A Vigil of Prayer in preparation of the Episcopal Ordination of Fr George Bugeja OFM, as Coadjutor Bishop of the Apostolic Vicariate of Tripoli, is taking place on Thursday, the 27th of August, at the Basilica of Marija Bambina Xaghra, starting at 8.00pm, led by Mgr Charles J. Scicluna Archbishop of Malta.

The Episcopal Ordination will take place on Friday, the 4th of September, at the National Sanctuary of Our Lady Ta’ Pinu, starting at 6.30. The Mass will also be broadcast live on a big screen situated on the Parvis in front of the Sanctuary.

The appointment by Pope Francis was announced in July by the Apostolic Nuncio to Malta Mgr Roberto Cassari, in the presence of Bishop Mario Grech, at the National Sanctuary of Our Lady of Ta ‘Pinu, The nomination also appeared in the Bulletin of the Holy See News broadcast on the same day.According to the tradition of ecclesiastical heraldry, the coat-of-arms for a Bishop is traditionally represented by a shield which can take several forms and contains symbols that can indicate not only personal identification or ecclesial jurisdiction, but also an illustration of the pastoral vision.

The coat-of -arms of Mons. George Bugeja OFM, was designed by Mr. Vince Caruana. A full description of the coat-of-arms is shown below in Maltese.

Fr George Bugeja OFM was born on 1 July 1962 in Xaghra, he was ordained as priest in July 1986.

Since January 2015 he has been the Superior of the Friary of St. Anthony of Padova, Ghajnsielem.

Fr George followed Franciscan Internship Programme in Spiritual Direction and has a Diploma in Theology of Consecrated Life from the Institute of Theology of the Consecrated Life Claretianum within Pontifical Lateran University of Rome (2011-2012).Is-simboli tal-istat

Is-simboli tal-istat u l-ufficcju episkopali huma l-kappell prelatizju fil-lewn ahdar imzejjen b’lazz li jiftah fi tnax-il gummiena (sitta kull naha) u s-salib processjonali li jerfa’ l-iskudett propju. Fis-salib hemm hames hagriet homor li jfakkru fil-hames pjagi tal-Mulej Gesù.

Il-motto

Ghal din il-missjoni tieghu ta’ Raghaj fil-Knisja, Patri George ghazel l-arma bil-motto “Sub Tuum Præsidium”, ghaliex sa mill-ewwel mument li gie mgharraf li l-Papa Frangisku hatru bhala l-Isqof Koadjutur ta’ Tripli, il-Libja, l-ewwel talba tieghu kienet lil Marija Omm Gesù u ried li jpoggi dan il-ministeru gdid li gie fdat f’idejh taht il-harsien taghha ta’ Omm.

L-arma

L-istemma hija maqsuma fi tliet partijiet. Fil-parti ta’ fuq hemm l-arma tal-Ordni Frangiskan li Patri George jaghmel parti minnu. Din turi l-id tal-Mulej Gesù msallba mal-id ta’ San Frangisk, bis-simbolu tat-Tau li San Frangisk kien ihobb ipoggi meta jiffirma ismu. Fil-parti centrali nsibu x-xbieha tal-Madonna Ta’ Pinu Mtellgha s-Sema akkumpanjata mill-angli, li f’idejha qed jafda lilu nnifsu. Isfel hemm il-Fleur de Lys, il-warda tal-gilju li tirrapprezenta lil Sant’Antnin ta’ Padova, li lejh Patri George ghandu mhabba partikulari; fil-mument tan-nomina, huwa kien il-Gwardjan tal-Kunvent iddedikat lil Sant’Antnin f’Ghajnsielem.

Il-kuluri

L-Ahmar juri l-hajja divina, huwa l-kulur tad-demm, u fid-demm hemm il-hajja li gejja minn Alla. Huwa l-kulur li jesprimi l-hajja gdida fi Kristu permezz tal-Ispirtu s-Santu li jghammar fina. Fil-fatt, il-Knisja tuza l-lewn hamrani meta ticcelebra l-festi tal-Martri, dawk li taw hajjithom u xerrdu demmhom b’xhieda ghal Kristu.

L-Ikhal huwa l-kulur tal-umanità. Il-bniedem huwa hlejqa li kapaci terfa’ harsitha lejn is-Sema u tidhol f’relazzjoni ma’ Alla. Dan il-kulur jesprimi d-destin tal-bniedem li jidhol f’din ir-rabta intima. Il-Vergni Marija hija l-Mara per eccellenza li b’libertà u bi mhabba ssiehbet ma’ Binha Gesù biex jitwettaq il-pjan tas-salvazzjoni taghna. Illum, maghquda haga wahda mieghu fil-glorja tas-Sema, tkompli tkun ghalina Omm, Ghalliema u Gwida fil-mixja taghna lejn il-Genna.

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