New Archbishop to meet different sectors of society

A series of activities are being planned in connection with the Episcopal ordination of Archbishop-elect Mgr Paul Cremona culminating with his ordination on January 26.

The ceremony will start with vespers at 4.45 p.m. at St Dominic church, in Valletta. A cortege leaves the convent at 5.30 p.m. for the ordination ceremony at St John's Co-Cathedral, in Valletta, at 6.30 p.m.

The ordaining bishops will be Apostolic Nuncio Felix del Blanco Prieto, outgoing Archbishop Mgr Joseph Mercieca and the Bishop of Durres, in Albania, Mgr George Frendo.

Following Mass, Mgr Cremona, accompanied by Gozo Bishop Mario Grech, will bless the crowd while the Te Deum is intoned.

Other activities of Mgr Cremona include a personal preparation retreat between January 8 and 12. On January 13, there will be adoration and Mass at the Guardamangia parish church, where Mgr Cremona served as parish priest for four years.

On January 16, he will participate in a live-in with parish priests at Tal-Virtù Seminary, in Rabat, and on January 19 there will be a Thanksgiving Mass on the occasion of Mgr Mercieca's end of service at St John's Co-Cathedral, in Valletta.

Mgr Cremona will meet youths and adolescents, children, diocesan priests, the elderly, the religious, families and lay people on January 20, 21, 25, 31, February 1, 4 and 15, respectively.

On January 25 he will take part in a prayer vigil in preparation for his ordination. On January 17 and 18, the feast of the conversion of St Paul will be celebrated at the Cathedral, in Mdina.

The new Archbishop will visit St Luke's Hospital on January 29 and on February 2 Mass will be celebrated at St John's Co-Cathedral with the participation of people benefiting from the services of the Church.

On February 5, he will celebrate Candlemas at St John's Co-Cathedral with the participation of members of the pastoral councils.

On February 9 and 10, the feast of Malta's baptism will be celebrated with vespers and a pontifical at St Paul's Collegiate church, in Valletta.

The new Archbishop will meet the Sliema and Balluta pastoral unity on February 18. On February 24, he will join Mgr Grech in a concelebrated Mass at the Gozo Cathedral.