Ghasri Parish, the smallest one in Gozo, paid its last tribute on Tuesday, to Mgr Joseph Mintoff, who passed away to eternal life on Sunday 21st September 2014, aged 77 years.

Between 1969 and 1992, Mgr Joseph Mintoff served as a Parish Priest of his hometown parish, Ghasri. He was also an Honorary Member of the Gozo Cathedral Chapter and a Canon at Gharb Collegiate Church.

During his tenure as Parish Priest, various pieces of art were inaugurated, the main one being the titular statue of Jesus the Saviour which is carried processionally each year around the main streets of Ghasri every second Sunday of June.

The relatives of Mgr Joseph Mintoff invited the Choir and Orchestra ‘Stella Maris’ to animate the Liturgy of his solemn funeral. At 3.00pm the funeral cortege left the Gozo General Hospital to Ghasri Parish Centre where Mgr Joseph Mintoff lied in state.

At 4.30pm the cortege left the Ghasri Parish Centre accompanied by the Vizitazzjoni Band of Gharb to Ghasri Parish Church. There, the ‘Stella Maris’ Choir, accompanied by organist Mro. Ivan Attard (Assistant Conductor of the same Choir), sang the Vespers for the Dead. The Vespers were led by Ghasri Parish Priest, Can. Edward Xuereb with the participation of the Gharb Collegiate Chapter.

Afterwards, Gozo Bishop H.L. Mgr Mario Grech presided a Solemn Concelebrated High Mass presente cadavere with the participation of around fifty (50) priests from all Gozitan parishes.

The Stella Maris Choir and Orchestra, directed by Mro. Carmel P. Grech, who is also Maestro di Cappella of Ghasri Parish Church, animated with great dignity this Mass. The hymns performed were:

Requiem aeternam – Introit

Missa Pro Defunctis per coro e orchestra – Sac. Eduardo Bottigliere

Il-Mulej hu r-Raghaj tieghi xejn ma jonqosni – the responsorial psalm which was composed for this occasion by Mro. Ivan Attard and sung by bass Darren Vella

Ave Maria sung by Soprano Georgina Gauci

Lill-Madonna tad-Duluri

A responsorial psalm during the last funeral rites and

Abide with Me which was sung during the kissing of the coffin.

It was during the tenure of Mgr Joseph Mintoff as Parish Priest of Ghasri that the Stella Maris Choir and Orchestra began performing during the titular feast of Corpus Domini in this village.

Mro. Carmel P. Grech succeeded Mro. Nazzareno Refalo as Maestro di Cappella of Ghasri Parish Church.

The Choir’s administration said that it is very grateful for the fact that Mgr Joseph Mintoff always showed trust in the choir and the dignified service which the choir gave during the funeral mass was a sign of gratitude and appreciation.

The coffin with the eartly remains of Mgr Joseph Mintoff left Ghasri Parish Church at 6.30pm and was followed by a private burial at Ghasri Parish Cemetery.

Permalink: The Stella Maris Choir and Orchestra pay tribute to Mgr Joseph Mintoff