Coming up

¤ The feast of St Joseph is being celebrated in Qala today.

At 9 a.m., Bishop Nikol Cauchi will lead a pontifical concelebrated Mass, after which the vicar of St Sebastian parish, Qormi, Fr Joseph Cilia, will deliver the panegyric.

At 11.30, the Pinto band of Qormi will play marches in the village streets.

At 6.30 p.m., vespers will be led by Mgr Lawrence Xerri.

The procession with the statue of the saint, led by vicar forane Mgr Lawrence Sciberras, accompanied by the parish clergy and the fraternities of St Joseph in Qala and of Senglea parish, leaves the church at 7.30. The Ite ad Joseph band will also take part, with the Mnarja band performing on the parish square.

The procession will end with a fireworks display, the antiphon and a sacramental blessing at 10.

Marches by the St Mary Band will close outdoor festivities at 10.30.

¤ Vicar General Mgr Giovanni B. Gauci will preside over the induction of Mgr Joseph Bezzina as canon of the Cathedral Chapter, at the Cathedral in Victoria, today at 4.45 p.m.

¤ An exhibition entitled 'Christ Celebrated in Art', is being held by the Diocese of Gozo Sacred Art Commission to mark the Eucharistic Year, at the exhibition hall on St Francis Square, Victoria, from tomorrow to August 28 from 8.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. during the week and from 9 a.m. to noon during the weekend.

The exhibition will be closed on August 15. Contemporary works including paintings and sculptures by local and foreign artists will be on display.

¤ A photo exhibition entitled '50 Years in the Cathedral' is being held by the Leone Band Club at the Banca Giuratale in Victoria from tomorrow to Sunday from 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. during the week and from 8 a.m. to noon on the weekend.

¤ A musico literary soirée is being held to mark the 100th anniversary of the first Maltese language poetess, Mary Meylak's birth by the Circolo Gozitano at its roof bar area in Victoria on Tuesday at 7.45 p.m. The event is being co-ordinated by Mr J.W. Psaila. Entrance is free.

¤ The Leone band is holding a musical programme as part of the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady on Sabina Square, Victoria, on Tuesday at 9 p.m. Afterwards the band will perform the anthem Maria Assunta in Cielo (1913), with the participation of the Chorus Ecclesiae Cathedralis, tenor Charles Vincenti and baritone Alfred Camilleri, under the musical direction of Mro Colin Attard.

A spectacular slide show on the fireworks made by Vampa Organisations during the past 15 years will be shown at 10.30. This will be followed by the Adrian Agius Foundation prize-giving ceremony and a fireworks display.

The procession, with the statue of Our Lady, accompanied by the Leone and St Mary bands leaves the church on Saturday at 9.30 p.m. The statue will then be placed on a pedestal on Independence Square.

¤ Mgr Joseph Farrugia Dimech will lead a concelebrated Mass to mark the 50th anniversary of his ordination at the Cathedral in Victoria on Wednesday at 7.15 p.m. Vicar General archdeacon Mgr Giovanni B. Gauci will deliver the homily. The Chorus Ecclesiae Cathedralis will also take part.

¤ The Gozitan Agriculture, Industrial and Cultural Society and the Gozo Ministry Cultural Organisation Committee are holding a cultural activity to mark the 150th anniversary of the traditional farming and crafts exhibition at Villa Rundle Gardens in Victoria, on Friday at 7.30 p.m. The event will be presided by Minister Giovanna Debono and will include folk music, with the participation of the Xaghra Folklore Group and the Island Brass Ensemble.

¤ Christmas in August, in aid of Dar Guzeppa Debono, is being held at Tigrija Palazz, Republic Street, Victoria, on Saturday from 8.30 to noon and on Thursday, Friday and August 16 and 17 from 8.30 a.m. to noon and from 5 to 8 p.m.

The home has been committed to life for the past 20 years. For more information phone 2155-2595.

¤ The ninth vigil of prayer to mark the feast of the Assumption of our Lady is being held on Sunday at 9 p.m. at Ta' Pinu Sanctuary. Transport will be available from all parishes in the Gozo diocese.

¤ An open air barbeque for the feast of the Assumption is being held at the Circolo Gozitano roof bar area, Victoria, on Sunday from 9 p.m. onwards. Members are advised to book in advance since there are only a limited number of places.

Only those persons who book will be allowed to watch the fireworks that will be let off at Savina Square. Tickets are available from the club's bar and from the committee members.

¤ The Gaulitanus Choir is holding 'An Operatic Recital' as part of its 15th anniversary activities at Palazzo Palina, Hotel Ta' Cenc, on August 17 at 8.30 p.m.

The concert will include a performance by Italian tenor Francesco Anile, who started his career in 1989 and has taken part in various operas and given concerts throughout Italy, several European countries, Canada and Australia.

Anile will interpret a number of favourite operatic pieces, such as Celeste Aida from Verdi's Aida, Vesti la giubba from Leoncavallo's I Pagliacci, E lucevan le stelle and Nessun dorma from Puccini's Tosca and Turandot, as well as a number of salon arias by Tosti.

In the second part of the concert, Anile will be joined by the Gaulitanus Choir and its main soloist soprano Rita Dimech for an interpretation of a grand selection from Mascagni's Cavalleria Rusticana, the great duet between Turiddu and Santuzza, and some choral numbers.

This selection was made by the choir's founder director and the evening's artistic director and conductor, Mro Colin Attard. The piano accompanist will be the choir's pianist, Stephen Attard.

Entrance is free. The concert will be followed by an optional pasta buffet in the Palazzo's gardens. Tickets for the buffet at Lm6.50 each may be obtained from Ta' Cenc Hotel, by phoning 2156-0200, 9925-8592 or 7926-1026, or e-mail from colinatt@maltanet.net by August 15.