Coming up

• Xagħra council is putting up a show of vintage cars by the Malta Sportscar Club in Xagħra today at 10 a.m. starting with a défilé from Victory Square along various streets of the locality. At 10.30 a.m. the cars will gather on Victory Square where car owners will be interviewed and mementoes exchanged.

• Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi will preside over the official Independence Day ceremony at Independence Square, Victoria, today at 5.15 p.m.

• The Friends of the Sick and Elderly is organising a car boot sale at the Marsalforn car park next Sunday from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. The €10 fee per car is payable on the day. For more information call 2155 3336.

• On the occasion of the feast of Our Lady of Health, Mgr Karm Farrugia will lead a concelebrated Mass at Qala parish church today at 5 p.m. this will be followed by a pilgrimage with the miraculous painting of Our Lady.

• An exhibition of photographs by George Saguna is being held at the art..e gallery, St Augustine Square, Victoria, until October 3. Viewing times are Monday to Saturday from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and Friday from 9.30 a.m. to 12.30 p.m. and from 5 to 7 p.m.

• Rotary Club Gozo is holding its second major exhibition at the Citadel. Works by over 50 well-known and up-and-coming artists will be on display. For the first time, works by students of the Gozo Centre for Arts and Crafts will also be included. Proceeds will go towards the Friends of the Sick and the Elderly, OASI, Wirt Għawdex and Happy Moments in Kenya. The exhibition is open till Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

• To celebrate the liturgical feast of Padre Pio, members of the three prayer groups in Gozo are to meet at the Capuchin Sanctuary of Our Lady of Graces, Victoria, on Tuesday at 6.30 p.m. The ceremony will begin with the recitation of the Rosary followed by sacramental blessing. On this special occasion all prayer groups around the world will commemorate the 40th anniversary of the death of Padre Pio. Gozo Bishop Mario Grech will lead a solemn High Mass at 7 p.m. The Fjur t'Assisi choir will take part.

• The Gozitan Graduates Movement invites graduates and members of all professions in Gozo (including couples) for first Friday Mass at St Augustine church, Victoria, on October 3 at 8.30 p.m. Confessions will be heard from 8.15 p.m.

• Fondazzjoni Kumittiva Għawdex is organising a barbecue in aid of the Jesus of Nazareth church in Xaghra on Friday at 7.30 p.m. Tickets at €10 can be obtained from Noel's Greengrocer, Victoria car park.

• Theatre lovers in Gozo are in for a treat with the staging of Neil Simon's The Good Doctor at St Ursula Hall, Cittadella Centre for Culture and Crafts, Victoria, on Friday and Saturday from 7.30 p.m. For information and tickets call 7930 3101 or e-mail gozocreative@yahoo.com. Tickets are also available at the door.

• The third Qala International Folk Festival opens on Thursday. The festival, which closes on Sunday, is organised by Qala council and the Menhir Qala Folk Group.

cspiteri@timesofmalta.com