Coming up

¤ The Fontana parish church is holding a competition for the best Baby Jesus figurine and decorated balconies and windows. Application forms may be collected from the parish office today.

¤ The feast of St Lucy is being celebrated in Santa Lucija this week.

Bishop Nikol Cauchi leads a concelebrated Mass today at 9 a.m. There will be solemn vespers at 3.30 p.m. The procession with the statue, led by Mgr Joseph Grech and accompanied by the Leone Band, starts at 4.30. Mass will be said at 6.30.

On Tuesday, the day of the liturgical feast, there will be Mass every hour from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Vicar-General Mgr Giovanni B. Gauci leads a concelebrated Mass at 6 p.m. The St Gregory Band plays marches at 7.30.

¤ An Austrian Christmas market, organised by Nadur council, will be held on Archpriest Martin Camilleri Square today from 1 p.m.

¤ A Christmas high tea is being held to raise funds for the feast of Our Lady of Victories at Villa Fiorita, Marsalforn, today at 3 p.m. Transport will be provided from every village. For tickets phone 2155-0450 or 9982-6367.

¤ Kicking and Screaming is being shown at Don Bosco Oratory in Victoria today, at 5.30 p.m.

¤ The Gozo International Celebration, an annual ecumenical event for foreigners living in or visiting Gozo, which includes a concert, lecture and reception, is being held at St Joseph parish church and square, Qala, today at 6.15 p.m.

The Island Brass Band, the St Joseph and Magnificant choirs of Qala and organist Mario Portelli will participate.

¤ Munxar Day, organised by the local council, will be marked with an evening of song at the parish centre tomorrow at 7.30 p.m.

¤ The cathedral parish is holding a coffee morning at Crystal Palace in Marsalforn on Tuesday. Transport leaves Savina Square at 8.45 a.m. Tickets at Lm1.25 are obtainable from Coney Island Bar, Grace Debono or Menzia Farrugia.

¤ St George's parish Ladies' Society is holding a Christmas high tea at the parish centre on Tuesday at 7 p.m. Tickets are obtainable from the centre.

¤ Republic Day will be marked on Tuesday with a ceremony on Independence Square, Victoria, at 6.45 p.m.

The Police Band will perform at 7 p.m. A wreath-laying ceremony will be held afterwards. The Police Band will then leave the square for St Francis Square where President Eddie Fenech Adami hosts a reception at the exhibition hall at 7.30.

¤ A coffee morning is being held at the Respite Centre in Ghajnsielem on Wednesday at 9 a.m. Tickets are available from the centre or by phoning 2156-5773, 2155-5803 or 2156-0905.

¤ President Fenech Adami inaugurates the monument to archpriest Saverio Cassar on bicentenary of his death, on Independence Square, Victoria on Wednesday at 11. A commemorative plaque will also be unveiled.

¤ The Gozo School of Music is holding its annual Christmas concerts this week at the Gozo Ministry Exhibition Hall in Victoria at 5 p.m.. The juniors' concert will be held on Wednesday at 5 p.m. The seniors' concert will be held on Thursday. Students will be playing the piano, violin, flute, clarinet, saxophone and guitar. Entrance is free.

¤ A grand Christmas concert, under the patronage of President Fenech Adami, will be held at Don Bosco Oratory in Victoria on Friday at 7.30 p.m. The event, organised by the culture committee in collaboration with Victoria council, the Classique Foundation and Maltacom plc, will feature performances by the Fjur tal-Martri Margerita choir, soprano Georgina Gauci, and the Classique Orchestra, directed by Mro Joseph Brincat.

¤ A cultural outing to Malta is being organised by the Cathedral parish church on Saturday. More information is obtainable from the Cathedral.

¤ The Victoria Scout Group is holding a Christmas lunch at Palazzo Margerita, Sannat, on Sunday at 12.30 p.m. Tickets at Lm8.50 (children up to 12 years, Lm4) are obtainable from the Scouts headquarters in St Domenica Street, Victoria (tel: 2155-6497) till Thursday.

¤ The Victory Band Club is holding the 27th Xaghra Song Festival on Saturday at 6 p.m. Bookings can be made at the club on Thursday and Friday from 6.30 p.m.

¤ An evening of music and games is being held by the Santa Marija Band Club at the Zebbug parish centre on Saturday at 7 p.m. Tickets are obtainable from Ladies Committee members or by phoning 7925-8839 or 2155-0488 after 5 p.m.