Mark 12,28-34

Wieħed mill-kittieba semagħhom jitlewwmu bejniethom, u, meta ra kemm Ġesù kien weġibhom tajjeb, resaq fuqu u staqsieh: “Liema wieħed fost il-kmandamenti kollha huwa

l-ewwel?” Ġesù wieġbu: “L-ewwel wieħed huwa dan: Isma’ Iżrael; il-Mulej, Alla tagħna, Mulej wieħed hu, u int għandek tħobb lill-Mulej, Alla tiegħek, b’qalbek kollha, b’ruħek kollha, b’moħħok kollu, u bil-qawwa tiegħek kollha. U t-tieni hu dan: Ħobb lil għajrek bħalek innifsek. Ma hemmx kmandament ieħor akbar minn dawn.” Qallu l-kittieb: “Sewwa qiegħed tgħid, Mgħallem; għandek raġun tgħid li wieħed hemm, u li ma hemmx ieħor ħliefu. Iva, li tħobb lilu b’qalbek kollha, b’moħħok kollu, u bil-qawwa tiegħek kollha, u tħobb lil għajrek bħalek innifsek, huwa aqwa minn kull sagrifiċċju tal-ħruq u mis-sagrifiċċji kollha.” Ġesù, meta rah kemm kien wieġeb bil-għaqal, qallu: “M’intix ‘il bogħod mis-Saltna ta’ Alla.” U ħadd ma kellu l-ħila jistaqsih iżjed.

Sacrament of Reconciliation

Before the “loss of the sense of sin” and “the crisis” of “the sacrament of penance” there is a need to establish a “dialogue of salvation” with penitents, following the example of the Holy Curé of Ars, and to “get back to the confessional” also seen as a “place in which to ‘dwell’ more often”.

Benedict XVI addressed this invitation to the participants in the course promoted by the Pontifical Penitentiary received in audience today. Recalling that the course “is providentially taking place in the Year for Priests”, proclaimed to mark the 150th anniversary of death of St. John Mary Vianney, the Pope highlighted the “heroic and fruitful way” in which the Saint exercised the reconciliation ministry and “the method of ‘dialogue of salvation’ which must find its place in it”.

“We live in a cultural context marked by a hedonistic and relativistic mentality, which tends to remove God from the horizon of life, and hinder the acquisition of a clear framework of values, the ability to distinguish good from evil and the development of a mature sense of sin”, explained the Pontiff. A “vicious circle between blurring of the experience of God and the loss of the sense of sin” that “makes the service rendered by the dispensers of divine mercy all the more urgent”.

Luqa 11,14-23

Ġesù kien qiegħed ikeċċi xitan, li kien imbikkem. Meta x-xitan ħareġ, l-imbikkem tkellem, u n-nies stagħġbu. Iżda xi wħud minnhom qalu: “Bis-saħħa ta’ Begħelżebul, il-prinċep tax-xjaten, qiegħed ikeċċihom ix-xjaten.” Oħrajn, biex iġarrbuh, riedu mingħandu sinjal mis-sema. Iżda hu ntebaħ x’kienet il-fehma tagħhom, u qalilhom: “Kull saltna maqsuma fiha nfisha ssir ħerba, u taqa’ dar fuq oħra. Jekk ix-Xitan ukoll hu kontra tiegħu nnifsu, kif se żżomm wieqfa s-saltna tiegħu? Għax intom tgħidu li jien bis-saħħa ta’ Begħelżebul inkeċċihom ix-xjaten. Imma jekk jiena qiegħed inkeċċi x-xjaten bis-saħħa ta’ Begħelżebul, uliedkom bis-saħħa ta’ min ikeċċuhom? Għalhekk huma stess ikunu l-imħallfin tagħkom. Iżda jekk jiena qiegħed inkeċċi x-xjaten bis-saħħa ta’ Alla, dan ifisser li waslitilkom is-Saltna ta’ Alla. Sakemm il-bniedem qawwi u armat tajjeb jgħasses il-palazz tiegħu, ħwejġu jkunu fiż-żgur. Imma jekk wieħed aqwa minnu jaqbeż fuqu u jegħlbu, jaħtaflu l-armi kollha li fuqhom kien iserraħ rasu, u jqassam il-priża tiegħu. Min m’huwiex miegħi huwa kontra tiegħi, u min ma jiġborx miegħi, ixerred.”

vatican

About 100 traditionalist Anglican parishes in the United States have decided to join the Catholic Church as a group. Meeting in Orlando, the House of Bishops of the Anglican Church in America voted to seek entry into the Catholic Church under the guidelines established in Pope Benedict XVI’s apostolic constitution “Anglicanorum Coetibus” (”Groups of Anglicans”), said a March 3 statement.

The Anglican Church in America is part of the Traditional Anglican Communion, a group of churches which separated from the worldwide Anglican Communion in 1991. The Traditional Anglican Communion claims 400,000 members worldwide. The request means the 100 Anglican Church in America parishes will ask for group reception into the Catholic Church in a “personal ordinariate,” a structure similar to dioceses for former Anglicans who become Catholic. Churches under the personal ordinariate can retain their Anglican character and much of their liturgy and practices — including married priests — while being in communion with the Catholic Church.

Archbishop John Hepworth of Australia, primate of the Traditional Anglican. The Anglican Church in America is the third group of Anglican churches to respond positively to the Vatican’s invitation.

ORLANDO, Fla. (CNS)

Mat 5,17-19

“Xejn taħsbu li ġejt inwaqqa’ l-Liġi jew il-Profeti; jiena ma ġejtx biex inwaqqagħhom, iżda biex inwassalhom għall-perfezzjoni. Tassew ngħidilkom, li sa ma jkunu għaddew is-sema u l-art anqas l-iżgħar ittra jew tikka waħda mil-Liġi ma titneħħa sa ma jkun seħħ kollox. Jekk mela xi ħadd iġib fix-xejn wieħed  mill-iżgħar minn dawn il-kmandamenti u jgħallem lin-nies biex jagħmlu l-istess, dan jissejjaħ l-iżgħar fis-Saltna tas-Smewwiet. Imma min iħarishom u jgħallimhom, dan kbir jissejjaħ fis-Saltna tas-Smewwiet.”

Fr Federico Lombardi

“Events” that “mobilise the Church to find appropriate responses” but “should be placed in a more wide-ranging context that concerns the protection of children and young people from sexual abuse in society as a whole”. In a statement published on the Vatican Radio website (Radiovaticana.org), Father Federico Lombardi describes in these terms “the very serious question of the sexual abuse of minors in institutions run by ecclesiastical bodies and by people with positions of responsibility within the Church, priests in particular” that for some months “has been investing the Church and society in Ireland” and that over recent weeks has also involved the Church in certain central European countries”: Germany, Austria and Holland. “Certainly, the errors committed in ecclesiastical institutions and by Church figures are particularly reprehensible because of the Church’s educational and moral responsibility”, said Father Lombardi, but “all objective and well-informed people know that the question is much broader, and concentrating accusations against the Church alone gives a false perspective”. “Recent data supplied by the competent authorities in Austria shows that, over the same period of time, the number of proven cases in Church institutions was 17, while there were 510 other cases in other areas”, pointed out Father Lombardi. “It would be as well to concern ourselves also with them”.

Commenting on how the Church approached the issue, Father Lombardi said “the Holy Father recently demonstrated his own concern, particularly through two meetings: firstly with high-ranking members of the episcopate, then with all the ordinaries. He is also preparing the publication of a letter on the subject for the Irish Church”. As for the “development” of the “debate” in Germany, Austria and Holland, the director of Vatican Radio explained that “the main ecclesiastical institutions concerned have faced the emergence of problem with timely and decisive action. They have demonstrated their desire for transparency and, in a certain sense, accelerated the emergence of the problem by inviting victims to speak out, even when the cases involved date from many years ago”. By doing so, said Father Lombardi, “they have approached the matter ‘on the right foot’, because the correct starting point is recognition of what happened and concern for the victims and the consequences of the acts committed against them. Moreover, they have re-examined the extant Directives and have planned new operative guidelines which also aim to identify a prevention strategy, so that everything possible may be done to ensure that similar cases are not repeated in the future”.

In Germany, for instance, “initiatives are now being suggested to call a ‘round table’ of the various educational and social organisations in order to consider the question from an appropriate and comprehensive viewpoint”. The Church, for her part, “is naturally ready to participate and become involved”, said Father Lombardi. “The Church exists as part of civil society and shoulders her own responsibilities in society, but she also has her own specific code, the ‘canonical code’ – recalled the director of Vatican Radio – in which the crime of the sexual abuse of minors has always been considered as one of the most serious of all, and canonical norms have constantly reaffirmed this, in particular the 2001 Letter ‘De delictis gravioribus’, sometimes improperly cited as the cause of a ‘culture of silence’”. On the contrary, “it was a decisive signal to remind the episcopate of the seriousness of the problem, as well as a real incentive to draw up operational guidelines to face it”, pointed out Father Lombardi. “In conclusion, although the seriousness of the difficulties the Church is going through cannot be denied, we must not fail to do everything possible in order to ensure that, in the end, they bring positive results, of better protection for infancy and youth in the Church and in society, and the purification of the Church herself”.

CLICK HERE to download the March 2010 issue of ‘Flimkien’ magazine.

Mat 18,21-35

Mbagħad Pietru resaq lejh u qallu: “Mulej, xi kemm-il darba jrid jonqosni ħija biex jiena naħfirlu? Sa seba’ darbiet?” “Ma ngħidlikx sa seba’ darbiet,” wieġbu Ġesù, “imma sa sebgħa u sebgħin darba. Għalhekk is-Saltna tas-Smewwiet nistgħu nxebbhuha ma’ wieħed sultan, li ried jagħmel il-kontijiet mal-qaddejja tiegħu. Kif beda jagħmel dan, ħadulu quddiemu wieħed li kellu jagħtih għaxart elef talent. Billi ma kellux minn fejn iroddhomlu, is-sinjur ordna li jinbiegħu hu, martu, uliedu u kull ma kellu, ħalli b’hekk jitħallas id-dejn. Imma l-qaddej inxteħet quddiemu jitolbu u jgħidlu, ‘Sinjur, stabar ftit bija; kollox inroddlok.’ Is-sinjur ġietu ħasra minn dak il-qaddej, bagħtu u ħafirlu dejnu. Mela dak il-qaddej joħroġ, u jiltaqa’ ma’ wieħed minn sħabu, li kellu jagħtih mitt dinar; qabdu minn għonqu u beda jagħfsu. ‘Ħallas dejnek,’ qallu. Il-qaddej sieħbu nxteħet quddiemu jitolbu bil-ħniena u jgħidlu, ‘Stabar ftit bija u nroddlok. ‘ Imma dak ma riedx jaf, mar u xeħtu l-ħabs sa ma jrodd kull ma kellu jagħtih. Sħabu l-qaddejja raw il-ġrajja kollha u sewwdu qalbhom ħafna; marru għand is-sinjur tagħhom u tarrfulu kull ma kien ġara. Mbagħad is-sinjur bagħat għalih u qallu, ‘Ja qaddej ħażin, meta jiena ħfirtlek dak id-dejn kollu wara li tlabtni bil-ħniena, ma kienx imissek int ukoll tħenn għal sieħbek kif ħennejt jien għalik?’ U saħan bl-aħrax is-sinjur għalih, u tah f’idejn min jaħqru sa ma jrodd kull ma  kellu jagħti. Hekk jagħmel lilkom Missieri li hu fis-Smewwiet jekk ma taħfrux lil xulxin minn qalbkom.”

Voting in UK

The bishops of England and Wales are offering a perspective on the key issues of the June general election, releasing this week a 19-page booklet called “Choosing the Common Good.”

The booklet aims to present “some of the underlying principles and values by which we seek to construct a just and civil society,” it notes. The publication anticipates not only the general election, but also Benedict XVI’s trip to the United Kingdom, planned for September.

In the document, the bishops maintain that social issues cannot be left only to the government to solve, but are rather the responsibility of each person.

A just society can be built, they contend, since a desire for love and truth is innate to human nature.

The document promotes virtue as fundamental to social behavior.

“The virtues form us as moral agents, so that we do what is right and honorable for no other reason than that it is right and honorable, irrespective of reward and regardless of what we are legally obliged to do,” the prelates explain. “Virtuous action springs from a sense of one’s dignity and that of others, and from self-respect as a citizen. It is doing good even when no-one is looking.”

LONDON, MARCH 5, 2010 (Zenit.org)

Il-Kummisjoni Interdjoċesana Ambjent permezz tal-Paroċċa taż-Żejtun qed torganizza eżerċizzi spiritwali b’temi marbuta mal-Ambjent. Dawn ser isiru fid-Dar it-Tagħlim San Girgor maġenb il-Knisja ta’ San Girgor fis-7.15pm kif ġej:

It-Tnejn 8 ta’ Marzu: “Alla joħloq – Għajta għadha tidwi”

Il-Ħamis 11 ta’ Marzu: “L-Ambjent – Merżuq jew  kumpens?”

It-Tnejn 15 ta’ Marzu: “Jeħtieġ li naħbtu ma’ blata!”

Għal aktar informazzjoni ċemplu 21694563 jew permezz ta’ email fuq zejtunparish@onvol.net

U żied jgħidilhom: “Tassew, ngħidilkom, ebda profeta ma jilqgħuh tajjeb f’pajjiżu. Għax, ngħidilkom is-sewwa, kien hemm bosta romol f’Iżrael fi żmien Elija meta s-sema baqa’ tliet snin u sitt xhur magħluq u waqa’ ġuħ kbir fil-pajjiż kollu; madankollu għand ħadd minnhom ma ntbagħat Elija, imma għand waħda armla minn Sarefta ta’ Sidon. U kien hemm bosta lebbrużi f’Iżrael fi żmien il-profeta Eliżew, imma ħadd minnhom ma ġie mfejjaq ħlief Nagħman tas-Sirja.” Meta semgħu dan fis-sinagoga kulħadd imtela bil-korla; qamu, u ħarġuh ‘il barra mill-belt, ħaduh fuq xifer ta’ rdum ta’ l-għolja li fuqha kienet mibnija l-belt tagħhom, u riedu jixħtuh minn hemm fuq għal isfel. Iżda hu għadda minn ġo nofshom u baqa’ sejjer.

The Bishop said 48 cases were settled while 13 others were pending.

“The issue continues to receive priority attention and I am glad to report continued progress,” he said. Eugene Doyle, diocesan finance officer, told RTE News that the diocese took out a 20-year loan for $1.8 million euros ($2.4 million) to help meet its financial commitments. He said loan payments cost 120,000 euros ($160,000) annually, but the diocese currently can afford to pay half of the amount.

The diocese is considering the sale of property to cover the shortfall, according to Doyle, who cautioned that selling real estate during an economic recession is not ideal. Instead, the diocese decided to turn to parishes to raise additional funds, Doyle said.

DUBLIN, Ireland (CNS)

A communiqué from the Moscow Patriarchate’s Department for External Church Relations reported that their visit to Warsaw on Thursday and Friday aimed to “discuss the Churches’ possible assistance in building good-neighborly relations between the peoples of Poland, Russia, Ukraine and Belarus.”

It was organized at the invitation of Archbishop Jozef Michalik of Przemysl, president of the Polish bishops’ conference, and Metropolitan Savva of Warsaw and All Poland, who is the head of the Orthodox Church in Poland.

Participants discussed steps for strengthening relations between Eastern European countries.

They decided to establish a working committee to develop a joint document on reconciliation between these nations, highlighting the contribution of the Churches in this effort.

Participants proposed setting up a bilateral commission, and discussed themes for future dialogue. They suggested also including members of the Orthodox Church in Poland as well as the Catholic Church in Russia to participate in this commission.

A communiqué at the end of the meeting stated that “both sides noted an historical importance of the initiative and the conversations, which are the first and very important step on the way to the rapprochement of our local Churches and reconciliation between our nations.”

“The two Churches,” the statement affirmed, “hope for the help of God’s Providence and intercession of the Most Holy Mother of God.”

WARSAW, Poland, MARCH 3, 2010 (Zenit.org)

9.30 a.m. The Archbishop presides over a Curia senior staff meeting.

5.00 p.m. The Archbishop visits the Catechism Centre and meets Catechists of Manikata Parish, as part of his Pastoral Visit.

6.00 p.m. The Archbishop holds individual meetings with parishioners from Manikata as part of his Pastoral Visit.

7.30 p.m. The Archbishop presides over the Manikata Parish Assembly.

Tuesday

11.30 a.m. The Archbishop meets members of the Għaqda Unions Maltin, at the Curia.

4.45 p.m. The Archbishop presides over the Seminary Board meeting, at the Seminary in Tal-Virtu’.

Wednesday

10.00 a.m. The Archbishop presides over the College of Parish Priests’ meeting at Dar tal-Kleru, Birkirkara.

1.00 p.m. The Archbishop meets the Parish Priests’ Council and stays with them for lunch.

6.00 p.m. The Archbishop celebrates Mass for those participating in the organisation of Feasts at Christ the King Parish, Paola.

Thursday

10.00 a.m. The Archbishop visits PBS, meets members of staff and celebrates Mass.

Friday

9.30 p.m. The Archbishop presides over the Episcopal Conference at the Curia.

6.00 p.m. The Archbishop leads the Lenten penitential pilgrimage with the Miraculous Statue of Jesus the Redeemer and celebrates Mass at the Senglea Basilica.

Saturday

9.30 a.m. The Archbishop presides over the Delegates meeting at the Curia.

Sunday

9.00 a.m. The Archbishop celebrates Mass at St. John’s Co Cathedral on the occasion of the Emigrants’ Convention and attends the official opening of the Convention at the Exchange building where he makes a short address to those present.

6.00 p.m. The Archbishop celebrates Mass at the Church of Our Lady of Jesus on the occasion of the 150^th anniversary of the L’Isle Adame band club, Rabat.

Dak il-ħin stess ġew xi wħud u qalulu b’dawk il-Galilin li Pilatu kien ħallat demmhom mad-demm tal-vittmi tas-sagrifiċċji tagħhom.U Ġesù qabad u qalilhom: “Taħsbu intom li dawn il-Galilin kienu iżjed midinbin mill-Galilin l-oħra biex sofrew dan kollu? Le, ngħidilkom; imma jekk ma tindmux, ilkoll tintilfu bħalhom. Jew dawk it-tmintax-il ruħ li fuqhom waqa’ t-torri ta’ Silwam u qatilhom, taħsbu intom li kienu iżjed ħatja min-nies l-oħra ta’ Ġerusalemm! Le, ngħidilkom; imma jekk ma tindmux, ilkoll tintilfu xorta waħda.”

U qalilhom din il-parabbola: “Wieħed kellu siġra tat-tin imħawwla fl-għalqa. Mar ifittex il-frott fiha, u ma sabx. Għalhekk qal lil dak li kien jaħdimlu l-għalqa, ‘Ara, ili tliet snin niġi nfittex il-frott f’din is-siġra tat-tin, u qatt ma sibtilha. Mela aqlagħha, għax għalfejn se tibqa’ tkidd l-art? Iżda dak wieġbu, ‘Inti ħalliha, sinjur, għal din is-sena, sa ma nagħżqilha madwarha u nagħtiha d-demel. Id-dieħla għandha mnejn tagħmel il-frott; jekk le, aqlagħha.’?”

Mons. Vincent Costa, imwieled B’Kara, għamel l-istudji filosofiċi fl-Universita’ ta’ Malta u dawk Teoloġiċi fil-Curitiba, Brasil.  Hu ġie ordnat saċerdot fis-17 ta’ Diċembru 1972 u wara għamel Kors tat-Teoloġija Biblika fil-Pontificio Colegio Pio Brasileiro, Ruma   Hu kien Isqof ta’ Umuarama, Brasil.

Is-segretarjat jistieden lill-ħbieb ta’ Mons. Costa jingħaqdu mad-Djoċesijiet ta’ Umuarama u Jundiai fit-talb biex il-Mulej ikun miegħu fit-tmexxija ta’ din id-Djoċesi.

In total, 563 different contributions were submitted in writing (naturally, some contributions referred to more than one item).  The majority of the contributions expressed either agreement or disagreement with a particular area of the Document.  Some practical suggestions were also offered with respect to specific paragraphs contained in the Document.  These recommendations came from Parish Priests and Parish Councils, Confraternities, Band Clubs, other Parish groups as well as from individual members of the public. Other comments were  submitted from the Interdiocesan Commission for the Environment and other interested parties.

In December 2009, the Archdiocese commissioned Prof. Mario Vassallo to carry out an official survey on feasts and the general public’s reaction to them.  He was asked to take into consideration one’s relationship to God and the Church in daily life.  Prof. Vassallo submitted his report at the beginning of February and this is being studied.  It is the intention of the Archdiocese to publish this information at a later date.

Meetings are currently being held with Ghaqdiet Nazzjonali mentioned above regarding their recommendations.  Other meetings will also be held with the Civil Authorities.

Through this plan of action, the Archdiocese is aiming to come to a mutual agreement with all the parties concerned.

For this year, until such time that the new document is approved and published, the current norms will remain effective.

On Tuesday, 2nd March, 2010, Msgr. Guido Marini, Master of Pontifical Liturgical Celebrations, arrived in Malta from the Vatican.  Msgr. Marini held a number of meetings with the organizers of the Pope’s visit, especially with those involved in the liturgical celebrations. Msgr. Marini and his entourage met with a group of seminarians who will be involved in the Mass service, celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI on Sunday 18^th April. Other meetings were held with organizers involved in the singing during Mass and with the directors responsible for the broadcasting of the Pope’s visit to Malta. The visit will be aired not only on Maltese stations but also on the Italian national station and other stations around the world.

For more information on the Pope’s visit to Malta visit www.popemalta.org

Click on the photo to enlarge. The photos of this event may be purchased from PHOTOCITY, Valletta. Tel: 21236723. Email: info@photocityonline.com

Il-bust tal-ewwel qaddis Malti nkixef u kien imbierek mill-Isqof Malti Mons Joseph Grech, DD, li kkonċelebra quddiesa tal-okkażjoni flimkien ma’ saċerdoti Maltin. Iċ-ċerimonja saret nhar is-Sibt, 20 ta’ Frar, fil-kappella ta’ San Pawl, Parkville.

AGĦFAS HAWN BIEX TKOMPLI TAQRA DAN L-ARTIKLU FUQ IS-SIT www.il-gensillum.com

Saturday, 6th March

5.30 p.m. The Archbishop celebrates Mass at Manikata Parish for the official opening of the Pastoral Visit.

7.15 p.m. The Archbishop meets the farmers of Manikata.

Sunday, 7th March

10.30 a.m. The Archbishop meets the Youth Commission and youths from Manikata Parish.

11.30 a.m. The Archbishop holds a meeting with the Manikata Parish Pastoral Council and stays with them for lunch.

Monday, 8th March

5.00 p.m. The Archbishop visits the Catechism Centre and meets Catechists of Manikata Parish, as part of his Pastoral Visit.

6.00 p.m. The Archbishop holds individual meetings with parishioners from Manikata as part of his Pastoral Visit.

7.30 p.m. The Archbishop presides over the Manikata Parish Assembly.

Il-pubblikani u l-midinbin kienu jersqu bi ħġarhom biex jisimgħuh. U kemm il-Fariżej u kemm il-kittieba kienu jgemgmu u jgħidu: “Nies midinba jilqa’ għandu dan u jiekol magħhom?” U Ġesù qabad u qalilhom din il-parabbola: Qalilhom ukoll: “Kien hemm raġel li kellu żewġ ulied. Iż-żgħir qal lil missieru, ‘Missier, agħtini s-sehem li jmiss lili mill-ġid.’ U dak qassmilhom il-ġid. Ma kinux għaddew wisq ġranet, meta ż-żgħir sarr kollox u telaq minn beltu lejn pajjiż imbiegħed, u hemmhekk berbaq ġidu kollu f’ħajja mtajjra. Meta ħela kull ma kellu, fuq dak il-pajjiż waqa’ ġuħ kbir, u beda jħoss ruħu fil-bżonn. U mar daħal ma’ wieħed minn dak il-pajjiż, li bagħtu fir-raba’ tiegħu jirgħa l-ħnieżer. Kien jixtieq kieku jimla żaqqu mqar bil-ħarrub li kienu jieklu l-ħnieżer, imma ħadd ma kien jagħtih. Mbagħad daħal fih innifsu u qal, ‘Kemm lavranti ma’ missieri għandhom ħobż bix-xaba’, u jien qiegħed hawn immut bil-ġuħ! Ħa nqum u mmur għand missieri, u ngħidlu, ‘Missier, dnibt kontra s-sema u kontra tiegħek; ma jistħoqqlix iżjed nissejjaħ ibnek; żommni b’wieħed mil-lavranti tiegħek.’ Qam, u telaq għal għand missieru. Iżda kif kien għadu fil-bogħod missieru lemħu u tħassru, u b’ġirja waħda mar inxteħet fuq għonqu u biesu. ‘Missier,’ qallu ibnu, ‘dnibt kontra s-sema u kontra tiegħek; ma jistħoqqlix iżjed nissejjaħ ibnek.’ Iżda l-missier qal lill-qaddejja tiegħu, ‘Isaw! Ġibulu l-isbaħ libsa u xidduhielu, libbsulu ċ-ċurkett f’sebgħu u s-sandli f’riġlejh! Ġibu l-għoġol l-imsemmen u oqtluh, ħa nieklu u nagħmlu festa, għax dan ibni kien mejjet u raġa’ qam, kien mitluf u nstab!’ U għamlu festa. “Mela ibnu l-kbir kien fl-għalqa. Huwa u rieġa’ lura, kif wasal qrib id-dar sama’ daqq u żfin. Sejjaħ wieħed mill-qaddejja u staqsieh dak x’kien. ‘Hawn ħuk,’ qallu dak, ‘u missierek qatillu l-għoġol l-imsemmen, għax raġa’ kisbu qawwi u sħiħ.’ Hu inkorla, u ma riedx jidħol ġewwa, iżda missieru ħareġ jitolbu jidħol. ‘Ara,’ qal lil missieru, ‘ili dawn is-snin kollha naqdik, kelmtek ma ksirthielek qatt, u kieku qatt tajtni gidi lili biex nagħmel ikla u nifraħ ma’ ħbiebi! Mbagħad jiġi dan ibnek, li belagħlek ġidek man-nisa żienja, u lilu toqtollu l-għoġol l-imsemmen!’ ‘Ibni,’ qallu missieru, ‘inti dejjem miegħi, u kull ma hu tiegħi huwa tiegħek. Imma kien meħtieġ li nagħmlu festa u nifirħu, għax dan ħuk kien mejjet u raġa’ qam, kien mitluf u nstab.’?”

This was announced today by the archbishops of the two cities, Cardinal Lluís Martínez Sistach of Barcelona and Archbishop Julián Barrio of Santiago.  Archbishop Barrio said the Holy Father had expressed his desire to go to Santiago as a “pilgrim of faith.” The prelate was at the Vatican on Monday to invite the Holy Father to his country.

The Apostle James the Greater (in Spanish, Santiago) is the patron of Spain. Tradition holds that he evangelized Spain, and his tomb is located in the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, which is the destination of the historic and popular pilgrimage route El Camino de Santiago de Compostela (The Way of St. James).

The apostle’s feastday is July 25, and a holy year is celebrated each year that the feast falls on a Sunday, which happens 14 times every century. This year’s celebration, which began Dec. 31 and will last through to the end of 2010, will be the second “Jacobeo” Holy Year of the third millennium. Regarding the stop in Barcelona, Cardinal Martínez Sistach already last month said the Holy Father had expressed interest in consecrating the church of the Sagrada Familia (Holy Family). The cardinal noted that the church’s architect, Antoni Gaudí, has a cause of canonization being studied. The church is also important to the Holy Father, according to the cardinal, because of its title, “given the maximum importance that the family has for the Holy Father, since the good of people, society and the Church is directly related with the protection, defense and promotion of the family.”

The November trip will be Benedict XVI’s second to Spain, after the 2006 World Meeting of Families he attended in Valencia. He is scheduled to visit Spain for a third time in August 2011 for World Youth Day in Madrid.

SANTIAGO DE COMPOSTELA, Spain, MARCH 3, 2010 (Zenit.org)

As explained by the CoE, the campaign “aims at informing and raising awareness of children’s rights, promoting good parental skills, and above all abolishing the corporal punishment of children, the most widespread form of abuse, by amending the legislations”. The CoE thinks this practice is “ineffective as a disciplinary system”, the carrier “of wrong messages and a potential source of physical and mental damage”.

However to raise public awareness of this campaign, “significant endorsers are needed”. The initiative, launched in Zagreb on June 15th 2008, has been endorsed so far by 20 member states that have abolished corporal punishment while another 7 have pledged to do as much.

Info: http://www.coe.int/t/dg3/corporalpunishment/default_EN.asp

“Isimgħu parabbola oħra: Kien hemm wieħed, sid ta’ għalqa, u ħawwilha bid-dwieli; tellgħalha ħajt tas-sejjieħ madwarha, ħaffer magħsar fiha, u bnielha torri; u qabbilha lil xi bdiewa. U siefer f’art oħra. Meta wasal żmien il-frott, bagħat il-qaddejja tiegħu għand dawk il-bdiewa biex jiġbrulu l-frott li kien imissu. Meta semgħu l-parabboli tiegħu l-qassisin il-kbar u l-Fariżej fehmu li hu kien qiegħed jgħid għalihom. Huma riedu kieku jaqbduh taħt idejhom, imma beżgħu min-nies, għax kulħadd kien iżommu bi profeta.

On Tuesday, 2nd March, 2010, further details were given about the Pope’s meeting with youths at the Valletta Waterfront to be held on Sunday 18th April. This activitity will include a concert by Malta’s top Christian bands, and a guest appearance by the popular band Winter Moods. This band was chosen by popular demand following consultation with youths. This concert will also include the participation of solo artists, dancers, musicians and a main choir. Youths will also have the opportunity to share their experiences with the Pope who will be present for an hour, after travelling by catamaran from Kalkara to the Valletta Waterfront quay where the meeting with youths will take place.

The main stage which will be set up for this event is being designed by a group of young professional architects lead by designer Carlo Schembri. An artistic impression can be seen in the picture above.

For more information on the Pope’s Visit to Malta visit: www.popemalta.org

Click on the photo to enlarge. The photos of the Archbishop’s events may be purchased from PHOTOCITY, Valletta. Tel: 21236723. Email: info@photocityonline.com

The 2010 WYD Song Contest was held on Saturday, 27th February, 2010 at the Salesian Oratory in Sliema with the participation of seven Christian Bands, namely: Altaer, Footprints, His Project, Rise, StageCraft, The Cross and The Prophecy.  The turnout for this Contest was fantastic with the Salesian Theatre at maximum capacity and the crowd cheering throughout the band’s peformances.

The Contest kicked off at 7:30pm with a short video clip containing a summary of Archbishop Paul Cremona’s message to young people for the year 2010.  After the video clip, the band Counterbalance together with their lead singer Roberta Sacco took the Stage with a rendition of last year’s chosen song for WYD2009 with the name of ‘Tamitna Fih’.  Then it was time for the seven participating bands to grace the stage and provide us with their rendition of their newly composed song on the Theme chosen by Pope Benedict XVI for young people for 2010 being: “Good Teacher, What Must I do to Inherit Eternal Life?” (Mk 10:17).  Apart from the competing song (theme song), every band played two more numbers making the Contest a full blown out Christian Rock Concert with over twenty songs in the pipeline! The performances of each band were preceded by a short 2 minute clip on the performing band containing a band bio and numerous pictures.  After the rendition by the bands, the Jury members had the difficult task to choose the best song for WYD 2010.  All the Contest was recorded live on DVD.

The awards for this edition of the Contest were as follows:

Best Lyrics – His Project with their song ‘Mghallem Urini’

Best Interpretation – Footprints with their song ‘Nistaqsi…’

Best Song for WYD 2010 – Rise with their song ‘Ghaziz Ghalliem’

We take this opportunity to thank all the bands for their participation and positive attitude shown throughout the Contest and also all the people who constantly support activities showcasing Christian Music.

To order a copy of the DVD of the WYD Song Contest 2010, please send an e-mail on info@kdz.org.mt. For more information, please visit the website: www.awakeningasaph.org and www.kdz.org.mt.

The Theological Commission of the Church in Malta has just published a book with extracts from Pope Benedict XVI’s teachings. Fr Hector Scerri, the President of the Theological Commission, said that this book can help Christians prepare themselves for Easter and for the Pope’s visit to Malta. These exctracts have been taken from the Pope’s writings and speeches. The booklet is divided into 18 schemes, all focusing on particular aspects of the Pope’s teachings.

CLICK HERE to download the book ‘SKEMI BI TĦEJJIJA GĦAŻ-ŻJARA TAL-PAPA’, available only in Maltese.

For more information on the Pope’s Visit to Malta visit: www.popemalta.org

L-Għaqda Studenti tat-Teoloġija flimkien mal-Fakulta tat-Teoloġija fl-Universita’ ta’ Malta u l-Istitut Karmelitan  qegħdin jorganizzaw Lectio Divina nhar is-Sibt 6 ta’ Marzu fit-8.00pm fil-Kunvent tal-Patrijiet Karmelitani fl-Imdina immexxija minn Rev Fr. Charlo’ Camilleri O Carm.

L-eżerċizzju tal-Lectio Divina huwa l-għarfien u t-twettieq bl-għemil tar-rieda ta’ Alla permezz tal-Kotba Mqaddsa. It-terminu Lectio Divina jfisser qari tal-Kelma ta’ Alla. Imma dan l-eżerċizzju mhux sempliċi qari tal-Bibbja. Ifisser li tinqara silta mill-Kelma t’Alla, wieħed jimmeditaha, jitlob permezz tagħha u jikkontemplaha, b’tali mod li jħalliha taħdem fih, fi ħsibijietu, xewqatu, għemilu, u jħalliha tagħġnu kif trid hi, hekk li jsir ħaġa waħda mar-rieda ta’ Alla.

www.ghstmalta.org

“Mela kien hemm raġel għani, jilbes il-porpra u għażel mill-ifjn; l-hena tiegħu kien li kuljum jagħmel ikla mill-aħjar. U wieħed fqir jismu Lazzru, li kellu ġismu ġerħa waħda, kien imur jinxteħet ħdejn il-bieb ta’ daru, bix-xewqa li jixba’ b’dak li jaqa’ mill-mejda ta’ l-għani. Sa l-klieb kienu jmorru jilagħqu l-ġrieħi tiegħu. Ġara li l-fqir miet, u l-anġli ħaduh fi ħdan Abraham. Mbagħad miet ukoll l-għani, u difnuh. Dan, kif sab ruħu fi tbatijiet ħorox f’Art l-Imwiet, rafa’ ħarstu, u mill-bogħod lemaħ lil Abraham, b’Lazzru fi ħdanu. U għolla leħnu u qallu, ‘Missier Abraham, ikollok ħniena minni u ibgħat lil Lazzru jbill tarf sebgħu fl-ilma ħa jtaffili n-nixfa li għandi fi lsieni, għax qiegħed ninħaqar wisq f’ dan in-nar.’ ‘Ibni,’ qallu Abraham, ‘ftakar li t-tajjeb tiegħek irċevejtu f’ħajtek; hekk ukoll Lazzru, il-ħażin irċevieh f’ħajtu. Imma issa hu hawnhekk qiegħed jitfarraġ, waqt li inti qiegħed tbati. Barra minn dan, hemm vojt bla qjies bejnkom u bejnna, biex min ikun irid jaqsam minn hawn għal għandkom ma jkunx jista’ , u anqas ma jgħaddu minn hemm għal għandna.’ Qallu l-għani, ‘Mela nitolbok, missier, ibagħtu f’dar missieri, għax għandi ħames aħwa, ħalli jagħmlilhom twissija kif imiss, li ma jmorrux huma wkoll jiġu f’dan il-post ta’ tbatijiet ħorox!’ Qallu Abraham, ‘Għandhom lil Mosè u l-Profeti; jisimgħu lilhom.’ ‘Le, missier Abraham,’ qallu dak, ‘imma jekk imur għandhom xi ħadd mill-imwiet, jindmu.’ Iżda wieġbu Abraham, ‘Jekk ma jisimgħux lil Mosè u l-Profeti, anqas jekk iqum xi ħadd mill-imwiet ma jemmnu.’?”

Violence

Muslim and Catholic representatives have joined their voices in rejecting the manipulation of religion to justify political interests, violence or discrimination.

A historic declaration signed by the president of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue and a Sunni leader from the Al-Azhar university marked the conclusion of an annual meeting held last week in Cairo. The meetings gather members of the pontifical council and the Al-Azhar permanent committee for dialogue among the monotheistic religions.

Sheik Muhammad Abd al-Aziz Wasil and Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran were the co-signers.

The final declaration explains that the participants were received by the grand imam of Al-Azhar, professor and sheik Muhammad Sayyed Tantawi. Cardinal Tauran thanked him for having condemned the acts of violence in which six Christians and a Muslim policeman died in Naga Hamadi, Egypt, on the past Orthodox Christmas, and for having expressed solidarity to the victims’ families and reaffirmed the equality of rights and duties of all citizens, regardless of their religious membership.

Sheik Tantawi said he only did what he thought was his duty in face of those tragic events.

CAIRO, Egypt, MARCH 1, 2010 (Zenit.org)