The Church yesterday denied distancing itself from feasts, after its absence at a seminar on the subject on Thursday prompted the suggestion from the spiritual director of several band clubs.

The Curia said Church authorities had not been invited to address the seminar and its representative Fr Anton Gouder, who was planning to attend after receiving an invitation, had to urgently accompany a relative to hospital.

The seminar, organised by Soċjetà Mużikali Madonna tal-Ġilju of Mqabba, was called Feasts: Culture And Identity.

After the event, organisers said attendees felt the Church was sending a message through its absence.

Fr Adrian Cachia, the spiritual director of eight band clubs, said “feasts not only started and ended in the Church but were also created by it”, adding he was not criticising the Curia but just opening its eyes.

A spokesman for the Curia said it was doing its utmost to reach a plausible agreement on the revival of feasts. He said the delicacy of the matter impeded the Church from divulging information about the ongoing discussions.