Hajja Salesjana July-September 2019

H AJJA S ALESJANA A brief introduction of yourself, your family and your studies. I come from a family of seven, having three brothers and a sister. I from Zurrieq and was brought up in Msida; I attended primary school at the Sisters of St Joseph in Paola, my secondary school at the Lyceum in Hamrun, and my upper secondary in the Junior Lyceum. I joined the Salesians in 1978 when I went to Ireland to do my novitiate. This year I celebrate 40 years as a Salesian and 30 years as a Salesian priest. As a Salesian I have had a wide experience in Malta, Tunisia and West Africa where I was on the missions in Nigeria and Ghana. Currently I am in Ireland, based in St. Catherine’s, our Salesian community on University campus in Maynooth. It is a wonderful experience being in the midst of so many young people. This year we have had so many activities that reach out to them, the highlight being the visit of the Rector Major to St. Catherine’s where he had the opportunity to meet the young. 1. How did you come to know Don Bosco? I remember that I was still in Form I when our religion teacher gave us a leaflet on Don Bosco, outlining his life. I was very much struck by his smile and friendliness and by the phrase that his Salesians are a friend to every young person they meet. It was only a year later that I came across a pamphlet on the life of Dominic Savio which lay forgotten on my brother’s bookshelf. I read through it and I was captivated as a young boy by what I read. Through the life of Dominic, I was able to experience the Oratory of Valdocco and I truly came to know Don Bosco and be inspired by his mission for youth. From that moment on, the desire was instilled in me to become a Salesian, which led me to write and make my first contact with the Salesians in Savio College. 2. Fr. Richard Ebejer SDB Mill-album tal-Familja Salesjana 12