• A blood donation session will be held at the Gozo General Hospital today from 8am to 1pm.
• The feast of Our Lady of the Nativity (Marija Bambina) will be celebrated at Xagħra on Friday. As part of the celebrations, traditional horse and donkey races will be held in Triq tal-Qaċċa today at 8am.
On Friday, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech, assisted by Bishop George Bugeja and Bishop Emeritus Paul Darmanin, will lead a concelebrated Mass with the participation of the Cathedral and Collegiate Chapters at 9am. Christ the King Paola parish priest Mark Andre Camilleri will deliver the panegyric. Mro Vincenzo Bugeja’s Mass, A Maria Immacolata, will be sung by the Jesus of Nazareth choir of Sliema. Fr Salv Galea, OP, will direct the orchestra.
The Beland and Precursor bands will perform marches in the village streets at 11am. The procession with the statue of Our Lady, led by Mgr Bugeja and accompanied by the Victory Band, will leave the church at 7.30pm. The Leone Band will perform a concert at Victory Square.
• To commemorate the Great Siege, Archbishop Emeritus Paul Cremona will concelebrate Mass at Xagħra parish church on Thursday at 8.30am. A ceremony will be held at Victory Square, including a re-enactment by Xagħra Historical Re-enactment Organisation, followed by a speech and laying of wreaths at 10am.
• The Santa Cecilia Foundation AD 2013 is presenting a concert of original music under the direction of Mro Antoine Mercieca at the Cathedral Square in Victoria on Saturday at 8pm.
• The Gozo Youth Wind Band will present the third edition of ‘Stage and Proms on the Sea’ at the Mġarr Marina on September 11 at 8.30pm. The concert will feature excerpts and medleys from musicals and classic encores performed in the Proms Final Night at the Royal Albert Hall. Entrance (standing) is free. Premium VIP designated seated area, including a welcome drink and food, strictly by reservation. For more information and reservation call 7942 1611 or 9942 1611; gozowindbandorchestra@yahoo.co.uk.
charles.spiteri@timesofmalta.com