Coming up

• The feast of the Assumption of Our Lady is being celebrated in Żebbuġ today. At 9 a.m. Archbishop Paul Cremona will concelebrate Pontifical Mass with the parish clergy. At 11.30 a.m. marches will be played in the main streets. At 6.15 p.m., Għarb archpriest Mgr Joseph Sultana will lead solemn vespers.

The procession with the statue of Our Lady, led by Mgr Sultana, accompanied by the Santa Marija Band, starts at 7 p.m. The Leone Band will give a concert in the main square. The procession ends at 10.15 p.m. with a fireworks display and the sacramental blessing.

• The Emergency Response and Rescue Corps, together with the Marsalforn Catholic Community, is holding a blood drive at the Hotel Calypso in Marsalforn, today from 8.30 a.m. to 1.30 p.m.

• Fr Samuel Grech will celebrate his first solemn Mass at Għajnsielem parish church today at 6 p.m. A cortege will leave his residence at 5 p.m., accompanied by the St Joseph Band.

• The Puttinu Cares Gozo Committee is hosting high tea at St Augustine Square, Victoria, tomorrow at 7.30 p.m. The evening is being held to raise funds for Puttinu Cares Gozo, which helps people suffering from cancer. For tickets and more information, call 7955 2553 or 7909 2959 or e-mail puttinucaresgozo@hotmail.com.

• Masses at Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary will be held today at 6.15 a.m., 8.30, 10, 11.15 and 5 p.m. At 6 p.m. there will be a recital of the rosary, followed by Eucharistic benediction.

• A brass-hammering exhibition by Corrado Lozia is currently on show at the Citadel in Victoria. The exhibition is open between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. until Wednesday,

• The Bethel Charismatic Group is holding a prayer meeting at the church of Our Lady of Pompeii, Victoria, on Saturday at 7 p.m.

• The diocesan Eucharistic Movement will hold a prayer evening at the church of St Paul’s Shipwreck, Marsalforn, on Saturday at 8.30 p.m., followed by Mass at midnight.

• The Gozo CCU Foundation’s Summer Sizzler, including a barbecue, will be held at the Cornucopia Hotel, Xagħra, on Saturday at 7 p.m. Entertainment will be provided by the Spectrum Band and Penny Dix. For bookings, call 7956 6496 or 2156 6496. The money will be used for the purchase of two ventilators for the CCU/ITU Ward.

• Art Club 2,000 is currently holding a collective art exhibition at the Gozo Ministry exhibition hall in St Francis Square, Victoria. Fifty Art Club members are exhibiting works, including paintings in different media, ceramics and sculpture. Visiting hours are Monday to Friday from 8.30 a.m. to 1 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to noon. The exhibition is open until August 31.

• The University of Malta – Gozo Campus is holding its annual summer social activity on Friday in the central courtyard of the University Gozo Campus, Mġarr Road, Xewkija.

The event will start at 8 p.m. and will be followed by a reception. The programme includes a number of items from the band’s repertoire. Admission is free. Bookings are to be made at the Gozo Campus or by calling 2156 4559, sending a fax to 2156 4550 or e-mailing ugc@um.edu.mt. Those wishing to attend are advised to book early .

• Activities to celebrate the feast of Our Lady of Loreto will be held this week:

Tomorrow, Catholic Family Day. At 6.30 p.m. there will be a recital of the rosary, Salve Regina and a Eucharistic celebration.

At 7 p.m. there will be a solemn concelebration led by Fr Emanuel Magro with the participation of several married couples. A small gift will be presented to newlyweds and couples celebrating their 25th and 50th wedding anniversaries. The Lauretana Choir will animate the Mass.

Tuesday – Youth Talent Day. At 6.30 p.m. there will be the recital of the rosary, followed by a Eucharistic celebration and a solemn concelebration at 7 p.m., led by Fr Krystof Buttiġieġ with the participation and animation of local youths

At 9 p.m., the St Joseph Band will perform a musical programme opposite the club’s premises, under the direction of Sunny Galea and assistant director Frankie Debono. The society will also inaugurate the club’s main hall.

A celebration of vespers will be held on Wednesday at 6.30 p.m., followed by a solemn concelebration, led by Fr Richard Stanley Grech at 7 p.m. The sermon will be delivered by Mgr Eucharistico Sultana. At 9.30 p.m., there will be a Marian vigil of prayers at the main square.

• The Gozitan Graduates Movement invites graduates and members of all professions for First Friday Mass by Fr Manwel Cutajar, on September 2 at 8.30 p.m., at St Augustine’s church (Victoria. The sacrament of Reconciliation will also be available a few minutes earlier.

• On September 6, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech will lead a Diocesan pilgrimage to the Shrine of the Nativity of Our Lady in Mellieħa. The pilgrimage will leave Mġarr on the 5.15 p.m. ferry with return on the 9 p.m. boat. Tickets are available from Gozo parishes.

cspiteri@timesofmalta.com