The village of Xewkija in Gozo is renowned for its great devotion to Our Lady of Sorrows. History shows that prior to 1835 in the old church there existed a side altar dedicated the Holy Crucifix. The parishioners eventually became devotees of Our Lady of Sorrows too, with the devotion growing so strongly that a holy Mass with a sermon was celebrated on the Friday, before Good Friday.
In 1860, when Rev. Father Peter Bartolo led the parish of Xewkija, a statue was brought over from France, it is papier mache in composition, from Gallard et Fils Statuarie of Marseille, France and was sponsored by Maria Scicluna from Xewkija. The parish said that what makes this artistic statue different from the statues of Our Lady of Sorrows in other parishes around Gozo, is its similarities to the well known marble statue of Michelangelo, La Pieta, which is housed in the Vatican.
Our Lady of Sorrows is central to the liturgical celebrations that take place during Lent in the village of Xewkija. The procession of Our Lady of Sorrows dates back to 1963 and since then the local band, Prekursur, have been taking part, performing funeral marches during the procession.
After l972, on the initiative of the present parish Archpriest Mons Carmelo Mercieca and other devotees to Our Lady of Sorrows, among whom, was the late Xewkija stone sculptor, Anthony Camilleri, the procession took the form of a Pageant. Besides the statue of Our Lady of Sorrows, there are two others that make up the procession; the Crucifixion and Jesus laying in death.
Over than three hundred people take part in this pageant, these include troops of Roman and Jewish soldiers, the parish choir Vox Clementis, the Scouts Group and boys in Knights’ costumes. Children accompany various personalities from the Old Testament and carry placards depicting verses from the Old Testament. The pageant opens with the youth carrying velvet banners with each sorrow in writing.
This pageant’s focus is on the presentation of the Seven Sorrows of Our Lady, that She suffered during her life on earth starting with:
The Prophesy of Simeon, and followed by The Flight to Egypt, The Loss of Jesus in the Temple, Mary meets Jesus on his way to Calvary, The death of Jesus on the Cross, Mary Receives the dead body of Jesus in her Arms and The body of Jesus is laid in the tomb.
The parish said that the roll of the Prekursur band during this Pageant is a very important one and it is one of the band’s main annual services.
The band plays a unique funeral hymn, composed by the well-known maestro, the late Vincenzo Ciappara, Innu Lill Marija Addolorata, with lyrics by Anton Haber. Other funeral marches that normally accompany this procession, include A Mio Padre, by Mro. Angelo Pace; Consumatum Est,Wied tad-Dmugh and To My Dear Father, all musical works by Mro Giuseppi Farrugia; A Mia Madre and Alla Memoria Di Caterina Portelli, composed by Mro.Andrew Coleiro; In Memory Of Karistu Cassar, written by the present band Director Mro. Anthony Borg. Sul Calvario will also be played, a musical work by the band founder, Mro. Andrea Borg, and lyrics by Rev.Fr. Serafin Cutajar.
This year’s Pageant procession will take place on Friday, the 22nd of March. It leaves Saint John the Baptist Rotunda Church, at 7.00pm and winds its way around the main village streets, concluding in Saint John the Baptist Square.
The general public is warmly invited to attend this unique Lent Pageant.