• To mark the feast of St Anthony the Abbot, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech will lead a concelebrated Mass today at 8.30am at St Anthony church, Tal-Qaċċa, Xagħra. A procession with the saint’s statue will leave the church at 10am for St Anthony Square where horses will be blessed, followed by a defilé to the Basilica of the Nativity of Our Lady. There will be a cat and dog show at St Anthony Square at 11am, solemn vespers at the basilica at 4pm, followed by a procession with the statue at 4.30pm to St Anthony Square, where pets will be blessed at 5pm.
• The Oasi Foundation Bazaar will be open near the landmark cross in St Francis Square, Victoria, between tomorrow and February 13, from 8.30am to 12.30pm and 4.30 to 7pm Monday to Friday, and 8.30am to 12.30pm on Saturdays.
• A conference on St John Bosco by Mgr Rosario Borg will be held on Thursday at 7.30pm at Don Bosco Oratory, Victoria.
• On the occasion of the feast of St John Bosco a film for children will be shown on Saturday at 2pm at Don Bosco Oratory, Victoria.
• The Legion of Mary in Gozo in collaboration with the Gozo diocese and the Anglican Community of Gozo is holding the annual meeting of prayer for Christian unity in St Augustine Church, Victoria, on Wednesday at 6pm. There will be messages by Bishop Mario Grech and the Anglican minister, readings, prayers, a collection and refreshments. The public and foreign residents of all denominations are invited to attend.
• A creative writing competition for Gozitan students is being organised by Gozo Live in conjunction with the Gozo College. Entrants are to write and submit an original story, essay, poem or a short play by March 30. Rules are available from teachers or by e-mailing gozolive2018@gmail.com.
• Sinfonia Music Group will present its annual Concerto d’Eleganza on January 23 at 7.30pm at the Gozo Ministry hall, St Francis Square, Victoria. It will feature musical compositions by Massenet, Strauss II, Vella Cordina and Yiruma, performed by the group’s Da Camera Ensemble directed by Mario Vella Cordina. Entrance is free but seating is on a first come, first served basis.
• Friends of the Sick and Elderly Gozo are holding a charity sale at Victoria football ground on January 31 from 8am to 1pm. Sellers pay €10 per car space on the day. For enquiries call 2732 0555 or 2155 3336.
• ‘Waking the dead: 19th-century obituaries as a mirror of Maltese social class’ is the title of a lecture by Michael Refalo to be held by Wirt Għawdex on Friday at 6:30pm at St Cecilia Chapel, Għajnsielem. To reserve a seat e-mail membership@wirtghawdex.org or visit www.wirtgħawdex.org.
• Spectre (12A) and Macbeth (15) will be screened at Don Bosco Oratory, Victoria, today at 5.30pm and 8pm respectively.
• The diocesan Eucharistic Movement’s prayer evening will be held at Don Bosco Oratory chapel, Victoria, on Saturday at 8pm, followed by Mass at midnight.
charles.spiteri@timesofmalta.com