Celebrations are taking place in Gozo this week for the feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, also known as Santa Marija, which is being celebrated in Victoria.

This popular feast always attracts both Maltese and tourists, who are expected to visit Gozo to join in the festa celebrations this week, with local businesses, hotels and other types of holiday accommodation looking forward to the increase in business.

The feast of Santa Marija on the 15th of August, is also being celebrated in seven villages in Malta, Attard, Dingli, Ghaxaq, Gudja, Mosta, Mqabba and Qrendi.

Programme for Feast day of Santa Marija, Friday the 15th of August

At 9.00am The President of Malta, Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca, will attend the Concelebrated Pontifical High Mass by HL Mgr Mario Grech, Bishop of Gozo on the occasion of the feast of Marija Assunta, at the Cathedral in Victoria.

At 11.00am the Traditional Band march will get underway through the streets of Victoria, with the 12th May Band of Zebbug Malta and the Vistation Band of Gharb.

11.30am: The Prize Giving Ceremony will that place at the Il-Wirja ta’ Santa Marija, in the Villa Rundle Gardens.

At 2.30pm there will be the horse racing in Republic Street, with prizes presented by the Minister for Gozo, Dr Anton Refalo and the Mayor of Victoria, Dr Samuel Azzopardi.

The Grand Finale of the Feast of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin, also known as Santa Marija, will be celebrated in Victoria in the evening.

5:00 pm: The Last Mass at the Cathedral for the day, celebrated by Mgr. Paul Cardona, archpriest of the parish of St. George (Victoria).

6.15pm Band marches played by the Leone Band and the Victory Band of Xaghra, from the Parish Centre to the Cathedral Square.

At 7.00pm the statue of Our Lady will start on the procession, with the participation of the Gozo Cathedral Chapter, Parish Clergy, the Leone Band, the Chorus Ecclesiae Cathedralis and the Cathedral Youth Choir, led by ET Mons. Aldo Cavalli, Apostolic Nuncio to Malta and accompanied by the Leone Band.

Also at 8.00pm the St Joseph Band Club of Ghajnsielem will march to the the Cathedral Square where they will play a musical programme under the direction of Frankie Debono.

Xaghra’s Victory Band will play a musical programme on the bandstand in Independence Square, under the direction of Joe Galea.

There will be a grand fireworks display on Gelmus Hill at 10pm before the entry of the statue of Our Lady into the Cathedral, which will be welcomed back to the Cathedral Square and into the Cathedral en flambeaux.

This will be followed by a band march at 11.00pm by the Leone Band from the Cathedral parish centre to Independence Square.

In this special day, the Mass at the Cathedral will be at: 4.15am, 5am, 5.45am, 6.30am, 7.15am, 8am, 9am (of Mass), 11am and 12pm. Evening Mass at 5pm.

This year is also the the 72nd anniversary of codename Operation Pedestal, the arrival of the Santa Marija convoy, which saved Malta from surrender when the allied convoy of food and fuel reached the islands on the 15th of August 1942, despite the heavy bombardment inflicted by German and Italian planes and the sinking of many of the ships.

Other events taking place to celebrate the feast are the Il-Wirja ta’ Santa Marija, at the Villa Rundle Gardens, Special price admissions at the Citadel museums and a Special Open Weekend next week at Dar Karmni Grima Museum in Gharb.

Feast of Santa Marija 2013: Photo by Alain Salvary

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