For your diary

• To celebrate the feast of St Martha, there will be Mass on Friday at 6 p.m. at the Ursuline chapel, Sliema. Devotees and friends are welcome.

• The next meeting of the San Ġorġ Preca Group is to be held on Friday at 6.30 p.m. at the MUSEUM headquarters in Blata l-Bajda (entrance next to Preca Library). Couples and mature adults are especially invited.

• Msida parish youth group Passi Wara Kristu is organising a barbecue at the parish centre parking area in Johnny Catania Street, Msida, on Friday at 7 p.m. A lottery will be organised with a number of prizes to be drawn. Price is €10 for adults and € 5 for children under 10. To book, call 2134 281 or 7992 2731.

• Din l-Art Ħelwa will be holding its 46th anniversary celebration dinner on Friday at 8 p.m. at San Anton Gardens with the patronage of President George Abela. Guests will be welcomed on the terrace with drinks before dinner provided by Osborne Catering, while The Quacks, will provide musical entertainment during the evening.

The price is €38 per person inclusive of wine. Dress is lounge suit or smart casual (shirt and tie forgentlemen).

For tickets, call Din l-Art Ħelwa on 2122 0358 or 2122 5952 between 8.30 a.m. and 12.30 p.m. or e-mail info@dinlarthelwa.org. All funds raised are dedicated to Din l-Art Ħelwa’s restoration projects.

•The Malta Association of Crohns and Colitis (MACC) will be organising two talks about sports and exercise and travel in relation to inflammatory bowel disease in the lecture room opposite the chapel at Mater Dei Hospital on Friday from 7.30 p.m.

• Inspire, together with Calypso Sub Aqua Club and Dive Systems is organising a dive for charity at Exiles beach, Sliema, next Sunday. Those who would like to try diving are able to do so at a donation of €10. Instructors and equipment will be available on the day.

• Nature Trust will be organising a social gathering on August 20 at Wied Għollieqa. The event starts at 7 p.m. and goes on till late. Price is €15 (includes food and wine) and children under 14 do not pay. Other drinks will be sold at the bar. E-mail info@naturetrustmalta.org.

• An outing (card party) in aid of the Little Sisters of the Poor will be held at the Plaza Hotel, Sliema, on August 3 from 10 a.m. Forbooking, call Blanche Martin on 2133 0387.

• The Malta branch of The International Al Jolson Society is holding a buffet barbecue at a four-star hotel in Sliema on August 13. For more information, call 2189 6936 or 9988 0489 or e-mail vinwilljolsonmalta@gmail.com.

• The Salesian committee of the National Federation of Past Pupils and Friends is organising a wine and pizza night at St Patrick’s Ground, Sliema, on August 20 at 7.30 p.m. The proceeds are in aid of the Salesians of Don Bosco. This event also includes a welcome drink and canapés, flowing wine and drinks and live music. Free parking will be available. Price is €15 for adults and €8 for children under 12. For booking, call Fr Charles Cini on7949 2555, Saviour Bianchi on9906 5834, Rose Bonnici on 9985 4952 or Bernard Briffa on 7791 1209.

• InYgo-Malta will be organising a trip to Spain for youths aged 18-30 in order to celebrate World Youth Day during August. The youths will be invited to experience the spiritual lives of the Jesuits and lay people who follow the Ignatian path. For more information, call Fr Jimmy Bartolo on 9928 1101 or visit www.inygo.jesuit.org.mt.

• The Lay Fraterity of Charles de Foucauld is organising an activity from September 6 to 11 for people aged 20 to 35 to live together and spend time working in fields for a few hours daily, pray in silence, and reflect on the Gosple’s relevance in their life. For details, e-mail Anna Pace on annepac@go.com.mt or Rosita Farrugia on rosita.farrugia@gmail.com, or call 7929 8509 or9942 8389.

• The Centre of Ignatian Spirituality in collaboration with the Institute of Pastoral Formation is organising a three-year course in Maltese for people who wish to deepen their spiritual life, offer spiritual direction and guide retreats.

The course, which will start in the first week of September, will be divided into two parts. The first two years will focus on personal spiritual formation; the last year will concentrate on guiding retreats, and especially giving the Ignatian Spiritual Exercises and spiritual direction.

For more information, call Fr Reno Grech, SJ, on 2141 6916 or 7928 6435 or e-mail rgrechsj@gmail.com.