The 11th edition of The Victoria International Arts Festival 2008 (8 June – 14 July), which starts June 8, features artists from the Maltese islands as well as from the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Austria, Norway, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Russia. The arts festival is a run-up to the feast of St George which takes place during the second week of July leading to the third Sunday of the month.
Saturday, July 5, 2008:
VIAF: First outdoor event at San Ġorġ tal-Ħaġar
Il-Wesgħa ta’ San Ġorġ tal-Ħaġar is one of the loveliest spots of the historic centre of Victoria, slyly evocative of vibrant life in the memory of its residual and mostly elderly inhabitants, and quite intriguing in its toponymy.The stone statue of the Martyr Saint which is normally associated with its name has little to do with the place, but a lot to do with the prettiness of the spot which the organisers of the Victoria International Arts Festival chose for the second evening of the festival.
Friday, July 4, 2008:
July 4th flag at Il-Vajrinġa
One family in Vajrinġa Street in Victoria, Gozo, has joined the millions of homes in the United States and around the world in hoisting the national colours of that great land of freedom on the day that marks its declaration of independence. The Cassar family is thus one in heart with their daughter, Liliana, her husband Terry and their two sons, William and their yet-to-be baptized brand new baby. Happy Fourth of July to you over there!
Parish community radio Leħen il-Belt Victoria is nine today.No special celebrations have been prepared to mark its birthday.But a word of thanksgiving to the parish volunteers who have made it possible and who are involved in its running is proper.The station has given sterling service to St George’s parish and St George’s parish has grown all the more for it.
Monday, June 30, 2008:
The Astra Folk Group in England
The Astra Folk Group of Victoria will be representing Malta, as a Mediterranean group, for the Billingham International Folklore Festival in England, UK, between 23 July and 4 August 2008.Many other international groups will participate in this festival, coming from Columbia, Germany, Italy, Malasia, France, Romania, Sri Lanka, Japan and India, together with Scotland and England.The tour is being supported as well by the Maltese Government.
Sunday, June 29, 2008:
Archpriest Cardona inaugurates parish Pauline Year
Introducing Solemn Conventual Mass, today, June 29, 2008, solemnity of Sts Peter and Paul, Mgr Paul Cardona, archpriest, invited the congregation gathered in St George’s basilica to join the universal Church in the celebration of the year dedicated by Pope Benedict XVI to St Paul.Bishop of Gozo Mgr Mario Grech inaugurated the diocesan Pauline Year at the parish of Nadur, yesterday.
Sunday, June 29, 2008:
Parish announcements for the week commencing on 29 June 2008
The parish announcements for the week remind all parishoners of the Victoria International Arts Festival. Wednesday 2 July is the ninth Wednesday ofMarian Devotions.Thursday 3 July is the eigth Thursday of devotion of St George. The write up continues in the Maltese language.
Saturday, June 28, 2008:
Xagħra seminarian who served at St George's ordained deacon
Joseph Curmi, a seminarian from Xagħra who collaborated with archpriest Mgr Joseph Farrugia in the pastoral work of St George’s parish between September 2006 and August 2007, has been ordained deacon yesterday at a solemn high mass presided by H.L. Mgr Mario Grech, at the Gozo Cathedral.Archpriest Mgr Pawlu Cardona concelebrated, with other priests during an impressive celebration attended by family and friends, including seminarians and parishioners of St George's.
Friday, June 27, 2008:
Festa Programme booklet is out
The booklet detailing the programme of liturgical and external activities for the feast of St George is out. It is beautifully laid out, bears the traditional title Festa San Ġorġ qualified by the year 2008 and has an impressive cover design featuring a black and white image of the patron saint “emerging” from the crossed ensign of St George.The booklet will be distributed to all the households of Victoria but it will also be obtainable at the Parish Centre.
Thursday, June 26, 2008:
Mro Joseph Vella at Lucca's Conservatorio Luigi Boccherini
Prof. Joseph Vella has had to interrupt his active participation in the Victoria International Arts Festival in order to attend special celebrations in Lucca, Italy, marking the 150th anniversary from the birth of its most famous son, Giacomo Puccini.Mro Vella was one of the contemporary composers invited from across Europe to speak on the role of the composer today.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008:
Nitkellem magħkom, wieħed minnkom
Mgr Joseph Farrugia, archpriest emeritus, returns with his thoughts in the Maltese language column entitled Nitkellem magħkom, wieħed minnkom - I speak with you as one of you.He writes about the Victoria International Arts Festival that, some ten years ago, he had helped to start, the Marian Wednesdays devotion, the forthcoming ordination of new deacons and Mr Anthony Vella, a member and benefactor of St George’s who is ill in hospital.In this page the former archpriest shares his thoughts arising from the community and beyond it.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008:
VIAF: Aula Mons. Farrugia echoes to Debutants Concert
The Victoria International Arts Festival evening of Tuesday, June 24, was of the kind that gratifies with the promise of a future which will see the fruit of the cultural endeavours that the organisers, in collaboration with St George’s parish, have been undertaking for the benefit of the younger generations.Deborah Caruana, Michela Galea, Philip Attard and Claudia Tabone, as well as the Gozo School of Music Orchestra were the artistes of the evening.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008:
Celebrating our faith on the Baptist's solemn Birthday
Just two days after the beginning of summer, today the Catholic Church celebrates the solemnity of the Birth of St John the Baptist, Precursor of Our Lord.St John enjoys a very prominent place in the Christian cult, so much that his is the only feast of a saint which has two celebrations – today’s solemnity marking his stainless birth and the 29 of August celebrating his Martyrdom, recounted in Mk 6:14-29.His name is mentioned before that of the Apostles in the Litany of Saints, and the Roman Catholic Church’s most important cathedral in Rome, that of San Giovanni in Laterano, is dedicated to him, together with Christ himself and the other St John, the Evangelist.
Tuesday, June 24, 2008:
VIAF: Versatile Brass Ensemble on St George's Square
The audience that regularly attends the evenings of the Victoria International Arts Festival invariably swells when the evening features an external event such as that of yesterday on St George’s Square.The flight of steps leading up to the bronze portals of the basilica were part ofthe stage, Monday, June 23, for the Versatile Brass Ensemble’s musical submissionwhich gained the appreciative applause of the fully occupied seating in the piazza.
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