Victoria, Xaghra celebrate 50th anniversary

There were celebrations in both Victoria and Xaghra yesterday week to mark the 50th anniversary of Leone Philharmonic Society's donation of the statue of Our Lady of the Assumption to the Cathedral parish church on April 29, 1956.

In the evening, a procession, with the participation of the Leone Band and the Cathedral Chapter, accompanied the statue from the Gozo Cathedral to Savina Square. The procession continued towards the Leone Band Club where the statue was carried in carcade from Victoria to Xaghra, through Mgarr Road. Coaches brought parishioners from the cathedral.

The roadside leading to Xaghra was lit with torches (fjakkoli). The crowd that gathered in Xaghra greeted the statue with great applause. The Leone and Victory bands led the way.

Both parishes' clergy followed, and young and old joined in the aux flambeaux procession. On Victory Square, men from Xaghra carried the statue around the square and set it down on the parvis to face the crowd.

Fabienne Grech from the Cathedral parish read out a message describing events that took place 50 years ago. She was followed by Canon Julian Refalo Rapa who read a poem. There were messages from Bishop Grech, Xaghra archpriest Mgr Carmelo Refalo and Cathedral archpriest Mgr Joe Vella Gauci.

The statue was placed under one of the arches facing the niche with the statue of Our Lady of Victory, the patron of Xaghra. Bishop Grech imparted Benediction with the Holy Eucharist. The Chorus Ecclesiae Cathedralis, accompanied by organist Stephen Attard, participated.

Festivities continued on Sunday when the Aurora Theatre hosted the musical 1956 that commemorated the event. On Monday evening, a prayer vigil was held at Xaghra basilica, and on Wednesday, the statue was returned to the Cathedral.

Concelebrated pontifical Mass is being led by Bishop Grech this morning at 10 to round up the festivities.