Coming up

¤ The feast of St Margaret is being celebrated in Sannat today.

The Archbishop of Moscow, Mgr Tadeusz Kondrusiewicz, who is today celebrating the 15th anniversary of his episcopal consecration, is concelebrating pontifical Mass at 9 a.m. with Bishop Ephrem Joseph Younan, bishop of the Syrian Catholic community in North America, Gozo vicar-general Mgr Giovanni B. Gauci, Mgr Pietro Concioli, vicar-general of Montefiascone (Viterbo), and members of the Cathedral Chapter and the chapter of Montefiascone Co-Cathedral.

The Missa in Honorem Sanctae Margaritae, a new work by Charles Camilleri, will be performed.

Band marches will be played at 11 a.m. followed by traditional horse and donkey races at 2 p.m.

Solemn vespers and the antiphon, led by Mgr Fabio Fabene, a member of the Montefiascone cathedral chapter and an official of the Vatican Congregation of Bishops, will be performed at 6.30 p.m.

A procession with the statue and the holy relic of St Margaret, led by Mgr Kondrusiewicz, assisted by Mgr Younan, members of the Montefiascone Cathedral Chapter, and the Gharb basilica chapter, starts at 7.45 p.m. The St Margaret Band will accompany the procession. The La Stella Band of Victoria will perform on Sannat's main square.

At the end of the procession, a Eucharistic celebration will be held at 10.15 p.m.

Festivities end with marches by the Ite Ad Joseph Band.

¤ The Gozo Sailing Club, assisted by the Malta Maritime Authority, is organising its annual Round Comino Race today. The race starts at Hondoq ir-Rummien bay, Qala, at 1 p.m. and is open to all Laser sailors and wind surfers. Anyone wishing to enter should just turn up at the slipway at Hondoq before 1 p.m. and speak to Tony Leonard, who will be starting the race.

¤ The feast of St Anne is being celebrated at the Dwejra chapel, San Lawrenz, tomorrow. Mass starts at 8 a.m.

The presentation of babies will be led for the last time by Fr Michael Borg as rector of the chapel, at 7.30 p.m., followed by a healing prayer service led by Mark Agius on behalf of the charismatic group Bread of Life, at 9 p.m. Eucharistic celebration will be held at 10.30 p.m.

¤ A Marian pilgrimage is being held on Tuesday the occasion of the golden jubilee of the crowning of the miraculous painting of the Immaculate Conception, venerated at Qala sanctuary.

At 6 p.m., pilgrimages from various parishes in Malta and Gozo will arrive at the sanctuary. The painting of the Immaculate Conception will be carried in procession on to the square at 6.30 p.m.

At 7 p.m., Cardinal José Saraiva Martins, will concelebrate Mass with Bishop Nikol Cauchi and Mgr Oscar Rizzato, elemosiniere of the Holy Father.

An aux flambeaux pilgrimage with the miraculous painting will start at 8.30 p.m. from the sanctuary to the parish church, where the Pope's blessing will be read at 9 p.m., followed by sacramental benediction.

¤ Cardinal Agostino Cacciavil-lan will be in Qala on Friday to take part in the first centenary celebrations of the parish.

The Ite ad Joseph and Precursor Bands will play marches at 9.30 a.m., followed by fireworks at noon.

On Saturday, Mgr Joseph Buttigieg will celebrate Mass at 9.30 a.m., followed by the Te Deum.

Cardinal Cacciavillan will lead the translation of the relic, assisted by the Nadur Collegiate Chapter, at 6.30 p.m., and lead a concelebrated Mass at 7 p.m.

The La Stella Band of Victoria and Queen Victoria Band of Zurrieq will play marches at 9.30 p.m., while the Victory Band of Xaghra will perform a musical programme on the parish square.

Festivities close with ground fireworks at midnight.

¤ A children's Mass will be said by Fr Joseph Bajada at the Cathedral on Saturday at 7.15 p.m., followed by a barbecue on the parish square.

¤ The Victoria Scout Group is organising a barbecue and campfire at Dwejra Bay, on August 4 at 8 p.m. Tickets are available from the Scout Headquarters (tel: 2155-6497), Briffa New Store, Bookpoint or Josie's Supermarket. Bookings must be made by tomorrow week.

¤ The Stagecoach Mega Concert, in aid of Fr Anton Grech's missionary work in Guatemala, is being held on Cathedral Square in Victoria on August 5 at 8.30 p.m. Over 300 Stagecoach students will participate.