Is-Sibt, 21 ta’ Settembru 2024: Ittra dwar il-viżta pastorali fid-Djoċesi ta’ Għawdex mill-E.T. Mons. Anton Teuma, Isqof ta’ Għawdex.
Ittra pastorali mill-E.T. Mons. Anton Teuma
Mhux dejjem faċli għalina li nagħrfu u nħossu l-preżenza ta’ Ġesù, b’mod speċjali meta ngħaddu minn diffikultajiet u problemi.
Alla jimpurtah mill-problemi tagħna
L-istorja tad-dixxipli fil-Vanġelu tal-lum tista’ tkun l-istorja tal-familja tagħna. Id-dixxipli kienu qed jitlewmu bejniethom fuq min minnhom kien l-aktar importanti. U Ġesù jinteressah l-inkwiet tagħhom u jistaqsihom: “X’kontu qegħdin titħaddtu bejnietkom fit-triq?” (Mk 9:33). Hija l-istess mistoqsija li Ġesù jagħmel aktar tard liż-żewġ dixxipli ta’ Għemmaws li kienu mexjin lejn darhom, jitħaddtu fuq id-diffikultajiet li kellhom: “Ġesù nnifsu resaq lejhom u baqa’ miexi magħhom” (Lq 24:15).
Wara li sema’ x’kienu jgħidu bejniethom, hu wkoll beda jgħid tiegħu, u fissrilhom dak li l-Kelma ta’ Alla kienet tgħid fuq il-ġrajjiet li kienu jinkwetawhom. Tant kien jagħmel sens dak li qalilhom, li meta qorbu lejn darhom, stednuh biex jgħaddi s’għandhom u jibqa’ magħhom: “U daħal joqgħod magħhom” (Lq 24:29). U hemm għarfuh waqt li kien jaqsam il-ħobż. U fil-Vanġelu li smajna llum, Ġesù wkoll jitkellem mad-dixxipli tiegħu fl-intimità tad-dar. Lil Ġesù nagħrfuh tassew meta nistednuh f’darna u nħalluh isir parti mill-ħajja tal-familja tagħna.
Fil-Bibbja nsibu l-istorja ta’ Alla li jiġri wara l-bniedem
Alla jinteressah minna, minn dak li nħossu u minn dak li jiġrilna. Fil-Bibbja kollha tinħass ix-xewqa ta’ Alla li jkun magħna l-bnedmin. Sa mill-bidu nett Alla kien jippassiġġa ma’ Adam u Eva fil-ġnien (Ġen 3:8). Alla jsejjaħ nies bħal Abraham, Mosè u l-profeti biex jgħinu lill-poplu jagħraf l-imħabba ta’ dan il-Missier għalihom. Għax hu dejjem iħares biex jara, u jissemma’ biex jagħraf il-krib tal-familji tagħna (ara Eż 3:7).
Saħansitra jasal li jiġi f’nofsna f’Ġesù biex aħna nkunu nistgħu narawh, immissuh, nisimgħuh u fuq kollox inħossu l-imħabba tiegħu li ssalvana. Bir-raġun il-Papa Franġisku jixtieq li fis-sena tal-Ġublew nirriflettu dwar il-fatt li aħna pellegrini tat-tama. Il-miġja ta’ Ġesù fostna mhix għajr l-ogħla wirja tat-tama li għandu l-Missier fina l-bnedmin!
Il-Vanġeli jgħallmuna li Ġesù jdawlilna l-ġrajjiet ta’ ħajjitna bil-Kelma u bl-istorja tiegħu, jieħu ħsiebna tant li wasal li jagħti ħajtu għalina, jagħtina ġismu u demmu bħala ikel li jmantnina. Ġesù huwa l-Għimmanuel – Alla magħna (Mt 1:23). U billi huwa Rxoxt, imqajjem mill-mewt, jibqa’ magħna għal dejjem: “U ara, jiena magħkom dejjem, sal-aħħar taż-żmien” (Mt 28:20).
Il-Parroċċa hija l-post fejn illum Ġesù jiltaqa’ magħna
Ġesù għadu ħaj magħna llum, tassew u mhux biċ-ċajt! Qiegħed magħna fil-Kelma tal-Vanġelu, fl-imħabba lejn xulxin, speċjalment lejn il-foqra. Qiegħed magħna meta flimkien niċċelebraw il-festa tal-Qaddis jew Qaddisa tal-Parroċċa tagħna. Fuq kollox, qiegħed magħna fil-Qsim tal-Ħobż, fil-Quddiesa!
Għalkemm il-preżenza tiegħu mhix marbuta ma’ post jew ma’ żmien, Ġesù għażel il-Knisja biex permezz tagħha jkun preżenti fostna b’mod sħiħ. Il-parroċċi tagħna, bid-difetti tagħhom, huma l-post konkret fejn din il-preżenza ta’ Ġesù tista’ tinħass u tkompli tikber.
Aktar minn qatt qabel, f’dan iż-“żmien li fih nimxu flimkien” (sinodalità), aħna nagħrfu l-valur u s-sejħa ta’ kulħadd fil-Parroċċa. L-Arċipriet jew Kappillan, flimkien mas-saċerdoti u lajċi impenjati, u dawk kollha li jattendu għall-quddiesa, it-tfal tal-katekiżmu, il-gruppi tal-adolexxenti, iż-żgħażagħ, il-gruppi u l-għaqdiet, il-familji kollha li rċevew is-sagramenti, l-anzjani u l-morda kollha tal-lokalità, il-Kattoliċi minn pajjiżi oħra… dawn kollha jiffurmaw il-Parroċċa. Dawn kollha flimkien huma msejħin jgħinu lil xulxin ħalli jagħmlu esperjenza tal-preżenza ta’ Ġesù, Saċerdot li jqaddes bil-liturġija, Profeta li jwassal l-aħbar it-tajba, Ragħaj li jieħu ħsieb id-dgħajjef u l-batut.
L-Isqof għandu s-sejħa li jwettaq il-komunitajiet li jemmnu
L-Arċipriet jew Kappillan u s-saċerdoti li jaqdu fil-Parroċċa għandhom is-sejħa li jisimgħu, jilqgħu u jgħinu lil ħuthom, membri tal-komunità parrokkjali, biex jikbru f’din l-esperjenza tal-preżenza ta’ Ġesù. U din is-sejħa partikolari tmiss aktar mill-qrib lill-Isqof, li miegħu huma marbuta l-kappillani u s-saċerdoti fit-twettiq tal-ħidma tagħhom.
Għal din ir-raġuni, sa mill-bidu tal-Knisja l-Isqfijiet kienu jagħmlu Viżta Pastorali fil-komunitajiet Insara, biex jisimgħuhom, jifhmuhom u jgħinuhom jissaħħu bħala dixxipli ta’ Ġesù. Fl-Atti tal-Appostli naqraw kif Pietru, Pawlu, Luqa, Barnaba u Timotju, minn żmien għal żmien, kienu jżuru l-komunitajiet Insara (il-parroċċi primittivi) li huma stess kienu waqqfu.
Matul is-snin, l-Isqfijiet tad-Djoċesi tagħna għamlu l-ħila kollha tagħhom biex minn żmien għal żmien ikunu qrib is-saċerdoti u l-komunitajiet parrokkjali permezz tal-Viżta Pastorali. Hekk, ngħidu aħna, il-Kardinal Mario Grech, meta kien Ragħaj ta’ din il-Knisja lokali, għamel il-Viżta Pastorali fil-parroċċi kollha tad-Djoċesi fis-snin 2013-2015.
Il-grazzja ta’ Viżta Pastorali oħra
Għalhekk, minn Ottubru li ġej ser jerġa’ jkollna fid-Djoċesi tagħna l-grazzja tal-Viżta Pastorali. Flimkien ma’ xi saċerdoti u lajċi ppreparati, ser niġi nżur kull parroċċa tad-Djoċesi għal ġimgħa sħiħa.
Matul din il-ġimgħa nixtiequ niltaqgħu possibbilment ma’ kull min jagħmel parti mill-Parroċċa. Ser ikun hemm irtir għas-saċerdoti u r-reliġjużi, laqgħat mat-tfal u l-ġenituri tagħhom, mal-adolexxenti, maż-żgħażagħ, mal-għarajjes u l-ġenituri tagħhom, laqgħat mal-familji, man-nanniet, mal-anzjani, mal-Kattoliċi ta’ nazzjonijiet oħra, u żjajjar lill-morda. Għal dan il-għan qiegħed jitħejja programm ma’ kull wieħed mill-kappillani tagħkom.
Minn qalbi nixtieq inħeġġiġkom ilkoll biex titolbu flimkien miegħi biex minn din il-Viżta Pastorali joħroġ il-ġid spiritwali u materjali għall-komunitajiet parrokkjali tagħna. Nixtieq li kull parroċċa tpoġġi l-Viżta Pastorali tagħha taħt il-protezzjoni tal-Qaddis Patrun jew Qaddisa Patruna tagħha.
Nixtieq fl-aħħar nett nistieden lill-Arċiprieti u l-Kappillani kollha, flimkien mas-saċerdoti, ir-reliġjużi rġiel u nisa, il-lajċi kkonsagrati u l-lajċi membri tal-għaqdiet kollha tal-parroċċi, biex ikunu preżenti għall-Pontifikal Solenni li ser nagħmlu nhar il-Ħadd 29 ta’ Settembru fis-6.00pm fil-Katidral tal-Assunta, biex niftħu uffiċjalment il-Viżta Pastorali Djoċesana 2024-2025.
Nagħtikom il-Barka tiegħi.
Mogħtija llum, 16 ta’ Settembru 2024, il-160 Anniversarju mit-Twaqqif tad-Djoċesi ta’ Għawdex, mill-Kurja Veskovili, il-Belt Victoria.
Mons. Edward Zammit Anton Teuma
Kanċillier Isqof ta’ Għawdex
“So he went in to stay with them” (Lk 24:29)
Letter to announce the pastoral visit in the Diocese of Gozo by H.L. Mgr Anton Teuma, Bishop of Gozo.
Pastoral letter by H.L. Mgr Anton Teuma
It is not always easy for us to acknowledge Jesus’ presence. This is particularly so during difficult and stressful times.
God is interested in our problems
Today’s Gospel narrative could very well be our family’s. The disciples were arguing among themselves as to who was the most important. Jesus is interested in what is going on between them and asks them: “What were you arguing about on the way?” (Mk 9:33). It is the same question Jesus poses later on to the two disciples of Emmaus on their way home embroiled in their predicament: “Jesus himself came near and went with them” (Lk 24:15).
After listening to what they had to say, he proffered his own elucidating their worries in the light of the Word of God. What he said made so much sense that as they approached their destination, they entreated him to linger on with them: “So he went in to stay with them” (Lk 24:29). And they recognised him as he broke the bread. In today’s Gospel, Jesus converses with his disciples in the intimacy of their dwelling. We can recognise his presence if we invite him home and let him become one of our own.
The Bible is all about God in search of man
God is interested in us, in what we feel and in what we undergo. The Bible is all about God’s wish to accompany us. From the outset God used to walk alongside Adam and Eve in the garden (Gen 3:8). God calls Abraham, Moses and the prophets to help the people understand and experience the Father’s love for them. He is always looking out to hear any cries of anguish of our families (cfr Ezek 3:7).
Beyond all expectations, God has come amongst us personally in Jesus so that we could see him, touch him, listen to him and above all else, to experience his saving love. It is with good reason that Pope Francis wishes us to reflect upon our status as pilgrims of hope during the Jubilee Year. Jesus’ stay among us is nothing else than the highest expression of the Father’s hope in us!
The Gosepl narratives teach us that Jesus enlightens our lives with his Word and his Event. He takes care of us to the extent that he gave up his life willingly to save us and gives us his body and blood to nourish us during our earthly pilgirmage. Jesus is the Emmanuel – God with us (Mt 1:23). And being raised up from the dead he remains with us forever: “And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age” (Mt 28:20).
The Parish is the locus of our encounter with Jesus
Jesus is alive among us today. This is not a joke but the truth! He is with us in the Word of the Gospel, in our reciprocal love, particularly in our service to the poor. He is with us when we celebrate our Patron Saints. Above all he is with us in the Breaking of the Bread during Holy Mass.
Although his presence is not tied up with a specific location or time, Jesus chose the Church so that through the Church he is ever-present in a complete manner. Our parishes, with all their limits, are the concrete places where Jesus’ presence can be felt and and intensifies.
More than ever before, in our times when “we are called to journey together” (synodality), we should value each and everyone’s vocation in the parish. The Archpriest or Parish Priest together with the fellow priests, committed faithful and all who participate in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the children who attend catechism lessons, groups of adolescents, families who receive the sacraments, the elderly and sick of the locality, Catholics from other countries… all these form the Parish. All are called to help each other to experience Jesus’ presence, the High Priest who sanctifies through the Liturgy, the Prophet who proclaims the Good News, the Shepherd who tends the vulnerable and ailing.
The Bishop is called to confirm the communities of the faithful
The Archpriest or Parish Priest and the priests who serve in the Parish are called to listen, to welcome and help their brethren, members of the parish community, to intensify the experience of the presence of Jesus. This particular vocation pertains in a special manner to the Bishop with whom the parish priests and clergy are in communion in their apostolic mission.
To achieve this aim, from the early times of the Church, Bishops conducted Pastoral Visits in their respective communities in order to have time to listen to them, understand them and help them mature as disciples of the Lord. In the Acts of the Apostles we read how Peter, Paul, Barnabas and Timothy from time to time used to visit the communities (original parishes) they had founded.
Throughout the years our Bishops did their best so that from time to time they remained close to the clergy and the parish communities by means of the Pastral Visit. For example, Cardinal Mario Grech, as Pastor of our local Church, conducted a Pastoral Visit throughout the Diocese between 2013-2015.
The blessing of another Pastoral Visit
Therefore, as from the coming October another Pastoral Visit will be held in our Diocese. Together with some priests and well-prepared lay persons, I will visit for a whole week every parish of our Diocese.
Throughout the week we wish to meet with possibly all who are part of the Parish. There will be a retreat for the the clergy and religious, meetings with children and their parents, with the adolescents, the young people, the couples who are preparing for marriage and their parents, the families, grandparents and the elderly, Catholics from other countries, and the sick. To achieve this aim, a specific programme is being prepared with each parish priest.
I heartfully entreat you to join me in prayers so that much spiritual and material good ensues from this Pastoral Visit to the benfit of our Parishes. It is my wish that each parish entrusts the Pastoral Visit under the protection of their respective Patron Saint.
I wish to invite the Archpriests and Parish Priests together with the clergy, the religious, the consecrated lay persons and all the lay movements in the parishes to be present during the Solemn Pontifical High Mass which will be celebrated at the Cathedral of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin on Sunday 29 September at 6.00pm to mark the official opening of the Diocesan Pastoral Visit 2024-2025.
I impart to you my Apostolic Blessing.
Given from the Bishop’s Curia, Victoria, on the 16th of September 2024, the 160th Anniversary of the Foundation of the Diocese of Gozo.
Mgr Edward Zammit Anton Teuma
Chancellor Bishop of Gozo
For Download:
(ae 21-2024) – ittra dwar il-viżta pastorali fid-Djoċesi ta’ Għawdex [mt]
(ae 21-2024) – ittra dwar il-viżta pastorali fid-Djoċesi ta’ Għawdex [eng]