• Masses at Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary will be said today at 6.15, 8.30, 10 and 11.15am and 5pm, followed by the recital of the rosary and Eucharistic benediction.
• A blood donation session will be held at Gozo General Hospital’s Outpatients Department today between 8am and 1pm.
• An animated Mass will be celebrated by Fr Albert Micallef, OFM, on Tuesday at 7pm at St Anthony’s church in preparation of the feast of St Anthony in June. Prayers start at 6.30pm.
• A book of poetry by Sheryl Loeffler, entitled A Land in the Story-Telling Sea, will be launched at an event in St Ursula’s Hall in the Citadel, Victoria, on Wednesday at 7pm for 7.30pm organised by Gozo Live. Loeffler will talk about her work and read extracts and sign copies. Admission is free.
• The feast of St Rita will be celebrated on Thursday at St Augustine church, Victoria. Mass will be celebrated every half hour from 6 to 8am and every hour from 9am to 1pm. At 5pm there will be the blessing of flowers and the presentation of children to St Rita. Mass at 6pm will be celebrated by Bishop Mario Grech, followed by a procession with the saint’s statue.
• The Catholic Action Movement in Gozo will hold its annual quiz for junior members on Friday at 5pm at its headquarters in Sir Arturo Mercieca Street, Victoria. There will also be an opportunity for participants to demonstrate their talents.
• Bethel Charismatic Group will hold a prayer meeting on Saturday at 7pm at MAS headquarters, Victoria.
• The diocesan Eucharistic Movement will hold a prayer evening at St George’s parish church, Victoria, on Saturday at 8.30pm, followed by Mass at midnight.
• Friends of the Sick and Elderly will hold a charity sale at Victoria football ground next Sunday from 7.30am to 1pm. Sellers pay €10 per car space.
• To celebrate the 127th birthday of St Pio of Pietrelcina, members of prayer groups in Gozo and devotees of the saint are invited to a prayer session at the Capuchins’ sanctuary of Our Lady of Graces, Victoria, on May 27 at 6.30pm. The meeting will begin with the recital of the rosary, followed by a solemn concelebrated Mass led by the Capuchin provincial Fr Martin Micallef at 7pm. To mark the occasion, Vincent Vella, on behalf of all prayer groups, will present a donation to help eight Capuchin seminarians in Kenya. Singer Mario Caruana will animate the singing during the celebration.
• The Social Action Movement (Gozo), the Centesimus Annus Foundation and the Bishop Nicholas Cauchi Foundation are organising a conference on Pope Francis’s apostolic exhortation Evangelii Gaudium. The conference, entitled ‘The Joy of the Gospel and the Island of Joy’, will be held on May 31 at 10am at the Bishop’s Curia conference hall, Victoria. Joseph Borg will introduce the topic. Lawrence Zammit will speak about the economy and the distribution of profits, Fr Emmauel Cordina will talk about caring for the vulnerable and Sue Vella will speak about peace in society and the common good. Bishop Mario Grech will deliver the concluding address. The public is invited to attend.
• A wine and pizza evening will be held on June 5 at the Sacred Heart Seminary grounds, Victoria. Tickets costing €8 for adults and €3 for children may be obtained from the school, parishes and from students.
• Ta’ Klula Foundation of Santa Luċija, Gozo, will hold its traditional wine festival in the village’s main square on June 7 at 8pm. Everyone is invited. Entrance is free. For more information call 7948 4431.
• The Don Bosco Summer Club for children aged between four and 12 will be held from July 4 to September 1. Applications may be obtained from the Don Bosco Oratory or downloaded from donboscogozo.org.
• The Blessed Sacrament is exposed for adoration in St Michael chapel at Sacred Heart of Jesus parish church, Fontana, all year round from Monday to Friday between 7am and 7pm.
cspiteri@timesofmalta.com