To mark the 150th anniversary of the titular statue of Our Lady of Loreto at Għajnsielem parish church an evening prayer vigil was held on the church parvis, which included a mime performed by a group of children and adolescents.
The mime, scripted by Fr Simon Mario Cachia, commemorated the apparition of the Virgin Mary to Anġlu Grech and the arrival of the titular statue.
The Litanie Lauretane were sung and scarves were waved as is done in Loreto, Italy, every year on December 9 during the vigil known as La venuta della Santa Casa.
Bishop Mario Grech and Bishop George Bugeja took part in the vigil. Mgr Grech invited the congregation and the whole diocese to show solidarity with the Italian communities devastated by the recent earthquake.