. L-g˙ada tal-festa tal-Qaddisin Kollha l-Knisja tiddedikah lill-erwie˙ tal-purgatorju, dawk ˙utna li temmew il-˙ajja ta’ din l-art u li issa qeg˙din ipattu fil-purgatorju jistennew sakemm jitilg˙u fis-saltna ta-sema. Sa mill-bidu nett tal-Knisja l-insara kienu jitolbu g˙all-mejtin. Dan kien tkomplija ta’ dak li kienu jag˙mlu l-Lhud qabel Kristu, g˙ax dawn ukoll kienu jitolbu g˙all-mejtin (II Macc. XII, 43).

Hija drawwa ferm sabi˙a li ˙afna nsara f’dawn il-jiem iΩuru ç-çimiterji biex jitolbu fuq l-oqbra tal-qraba u l-˙bieb tag˙hom. F’dil-©urnata, is-saçerdoti jistg˙u jqaddsu tliet Quddiesat li ji©u applikati g˙all-erwie˙ tal-purgatorju’.

L-G˙id tal-Imwiet ma kienx jeΩisti sa mill-bidu nett tal-Knisja; dak li waqqaf dil-©urnata kien San Odilone, wara li kellu xi viΩjonijiet, fil-bidu tas-seklu XI. Id-devozzjoni xterrdet u L-G˙id tal-Imwiet kien wasal biex ji©i mfakkar mad-dinja kollha fis-seklu XII.

IL-GÓID TAL-IMWIETFiç-Çimiterju tal-Addolorata

Donnhom mexjin tnejn tnejn kollhom ˙osbienaIs-si©ar taç-çipress fuq art l-imwiet:Óamra x-xemx nieΩla, u le˙en ta’ qanpienaDonnu q’ed jibki u jikser dan is-skiet.

Qalb slaleb u oqbra li jitolbu ˙nienaTg˙addi n-nies ˙iemda u jtennu xi talbiet :« Mulej ag˙ti l-mistrie˙ lil min ˙alliena,U lilhom jiddi d-dawl minn tas-smewwiet.”

Dlonk ˙sieb minn mo˙˙i jg˙addi u jfakkarniF’xi w˙ud li jien ̇ abbejt, u d-dmug˙ f’g˙ajnejjaJaqbeΩ, u qalbi ddub f’˙asra qawwija.

Il-knisja tal-quççata imma ssabbarni,Fejn Omm imnikkta b’Binha mejjet ˙dejhaFuq l-oqbra ta’ kul˙add t˙ares Marija.

Dun Karm Psaila

L-Ewwel Jiem ta’ Novembru

IL-LUPU FOST IN-NAGÓAÌ

Ìurnata wa˙da fi Frar tal-1886, Dun Bosco qal lil Dun Mikiel Rua, is-segretarju tieg˙u u dak li kellu jkun Superjur warajh, : “Trid immorru sa Spanja, inΩuru d-Djar tag˙na?”

“Kif tixtieq int, g˙aΩiΩ Dun Bosco.”

“Tajjeb. Mela jaqbillek iΩΩomm ru˙ek lest.”

G˙addew xi sitta jew sebat ijiem, u darba wa˙da, wara l-ikel, Dun Bosco qal lil Dun Rua, “Ikteb lil Dun Branda (li kien id-Direttur tad-Dar ta’ Sarria`, Barçellona) u staqsieh jekk g˙amilx dak li g˙idtlu biex jag˙mel.”

“U jekk jistaqsini x’kien li kellu jag˙mel? Kif ser inwie©bu?”

“Hu jaf x’kellu jag˙mel.”

U kif ! li kien jaf. Qalilna hu stess u fuq ©urament semmieh fil-proçess tal-beatifikazzjoni ta’ Dun Bosco.

Stejjer Qosra fuq Dun Bosco Qaddis

Me˙udin mill-Ktieb ta’ Claudio Russo: Don Bosco e il soprannaturale.

Il-Kardinal Vives Y Tuto`, li ddefenda l-kawΩa tal-kanonizzazzjoni ta’ Dun Bosco, kien qal: “Matul ˙ajti eΩaminajt bosta kawΩi imma qatt ma ltqajt ma’ wa˙da tant mimlija bis-soprannatural daqs din.” Il-Mulej kien g˙o©bu jg˙ani r-ru˙ ta’ Dun Bosco b’kariΩmi speçjali, b˙al ma kienu li jkollu viΩjonijiet u ˙olm, li jara l-©ejjieni , jg˙id profeziji, u jaqra fil-kuxjenza.

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31Hajja Salesjana

Hawn hi l-istorja:

“Lejl wie˙ed, ma nafx eΩattament kif, smajt min i˙abbat il-bieb tal-kamra tieg˙i. “Id˙ol” g˙edt jiena. Imma ma wie©eb ˙add. Komplejt ir-raqda, imma ner©a’ nisma min i˙abbatli g˙at-tieni darba. Issa kont çert li kien hemm xi ˙add u qomt nilbes. Mort nifta˙ il-bieb u hemm nara il-figura g˙aΩiΩa ta’ Dun Bosco.

“Dan kif inti hawn?”staqsejtu mg˙a©©eb u konfuΩ. “Kieku taf kemm hawn nies jixtiequ jarawk! Imm’ a˙na xtaqna nag˙tuk mer˙ba xierqa…”

Xtaqt ng˙idlu affarijiet o˙ra wkoll, imma ma deherx li ried jisma’. B˙al wie˙ed li hu mg˙a©©el qalli sabiex immur mieg˙u.

“Imma inti taf tmur?”

“Ejja, qed ng˙idlek.”

Beda miexi u jien warajh… Stag˙©ibt mhux ftit meta rajtu miexi dritt lejn wie˙ed mid-dormitorji tat-tfal u, dejjem miexi quddiemi, urieni wie˙ed li kien rieqed.

“Qed tarah lil dan? Huwa lupu, u hemm bΩonn li twarrbu. Óares lejh sew! Ma jist˙oqqlux joqg˙od iktar mag˙na!”

Malli qalli hekk, ma deherx aktar. Jiena sibt ru˙i f’kamarti, u malli fta˙t g˙ajnejja, g˙edt, bejni u bejn ru˙i: M’n Alla li din kienet biss ˙olma. PerswaΩ minn dan, ma tantx tajtha importanza. Iva, Ωammejt g˙ajnejja fuq dak it-tali, imma ma ˙assejtx li kelli g˙alfejn ninkwieta g˙al dak li kien ©ie muri lili b˙ala lupu fost in-nag˙a©.

IΩda, malli rçevejt l-ittra ta’ Dun Mikiel Rua, intba˙t li l-˙olma li kelli kienet viΩjoni. Mal-ewwel obdejt dak il-kmand li kien tani Dun Bosco f’dik il-˙olma.”

We met a little girl seven years ago, during one of my daughter's occasional hospital stays. Her name was Beth and she was my daughter's room mate for a week. Beth was a very happy girl despite her medical problems. Her long blonde curls always seemed to bounce with her smile. The girls got to know each other well and had become good friends. On the pediatric floor of the hospital, we saw many seriously ill children. It was so sad, even though my daughter had an incurable kidney disease and not a very good chance of living to see old age herself. We always saw many children with all kinds of cancer, and sadly enough Beth was one of those children. She was doing two weeks of chemo and radiation. I was amazed at her will and determination to never give up despite how very sick her treatments made her.

She was always concerned about my daughter and the other children with cancer she grew to know over her many hospital stays.

My daughter's IV treatments were done after a week and I was happy to finally bring her home. We were awaiting the final discharge orders when Beth appeared from the other side of the curtain that separated their beds. She said, "I want you to have this. I know you need a new kidney, so keep this angel pin with you till you get better. She will watch over you so you smile all over. My friend, John gave this to me to watch over me, but it's time for this angel to watch over you. When you get your new kidney and smile, you can give this angel to someone that needs her too. I'm done reading my book so here's my bookmark that has a poem on it called, Don't Quit!, I know it by heart anyhow."

A Gift from the Heart Story by Bonnie, A Heartprint Original

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This is a story about a child that saw the importance of giving and never thought about giving up.

Some may think a child isn't old enough to carry enough wisdom to teach us all a lesson in living.

But I've learned a heart grows from life's many challenges and sometimes a child's challenges can

be far greater than some adults.

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My daughter thanked her and the girls exchanged hugs and big smiles. I knew, we may never see Beth again, but we never forgot the gift she gave from her heart that day. During that year, we found out Beth has passed away. It was so sad to know such a beautiful little girl was no longer bouncing smiles to everyone she would meet. Her sincere kindness will stay with us forever.

We kept that angel for six more years. My daughter had gone beyond what medical journals had studied and expected from her disease. Was it the angel watching over her or pure luck? My daughter ended up on kidney dialysis for over a year, and one month after almost loosing her, a kidney became available and she received a transplant. My heart tells me, an angel upstairs was watching with a loving smile. My daughter had kept that angel pin and now she felt it was time to give it to someone who needed watched over till they could smile again. She gave it to an elderly man trying to overcome the damage from heart problems and undergoing extensive therapy. His family has informed us, that when he returns home he wants to give the angel to someone he knows suffering from a brain tumor.

How many families and hearts this angel has touched no one knows for sure. But all it took was one single gift of kindness that has and will touch an endless amount of hearts forever.

So this Christmas season, look around and see the gift that can't be bought. Create a tradition with your children or maybe someone you love. Make someone's day and do the unexpected, let a friend know you care, or greet a stranger with a warm smile. Give the gift that keeps on giving. It's open twenty-four hours a day, three hundred and sixty-five days a year, it's a gift from your heart. After all, isn't that what Christmas is all about?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

for more information www.vocations.salesiansmalta.org

way of life?

Are youbeing calledto the

PRIESTHOOD

And to the

SALESIAN

34 Hajja Salesjana

Testmenti

BorΩa ta’ Studju

€

NEWSPAPER POST ST.PATRICK’S SCHOOL, ST. JOHN BOSCO STREET, SLIEMA 1925

“NiΩel mis-smewwiet g˙alina l-bnedmin u g˙all-fidwa tag˙na;

u ˙a l-©isem bis-setg˙a tal-iSpirtu s-Santu min Marija Ver©ni u sar bniedem.”

Il-Komunità Salesjana ta’MaltaIl-Komunità Salesjana ta’Maltaflimkien ma’ dawk kollha li ja˙dmu fl-Uffiçjuflimkien ma’ dawk kollha li ja˙dmu fl-Uffiçju

ta’Óajja Salesjana jixtiqulkom kull risq u barkata’Óajja Salesjana jixtiqulkom kull risq u barkafil-©ranet tal-Milied li ©ejjin u s-Sena t-Tajba. fil-©ranet tal-Milied li ©ejjin u s-Sena t-Tajba.