The Annual General Meeting of the Institute of Pastoral Ministry (Diocese of Gozo) was held at the Youth Centre (NYTC) in Nadur.
At the end of the meeting, the graduation ceremony was also held for those who successfully completed a course at this Institute during this last academic year.
The IPM is an educational institution set up by the Diocese of Gozo to offer professional formation to individuals who are already active or are interested in assuming a role in pastoral ministry.
Dr. Joe Azzopardi, Chairman of the IPM, made a short speech in which he mentioned that the Institute is organising several courses with the aim that in the future they will be combined into a Diploma.
“In a context where there is a risk of losing our identity as a people,” said Dr. Azzopardi, “the Church is also working in this way to continue evangelising and delivering the Good News.”
The courses are accredited by the Malta Authority for Advanced and Higher Education. For more information on new courses offered by IPM please click here [1].
Mr. Tony Bezzina, Treasurer of IPM, presented the report of the Institute for the Year 2022 and the financial situation.
The Bishop of Gozo Anton Teuma, among other things, mentioned that for many of us, faith is based on popular devotions such as festivals and processions, which, he said, “even though they are not bad in themselves, often lead to faith being considered as magic and superstition, built sometimes on fear and relegated to what is occasional.”
He added that, “for the change to take place from a faith based on popular devotions or superstition to one based on a personal decision to follow Christ, continuous formation is indispensable. This is because continuous conversion requires continuous formation!”
Therefore the Institute of Pastoral Ministry, stressed the Bishop of Gozo, “is God’s providence which can currently stimulate the Church in Gozo so that faith is no longer a ritualism and a magical thing, but becomes a personal choice.”
He continued that he is very fond of the work of the IPM, that through the courses it offers, the Diocese of Gozo is trying to give this valuable contribution of formation.
Almost 70 people have successfully completed a course organised by the IPM during this last academic year, including the Safeguarding of Minors and Biblical Formation.
It was explained that most of these students are professionals who work in various important sectors in Malta and Gozo, and others are lay people engaged in parishes and associations.
At the end of the Meeting it was announced that the Institute now has a new Director – Rev. Noel Saliba, who for 16 years served as Headmaster of the Secondary School of the Minor Seminary of Gozo.
The Bishop took the opportunity to thank both Rev. Noel Debono, the previous Director, Rev. Joseph Farrugia, the founder of IPM in 2019 and its first Director, as well as Frances Galea, the first Administrative Secretary.
Photo: Diocese of Gozo / Lino Xerri