2008 Feast
Programme of Activities
English Version
English Version

 

Wednesday 13th August

Consecration of the Parish Day
9.00am - Mass followed by solemn adoration and eucharistic benediction in preparation for the feast.
7.30pm -  High Mass in occasion of the 19th anniversary of the consecration of the new Parish Church with the solemn singing of the Vespers and the incensing of the crosses

Thursday 14th August

8.30pm - A night of silence and prayer at ‘Ta Pinu’ Sanctuary. The Ghajnsielem community will join the rest of the Gozo diocese in this vigil of prayers on the occasion of the feast of the Assumption of Our Lady. Transport provided at 7.45pm.

Friday 15th August

Solemnity of the Glorious Assumption of the Virgin. Being a day of obligation, mass is performed as per Sunday’s schedule

Saturday 16th August

Children’s and ‘Krucjata Ewkaristika’s Day
9.00am  - Holy Mass for all children. An activity will then be held at the Parish Center

Sunday 17th August

5.45pm – Arrival of the ‘Our Lady of Lourdes’ statue in the main square. Recitation of the rosary will then follow. The statue will remain in display for public devotion until Monday 18^th August.

Monday 18th August

6.00pm – Holy Mass
7.30pm – The statue of ‘Our Lady of Lourdes’ will be taken to Lourdes Grotto in Mgarr. The Procession will assume the form of an Aux Flambeaux. Members of the religious orders will take part in this procession. Gozo Bishop Mons. Mario Grech will then deliver Holy Mass.

Tuesday 19th August

Beneficiaries Day

12.00pm – Holy Mass at the Ghajnsielem Cemetery presided by Archpriest Can. Frankie Bajada.
 

Wednesday 20th August

Religious Communities Day

7.00pm – Holy Mass presided by all the local religious communities.
7.30pm - Joyous mota marking the start of the official Feast Celebrations
8.30pm – Ghajnsielem Fest 2008 – Musical Talent show organized by the Ghajnsielem Local Council. The show will take place in the main square and broadcasted live on Radju Lauretana.
 

Thursday 21st August

First day of the Novena – Vocations Days

6.30pm - Recitation of the rosary
7.00pm – Solemn concelebration presided by Archpriest Can. Frankie Bajada, in which the investiture of new altarboys takes place.  

Friday 22nd August

Second day of the Novena – Family Day

6.30pm - Recitation of the rosary
7.00pm – Solemn concelebration with special prayers for the married couples especially those who this year are celebrating 25, 50 and 60 years marriage. Lauretana Choir will animate the mass.
9.00pm – BBQ at ‘Fuq il-Ghajn’ Street. All emigrants are invited to attend.
 

Saturday 23rd August

Third day of the Novena – Youths Day

6.30pm - Recitation of the rosary
7.00pm – Solemn concelebration animated by the local youths
 

Sunday 24th August

Fourth day of the Novena – Charity Day

An Open Day will be held at the St Joseph Band Club which will include several activates and exhibitions. Radju Luaretana will broadcast live from the Band’s premises. The general public is invited to attend.

10.00am – Holy Mass with the collaboration of Arka and Respite Center
5.00pm – Holy Mass and presentation of the babies and children to Our Lady of Loreto
 

Monday 25th August

Fifth day of the Novena – Consecrated and Apostolic Life Day

6.30pm - Recitation of the rosary, Salve Regina and Eucharistic celebration.
7.00pm – Solemn concelebration by Fr. Joseph Magro ofm.
8.15pm – Band March by St Joseph Band starting from Garden Street and ending in the main square.
10.15pm – Titular statue taken out of its niche among the Marian hymns of the present crowd. Last feast collection.
 

Tuesday 26th August

Sixth day of the Novena – St Joseph Band Day

6.30pm - Recitation of the rosary and Eucharistic celebration.
7.00pm – Solemn concelebration.
9.00pm – The St Joseph Band will perform a musical program in the main square under the auspices of the President of Malta, Dr Edward Fenech Adami. A short band march from the Band Club’s premises to the main square (where the performance will be held) will start at 8.15pm.

Wednesday 27th August

First day of the Solemn Triduum in preparation for the Solemnity – Emigrants Day

6.15pm - Celebration of the Vespers
7.00pm – Solemn concelebration led by Archpriest Can. Frankie Bajada. Sermon delivered by Kan. Joseph Sultana. Hymn, antiphon and Eucharistic benediction. All emigrants are invited to take an active part in this ceremony.
9.30pm – Marian vigil of prayers in the main square led by P. Karm Dimech ofm Cap.
 

Thursday 28th August

Second day of the Solemn Triduum – Priests Day

6.15pm - Celebration of the Vespers
7.00pm – Solemn concelebration led by Fr. Joe Cardona. Sermon delivered by Kan. Joseph Sultana. Hymn, antiphon and Eucharistic benediction.
9.30pm –Traditional Band March from Simirat Street ending in the St Joseph Band Club premises. St Joseph Band joined by Qala's 'Ite ad Joseph'.
 

Friday 29th August

Third day of the Solemn Triduum – Sick and Elderly Day

9.00am –The sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is administered to the sick and the elderly
6.00pm – Celebration of the Vespers
7.00pm – Solemn concelebration led by Mons Joseph Zerafa. Sermon delivered by Kan. Joseph Sultana. Hymn, antiphon    and Eucharistic benediction.
9.00pm – Sannat’s ‘Santa Margerita’ band will play a short band march from J. F. De Chambray Street and then perform a musical program in the main square.
9.30pm – Grand demonstration with the statue of ‘Our Lady of Home’ starting from Mgarr Road ending in the main square. The St Joseph Band and Xaghra’s  ‘Victory’ Band will take part. 
12.00am – The statue will be elevated onto its pedestal in a unique way among the chanting of 'Ave Maria' and 'Viva x-Xemx'. A huge fire-planes display will follow.
 

Saturday 30th August

Conclusion of the Solemn Triduum

8.30am - Pontifical concelebration presided by Mons. Nikol G. Cauchi, Bishop Emeritus of Gozo. The Te Deum hymn  concludes the solemn Triduum.
5.15pm – St Joseph Band plays marches from Cordina Street.
6.30pm – The St Joseph Band and the members of the religious orders will then accompany the solemn procession of the Relic which departs from the Old Parish Church. The procession will be led by Vigar Mons Giovanni Bosco Gauci.
7.00pm – Celebration of the First Verpers of the Solemnity, presided by Archpriest Can. Frankie Bajada.
8.00pm – Mass
9.00pm – Nadur’s ‘Mnajra’ will play a band march from Garden Street followed by a musical program in the square.
9.30pm – Traditional ''Marc ta' lejlet il-festa" starting from Hamri street and ending in the main square. Band marches performed by the St Joseph Band and Victoria's 'Banda La Stella'.
12.00am – Grand fire-planes and ground-fireworks were display

Sunday 31st August

Feast of Our Lady of Loreto

Mass at 5.00am, 6.00am, 7.00am, 8.00am,11.00am, 4.30pm, 5.30pm
9.00am - Pontifical Eucharistic Concelebration of the Solemnity presided by the bishop of Gozo, H.L. Mgr Mario Grech. The ‘Cappella Diacono’ under the direction of Mons. Gwann Galea will anitmate the concelebration.
5.15pm – Band March from Xewkija’s ‘Prekursur’ Band starting from Hamri street and ending in the main square.
6.30pm – Solemn Vespers led by Arcpreist Emeritus Mons, Joseph Zerafa.
6.30pm – The St Joseph Band Club will start a short band march from the Apparition Square (Fawwara Street).
7.30pm – Appearance of the statue of  ‘Our Lady of Loreto’. A Pontifical Procession will then start along the main streets. The St Joseph Band proudly accompanies the procession with the perfomance of religious hymns.
8.00pm – Victoria’s Leaone Band will perform a musical program in the main square.
10.25pm – The procession arrives in the main square ending with a triumphal entrance of the statue. Arcpriest Can. Frankie Bajada will then execute the popular antiphon and Eucharistic celebration.
11.00pm – Band march by St Joseph Band starting from Apparition square and ending at midnight in the main square.