Thanksgiving Mass was held at St James church in Merchants Street, Valletta, followed by a reception at St James Cavalier. During the reception certificates were awarded to students who had followed courses in Spanish language and culture at the circle's school. Mgr Laurence Gatt was also awarded the Premio Vincente Azzopardi for his distinguished services towards the Spanish community.
HSBC helps sick children visit Lourdes
HSBC Cares for Children Fund, for the third consecutive year, has made a donation to the Assocjazzjoni Voluntarji Lourdes, to help cover the costs for ten sick children to visit Lourdes.
Chris Hothersall, chairman of the HSBC Cares for Children Fund, presented the donation to Albert P. Mamo, president of the Assocjazzjoni Voluntarji Lourdes.
"A pilgrimage to Lourdes offers spiritual comfort and thanks to the medical and volunteer backup, a much needed opportunity for both parents and children to enjoy themselves in a different environment," said Mr Hothersall.
"A word of thanks also goes to our two HSBC volunteers for their personal commitment. Our Fund offers the possibility for HSBC to intervene where it is most needed in the Maltese community and for HSBC staff to serve the community beyond their professional banking commitment."
The Assocjazzjoni Voluntarji Lourdes organises fund-raising campaigns throughout the year to hold annual pilgrimages, especially for those parents who have to give up their job to provide the necessary care for their children and cannot afford to pay for the trip themselves.
During the visit to Lourdes the children were accompanied by the parents and medical staff together with Mario Grech and Kiri Borg Costanzi from HSBC.
People
At the 12th annual congress of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) held in Barcelona last week, the board of directors elected Dr Joseph L. Pace, president of the Maltese Association of Dermatology and Venereology, to the post of secretary-general of the academy for a maximum six-year tenure. Dr Pace takes over from Dr Frank Powell (Ireland) in 2004.
The EADV has members from all European countries, besides a large number from the rest of the world. In May it officially takes on all the new EU candidate countries as board members, although Malta has already been represented at this level since 1996.
The academy represents all European dermato-venereologists and its main focus is on Continuing Medical Education (CME) and on helping to maintain standards of excellence in quality of dermatological care.
CME is delivered through its annual congresses and symposia, the latter having been conceived as "academic bridges to the peripheries of Europe and beyond". The first EADV Spring Symposium was held in Malta earlier this year.
In addition to being an EADV board member since 1996, Dr Pace also represents Malta at the International League of Dermatological Societies (ILDS), the European Dermatology Foundation (EDF), the Association of Dermatologists of Mediterranean countries (AMED) and the International Academy of Cosmetic Dermatology (IACD).
In 1996 Dr Pace received the first ever Certificate of Achievement awarded by the International Committee of Dermatology. He is an honorary member of the dermatological societies of several countries, including Bulgaria, Macedonia, Poland and Rumania.
He is an editorial board member of the EADV journal, Skin-Ed, and a past editorial board member of the International Journal of Dermatology. Dr Pace is senior lecturer at the University of Malta and Clinical Professor of Dermatology at Jefferson Medical College of Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia.
Dr Pace has been president of the Medical Association of Malta, president of the World Medical Association (WMA), and a member of the Standing Committee of Doctors of the EU.
He was also president of the Foundation for Medical Services and chaired the Conference on Sustainability of Health Care in 2001. He is currently president of Rotary Club Malta.
Notary Dr Fiona Farrugia, LL.D., BA Legal & European Studies, Dip.NP, Dipl. Eccls. Melit. Trib., recently completed a three-month internship at the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague.
Dr Farrugia attended a number of lectures delivered by prominent jurists at The Hague Academy of International Law. She also attended the trial of the former Serbian President Slobodan Milosevic at the United Nations International Criminal Tribunal for the Former Yugoslavia.
Dr Farrugia's work involved the preparation and organisation of pending international arbitration cases. She conducted an extensive research on arbitration and international law at the Peace Palace Library and completed a paper on maritime and shipping arbitrations, for use by the Permanent Court of Arbitration.
Dr Farrugia assisted the international staff of the Permanent Court of Arbitration in various other projects related to the field of international arbitration.
Micallef - Cappello
Married recently at the church of St Leonard, Kirkop, were Natasha Micallef, daughter of Charles and Josephine Micallef of Kirkop, and Marco Cappello, son of Alfred and Josephine Cappello of Marsascala.
Nuptial Mass was celebrated by Fr Carmelo Camilleri. Romina Tabone and Joe Borg witnessed the ceremony while Brian Tabone and Maurizio Cappello carried out the duties of best men.
The bride was attended by Nadia Cappello and Maria Micallef and Dorianne Gauci were bridesmaids. Jessica Spiteri, Amy Vella and Francesca Tabone were flower-girls while Joshua Tabone and Isaac Zammit were pageboys.
A reception was later held at Palazzo Nobile, Naxxar.
The couple spent their honeymoon in Orlando and the Caribbean.
Schembri - Aquilina
Tal-Mirakli chapel, Lija, was recently the venue of the marriage ceremony of Iona Schembri, Cert. CIB, daughter of George and Sheila Schembri of Kappara, and Joe Aquilina, B.Com. (Hons), son of Julian and Mary Aquilina of Swieqi.
Nuptial Mass was celebrated by Fr Adriano Cauchi, OFM. Carmelo Aquilina, the groom's uncle, and Ashley Dimech, the bride's sister, witnessed the ceremony.
Alex Fenech, B.Com (Hons), carried out the duties of best man while Audreyanne Demanuele, the bride's cousin, was bridesmaid.
A reception was later held at Villa Madama, Balzan.
The couple spent their honeymoon in New York, Florida and cruising the Caribbean.
The President and Mrs de Marco's engagements November 3-9
Tomorrow
9.30 a.m. The President presides over a press conference launching L-Istrina at the Palace, Valletta.
10.30 The President appoints Dr Anthony Vassallo as temporary Ombudsman.
11 The President receives the winners of the Malta Tourism Awards 2003 organised by Skål International Malta.
5.45 p.m. The President receives Italian Senator Giulio Andreotti.
7 The President attends the Giorgio Borg Olivier Memorial Lecture given by Senator Andreotti at the Auberge d'Aragon, Valletta.
9 The President and Mrs de Marco host a dinner in honour of Senator Andreotti at San Anton Palace.
Tuesday
9.15 a.m. The President receives the Prime Minister at the Palace, Valletta.
10.30 The President receives members of the Naxxar Scout Group.
7.30 p.m. The President and Mrs de Marco attend a reception hosted by the Apostolic Nuncio, Mgr Felix del Blanco Prieto, at Palazzo Parisio, Naxxar, on the occasion of the 25th anniversary of Pope John Paul II's pontificate.
Wednesday
9.45 a.m. The President receives Mr Ronald Gallimore, Head of the Delegation of the European Commission at the Palace, Valletta.
10.30 The President receives the president and council members of the Chamber of Engineers on the occasion of its 25th anniversary.
11.15 The President is presented with a donation in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund Children's Bank Book Fund by Round Table Malta II.
11.45 The President receives the committee of the Malta Union Club and is presented with a donation in aid of the Malta Community Chest Fund.
6.30 p.m. The President receives Mrs Giovanna Debono, Minister for Gozo.
Thursday
11 a.m. The President presents a donation on behalf of the Malta Community Chest Fund to Caritas (Malta) Drug Rehabilitation Centre at San Blas, l/o Zebbug.
9 p.m. The President and Mrs de Marco host a dinner in honour of the participants of the Euro-Mediterranean Summit of Economic and Social Councils organised by the Malta Council for Economic and Social Development at Verdala Castle.
Friday
10 a.m. The President presents the credentials to Mr Henry C. Degabriele, Ambassador-designate of Malta to Bulgaria, at the Palace, Valletta.
11 The President receives Mr Reginald Fava, president of the Malta Chamber of Commerce.
11.30 The President presents the credentials to Mr Mark Miceli Farrugia, Ambassador-designate of Malta to Latvia.
Sunday
9.15 a.m. The President and Mrs de Marco attends a Mass on the occasion of Remembrance Day at St John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta.
10.45 The President lays a wreath on the Cenotaph on the occasion of Remembrance Day.
For your diary
A missionary bazaar is being held daily at Kings, Tower Road, Sliema from 9.30 a.m. onwards.
The Annual GranD Sale in aid of the Dar tal-Providenza, the residential home for persons with disabilities, is being held at Id-Dar tal Providenza, Siggiewi, today from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
A shuttle bus service every half hour starting at 9 a.m. to Id-Dar tal Providenza and vice-versa is being provided by the Home.
Stalls include: toys, cakes, ceramics, plants, cosmetics, haberdashery, new clothes, shoes, woolens, stationery, books, philately and various other items - all at bargain prices.
The Former Students Association of De La Salle College, Vittoriosa, will be celebrating the school's 100th anniversary tomorrow.
Mass will be concelebrated at St John's Co-Cathedral at 7 p.m..
The association is also organising a reunion for its past members on January 17. Those wishing to attend are to contact the FSA secretary on 2138-7430 or 9940-8071, or e-mail carlogalea@onvol.net.
A card party in aid of the Little Sisters of the Poor is being held at the Preluna Hotel on Wednesday at 10 a.m. For tickets phone Blanche Martin on 2133-0387.
The King's Own Malta Regiment Association is organising a remembrance service for the repose of the souls of members of the regiment, at Our Lady of Victory Church, Castille Square, Valletta, on Friday at 7 p.m. Fr J. Sacco will be celebrating Mass.
Ward u Zghar is holding a meeting for its members at the Social Welfare Centre, St Venera, on Friday at 7.15 p.m.
The International Tree Foundation (Malta) is organising an outing to Xghajra and Zabbar on Saturday.
The group will meet at the car park next to Zabbar parish church (in the middle of the car park there is the War Monument) at 9.30 a.m. There will be a visit to the Wickman Maritime Collection at 10.30 a.m. Tickets at 50c. For more information phone 2137-4684.
A bazaar is being held at St Helen parish centre, Birkirkara, every day from Tuesday, November 11 to 16, from 9 to noon and from 4.30 to 7 p.m. Antiques, furniture and bric-a-brac will be on sale.
A coffee morning and tombola is being organised by the Rehabilitation Centre for the Physically Handicapped, at Hotel Les Lapins, Ta' Xbiex, on Thursday, November 20 at 9.30 a.m. Tickets, at Lm1.20 each, can be obtained by contacting the Corradino Centre on 2169-3863 or 2143-6421.
The Maltese-American Association is celebrating Thanksgiving Day at the SeaBank Hotel, Mellieha, on Sunday, November 23, at 11 a.m. A buffet lunch will be served at 12.30 p.m. For tickets and further information phone Dar l-Emigrant on 2122-2644 or 2124-0255.