Coming up

¤ The feast of St Joseph is being celebrated in Qala today. Pontifical concelebrated Mass will be led by Mgr Nikol Cauchi at 9 a.m. Honorary Canon Vincenz Cachia will deliver the panegyric.

The St Margareta Band will play marches in the main streets of the village at 11.30 a.m.

Vespers will be led by Mgr Lawrenz Xerri at 6.30 p.m., followed by marches from the Ite ad Joseph and Mnarja bands at 7.

The procession, with the statue of the saint, accompanied by the Ite ad Joseph Band, led by parish priest Fr Publius Xuereb, from Texas, United States, leaves the church at 7.30.

The procession ends with a fireworks display, a Eucharistic celebration and sacramental blessing. Celebrations end with band marches by the Santa Marija Band at 10.30.

¤ Celebrations for the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady start in Victoria today.

The Leone Band will play marches from the parish centre to cathedral square today at 9.30 a.m. The statue of the Assumption of Our Lady will be taken out of its niche at 10. Fr George Mercieca, a well known Gozitan poet, will read his poem for the occasion, entitled Santa Marija 2003.

Mass, with an appeal for food for charity, will be led by Munxar parish priest Fr Frankie Bajada, with the participation of the Chorus Ecclessiae Cathedrali, tomorrow at 7.15 p.m.

There will be a Baptism ceremony with the presentation of infants born during the past year, accompanied by the Fjur ta' Assisi choir, on Tuesday at 7.15 p.m.

This will be followed by a barbecue for the parish children on the Citadel's bastions, at 8.

Bishop Nikol Cauchi will be administering First Holy Communion and Confirmation during a pontifical concelebrated Mass on Wednesday at 7.15 p.m. The Cathedral Youth Choir will take part. The Cathedral Youth Choir will take part.

Fr Marcello Ghirlando will say Mass for youths, players and supporters of the SK Victoria Wanderers on Thursday at 7.15 p.m. Games for all will be held on Cathedral Square at 8.

The new cathedral bells ring for the first time on Saturday. Mass will be said by Fr George Mercieca, spiritual director of the Leone Band, with the participation of the band and Chorus Ecclesiae Cathderalis at 7.15 p.m.

¤ The diocese of Gozo is organising a night prayer vigil at Ta' Pinu Sanctuary on Thursday, August 14, at 9 p.m.

A short aux flambeaux procession accompanied by the Ta' Pinu painting, will be held from the church to the sanctuary parvis, where there will be concelebrated Mass.