Coming up

¤ The feast of Our Lady of Succour is being celebrated in Kercem today.

Bishop Nikol Cauchi will lead a Pontifical concelebrated Mass, with the participation of the Stella Maris orchestra and the St Gregory Choir at 9 a.m. Fr Joe Cilia will deliver the panegyric. Marches in the village streets will be held from 11.15.

The procession, accompanied by the St Gregory Band, leaves the church at 7.45 p.m. The Mnarja Band will perform on the church square at 8.15 and the Ite ad Joseph Band will perform at 9.30.

¤ The feast of St George is being celebrated in Victoria this week.

Today at 9 a.m. the collegiate chapter and clergy will concelebrate Mass during which archpriest Mgr Dr Joseph Farrugia will bless the new chapel at the basilica. The Laudate Pueri Choir, led by Fr George J. Frendo, will take part.

There will be an open day at the parish centre and the clergy home.

At 8 p.m., there will be the presentation of a book on St George's Basilica during a concert by the Ampleforth Abbey Choir at the basilica.

Tomorrow at 10 a.m. members of the parish church will donate blood at the General Hospital.

At 6 p.m. Mass will be said for the disabled, followed by a dinner, organised by the Ladies Society at the parish centre.

At 8, as part of the Victoria International Arts Festival, the Singing Class led by Miriam Cauchi will give a concert at Mgr Giuseppe Farrugia Hall.

On Tuesday at 9 p.m. Mass will be celebrated for youths by Fr Tonio Galea, with the participation of the 234 Youth Band.

On Wednesday at 9.30 p.m. the La Stella and Mnarja bands will play marches from Ghajn Qatet Street to St Francis Square.

The procession with the statue of St George, by Chev. Alfred Camilleri Cauchi, with the participation of several bands, leaves the basilica at 10 p.m. On Thursday at 9.30 p.m. the St Margaret and La Stella bands will play marches, with a fireworks display, on St Francis Square.

On Friday at 9.30 p.m. there will be a procession with the statue of St George (1894) by Vincenzo Cremona, with the participation of the La Stella and Precursor bands. There will also be a fireworks display in Republic Street.

On Saturday at 9 a.m. the Vicar- General, Mgr Giovanni B. Gauci, will lead a concelebrated Mass, followed by Te Deum.

At 10 a.m. the La Stella Band will play marches from St George's Square to the La Stella Band Club, where a reception will follow. At 1 p.m. there will be the traditional horse and donkey races in Republic Street.

At 5 there will be a prayer vigil, followed by Mass, led by Mgr Alfred Xuereb. The translation of the relic will be held at 6.30, followed by a pontifical concelebrated Mass, led by Bishop Cauchi.

¤ The Victoria Police Station is holding an open day to mark the 191st anniversary of the Police Force on Wednesday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

At 6 p.m. Mass will be celebrated for deceased policemen at the St Mary Cemetery church in Victoria, followed by a service at the police graves.

At 8 p.m. a programme of activities will be held at Marsalforn, including a performance by the Police Band, an exhibition by the Precision Drill Team and a display by the dog section. A reception for members and former membrs of the force will follow.

¤ The feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel is being celebrated at Ta' Hamet church on Saturday.

At 7 p.m. Vicar Forane Mgr Rosario Borg will lead a concelebrated Mass, after which a pilgrimage of prayer, accompanied by the statue of Our Lady, will leave the church. The pilgrimage will end with prayers to Our Lady and a Eucharistic celebration.

At 9 a night of prayer will be led by the Gozitan Eucharist Movement and Mass will be said at midnight.

¤ The Schola Cantorum Jubilate is organising several activities to mark its fifth anniversary. The choir will present five concerts and a Mass by the Emanuel Youth Choir, one of the outstanding English choirs, established in 1594.

On July 18 at 8.15 p.m. the Emanuel Youth Choir will perform at Our Lady of Victories Basilica in Xaghra. Trumpeter James Atashroo will perform the first part of the Trumpet Concerto by Haydn.

Katie Holmes will interpret suites for viola by Vaughan Williams.

Entrance for these concerts is free. For more information visit the Website www.scjchoir.com or phone 7905-5207.