Coming up

¤ The feast of the Assumption of Our Lady is being celebrated at Zebbug today.

The Victory Band will be playing marches in the main streets of the village at 11.30 a.m., followed by horse and donkey races, organised by the local council, in Zebbug Street at 2 p.m.

There will be concelebrated mass with solemn vespers led by Mgr John Dimech at 6, followed by marches by the Leone Band at 6.15.

A procession, accompanied from the Santa Marija Band, leaves the church at 7.15. The procession will end at 10, with marches by the Precursor Band at 10.30.

¤The feast of Our Lady of Loreto being celebrated throughout the week at Ghajnsielem, reaches its climax on Sunday.

Fr Anton Schembri, director of the Emigrants Commission in Gozo will say Mass for emigrants who are currently in Gozo at the parish church, today at 10 a.m., followed by a social gathering for the emigrants.

The St Joseph Band of the village starts the outdoor festivities tomorrow with marches at 8 p.m. The statue of Our Lady of Loreto will be taken out of its niche and taken to the church at 10.

Fr Giovanni Curmi, with the participation of Bethel charismatic group, will say Mass for youths, opening the church festivities, on Tuesday at 6 p.m..

The St Joseph Band will give an instrumental concert to mark its 75th anniversary, on the band stand on the parish square at 9.

The traditional dinner will be held on Wednesday at 8 p.m.

The St Joseph and Ite ad Joseph bands will play marches on Thursday at 9.30 p.m.

The St Joseph and Precursor bands will be playing on Friday at 9.30 p.m., followed by a fireworks display by Virù Fireworks at midnight.

Vicar Fr Joe Cardona will lead a concelebrated Mass, with the singing of the Te Deum, on Saturday, the feast's eve, at 8.30 a.m.

The translation of the relic from the old church to the new one, with solemn sung vespers and a Eucharistic celebration, will be held at 6.30 p.m., followed by Mass at 8.

Outdoor festivities which start at 5.30 p.m. and will end with a fireworks display by Farrugia Fireworks at midnight. The St Joseph, Mnarja and La Stella bands will take part.

¤ Gharb council is celebrating Gharb Day on Thursday. Thanksgiving Mass will be held at the parish at 7.30 p.m., followed by a number of activities on the church parvis. These include dancing by local children and the School of Drama in Nadur and the presentation of the Gharb and Qalb Generuzi prizes. Certificates will be presented to students from Gharb who graduated at the University of Malta as well as to those who attended summer courses at the Gharb council. Ludwig Galea and Julie Zahra are performing and there will be a fashion show by Ray Ashley.

¤ A statue in honour of Frangesco Merciea, known as Frenc ta' l-Gharb is being officially inaugurated by President Guido de Marco at Frenc ta' l-Gharb Street, Gharb on Friday at 8.30 p.m.

The event will include the reading of poetry, detailed information on Frenc ta' l-Gharb, the testemony of the healing of a youth with the intercession of Frenc ta' l-Gharb and the showing of a film on this saintly man.