• Today, Qala parish celebrates the feast of St Joseph. A pontifical concelebrated Mass, led by Gozo Bishop Mario Grech, will be said at 9am. Fr Marcello Ghirlando, OFM will deliver the panegyric. Masses will be said at 5.30am, 6.30am, 8am, 11am and 5pm. The St Michael Band of Żabbar, will play marches at noon. Solemn vespers will be led by Mgr Frangisk Sultana at 6.30pm. The procession with the statue of the saint, led by Mgr Sultana and accompanied by the Ite ad Joseph Band, starts at 7.20 pm. The Mnarja Band will give a concert at the main square at 8pm. The procession ends at 10pm with a fireworks display, followed by the antiphon and sacramental blessing.
• A blood donation session will be held at the Gozo General Hospital Outpatients Department today from 8am to 1.30pm.
• Gozitan artist Paul Camilleri Cauchi is holding an exhibition of paintings, entitled Grajjiet Niesna 1551, at the Citadel Cultural Centre in Victoria. The exhibition is based on the Siege of 1551 when the Ottoman force attacked Gozo following an unsuccessful attempt to conquer Malta. Around 5,000 people, who formed the majority of the population of Gozo, were taken into slavery. The exhibition closes on August 31.
• Heritage Malta is offering a new combo ticket for the Citadel, including the Citadel Visitor Centre, at the reduced price of €5 for adults, €3.50 for senior citizens, youths and students and €2.50 for children (between 6 and 11). The ticket includes admission to the Gozo Museum of Archaeology, Gran Castello Historic House, Old Prison, Gozo Nature Museum and the Citadel Visitor Centre. For further information call Heritage Malta on 2156 4188.
• Brass Delights will give a concert at Mġarr, on Saturday, at 9pm.
• In preparation for the production of the opera Lucia di Lammermoor on October 26 and 28, Teatru Astra is extending an invitation to all those who may be interested in participating in the opera. It will be considering applications for persons interested to join the chorus, the non-singing acting cast or back-stage crew. Application forms are available on www.lastella.com.mt.
charles.spiteri@timesofmalta.com