• A blood donation session will be held at the Gozo General Hospital outpatients department, today from 8am to 1pm.
• The feast of the Assumption of Our Lady is being celebrated in Żebbuġ today. Masses at the sanctuary will be said at 5, 6, 7, 8 and 11am. At 9am Gozo Bishop Mario Grech will concelebrate Pontifical Mass, accompanied by representatives of the Cathedral chapter and the parish clergy. At 11.30am band marches will be played in the main streets of the village. Mgr Joe Vella Gauci will say Mass at 6.15pm, during which the parish orchestra will perform.
The procession with the statue of Our Lady, led by Fr Daniel Sultana and accompanied by the Santa Marija Band, starts at 7.30pm. The Leone Band will give a concert on the main square. The procession will end at 10.15pm with a fireworks display, the antiphon, sacramental blessing and the translation of the relic.
On Tuesday at 7pm archpriest Ruben Micallef will lead a concelebrated Mass after which the titular statue of St Mary will be placed back in its niche.
• 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 summer book fair in aid of the JP2 Foundation will be held from today to Wednesday from 11am to 3pm and 6pm onwards at Port Street, Marsalforn.
• A diocesan Marian manifestation will be held in Valley Road, Marsalforn, on Tuesday. An animated rosary starts at 7pm, followed by a concelebrated Mass led by Bishop Mario Grech. The public is invited to attend.
• St Joseph Band will perform a musical programme on Tuesday at 8.30pm at Pjazza Madonna ta’ Loreto, Għajnsielem, directed by Frankie Debono and assistant director Anthony Galea.
• MUSEUM superior Joe Fenech will hold a prayer and catechesis meeting at Our Lady of Pompeii church, Victoria, on Thursday from 10 to 11am. All are invited. He also presents a programme on Radju Marija on Saturdays from 1 to 3pm.
• The Don Bosco Summer Club is holding a children’s variety show and barbecue for families on Friday evening at St Augustine’s Square, Victoria. For tickets call 9948 7751.
• Home Start Għawdex will hold its first fundraising barbecue at the scout campsite in Dwejra, on Thursday at 7.30pm. Tickets at €12 are available from the Home Start committee or by calling Nancy Portelli on 2755 2596, 7906 7148 or Colin Hamer on 2156 3525 by Tuesday.
• A literary evening will be held at the Gozo Ministry, Victoria, on Friday at 7.30pm. Gozitan writers will read excerpts from their works.
A feature by Joe M. Attard, entitled Bajjiet Għawdxin fil-Poeżija, will also be read.
Pianist and singer Mariella Cefai Spiteri, soprano Rosebelle Pavia and Josephine Grima will perform during the event.
Refreshments will be served after the event, which will be presided by Gozo Minister Anton Refalo. The public is invited to attend.
• The diocesan Eucharistic Movement will hold a prayer evening at Savina church, Victoria, on Saturday at 8.30pm. Mass follows at midnight.
• The 12th Delicata Classic Wine Festival will be held in Nadur from August 29 to 31 at Ġnien il-Kunsill. The festival will open at 7pm, with the last wine poured at 11.30pm, before closing at midnight. Over 20 Gozitan and Maltese wines will be available.
There will also be food stalls offering sucking pig, oriental dishes, pasta and rabbit, and a seated dining area. There will be live entertainment every evening.
A shuttle service and buses will be available between Mġarr Harbour and Nadur throughout the three evenings of the festival.
cspiteri@timesofmalta.com