New church bells for Xewkija

The new bells for St John the Baptist Church in Xewkija arrived from Loughborough, UK, on June 7.

The bells, which were made by John Taylor Bell Founders, and a statue of St John, were transported on a trailer aboard the Ta' Pinu ferry, accompanied by a carcade from Mgarr to the Our Lady of Mercy church in Xewkija. Here they were carried to the square while the Precursor Band played marches.

On the square, after various poems written for the occasion were read, the bells were placed on pillars purposely prepared for their arrival. Archpriest Mgr Carmelo Mercieca then delivered a speech.

Celebrations were held on June 10, when Bishop Mario Grech was greeted by Mgr Mercieca in front of the windmill and accompanied by the Presursor Band to the church square.

Gozo Philatelic Society president Anthony Said and society member Anthony Grech presented Mgr Mercieca with a commemorative parchment, a special postmark slogan issued by Maltapost and designed by Mr Grech.

The Xewkja archpriest and clergy, priests from various parishes and the Knights of St John also took part in the ceremony. Among the personalities present were MPs, the Xewkija mayor and councillors, the John Taylor Bell Founders executive director Jed Flatters and the company's Malta representative Kenneth Cauchi.

A poem by Bishop Nikol Cauchi on the role of the bells in life was read out while speeches were delivered by Mr Flatters and Mr Cauchi. Afterwards, the archpriest was presented with three bronze effigies of the new bells, to be placed in the church museum.

After three readings from the Bible, the bishop delivered his homily on the sound of the bells which invites people to the House of God. He then blessed each bell and rang them for the first time. The statue of St John, which was also blessed, will be placed on the church frontispiece. The bishop and Mgr Mercieca then unveiled a commemorative plaque on the church belfry.

The new bells have been named Giovanna, Elizabetta and Maria Addolorata. They join the two old bells, recently restored by Kenneth Cauchi and Francis Psaila from Atlas Tool Engineering. The other two bells, which have also been restored, will be used for the clock on the belfry.