The Xaghra Local Council has announced that the feast of Saint Anthony the Abbot will be celebrated on Sunday, the 16th of January 2011. This hermit saint enjoys great devotion in this locality mainly due to the fact that it was the first titular saint of the Xaghra Parish. The people of Xaghra believe that it was through his intercession that the contagious disease of pest which struck the village in 1814 was brought to an end. This epidemic left 104 dead villagers, including the then Parish Priest Rev. Vincent Cauchi.
Since Saint Anthony is the protector saint of animals, every year, pets are blessed in a special ceremony presided by H.L. Bishop Mario Grech. As part of this feast, the Xaghra Local Council will organise a cat and dog show on the feast day from 11am onwards.
The application forms for the pet show can be obtained from the Xaghra Local Council’s administrative offices from Monday 3rd January 2011. The applications close on Thursday, the 13th of January. The Council encourages Gozitans and Maltese to participate in this feast and exhibit their pets which will be awarded a memento for the occasion..
The application can also be downloaded from the Council’s official website, www.xaghra.com [1], from Monday 3rd January onwards.
For more information, please contact the Council’s administrative offices on 21 563737 during normal business hours or send an e-mail on xaghra.lc@gov.mt [2].