Xaghra will be celebrating its feast of Our Lady of Victories on Friday, the 8th of September.

This year on the 2nd of September, Xaghra marks the 50th anniversary of the coronation of the titular statue of the Maria Bambina – Our Lay of Victories.

On the 2nd of September 1973, when this village was celebrating the first centenary of the arrival of the titular statue of Maria Bambina (made in Marseille, France), Gozo Bishop Nicholas J. Cauchi put a precious gold crown on the same statue.

The statue was restored in 2017 by the company Atelier del Restauro in Malta.

The conservation of the fine 19th century crowned statue of Maria Bambina, was carried out by conservator Valentina Lupo. Xaghra Parish is dedicated to Our Lady of Victories and is known locally as ‘il-Bambina.’

The statue was commissioned in 1878 to the French company ‘Galard et Fils’ from Marseilles.

This year also commemorates the 125th anniversary of the Victory Philharmonic Society’s foundation.

This band was founded in 1898 on the initiative of Rev. Joseph Diacono, the then parish priest of Xaghra and subsequently the first Archpriest when the Xaghra Parish was raised to Archpresbyteral in 1893. The original name was ‘La Vittoria.’

The first bandsmen were under the musical direction of the Maltese conductor, Mro. Eduardo Farina. It was a great pity that some disgruntlements between members of the first committee led to the downfall of the band in 1906. However, on the initiative of Francis Camilleri and Michael Farrugia, the band was reactivated and built again in 1934 and from the onwards, it never stopped giving contribute in the musical sphere of the country.

The Victory Band has a long story of success. It was always led by brave conductors, namely Michael Farrugia (1934 – 1960), Joseph Camilleri A.MusLCM (1960 – 1971), Nazzareno Refalo (1971 – 1977), Anton Bonnici (1977 – 1993) and Joseph Galea LCM (1993 – present).

Between 1958 and 1967, the Victory Band was the main protagonist in presenting the formal request of the Xaghra people to Pope Paul VI in order to elevate the Collegiate Church to a status of minor Basilica. This title was bestowed on 26th August 1967 through the works of H.E. Mgr Nicholas Cauchi, the then Apostolic Administrator and subsequent Bishop of Gozo.

Between 19th September and 4th October 1994, the Victory Band of Xaghra paid its first visit to the United States – it was in fact the first Maltese band to visit this country. In September 1999, the band participated in the commemorative feasts organised by the Xaghra parish on the occasion of the 25th Anniversary of the Crowning of the titular statue of Our Lady of Victories (Il-Bambina).

In April 2006, the Victory Philharmonic Society was the only band in Gozo (apart from the Leone band of Victoria) who participated in the special feasts organised by the Leone Philharmonic Society and the Cathedral parish, commemorating the 50th anniversary since the devout statue of Saint Mary was donated to the Cathedral (29th April, 1956).

File photo

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