Pentecost vigil

An orderly and expectant crowd filled St George's Square to join Bishop Mario Grech in prayer, yesterday week, to invoke the gift of the Holy Spirit on the vigil of the solemn commemoration of Pentecost.

In a passionate homily, the bishop likened the Spirit with the Biblical sweet breeze that renews the human heart, in this case the disheartened heart of a society that lays its hope where hope is bound to remain unanswered. Christ alone can answer the true hope. Bishop Grech pointed to the example of Blessed Gorg Preca, whose impressive full-sized Pitré portrait at St George's basilica, hangs against the façade of the church.

Bishop Grech said that Dun Gorg allowed the Holy Spirit to inhabit and work through him to spread the hope of Christ, and to communicate this hope to society through his ministry in the Church. He added that the local Church should not only endorse the ministry of Dun Gorg but also emulate him by creating better opportunities of education for the Catholic laity to be more active in the local Church. He also called for more vocations in the local Church so that our diocese may remain a "missionary" Church.

The vigil of Pentecost started with the liturgy of readings, five taken from the books of the Old Testament and two, including the Gospel reading, from the New Testament. The homily was followed by the renewal of the commitments undertaken in the sacrament of Confirmation, and by the Eucharistic liturgy.

Diocesan Pastoral Secretary Fr Giovanni Curmi led the organisation of the diocesan vigil. The setting was prepared in collaboration with the administration of St George's basilica. The famous Azzopardi Holy Crucifix, now housed in the Byzantine chapel, was displayed between the bronze portals and dominated the square, flanked by a canvas, depicting the Our Lady of Pentecost from the Gozo Curia and another of Dun Gorg on red damask used during festas. A mobile altar was set up on top of the stairs and the great Paschal Candle rose to its right.

The vigil was rich in symbolism, with fire to evoke the gift of the Holy Spirit that is described by Luke's Books of the Acts as having descended upon the Apostles in the form of tongues of fire. At one point, the faithful on St George's Square raised a red candle, which they had just lit from the flame of the Paschal Candle, and with one voice professed their baptismal vows. Symbolism also marked the realism of sharing with the poor the gifts of creation brought by all the parishes of Gozo.

Some 40 priests from all over the island, including the archpriests of Victoria and most parish priests, concelebrated. The principal concelebrants were Mgr Giovanni B. Gauci, vicar general of Gozo, and Mgr Joseph Farrugia, archpriest of St George's basilica. Pauline Grech, a high-ranking member of the society of the MUSEUM, and Lelio Spiteri animated the vigil.

Dorienne Portelli led the choir and Ivan Farrugia conducted the band.

The Vigil of Pentecost ended with a solemn mota from the twin bell-towers of the basilica. It was a great success due to the collaborative effort in its organisation and the perfect setting.