Coming Up

¤ Xlendi celebrates the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel today.

The annual three-hour water sports event will be held in the bay from 3 p.m. Activities include a greasy pole competition, a rope game, and swimming, paddleboat and canoe races.

A considerable amount of children and youngsters will be taking part. Canoes have been obtained from Louis Attard of Xlendi Pleasure Cruises. Trophies will be presented to the winners.

A Marian biblical vigil will be held at 6, followed by Mass with vespers at 6.30.

An aux flambeaux procession, with the statue of Our Lady, leaves for Xlendi square at 7.30. The rosary will be said while Marian hymns will be sung. A blessing ceremony will be held and scapulars of Our Lady will be distributed. The procession ends at 9.30 with the anthem, antiphon and sacramental blessing.

¤ A ceremony to mark the lifting of the two Sieges (1565 and 1940-43) will be held, under the patronage of Minister Giovanna Debono, in Xaghra on Thursday at 9 a.m. The event is being organised by Xaghra Collegiate Chapter and the local council.

Archpriest Carmelo Refalo, accompanied by the chapter and clergy, leads a solemn, concelebrated Mass in the basilica.

A programme of activities commemorating the two sieges will be held on Victory Square at 10. Wreaths will be placed on the Siege monument and Fr Joseph Cini will deliver the commemorative address.

¤ A ceremony to commemorate Victory Day, also presided by Mrs Debono, will be held on Independence Square, Victoria, on Thursday, at 6.30 p.m. Dr Kevin Cutajar will deliver a commemorative address. The Malta Police Band will take part. An orchestral concert by the Southampton University Sinfonietta will follow.

¤ The feast of Our Lady of Victories will be celebrated in Xaghra on Friday.

Traditional horse and donkey races will be held today at 8.30 a.m.

Fr Charles Sultana celebrates Mass, with the participation of parish youths, at 11. The Voci Angeliche choir and the Guiding Light and Youth 4 Life groups, will also take part.

A youth talent show starts at 7.30 on Victory Square. Bishop Mario Grech will give an address.

Cana Movement director Fr Joseph Mizzi, accompanied by the collegiate chapter and clergy, leads a solemn, concelebrated Mass on Tuesday at 7.30 p.m. Couples celebrating their 25th and 50th wedding anniversaries are invited.

The Leone and Precursor bands will play marches in the streets at 9.30.

Vespers will be led by Vicar General Mgr Giovanni B. Gauci on Wednesday at 6.30 p.m. The chapter deacon will be appointed.

Mgr Gauci also leads a solemn concelebrated Mass and Marian celebration at 7.

The Victory and St Margaret bands will play marches at 9. There will also be a ground fireworks display.

Bishop Mario Grech leads a solemn Pontifical translation on Thursday at 6.30 p.m.

The Mnarja and Victory bands play marches in the streets at 8.30, followed by a ground fireworks display in Imqades Street.

Bishop Grech leads a Pontifical concelebrated Mass on Friday at 9 a.m., after which he will deliver the panegyric. The A Maria Immacolata Mass, by Mro Bugeja, will be performed by the Jesus of Nazareth choir and a number of soloists, under the direction of Mro Salv. Galea, OP.

The Beland Band of Zejtun and the St Gregory Band of Kercem will play marches at 11.30.

Bishop Emeritus Nikol Cauchi leads vespers, with the participation of the collegiate chapter at 5.30 p.m. Marches by the Victory and Leone bands follow at 6.

The procession, led by Archpriest Mgr Carmelo Refalo, starts at 7. The Victory Band will take part, while the Leone Band will perform a musical programme on Victory Square.

The procession ends with the antiphon and a Eucharistic celebration at 10 p.m. Festivities end with marches by the Victory Band.

¤ A Maltese evening with tombola, traditional food and music, will be held on St George's Square, Victoria, on September 16 at 8 p.m. The Astra Folk Group will take part. Tickets at Lm3.50 are on sale from the St George's Basilica parish office or from Kolina Attard. For more information phone 9955-7300.