SOLEMN HIGH MASS AT THE BASILICA OF MARIJA BAMBINA, XAGHRA, GOZO
41SOLEMN HIGH MASS AT THE BASILICA OF MARIJA BAMBINA, XAGHRA, GOZOThe Xaghara parish church 
was established in 1688 by Bishop Cocco-Palmeri and is dedicated to the Nativity of the Virgin Mary.
The re-constructed Xaghara parish church was consecrated in 1878 and was raised to Archipresbyteral status 15 years later on March 1893. The beautiful church was given the title of a Basilica in 1967. The whole church is covered with beautiful marble and a fantastic statue of the young Virgin Mary brought all the way from Marseilles in 1878.
The Parish priest is Can Carmel Refalo, Attending these Solemn High masses were 2 Knights and 2 Dames of the Order.
After the Solemn Hi
gh Mass, the guests were invited to watch various re-enactments portraying three very important historical events tied to the Maltese Islands. The first event focused on the Great Siege of Malta and the victory in 1565 of the Order of St. John over the Ottoman Empire.
The second event recalled the end of the outbreak of the cholera virus in the 19th century through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin.
The third event recalled excerpts from the Battle of Malta during the Second World War.
Participating in these re-enactments were the Band of the Malta Police, the Guard of Honor by the Armed Forces of Malta, and the various re-enactors dressed in period costumes.
At the end of the re-enactments, the four representatives of the SHOSJ laid a wreath
at the foot of the Monument dedicated to the memory of those fallen victims of the various conflicts over the periods.