Coming up

• The feast of St Anthony the Abbot will be celebrated at St Anthony church in Tal-Qaċċa, Xagħra, today. A concelebrated Mass, led by Gozo Bishop Mario Grech, will be held at 8.30 a.m. The statue will leave the church for St Anthony Square at 10 a.m. where the blessing of horses takes place, followed by a defilé to the Basilica of the Nativity of Our Lady. A dog and a cat show will be held at St Anthony Square at 11 a.m.

• At 3.30 p.m. there will be solemn vespers, followed by a procession with the statue of St Anthony to St Anthony Square, where the blessing of pets will take place at 4.30 p.m.

• A blood donation session will be held at the Gozo General Hospital today between 8.30 a.m. and 1 p.m.

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

• The annual general meeting of the Gozo Philatelic Society will be held at the Victoria Scouts headquarters today at 9.30 a.m. It will include the election of a new committee and the distribution of prizes and certificates to all participants in last November’s annual exhibition.

• 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 recital of the rosary, followed by Eucharistic benediction.

• A bazaar in aid of Oasi Foundation will be held at St Francis Square, Victoria, between today and January 28 from 8.30 a.m. to noon and from 4.30 to 7 p.m. For more information, call Caroline Vasey on 2156 5654 or 7718 5638.

• An exhibition on the life and work of Ninu Cremona to mark the 40th anniversary of his death is being held at the Banca Giuratale in Victoria until Saturday. It includes historic photographs as well as manuscripts, books and other objects related to his life. Opening hours are today from 9 a.m. to noon, Monday to Friday from8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon. The exhibition will be at the National Library in Valletta from January 25.

• The Legion of Mary (Gozo), together with the Gozo diocese and the Anglican Community, is holding the annual ecumeni-cal service at St Augustine church, Victoria, on Wednesday at 6 p.m.

• The diocesan Eucharistic Movement will be holding a prayer evening at the Don Bosco Oratory’s chapel in Victoria on Saturday at8 p.m., followed by Mass atmidnight.

• 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.

• A Liturgy of the Word, presided over by Mgr Grech, will be held at Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary on January 28 at 4.30 p.m. Baptised babies will be presented to the Virgin Mary. Parents are being asked to bring a red candle. The ceremony is organised annually by the Catholic Action Movement in Gozo. Those taking part are to call Pauline Bezzina (2155 1967), Netta Camilleri (2155 1022) or Ġuża Grech (2755 3822) by next Sunday.

• The eight-week fitness course, organised by the Gozo Sports Complex, will start on Wednesday at 6.30 p.m. Applications are open. For more information contact the complex’s reception desk during office hours.

• A social gathering for youths and adolescents will be held at the Don Bosco Oratory on Friday at 7.30 p.m. The activity will kick-start the activities for the feast of Don Bosco to be held on January 29.

• The feast of St Francis de Sales, patron saint of journalists and writers, will be celebrated onJanuary 24. Mgr Grech will celebrate Mass at the church of the Franciscan Sisters in Palm Street, Victoria, at 5 p.m. Journalists are invited to attend.

cspiteri@timesofmalta.com