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Caritas, in partnership with the Permanent Observer Mission of the Holy See to UNESCO, will hold a conference on the 27thand 28th of October 2022, titled: “The Full Face of Humanity: Women in leadership for a just society”.
This conference:
Explore sociological, ethical and political perspectives on women’s leadership and the need to reflect particularly on the participation of women in society at all levels.
Examine key issues affecting women through the lens of poverty and violence, and the way in which they perpetuate a culture of exclusion; analyse the obstacles which these issues present to women in accessing leadership and decision-making positions, and explore how the empowerment of women through education, capacity strengthening and access to resources would help to overcome these barriers; explore examples of good practices from Caritas and UNESCO’s experience in the field.
Propose concrete strategies for how the international community can promote a culture of women in leadership, ensure that grassroots experiences and needs are represented at local, regional and global policy and decision-making tables, and work towards sustainable change and the removal of barriers and injustices faced by women in society.
The Full Face of Humanity: Women in leadership for a just society - 27 Oct, morningThis conference is co-organised by Caritas Internationalis and the Holy See, under the patronage of UNESCO.
This event will be a mean to raise awareness about the barriers women face in society due to poverty, violence and lack of access to education, to demonstrate how women’s empowerment works to break down these barriers, to propose a way forward for concrete action, and to create the necessary synergies between these organisations and other key stakeholders in order to achieve these shared goal
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The Full Face of Humanity: Women in leadership for a just society - 27 Oct, afternoon
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Closure of first day of Caritas conference: The face of humanity, Women in roles of leadership
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The Full Face of Humanity: Women in leadership for a just society - 28 Oct, morning
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The Full Face of Humanity: Women in leadership for a just society - 28 Oct, afternoon
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Round-up of final day of Caritas conference on women in leadership
28 Oct 2022 - Vatican News - English correspondent in Paris, Francesca Merlo, offers her take on the second and last day of “The Full Face of Humanity: Women in leadership for a just society” conference in Paris, where people from around the world continued to discuss the hopes, fears, and solutions for women facing barriers to leadership in society.
What happens to those old cell phones that we no longer use or the computers, tablets, or the electronic and other equipment from hospitals? Mostly they end up in open landfills with a disastrous impact on the environment. But one company in the Italian province of Cremona has developed a clever system for recovering and refining the gold, silver, platinum, palladium and other precious elements contained in these devices. A recent accord has also been struck with the Vatican. Gottardi: with the Pope we say ‘no’ to the culture of waste and exploitation. A new technique for recovering precious metals from electronic waste products
The life of St. Peter takes form every night, from 9 PM to 11 PM on 2-16 October, on the facade of the Vatican Basilica dedicated to the Fisherman of Galilee. The project uses video projection mapping to mix art, history, and technology and explore the mission of the Prince of the Apostles.video published on 12 Oct 2022
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10 t'Ottubru 2023 - Għeluq is-sena mill-mewt tal-Patri Elija Vella
Knisja Parrokkjali ta' Marija Addolorata, San Pawl il-Baħar, Malta.
- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5GDgg780kZY -
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Stsnropdor66g09foe,29m281l161215l9198btg5hc0aNet Television Oa22794a12i2
Waqt 𝐍𝐞𝐭 𝐋𝐢𝐯𝐞 tal-bieraħ Robert Cremona tkellem mal-awtur tal-ktieb 'The Rite to fight Satan' Raymond Fenech Gonzi u ma' Patri Marcello Ghirlando dwar Parti Elija Vella.
Fil-programm deher ukoll servizz b'intervista ma' Charmaine Camilleri Grech li rrakuntat miraklu li għamel magħha Patri Elija Vella.
Illejla tħabret il-mewt ta’ Patri Elija Vella tal-Franġiskani Konventwali li ġrat ġewwa l-Isptar Mater Dei, ikkonfortat bis-Sagramenti Mqaddsa fl-eta’ ta’ 81 sena.
Patri Elija Vella (Freddie) twieled San Pawl il-Baħar nhar it-28 ta’ Frar 1941. Iben Vincent u Maria nee Sammut. Trabba San Pawl il-Baħar fl-akbar għożża tal-famija flimkien mal-għażiża oħtu Mary. Bejn l-1949 u l-1952 kien jingħata l-privat tal-Latin u l-Filosofija minn Patri Bernardin Attard OFM Conv. Kien fl-4 ta’ Novembru 1953 meta daħal bħala Postulant mal-Patrijiet Franġiskani Konventwali fl-età ta’ 12-il sena. Fl-1956 beda n-Novizzjat ġewwa Assisi u tawh l-isem ta’ Elija fejn nhar it-22 ta’ Settembru 1957 għamel l-ewwel professjoni tiegħu fuq il-qaqbar għażiż ta’ Missierna San Franġisk ġewwa Assisi. Huwa ġie lura Malta u kompla l-istudji filosofiċi u dawk Teoloġiċi fil-kulleġġ tal-Ordni tagħna l-Belt. Kien nhar it-8 ta’ April 1962 meta għamel il-professjoni Solenni. Huwa ntbgħat Ruma jissokta l-istudji tiegħu fis-Seraphicum. Id-Djakonat ħadu Ruma stess minn idejn il-Kardinal Traglia fil-Bażilika SS. Appostoli. Huwa ġie Ordnat Saċerdot fil-knisja parrokkjali ta’ San Pawl il-Baħar fl-età ta’ 23 sena nhar it-30 ta’ Awwissu 1964 mill-Isqof Emanuel Galea. Wara mar lura Ruma biex jispeċjalizza fit-Teoloġija Dommatika fil-Kateketika u fit-Teoloġija Pastorali fl-Universita tal-Lateran. Lura Malta, Patri Elija beda jgħallem l-Inserm li kien Istitut għal dawk ir-reliġjużi kienu jkunu qed jħejju ruħhom għas-saċerdozju. Ma damx ma sar segretarju, imbagħad Rettur ta’ dan l-imsemmi istitut. Għalkemm fis-sena 1974 Patri Elija spiċċa minn Rettur tal-Inserm, huwa baqa' jgħallem it-Teoloġija Dommatika għal diversi snin sas-sena 1990. Bejn is-snin 1974 u l-1980 huwa mexxa l-Provinċja tal-Franġiskani Konventwali bħala Provinċjal. Patri Elija kellu qabel xejn dak il-kuntat spiss ma’ kull patri tal-Provinċja. Kif qalli xi ħadd dan l-aħħar kien poġġa f’ħajtu l-frażi ta’ San Pawl meta qal li kien jifraħ ma min jifraħ u jibki ma min jibki. Il-patri qabel kollox huwa bniedem tad-demm u l-laħam, u jekk ma tieħux ħsieb il-wellbeing tiegħu ibati ħafna. Il-Patri jrid min jħobbu u jifhmu mingħajr ma’ dak li jkun jiġi b’ħafna kundanni jew suspetti. F’kelma waħda Patri Elija kien Missier u ħabib tassew tal-patrijiet.
Huwa ħadem kemm felaħ għall-formazzjoni Franġiskana fil-provinċja. Kien hu li daħħal fil-Provinċja l-użu tat-tonka griża flok sewda. Fi żmienu kien hemm il-kwistjoni jekk il-Kustodja tal-Awstralja tibqax Kustodja jew le u kien hemm ukoll il-ġrajja tal-Manikata, meta kien hemm il-ħsieb jew xewqa li din tingħata lill-Konventwali. Però nafu li dan ma seħħx u li din kienet bdiet titmexxa mis-Saċerdoti Djoċesani.
Meta fis-sena 1980 spiċċa minn Provinċjal Huwa ġie magħżul Gwardjan u Kappillan tal-Parroċċa ta’ San Pawl il-Baħar. F’din il-parroċċa li tagħha huwa kien Iben Denn, ħadem bi mħabba liema bħala. U nafu li għalkemm Evanġelizza kemm felaħ b’kull mezz fil-knisja parrokkjali, fiċ-Ċentru Parrokkjali, Knejjes u Kappelel tal-parroċċa kif ukoll permezz tal-fuljett parrokkjali Leħen il-Parroċċa, imma sa min dak iż-żmien induna li l-knisja u l-ħidma tal-kappillan u l-patrijiet ma tistax tibqa' magħluqa fis-sagristija. Ħareġ ifittex lin-nagħġa l-mitlufa l-aktar dik fil-periferija. Ħadem kemm felaħ fost il-familji u organizza fuq li organizza formazzjoni profonda lil kulħadd. In-novena tal-Milied beda jagħmilha fid-djar u familji differenti u b’hekk kienu jinġabru n-nies ta’ dik it-triq partikolari. L-istess kien isir b’diversi laqgħat fuq il-Bibbja, dik li llum insejħulha l-Lectio Divina. Ħadem fuq kollox fil-ministeru tal-fejqan u kull xahar kienet tiġi organizzata laqgħa ta’ talb għall-morda b’mard fiżiku u spiritwali. Quddiesa simili għadha ssir sal-ġurnata tal-lum darba fix-xahar bl-isem ta’ Liberation Mass u li għalija jiġu nies minn kull post ta’ Malta u Għawdex. Fi żmien ir-Randan kienu jsiru 5 korsijiet ta’ eżerċizzi fil-knisja parrokkjali u eżerċizzi oħrajn fil-knisja ta’ San Ġużepp ix-Xemxija, fil-Kappella tal-Madonna tal-Abbandunati l-Wardija u f’dik ta’ Sant’ Anna fil-Pwales. Ħadem kemm felaħ fost il-familji kif ukoll mal-grupp Kariżmatiku fil-Parroċċa li ħa l-isem bħala Komunità Pentecoste.
Ġrajja li zgur tibqa’ minquxa f’qalb kull Pawlin hija meta nhar l-10 ta’ Ġunju 1983 wasal fil-Parroċċa l-kwadru għażiż tal-Madonna ta’ Pinu li kien qed idur il-parroċċi. Patri Elija kien ħa ħsieb ukoll li jdur mal-bżonnijiet tal-knisja parrokkjali. Fi żmienu saru ż-żewġ niċeċ fil-korsija tal-knisja, sabiex fihom jitpoġġew l-istatwa Titulari tad-Duluri u dik ta’ San Pawl. Dawn in-niċeċ saru b’tali mod li l-istatwi jibqgħu fuq il-bradelli armati u permezz ta’ roti jkunu jistgħu jidħlu u jinħarġu min-niċċa bla ebda tbatija żejda. Fi żmienu kienet ġiet irranġata mill-ġdid is-Sala Parrokkjali u kienu reġgħu bdew jintwerew il-films reliġjuzi. Nafu li saret girlanda ġdida tal-fjuri għall-istatwa titulari kif ukoll sar restawr fuq l-istatwa u l-pedistall tad-Duluri. Żgur li ħafna jibqgħu jiftakru li kien fi żmienu li nbena l-kampnar il-ġdid tal-knisja parrokkjali u saret il-qanpiena l-kbira. Din waslet San Pawl il-Baħar nhar l-14 ta’ Settembru 1984. Dakinhar saru festi kbar ġewwa San Pawl il-Baħar, billi l-qanpiena għaddiet minn diversi triqat tal-parroċċa bis-sehem tal-Banda San Pawl fost il-ferħ tal-Pawlini, fejn twasslet lejn il-knisja parrokkjali. Sadattant kien ġie konkluż ix-xogħol fil-kampnar u kien nhar l-24 ta’ Marzu 1985 li ġie fil-Parroċċa Mons. Ġuzeppi Mercieca Arċisqof ta’ Malta sabiex bierek solennament din il-qanpiena. Nafu li dakinhar mill-ġdid kienu saru festi kbar ġo San Pawl il-Baħar li kkomemoraw din il-ġrajja. Il-qanpiena Pawlina ġiet imtellgħa f’postha madwar il-11.15am, fejn għall-ħabta ta’ nofsinhar kienet f’posta u b hekk indaqqet mota ta’ ferħ.
Huwa dam imexxi din il-parroċċa sas sena 1986.
Tajjeb li nsemmu li bħala rikonoxximent tax-xogħol li wettaq, ingħata l-Midalja San Pawl nhar id-19 ta’ Jannar 1983 kif ukoll ġieħ il-parroċċa ta’ San Pawl il-Baħar fid-29 ta’ Lulju 2022.
Bejn is-snin 1986 u l-1994 huwa kien id-Delegat tal-Arċisqof Ġużeppi Mercieca għall-membri tal-Ħajja Reliġjuza, jiġifieri tal-patrijiet u s-sorijiet kollha.
Kien fis-sena 1995 fejn Mons. Arċisqof Ġuzeppi Mercieca, ħatru President tal-Kummissjoni Djoċesana Okkult u Sataniżmu u għalhekk bħala eżorċista. Fl-1999 Huwa nħatar eżorċista ufiċċjali tad-Djoċesi, liema xogħol huwa wettaq u għadu jwettaq sal-lum bi mħabba u metekolożità kbira.
Huwa awtur ta’ numru bla għadd ta' kotba li anke ġew tradotti għal diversi ilsna. L-ewwel ktieb tiegħu kien fuq il-Qrar u dan kien pubblikat fl-1965. Huwa direttur spiritwali ta' diversi persuni fosthom dawk konsagrati, saċerdoti, patrijiet u sorijiet. Nistgħu ngħidu li Patri Elija dar id-dinja jevanġelizzza, jagħti rtiri u konferenzi xi ħaġa li baqa' jagħmel sa qabel il-pandemija. Tajjeb insemmu li Patri Elija, kellu x-xorti jiltaqa personalment 3 darbiet ma’ Santa Tereza ta’ Calcutta kif ukoll ma’ San Ġwanni Pawlu II.
Fl-1965 huwa beda l-ħidma pastorali tiegħu b’intervisti u konferenzi fuq ir-radio, television u gazzetti. Fl-1978 huwa atenda l-Konferenza Internazzjonali tal-Moviment Karizmatiku, f’ Dublin u kien wieħed mill-kelliema prinċipali. Fl-1990 Huwa ta’ l-ewwel irtir barra minn Malta ġewwa Sqallija. Fl-1993 Huwa għamel l-ewwel seminars ġewwa Czech Republic u oħrajn fi Slovakia.
Dan l-aħħar Patri Elija għalkemm naqqas xi ftit mil-attività li kellu minħabba l- Pandemija kif ukoll minħabba l-eta’ u l-mard, imma baqa jwettaq il-ministeru saċerdotali tiegħu b’kull mezz possibli għalih. Ta’ kulljum baqa jqaddes il-quddiesa ta’ filgħodu fil-knisja parokkjali ta’ San Pawl il-Baħar, kif ukoll il-Libertion Mass li ssir darba fix-xahar. Infatti l-aħħar li qaddes fil-knisja parrokkjali kien dak inhar tal-aħħar Liberation Mass li saret il-Ħamis 22 ta’ Settembru li għadda. Is-Sibt daħal l-isptar Mater Dei fejn il-qagħda ta’ saħtu marret lura ħafna fl-aħħar jiem. Ilbieraħ filgħaxija huwa rċieva d-dilka tal-morda u llum wara nofs inhar miet fis-sliem mal-Mulej. Grazzi Patri Elija ta’ dak kollu li kont u għamilt magħna
Fra Ġorġ Micallef OFM Conv 10 ta’ Ottubru 2022
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Song of St Francis - a prayer for healing (With Lyrics)
It-Tlieta, 11 t'Ottubru, 2022, l-għada li l-maħbub eżorċista Patri Elija Vella OFM Conv. mar jiltaqa mal-Mulej, il-komunità Pentekoste, Parroċċa Marija Addolorata f'San Pawl il-Baħar Malta, immeditajna flimkien, fil-ħin limitat, ir-Rużarju tal-Ferħ b'riflessjonijiet tant qosra fuq Patri Elija R.I.P.
1.
Meta l-anġlu Gabrijel ħabbar lil sidtna Marija li kellha tkun omm Alla:
Sa minn
ċkunitha, Marija ġiet imrawwmha tgħożż u tobdi l-Kelma ta’ Alla u bħal kull
tfajla Lhudija, kienet qed tistenna l-Messija! Marija tibqa’ soda b’fidi sħiha
f’Alla minkejja l-ħars suspettuż, ġudizzji u tgħajjir ! Bħal Marija rridu
nitgħallmu nistqarru kull ħin - Ikun li trid int Mulej, kif fis-sema u hekkda
fl-art.
Patri Elija
minn ċkunitu trabba fl-akbar għożża fil-familja, jitgħallem u jaqdi lil Alla;
Ta 8 snin kien ġa qed jitgħallem il-Latin u Filosofija; u ta’ 12 il-sena daħal bħala Postulant mal-Patrijiet Franġiskani
Konventwali.
L-Ispirtu Qaddis baqa’ jilluminaħ kif jevanġelizza tul il-ħajja reliġjuza
kollha; billi beda li l-komunità trid toħroġ
mis-sagristija, tiġbor in-nagħġa l-mitlufa, imwarrba, imħawwdha, vulnerabbli;
kien beda l-Lectio Divina fid-djar u fit-toroq; beda wkoll laqgħat ta’ talb u
fejqan għall-morda b’mard fiżiku u spiritwali, fejn imbagħad bdiet issir il-liberation Mass ta’ kull
xaħar. Kif jingħad fis-salm 69:10 “Il-ħeġġa għal darek fnietni!” Sa l-aħħar
mumenti qabel ma miet, stqarr ma’ Fra George li kemm kien ilu l-isptar kien ilu
ma jqaddes 11 il-ġurnata – ara kif kien magħqud ħaġa waħda miegħek O Alla !
Sa l-aħħar nifs baqa' jferraħ qalb il-bniedem b'imħabbtek Mulej!
2.
Meta sidtna Marija marret iżżur lill-qariba tagħha Santa Eliżabetta: Marija, mara missjunarja u mara sensittiva għall-bżonnijiet
tal-oħrajn – tħaffef biex twassal id-divinità li dawwal lilha u lil Eliżabetta
f’għajjat ta’ ferħ qaddis, minkejja l-għejja tal-vjaġġ twil, minkejja li hi
tqila
L-Ispirtu
Qaddis ried ukoll li Patri Elija jkun missjunarju mhux f’Malta biss imma
fl-aktar postijiet imbegħda, li minkejja jvjaġġa f’partijiet diffiċli u
perikolużi jurina f’kitbietu kemm baqa’ posittiv, jegħleb il-biża u
l-oppożizzjoni bl-umoriżmu, waqt li jintelaq għar-rieda t’Alla !
3.
Meta sidna Ġesù Kristu twieled fl-għar ta’ Betlehem:
Minkejja li
minn mument għal ieħor kien se jseħħ il-qtil tat-trabi ta' taħt sentejn minħabba l-għira ta’ Erodi, Ġesù, l-iben t’Alla,
allura t-tieni persuna tat-Trinità Qaddisa, Int obdejt r-rieda tal-Missier u
tiġi titħallat fil-miżerja tagħna, fil-faqar tagħna, fil-ħmieġ tagħna, fid-dwejjaq
tagħna, u titwieled ġo għar ... u biex tidher kemm hi l-għaxqa tiegħek magħna,
l-anġli kantaw mis-sema Glorja lil Alla fl-għoli tas-smewwiet u paċi fl-art
lil-bnedmin ta’ rieda tajba ! = lir-ragħajja – nies imwarrba mis-soċjeta,
saħansitra anki kriminali = Iva Mulej Ġesù għax għalik ma jbeżżakx it-taħwid,
il-ġenn, id-diżordni ... għax kif aħna nħalluk tidħol f’ħajjitna, Int iġġibilna
l-ordni, nibdew naraw kifqed nimbidlu
fi bnedmin ġodda - kull negattività timbidel fil-ħlewwa, ħniena, maħfra, kalma,
rażan u iva anke f’ferħ qaddis --- minkejja l-biki, it-trawmi li ngħaddu
minnhom u s-sofferenzi fis-silenzju ... bħal ma għaddha Patri Elija b'perseveranza u b’tama sħiha fiK, tul ħajtu kollha.
4.
Meta sidtna Marija u San Ġużepp ippreżentaw lil Ġesù fit-tempju:
Hawn
naraw l-umiltà u l-ubbidjenza għall-Liġi. Marija u Gużeppi marru ferħanin biex
jippreżentaw lil Ġesù ... u ħarġu fis-silenzju, irrassenjati wara l-profezija
ta’ Xmun! Missjoni fuq missjoni !
Hekk ukoll
Patri Elija dejjem qad iservi b’umiltà u b’ubbidjenza sħiħa, jaqdi dmirijietu
mingħajr ma jaf x’jiġifieri ħela ta’ ħin – filli Malta, filli l-Brażil, filli
Slovakkja. Dan minbarra li kien isib ħin jikteb tant kotba biex iwassal
is-sbuħija ta' imħabbtek Mulej!
5.
Meta sidtna Marija u Ġużeppi tilfu lil Ġesù u, wara tlitt ijiem, sabuh fit-tempju jiddisputa mad-dutturi:
Hawn naraw
Ir-rispett ta’ Marija lejn Ġużeppi, tgħid lil Ġesù:
[Lq:48] Kif
rawh, instamtu, u ommu qaltlu: “Ibni, dan għaliex għamiltilna hekk? Ara,
missierek u jiena konna qegħdin infittxuk b’qalbna maqsuma!”
Min jaf
kemm ħassewhom li qed jiddizappuntaw lil Alla. Imma minkejja t-tferfir, anzjetà u t-tħassib, il-familja mqaddsa baqgħet maqgħuda b'fidi soda, mistgħaġba u tgħożż il-ġrajjiet
straordinarji li kellhom jgħaddu minnhom ma’ Ġesù, il-ħaruf t’Alla li:
“Qasba mġelġla ma jiksirhiex,u musbieħ inemnem ma jitfihx,sa ma jwassal il-ġustizzja għar-rebħa,u f’ismu
jittamaw il-ġnus.”(Mt 12, 20),
u obda sal-mewt,
anzi sal-mewt tas-salib biex aħna ninħelsu mill-ħażen li ħemm fina u madwarna biex
ingawdu mis-sbuħija tal-liġi tiegħek O Alla !
Grazzi O Trinita Qaddisa. Grazzi Qaddisa Omm Alla
Għażiż
Patri Elija aħna llum qed irroddu ħajr
lil Alla u l-gratitudni
lejk għall-wirt kbir li ħallejtilna fil-memorja tagħna, f’qalbna u f’moħħna – Dik il-kitba
kollha, dawk l-omeliji, dawk il-katekeżijiet, l-eżertizzi, irtiri, konferenzi u seminars, kif ukoll sensiliet ta' programmi audio li ħa jibqgħu magħna fuq Programmes Archive - Radju Marija u videos fil-YouTube u mezzi oħrajn.
Kemm il-darba f’kull quddiesa li kont tqaddes mill-qalb,ħarġilna d-dmugħ, nisimgħuk tkellem lil Alla l-Missier, li jilqa’ l-offerta ta’
Ibnu l-għażiż, mal-qawwa tal-Kelma mill-Ispirtu Qaddis li jmexxi f’kull
quddiesa ! Għażiż issa qiegħed ħdejn Alla, l-qaddisin u l-qtajja tal-anġli
tas-sema, għax għalhekk għext! Patri Elija
itlob għalina. R.I.P.
Concelebrated Mass for the Repose of the Soul of Patri Elija Vella 14.10.2022 18:00 CEST - VIDEO STARTS @ 8:40 MINUTES Parish Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, San Pawl il-Baħar
Patri Elija Vella's Celebration of Life 15.10.2022 09:30 CEST - VIDEO STARTS @ 23:12 MINUTES Parish Church of Our Lady of Sorrows, San Pawl il-Baħar
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Patri Elija Vella jingħata l-aħħar tislima - Is-Sibt, 15 ta' Ottubru 2022
Omelija li saret waqt il-funeral ta’ Patri Elija Vella tal-Franġiskani Konventwali li saret mil-Provinċjal Patri Colin Sammut
Eċċellenza Mons. Arċisqof tad-Djoċesi ta’ Malta, eċċellenzi, aħwa fis-saċerdozju, membri parlamentari, wisq rispettabli sindku, u poplu għażiż ta’ Alla. F’isem ħuti l-patrijiet tal-provinċja tagħna u l-familja ta’ Patri Elija nixtieq tassew nirringrazzjawkom minn qalbi għaliex illum għażiltu li tiġu hawn magħna biex ngħejxu dan il-mument, li huwa mument forsi diffiċili għal ħafna minna jekk mhux għal kulħadd għaliex fih qegħdin ngħixu mumenti ta’ niket kif ukoll forsi mumenti ta’ ferħ mhux għax Patri Elija ħalliena imma għaliex tul ħajtu t-triq tagħna iltaqat mat-triq tiegħu. Patri Elija, imwieled San Pawl il-Baħar, tgħammed f’din il-parroċċa u għex għal ħafna żmien hawnhekk. Qabel ngħidu li kien saċerdot nistgħu ngħidu li kien Franġiskan, imma qabel kien Franġiskan kien mgħammed, Nisrani, Kattolku... imma qabel dan ukoll, kien bniedem uman, u jien naħseb u nemmen li kollha kemm intom taqblu miegħi li tul ħajtu kien kapaċi jifhem tassew x’inhi umanità permezz tal-għajnuna ta’ Alla l-Imbierek, u bena lilu nnifsu biex aħna wkoll nifhmu xi jiġifieri tkun bniedem. Kellu sentimenti mill-isbaħ, iżda fuq kollox il-ġenituri tiegħu għażlu li jagħtuh l-magħmudija li żergħet fih iż-żerriegħa tal-fidi, li lil hinn mis-sentimenti sbieħ li għandna għal Patri Elija tgħaqqadna lkoll flimkien illum. U forsi d-differenza bejnna u bejnu hija li hu ħadha tassew bis-serjetà u refa’ r-responsabbiltà biex din ix-xitla tal-fidi jieħu ħsiebha sakemm tikber u ssir dik is-siġra u tifrex il-friegħi tagħha fejn fihom setgħu jistkennu ħafna nies. U naħseb li din hija waħda mill-isbaħ tagħlimiet li nistgħu nieħdu, li ta’ Nisrani Elija għex il-fidi. Iżda qisu ma kienx biżżejjed għalih u Alla l-Imbierek ried xi ħaġa aktar minnu u sejjaħlu biex ikun patri Minuri Konventwali. Sejjaħlu biex jimxi fuq il-passi tal-fqajjar ta’ Assisi, u nafu kemm kien radikali l-fqajjar ta’ Assisi li ma ridtx xejn fid-dinja, ma ried l ebda kitba bħala proġett tal-ħajja tiegħu ħlief il-Vanġelu waħdu. San Franġisk kien iebes, iebes mal-patrijiet mhux għax kien kattiv, imma għax riedhom li jimxu biss wara Sidna Ġesù Kristu, riedna li ma nħarsu mkien ħlief f’għajnejh. U nemmen li Elija għamel l istess. Imma wkoll kien saċerdot. Għaliex Alla ma kienx biżżejjed għalih li sejjaħlu għal Nisrani u Franġiskan, imma riedu wkoll saċerdot, biex dawk il-grazzji kollha li Alla l-Imbierek ried jgħaddihom lill-poplu għażiż tiegħu u jgħaddihom ukoll permezz tiegħu. Elija għamel ċelebrazzjonijiet kbar, kemm fid-djoċesijiet tagħna f’Malta kif ukoll fid djoċesijiet madwar id-dinja, imma naħseb li llum hija l-aħħar waħda li sejħilna għaliha u ġabna hawnhekk mhux biex nifirħu u nibku biss, mhux biss nistagħġbu, imma wkoll biex iwissina forsi għall-aħħar darba bl-eżempju tal-ħajja tiegħu li kien wieħed mill-isbaħ. Il-Kelma li llum qrajna u smajna, għażluha b’ħafna attenzjoni l-għeżież tiegħu, u naħseb li hija sabiħa wkoll. U forsi Elija llum ried li proprju din il-Kelma tieqaf fil-qalb tagħna, u jekk din il-qalb għadha iebsa daqs il-ġebel tkompli tirtab jew forsi tibda tirtab. Għaliex il Kelma tagħmel id-differenza kollha. Naħseb li nistgħu ngħidu li mill-bidu sa nhar it-Tnejn li għadda, Patri Elija dejjem sema’ l Kelma. Imma wkoll ma kienx arroganti u vjolenti magħha imma kien iħalliha tkellmu, xi ħaġa li aħna mhux dejjem lesti li nagħmluha. Lezzjoni mill-isbaħ u nistgħu nżommuha fil qalb tagħna. Naħseb naqblu li għalkemm hija ċelebrazjoni ta’ niket, hija wkoll ċelebrazjoni ta’ paċi. U din il-paċi għaddiet lilna permezz ta’ Elija, imma hi ta’ Alla. U naħseb din hija teżor li għandna ngħożżu għal ħajjitna kollha. Kull min mexa miegħu jaf li ma kienx jitkellem minn rasu, jaf kemm kien jisma’ b’attenzjoni, jaf li kull min ikellmu kellu l-attenzjoni kollha tiegħu u meta jitkellem lura, mhux tant nisimgħu l-leħen tiegħu imma lil Alla jkellimna. Eżempji sbieħ wieħed wara l ieħor. San Franġisk ukoll jgħidlina, jew inkella aħjar min kiteb il-leġġendi dwaru, li darba minnhom San Franġisk fehem il-kobor ta’ Alla l-Imbierek u sejjaħlu: Kemm int Alla kbir... kemm inti ħelu... min int? U jien min jien?... dudu żgħir li ma niswa għal xejn. Naħseb dan huwa passaġġ importanti ħafna fil-ħajja Nisranija, fil-ħajja ta’ dawk li jieħdu bis-serjetà l-fidi u jridu jimxu wara Kristu, li jifhmu li hemmhekk hemm Alla l-onnipotenti li jista’ kollox, ħoloq lili... ħoloq lilek... lilna lkoll, l-ħlejjaq kollha tad-dinja kollha li mxew matul is-sekli fuq wiċċ din l-art, jifhmu l-kobor ta’ Alla u fl-istess ħin jifhmu ċ-ċokon tagħhom. Dan għal San Franġisk kien passaġġ importanti għaliex minn fqajjar ta’ Assisi għamlu fqajjar tal-għola faqar, li ispira ħafna nies madwaru. U naħseb li għandna nippruvaw nirriflettu ftit ukoll għaliex aħna ta’ nies tajbin u bravi li aħna, kultant naħsbu li aħna ħafna aktar milli aħna u ninsew inħarsu ’l fuq jew ġewwa fina biex naraw lil Alla l-Imbierek jikteb l-istorja, ifassal it-triq minn fejn għandna ngħaddu. Ifassal ukoll ir-relazzjonijiet, in-nies li sa niltaqgħu magħhom, u forsi jagħtina wkoll ħorġa mimlija żerriegħa ta’ tama biex niżirgħuha matul it-triq. Dan ninsewh, u naħseb li Elija għalih kien ċar daqs il-kristall, għaliex kellu ħafna biex jitkabbar, imma naħseb ħadd minna ma jafu bħala bniedem imkabbar. Kellu ħafna biex jgħid: jiena naf! Kellu l-kwalifiki kollha, jekk irridu nitkellmu bil-lingwaġġ tad-dinja, imma dejjem qgħad pass lura, għax fehem il-kobor ta’ Alla u ċ-ċokon tiegħu. Imma fl-istess ħin fehem li Alla l-Imbierek ried jużah, għaliex tah il-ħajja, tah il-fidi, sejjaħlu għall-ħajja Franġiskana, imma wkoll għall-ħajja ministerjali. San Franġisk jkompli jagħfas fuq il-patrijiet u jgħidilhom: toqgħodux tiftaħru bl-opri tal qaddisin, dak kien tagħhom... issa intom qiesu li tħabirku bħalhom ħalli tagħmlu bħalhom. U tkabbrux wisq raskom għaliex s’issa għadkom għamiltu ftit jew xejn. Fis-sempliċità ta’ Patri Elija naraw il-profondità ta’ Alla, għaliex ħallih, l-ewwel ikellmu, rattablu l-qalb tiegħu, li ma naħsibx li kienet tant iebsa, imma mbagħad tkellem. U dik il ħorġa li kellu mimlija żerriegħ ta’ tama, żeragħha kull fejn kien, sal-aħħar mumenti tal ħajja tiegħu. Is-Salm Responsorjali wkoll naħseb li huwa sinfikattiv, mhux biss għall-familjari li għażluh u lanqas għalija biss, iżda għalina lkoll. Fejn qegħdin naraw dan il-bniedem li jitlob, li jqatta’ ljieli mqajjem, u mhux fid-dispirazzjoni, kif forsi nagħmlu aħna, imma imqar bil-lejl qalbi tgħallimni. U hawnhekk naraw aspett ieħor tal-ħajja Nisranija: li għandha tkun magħquda ma’ Alla, li ebda mument fil-ħajja tagħna, iebes kemm hu iebes, aħrax kemm hu aħrax, m’għandna qatt naqaw għad-disperazzjoni, għaliex nemmen li dak li kiteb dan is-Salm daqshekk sabiħ, kien għaddej minn burraxxka kbira, imma ma waqafx għaliex ra lil Alla. Għax anki fit-tbatijiet kollha tiegħu ħalla lil Alla jkellmu. “Imbierek lill Mulej li tani l-fehma, imqar bil-lejl qalbi tgħallimni.” Kemm hu sabiħ li jkollna l-fehma, li mhiex l-opinjoni, għandna kollha kemm aħna d-dritt għall-opinjoni, imma l-fehma mhix l-opinjoni. Il-fehma hija dan id-dawl ta’ Alla l-Imbierek li jaqa’ fil-qlub tagħna, u jiftiħilna għajnejna beraħ biex nifhmu dak li aħna għaddejjin minnu. Il-fehma biex nagħrfu naqraw l-istorja tal-ħajja tagħna. U naħseb ma nkunx pessimist jekk ngħid li dawn iż-żminijiet il-fehma tajniha l-ġenb. Kemm hu importanti li nerġgħu nsibu din l-fehma. Nitolbu lil Alla l-Imbierek biex jagħtina dan id-dawl ħalli nifhmu dak li jrid minna. Għaliex wara kollox li nkunu Nsara, li nkunu ħaddanna l-fidi u qegħdin ngħixuha ifisser proprju dan: li qed nisma’ l-ħin kollu lil Alla jkellimni, biex nipprova nifhem dak li għaddej minnu, dak li n-nies għeżież ta’ madwari għaddejjin minnu, dak li d-dinja għaddejja minnu. Imma mhux bil-kapaċitajiet ta’ rasi imma bid-dawl ta’ Alla. U hawnhekk naħseb naraw ukoll l-aspett importanti ħafna tal-ħajja Nisranija li nkunu umli, kif kien San Franġisk, ħafna umli, kif kien Elija wkoll... umli. Aħna forsi mhux daqshekk, jeħtieġ inkomplu nimxu ’l quddiem. Il-bieraħ Diane u jien filgħaxija qabel iċ-ċelebrazzjoni, konna qegħdin nitkellmu ftit, u qaltli: min jaf x’inhu jaħseb iz-ziju, min jaf x’jgħidilna bħalissa! U jien għedtilha naħseb li Patri Elija bħalissa qed jrodd ħajr lil Alla, mhux għax ġibed dawn in-nies kollha hu, imma għax permezz tiegħu Alla l-Imbierek ġibidhom lejh. Għaliex permezz tiegħu għadda dawn ix-xmajjar kbar ta’ grazzji lil nies u nies u nies... L-umiltà hija din: mhux li wieħed jintrema u jgħid li ma jiswa għal xejn! Skont San Franġisk dejjem, min hu l-bniedem umli, jgħallima missier il-faqar? Hu dak li hu quddiem Alla u quddiem l-bniedem, xejn inqas u xejn iżjed. U naħseb hawnhekk tagħlima wkoll tgħodd għalina li tassew għandna nagħrfu min aħna, imma mhux kif tgħidlna din il-kaxxa ta’ rasna imma fid-dawl ta’ Alla, fid-doni li Alla l Imbierek żera’ fina biex nużawhom għat-tkattir tas-Saltna ta’ Alla fuq din l-art. It-tieni qari, meħud minn San Pawl appostlu lir-Rumani, Gino qalli li kien pass għażiż ħafna u ħafna għal Patri Elija. Għalfejn? Imma mhux għalih biss irid ikun għażiż imma għalina lkoll. U forsi għal Patri Elija kien għażiż għax hu fehem, u għajnejh kienu miftuħin beraħ fuq is-salvazzjoni tiegħu u tal-poplu għażiż ta’ Alla. Għax dawk li ppredestinhom sejjħilhom, lil dawk li sejħilhom iġġustifikhom, u lil dawk li ġġustifikhom iglorifikhom! U nifhmu li San Pawl hawnhekk mhux biss qed jitkellem għal ftit minna li qegħdin fuq din in-naħa tal-knisja, imma għalikom ukoll, għaliex kollha kemm aħna msejħin għal din il glorja. Kollha kemm aħna għandna l-missjoni tagħna f’din id-dinja... kollha kemm aħna għandna sens kbir; għax għandna l-ħorġa mimlija żerriegħa ta’ tama biex niżirgħuha kull fejn ngħaddu. U jekk ma nifhmux dan kollu, jekk ma nifhmux is-sejħa tagħna, ikun hemm nies li sa jibqaw jgħixu mingħajr tama. Nies, li sa jibqaw jgħixu mingħajr il-ferħ. Forsi ssaqsu għalfejn użajna dawn il-lingwi kollha (l-ewwel qari ġie moqri bl-Ingliż, is Salm inqara bil-Malti, it-tieni qari nqara bit-Taljan). Spjegawli dalgħodu għax dawn huma tlett lingwi prinċipali li Patri Elija bihom kien jagħmel il-ministeru tiegħu. Nistgħu ngħidu li kellu d-don tal-ilsna! Kellu ħafna d-don tal-ilsna, imma mhux tant għax kien jħaddem l Ingliż u t-Taljan u l-Malti u lingwi oħrajn, iżda għaliex għaraf jħaddem il-lingwa tal umanità. U naħseb min qatt kellu xi ftit mumenti miegħu kien jifhem li meta l-għajnejn jiltaqgħu, Elija kien jifhem kollox. U kien jagħtina dik ir-risposta li għandna bżonn. Kemm għadna l-bogħod aħna li nħaddnu u nħaddmu dan il-lingwaġġ daqshekk importanti li lilna tassew jagħtina d-dinjità li jistħoqqilna ta’ ulied Alla! U hawnhekk naħseb hemm lezzjoni oħra... li fid-dawl tal-Kelma u konxji li l-Ispirtu ta’ Alla l-Imbierek jonfoħ fina, qed isejħilna biex inkunu umani, biex inħossu, biex nifhmu... mhux tant biex naqtgħu bil-ġudizzji tagħna imma biex nagħdru. Naħseb fi ftit kliem qed nipprova nisspjega dak li Alla l-Imbierek jitlob minna... dak li aħna ddeċidejna li aħna nħaddnu: li nkunu dixxipli ta’ Kristu. Il-Vanġelu sabiħ ħafna. Nafuh dan id-diskors tal-muntanja: imberkin ... u henjin... dawk li jagħmlu dawn il-ħwejjeġ kollha. Laqtitna ħafna bejn il-bieraħ u llum din l-espressjoni ‘fetaħ fommu’. Aħna nisimgħu ħafna nies jitkellmu... u l-kliem jibqa’ għaddej mingħajr ma nagħtu każu. Imma meta Ġesù kien jiftaħ fommu kien jiskot kulħadd. Il-Kelma ta’ Alla issikket l-injoranza, issikket lill-vjolenti, issikket lill-arroganti. Għaliex? Għax hemm il qawwa ta’ Alla fiha... imma mhux biss, għaliex tagħmel sens, għaliex hija vera. U Ġesù meta jiftaħ fommu u joqgħod jgħallem, dawn in-nies jisktu biex jisimgħu l-Kelma. Kultant, naħseb jiena, nisimgħu ħafna kliem, li forsi ma jagħmlilniex tajjeb għaliex jkompli jgerfixxna aktar, jkompli jħawwad is-sentimenti tagħna, jnissel fina sentimenti ġodda li konna niskerrħuhom. Kemm għandna bżonn għalhekk, nisimgħu lil dan il-ħalq jitkellem ta’ Alla l-Imbierek biex jgħidilna li aħna henijn jekk qegħdin inbatu, jekk aħna mnikktin sa nsibu l-faraġ, jekk aħna ta’ qalbna ħelwa sa jkollna l-wirt tal-art. Henjin jekk aħna bil għatx jew bil-ġuħ għall-ġustizzja għax sa nkunu mxebbgħin. Kultant immorru nfittxu dawn l-affarijiet l-bogħod mill-għejun tas-salvazzjoni. U naħseb li din hija wkoll għajta u lezzjoni oħra ta’ ħuna Elija li sa jgħidlna: tisimgħux kollox fid dinja... u jekk tisimgħuhom, isimgħuhom talli huma, imma l-importanti li tisimgħu l-Kelma ta’ Alla. Vers li jolqotni ħafna u li naħseb li importanti f’dan il-Vanġelu hu: Henjin dawk ta’ qalbhom safja għaliex huma jaraw lil Alla. Hawnhekk qegħdin naraw xi ħaġa kbira... tremenda... li min qatt ra lil Alla u baqa’ ħaj?... Ħadd! Imma dawk ta’ qalbhom safja, San Mattew qed jgħidilna, li jaraw lil Alla. U għandna nifhmu li mhux sa jaraw il-figura ta’ Alla l-Missier, jew tal-Iben jew tal-Ispirtu... u allura fejn sa jarawh lil Alla l-Imbierek? Jien naħseb li jekk tassew qalbna tkun safja sa naraw lil Alla fost il-bnedmin. Mhux biss fost il-komunità tagħna u l-aħwa li niġu niċċelebraw is-sagramenti qaddisa, imma f’kull bniedem li jimxi fuq wiċċ din l-art. Għax aħna x’għandna aktar minn ħaddieħor li mhwiex Nisrani! U nemmen li l-misteru tas-salvazzjoni qiegħed imnissel f’kulħadd. Elija kien kapaċi jagħmel dan. Elija kellu għajnejh miftuħin beraħ għas-sofferenza tan nies, għat-tbatija li kienu jgħaddu minnha, għall-preġudizzji li kienu jgħixu... u kien jimxi ma’ kulħadd għaliex kien jara lil Alla l-Imbierek fihom. Patri Elija kien bniedem importanti ħafna, mhux biss fil-ħajja tiegħi, iżda fil-ħajja ta’ ħafna minna. Ħadd minna ma rċieva l-mantar tiegħu kif għamel il-profeta Elija, u naħseb li m’hawn ħadd fostna li jħossu Eliżew li jistħoqqlu jirċievi l-ispirtu tiegħu, imma kollha kemm aħna nħossuna li l-vojt li sa jħalli mhux sa jkun vojt imma sa jkun mimli bil memorji u b’dak it-tagħlim u bil-lezzjonijiet sbieħ li tana. Ta’ dawk il-mixjiet qosra jew twal li għamilna flimkien miegħu fil-ħajja tagħna... tal-eżempji sbieħ li tana. Elija ma tantx kien bniedem li jaqra l-Kelma u jirrepetijha... iżda kien bniedem li jisma’ l Kelma, jgħixha u jagħmilha. U issa hija f’idejna, u jekk nagħmlu tassew dan u ngħożżu dawk l-eżempji sbieħ li tana tul ħajtu, u nagħmluhom tagħna... u ngħidu: iva mil-lum l quddiem irrid nieħu l-fidi tiegħi bis-serjetà. Jekk ittraskurajna tant din is-siġra li għall għoxrin sena ma għamiltx frott, ħa mmur niżborha għaliex irridha tagħmel il-frott. Alla jitkellem hekk... hekk ikellem lid-dinja. Dan huwa l-Ispirtu ta’ Alla li jgħix fina, u aħna kellna l-grazzja li narawh b’għajnejna u mhux biss naqrawh fil-kotba. Ejjew nirringrazzjaw lil Alla l-Imbierek li l-ewwel nett tana l-ħajja, li nissilna fil-fidi permezz tal-ġenituri tagħna u l-magħmudija, imma wkoll għal dan l-eżempju sabiħ, ħalli nkomplu nxerrdu l-qdusija, inkomplu nxerrdu l-ħniena u t-tama madwarna. San Franġisk, lejn l-aħħar ta’ ħajtu kiteb il-famuża frasi ‘Deus meus et omnia’ ‘Alla tiegħi huwa kollox’. Dawn kien il-passaġġ tiegħu, li filli bniedem tad-dinja li ma jridx jifhem xejn, sakemm imbagħad jintebaħ li hemm Alla daqshekk kbir, li mhux jgħix barra minnu imma fuq kollox ġewwa fih... jifhem iċ-ċokon tiegħu sakemm jasal biex jgħid ‘Alla tiegħi huwa kollox’. Elija din għamilha. Issa aħna x’sa nagħmlu? P. Colin Sammut Ministru Provinċjal OFMConv. 15 ta’ Ottubru 2022
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(corrected after downloading Translation into English by Google Translate)
Homily held during the funeral of Fr. Elija Vella of the Conventual Franciscans held by the Provincial Fr. Colin Sammut
Excellency Mons. Archbishop of the Diocese of Malta, excellences, brothers in the priesthood, members of parliament, most respected mayor, and dear people of God. On behalf of my brothers the monks of our province and the family of Fr. Elija I would like to thank you from the bottom of my heart because today you have chosen to come here with us to live this moment, which is a perhaps difficult moment for many of us if not for everyone because we are living moments of sorrow as well as perhaps moments of joy not because Fr. Elija passed away but because throughout his life our path met his path. Fr. Elija, born in St Paul's Bay, was baptized in this parish and lived for a long time here. Before we say that he was a priest we can say that he was Franciscan, but before he was Franciscan he was baptized, Christian, Catholic... but before that too, he was a human being, and I think and believe that all of you agree with me that throughout his life he was able to truly understand what humanity is, through the help of The Blessed God, and built himself so that we too would understand what it was like to be human. He had wonderful feelings, but above all his parents chose to give him the baptism that sowed him the seed of faith, which beyond the beautiful feelings we have for Fr. Elija brings us all together today. And perhaps the difference between us and him is that he took it very seriously and took responsibility for this plant of faith to take care of it until it grows and becomes that tree and spreads its branches where many people could shelter. And I think this is one of the most beautiful lessons we can take, that of Christian Elija lived the faith. But it looked like it was not enough for him and The Blessed God wanted something more from him and called him to be a Conventual Minor monk. He called him to follow in the footsteps of the poor one from Assisi, and we know how radical was the poor one from Assisi, who wanted nothing in the world, he wanted no writing as a project of his life except the Gospel alone. St. Francis was hard, hard with the monks not because he was unkind, but because he wanted them to follow only our Lord Jesus Christ, he wanted us to look nowhere but in his eyes. And I believe Elija did the same. But also he was a priest. For It was not enough for Him to call him for a Christian and a Franciscan, but he also wanted him a priest, so that all those graces that The Blessed God wanted to pass them on to His beloved people and also pass them through Him. Elija held great celebrations, both in our dioceses in Malta and in dioceses around the world, but I think today is the last one he called us to and brought us here not only to rejoice and mourn, not only to be astonished, but also to warn us perhaps for the last time by the example of his life that he was one of the most beautiful. The Word that we have read and heard today, we have chosen it very carefully for its loved ones, and I think it is beautiful too. And perhaps Elija today wanted this Word to stop in our hearts, and if this heart is still as hard as the stones, continue to soften or perhaps begin to soften. Why the Word makes all the difference. I think we can say that from the beginning until last Monday, Fr. Elija always heard the Word. But he also wasn't arrogant and violent with her but he would let her talk, something that we are not always willing to do. A wonderful lesson and we can keep it in our hearts. I think we agree that although it is a sad celebration, it is also a celebration of peace. And this peace has been passed down to us through Elija, but it belongs to God. And I think this is a treasure we should cherish for a lifetime. Everyone who has walked with him knows that he did not speak from his head, knows how carefully he listened attentively, knows that everyone who speaks to him has had all his attention and when he speaks back, not so much we hear his voice but god speaks to us. One nice example after another. St. Francis also tells us, or rather who wrote legends about him, that one day St. Francis understood the greatness of The Blessed God and called him: How great God you are... how cute you are... who are you? And I am who I am?... a small worm that is worthless. I think this is a very important passage in the Christian life, in the lives of those who take faith seriously and want to follow Christ, who understand that there is an almighty God, who without any reason he wanted, created me... created you... All of us, all the creatures of the whole world who have walked over the centuries on the face of this earth, understand the greatness of God and at the same time understand their littleness. This was an important passage for Saint Francis because from the poor one of Assisi they made the poorest of the highest poverty, which inspired many people around him. And I think we should also try to reflect a little because we are of 'good and brave' people we are, sometimes think that we are much more than we are and forget to look up or within us to see The Blessed God writing history, charting the path from which to go. He also shapes relationships, the people we will meet, and perhaps also gives us an outpouring full of seeds of hope to sow it along the way. We forget this, and I think Elija for him was crystal clear, because he had so much to be proud, but I think none of us know him as proud. He had a lot to say: I know! He had all the qualifications, if we want to speak in the language of the world, but he always stayed a step back, because he understood the greatness of God and his smallness. But at the same time he understood that The Blessed God wanted to use him, because he gave him life, gave him faith, called him to Franciscan life, but also to ministerial life. St. Francis continues to press on the friars and tells them: do not boast of the work of the saints, that was theirs... now you will strive like them to do like them. And don't become proud because you have done little or nothing so far. In the simplicity of Fr. Elija we see the depths of God, because he let him, first speak to him, soften his heart, which I don't think was so hard, but then he spoke. And that knapsack that he had filled with a seed of hope, sowed it wherever he was, until the last moments of his life. The Responsorial Psalm also I think is significant, not only for the family who chose it, not only for me, but for all of us. Where we are seeing this man who prays, who spends nights awake, and not in desperation, as we may do, but 'even at night my heart instructs me'. And here we see another aspect of the Christian life: that it must be united with God, that no moment in our lives, as hard as it is, harsh as it may be, we should never fall in despair, because I believe that who wrote this beautiful Psalm, was going through a great trial, but he did not stop because he saw God. For even in all his sufferings, he allowed God to speak to him. "Blessed is the Lord who has given me insight, even at night my heart instructs me." How nice it is to have the insight, which is not an opinion, we all have the right to opinion, but insight is not the opinion. Insight is this light of the Blessed God that falls into our hearts, and opens our eyes wide to understand what we are going through. The insight to recognize reading our life story. And I think I wouldn't be pessimistic if I said that these times we put insight aside. How important it is to find this insight again. We ask The Blessed God to give us this light so that we may understand what He wants from us. Because after all, being Christian, being an embraced faith and living it means this: that I am constantly listening to God speak to me, to try to understand what he is going through, what the beloved people around me are going through, what the world is going through. But not by the capabilities of my head but by the light of God. And here I think we also see the very important aspect of the Christian life of being humble, as St. Francis was, very humble, as was Elija too... humble. We may not be so, we need to keep moving forward. Yesterday Diane and I, in the evening, after we finished the celebration, were talking a little, and she said to me: who knows what uncle is thinking, who knows what he is telling us right now! And I told her I think Fr. Elija is currently giving thanks to God, not because he attracted all these people himself, but because through him God the Blessed attracted them to Him. Because through him passed these great rivers of graces to people and people and people... Humility is this: It is not that a person looks down on himself and say he is worthless! According to St. Francis always, who is the humble man, teaching the father of poverty? He is the one who is before God and before man, nothing less and nothing else. And I think here a lesson also holds true for us that we should truly know who we are, but not how this box of our heads tells us but in the light of God, in the gifts that The Blessed God has sown in us to use for the growth of the Kingdom of God on this earth. The second reading, taken by St. Paul the apostle to the Romans, Gino told me that it was a very, very dear reading for Fr. Elija. For what? But not only for him he must be dear but for all of us. And perhaps for Fr. Elija he was dear because he understood, and his eyes were wide open on the salvation of him and of the beloved people of God. For those who preached called them called them, those who called them to justify them, and those who justified them glorified them! And we understand that St. Paul here is not only speaking for a few of us who are on this side of the church, but for you too, because we are all called to this glory. We all have our mission in this world... We all have a great sense; for we have the knapsack full of seeds of hope to sow it wherever we pass. And if we do not understand all this, if we do not understand our call, there will be people who will live without hope. People, who will survive without joy. You may have asked why we used all these languages (first reading was read in English, psalm was read in Maltese, second reading read in Italian). They explained to me this morning because these are three main languages that Fr. Elija used to do his ministry. We can say that he had the gift of tongues! He had a lot of the gift of languages, but not so much because he employed English and Italian and Maltese and other languages, but because he recognized how to use the language of humanity. And I think who ever had a few moments with him, could understand that when the eyes meet, Elija would understand everything. And he would give us that answer we need. How far away we are to embrace and embrace this important language that truly gives us the dignity we deserve as God's children! And here I think there is another lesson... that in the light of the Word and aware that the Spirit of The Blessed God blows in us, he is calling us to be human, to feel, to understand... not so much to give up on our judgments but to do. I think in a nutshell I am trying to explain what The Blessed God asks of us... what we have decided to embrace: to be disciples of Christ. The Gospel is gorgeous. We know this mountain speech: blessed... and blessed... those who do all these things. We struck a lot between yesterday and today this expression 'he opened his mouth'. We hear a lot of people talking... and the words go on without regard to it. But when Jesus opened his mouth, everyone was silent. The Word of God silences ignorance, silences the violent, silences the arrogant. Because? For there is the power of God in it... but not only, beacause it make sense, because it is true. And when Jesus opens his mouth and teaches, these people squirm to hear the Word. Sometimes, I think, we hear a lot of words, which may not do us well because it continues to disturb us even more, continues to stir our feelings, instilling in us new feelings that we used to despise. As much as we need therefore, to listen to this mouth speak of The Blessed God to tell us that we are blessed if we are suffering, if we are troubled to find comfort, if we are sweet-hearted we will have the inheritance of the earth. Blessed are we are thirsty or hungry for justice because we will be satisfied. Sometimes we go looking for these things far from the sources of salvation. And I think this is also a cry and another lesson of our brother Elija who will tell us: don't listen to everything in the world... and if you listen to them, listen to them for being, but it is important to listen to the Word of God. A verse that strikes me deeply and which I think is important in this Gospel is: 'Blessed are those of pure hearts because they see God'. Here we are seeing something big... tremendous... that whoever saw God and survived?... No one! But those of pure hearts, St. Matthew is telling us, who see God. And we must understand that they will not see the figure of God the Father, or of the Son or of the Spirit... and so where will they see the Blessed God? I think if our hearts are truly pure we will see God among men. It is not only among our community and the brethren that we come to celebrate the holy sacraments, but in every man who walks on the face of this earth. Because we have more than anyone else who is not a Christian! And I believe that the mystery of salvation is instilled in everyone. Elija was able to do this. Elija had his eyes wide open to the suffering of the people, to the suffering they endured, to the prejudices they lived... and he walked with everyone because he saw The Blessed God in them. Fr. Elija was a very important man, not only in my life, but in the lives of many of us. None of us have received his cloak as the prophet Elija did, and I think there is no one of us who feels Elisha deserves to receive his spirit, but we all feel that the void he will leave will not be empty but will be filled with memories and that teachings and the beautiful lessons he has given us. Of those short or long walks we have done with him in our lives... of the beautiful examples he gave us. Elija was hardly a man who read the Word and repeated it... but he was a man who would listen to the Word, live it and do it. And now it is up to us, and if we truly do that and cherish those beautiful examples he has given us throughout his life, and we make them ours... And we say: Yes from today onwards I want to take my faith seriously. If we have betrayed this tree so much that I have not paid fruit for twenty years, I will go and prune it because I want it to bear fruit. God speaks like this... That's how he speaks to the world. This is the Spirit of God who lives in us, and we have had the grace to see it with our own eyes and not just read it in books. Let us thank The Blessed God who first of all gave us life, which we have instilled in faith through our parents and baptism, but also for this beautiful example, so that we continue to spread holiness, continue to spread mercy and hope around us. Saint Francis, towards the end of his life wrote the famous phrase 'Deus meus et omnia' 'My God is everything'. These were his passage, that in me a man of the world who does not want to understand anything, until he then realizes that there is such a great God, who does not live outside of him but above all within him... he understands his smallness until he gets to say 'my God is everything'. Elija did it. Now what will we do?P. Colin Sammut Provincial Minister OFMConv. 15 October 2022
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Fr. Elija's humility and endless mission to spread the Gospel, pierced our heart with God's love !
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In humility, even in humiliation, human nature is transformed by living closely to The Divinity.
(l-aħħar program għamlu fid-29 ta' Settembru 2022; ... u minkejja li awguralna "sakemm nerġgħu niltaqgħu għall-program ieħor" - ħdax il-ġurnata wara mar jiltaqa' mal-Mulej - R.I.P. Patri Elija)
IL-MISTERI TAD-DAWL bi
ħsibijiet fuq Patri Elija Vella OFM Konv.
R.I.P.
1 - Meta Sidna Ġesù
Kristu tgħammed fix-xmara Ġordan.
Tul ħajtu, rajna f’Patri
Elija, il-meravilja tal-umilta’
tal-Mulej,l-aktar tul il-missjoni
tiegħu bħala saċerdot Franġiskan
Konventwali, billi baqa’ jaċċetta, anzi
jgħannaq l-isfidi li Alla ried minnu,
b’responsabbiltà, b’dedikazzjoni u b’impenn sħih, biex iwassal l-imħabba u
l-maħfra ta’ Alla lil kulħadd, sa minn fuq is-sodda tal-mewt tiegħu !
2 - Meta
Sidna Ġesù Kristu wera min hu fit-Tieġ ta’ Kana.
Patri Elija emmen,
għex u xandarl-importanza
tal-imħabba lejn Marijabilli nagħrfu aħna wkoll -
nagħmlu dak li jgħidilnaĠesù, anke
fid-dulur u fid-diżappunti li ngħaddu minnhom – għax bil-qawwa tal-fidi li
għexet Marija, nitgħallmu
ngħejxu kull ġurnata, nemmnu, li Alla dejjem magħna, jistenniena nitolbuh fis-skiet,
għax Alla hu li jnebbaħ u jipprovdi l-għajnuna, l-għerf, l-għaqal, il-ħniena ...
bl-abbundanza !
3 - Meta Sidna Ġesù Kristu ħabbar is-Saltna ta’ Alla u sejjah
għall-indiema.
Il-missjoni li Alla ried minn
Patri Elija kienet kollha sorpriżi: Waqt li ppublika tant kitba tiegħu u xandar
bla waqfien li Kristu ġie biex jagħti s-Sliem lil kulħadd, Alla wżah biex
jivvjaġġa minn naħa għal oħra tad-dinja, jikxef il-qerq u l-inganni tax-xitan –
jipproklama li Ġesù biss huwa t-Triq tas-Salvazzjoni u l-veru Ferħ.
Mhux ta’ b’xejn fis-Salm (19:5a) inħabbru – “Mal-art kollha jasal leħenhom, mad-dinja
kollha jinxtered kliemhom!” Il-Covid-19
ġabitna konxji kemm L-Evanġelizzazzjoni żdiedet bl-użu tal-Internet u
bil-pożittività ta’ Patri Elija, huwa jibqa’ jkun fuq Facebook, f’Radju Marija,
fil-Youtube, u f’ħafna siti oħra mad-dinja kollha !
4 - Meta Sidna Ġesù Kristu tbiddel quddiem l-Appostli fuq il-muntanja Tabor.
Patri Elija, bħal kull saċerdot ieħor, ra l-Glorja ta’ Alla f’tant mirakli li seħħew quddiemu: Nies jinħelsu mill-vizzji, mill-ħakma tax-xitan, nies ifiequ, nies li jibqgħu sodi fil-Fidi minkejja kollha dieqa għaddew minn abbuzi, minn tragedji u dizgrazzji: Min jaf kemm kien jifraħ u jfaħħar lil Alla. Ma kienx iqis id-dehra jew l-istat li jkunu fih jew il-passat tagħhom, imma l-għatx biex isiru jafu lil Alla, li jerġa jtihom d-dinjità. Mhux ta’ b’xejn konna dejjem narawh bi dbissima fuq fommu, minkejja kull tfixkil, mard, u wġiegħ.
5 - Meta Sidna Ġesù Kristu waqqaf l-Ewkaristija, it-tifkira
tal-Misteru tal-Għid.
Ġesù jurina mħabbtu lejn
l-appostli magħżula minnu: Nies sempliċi, dgħajfa, ta’ ras iebsa; kien jaf min
se jiċħdu, min se jitraddih; kien jaf li wara din l-ikla, se jitfixklu, jaħarbu.
Għalhekk Patri Elija baqa’ jgħożż il-qawwa tas-sagrifiċċju tal-Quddiesa u
s-sagrament tal-Qrar, għax, bħal kull saċerdot ieħor, ra l-għeġubijiet iseħħu bil-Virtùjiet
tal-umiltà, tal-manswetudni, tal-mogħdrija, tal-maħfra – fejn ilkoll
nimmarviljaw ruħna sa fejn jasal Alla biex kull wieħed u
waħda minna nduqu l-Ġenna, minn din id-dinja !
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Ġw 15:16-17 --- 16 Mhux intom għażiltu lili, imma jien għażilt lilkom, u ħtartkom biex tmorru tagħmlu l-frott u l-frott tagħkom jibqa’, ħalli kulma titolbu lill-Missier f’ismi, huwa jagħtihulkom. 17 Dan hu li qiegħed nikkmandakom: li tħobbu lil xulxin.
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Mill-Facebook tal-Parroċċa Marija Addolorata San Pawl il-Baħar 28 ta' Novembru, 2022
Fil-quddiesa tas-6.00pm kelna l-prezenza ta’ żewġ Saċerdoti u Brother mir-Repubblika Ceka, li ġew fostna biex jitolbu fil-post fejn għex u ndifen Patri Elija Vella li miegħu tant ħadmu mill-qrib fid-diversi drabi li Huwa stess kien jmur fil-pajjiz tagħhom għall-ħidma pastorali li tant kienet għall-qalbu. Wara l-Quddiesa huma ġew akkumpanjati mill-Kappillan lejn iċ-Ċimiterju tal-Ħniena Divina u sar mument ta’ talb fil-Kappella fejn Hu midfun. Huma prezentaw kuruna li ġabu magħhom u li tpoġġiet fuq il-qabar tiegħu. Grazzi lis-sur Massimo Bray u lis-Sur John Buttigieg tal-għajnuna tagħhom. Strieħ fis-Sliem għażiż Patri Elija
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Is-Sibt, 11 ta' Mejju 2024 - Mafkar għal Patri Elija Vella OFM Conv.
Tislima mill-Provinċjal, Patri Colin Sammut OFM Conv.
Misraħ it-Torri Wignacourt, San Pawl il-Baħar, Malta.
Tberik tal-Mafkar ta' Patri Elija Vella OFM Conv.
Tqegħid tal-bukketti tal-fjuri mal-mafkar ta' Patri Elija Vella OFM Conv
