On Wednesday 10^th February 2010, the Maltese Church celebrates the Solemnity of Saint Paul’s Shipwreck in our islands. This is a very important feast in the local church’s calendar. In fact, it is one of the four feasts of obligation and the Maltese Christians are obliged to participate in holy Mass as if it was Sunday. This year, the feast is taking a wider dimension since we are commemorating the 1950^th anniversary of this event which marked the arrival of the Christian Faith in Malta. In our county, the 10^th February is a public holiday.

In the Collegiate Basilica of the Nativity of Our Lady (Xaghra), the Feast of Saint Paul is celebrated according to this programme:

5.00am, 6.00am, 7.00am, 8.30am, 9.45am, 11.00am and 4.30pm: Masses with homily.

6.00pm: Solemn Second Vespers by the Collegiate Chapter.

6.30pm: Solemn Concelebrated Mass with homily.

In Gozo, there are two churches which celebrate this feast as their titular one; the parish church of Munxar and the church in Marsalforn.

The church of Saint Paul in Marsalforn closes the special festivities in honour of the saint on the occasion of the 1950^th anniversary of his Shipwreck on our island. The programme of liturgical activities is as follows:

Tuesday 9^th February 2010: Eve of the Solemnity.

9.00am: Mass for the elderly who attend the Day Care Centre organised by the Xaghra Local Council. The mass will be celebrated by Canon Joseph Sultana.

5.30pm: Translation of the Relic followed by the Celebration of First Solemn Vespers led by Rev. Joseph Cini.

6.00pm: Solemn Mass with occasional homily and animated by organist Ivan Attard. The celebrations end with the recitation of the traditional Kurunella, Eucharistic Benediction and singing of the popular hymn.

Wednesday 10^th February 2010: Solemnity of the Shipwreck of Saint Paul.

Since this is A FEAST OF OBLIGATION, the masses are said according to the Sunday schedule.

8.00am, 10.00am and 11.00am: Masses with homily.

5.30pm: Solemn Second Vespers.

6.00pm: Solemn Concelebrated Mass which closes the special festivities led by Canon Michael Borg, Rector of Marsalforn, and animated by the Chorus Unda Maris. The Pauline celebrations end with the recitation of the Kurunella, singing of the popular hymn to Saint Paul and Eucharistic Benediction.

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