The Xaghra Parish will celebrate with great solemnity the 2025th Anniversary of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary with a historical Pilgrimage with the titular statue of Our Lady of Victories, venerated with special devotion in the Xaghra Collegiate Basilica.

This year’s special festivities opened on Monday 7th June 2010 with a Marian Vigil of Prayers in which the titular painting of the Nativity of Our Lady, which was recently restored, was carried in a solemn procession from the Xaghra Primary School to Victory Square with the participation of several organisations in the Parish. This year, the twelve Saturdays of devotion in preparation for the titular feast were organised in a different manner as all the Xaghra families were consecrated to the Immaculate Heart of the Virgin Mary. Every Saturday, a number of priests from different parishes in Malta and Gozo were invited to deliver a meditation on the heavenly virtues of the Virgin Mary.

On Thursday 26th August 2010, the Xaghra Parish will organise a Marian pilgrimage with the titular statue of Our Lady of Victories. The parishes of Mellieha, Naxxar and Senglea Malta will participate.

At 7.30pm the Reverend Chapter of the Xaghra Collegiate Church presides the Solemn Vespers with four voices.

At 8.00pm the crowned statue of Maria Bambina will be taken out of its niche and accompanied in a solemn procession along 8th September Avenue, Frangisk Camilleri Street, Imqades Street and back to its Basilica.

The procession will be led by Archpriest Rev. Mgr Carmelo Refalo, Apostolic Protonotary. The Victory Philharmonic Society of Xaghra and the Nativitas choir salute the statue of Our Lady of Victories on its way out and back to the Sanctuary. During the pilgrimage, the Holy Rosary will be recited and Marian hymns will be sung. Since the Xaghra Basilica is spiritually affiliated with the Liberian Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, those taking part in the pilgrimage and visit the Basilica will have the possibility of acquiring the Plenary Indulgence.

On the statue’s entry back to the Basilica, the Antiphon Nativitas Tua (Mro. Vincenzo Bugeja) will be sung and Eucharistic Benediction will be imparted, thus bringing to an end this historical day for the Xaghra Parish.

The titular feast continues with solemn liturgy in the Collegiate Church of the Nativity of Our Lady and external manifestations in the main streets of the town. The climax of these festivities will be reached on Wednesday 8th September, Liturgical Solemnity of the Nativity of Our Lady, with the Solemn Concelebrated High Mass presided by H.L. Mgr Mario Grech (Bishop of Gozo) at 9.00am and the Solemn Procession along the main streets of the town at 7.00pm.

The Xaghra Collegiate Chapter and Clergy said it would like to cordially invite all Gozitans and Maltese to join in their special festivities in honour of Our Lady of Victories.

For more information, kindly contact the Xaghra Parish Office on 21551042 or by e-mail to bambina8@go.net.mt.

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