Santa Marija Programme in English

10:00am       Band march by the Leone Band from Independence Square to the Gozo Ċittadella

11:00am       Inside the Gozo Cathedral, the Santa Marija statue is taken out of its niche as the Leone Band performs popular hymns and marches.

Monday 31 July – Friday 4 August 2017

7:15pm         Daily festive mass at the Gozo Cathedral Church.

15th August – 10:00pm

Saturday 5 August 2017

5:30pm         The Leone Band marches from Independence Square to the Gozo Ċittadella as it accompanies a newly-ordained priest Rev. Carl Scerri.

6:30pm         The first solemn mass of the newly-ordained priest at the Gozo Cathedral.

Sunday 6 August 2017

10:30am       Youth mass at the Gozo Cathedral with the participation of youths, footballers, families and friends of S. K. Victoria Wanderers football club.

8:30pm         Traditional Open-Air Dinner organized by the Leone Philharmonic Society. Tickets may be purchased in advance from 79045779 or info@leone.org.mt.

15th August – 6:45pm

 Monday 7 August 2017

7:15pm         Daily festive mass at the Gozo Cathedral Church.

Tuesday 8 August 2017

7:15pm         Festive mass at the Gozo Cathedral Church.

8:30pm         Launch of a historical publication “The Gozo Cathedral – its history and heritage”, edited by Mgr Joseph Bezzina with photography by Daniel Cilia at the Gozo Cathedral Church.

Wednesday 9 August 2017

9:00pm         Leone Band in concert | Festa edition: open-air concert by the Leone Band featuring classical, symphonic and mixed-genre music including the much-sought cantata in honour of Our Lady ‘Per La Festa Di Maria Assunta In Cielo’ (1913). Seat reservations are strongly recommended – (+356) 79045779 or info@leone.org.mt.

Concert 9th August – 9:00pm & Band Marches 11th, 12th, 13th, 14th and 15th August

Thursday 10 August 2017

8:00pm         An open-air vigil of prayer in Cathedral Square at the Gozo Ċittadella.

Friday 11 August – Sunday 13 August 2017

6:45pm         Sung solemn vespers and mass in which the church orchestra and choir perform some of the oldest dated music on the island.

Friday 11 August 2017

9:30pm         The Leone Band parades the Santa Marija statue (2008) from the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Divine Grace all the way up to the Leone Band Club in Republic Street. The evening ends as the statue ascends on the monumental plinth to popular marches and fireworks at midnight.

Saturday 12 August 2017

9:30pm         Popular band march by the Leone Band (Victoria) and Beland Band (Żejtun) departing Savina Square towards St Ursola Street. Reveling youths party all the way through Republic Street. The evening ends with a street party in front of the Leone Band Club.

Every evening, especially 15th August – 10:00pm

Sunday 13 August 2017

9:30pm         The Leone Band (Victoria) and the Santa Marija Band (Żebbuġ) march along the streets of the historic centre of Victoria as a Santa Marija statue (1956) is carried shoulder high. The evening ends as the statue ascends on the grand plinth to popular marches and fireworks after midnight in the city’s main square. Meanwhile St Gregory Band (Kerċem) performs band marches in Republic Street.

Monday 14 August 2017

11:00am       Children’s Parade with the grand flag that flies on the Leone Band Club from the Gozo Ċittadella to the Leone Band Club in Republic Street.

5:30pm         Band march by the Leone Band from the main square to the Gozo Ċittadella as a spectacle of daylight fireworks is let off from Gelmus Hill.

9:30pm        A grand triumphal march by the Leone Band (Victoria) and St Sebastian Band (Qormi) as thousands of revelers party along Republic Street with traditional and festive chants. Spectacular fireworks open and close the evening.

14th August – 9:30pm

15th August – 2:00pm

Tuesday 15 August 2017

Throughout the day, the traditional Santa Marija agricultural fair is open for thousands of visitors at the Villa Rundle public gardens in lower Republic Street.

9:00am       Solemn high mass presided by H.E. the Gozo Bishop at the Gozo Cathedral with the participation of choir and orchestra

11:00am     Traditional and popular band march in the historic centre of Victoria, starting and departing in the city’s main square. 12^th May (Ħaż-Żebbuġ) and St Joseph (Ħamrun) bands shall participate.

2:30pm       National street horse races in Republic Street which, to date, is known by one and all as racecourse street.

6:45pm       Solemn procession with the Santa Marija statue (1896). The Leone Band performs the much-acclaimed cantata in honour of Our Lady “Per La Festa Di Maria Assunta In Cielo” (1913) in an emotional start of the procession which makes its way through the old streets of the city’s historic centre. Spectacular coloured fireworks are let off during the 4-hour procession during which the Leone Band performs.

9:00pm      The Santa Marija statue is welcomed in lower Palm Street by the Franciscan Nuns who sing a cappella the Salve Regina in Gregorian plainchant from the terraces of their monastery. Thousands of people join to witness the devotional scene of the procession before it starts its way up towards the Gozo Ċittadella.

10:30pm    Solemn entrance of the Santa Marija statue inside the Gozo Cathedral with an aux flambaux gathering in the Ċittadella’s main square and access road.

15th August – 11.00am

15th August – 6.45pm