Xaghra Basilica has announced the programme of celebrations to open the special festivities commemorating the 2025th Anniversary of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary celebrated at the Collegiate Basilica and Sanctuary of Xaghra, Gozo, with the motto: “With Mary we renew ourselves in Christ.”

Friday 4th June 2010:

First Holy Communion in the Parish.

6.00pm: Solemn Concelebrated Mass led by Mgr Carmelo Refalo, Xaghra Archpriest, in which he administers the First Holy Communion to a number of children from the parish. The Voci Angeliche Choir animates this liturgy.

Saturday 5th June 2010:

First Saturday of devotion in honour of Our Lady of Victories.

6.45pm: Solemn First Vespers of the Solemnity of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ followed by the recitation of the Kurunella and impartation of Eucharistic Benediction.

7.30pm: Solemn Concelebrated Mass led by Mgr Carmelo Refalo, Xaghra Archpriest, together with the Reverend Chapter and Clergy of the Parish during which the priests of the parish renew their consecration to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Nativitas Choir animates mass.

Sunday 6th June:

Solemnity of the Holy Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi).

5.00am, 6.00am and 7.00am: Masses with homily in the Basilica.

8.00am: Solemn Lauds celebrated by the Rev. Chapter of the Collegiate.

8.30am: Solemn Concelebrated Mass animated by the Voci Angeliche Choir. A Eucharist procession follows. It passes along January Street, Bullara Street, Shaft Street and Victory Square.

11.00am: Mass with homily animated by the Schola Cantorum Jubilate.

4.00pm: Solemn Office of Readings and Second Vespers by the Rev. Chapter and Clergy of the Collegiate Church. Recitation of the Holy Rosary and impartation of Eucharistic Benediction.

5.00pm and 7.30pm: Masses with homily in the Basilica.

Monday 7th June:

Marian Vigil.

7.45pm: Solemn cortege with the Titular Painting of the Nativity of Our Lady venerated at the Sanctuary and Basilica of Xaghra. The cortege begins from the Xaghra Primary School and ends in Victory Square where a MARIAN VIGIL is celebrated, opening this year’s special feast. For this celebration, the Xaghra people are invited to attend, particularly members of the various organisations in our locality and all those involved in the titular feast’s organisation. Marian prayers inspired from the Church liturgy will be said and the celebration closes with the impartation of the Eucharistic Benediction. At the end of the vigil, representatives from the organisations in Xaghra present a bouquet of flowers to the titular painting which was restored for this occasion. The celebration ends with the solemn entry of the Titular painting inside the Basilica.

Everyone is warmly invited to attend this Marian celebration in this special year.

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