Ghajnsielem is celebrating its Locality Day today, a day which is dedicated to its community, it is also celebrating the Liturgical feast of Our Lady of Loreto.

There will be a programme of events for this evening as part of these celebrations, which is shown below. The events will be shown live on the Council’s social media pages.

This year’s winner of the 26th Gieh Ghajnsielem Award will be presented this evening to Loreto Xuereb, a member of the Museum Doctrine Society.

The Council said that Loreto Xuereb has been chosen for his lifelong work and dedication to spread the word of God especially with the young children. “He worked in silence and led an exemplary life among us.”

Then following the award ceremony, it will be time to inaugurate and light up the village’s unique Christmas tree – it stands 60 foot tall, and is made up with over 4500 glass bottles that were given by people from the locality.

The Local Council said that it will be dedicated to the heroes and victims of the Covid-19. “The size of this tree makes perfectly fits with its location in front of the Ghajnsielem parish church.”

The Council thanked everyone involved for helping to complete this Christmas tree. “Special thanks goes to Franco Ciangura who forwarded the proposal to the Local Council and coordinating the work involved.”

Ghajnsielem Mayor Kevin Cauchi explained that “this unique attraction would not have been possible if not for many volunteers (many of which used to help in Bethlehem f’Ghajnsielem), the residents for contributing the glass bottles and our council workers for giving their part too, including the iron works by Frans Buttigieg.

He went on to also thank the Ghajnsielem Archpriest Canon Frankie Bajada for agreeing to have the tree placed in front of the Parish church.

This unique tree is being financed by the Ghajnsielem Local Council and the Ministry for Gozo together with the Cultural Heritage Directorate, the Council said.

Programme:

6.00pm – Liturgical Mass of Our Lady of Loreto

6.45pm – Gieh Ghajnsielem Award

7.15pm – Inauguration of the Christmas Tree by Minister for Gozo Clint Camilleri.

Photograph: Ghajnsielem Local Council

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