Coming up

¤ The feast of Our Lady of Loreto is being celebrated in Ghajnsielem today.

Bishop Nikol Cauchi will lead a concelebrated Pontifical Mass at 9 a.m. Fr John Sultana will deliver the panegyric. Music by Carlo Diacono under the direction of Fr John Galea will be performed.

Horse and donkey races will be held in Mgarr Road at 1.30 p.m.

At 5.30 the St Margaret Band will play marches from Hamri Street, followed by solemn vespers at 6.30.

At 7.30, the procession with the statue of Our Lady, led by Mgr Gregory Grech leaves the church and will end with the antiphon and a sacramental blessing. The St Joseph Band and the Giuseppe Verdi Band of Tolfa will also take part.

The Leone Band will perform on the main square at 8.15.

The St Joseph and Giuseppe Verdi bands will play marches from Apparition Square to Our Lady of Loreto Sanctuary Square at 10.30. There will also be a fireworks display.

¤ The talent show, Bambina Fest 2004 is being held at Ta' Kola Windmill Square in Xaghra. today, at 7 p.m. Prizes will be given to the winners of each category.

¤ The 31st anniversary of the crowning of the statue of Our Lady of Victory is being commemorated at the Xaghra basilica.

Bishop Cauchi, accompanied by the parish chapter and clergy will lead a concelebrated Pontifical Mass on Thursday, at 7 p.m.

The San Antonio Mass will be performed by Mro Nazzareno Refalo and the Voci Angeliche choir.

Emigrants and Ex-Parishoners Day is being commemorated on Friday. Vicar General Mgr Giovanni Bosco Gauci will lead a concelebrated Mass at the basilica at 7 p.m.

The Victory Band will give a vocal and instrumental concert, under the patronage of Mr Speaker Anton Tabone, on Victory Square at 8.30.

Traditional horse and donkey races are being orgainised by the local council on Saturday at 2 p.m. The St Mary Band will play marches in the village streets at 9.

¤ An evening of activities to commemorate Gharb Day is being held today from 7.45 p.m. Certificates will be presented to the students who attended courses organised by the local council and to University students from Gharb who gradated last year.

¤ Caritas (Gozo) is collecting information for its 2005 Almanac. Owners of restaurants who wish to be included are to fill in a form, which can be collected from the parish office or from the Curia in Victoria, by Tuesday.

¤ Gozitan artist Vince Caruana is holding an exhibition, entitled Melita's Mystique, at the Barumbara, at l-Imgarr Hotel till September 12.

¤ A charismatic renewal conference with the theme "Life in the light of the Eucharist" is being held at Ta' Pinu Complex from September 17 to 19. Those wishing to attend should contact Stella Vella (2155-3110), Mary Ann Brincat (7910-4058) or Fr George Bezzina (2155-6097).