Limited celebrations are being held this year for the feast of Sta Marija in Mqabba following the death of parish priest Nazzareno Caruana on July 9.

The Church this evening released an agreement on the celebrations reached with the Socjeta Santa Marija and the Banda San Gorg V.

It said that although it believed the feast should be cancelled, the agreement was reached in the spirit of genuine dialogue and as a sign of goodwill.

Activities which have been cancelled include the midday march and the march that is held following the procession on the day of the feast, August 15. The procession will take the form of a pilgrimage of prayer with the band playing Marian hyms alternating with prayer.

In a separate statement the Socjeta Santa Marija welcomed the agreement and said it had prepared firework spectacles and other activities to commemmorate the 70th anniversary since the arrival of the convoy of St Mary.