The St Joseph the Worker Exhibitions Society is organising its 21st consecutive Good Friday exhibition at the St Joseph the Worker parish centre, at 71, Bwieraq Street, Birkirkara.
The exhibition, entitled ‘Il-Misteru tal-Mewt u l-Qawmien’, includes the participation of about 40 exhibitors from different age groups. Most of the participants reside within the boundaries of the St Joseph the Worker parish.
Among the items on display, one can find a life-size replica of Christ’s Last Supper, various sets of Good Friday statuettes, a replica of the Golgotha, comprising more than 100 traditional clay statuettes, two large replicas of the interior of a church, complete with Good Friday statuettes, scenes and symbols from Christ’s passion, depicted in coloured semolina, rice and pasta, miniature replicas of altars of repose, as well as various other sacred objects, antique items, pictures and symbols related to Good Friday.
Other attractions include symbols and costumes of Roman soldiers and a life-size model of the Tomb of Christ. Moreover, a number of items prepared during the year by the society’s members, will also be on display for the first time during this exhibition.
The exhibition opens daily until Good Friday from 9am to noon and from 4 to 9pm. On Maundy Thursday it will be open from 9am to noon and from 4pm until midnight, while on Good Friday it will be open from 9am to 1pm and from 4 to 6pm. For more information about the St Joseph the Worker Exhibitions Society and the ‘Il-Misteru tal-Mewt u l-Qawmien’ exhibition, log on to wirjasgh.webs.com or the society’s Facebook page.
The Għaqda Mużikali Sant’ Elena of Birkirkara is holding a number of events leading up to Good Friday and Easter.
A concert of funeral marches, with Salvator Mundi, a four-act play by Louis Briffa will be put up at St Helen’s basilica in Birkirkara tomorrow at 7pm. The band, under the direction of Joe Vella, will perform a number of funerary pieces.
Following the musico-literary evening, a Good Friday exhibition will be inaugurated at the club. Housed in the band club’s basement and shelter, it includes a number of life-size exhibits, including the Last Supper. The main attraction is an exhibit made from semolina which is 7.3 by 4.8 metres large. On Easter Sunday, the club holds a procession with the statue of the Risen Christ along the main streets of Birkirkara.
The exhibition is open during the week from 6 to 9pm; Saturdays and Sunday from 8.30am to 12.30pm and from 6 to 9pm; on Maundy Thursday from 6 to 11pm and on Good Friday from 8am to 2pm.
Dwal Ġodda theatre group has tackled the plot of the Passion of Christ this year from a different perspective for its yearly two-act production in combination with the traditional Good Friday procession at Għargħur, which is held on Palm Sunday.
The theme chosen for this year is human nakedness, which is contrasted with that of the Nazarene when crucified. In this scenario a fundamental question emerges: If Jesus claimed that he is the Son of God, was it God that was crucified naked?
Dwal Ġodda will give a performance of Alla Mneżża at Spazju Teatrali (close to the Għargħur parish church) tonight at 7.30pm. Entrance is free.
Then on Sunday at 5pm, during the first act, the Nazarene’s words and deeds are contrasted with humanities’ frailties. Notwithstanding the technological ‘miracles’ of our times, “Hosana” and “Crucify him” are still mirrored in man’s inhumanity to man, as crufixions are still carried out.
The Good Friday traditional procession leads to the second act. At sunset, as the statues near the stage on the church parvis, a theatrical discussion ensues between traditional characters (Mary Magdalene, Judas, Simon from Cirene) and the chorus representing 21st century mankind.
Parts of the performance-text are in English for emphasis, and so that tourists and non-Maltese spectators can partake.
On Palm Sunday, a park-and-ride shuttle system will be operating with the collaboration of the Għargħur local council, from the near the old trade fair grounds in Naxxar between 4.30 and 10.30pm.
The Band Commission within the Our Lady of the Lily Musical Society of Mqabba is organising a Lent concert tomorrow at 7pm in the St Basil chapel, a medieval architectural gem from the 16th century situated in the heart of the village.
The concert will be with the participation of the Our Lady of the Lily Band under the direction of Andrew Calleja and the soirée will include literary works in connection with the passion and death of Our Lord Jesus Christ.
Everyone is invited and admission free. More information is available on 9946 3468 and on www.talgilju.com.