Programme of the Solemn Feast of the Assumption of Our Lady the Virgin Mary, celebrated during the Holy Fortnight in the Parish of Mġarr, 2 -18 August 2024

Friday 2 August: Lejla Mġarrija

7.30 pm – A dinner and other activities for all the family in Triq ir-Ramlija (next to the cemetery).

Saturday 3 August: Exposition of the statue of Our Lady in the church

7.00 pm – Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Noel Vassallo. After mass, the statue will be taken out from its niche and exposed in the church throughout the days of the feast.

Fireworks by Emmanuel Vella by the ‘Nar Santa Marija’ factory during the procession of the statue from the niche to the place of exposition.

Sunday 4 August: Second Day of the Holy Fortnight dedicated to Civil Society

10.30 am – Mass with the participation of various organisations and members of the civil society. Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Sean Abela.

6.00 pm – An exhibition of cars in Misraħ l-Assunta (Village Square) on the occasion of ‘Lejla Mġarrija’.

Monday 5 August: Third Day of the Holy Fortnight to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Parish Choir ‘Regina Coeli’

7.00 pm – Mass will be celebrated by Mons. Edgar Vella and animated by the Parish Choir. After mass, the Choir will present a soirée to commemorate its anniversary. Everyone is welcome, especially those who were members of the Choir at any stage.

Tuesday 6 August: Fourth Day of the Holy Fortnight dedicated to the Volunteers and the Organisers of the Feast and the members of Fraternities.

6.00 pm – Adoration of the Sacrament. The sacrament of confession will be available during the adoration.

7.00 pm – Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Noel Vassallo. After mass there will be the Special Prayers of the Holy Fortnight, the Antiphon will be sung, and a Sacramental Blessing will be given.

Wednesday 7 August: Fifth Day of the Holy Fortnight dedicated to Children

6.00 pm – A procession for children from the ‘Oratorju Qalb Bla Tebgħa ta’ Marija’ to Triq Santa Marija, Fisher and Misraħ l-Assunta. The band ‘Soċjetà Filarmonika Marija Mtellgħa s-Sema’ of Mġarr will take part.

7.00 pm – Children’s mass will be celebrated by Rev. Bernard Micallef. Mass will be followed with games for children on the church parvis.

Thursday 8 August: Sixth Day of the Holy Fortnight dedicated to the Departed who passed to eternal life during the past year

7.00 pm – Mass will be celebrated by Friar Edward Zammit OFM. It will be offered for the repose of the Departed who passed to eternal life during the past year in our parish. The families of the Departed are especially invited. After mass there will be the Special Prayers of the Holy Fortnight, the Antiphon will be sung, and a Sacramental Blessing will be given.

Friday 9 August: Eighth Day of the Holy fortnight dedicated to Youth

8.00 pm – Mass for young people celebrated by Friar Jethro Bajada OFM Cap and animated by singer Gianluca Bezzina. After mass, there will be an activity for young people at the ‘Oratorju Qalb Bla Tebgħa ta’ Marija’.

Saturday 10 August: Ninth Day of the Holy fortnight dedicated to the Family

7.00 pm – Mass for all families, especially couples who got married in the past year, and couples who are celebrating their 25th and 50th wedding anniversaries. During mass they are invited to renew their wedding vows. Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Jimmy Bonnici.

After mass, there will be the Special Prayers of the Holy Fortnight and a Sacramental Blessing will be given.

At 8.30 pm there will be the Feast Dinner on the Church parvis organised by the Parish Fundraising Group.

Sunday 11 August: Tenth Day of the Holy Fortnight dedicated to the Celebration of Life

10.30 am – Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Sean Abela. During mass, the Sacrament of Baptism will be administered. After mass, there will be the Special Prayers of the Holy Fortnight.

Monday 12 August: Eleventh Day of the Holy Fortnight dedicated to Migrants

7.00 pm – Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Noel Vassallo. For this mass, we extend a special invitation both to persons from Mġarr who emigrated to other countries and who are currently in Malta, and also to expats living in our parish. After Mass there will be the Special Prayers of the Holy Fortnight, the Antiphon will be sung and a Sacramental Blessing will be given.

Tuesday 13 August: Twelfth Day of the Holy Fortnight dedicated to the Presentation of babies to Saint Mary

7.00 pm – Mass will be celebrated by Mons. Edgar Vella. An invitation is specially extended to families who had a baby during the past year. After mass, the babies will be presented to Our Lady. There will be the Special Prayers of the Holy Fortnight, the Antiphon will be sung and there will be a Sacramental Blessing.

8.30 pm – Dinner organised by the ‘Soċjetà Filarmonika Santa Marija Mtellgħa s-Sema’ of Mġarr next to the Church.

Wednesday 14 August: First Day of the Triduum dedicated to Pastoral Operators of the Parish and Eve of the Easter of the Assumption

7.00 pm – Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Jimmy Bonnici. The homily will be given by Rev. Gylan Camilleri. After mass there will be the Special Prayers of the Holy Fortnight, the Antiphon will be sung and there will be a Sacramental Blessing.

Fireworks by the ‘Soċjetà Spettaklu Marija Assunta’ will take place at 8.00 am, 12.00 noon, and at the end of the celebration in the church.

Thursday 15 August: The Easter of the Assumption and the Second Day of the Triduum

Mass at: 5.30am, 7.00am, 9.00am, 10.30am u 5.00pm.

9.45 am – Prayer and Blessing of motorbikes in the village square and then the procession of motorbikes will start toward the parish of Ħad-Dingli. Donations will be collected in aid of ‘Puttinu Cares’.

During the morning there will be the Mobile Blood Donation Unit by the church.

Fireworks by the ‘Soċjetà Spettaklu Marija Assunta’ will take place at 8.00 am, 12.00 noon and 7.00 pm.

Friday 16 August: Third Day of the Triduum dedicated to Priests and members of Religious Orders

7.00 pm – Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Sean Abela together with priests and members of Religious Orders from Mġarr. The homily will be delivered by Rev. Gylan Camilleri. Altar boys and girls and their parents are especially invited. During mass the new altar children will be vested. After mass, there will be the Special Prayers of the Holy Fortnight, the Antiphon will be sung and a Sacramental Blessing will be given.

Fireworks by the ‘Soċjetà Spettaklu Marija Assunta’ will take place at 8.00 am and at 12:00 noon, and after the triduum there will be colourful fireworks.

At 8.30 pm – The band ‘Soċjetà Filarmonika Marija Mtellgħa s-Sema’ of Mġarr will play marches while accompanying the statue of Our Lady of the same Soċjetà. The procession will pass from the following roads: Misraħ l-Assunta, il-Kbira, Vitale, San Pawl, Sir Harry Luke. At Misraħ l-Assunta the statue will be placed on a pedestal in the Square. This will be followed by fireworks, music and song.

Saturday 17 August: The eve of the Feast

9.30 am – Thanksgiving Mass including the Te Deum, with a special invitation to the sick and senior members of our Parish and those living in Old People’s Homes. The Sacrament of Extreme Unction will be administered. Mass will be celebrated by Canon Mario Said.

6.45 pm – Solemn Procession with the Relic from the Altar dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary to the Main Altar, with the participation of the members of the Confraternity; the First Vespers of the Feast will be sung followed by a Solemn Mass. The celebrant will be Mons. Alfred Vella on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of his Priestly Ordination. The sermon will be delivered by Rev.  Noel Vassallo, the Parish Administrator. The Parish Choir ‘Regina Coeli’ and orchestra will be led by Mro Mary Cauchi.

9.00 pm – A vocal and instrumental Programme on the church parvis will be led by the ‘Soċjetà Filarmonika Marija Mtellgħa s-Sema’ of Mġarr.

Fireworks by the ‘Soċjetà Spettaklu Marija Assunta’ will take place at 8.00 am, 12:00 noon and during the Procession with the Relic. At 10.15 pm, there will be fireworks at the end of the band concert. At 11.30 pm Land Fireworks will take place next to the church, organised by the ‘Soċjetà Spettaklu Marija Assunta’.

Sunday 18 August: Feast Day

Sunday mass at 5.30 am and 7.00 am.

9.00 am – Solemn Mass will be celebrated by Rev. Noel Vassallo, Parish Administrator on the occasion of the 40th Anniversary of his Priestly Ordination. The Panegyric will be delivered by Mons. Alfred Vella. The music will be led by ‘Cappella Diacono’ directed by Mro Ray Sciberras.

11.00 am – Sunday mass.

12.00 noon – The prayer of the Angelus will be recited next to the statue of the Assumption on the side of the church, and the Offer for the carrying of the Statue will be announced.

5.30 pm – Sunday mass during which the Second Vespers of the Feast will be recited, by Rev. Karl Andrew Schembri, a recently ordained priest.

7.00 pm – Commencement of the Procession with the Statue of Our Lady, led by Rev. Karl Andrew Schembri, through Triq il-Kbira (where the Rosary will start at the corner with Triq Vitale), Triq Vitale, Triq San Pawl, Triq Santa Marija, Triq Ramiro Cali, Triq Sir Harry Luke and back to Misraħ l-Assunta. At the start of the procession, the ‘Soċjetà Filarmonika Marija Mtellgħa s-Sema’ of Mġarr will play the popular hymn L-Imġarr Iben Marija of Mro V. Ciappara followed by the Anthem composed by Mro J.Abela Scolaro, with the participation of the Parish Choir ‘Regina Coeli’.

The ‘Imperial Band’ of Mellieħa will accompany the procession from Misraħ l-Assunta to Triq Vitale. Later the band will play from the platform on the church parvis.

The ‘Soċjetà Filarmonika Santa Marija Mtellgħa s-Sema’ of Mġarr will accompany the procession from Triq San Pawl (corner with Triq Sir Harry Luke) to Misraħ l-Assunta.

10.00 pm – the Band ‘Imperial’ will play hymns during the entrance of the procession back into the church. Afterwards there will be fireworks, followed by the singing of the hymns ‘Ave Maria’ and ‘L-Imġarr Iben Marija’.

In the church the ‘Innu Popolari’ and the Antiphon will be sung, and the Sacramental Blessing will be given.

Fireworks by Emmanuel Vella of the ‘Nar Santa Marija’ will take place at 8.00 am, 12.15 noon and at the beginning and end of the procession. Later on after the end of the procession, there will be more fireworks.

Saturday 24 August: The statue of Our Lady will be returned to the niche

7.00 pm – Mass, and then the statue will be returned to the niche.