Social and Personal

Mr GEORGE SCIBERRAS and Miss ANTOINETTE DIMECH
The marriage between GEORGE and ANTOINETTE took place on December 18, 1974, at Our Saviour parish church, Lija. Congratulations and fondest love from Mark and Bernardette, Claire and Joseph, grandchild Nicole and all the family.

Obituary

CAMILLERI. On December 16, at Casa Antonia, ESTHER née Casingena, a month short of her 92nd birthday, passed peacefully away in her sleep, comforted by the rites of Holy Church. She leaves to mourn her loss her children Victor, Malta's Ambassador to the United Nations, and his wife Bernardette, Mary, Sylvia and her husband Alfred, her grandchildren Jason and his wife Catherine, Konrad, Mireille and her husband Silvio, Chantal and her husband Pierre, her only beloved great-granddaughter Jade Kelly, her sisters Inez, Therese and Evelyn, other relatives and friends.
Mass praesente cadavere will be said tomorrow at 2 p.m. at the Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery chapel, followed by interment in the family grave. No flowers by request but donations to the Social Action Movement will be appreciated. Lord, grant her eternal rest.

DEBONO. On December 17, at St Luke's Hospital, ANTHONY, aged 76, comforted by the rites of Holy Church. He leaves to mourn his loss his wife Grace, his children Caroline, Roger and his wife Margaret, his grandchildren Malcolm and Chiara Licari, his sisters Doris and Lina DeBono, his in-laws Phyllis Borg Caruana, Carmen Buhagiar and Tessie Azzopardi, besides nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends. - R.I.P.
The funeral leaves St Luke's Hospital today at 2 p.m. for Our Lady of Mount Carmel parish church, Balluta, St Julian's, where Mass praesente cadavere will be said at 2.30 p.m., followed by interment in the family grave at the Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery. No flowers by request but donations to the Hospice Movement will be deeply appreciated. The family regret they are unable to receive visitors.

FORMOSA. On December 14, at St Luke's Hospital, MICHAEL of Qormi, aged 83, residing at Dar ta' l-Anzjani, Zejtun, passed peacefully away. He leaves to mourn his loss his beloved wife Rachel, his children Victor and his wife Mary, Lina and her husband Freddie Calleja, Natalino and his wife Evelyn, Miriam and her husband Tony Porter of Canada, Amelia and her husband Pierre Camilleri, Imelda and her husband John Balzan, Sonya and her husband George Xerri, his sister Lucy Mangion of Australia, his sisters-in-law Gorga, widow of Joseph, Connie, widow of Carmelo, Gemma and her husband Vincent Grech, his brothers-in-law Salvu Delia, widower of Maria Cleofa, Mro. Abel J. Mizzi and his wife Alice, Ismael, widower of Nina, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, other relatives and friends.
The funeral leaves St Luke's Hospital today at 2 p.m. for St Sebastian's parish church, Qormi, where Mass praesente cadavere will be said at 2.30 p.m., followed by interment in the family grave at the Santa Maria Addolorata Cemetery. No flowers by request but donations to Id-Dar tal-Providenza, Siggiewi, will be appreciated. Lord, grant him eternal rest.

MERCIECA. On December 17, at Casa Antonia, Balzan, TANCRED, aged 91, passed peacefully away comforted by the rites of the Holy Church. He leaves to mourn his loss his wife Doris née Dimech Amore, his daughters Johanna and her husband Giulio Fragano and Caroline and her husband Philip Galea, his grandchildren Luca, Cristina and Edgar, Julian and Camilla and his great-granddaugher Ella, his brothers Anton and Adrian, his sisters-in-law Olga, Marguerite, Frances, Clarissa and Mirella Mercieca and Margaret Demaria, and all his nephews and nieces.
A Mass praesente cadavere will be celebrated at the church of St John of the Cross, Ta' Xbiex on Monday, December 20, at 9.30 a.m. followed by interment at Santa Maria Addolorate Cemetery. No flowers by request but donations to Dar tal-Providenza will be greatly appreciated. May he rest in peace.

In Memoriam

APAP - JOANNA. Cherished memories of a dearest sister and aunt on the 20th anniversary of her demise. Always in our thoughts. Her brothers and sisters and their families. Rest in peace.

BARTOLO - LILIAN née Galea Souchet. In loving memory of a dear mother, today being the 10th anniversary of her demise. Sadly missed by her daughter Anna Maria, her brothers and sisters, in-laws, nephews and nieces. A Mass for the repose of her soul will be said today at 9 a.m. at St Patrick's church, Sliema.

BONNICI. Treasured and unfaded memories of GEORGE, a most loving husband, father and grandfather, today the sixth anniversary of his demise. Always remembered and greatly missed by his wife Tessie, his children Monica, Georgette, Pierre, Liliana, in-laws and grandchildren. Lord, grant him eternal rest.

DESPOTT. In loving memory of NORMAN on the 12th anniversary of his death. Remembered today and always with love and gratitude by his wife Pauline, his daughter Greta, her husband Anthony and his grandsons Marc-Andrè, Keith and James Norman.

ELLUL SULLIVAN - VIRGINIA. Loving and unfading memories of our dearest mother, today the 54th anniversary of her death.
You lived your life
For those you loved
And those you loved remember.
Her sons and daughters.

FARRUGIA - MARIA née Scannura. Loving memories of a dear mother and grandma, today the fourth anniversary of her demise. Always in our thoughts and prayers. John, Rose, Joseph, Maria, Anna, Ruth, Godwin, in-laws and grandchildren.

PELLEGRINI PETIT - WALTER. Today the 24th anniversary of his death. Always in our thoughts and prayers. His brothers and sister.

PISANI. In loving memory of ANTHONY of Hamrun on the 25th anniversary of his demise. Sadly missed and fondly remembered by his daughter Marion and her husband Albert and grandchildren. Lord, grant him eternal rest.

TABONE - MARY. Treasured memories of a dear mother, today the 19th anniversary of her death. Forever in our thoughts. Joe, Colin and Mario.

VELLA ZARB. In loving memory of MARY on the 26th anniversary of her demise. Remembered always with love and gratitude by her daughters and their families.

Sidonia Enterprises Ltd

Closed for Christmas holidays. Re-open Monday, January 3, 2005.

Stolen

From Qawra, green metallic Hyundai Accent, registration number KAA 414. If seen, please phone Qawra Police station.

Validity extension

The government said yesterday the validity period of the result of the selection exercises for the posts of principal and of policy officer in the public service has been extended by one year.

The result of the selection exercise for principals is now valid until December 21, 2005 and for policy officers until January 7, 2006.

WOW concert

The Fourth Christmas Concert by Chapel Voices will be held today at 7.45 p.m. at the WOW complex next to the Millennium chapel, Paceville. Chapel Voices' aim is to give the listeners an hour of relaxation, enjoying various traditional carols and short thoughts conveying the Christmas spirit. Entrance is free.

Curia offices

The offices of the Archbishop's Curia, in Floriana, including the marriages office and the administration section as well as the offices of the ecclesiastical tribunal in Valletta, will be closed for the Christmas festivities from Thursday to January 3.

Xaghra concert

The Grand Christmas Concert in Xaghra, under the patronage of President Eddie Fenech Adami, will be held at the Marija Bambina Basilica at 7.30 p.m. on Thursday.

The baroque basilica was consecrated in 1878.

The concert will be a feast of Christmas music, including carols, Handel's Halleluiah Chorus and the traditional Maltese Sinfonia Pastorale by Emanuel Galea among others.

The works will be performed by an orchestra of Maltese musicians, sopranos Rita Dimech and Dorraine Portelli, the Amadeus chamber choir of St. Julians, the Xaghra choir Voci Angeliche and solo pianist Ronald Camilleri.

The concert is under the musical direction of Brian Cefai and choir mistress Grace Vella.

For further information one can phone deputy mayor Carmelino Refalo on 9988 2810.

The public is welcome and entrance is free of charge. A collection will be made for the Community Chest Fund.

FIINA post confirmed

Ingrid Azzopardi, Maltacom's group director, internal audit, has just returned from Dubai where she participated in the 18th meeting of the Forum for the International Irregular Network Access (FIINA).

Ms Azzopardi was re-elected on the FIINA executive committee for the next two years. She represents Maltacom together with other members from Portugal Telecom, British Telecom, Deutsche Telekom, AT&T, Etisalat, Telstra and Telecom Namibia.

As a member of the FIINA executive committee, Ms Azzopardi chairs the interconnect sub-committee, which she has done for the past two years.

Archbishop's engagements

Archbishop Joseph Mercieca's Christmas activities will start on Christmas eve when he will preside over solemn Vespers on Christmas Eve at St John's Co-Cathedral, in Valletta at 4.45 p.m.

Later on Friday Mgr Mercieca will preside over the celebration of the Liturgy of the Word followed by concelebrated midnight Mass. The Liturgy of the Word starts at 11.30 p.m. at the Mdina Cathedral.

On Christmas Day, Mgr. Mercieca will lead a solemn concelebrated Mass at St John's Co-Cathedral at 9.15 a.m., while on Boxing Day he will be receiving members of the general public for the traditional Christmas greetings between 9 a.m. and noon. He will be accompanied by Auxiliary Bishop Annetto Depasquale.

On New Year's Eve, the Archbishop will preside over the Mass for Peace on the occasion of Peace Day 2005 at 5.30 p.m. at the Mdina Cathedral. The celebration will start with the singing of Evening Prayers. Mass will begin at 6 p.m. After Mass a Te Deum will be sung, followed by an Eucharistic Celebration.

On New Year's Day, he will celebrate Mass at St John's Co-Cathedral at 6.30 p.m. for those who got married in 2004.

Zejtun crib

A mechanical crib will be on show from tomorrow to January 2, 2005 from 9.30 a.m. to 12 p.m. and from 4.30 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Jesus of Nazareth Institute, Bishop Emanuel Galea Street, Zejtun. A bazaar will also be open during the same period at the institute. The public is welcome.

Christmas service

A Christmas service will be held at Holy Trinity church, in Sliema on December 28 at 7 p.m. The evening will be varied consisting of music from JS Bach to Frank Martin as well as traditional Christmas carols. There will also be readings and thoughts on this special time. Participating in the event will be Rebecca Hall, John Mc Donough, Claire Massa, Alex Vella Gregory, Martina Caruana, Robert Calleja and Albert Storace.

The public is invited to attend.

Local Councils

Today's meeting
10 a.m. Gharghur.

What's On Today

Exhibitions
8.30 a.m. to 5 p.m., at Heritage Malta, Valletta (next to the Jesuits' church), Rhythms In Imaginations, exhibition of sculptures by Ganni Pace.

9 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. at the Inquisitor's Palace, Vittoriosa, The Art of Pain - Instruments of Torture, exhibition of over 100 instruments of torture from the Middle Ages to the 19th century, including the Inquisition.

9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Russian Centre for Science and Culture, Valletta, exhibition of hand-made dolls.

10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Wignacourt Museum, Rabat, next to St Paul's church, a Neapolitan crib with authentic 18th century figurines.

Pharmacies Open Tomorrow

Malta 9 a.m. to noon - Gozo 7.30 to 11 a.m.
Royal Pharmacy, 271, Republic Street, Valletta;
Vivien Pharmacy, Patri Magri Street, Marsa;
Drugshop Dispensary, De La Cruz Avenue, Qormi;
Fleur-de-Lys Pharmacy, 32, Fleur-de-Lys Road, Birkirkara;
Pharmaland Dispensers, 5, Tagliaferro Mansions, Princess Margaret Street, Ta' Xbiex;
Potter Chemists Ltd, Wilga Street, Paceville;
Edward's Pharmacy, 115, Manwel Dimech Street, Sliema;
Medica Pharmacy, Naxxar Road, Balzan;
St Mary Pharmacy, 14, Pjazza Rotunda, Mosta;
St Paul's Bay Pharmacy, 504, Main Street, St Paul's Bay;
Theresa Jo Pharmacy, 3A, Triq Xintill, Tarxien;
San Filippu Pharmacy, 155, Victory Street, Senglea;
Polymer Pharmacy, Xghajra Road, Zabbar;
Gudja Pharmacy, 25, San Ciru Street, Gudja;
St Andrew's Pharmacy, 25, Dun Pawl Street, Luqa;
Menelo Pharmacy, Dr Nikola Zammit Street, Siggiewi;
St Anthony Pharmacy, 18, Main Street, Rabat;
Castle Pharmacy, 2, Independence Square, Victoria, Gozo;
St John's Pharmacy, 85, Independence Road, Xewkija.