Like other band clubs on the islands, one of the major commitments of the Prekusur Philarmonic Society is its annual participation in the feast of the village’s patron saint. This year the feast of St John The Baptist, Patron Saint of Xewkija, Gozo, will be celebrated on Sunday, the 27th of June.

Spread over eight days, the Society’s band programme starts on Sunday, the 20th of June and reaches its climax on the Sunday, the 27th of June. Starting with a morning march along several streets, know better as the defile’ of Horses March, this activity ends in Saint John the Baptist Sqaure, where the horses will then be blessed by the Archpriest Mons Carmelo Merciea, and each horse owner will receive a memento from the Xewkija, Mayor, Dr.Monica Vella.

The staute of St. John The Baptist, sculptured in wood by the Maltese renownd Maestro Pawlu Azzoppardi, will be brought out of its niche on Monday, the 2lst of June. This is usually an emotionally-charged atmosphere for all feast enthusiasts which involves the participation of the Band and the Parish choir. This activity is followed by the first march demonstration with the statue of St John, which is raised on a its pedestal in the piazzetta in Main Street at the end of the march.

The annual musical programme, is scheduled for Tuesday, the 22nd. The programme will be conducted by the Band director Mro Anthony Borg and the assistant director Mro. Mark Gauci. There will be classical and modern music selections. The Prekursur Band will execute the well known hymn “La Nativita Di San Gionvanni Battista,” with the participation of a Baritone, Tenor, Mezzo Soprano, and the choir of the society. This musical work was composed by the band’s founder Mro.Andrea Borg. This year the society is also celebrating Mro Andrea Borg’s 125th birthday anniversary along with the 81st Anniversary of the Society. There will be surprises during the whole programme and afterwards, committee, band members, and guests are invited for a reception at the Society Premises.

On Wednesday, the 23rd of June, the Visation Band from Gharb, will be making its first appearance at Xewkija, with a festive march, in Tal Hamrija, housing estate. At the end of this march, another statue of St John will be raised up on a pedestal, near the Rosa Magro Primary School.

For Thursday, the 24th, the march will be organsised by the Xewkija youths, part of the Prekursur Band Society. It starts from tal-Hniena, moving on to St Bert Street. The Leone Band will perform along with the Prekursur Band. Once again, this march has evolved into a ‘Grand Demostration march,” with the youths carrying the statue of St John the Baptist as a youth. At the end of this march, this statue will be placed on its pedestal, this time in St. Zachary Street.

The following three days will be the climax of the feast and this means more performances from the Prekursur Band. On Friday, the Prekusur Band will play alongside the Mnarja Band of Nadur. This Demonstration March, during which the statue, representing Jesus’ Baptism by St. John, will take the processional route and end in Xewkija’s main square where the statue will be hoisted up on its pedestal to the enthusiasm and singing of the popular hymn Innu Lill San Gwann l-Ghammiedi, musical work by Maestro Vincenzo Ciappara.

Late in the afternoon, on Saturday, the 26th of June, the Prekursur will perform what is known the translation march with the participation of the emigrants. Later in the evening two other Gozitan bands will join in the feast. The St.Joseph Band of Ghajnsielem performs a march and a musical concert on the bands’ stand while St. Gregory Band will play with the Prekursur Band, along St. Catherine Street, ending up in the main square. There, ground fireworks will be the last attraction of the evening.

On Sunday, two other Gozitan bands, Victory of Xaghra, and Ite Ad Josef, of Qala, will be entrusted with the popular morning march which starts at 11.00am. Early in the evening, the Prekusur Band will proceed with a march from its premises to the main square. There after the fireworks salute, it will play the Grand Inno, La Nativita di San Giovanni Battista. The Prekusur Band will then accompany the procession with the statue of St.John the Baptist, going through the main streets, under the colourful array of light pavillions. Xewkija is renowned for these light pavillions which altogether take some 45,000 light bulbs. During the procession, the La Stella band will also perform a march and execute a musical concert in the main square. The triumphant entrance of the statue back to its Rotunda, is an unique occasion, with parishioners around the parvis singing hmyns while aerial fireworks, fill the sky with colourful floral designs.

The Prekursur Philarmonic Society, said they would like to wish all Xewkija parishioners, Xewkija emigrants on holidays, all others who will be attending for these feasts, as well as all Xewkin living abroad, ‘A Happy Feast.’

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