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¤ The feast of St John the Baptist is being celebrated in Xewkija today.

Pontifical concelebrated Mass, led by Bishop Nikol Cauchi, is being held at 8.45 a.m., followed by panygeric, delivered by Fr Carmelo Attard. Marches will be performed by the Leone and St Cajetan bands at 11 a.m.

Concelebrated Mass, followed by panygeric, by Fr Salv Caruana, OSA, will be held at 6.15 p.m, followed by a procession accompanied by the Precursor Band at 7.30 p.m., and a performance by the La Stella Band at 8.30. Festivities end with marches by the St Mary Band.

¤ A vocal concert, part of the Victoria International Arts Festival, featuring soprano Letizia Colajanni accompanied by Antonello Manco on the piano, is being held at St George's basilica today at 8 p.m.

¤ Volunteers of the Arka Foundation will be collecting donations on board the Gozo Channel ferries from today to Tuesday. Dar Arka, founded four years ago, provides professional services to persons with disability and persons who are undergoing treatment for illnesses.

¤ A car boot sale in aid of the OASI Foundation is being held at Marsalforn car park today from 7.30 a.m.

¤ Tombola, in aid of the feast of Our Lady of Victories, is being organised at the Xaghra youth circle today at 1 p.m.

¤ The feast of St Peter and St Paul is being celebrated in Nadur today.

Concelebrated Mass, led by Archpriest Salvu Muscat and the Nadur Collegiate Chapter, will be held tomorrow at 8.30 a.m., followed by the singing of the Te Deum.

At 6.30 p.m., solemn vespers will be led by Cardinal Keith Patrick O'Brien, assisted by the Gozitan Chapter, followed by the playing of the antiphone and eucharistic blessing.

The Victory, Mnarja, La Stella and Precursor bands will march along the main roads at 8.30 p.m., followed by fireworks at midnight.

On Tuesday at 9 a.m., Pontifical concelebrated Mass will be led by Cardinal O'Brien and Bishop Cauchi, assisted by members of the Cathedral and Nadur collegiate chapters, archpriests and parish priests of the diocese, and members of the clergy and religious institutions, followed by panygeric delivered by Cardinal O'Brien.

There will also be the Golden Heart Award ceremony. The youths of the parish centre will present a Rifton Chair to a person with special needs and a donation to Fr Raymond Portelli's mission in Peru.

The decrees of the affiliation with St Peter's Basilica in Rome and with San Paolo fuori le Mura will be read by Archpriest Muscat, vicar Mgr Salvu Pace and Mgr Joseph Attard, parish priest in Rome.

Cardinal O'Brien will unveil a commemorative plaque at the end of the celebration. Morning festivities close with marches by the St Gregory and St Helen bands at 11 a.m.

Second vespers will be said at 6.30 p.m., followed by a procession led by Cardinal O'Brien, accompanied by the Mnarja, King's Own and St Joseph bands at 8 p.m. The procession will end with the playing of the antiphon and a sacramental blessing.

¤ The Ghaqda Dilettanti Gimgha l-Kbira is organising a sacred art exhibition at the Banca Giuratale, Independence Square, Victoria. The exhibition, featuring paintings of St George, St Michael, St Laurence, Dun Gorg Preca, St Paul and sketches for Marsa parish church's pillars, remains open till Wednesday.

¤ High tea and tombola is being organised at the Don Bosco Oratory tomorrow at 7.30 p.m. Further details and tickets may be obtained from the Oratory on 2155-6616.

¤ A ftira night is being organised at the Cittadella tomorrow at 7.30 p.m. Tickets can be obtained from the Leone Band, Victoria.

¤ Nadur council is organising an evening of music at the council garden on Wednesday at 8 p.m. Performers include Julie and Ludwig, Fabrizio Faniello, Annette's Mystic Dancers, William Dance Company and Young Talent Team.

On Friday the council is organising an activity for the elderly. The group will leave Nadur Square at 5 p.m. for the Immaculate Conception chapel in Qala. Mass will be said, followed by tombola and dinner at Xerri l-Bukkett in Qala.

¤ Activities to celebrate the feast of the Visitation are being held in Gharb next week.

Canon Michael Cauchi will say Mass for couples celebrating their 50th and 25th wedding anniversaries, on Thursday at 7.30 p.m., followed by a traditional dinner on the church parvis at 9.

The Precursor and St Gregory bands will play marches in the streets on Friday at 9.30 p.m.

Horse races will be held in Gharb Street on Saturday at 1 p.m. The translation of the relic will be lead by Bishop Nikol Cauchi at 6.30 p.m.

¤ The Cana Movement is organising a marriage preparation course, from Thursday till the end of the month, every Tuesday and Thursday from 7.30 p.m. Applications are available from the Cana Movement's headquarters in Fortunatu Mizzi Street, Victoria.