• Fr Frankie Bajada today begins his pastoral ministry as archpriest of Ghajnsielem. At 8 a.m. he takes part in the Matins with the collegiate chapter of Xaghra basilica.

At 8.45, Fr Bajada leaves Munxar - of which he was parish priest for the last 10 years - for the church of St Anthony, Ghajnsielem. At 9.15, he will meet the children of Lourdes Home and lay flowers at the foot of the statue of Our Lady of Lourdes in the chapel.

At 9.30, the St Joseph Band will greet Fr Bajada in Chambray Road from where he will walk to the parish church. The Victory Band will also participate.

At 10.15, Bishop Mario Grech will greet Fr Bajada on Loreto Square. Parish council secretary Rita Mejlak and mayor Frans Cauchi will make speeches. At 10.30, Bishop Grech celebrates Mass at the parish church, during which the new archpriest's investiture will take place. An orchestra and the Lauretana, St Anthony, Allegro, Ilhna Smewwija and Voci Angeliche choirs under the direction of Mro Frankie Debono, will participate.

At 1.30 p.m., a celebration will be held on Loreto Square. At 6.30, the St Joseph Band will play marches during the opening ceremony and blessing of the new quarters of the feast decorations club in Chambray Road.

• A Christmas exhibition will be open at the exhibition hall on St Francis Square, Victoria, today from 8 a.m. to noon and 4 to 8 p.m. Dried flowers, ganutell, works on parchment, and macramé will be on display.

• On the occasion of the feast of St Lucy, Bishop Grech celebrates a Pontifical Mass today at 8.45 a.m. at Santa Lucija in Gozo. There will be solemn vespers at 3.30 p.m. At 4.30, a procession with the statue of the saint, accompanied by the Leone Band, will be held. Mass will be celebrated at 6.30.

On Wednesday, on the occasion of the liturgical feast of St Lucy, the church will be open all day and Mass will be celebrated every hour from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fr Ignatius Borg will lead a pilgrimage from Kercem at noon. Mgr Gregory Grech will celebrate Mass at 6 p.m., followed by the antiphon and Sacramental blessing. At 7.30, the St Gregory Band will play marches.

• The annual general meeting of the Legion of Mary will be held at the Cana Movement Centre, Victoria, today at 4 p.m. Bishop Grech will attend.

• Pirates of the Caribbean - Dead Man's Chest is showing at Don Bosco Oratory today at 5.30 p.m.

• The Circolo Gozitano is holding the Gieh Ghawdex award ceremony at its premises in Victoria today at 7.30 p.m. during which the award will be presented to Mr Speaker Anton Tabone.

Meanwhile the Circolo is holding a dinner on the eve of the feast of St Lucy on Tuesday at 7.30 p.m. The price is Lm9. For more information call the Circolo on 2155-0878.

• The Cathedral parish is holding an activity for the elderly on Tuesday. Transport leaves Savina Square at 8.45 a.m. Mass will be celebrated at Sta Lucija church, followed by a Christmas tour. Lunch will be served at the Cornucopia Hotel (Lm4). Tickets are available from George Debono and Coney Island Bar.

• A coffee morning in aid of the Arka Foundation is being held at the Respite Centre, Ghajnsielem, on Wednesday from 9 a.m. For tickets at Lm1.25 call 2156-5773, 2155-5803 or 2156-0905.

• To mark Republic Day on Wednesday a ceremony, presided over by Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono, with the participation of the Police Band, will be held on Independence Square, Victoria, at 6.45 p.m. A vocal and orchestral concert, directed by Mro Colin Attard, will be held at the exhibition hall in St Francis Square, Victoria, at 7.30 p.m. under the patronage of President Edward Fenech Adami.

• The Non-Maltese Residents' Committee of the Legion of Mary is organising a carol service for foreign residents of all denominations at Zebbug parish church on Wednesday at 7 p.m. Bishop Grech will attend.

• A children's Christmas celebration in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund, presided over by President and Mrs Fenech Adami, is being held at St George's Basilica, Victoria, on Thursday at 10 a.m.

• The Padre Pio prayer group is organising a prayer meeting at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Graces of the Capuchin Friars in Victoria, on Friday at 5.30 p.m. The meeting will begin with rosary, followed by Mass at 6, and will end with the singing of the hymn dedicated to St Pio of Pietrelcina.

• The Ghaqda il-Milied fix-Xaghra is organising an exhibition of traditional Maltese Christmas crafts and mini-cribs at the Boys' Museum in Xaghra between Friday and December 31 from 6 to 9 p.m.

• The Fundazzjoni Arti Fontana is presenting a vocal and instrumental concert "Autumn Leaves - An Evening with Mozart" at the exhibition hall in St Francis Square, Victoria, on Saturday at 7 p.m. Entrance is free. For more information call 2155-3610 or 9944-8723; e-mail: gauciag@keyworld.net.

• The Gozo Horse Racing Association is organising a dinner in aid of the Arka Foundation in Baxter Hall at the Arka Respite Centre, Ghajnsielem, on Saturday at 7.30 p.m. Tickets are obtainable from committee members or from Sammy Vella on 9947-7999.

• The Victoria Scout Group is holding a Christmas dinner at the Hotel Calypso, Marsalforn, on Saturday at 7.30 p.m. Tickets at Lm9 (adults) and Lm4 (children up to 12 years) are available from the Scouts' headquarters. For more information call Lorrie Saliba on 7939-8928.

• The Ghaqda Hbieb tal-Presepju is holding a crib exhibition at the exhibition hall in Victoria between Sunday and December 31 during office hours.

• High tea and tombola with Father Christmas will be held at Villa Fiorita, Marsalforn, on Sunday at 3 p.m. in aid of the feast of the Nativity of Our Lady. Transport will be available from every village. For tickets call 2155-0450 or 9982-6367. They are also available from Miriam Sultana, Captured Memories, Main Gate Street, Victoria.

• A Christmas concert with soprano Georgina Gauci, Silvio Zammit (flute), Simon Abdilla Joslin (cello) and Ramona Zammit Formosa (harp) will be held at St Margaret parish church, Sannat, on Sunday at 6 p.m. Excerpts from oratorios and sonatas as well as traditional and popular Christmas carols will be performed. Entrance is free. For more details contact Albert Gauci on tel. 2155-9071, 9944-8723; e-mail gauciag@keyworld.net.

• The Gozo School of Music is holding two Christmas concerts at the exhibition hall, St Francis Square, Victoria - a junior concert on Monday, December 18, and a senior concert on December 19, both at 6 p.m. Entrance is free.