Feast of St Peter and St Paul in Nadur
Mass, band march, smoke and confetti show, procession and musical programme on Monday
The feast of St Peter and St Paul is being celebrated at Nadur basilica on Monday, June 29. Gozo Bishop Anton Teuma will lead a concelebrated pontifical mass at 9am, with the participation of a delegation from the Cathedral Chapter, the Nadur Collegiate Chapter and Nadur clergy. Nadur archpriest Krystof Buttigieg will lead pontifical vespers at 6.30pm, followed by the procession with the statue of the saints, accompanied by the Mnarja Band under the direction of Mro Joseph Grech and the Jubilate Deo choir at 7.45pm.
Tomorrow, June 28, eve of the feast, Mgr Teuma will lead the translation of the relic at 6.30pm, followed by solemn vespers.
On Monday, outdoor activities will include the 12 noon popular march by the St Helen Band of Birkirkara. The Mnarja Band will join the march at 12.30pm. A colourful smoke and confetti show, synchronised with music, organised by the Mnarja Youth Committee in collaboration with the Nadur local council, will be held at 3pm. The Precursor Band of Xewkija will present a musical programme at the square at 8.30pm.
Nadur parish, which is dedicated to saints Peter and Paul, is the most densely populated parish in Gozo.
It was one of the first hamlets of Gozo to be raised to the status of a village by the setting up of a parish on April 28, 1688. Fr Bernard Haber was the first parish priest. On September 19, 1894, the church became the third collegiate church of Gozo; it was elevated to a minor basilica on June 26, 1967. The foundation stone of the present church was laid on December 17, 1760, and it was consecrated on May 12, 1867. The statue of St Peter and St Paul was brought from Marseille, France, in 1881.