Coming up

• Mgr Manwel Barbara, Bishop of Malindi, Kenya, will celebrate pontifical Mass at the Cathedral in Victoria today at 10.30 a.m. The Chorus Ecclesiae Cathedralis will take part.

• Fontana marks the feast of St Andrew the Apostle today with a concelebrated Mass led by Gozo Bishop Mario Grech at 3.45 p.m. A procession with the statue of St Andrew, led by Mgr Rosario Ġużeppi Borg, with the participation of La Stella Band, begins at 4.45 p.m.

• Hop will be screened at the Don Bosco Oratory, Victoria, today at 5.30 p.m.

• A blood donation session willbe held at the Gozo GeneralHospital today between 8.30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

• The Għaqda Il-Milied fix-Xagħra will be holding a talk on how to construct a nativity scene, using recycled expanded polystyrene and plaster, at the Xagħra Youth Centre, Triq 28 t’April 1688, today at 9.30 a.m.

• 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 the recitalof the rosary, followed by Eucharistic benediction.

• The Friends of the Sick and Elderly will be organising a charity sale at the football ground next to the Victoria main car park today between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. A €10 charge will be payable on the day. For more information, call 2155 3336 or 7955 3336.

• The Gozo Creative Theatre Club, in collaboration with the Gozo Culture and Information Office within the Gozo Ministry, will stage Spring’s Awakening at the Citadel Centre for Culture and Arts, Victoria, today at 7.30 p.m. Entrance is free. Seating will be on a first-come-first-served basis.

• The diocesan Eucharistic Movement will be holding a prayer evening at Our Lady of Mount Carmel church, Ta’ Hamet, on Saturday at 8 p.m., followed by Mass at midnight.

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

• The Precursor Band of Xewkija will be organising a Christmas dinner at Villa Fiorita, Marsalforn on December 17 at 7.30 p.m. Tickets are obtainable from the women’s committee members, the band club, Xewkija shops and Swan Bookshop of Victoria, tel: 2155 5811 or 7955 5811.

• The 7th edition of the Christmas Market organised by the Nadur council will be held between Friday and next Sunday at St Peter and St Paul Square. There will be stands offering, among others, toys, crafts, Christmas decorations, cakes and sweets, food, sugar modelling, books and a bouncy castle. There will alsobe a Neapolitan crib on showand a programme of entertainment. Father Christmas willalso attend.

• The Gozitan Graduates Movement will hold First Friday Mass on December 2 at St Augustine church, Victoria, at 8 p.m. The sacrament of reconciliation will be available before Mass.

• The Gozo Padre Pio Prayer Groups are holding an Advent retreat next Sunday at Our Lady of Graces Sanctuary in Victoria. National director Fr Alfred Scerri, OFM,Cap., will celebrate Mass at 9 a.m. After a short coffee break, Fr Daniel Xerri, rector of the Gozo Seminary, will deliver a talk on St Pio. Dinner will be held in the Friary’s refectory. All members and other devotees are invited to attend.

cspiteri@timesofmalta.com