Hajja Salesjana SETTEMBRU-OTTUBRU 2010il-216 Óar©a

Salesian Brigade: 100 sena ta’ attività kontinwa

John Henry Newman: Appostlu tal-Konvertiti

New Light on the Shroud

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

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

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

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

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

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

Fuqiex se naqraw

Front Cover: Billi din is-sena ja˙bat iç-çentenarju tas-Salesian Brigade, u billi l-istrenna tar-Rettur Ma©©ur tg˙idilna “Nwasslu il-Van©elu liΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙”, ir-ritratt tal-qoxra juri mumenti fil-˙ajja tas-Salesian Brigade.

Il-Pellegrina©© ta’ Turin 7 A Healing Experience 9Triq Nru. 7 10Salesian Bishops 11John Henry Newman:Appostlu tal-Konvertiti 12Blessed Michael Rua (4) 14Malta Salesjana 20Dejjem Ìo Qalbna 22New Light on the Shroud 23Salesian Brigade100 sena ta’ attività kontinwa 26Tunisia Experience 28Who Holds My Hand... 29Don Bosco fis-Santi u kartolini (4) 30Alla, G˙ani fil-Óniena 33

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

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editorjal

ARMONIJA

... meta nibdew na˙sbu g˙al-rasna, tibda tonqos l-armonija u jibdew l-istonaturi

Dan l-a˙˙ar kelli l-˙in li nattendi g˙al kunçert mill-Orkestra Filarmonika ta’ Malta, ta˙t it-tre©ija ta’ Christopher Muscat, ©ewwa l-BaΩilika ta’ Maria Bambina, l-Isla. Barra l-g˙aΩla sabi˙a ta’ biççiet sagri li ndaqqew, ˙a©a li g˙o©bitni ˙afna kienet l-armonija li kienet teΩisti fl-eΩekuzzjoni ta’ dawn il-biççiet tant sbie˙ u mag˙rufin. Fl-orkestra kien hemm madwar 50 ru˙ idoqqu tant strumenti differenti, iΩda, ilkoll f’armonija wa˙da, qbil assolut li bil-fors jpaxxi l-widnejn u j©ieg˙lek tapprezza li hawn tant nies b’talent muΩikali li kapaçi f’kuncert jag˙tu tant pjaçir.

Il-kelma ‘Armonija’ hija assoççjata mad-daqq tal-muΩika iΩda ˙afna drabi wkoll tintuΩa’ f’relazzjonijiet ta’ bejnietna l-bnedmin. Kemm hu importanti li bejnietna jkun hemm din l-armonija. Kul˙add g˙andu l-parti tieg˙u xi ‘jdoqq’ iΩda hu importanti li b˙al muΩiçisti, kul˙add jag˙mel ˙iltu biex iΩomm l-armonija ta’ bejnietna. Ûgur li jekk kull muΩiçist ifettillu jmur g˙ar-rasu ming˙ajr ma jΩomm mar-ritmu u g˙ad- direzzjoni tas-surmast, minflok armonija jkun hemm biss stonaturi. U hekk ji©ri fil-˙ajja tag˙na ta’ kuljum meta tonqos bejnietna l-armonija. Minflok jirrenjaw qbil, paçi u serenità, jibda ˙afna diΩgwid u stonaturi li minflok jg˙inuna biex ng˙ixu ˙ajja trankwilla u fer˙ana, jitfg˙una f’ba˙ar ta’ nkwiet u ©lied. Kul˙add g˙andu s-sehem tieg˙u x’jag˙ti. Forsi mhux dejjem nsibuha façli g˙aliex hemm bΩonn nammettu li

f’kull persuna hemm xi ftit ta’ egoiΩmu. IΩda, tkun ˙asra jekk qatt ikun hemm xi muΩiçist li jfettillu ja˙seb g˙al-rasu waqt l-eΩekuzzjoni ta’ xi biçça muΩika, biex juri kemm jaf, g˙aliex Ωgur jo˙loq stonaturi kbar. Hekk ukoll fil-˙ajja tag˙na ta’ kuljum, meta nibdew na˙sbu g˙al-rasna, tibda tonqos l-armonija u jibdew l-istonaturi. Ikun hawn li l-˙ajja nibdew nag˙mluha tant diffiçli g˙al xulxin, tibda tirrenja l-firda, il-pika, l-g˙ejra, il-mibeg˙da minflok armonija li ©©ib fer˙ u g˙aqda.

G˙alhekk importanti li kull persuna tag˙mel ˙ilitha kollha biex l-ewwel ˙a©a tkun f’armonija mag˙ha nnifisa, li taççetta lilha nnifisa kif inhi, iΩda ukoll li tag˙mel ˙ilitha li ti©©ieled kull forma ta’ egoiΩmu ©ewwa fiha. Jekk nibdew minn hawn allura hemm çans tajjeb li ng˙ixu f’armonija ma’ dawk ta’ madwarna, li nkunu wkoll kapaçi li naççettaw lil kul˙add bit-tajjeb u l-˙azin li hemm fina lkoll. Ma nistg˙ux nistennew li kul˙add idoqq l-istess nota. F’orkestra hemm ˙afna strumenti, kollha b’noti differenti, iΩda meta jindaqqu f’daqqa, f’armonija, allura kull ma jinstema jkun biss ˙oss wie˙ed li jpaxxi l-widnejn u jag˙ti pjaçir lil min qieg˙ed jisma’. J’alla fil-˙ajja tag˙na jkollna l-˙ila nsibu din l-armonija g˙aliex b’hekk biss nistg˙u nkunu tassew kuntenti u nkunu qeg˙din nag˙tu sehemna g˙al dinja a˙jar.

Fr. Alfred Sacco SDB

4 Hajja Salesjana

editorial

Harmony

... when we start being egoists: life’s melody diminishes and things get distorted

Some time ago I went for a concert at the Basilica of Our Lady in Senglea, given by the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Mro. Christopher Muscat.

I liked the programme of nice, well known, sacred pieces, but more than that I was struck by the harmony that flowed from their execution. There were about fifty musicians playing different instruments, who together, with absolute precision, produced one single harmony which could not but please the audience. It makes one appreciate the fact that there are so many talented musicians capable of giving such pleasure.

The word harmony is mostly associated with music, but it may also be used to describe human relations. For this harmony to exist amongst us, each and every one of us has a part “to play” and it is important that, like musicians, we all make an effort to keep harmony amongst us. If the musicians were to go it alone, without rhythm or direction, the resulting cacophony would sound chaotic. In our life too, when harmony is absent, our peace, understanding, and serenity will be replaced by confusion, anger and noise and instead of living a peaceful and happy life, we will have created a sea of trouble and fighting.

Everyone has his part to play; and it might not always be easy because, one has to admit that

there is some egoism in every person. However it would be a great pity if there were to be a “musician” who went his own way during the execution of a piece, just to show off, as this would certainly create mayhem. The same thing happens in our daily life when we start being egoists: life’s melody diminishes and things get distorted. It is then that life becomes unbearable for many, that disunity, separation, pique and hate come to the fore instead of harmony which brings joy and unity.

It is therefore important that, first and foremost, every person does his level best to get rid of any egoism and create harmony within himself. If we all start doing this, then there will be a great possibility of living harmoniously with those around us, and to be able to accept others, in spite of all their failings. The same way as I was struck by this orchestra where each instrument, although played in a particular way, produced a harmonious sound which delighted our ears and gave pleasure to all of us who were listening.

How wonderful it would be if we were all to live in such harmony. It would make us really happy and we will have played our part in creating a better world.

Fr. Alfred Sacco SDB

5Hajja Salesjana

PEDAGOÌIJASalesjana

Kummenti fuq li Strenna 2010: Il-Van©elu liΩ-Ûg˙aΩag˙Minn Pascual Chavez – Trad. Joe Cini

‘Ìesù tela’ fuq l-g˙olja, u sejja˙ lejh lil dawk li ried. Huma resqu lejh, u hu g˙aΩel tnax li semmiehom appostli biex jibqg˙u mieg˙u u biex jibg˙athom jippridkaw, u jkollhom is-setg˙a li jkeççu x-xjaten’ (Mk 3, 13-15). Dan jinsab fl-erba’ Van©eli b˙ala xi ˙a©a li Ìesù g˙amel fil-bidu tal-˙ajja pubblika tieg˙u. Dan juri li l-Bxara t-Tajba hija marbuta ma’ komunità li fiha d-dixxiplu jg˙ix ma’ Ìesù u jaqsam fil-missjoni tieg˙u. Fil-qalba tad-dixxipulat u l-mixja wara Kristu dejjem insibu laqg˙a persunali mieg˙U li tbiddel il-˙ajja. Xi drabi Ìesù sej˙ilhom waqt ix-xog˙ol : ‘Waqt li kien g˙addej ma’ xatt il-ba˙ar tal-Galilija lema˙ lil Xmun u ‘l ˙uh Indrì qeg˙din ikalaw ix-xbiek fil-ba˙ar, g˙ax kienu

sajjieda. U Ìesù qalilhom: Ejjew warajja u nag˙mel minnkom sajjieda tal-bnedmin’ (Mk 1, 16-18). L-istess ji©ri minn Ìakbu u Ìwanni (ibid vv19-20). G˙al kuntrarju, Mattew jissejja˙ waqt li kien fid-dwana (Mt 9, 9). F’din il-g˙aΩla tad-dixxipli hemm ‘kriterju’ fl-a©ir ta’ Alla: il-˙sibijiet tieg˙u ma’ humiex il-˙sibijiet tag˙na (ara Is 55,8). Dan insibuh diversi drabi fl-Antik Testment, per eΩempju fil-g˙aΩla ta’ David: ‘Il-bniedem i˙ares lejn is-sura ta’ barra, imma l-Mulej i˙ares lejn il-qalb (cfr 1 Sam 16,7). Kien ©ara l-istess ma’ Abraham, xi˙ u bla tfal, ma’ Mosè, xi˙ u jtemtem, ma’ Ìeremija, Ωag˙Ωugh u ming˙ajr esperjenza...ma’ Marija!

Is-Sej˙aJekk iseJJaÓlek, m’inti ser issib qatt mistrieÓ (Charles Péguy).

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Fil-Van©elu nsibu d-diversi tipi ta’ nies mag˙Ωula: xi w˙ud huma sajjieda, l-ewwel wie˙ed Pietru u ̇ uh Indrì, ulied Ûebedew. Imma hemm ukoll Pubblikan, Mattew – Levi, u o˙rajn li jappartjenu g˙all-partit g˙adu tieg˙u b˙al Xmun ‘l-im˙e©©e©’ (Lk 6,5), u Natanael li jistmerr lil Galilin (Ìn 1,45s). Diffiçli ssib grupp aktar mifrux. Lit-Tnax, wie˙ed jista’ japplikalhom l-kliem ta’ San Pawl: ‘Qisu min minnkom kien imsejja˙. G˙ax ma humiex ˙afna fostkom li huma g˙orrief skond il-qjies tad-dinja, ma humiex ˙afna s-setg˙ana, ma humiex ˙afna n-nobbli’ (1 Kor 1,26). Fil-kas ta’ Xmun Pietru, Luqa juri il-‘faqar’ ta’ dak li kellu jsir il-kap tal-appostli, meta ma rnexxiex fix-xog˙ol proprju tieg˙u ta’ sajjied (Lk 5,4-10). Mela jekk ner©g˙u mmorru g˙all-kliem ta’ San Mark, id-dixxipulat jirrekjedi g˙ixien ma’ Ìesù, s˙ubija u ˙biberija mieg˙U u sehem fil-missjoni tieg˙U: ix-xandir tas-Saltna ta’ Alla flimkien ma’ sinjali li juru lilha tassew.

Kif g˙andna nifhmuh dan id-dixxipulat li Ìesù jsejja˙ g˙alih? Fi Ωminijietna, il-mixja wara Ìesù ˙adet xejra bibblika u teolo©ika qawwija. Fi Ωmien Ìesù kwaΩi ˙add ma jitlob li jkun dixxiplu tieg˙u: ‘Mhux intom g˙aΩiltu lili imma jiena g˙aΩilt lilkom’(Ìw 5,6). Barra minn dan, li timxi wara Ìesù

jfisser t˙alli kollox: dak li g˙andek, xog˙lok, il-familja... Óadd ˙lief Alla ma jista’ jitlob li wie˙ed/wa˙da jinqata’ mill-˙wejje© l-aktar sagri tal-˙ajja: ‘Min i˙obb lil missieru jew lil ommu iΩjed minni ma jist˙oqqlux li jkun mieg˙i; min i˙obb lil ibnu jew lil bintu iΩjed minni ma jist˙oqqlux li jkun mieg˙i (Mt 10, 37-38). Ippermettuli hawn nag˙mel paragun maç-çirkustanza li b˙ala Familja Salesjana g˙adna kemm iççelebrajna: il-150 anniversarju tat-twaqqif tal-Kongregazzjoni tag˙na. Dun Bosco kien sejja˙ madwaru grupp ta’ Ωg˙aΩag˙ sabiex ‘joqog˙du mieg˙u’ u mieg˙u jaqsmu l-missjoni li Alla kien afdalu: is-salvazzjoni tat-tfal u Ωg˙aΩag˙ fqar u abbandunati. G˙al dan il-grupp Ωg˙ir nistg˙u napplikaw il-kliem ta’ San Pawl lill-Korintin (1 Kor 1,26): ma kienx hemm g˙alihom xi prospettivi kbar; biΩΩejjed niftakru li d-Direttur Spiritwali ta’ dis-Soçjetà ©dida kellu biss 22 sena, Mikiel Rua! Dun Lemoyne, fil-‘Hajja ta’ Dun Bosco’ kiteb li: ‘Kienu kollha Ωg˙aΩag˙ u kellhom quddiemhom g˙aΩla ta’ ˙ajja, b’fiduçja biss f’Dun Bosco.’ Xi whud ma kienux çerti. ‘Aktar minn wie˙ed gerger: Dun Bosco jrid jag˙milna kollha patrijiet.’ (AGC 404, 10). Ir-risposta taΩ-Ωag˙Ωug˙ Giovanni Cagliero, ‘Patri jew mhux, jiena ma’ Dun Bosco nibqa’, tfakkarna fir-risposta ta’ Pietru lil Ìesù: ‘Mulej, g˙and min immorru? Int g˙andek il-kliem tal-˙ajja ta’ dejjem’ (Gw 6, 68). U huwa lil Ìesù li Cagliero jixtieq jag˙ti ˙ajtu, b˙all-o˙rajn kollha; u g˙alihom, Dun Bosco huwa fil- prattika l-le˙en ta’ Alla u tal-missjoni li Hu jrid jafdalhom.

... li timxi wara Ìesù jfisser t˙alli kollox ...

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Minn dak inhar ‘l hawn dejjem bqajt nixtieq li mmur Turin u nara fejn bdew l-g˙eruq Salesjani, u meta qaluli li sejrin jibag˙tuni, tg˙idx kemm ˙adt gost. Malli rajna d-data tat-tluq indunajna li kien ser ja˙bat l-G˙id il-Kbir, kif ukoll g˙eluq snini!

Dakinhar qomna kmieni u tlaqna g˙all-ajruport. Wasalna hemm fis-sitta u nofs ta’ filg˙odu u sibt lil xi ftit minn s˙abi di©à hemm. Kont ˙erqan ˙afna biex nitla’ fuq l-ajruplan u nibda dan il-vja©©. Fil-fatt dawk il-ftit sig˙at rajthom ma jridu jg˙addu b’xejn. Meta fl-a˙˙ar tlajna fl-ajruplan kelli seba’ mitt sena biex naslu sa Malpensa u nibdew l-avventura tag˙na barra minn Malta.

Mal-wasla tag˙na morna sa Becchi u rajna fejn Don Bosco g˙ex sakemm kellu 16-il sena, kif ukoll id-dar ta’ ˙uh li ©iet mibdula f’muΩew. EΩatt wara morna nqaddsu l-quddiesa tal-G˙id fil-kappella ta’ Marija G˙ajnuna tal-Insara li, fl-opinjoni tieg˙i, kienet l-isba˙ quddiesa li kellna kemm domna Turin.

It-tieni ©urnata kienet ©urnata li fiha g˙ajjejna u ˙adna ̇ afna gost fl-istess ̇ in. Morna mixja mill-Colle sa Mondonio, il-post fejn kien miet San Domenico Savio. Minn hemm bqajna sejrin sa Murialdo u wara lejn Capriglio fejn g˙exet Mamma Margherita. Matul it-triq kien hemm ˙afna tajn u kul˙add spiçça bl-islipper ma˙mu© u l-qalziet imxammar. F’Capriglio rajna skola Ωg˙ira fejn Father Sandro u Father Eric re©g˙u spiççaw tfal! Dawn bdew jirreçtaw taparsi qed jag˙mlu xi eΩami u l-ie˙or qed jipprova jikkopja! (x’eΩempju tajjeb Father!)

Nhar it-Tlieta morna naraw il-kmamar ta’ Dun Bosco u hemm, il-˙a©a li l-aktar laqtitni kienet l-altar tal-estasi fejn Don Bosco kien iqaddes u waqt il-konsagrazzjoni jinqata’ mill-art. Dakinhar rajna wkoll il-BaΩilka ta’ Valdocco u tlajna fuq Superga fejn kien ̇ abat ajruplan bit-tim tal-futbol tat-Torino.

L-g˙ada morna sa Riva Di Chieri fejn twieled San Domenico Savio. F’dan il-post jiena bqajt impressjonat bl-ammont ta’ Beati Salesjani riçenti. Fil-fatt l-a˙˙ar wie˙ed miet fis-sena elfejn. Aktar tard dakinhar morna nag˙mlu xi xiri ming˙and il-˙anut tal-Juventus u mill-˙anut tal-Kappa fejn g˙all-ewwel darba f’˙ajti ˙adt pjaçir nixtri!

Il-Óamis imbag˙ad g˙addejt l-aktar ©urnata li ˙adt gost fiha. Morna fuq il-muntanja Sestriere u tg˙idx x’xalata g˙amilna bis-sil©. Father Sandro ma damx ma ©ie ˙dejna, imma ma kinitx idea li ©ietu f’rasu g˙ax tg˙idx kemm issuttajnih bis-sil© filwaqt li Father Eric qag˙ad jid˙ak bih u je˙odlu r-ritratti!

L-a˙˙ar ©urnata li kellna hemmhekk, ji©ifieri il-Ìimg˙a, morna naraw postijiet tas-sorijiet Salesjani b˙al Mornese, fejn Don Bosco ltaqa’ ma’ Maria Mazzarello g˙all-ewwel darba u Valponasca fejn hija kienet ta˙dem fl-g˙elieqi. Ûorna wkoll l-in˙awi ta’ Ìenova.

Fl-opinjoni tieg˙i din kienet l-isba˙ esperjenza li qatt g˙ext u kieku jkolli ç-çans Ωgur li nara kif nag˙mel biex ner©a’ mmur. Forsi, min jaf, sena o˙ra nitilg˙u b˙ala familja jekk Alla jrid!

Il-Pellegrina©© ta’ Turin Andrej Calleja Form 4G

L-ewwel darba li smajt dwar il-pellegrina©© ta’ Turin kien fl-ewwel sena tieg˙i fl-iskola ta’ Savio College. Kien ilni li staqsejt lill- ©enituri jekk nistax immur minn dak inhar li smajt dwaru, iΩda huma qaluli li ma stajtx immur min˙abba li kont g˙adni Ωg˙ir wisq biex insiefer wa˙di. Qaluli wkoll li meta nkun wasalt fil-form 3 jew fil-form 4 i˙alluni mmur g˙al din l-esperjenza jekk inkun g˙adni bil-˙sieb.

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8 Hajja Salesjana

FeaStS & eVeNtSSeP

teMBer

oCtoB

erNo

VeMBer

CaleNdar oF SaleSiaN2010

Read ˙ajja Salesjana on the website: www.salesiansmalta.orgPictures of Don Bosco set to reflective music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e1dVsM9KAbwFor any other info about the Salesians: www.sdb.org Salesians in Malta : www.salesiansmalta.org

(www.boscofest.org)Wed 1 Sliema Salesian Cooperators’ Meeting at St. Patrick’s Fri 3 First Friday Devotions at St. Patrick’s – 6.15 p.m.Fri 10 Prayer Day for Salesian Missions. Wed 22 Bl. G. Calasanz and Companions (Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War)Fri 24 Commemoration of Mary Help of Christians. St. Patrick’s at 6.30 p.m.Mon 27 Start of New School Year at Savio College and St. Patrick’s

Fri 1 First Friday Devotions at St. Patrick’s – 6.15 p.m.Tue 5 Bl. Alberto Marvelli (Member of Salesian Family)Wed 6 Sliema Salesian Cooperators’ Meeting at St. Patrick’s.Fri 8 Savio College PTA Annual General MeetingSun 10 Prayer Day for Salesian Missions. Wed 13 Bl. Alessandrina da Costa (Salesian Cooperator)Fri 15 St. Patrick’s School celebrates Missions’ DayFri 22 Post-Savio College meeting with Past Pupils and ParentsSun 24 Bl. Louis Guanella (Priest, collaborator of St. John Bosco)Mon 25 Commemoration of Mary Help of Christians. St. Patrick’s at 6.30 p.m.Fri 29 Bl. Michael Rua (First Successor of St. John Bosco) 29 – 31 International Congress on Don Rua at Generalate in Rome

1 – 3 Mid-Term HolidaysWed 3 Sliema Salesian Cooperators’ Meeting at St. Patrick’s.Fri 5 First Friday Devotions at St. Patrick’s – 6.15 p.m.Wed 10 Prayer Day for Salesian Missions

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It was May 2008 when I was invited to the screening of a film called The Life of Don Bosco at the Salesian Oratory in Sliema. That day I was hesitant to go, yet I kept the appointment to attend. It was during the film when a particular scene struck me, deeply, like a two-edged sword. I still remember vividly Mamma Margherita who was then at the Oratory helping Don Bosco. She went out to the garden to hang up the clothes. Just then our spirits met. Instantly, I felt a deep change in all my senses. Tears trickled down my cheeks. I was breathless. A sense of awe overwhelmed me. Something had happened to me! It was as if I had been struck by a bolt of lightning. I was feeling embarrassed and did not want anyone to notice my tears - not even my dearest husband sitting next to me. I felt peaceful and serene. My first thought was, “Mamma Margherita, you are simple and illiterate. Yet you are noble hearted, silent, hardworking and a loving mother to all! I want to be like you.” She did not speak to me verbally but her presence on screen penetrated my innermost being. She had passed on her loving warmth to me. I kept silent. I knew I had changed. I began to feel better every day and so I gradually phased out the pills I had been taking for such a long time. By the beginning of July I was free from my anxiety and depression and have remained thus. Thank you Mamma Margherita! Bless us all. A mother

A Healing ExperienceFor several years, I had been taking anxiety pills. I used to be very depressed.

9Hajja Salesjana

10 Hajja Salesjana

“Minn fejn tg˙addi biex tmur Triq Nru.7, jekk jog©˙bok?”

“SkuΩani ˙abib imma mg˙a©©el, m’g˙andix çans infehmek.”

“X’imkien lil hemm ara...”“Ma nafx ng˙idlek, imxi iktar u saqsi ‘l hemm

isfel ara, hemm xi nies...”Imma ©o qalbi bdejt ng˙id, “ Ìo dan ir-ra˙al

˙add ma jaf xejn jew? Dan kif ˙add ma jg˙inek?’’Er©ajt staqsejt, “Ara ˙abib...’’, qalli wie˙ed

liebes flokk u jeans iswed, “...inΩel din it-triq, dur fuq il-lemin tieg˙ek, u g˙andek tara triq wiesg˙a u mimlija dwal, ˙wienet u nies imxerrdin ‘l hemm u ‘l hawn. Dik hija t-triq li jfittxu ˙afna, ˙abib, mur u ççekkjaha, g˙andha tog©˙bok tafx.’’

“Ejja! Fl-a˙˙ar kien hawn xi ˙add li jaf imur man-nies! Mela nibdew mexjin...’’

Hekk kif wasalt f’din it-triq, kienet eΩatt kif iddeskrivihieli dak ir-ra©el. Ifhem, ma tistax tg˙idlu ikrah id-dawl li kien hemm, g˙o©obni. Pero, li dejquni n-nies. Hekk! kienu wisq ming˙ajr emozzjoni, qishom iddisprati, u dawk tal-˙wienet jaraw kif jag˙mlu biex ibig˙ulek xi ˙a©a minn tag˙hom. Ma nafx kellix nibqa’ hemm,

ma ˙assejtnix komdu. Wie˙ed ried itini b’forza kbira qishom pajpijiet irqaq, mimlijin b’likwidu u b’labra fit-tarf. Beda jg˙idli, “Iva isma’ darba minni ˙abib, ˙u mqar wa˙da minnhom, mhux ˙a jiddispjaçik, tie˙u pjaçir.’’ Kont sejjer ‘l hemm, iΩda kif rani sejjer qabad u deffisli din il-labra, “A˙˙˙...x’g˙amiltli?’’, iΩda imbag˙ad ˙assejt rasi ddur u niftakar li waqajt ma’ l-art. Wara xi ˙in stenba˙t. “Le din mhix it-triq li suppost ©ejt fiha, ara xi ©rali, da˙˙akt in-nies bija. Bil˙aqq! Kif insejt! G˙andi mappa fil-basket. Dik g˙andha turini, le?’’

Domt ˙afna nfittex. Imma kont qed in˙ossni noqrob viçin lejha kuljum li jg˙addi. Kien hemm ˙afna toroq b˙al dik li sibt ru˙i fiha l-ewwel ©urnata, imma bdejt inwarrabhom, bdejt nimxi biss mal-mappa. Ìurnata minnhom, vera ˙assejt li kont qed nfittex g˙alxejn, iΩda f’˙in minnhom rajt triq li kont g˙oddni l-anqas indunajt biha. Aktar ta˙sibha xi sqaq milli triq. D˙alt f’din it-triq. Mall-ewwel ˙assejt li l-arja kienet tikkalmak. Fit-tarf tat-triq rajt bieb Ωg˙ir bajdani u mort in˙abbat. Feta˙li Ωag˙Ωug˙ liebes libsa bajda. Wiççu u lbiesu dehru jixeg˙lu. B’le˙en mill-isba˙ qalli, “G˙addi ˙abib, l-img˙allem g˙andu bΩonnok.’’ D˙alt u ma ˙assejtnix iΩjed vojt, anzi ntlejt bil-fer˙. Alla, g˙ax hekk jismu l-img˙allem, g˙annaqni u qalli,

“Ibni, dik it-triq tal-bidu ma xtaqtekx tg˙addi minnha, imma ˙allejtek liberu. IΩda issa taf int stess x’toffri. Jiena biss huwa t-triq tal-verita’ u l-˙ajja. Min isib lili jg˙ix g˙al dejjem. Dawk in-nies li inti ltqajt mag˙hom fil-bidu, m’g˙enukx, u sa˙ansitra wie˙ed bag˙tek fit-triq tat-telfien, triq sabi˙a fil-g˙ajn iΩda li ttelliflek il-paçi. Ibni, dawk huma n-nies tad-dinja, li huma mog˙mija b’dak li qieg˙da toffri d-dinja. U dik il-mappa li uΩajt int, ma hija xejn ˙lief il-kmandamenti, g˙ax meta mxejt mag˙hom, irnexxielek issibni. Kun imbierek ibni, jien dejjem in˙obbok, l-g˙aΩla hija f’idejk biex timxi warajja, fi Triq Nru.7.’’

Triq Nru. minn Mark Anthony Schembri

Din kont ktibta fiÛ-Ûmien meta kont nara Óafna minn sÓabi li kont qeD noÓroÌ magÓhom ser JaqbDu JitÓarbtu,u kont konxJu ta’ Dak li qeD Jigri maDwari. hiJa storJa bi Ósieb sPiritwali, u li fil-fehma tiegÓi tgÓin biex tÓares iÛJeD ‘il quDDiem.

11Hajja Salesjana

Between 21 and 5 May in Turin, at the Mother House, Salesian Bishops met the Rector Major, Fr Pascual Chávez Villanueva, and the members of his Council. The meeting, took place within a series of anniversaries and other events. After the 26 General Chapter held in 2008 the Salesian Congregation is studying and developing its fidelity to the charism of its founder and re-launching its apostolic endeavours. It has been helped in its efforts by the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Congregation (1859-2009), the centenary of the death of the first successor of Don Bosco, Blessed Michael Rua, (1910-2010) and the preparations for the bi-centenary of the birth on Don Bosco in 2015. In particular, the meeting of the Salesian Bishops follows the 125th anniversary of the consecration of Bishop Giovanni Cagliero (7 December 1884), the first Salesian Bishop and Cardinal.

Of the 119 Salesian Bishops (of whom 5 are Cardinals), 93 were present.

From Bishop John Cagliero until the present there have been 243 Salesian Bishops.

Don Bosco was able to see one of his most vivacious boys (Cagliero) clothed as a Bishop with his violet cassock, mitre, pectoral cross, and ring... to his great satisfaction. As the Congregation

Salesian Bishops

gradually grew and the Church needed new pastors, his successors saw many others. While Don Rua was Rector Major there were 3 Salesians made bishops. Then under Fr Albera, second successor of Don Bosco, there were 8 bishops and another one appointed after his death and before the election of his successor, Fr Rinaldi during whose tenure there were 13. Under Fr Ricaldone there were 33 bishops, and again another one appointed after his death and before the election of his successor. When Fr Ziggiotti was Rector Major, there were 27 and under Fr Ricceri 28 new ones. Fr Viganò had 60 Salesian Bishops, and two more before the election of Don Vecchi when 27 new ones were consecrated and three again before the election of Fr Chavez in 2002 – since when there have been a further 36 appointed.

As far as the successive Popes are concerned, the Salesians appointed and consecrated Bishops were 3 under Leo XIII, 3 under Pius X, 6 under Benedict XV, 24 under Pius XI, 35 under Pius XII, 14 under John XXIII, 30 under Paul VI, no one under John Paul I, 102 under John Paul II and, up to now, 26 under Benedict XVI.

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JOHN HENRY NEWMAN:APPOSTLU TAL-KONVERTITI

13Hajja Salesjana

Fil-lejl tat-8 ta’ Ottubru 1845, fl-eqqel ta’ maltempata kbira, is-saçerdot Passjonista Taljan Dun Domenico Barberi wasal f’Littlemore, villa©© çkejken ftit ‘il barra minn Oxford. Dun Domenico kien ©ie riekeb fuq karozzin u kien imxarrab g˙asra. Id-destinazzjoni tieg˙u kienet xi stalel mibdula fi speçi ta’ dar, fejn il-predikatur anglikan famuΩ John Henry Newman u xi ˙bieb tieg˙u kienu qeg˙din jg˙ixu waqt li jixtarru r-rieda ta’ Alla f’˙ajjithom. Hekk kif il-qassis missjunarju kien qed jipprova jnixxef ˙wej©u quddiem in-nar, Newman da˙al fil-kamra, resaq lejh u ntefa’ f’ri©lejh. Hu talab li jkun aççettat fi ˙dan “il-mer˙la wa˙da u vera tar-Redentur’’ u talab lil Dun Domenico sabiex jisma’ l-qrara tieg˙u minnufih.

Il-qrara tkompliet il-©urnata ta’ wara, kif g˙amlet ukoll dik taΩ-Ωew©t i˙bieb tieg˙u, u filg˙axija lkoll g˙amlu l-istqarrija tal-fidi u rçevew il-mag˙mudija kundizzjonali. Fl-10 ta’ Ottubru, dik il-mejda li fuqha Newman kien qatta’ xi sentejn jew aktar jikteb il-manuskritt On the Development of Christian Doctrine serviet biex fuqha tqaddset il-quddiesa li fiha Newman irçieva g˙all-ewwel darba l-ewkaristija mqaddsa b˙ala Kattolku.

Newman, aktar tard, kien obbligat li j˙alli daru f’Littlemore sabiex jing˙ata b’servizz g˙all-Knisja. Huwa ma kienx aktar bniedem Ωag˙Ωug˙ imma kellu esperjenza kbira; g˙alkemm sew ˙biebu kif ukoll niesu tal-

familja mhux dejjem kienu jifhmuh. Wara xi snin jokkupa l-poΩizzjoni g˙olja ta’ Fellow jew sie˙eb fil-Kulle©© ta’ Oriel tal-Università ta’ Oxford, kif ukoll ja˙dem fi ˙dan il-moviment kontroversjali Anglo-Kattoliku msejja˙ Oxford Movement, huwa beda jit˙ejja g˙as-saçerdozju li ’l quddiem kellu jirçievi f’Ruma. Newman wettaq dan kollu fis-skiet, ming˙ajr daqq ta’ trumbetti, iΩda f’qalbu konvint li kien ˙a l-a˙jar deçiΩjoni. Ûmien wara, hu qal li wara ˙afna ra©unament, ried ikun çert li wasal g˙ad-deçiΩjoni t-tajba. G˙alhekk hu sar mudell g˙al ˙afna o˙rajn biex iwettqu x-xewqa tag˙hom li jaqbdu it-triq lejn Ruma u jsiru Kattoliçi.

L-elementi ta’ dik l-g˙axija ta’ Ottubru 1845 – il-maltempata, it-talba fuq l-irkobbtejn u l-˙e©©a ©ewwa fih - li ©ieb flimkien dawn iΩ-Ωew©t ir©iel minn sfond hekk differenti, ilkoll swew b˙ala muftie˙ g˙all-˙ajja ta’ Newman. Kemm b˙ala Anglikan kif ukoll b˙ala Kattoliku kien i˙oss fih b˙al tempesta ta’ kontroversji. G˙alkemm kien bniedem ta’ intellett qawwi, hu g˙araf jissottometti l-g˙erf tieg˙u g˙al dak tal-Knisja, speçjalment fil-mumenti tqal ta’ meta ma kienx mifhum, kif ukoll f’dibattiti ekkleΩjali mqanqla. Newman kellu wkoll m˙abba kbira lejn Alla u din l-im˙abba kienet tidher fis-servizz li kien jag˙ti g˙all-o˙rajn, fil-˙idma pastorali fost in-nies, bil-˙sieb u bil-kitba u bl-azzjonijiet tieg˙u kollha. Newman huwa sikwit meqjus b˙ala l-Missier tal-Konçilju Vatikan II.

f’ Dan ix-xahar ta’ settembru l-PaPa seJJer JagÓmel ÛJara fir-renJu unit. nhar

it-18 tax-xahar, Ìewwa Coventry, huwa Jibbeatifika lil John henry newman.

Dan il-beatu kien bnieDem gÓaref li kkonverta mill-ProtestanteÛmu, sar qassis

u wara kien Ìie magÓmul karDinal. inÌibu hawnhekk storJa mill-ÓaJJa tiegÓu

mill-kteJJeb ta’ meriol trevor, maqlub gÓall-malti minn Dun geoffrey g attarD.

14 Hajja Salesjana

Blessed Michael Rua (4)WhILe STILL A Boy, MIChAeL RuA MeT SAInT John BoSCo AnD WAS Soon Won oVeR By hIM. he LIVeD In The ShADoW oF The SAInT, WAS hIS MoST TRuSTeD heLPeR, AnD BeCAMe hIS SuCCeSSoR AS heAD oF hIS WoRLDWIDe ReLIGIouS oRDeR, The SALeSIAn SoCIeTy. DeCLAReD “BLeSSeD” By The ChuRCh he So noBLy SeRVeD, FATheR MIChAeL RuA, Who ShAReD Don BoSCo’S APoSToLIC LABouRS, noW ShAReS WITh hIM The honouRS oF The ALTAR.

look at the saintDuring one of his visits to Sicily, Don Rua was disconcerted by a little girl shouting “Look at the saint; look at the saint!” Don Rua did share with his founder a virile stout-hearted piety that found expression in self-sacrifice for Christ’s Church. “Coming out from Mass,” Father Vespigniani remembers, “Don Rua greeted all of us Salesians and boys with a glowing countenance and serene smile; both arms extended as if wanting to take the whole world in his embrace after the charity of Christ.”

His prayer life was always profound and intense. Besides this Eucharistic piety, his strong devotion to Mary as Mother of the Christian Church was prominent. At a Rome convention, Don Rua once corrected a Salesian speaker. “How can we possibly speak of Salesian expansion, without singling out Mary’s powerful help?”

Yet one must return to a major theme of the Scriptures to understand Don Rua’s particular holiness at a deeper level: the concept of the Poor Ones of Yahweh. After their return from exile, the remnant of God’s people found their only hope in an utter childlike dependence on the Lord; totally abandoning their private plans for the future, to be simple servants at the Lord’s beck and call. All this was in contrast to the stiff-necked worldly shrewdness and self-sufficiency that had once led them to disaster. It was precisely this spirit that Christ exalted in the Sermon on the Mount: “Blessed are the Poor in Spirit.” It reached its zenith in the Suffering Servant, who had totally emptied his life of self-will, and in his Mother, who as a lowly maid-servant would magnify her Lord. Accordingly, only as a little child could anyone gain the kingdom.

15Hajja Salesjana

In this light, all the accusations of Don Rua, being a passive shadow, a second-string Salesian, fade to nothing.

Miracles in Don Rua’s life there were too, but usually of the charming, insignificant type which we would come to expect from this self-effacing man of God: multiplying toffees from a small bag; asking a deaf man if he would become a Salesian cooperator if cured; or ridding a convent kitchen of ants by having them march in file to an accommodating ditch nearby. There are many more documented.

From 1885 onward, he had shouldered most of the work for the aging Don Bosco. At his death in 1888, the founder’s last words for his disciple were “Don Rua, make yourself loved.” He would, for certain.

taking the wheelOn paper one would have thought it was a matter of simple succession; “Don Bosco is dead, long live Don Rua.” For had not Cagliero earlier declared, “Don’t call Don Rua Don Bosco’s right-hand man: in fact he’s Don Bosco’s heart, head and hands!” Besides with the unanimous consent of his chapter, Don Bosco had actually drawn up a document of succession. In practice, however, it was far more complex than that. Not only had the succession document been mislaid, but also in 1888 Rome had its doubts about this newly launched congregation with the wind in its sails and an unproved newcomer at the wheel. So much so that there was serious talk at the Curia of merging the Salesians with an older, more experienced religious order.

In his very first letter to the widespread Salesian family, Don Rua clearly set out his intended programme: “To maintain and develop Don Bosco’s work while faithfully carrying on the founder’s own familiar spirit and life style.”

Even so, Don Rua would have to trim his sails for a time at least. “Slow down,” Pope Leo XIII had good-naturedly advised, “you are expanding too rapidly and sending mere boys as superiors to South America.”

Despite this, during his 21 years as Superior General, Don Rua would see the original 64 Salesian houses grow to 314, and the Salesians themselves increase from 774 to 4,010. Such increased manpower, Rua insisted, should be diverted toward the children of the poor in Oratory work.

“If you wish to save a poor neighbourhood, open a festive Oratory. Even without grounds and buildings, if you are real Salesians, the Oratory will be in you.” His followers took him at his word. In Seville, Spain, for example, the terrorized citizens were relieved when, at a Salesian brother’s prompting, over 500 youngsters laid their slingshots at the foot of Our Lady’s statue. Streetlights would now shine again, and the district could sleep in peace!

16 Hajja Salesjana

Faced with new problems, Rua was not slow to diversify the Salesian work: whether a school for deaf children in Naples, a rehabilitation centre for young offenders in Malta, a bike racing club in

Milan, or a Christian co-operative and trade union centre in Switzerland.

He was too realistic, however, to be deceived by mere numbers. “Don’t be deluded,” he wrote, “by fictitious progress; only houses built on piety and Christian conduct will flourish. Vocations are always the only true index of progress and God’s blessing. Music, drama, and sport are all praiseworthy, but our chief aim is to sanctify feast days by the teaching of catechism as our unforgettable Don Bosco wanted us to.”

In that initial period, vigilance was essential for the slightest sign of division. Church history has shown too many young congregations split down the middle by a simple fracture.

Darba San Ìwann Bosco kien qed jivvja©©a bil-ferrovija u jit˙addet ma’ qassis ie˙or ma©enbu. Faççata tag˙hom kien hemm Ωew© sorijiet. It-tnejn kienu semg˙u xi ˙a©a dwar Don Bosco iΩda qatt ma kienu rawh qabel. Xtaqu ˙afna li jkellmuh. Wa˙da minnhom bdiet t˙ares minn ta˙t lejn Don Bosco biex ma t˙allihx jinduna biha. Bejnha u bejn ru˙ha bdiet ta˙seb: “Imma dan veru Don Bosco? … Kont na˙seb li hu xi ra©el twil u mbaççaç. Issa qed nara li hu qassis komuni b˙all-o˙rajn. U din kif inhi, li g˙andu par widnejn daqshiex!’’

Kien f’dal-˙in li Don Bosco beda jitkellem b’vuçi kemxejn g˙olja. Beda jg˙id lill-qassis ta’ ˙dejh: “Darba jien mort nie˙u ritratt u stag˙©ibt mhux ftit meta tawni r-ritratt f’idejja. Kont dejjem na˙seb li jiena ra©el twil u mbaççaç, imma rajt li jiena qassis ordinarju b˙all-o˙rajn. U fuq kollox ittendejt li g˙andi par widnejn kbar daqs ta’ ˙mar!’’

Dik is-soru saret ˙amra nar u kienet se tqum minn postha meta Don Bosco qara ˙sieb ie˙or li hi kellha

f’rasha. Dar fuqha u saqsieha: “Inti sejra tg˙allem fl-orfanatrofju tal-bniet?’’ Is-soru mistag˙©ba u mifxula qaltlu: “Iva’’. Imma Don Bosco qalilha: “G˙andek Ωball; inti sejra tg˙allem lis-subien u mhux lill-bniet’’.

Ftit ©ranet wara dik is-soru saret taf li tassew se tg˙allem lis-subien u mhux lill-bniet. Minn dakinhar, is-soru qatt ma ˙asbet aktar f’widnejn Don Bosco. Minflok bdiet issemmi l-profeziji tieg˙u li b˙ala qassis kbir beda jag˙mel. Dan kien S. Ìwann Bosco li huwa l-fundatur tas-Soçjetà tag˙na s-Salesjani. Huwa g˙andu profeziji bil-wisq aqwa u aktar importanti minn dawk li qal lis-soru.

Fil-˙olm misterjuΩ li kellu, Don Bosco kien jara l-futur tieg˙u personali u dak tas-soçjetà tieg˙u. Fost affarijiet o˙ra huwa ra l-ibliet ta’ Santiago, Valparaíso, Pekin, Hong Kong, Calcutta u l-Madagascar fejn kellhom imorru il-missjunarji tieg˙u! Kien jg˙id: “Ne˙tie©u l-missjunarji, ˙afna missjunarji…G˙al kull missjunarju, il-Mulej Ωgur li jibg˙atilna Ωew© vokazzjonijiet tajba’’. L-ewwel grupp ta’ missjunarji bag˙tu hu stess lejn l-Ar©entina nhar il-11 ta’ Novembru 1875 ta˙t id-direzzjoni ta’ Don Giovanni Cagliero, dak li darba kien wie˙ed mill-ewwel tfal imqarba li kien ©abar u kabbar Don Bosco fl-oratorju tieg˙u.

Óafna drabi Alla jinqeda bin-nies komuni, umli, dg˙ajfa… li f’g˙ajnejn id-dinja jitqiesu b˙ala ˙mir!

Par Widnejn daqs ta’ Ómar

17Hajja Salesjana

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

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

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

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

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

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

way of life?

Are youbeing calledto the

priesthooD

And to the

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

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

for more information www.vocations.salesiansmalta.org

18 Hajja Salesjana

Something to think about…

monday - wash Day

lord, help me wash away all my

selfishness and vanity, so i may

serve you with perfect humility

through the week ahead.

tuesday - ironing Day

Dear lord, help me iron out all

the wrinkles of prejudice i have

collected through the years so that

i may see the beauty in others.

wash Day...

19Hajja Salesjana

wednesday - mending Day

o god, help me mend my ways so i will

not set a bad example for others.

thursday - Cleaning Day

lord help me to dust out all the many

faults i have been hiding in the secret

corners of my heart.

friday - shopping Day

o god, give me the grace to shop wisely

so i may purchase eternal happiness for

myself and all others in need of love.

saturday - Cooking Day

help me, lord, to brew a big kettle of

brotherly love and serve it with clean,

sweet bread of human kindness.

sunday - the lord’s Day

o god, i have prepared my house for

you. Please come into my heart so i

may spend the day and the rest of my

life in your presence.

20 Hajja Salesjana

Malta SalesjanaÛewÌ DJakni ÌoDDa - turin24 studenti Salesjani mill-Kulle©© Internazzjonali tat-Teolo©ija f’Turin, li huma minn tmin pajjiΩi differenti, ©ew ordnati Djakni mill-Kard. Severino Poletto, Arçisqof ta’ Turin. Dan ©ara’ nhar it-12 ta’ Ìunju, fil-BaΩilka ta’ Marija G˙ajnuna tal-Insara. Tnejn minn dawn kienu s-Salesjani Maltin Gerald Mangion u Jeremy Vella. Dun Enrico dal Covolo, Postulator Ìenerali g˙all-qaddisin tal-Familja Salesjana, u issa Rettur tal-Università tal-Lateran, qara’ telegramm mibg˙ut mill-Kard. Tarcisio Bertone, Segretarju tal-Istat tal-Vatikan u Salesjan hu ukoll. Frs. Paul Formosa u Savio Vella irrapreΩentaw lis-Salesjani ta’ Malta meta ng˙aqdu mal-familjari taΩ-Ωew© Djakni. Waqt li nifir˙u u nawguraw liΩ-Ωew© Djakni tag˙na f’din l-okkaΩjoni mportanti ta’ ˙ajjithom, nitolbu wkoll g˙alihom waqt li j˙ejju ru˙hom g˙all-jum kbir ta’ meta jordnaw saçerdoti.

novizzi ÌoDDa - Dingli Din is-sena il-Mulej g˙o©bu jbierek il-Provinçja ta’ l-Irlanda bil-vokazzjoni ta’ Novizz, Sean Feeney, u lid-Delegazzjoni ta’ Malta bil-vokazzjoni ta’ Ωew© Novizzi ©odda, Pierre Bonnici u Jake Mamo. Dawn ikunu flimkien ©ewwa n-Novizzjat ta’ Pinerolo qrib Turin fl-Italja, min Settembru li ©ej. A˙na nitolbu sabiex fuq l-eΩempju ta’ dawn it-tlieta, Ωg˙aΩag˙ o˙ra jkollom ir-rieda li jwie©bu g˙as-sej˙a ta’ l-Img˙allem u jimxu warajH. Nitolbu wkoll g˙al dawn it-tlitt Novizzi sabiex jintxeg˙lu bl-Ispirtu ta’ Dun Bosco fis-servizz lejn iΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ fil-bΩonn, waqt li nawgurawlhom sena novizzjat mimlija barka ta’ Alla.

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7 ta’ ÌunJu: Jum l-oratorJu- sliemaB˙ala parti mill-attivitajiet ta’ Jum l-Oratorju, il-membri flimkien ma’ xi ©enituri, ˙adu sehem f’log˙ob tal-ilma. L-organizzaturi ˙asbu sabiex ikun hemm mat-13 il-log˙ba. Il-fer˙, id-da˙k, iΩ-Ωlieq, il-frisk mill-ilma f’©urnata s˙una u l-˙afna ilma kollha g˙inu sabiex ikun hemm atmosfera ta’ briju u serenità li minnha qasmu dawk kollha li ˙adu sehem. Spirtu ta’ familja kien jirrenja matul din l-okkaΩjoni li kienet tassew mimlija b’fer˙ Salesjan. Kull min ˙a sehem, Ωg˙ar, Ωg˙aΩag˙ u adulti, kollha jistaqsu meta okkaΩjoni o˙ra b˙al din ser ter©a’ ssir !

xogÓol fit-teatru salesJanG˙al darb’o˙ra, il-Past Pupils tal-Oratorju ta’ Tas-Sliema, meddew g˙onqom g˙ax-xog˙ol b’˙e©©a kbira u b’entuΩjaΩmu. Din id-darba wkoll sar xog˙ol ferm siewi fit-teatru minn numru ta’ voluntiera. Óa©a sabi˙a kienet li tara’ xi Ωg˙aΩag˙ jaqsmu x-xog˙ol max-‘xju˙’ fl-akbar ftehim sabiex kollox mexa sew u sar fiΩ-Ωmien ippjanat. Dan g˙aliex kien hemm kordinazzjoni s˙i˙a u ppjanar tajjeb. Dan ix-xog˙ol kien jikkonsisti fi bdil ta’ madum fil-vestwarju t’isfel u fil-‘Bar’, fi bdil ta’ armarji, g˙al darb’o˙ra fil-vestwarju t’isfel, fi tqeg˙id ta’ sistema tad-dawl ©dida f’dawn il-kmamar u tibjid u Ωebg˙a fl-istess kmamar. Prosit lil kull min ta sehem.

iÛ-ÛgÓar ta’ l-iskola – tunesNhar il-Ìimg˙a 18 ta’ Ìunju, l-Iskola tas-Salesjani f’Manouba, Tunes, kella l-ewwel kunçert minn tlieta li jsiru f’g˙eluq is-sena. Dan kien il-kunçert tal-iΩg˙ar tfal li hemm fl-iskola. Kull wa˙da mill-erba’ klassijiet ippreΩentat xi kanzunetti u reçti qosra, li kienu tassew ˙elwin. Imma dawk li ntog˙©bu l-aktar kienu l-grupp taΩ-Ωeffiena flimkien. Lilhom kienu li l-©enituri çapçpu l-aktar. Ippreparati tassew tajjeb mill-g˙alliema tag˙hom u b’dixxiplina kbira, Ωifnu b’gost g˙alihom infushom waqt li ferr˙u lill-udjenza numeruΩa li kien hemm. Il-©enituri huma ferm sodisfatti bil-progress ta’ wliedhom fl-iskola tas-Salesjani.

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Fir-ritratt jidhru (mix-xellug) Charles Mifsud (Sydney); Paul De Bono (ex-Melbourne); Marlene Dimech (Sydney); Marthes Ryan and Paul Camilleri (both Melbourne); Lawrence Dimech oAM and Alfred Fenech oAM (both Sydney).

Dejjem Ìo QalbnaKull emigrant li ji©i jΩur lil art twelidu, i˙obb imur f’dawk il-postijiet li fihom ikun qatta’ xi snin ta’ tfulitu: il-belt jew ir-ra˙al, l-iskola, il-MUSEUM, l-Azzjoni Kattolika, il-knisja parrokkjali, eçç. Dawk l-emigranti li kienu g˙exu fin-na˙iet ta’ Tas-Sliema u li kienu ji©u s-Salesjani jew kienu tfal fl-iskola ta’ St. Patrick, ma jonqsux li ji©u jΩuru dawn il-postijiet. Fihom isibu Salesjani “©odda’’, u allura jibdew isaqsu g˙al dawk is-Salesjani li huma jiftakru. Jie˙du gost jiltaqg˙u mag˙hom, jekk ikunu g˙adhom ˙ajjin, jew inkella jitkellmu fuqhom malli jsiru jafu li dawk marru g˙and il-Mulej. Meta ji©u f’dawn id-djar Salesjani, jibdew ukoll jiftakru fik id-dar kienet mod ie˙or fi Ωmienhom, u ˙allihom jiddeskrivu x’kienu jag˙mlu hawn, kemm kienu jilag˙bu hemm, fejn kienu jistudjaw jew jitg˙allmu l-katekiΩmu.

Bog˙od minn Malta g˙ad baqg˙alhom xi ˙a©a li tfakkarhom fi tfulithom, u din hija il-Bullettin Salesjan (˙ajja Salesjana). Huma jirçevuh u jaqrawh b’interess kbir. G˙al xi whud mill-Past Pupils imsefrin, dan sar issa l-unika ˙olqa mal-

post ta’ tfulithom u mas-Salesjani ta’ Malta. Hu g˙alhekk li meta ji©u ©ewwa St. Patrick, fejn jinsab l-uffiççju ta’ ‘˙ajja Salesjana’, huma j˙obbu jg˙addu sa dan l-uffiççju sabiex jg˙idu kelma mal-Father, i©ibulu t-tislijiet tal-o˙rajn tal-G˙aqda tal-Past Pupils and Friends of Don Bosco, u jag˙tuh xi a˙barijiet.

Matul ix-xhur li g˙addew, l-uffiççju ta’ ‘˙ajja Salesjana’ kellu diversi Ωjarat minn dawn in-nies. Nafu li skond lista uffiççjali, attendew 86 delegat g˙all- Konvenzjoni g˙all-Maltin ta’ Barra li saret f’Malta f’Mejju 2010. Minn dawn kien hemm 27 mill-Awstralja, imma mhux kollha Past Pupils tag˙na.

Hawnhekk qeg˙din in©ibu ritratt ta’ meta grupp ©mielu ©ew, kollha flimkien, jaraw daqsxejn l-iskola u jiltaqg˙u ma’ xi Salesjani. Dawn iΩ-Ωjarat jag˙tuna ˙afna pjaçir u jsa˙˙u l-˙biberija li g˙ada teΩisti, avolja hawn tant bog˙od u g˙adda tant Ωmien. Insellmu lill-Past Pupils and Friends kollha li jinsabu f’artijiet imbeg˙din minn Malta, iΩda dejjem qrib qalbna.

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“As a professional historian I have been studying the Shroud of Turin for a number of years. I have analysed and scrutinized in a most meticulous manner troves of ancient documents, especially the ones that have surfaced recently, and I have come to the conclusion that the Shroud dates from the first century of our era. In actual fact there is a great deal of evidence that suggests that the Shroud originated in the first thirty years of that century.”

These words were spoken by Dr. Barbara Frale, a young and promising historian, who has become an authority on the Knights Templar and the Shroud.

“I know practically every facet of all the scientific examinations conducted on the Shroud in the last 20 years, including the famous Carbon-14 test which was used to proclaim to the world that the relic was nothing but a medieval forgery. I have also studied carefully the claims of those who have tried to reproduce a similar relic in their laboratories using the same means and equipment that a medieval scientist had at his disposal. They claim that the Shroud could easily have been produced in a medieval laboratory. I can confirm that these claims are outdated. The latest discoveries on the relic turn the tables on these skeptics, and reaffirm what tradition has always maintained, that is, that the famous linen

cloth kept in Turin really did cover the body of a man who lived at the beginning of our era.”

Barbara Frale has committed her findings to a bulky, 392-page volume called La Sindone di Gesù Nazareno, which was recently published in Italy.

year of the shrouDFrom April 10 to May 23 the Shroud was again in the news. There was a solemn exposition of the relic at the Cathedral of Turin, where it has been kept since 1578. This is the ninth time it was exhibited in over a century. The last time was in 2000, the Jubilee Year, when over a million pilgrims thronged to Turin, including our late Pope, John Paul II. This year, Pope Benedict XVI visited on May 2.

The Shroud is truly the most enigmatic relic in the world, and has baffled eminent forensic scientists for years. Top-ranking pathologists have established that the man who was covered in that linen-cloth died from crucifixion, that his body bore the marks of over 700 wounds, and that on his forehead the traces of the crown of thorns are clearly visible.

The Church has made no comment on the Shroud for it is not a doctrinal matter, but it recognizes its value to help us increase in our devotion in honouring the suffering that Our Lord underwent for his sacred Passion.

New Light on the Shroud

Comments by Barbara Frale, the young historian whose discoveries on the linen cloth kept in turin are revolutionising the way we see one of Christendom’s most sacred relics.a reporte by renzo allegri

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vatiCan seCret arChivesBarbara Frale is an engaging 39-year-

old woman, and a highly qualified scientist. She is married to an engineer and has two beautiful children. After graduating in Medieval Archaeology, she specialized in Palaeography, Diplomatics and Archives Administration and then in Greek Palaeography, and in 2000 obtained a PhD in Historical research at the Ca’ Foscari University in Venice. She has worked in important archives both in Italy and abroad and for the last couple of years she has been historian on staff at the Vatican Secret Archives, where the world’s most important documents are kept.

CritiCism of 1988 C-14 testsThe scientists who conducted that Radiocarbon test on certain specimens of the Shroud concluded that the relic could not have originated prior to 1260, but the documents unearthed showed that the relic was in existence at least 60 years before that date. For the same reason, the same

documents also disprove those who maintain that the Shroud was produced by Leonardo da Vinci, because Leonardo was born centuries later in 1452.

There are inscriptions found around the face of the man of the Shroud. They can only be seen through highly sophisticated equipment. The inscriptions are highly reminiscent of graffiti found in the ancient Roman city of Pompeii, and in papyri from the era of Tiberius, the man who was emperor of Rome when Jesus was crucified.

Those inscriptions are called ‘traces of transferred writing,’ that is traces of writing impressed on an object (in our case the Shroud) that has been in contact with a written text. The writing is in Hebrew, Greek, Latin and Aramaic. Thanks to computerized reading systems, those traces have been deciphered.

Back in 1978 Piero Ugolotti, a chemist, noted that on the negative of a photo of the Shroud strange signs could be seen that looked like letters. He turned to an expert in ancient languages, Aldo Marastoni, a renowned Latinist, and Marastoni confirmed the existence of Greek and Latin inscriptions all around the face on the Shroud. They are words of the type: ‘Nazarenos’ and ‘in nece (m)’, a Latin expression meaning ‘to death’. On the forehead there are the letters IBEP, which suggests the Greek word for Tiberius (TIBEPIO), as well as other words in Hebrew.

These findings have generated great enthusiasm among the Shroud scholars, but then the C-14 test dealt the death blow to all this promising research. In those days, the C-14 test was regarded as practically infallible, much like a DNA test nowadays. The Shroud was dismissed as a fake, and to study it was regarded as a waste of time.

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exCiting DisCoveriesIn 1994, research on the Shroud was taken up again as the shortcomings of the C-14 test came to light. Some French scientists started examining the inscriptions discovered by Piero Ugolotti. Professor André Marion, who teaches at the Institut Superieur d’Optique d’Orsay in Paris, examined the Shroud with the aid of specific software capable of detecting old or ancient writings that are no longer visible to the naked eye. Now, right under the face, he found the Greek word ‘HOY’ which could be interpreted as ‘IHOY’. This is the Greek translation of the Semitic original ‘Yeshua’, which stands for ‘Jesus’. This word when placed next to the one discovered by Marastoni, forms ‘IHOY NAZAPHNO’ that is ‘Jesus Nazarene’. Marion also found other signs in Greek and Latin placed around the face, and published these findings in a scientific magazine. He then consulted with other specialists from the Sorbonne University who concluded that the inscriptions were from the first Christian centuries perhaps even from before the third century after Christ.

Professor Marion’s studies were continued by the French analyst Professor Thierry Castex, who was able to discern the fragment of a text with a central phrase, which could be translated as ‘we found’ or as ‘because found’. These words bring to mind the accusation which members of the Sanhedrin levelled against Jesus in the presence of Pontius Pilate, ‘We found this man perverting our nation…” (Luke 23:2). Professor Castex sent me these words and asked for my opinion. I examined them carefully and then sought out the opinion of two renowned scholars of Hebrew. These inscriptions, along with the ones found by Professor Marion, really do give the impression of being the trace of an original document regarding the burial of a person called Jesus of Nazareth, which in the local idiom was ‘Yeshua Nazarani’.

My book is a long, detailed and meticulous study of those writings, and I have come to the conclusion that they lead us back to Jerusalem at the time of Tiberius, who reigned from AD 13 to 37. So my conclusion is that, from a historical point of view, there is a plethora of facts connecting the Shroud of Turin to the first thirty years of our era.

I am a scientist; it is not my task to determine if that linen cloth actually enveloped the body of the Son of God, if the blood stains on it really are those of the God-Man. My task is to study all documents regarding the Shroud, to interpret them, to arrange them in systematic order, and then to draw logical conclusions from them.

exPlanation of nos in PiCture1. (I)esou(s) “Jesus” 2. Nnazarennos “Nazarene” 3. (o)pse kia(tho) “taken down in the early evening” 4. in nece(m) “to death” 5. pez(o) “I execute”

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Nhar il-Óadd, 6 ta’ Ìunju 2010, f’din is-sena ta’ g˙eluq il-mitt sena minn mindu twaqqfet is-Sale-sian Brigade, fost stennija kbira, inbiddlu g˙all-˙ames darba il-‘Colours’ (Il-Bandiera) li tissim-bolizza l-prinçipji li j˙addnu l-membri. L-Onorevoli Prim Ministru Dr. Lawrence Gonzi u s-Sinjura tieg˙u onorawna bil-preΩenza tag˙hom flimkien ma’ mistiednin distinti, past pupils, familjari u ˙bieb. Il-Commanding Officer Joe Giorgio ta mer˙ba lill-Prim Ministru.

Fil-qilla tax-xemx ta’ Ìunju, il-bit˙a tal-Oratorju kienet miΩg˙uda bin-nies, u wie˙ed seta’ jara’ t-tbissima fuq fomm kul˙add. Il-banda tal-Brigade ta˙t it-tmexxija tal-Captain Leonard Falzon, u l-membri tas-Salesian Brigade, taw parata preçiΩa u simbolika, b’nostal©ija kbira g˙al dawk il-bosta ‘old boys’ li kienu preΩenti. Xi w˙ud minhom ng˙aqdu ma’ s˙abhom tal-img˙oddi, waqt li o˙rajn, min˙abba xi ra©uni jew o˙ra, forsi g˙ax ˙assuhom li ma setg˙ux iΩommu l-pass mg˙a©©el

mal-banda, baqg˙u fil-©enb jammiraw liΩ-Ωg˙aΩag˙ jimmarçjaw.

Tqassam program b˙ala rikordju li fih ing˙ata tag˙rif fuq l-istorja u fuq xi avvenimenti speçjali li fihom ˙adet sehem il- Brigade matul 100 sena ta’ attività. Kienet ˙a©a tassew interresanti li wie˙ed i˙ares lura lejn l-istorja ta’ dan il-moviment li kien ©ie mwaqqaf fuq inizzjattiva ta’ Dun Vincenzo Allerga, direttur ta’ l-Oratorju fis-sena 1910. Flimkien ma’ Dun Edgar Salomone, is-Sgt. Joseph Mifsud u xi nies o˙ra huma taw bidu g˙al din l-attività fi ˙dan l-Oratorju Salesjan f’Tas-Sliema.

Kif qal tajjeb Fr. Eric Cachia, il-Kappillan attwali tas-Salesian Brigada, wasal iΩ-Ωmien li n˙arsu l-quddiem, b’Ωelu ©did, bl-istess entuΩjaΩmu tal-img˙oddi. Il-Prim Ministru sema’ kif tul medda ta’ mitt sena l-attività ma waqfet qatt, sa˙anistra matul it-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija. Huwa sellem lill- old boys, li lil xi w˙ud minhom kien jafhom personalment f’diversi oqsma tas-soçjetà Maltija.

100 sena ta’ attività kontinwaSalesian Brigade

minn lino Ferris

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Waqt li dan kollu kien g˙addej fil-bitha tal-Oratorju flimkien mal-˙oss tal-banda, ftakart fil-fizjali tal-img˙oddi ta’ Ωmieni, fosthom Leonard Falzon Sr., Carmelo Briffa, Salvino Vella, Charles Izzo, Joe Cassar u Tony Gatt. B’nostalgija kbira fost l-past pupils preΩenti, wara li ltqajna fuq it-tara© ta’ St. Patricks sabiex nie˙du ritratt flimkien, kul˙add beda jsemmi tifkiriet tal-img˙oddi, il-parati ta’ jum l-Vitorja fil-‘main guard’ il-belt, campings fis-sajf, il-festa ta’ San Bastjan kull Jannar, u l-laqg˙at ta’ kull nhar ta’ Ìimg˙a. G˙adni niftakar lil Dun Ìwann Degorgio, li beda jmexxi l-Brigade minn 1933, u li kul˙add kien jmur isellimlu wara l-laqg˙a, kif b’paçenzja kbira kien jg˙addi l-uniformi tax-xitwa minn membru g˙all-ie˙or meta kul˙add jitwal b’xi pulzier min sena g˙al o˙ra.

Niftakar meta Fr. Joseph Borg ˙a f’idejh it-tmexxija tal-moviment fis-sena meta ©ie lura mill-Awstralja. Fl-g˙omor sabi˙ ta’ 90 sena, Fr. Borg, kien preΩenti, g˙al din il-parata li saret nhar il-Óadd, 6 ta’ Ìunju u li Ωgur ©abitlu memorji sbie˙. Jien niftakar ukoll kif, g˙odwa wa˙da, meta konna qeg˙din ng˙umu Tas-Sliema ma’ Fr. Borg, huwa qalilna fuq l-idea tieg˙u li l-bandiera tal-Brigade g˙anda tinkludi s-si©ra tal-Awrikarja. Dan min˙abba l-fatt li ma©enb l-Oratorju fi Triq Karm Galea, kien hemm dis-si©ra dritta u g˙olja li kienet tidher min kull na˙a tad-dawra ta’ Tas-Sliema meta ˙afna mill-bini kien g˙adu fuq Ωew© sulari. Din, fil-fatt, ittie˙det b˙ala simbolu u tpo©©iet

fil-bandiera. Forsi ftit jiftakru dan l-episodju interessanti u kif ukoll Ωvol©iet l-idea tal-virtujiet ma˙ru©a minn kull ponta tas-salib ta’ Malta li qieg˙ed ukoll fil-bandiera tal-Brigade.

Fis-sena 1989, meta Fr.Francis Zammit kien direttur tal-Oratorju, il-moviment laqa’ fi ˙danu l-bniet. G˙alhekk rajna l-bidla mill-isem ta’ Salesian Boys Brigade, g˙al Salesian Boys and Girls Brigade. Kien xieraq li din is-sena f’g˙eluq il-mitt sena, il-moviment jibda jissejja˙ bl-isem inklussiv ta’ Salesian Brigade. Il-membri g˙adhom jiltaqg˙u kull nhar ta’ Ìimg˙a sabiex ji©u m˙arr©a fid-drill u l-banda, kif wkoll f’dixxiplini o˙ra b˙al trekking, hiking, expeditions, abseiling u camping. Hija tradizzjoni li kull sena is- Salesian Brigade jorganizzaw camp fis-sajf fejn fl-a˙˙ar ©urnata jsir camp fire u ˙allu l-membri juru t-talenti tag˙hom tal-kant u sketches qosra u ˙elwin. Ji©u organizzati wkoll weekend campings fix-xitwa fejn l-membri ji©u m˙arr©a fit-tisjir u f’inizjattivi o˙ra bΩonjuΩi g˙all-˙ajja. Kemm nixtieq li g˙adni Ω-Ωag˙Ωug˙ sabiex ner©a’ ng˙ix dawk is-snin sbie˙ li g˙addejt fil-Brigade!

Hija x-xewqa ta’ kul˙add, li dan il-moviment, minkejja d-diffikultajiet kollha li wie˙ed jiltaqa’ mag˙hom fiç-çirkostanzi tal-lum, jibqa’ attiv fl-edukazzjoni u l-formazzjoni tat-tfal u Ω-Ωg˙aΩag˙ ˙alli jΩommu g˙oli l-motto tag˙hom ‘Ne Cede Malis’ (La ççedix g˙all-˙aΩen). J’alla jer©a’ jinkiteb kapitlu ie˙or simili fis-sena 2110.

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28 Hajja Salesjana

on 5th june -13th june 2010 a group of Form 5 students from Savio College went for a voluntary experience at Manouba, tunisia with Fr louis Grech. this is their experience.

One’s perception of a holiday is always one in which a person relaxes, enjoys another country’s culture and meets other people. We did all this, but with a twist.

After five years of living the Salesian manner of youth encounter, we had the opportunity to convey our experience to a school of young Tunisian students, without the necessity to mention anything about our religious beliefs.

We went out to meet them the children during their breaks. Some of them gave us an uncertain smile, while others had no idea what to think of us. Were we intruders? No, of course not. After being studied from head to toe, they warmed towards us making us feel totally welcome. There was no need for us to be either fluent in their language, or know their culture. We thought communication would be a great obstacle, but surprisingly enough we easily eliminated it using simple body gestures, topping it off with a mixture of languages.

The main objective of this Salesian school in the heart of Manouba is not only to provide academic education but to be a major part in the important socialisation following the footsteps of Don Bosco.

This is not done by preaching about Christ but by showing love, respect and a sense of belonging in a Salesian environment.

In the same way, during our one week visit, we joined the children in various activities such as: playing football, participating in Physical Education lessons and exchanging names. Astonishingly enough, they asked us for our autographs with the addition of a handful of photographs.

To help support the Salesian work in Manouba, we were asked to do some labour work. This consisted of removing a sandpit instead of which toilets for the kindergarten students will be constructed. We were also asked to relocate and stack a pile of bricks. Despite the hard work which we were not used to, the final satisfaction and appreciation by both ourselves and the community was well worth the aches and pains.

To conclude, we managed to strengthen as a whole group and mature individually, which was the utmost aim of this experience. Other than what is mentioned above, we also went on excursions together and participated in group building evaluation.

Finally, to reach the climax of our everyday activities we celebrated Holy Mass every evening as a family.Article by: Kenneth Terribile, Kurt Portelli, Matteo Azzopardi,

Kieth Tanti and Mark Anthony Schembri.

Tunisia Experience

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I was stuck in traffic on Interstate 81, just below the Virginia state line, (Bristol, Tennessee), due to a traffic accident. This accident involved a tanker truck hauling a hazardous material load that developed a leak, which meant that we weren’t going anywhere for several hours, until the clean up was completed. I set my brakes on the truck and got out to stretch my legs. Other truck drivers did the same, and at one point there were 5 of us standing there by my truck, complaining.

Sitting right beside me in the left lane, were two elderly people in a ‘Silverado’ pick up truck, which was loaded quite well. The man, (Joe), lowered his window and asked what was going on regarding the traffic situation. Soon we were all talking with this couple. The lady, (Anna), said that they had plenty of water, and sodas in the cooler in the bed of the truck, and she said that she had plenty of tuna salad made up, and asked if we would be interested in a sandwich. We agreed to a sandwich. While Anna was making the sandwiches on the tailgate of the truck, she was singing like a songbird. To be close to 70, (I guess), she had a remarkable voice.

I noticed a Mississippi license plate on their truck. I inquired as to what part of Mississippi they were from. Joe said Biloxi. Knowing that Biloxi had been ravaged also by hurricane Katrina, I asked if they sustained any damage. Joe said that they lost everything but what they had on them and what was in the pickup. All of us drivers tried unsuccessfully to pay them for their drinks and the sandwiches. They would have nothing to do with it.

Joe said that their son was living around

Harrisonburg, Virginia and that they were going there; there was a home that became open, and that they were going to start all over again there. Staring over at their age would not be easy.

I will soon be 48 years old, and I have to say that I have never eaten a tuna sandwich with side orders of reality and humility. These people lost everything except the pictures, important documents, and some clothes. Joe had managed to get their antique heirloom grandfather clock into the bed of the truck and Anna got her china and silverware, but that was all. These wonderful people lost practically everything they owned and still would not accept any money for their food and drinks. Joe said that “it was better to give than it is to receive.”

When the hurricane had struck, they sought refuge behind a block wall that he had built years ago, and they watched their belongings and their home disappear in the winds of Hurricane Katrina. Joe said that during all this he had one hand holding onto Anna and the other holding onto God. They and their truck came out of Katrina unscathed.

As I stated before, Anna was singing a song while making the sandwiches. The song is titled “I know who holds tomorrow,” an old gospel song. She knew every word, and was quite a gifted singer of it. Have you ever heard it?

The chorus of this song is, “Many things about tomorrow, I don’t seem to understand. But I know who holds tomorrow, and I know who holds my hand.”

Who holds My Hand…

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Dun Boscofis-santi u kartolini

minn Renè Sacco

Nota: Qed nag˙mlu appell biex min ikun irid jibg˙at xi kumment jew iΩid xi ˙a©a ma’ dak li qieg˙ed jidher f’din is-sensiela, ma joqg˙odx lura iΩda jikkuntattja lil Fr.Joe Cini (joecini@onvol.net) jew lil Rene’ Sacco (rene.sacco@gmail.com). Nirringrazzjawkom bil-quddiem.

Ir-Raba’ parti

L-ewwel santa li g˙andna din id-darba, g˙andha madwar 80 sena, u aktarx li ©iet stampata proprju fis-sena tal-beatifikazzjoni ta’ Dun Bosco, ji©iefiri l-1929. Dan jixhdu l-fatt li fuq wara, barra talba lil Dun Bosco, hemm ukoll konçessjoni ta’ 200 ©urnata indulgenza bl-awtorità tal-Kardinal Giuseppe Gamba, Arçisqof ta’ Turin, meta ting˙ad it-talba li hemm fuq wara u li ©©ib id-data tat- 2 ta’ Ìunju 1929. Din is-santa, li g˙andha daqs ta’madwar 6.5 x 10.5çm. hi ftit mg˙arrqa, iΩda g˙alija xorta g˙andha pre©ju.

Interessanti ferm hija l-inkonografija ta’ din is-santa. Hawn qeg˙din naraw lil Dun Bosco waqt iç-çelebrazzjoni tal-quddiesa, preçiΩament waqt l-elevazzjoni. F’dan il-mument, Dun Bosco kien spiss jdher jinqata’ mill-art f’estasi. Dan il-fatt dokumentat kien jissuççiedi fil-kappella tal-Casa Madre tas-Salesjani, Turin (Valdocco), fejn Dun Bosco g˙adda l-a˙˙ar snin ta’ ˙ajtu, u fejn kien iqaddes fuq l-istess artal li jidher fis-santa. Dan l-artal g˙adu jeΩisti fil-post sal-lum u hu mag˙ruf b˙ala l-artal ta’ l-estasi. Wie˙ed jista jara dan l-artal meta jΩur il-‘Camerette’ ta’ Dun Bosco ©ewwa Valdocco.

Din is-santa hi stampata ‘monochrome’ bil-kulur sepja, u x-xifer hu mdawwar b’faxx ta-deheb. Sfortunatament fis-santa ma hemmx indikazzjoni min pin©a din l-imma©ni.

Wasalna g˙ar-raba’ parti ta’ din is-sensiela li jidher li qed tqajjem çertu interess. Proprju g˙al din il- parti ˙sibt biex nuri tlett santi li fihom naraw lil Dun Bosco fil-funzjoni tieg˙u b˙ala saçerdot.

31Hajja Salesjana

It-tieni santa hija wa˙da minn sett ta’ 25 santa (preçiΩament in-nru. 12), li juru episodji ewlenin mill-˙ajja ta’ Dun Bosco permezz ta’ imma©ni mpittra mill-artist bravu Corrado Mezzana li dwaru di©a g˙edna xi ˙a©a fil-˙ar©a li g˙addiet. Dan is-sett hu meqjus b˙ala klassiku u pre©jat ˙afna mill-kollezzjonisti. Kull santa f’dan is-sett g˙andha l-istess format u kuluri b˙al dik li qed naraw, ovvjament il-parti t’isfel turi episodju differenti f’kull wa˙da. Fuq wara ta’ kull santa f’dan is-sett, hemm rakkont ta’ l-episodju li jidher fuq quddiem. Id-daqs tas-santi huwa ta’ 7.0 x12.2 çm.

F’din is-santa partikulari naraw l-episodju providenzjali li kellu jkun dak li ta bidu g˙all-fenomenu ta’ l-Opra Salesjana. Dun Bosco jidher qieg˙ed jitkellem ma’ Bartolomeo Garelli Ωag˙Ωug˙ ta’ sittax-il sena fis-sagristija tal-knisja ta’ San Frangisk ta’ Assisi fil-belt ta’ Turin. Bartolomeo, li kien iltiem, fqir u illitterat kien g˙adu kif qala’ çanfira mis-sagristan, iΩda Dun Bosco flok ˙allieh jitlaq, stiednu biex jibda ji©i u j©ib lil ˙biebu biex jibdew jitg˙allmu xi ftit tal-qari, kitba, duttrina , kif ukoll jilag˙bu f’ambjent ming˙ajr periklu g˙al sa˙˙ithom, iΩda aktar u aktar g˙al ru˙hom. Dan ©ara nhar it-8 ta’ Diçembru 1841 il-festa tal-Immakulata Kunçizzjoni, ©urnata li baqg˙at titfakkar b˙ala l-‘birthday’ tas-Salesjani. Is-sagristija fejn se˙˙et din il-©rajja, g˙adha sal-lum, eΩatt kif kienet dak in-nhar.

Dan is-sett ©ie stampat bil-proçess tal-kromolitografija madwar l-1930 u huwa proprjetà riservata tas-‘Società Editrice Internazionale’ ta’ Turin. (Nota: Is-sett li g˙andi jonqsu in-nru.8 biex ikun komplut, jekk xi ˙add g˙andu din is-santa u jkollu il-pjaçir jg˙addihieli, inkun ferm grat).

32 Hajja Salesjana

nixtieq in©edded l-istedina g˙all-kummenti kif ukoll l-appell g˙al xi kontribuzzjoni g˙all-kollezzjoni (mhux flus). S’issa kellna donazzjonijiet ta’ materjal tajjeb ˙afna ming˙and is-Sinjuri Jean Scott u John Cardona u ming˙and Fr Alfred Sacco sdb. Renè Sacco: rene.sacco@gmail.com

Fit-tielet stampa ta’ din id-darba naraw santa li aktar g˙andha daqs ta’ kartolina, fil-fatt il-qisien tag˙ha fir-realtà huma 10.2 x 16.2 çm; iΩda peress li mag˙mula minn karta ratba, ma nqisuhiex b˙ala kartolina. F’din is-santa naraw lil Dun Bosco jamministra s-sagrament tat-tqarbin. Ta˙t l-imma©ni hemm skrizzjoni bl-Ispanjol li bil-Malti tfisser ‘Beatu Ìwann Bosco, appostlu tat-tqarbin ta’ sikwit’ (frekwenti) xi ˙a©a li Dun Bosco kien jis˙aq ferm fuqha.

Din is-santa hija ppubblikata mil-biblijoteka ‘Angel Custodio’ ta’ Bahia Blanca ©ewwa l-Ar©entina, li, b˙al speçi ta’ reklam, stampat fraΩi probabilment ta’ Dun Bosco ukoll, li tg˙id hekk ‘Ktieb tajjeb huwa x-xemx tar-ru˙’.

G˙alkemm isem l-awtur ta’ din il-pittura ma jidhirx, l-indikazzjonijiet huma li din hi wa˙da mix-xog˙lijiet b’ Dun Bosco b˙ala tema li wettaq il-pittur Carlo Thermignon (1857-1938). Jidher li l-viΩjoni ta’ Marija G˙ajnuna tal-Insara fl-isfond kienet element karatteristiku ta’ dawn ix-xog˙lijiet artistiçi. Din l-istampa partikulari hija kromolitografija u ©iet stampata qabel l-1930. Din l-imma©ni tinsab f’diversi daqsijiet o˙ra, ˙afna minnhom stampati b’kulur wie˙ed (monochrome).

33Hajja Salesjana

Riflessjoni fuq paragrafi 408-412 mid-Djarju ta’ Santa Fawstina Kowalska.

G˙al darb’o˙ra llum ing˙atajna l-grazzja nisimg˙u ftit mill-˙sibijiet u l-esperjenzi li Santa Fawstina kitbet fid-Djarju tag˙ha.

Punt li mill-ewwel laqatni hu l-fatt li wara li Sor Fawstina taqsam mag˙na dak li tara waqt li tkun timmedita fuq il-passjoni ˙arxa li Sidna Ìesù Kristu bata g˙alina, hi tg˙idilna dawn il-preçiΩi kelmiet “Kull ru˙ g˙andha tirrifletti x’kien qed ibati Ìesù f’dak il-waqt.’’ U g˙aldaqstant jiena nistaqsi: kemm nieqfu u na˙sbu u napprezzaw dak kollu li bata Ìesù g˙alina? Kemm nag˙rfu li a˙na swejna ˙afna g˙al Ìesù u li hu g˙amel dan g˙ax Hu mi©nun bl-im˙abba g˙alina? Issa huwa l-waqt li tirrifletti fuq dan, u fuq kollox tirringrazzja lill-Mulej ta’ kemm g˙amel g˙alina lkoll.

Noqog˙du attenti li ma naqg˙ux fir-rutina u l-medjokrità bil-konsegwenza li l-passjoni ˙arxa ta’ Ìesù tispiçça li ma trieg˙edx iktar il-©ewwieni, il-kuxjenza tag˙na.

Punt ie˙or sabi˙ u elokwenti fis-sempliçità u l-messa©© çar tieg˙u hu meta Fawstina tistqarr mag˙na. “Li kieku l-erwie˙ kollha kienu jafu min hemm jg˙ix fil-knejjes tag˙na ma kienx ikun hemm daqshekk insulti u daqshekk nuqqas ta’ rispett f’dawn il-postijiet qaddisa!’’ Hekk hu…

alla, g˙ani fil-Óniena

alla, gÓani fil-Óniena’ huwa Programm mtella’ mill-aPPostolat tal-Óniena Divina fuq raDJu mariJa kull nhar ta’ ÌimgÓa mit-8.00 sat 8.30 P.m. Dak li se taqraw huwa minn wie˙eD minn Dawn il-Programmi.

33Hajja Salesjana

kemm-il darba meta nid˙lu fil-knisja nispiççaw l-ewwel immorru quddiem xi statwa li hi biss rappreΩentazzjoni bla ˙ajja tal-g˙aΩiΩa Ommna Marija jew ta’ xi qaddisa fil-waqt li ninsew li fit-tabernaklu hemm Gesù ˙aj jistenniena? Jew min jaf kemm-il darba ng˙addu quddiem it-tabernaklu bla ma biss nag˙mlu reverenza, inkin jew turija o˙ra ta’ rispett?

Min jaf kemm-il darba aktar inkun mo˙˙i ng˙id kelma ma’ ta’ ˙dejja fuq il-bank jew noqg˙od ng˙arrex min hemm fil-knisja milli nitkellem u nifta˙ qalbi quddiem l-img˙allem tieg˙i mistur

Fr. Sandro Camilleri sdb

34 Hajja Salesjana

wara l-ispeçi Ewkaristika? Kieku nag˙rfu li tassew hemm Ìesù ˙aj fit-tabernaklu kemm immorru nΩuruh iktar ta’ spiss, kemm nilbsu a˙jar u iktar modest meta mmorru quddiemu fis-sajf, kemm in˙affef immur f’ri©lejh!!

Marbut ma’ dan il-punt, iktar ‘l quddiem, din is-soru qaddisa, s-segretarja u l-appostlu tal-Óniena Divina, kif kien isej˙ilha Ìesù stess, tistqarr mag˙na li hi dejjem tag˙mel dak li jog˙©ob l-iktar lil Ìesù. Mhux li kien li int u jien u a˙na lkoll li ng˙idu li a˙na dixxipli ta’ Ìesù, l-Insara, nag˙mlu hekk ukoll!

Kieku lill-Mulej ara kemm nag˙tuh ©ie˙, glorja u fer˙. Kieku ara kemm nevitaw sitwazzjonijiet ta’ dnub. Ejjew nag˙mlu l-qalb u b˙al Fawstina naraw x’nistg˙u nag˙mlu kull ˙in biex lil Ìesù nag˙tuh pjaçir u mhux dispjaçir.

Bla dubju, jekk se nippruvaw nag˙mlu dan kollu, l-g˙adu tag˙na x-xitan se jara kif jag˙mel biex ifixkilna, ixekkilna, jaqtg˙alna qalbna. IΩda ejjew inΩommu sod, niffissaw ˙arsitna fuq Ìesù, inΩommu ru˙na f’kuntatt mieg˙u kuljum, nirçevuh ta’ spiss fl-Ewkaristija, mmorru u nistqarru ˙tijietna fil-qrar u nsostnu ru˙na bi ˙bieb tal-istess g˙anijiet b˙al tag˙na ˙alli hekk nibqg˙u nimxu ‘l quddiem u nsiru persuni li fihom Ìesù jsib l-g˙axqa tieg˙u g˙ax g˙alkemm dg˙ajfa u midinba, qed nippruvaw in˙obbuH g˙ax jixraqlu u qed in˙alluH isaltan f’˙ajjitna u jibdilna f’nisa u r©iel skont qalbu.

34 Hajja Salesjana

Iva, nixtieq ng˙in lis-Salesjani. Se nibg˙at

q5 q10 q25 q50

kull xahar kull tliet xhur kull sena

b˙ala g˙ajnuna g˙all-missjoni tag˙kom. Naf li din ma tqieg˙ed l-ebda obbligazzjoni fuqi u li nistà nwaqqaf il-kontribuzzjoni tieg˙i meta rrid.

Isem

Indirizz

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

A˙na s-Salesjani fil-quddies u t-talb tag˙na, niftakru f’dawk kollha li jg˙inuna b’xi mod jew ie˙or. Ma tit˙ajjarx tg˙inna int ukoll? Il-Mulej li qal: “Dak li tag˙mlu ma’ l-içken fost ˙utkom tkunu qed tag˙mluh mieg˙i”, Ωgur ibierek g˙al kull g˙ajnuna li tista’ tag˙ti.

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

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

Kemm trid tagÓti BieX twaqqaF BorÛa ta’ Studju?Kapital ta’ b600

jeÓtieÌ li BilForS tagÓti S-Somma F’daqqa?Le. Wie˙ed jista’ jag˙tiha biçça biçça, tant fix-xhar jew tant fis-sena.

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

jiSta wieÓed iÓalli l-BorÛa BÓala legat wara mewtu?Jista’. U min jag˙mel hekk, jista’ jikteb fit-testment: “In˙alli b˙ala legat lis-Salesjani ta’ Don Bosco, is-somma ta’ g˙all-formazzjoni ta’ Ωag˙Ωug˙ Malti fl-istess Soçjetà.

BorΩa ta’ Studju

Çempel lil Fr Eric Cachia SDB fuq 21 331 447

Apparitions of Our Lady

newSPaPer PoStST. PATRICK’S SCHOOL, ST. JOHN BOSCO STREET, SLIEMA SLM 1925

On September 19, 1846, the Virgin Mary appeared in La Salette, France, to two children, Melanie Mathieu (14) and Maximin Giraud (11), while they tended their sheep. Our Lady, aglow with light sat on a rock; she was weeping for the sins of mankind and called for conversion to avoid God’s punishment. Our Lady complained about people’s corruption and greed, as well as their religious indifference and

disregard for God’s Commandments especially by cursing the name of God and working on Sundays. She chastised evil priests and religious, saying: “Woe to the priests and to those dedicated to God who by their unfaithfulness and their wicked lives are crucifying my Son again;” as well as corrupted civil authorities: “All the civil governments will have the plan to abolish every religious principle to make way for materialism, atheism, and vices of all kinds”

Our Lady Of La Salette