This weeks 23rd of November 2010 edition of The Maltese Herald Gozo section is now available for download by clicking here [1]
Previous editions are also available by clicking on this link [2].
The stories covered in this weeks issue are:
1. On Sunday, November 7th, Bro. Baskal Caruana OFM Cap. celebrated the fiftieth anniversary since he made his perpetual vows as a lay Capuchin Brother in October 1960.
The Capuchin Church in Gozo was en fête, and a large congregation which included brothers and relatives of Bro. Baskal turned up to participate in the celebration. Bishop Mario Grech led a concelebrated Mass and delivered the homily. He was accompanied by Fr. Provincial Emm. Barbara and Fr. Guardian Karm Dimech besides other concelebrants.
After Mass, all were invited for a reception held in the cloister besides the Church. Bro. Baskal hails from Mellieha. With his quick and easy smile and simple words of encouragement, he is clearly a favourite of the locals.
2. Gozo Bishop Mario Grech concelebrated Mass at Xaghra Cemetery, followed by the blessing of the new extension of the cemetery, which contains 350 graves. The remains of Xaghra residents who were buried in various parish cemeteries were transferred to the new burial sites. It has long been felt that the ever increasing inhabitants of Xaghra were finding it hard to acquire additional graves in their locality.
The present cemetery is situated in the area known as Tas-Sellum at the periphery of the village of Xaghra facing Victoria. It forms part of a complex of burial grounds which also includes the 1814 plague and the 1837 cholera victims.
The extension of the cemetery reclaimed land towards Ta’ Zejta valley, with the addition of 350 new graves. This will bring the total number of private graves to 446 including the 58 graves already owned by the inhabitants of Xaghra.
The church will retain the same number of graves amounting to 122. The increase in the availability of private graves payed justice to the Xaghra inhabitants who were in the past restricted to acquiring graves in cemeteries situated in other villages because of the lack of space.
The project includes also the rehabilitation works of the existing cemetery.
Photo by Charles Spiteri shows Bro. Baskal Caruana, OFM Cap., of Mellieha, who celebrated the 50th anniversary of his perpetual vows as a Capuchin Brother. Fr Caruana is seen here with Gozo Bishop Mario Grech together with Fr Provincial Emmanuel Barbara (left) and Fr Guardian Karm Dimech (right) and other priests at the Capuchin church.