Feast of Blessed Nazju Falzon

The feast of the Blessed Nazju Falzon will be celebrated on Saturday.

Mass will be said at the Franciscan Minors' church known as Ta' Giezu in St John Street, Valletta, at 7.15 and 10 a.m., with the participation of the Catholic Enquiry Centre, at 11 a.m. and at 6.15 p.m.

Prayers for the sick will be held near the urn containing his remains after each Mass.

At Tal-Gizwiti church, in Merchants Street, Valletta, Mass will be said at 6.30, 7.30 and 10 a.m. for members and former members of the British services.

At noon Mass will be said for English speaking Catholics and for Maltese married to foreigners.

On Sunday, his reliquary will be exposed for veneration at St Luke's Hospital.

Nazju Falzon's first pastoral activity involved the teaching of Catechism to children at the Institute of the Good Shepherd, at the church of Santa Barbara and later at the church of Our Lady of Victory, both in Valletta.

He used to help children in their studies and also financially. His biggest contribution was his unstinting work among British servicemen especially where the teaching of Catechism was concerned.

More than 650 servicemen were baptised through his ministry.

On October 23, 1987, Nazju Falzon was declared to have practised the theological and cardinal virtues to a heroic degree. He was beatified by Pope John Paul II on May 9, 2001.