Xaghra celebrates 35th Anniversary of the Crowning of Statue of Maria Bambina

Every year, the 2nd of September is celebrated with great festivities in Xaghra Parish since it commemorates a glorious event in its history. On 2nd September 1973, when this village was celebrating the first centenary of the arrival of the titular statue of Maria Bambina (made in Marseille, France), Bishop Nicholas J. Cauchi put a precious gold crown on the same statue.

This event was commemorated solemnly in that year and in 1999, the 25th anniversary of the crowning of the statue (this was due to happen in 1998 but everything was postponed to a year later due to an early general election in Malta on 5th September) and continue to be celebrated with great solemnity every year. This year is not an exception. The programme of events will be as follows:

Masses in the Basilica will be held at 5am, 5.45am, 6.30am and 7.30am. These will be preceded by the recital of the Holy Rosary. At 8.15am, the Collegiate Chapter will sing the Liturgy of the Hours (Lauds, Office of Readings and Terza). At 9.15am, Mgr Archpriest Carmelo Refalo presides a Solemn Concelebrated Mass with the participation of Xaghra children. Another mass will be said at 11.00am followed by the traditional Supplika and the impartation of Sacramental Benediction.

In the afternoon, at 5.00pm, another mass will be held. At 7.00pm, H.E. Mgr Nicholas J. Cauchi, Bishop Emeritus of Gozo, celebrates Pontifical High Mass with the participation of a delegation of the Cathedral Chapter and the Most Reverend Collegiate Chapter and Clergy of Xaghra Collegiate-Basilica. For this occasion, the orchestra will participate and the San Antonio Mass (four voices) will be sung. Mgr Bishop Emeritus delivers an occasional panegyric.

In the evening, at 9.30pm, the Victory Band of Xaghra and San Girgor Band of Kercem accompany the new statue of ‘The Incoronation of Our Lady’ (work by Michael Camilleri Cauchi) in a solemn and grand manifestation along 8th September Avenue until it is put on a high pedestal (at about 11.45pm) where it will stay until the festivities are over. The public in-general is invited to attend.