• Masses at Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary will be said today at 6.15, 8.30, 10 and 11.15am and 5pm.
• The Friends of the Sick and Elderly (Gozo) will hold a charity sale at the football ground near the car park in Victoria today from 7.30am to 1pm.
• A Christmas open market will be held today at St Peter and St Paul’s Square, Nadur, from 8am onwards.
• Auxilliary Bishop Charles Scicluna will lead a concelebrated Mass today at 9.30am at the Franciscan conventual church, Victoria, to celebrate the feast of the Immaculate Conception. The procession with the statue of the Immaculate Conception, accompanied by La Stella Band of Victoria, starts at 5.45pm. Gozo Bishop Mario Grech will lead a concelebrated Mass today at 9.30am at the Immaculate Conception sanctuary, Qala. The traditional motorcycles pilgrimage from Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary starts at 1.30pm. The procession with the statue of the Virgin Mary starts at 5pm, accompanied by Qala’s Ite ad Joseph Band.
• Crib figurines and old Baby Jesus statues will be displayed today from 9am to noon and from 3 to 9pm at Blended Art Gallery, Xandriku Street, Nadur.
• Pacific Rim will be screened at Don Bosco Oratory, Victoria, today at 5.30pm.
• A two-month donation fundraising campaign in aid of OASI Foundation, Victoria, starts today. Call 5160 2030 to donate €10 or 5150 2070 for €5, or SMS 5061 8917 to donate €6.99, 5061 8094 for €4.66 or 5061 7363 for €2.33.
• The annual carol singing service of the Legion of Mary (Gozo) ecumenical committee in collaboration with the Gozo diocese and the Anglican Community will be held at San Lawrenz parish church on Wednesday at 7pm. Foreign residents of all denominations are invited to attend.
• The Lay Fraternity of Charles de Foucauld (Gozo) is holding a prayer meeting on Thursday at 7.15pm at Good Shepherd pastoral centre, Taċ-Ċawla, Victoria. All are welcome.
• The closing date for applications for the Employment Aid Programme – Gozo has been extended to Thursday.
• Visits to Ġgantija Archaeological Park and Ta’ Kola Windmill, Xagħra, are free of charge on Friday from 9am to 5pm. Last entrance at 4.30pm.
• A Republic Day musical concert by the Classique String Ensemble will be held on Friday at 6.30pm at the exhibition hall in St Francis Square, Victoria.
• An Artisan Christmas Village will be held between Friday and next Sunday at St George’s Square, Victoria.
• Għaqda Drammatika Azzjoni Kattolika presents Milied b’Differenza on Saturday and next Sunday at 6.30pm at the Catholic Action hall, Xagħra. To book, call Josephine Azzopardi on 2155 2759, 7928 4385 or Rose Bartolo on 2155 2837.
• Bethlehem f’Għajnsielem will be opened by Prime Minister Joseph Muscat on Saturday at 4.15pm at Ta’ Passi, Għajnsielem.
• Bethel Charismatic Group is holding a prayer meeting at MAS headquarters, Victoria, on Saturday at 7pm.
• The diocesan Eucharistic Movement is holding a prayer evening at Our Lady of Mount carmel church, Ta’ Hamet, on Saturday at 8pm, followed by Mass at midnight.
• La Stella Philharmonic Society, Victoria, is holding a fundraising Christmas lunch next Sunday at 12.30pm, at the La Stella Band Club in Republic Street, Victoria. Tickets at €15 (€8 for children under 12), are available at the Astra Bar. Pre-book by calling 2155 6256 or 9902 1591.
• Next Sunday, Sta Lucija, Gozo, celebrates the feast of its patron saint – St Lucy. On Friday at 7.30pm, band marches will be held in 13th December Street. On Saturday at 6.45pm, Ta’ Klula Foundation will hold its annual traditional light festival in the village’s main square, followed by band marches in Sta Lucija Street at 7.30pm. St Gregory Band of Kerċem will take part on both days.
• Victoria Scout Group will hold a bike hike in aid of L-Istrina on Friday at 1.30pm. Children donate €3, and adults €5. Meeting is at the Scouts’ headquarters in Sta Domenica Street, Victoria. All are invited. For details call Lorrie Saliba on 7939 8928, the Scouts’ headquarters on 2155 6497 or visit www.victoriascoutgroup.org.
• Il-Ħaġar Heart of Gozo museum, St George’s Square, Victoria, in collaboration with the Gozo School of Music and Laudate Pueri Choir of St George’s basilica, is holding a 30-minute chamber music recital for Christmastide on Saturday at 12.15pm at the museum’s entrance hall. It is open to the public and free of charge.
• Kate Gonzi will sign copies of the book Kate Gonzi: From the Heart at Kempinski Hotel, San Lawrenz, on Saturday at 11.30am. To reserve a copy, e-mail KateGonziDec2013@gmail.com.
• An open day at Dar Ġużeppa Debono, Għajnsielem, will be held next Sunday from 8.30am to 8.30pm.
• Gozo General Hospital is holding a fun walk next Sunday at 2.30pm in aid of the Community Chest Fund. Departure is from the main gate. The fee is €10.
• Gozo Padre Pio prayer groups are holding an Advent retreat next Sunday at Our Lady of Graces Sanctuary, Victoria. Mass is at 9am. Afterwards, Xagħra parish archpriest Mgr Carmelo Refalo will give a talk. To book, call Vincent Vella on 2155 1026, 7991 1543.
• The Word was Made Flesh annual international Christmas celebration will be held at St Joseph parish church, Qala, next Sunday from 6.30 to 8pm.
• Christmas with the Musicals will be held by The Helping Hands Group on December 20 at 8pm at Grand Hotel, Għajnsielem. To book, call 7942 1611, 9942 1611 or e-mail thehelpinghandsgroup@yahoo.com.
• Precursor Band of Xewkija will hold a Christmas dinner at Cornucopia Hotel, Xagħra, on December 21 at 7.30pm. Tickets are available from committee members, the band club, Xewkija shops and Swan Bookshop, Victoria. Call on 2155 5811 or 7955 5811.
cspiteri@timesofmalta.com