Image of the Virgin Mary of Ta’ Pinu to go to Nazareth

An image of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu will be taken to the Sanctuary of the Annunciation in the town of Nazareth during a pilgrimage that will be led by Gozo Bishop Mario Grech.

The image will be blessed during the Vigil of the Assumption, which takes place every year on the eve of the 14th of August on the precincts of the Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary.

The sanctuary in Nazareth already holds ‘national’ images of the Virgin, which represent the devotion to the Mother of God shown by all the nations of the earth.

This picture, which at the moment is exposed for the devotion of people at the Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary.

It took about six hundred hours to make. The image was manufactured at the Eikons Arts Centre that the Diocese of Gozo has inaugurated in the house passed on to the diocese by the late Mgr Anton Gauci.

It was made by Rev Roberto Gauci, director of the same centre who last year worked together with Fr Rupnik on the mosaics of the Mysteries of the Rosary on the precincts of the Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary.

Together with the image of the Virgin which will now take its place in Nazareth, the Church in Gozo is going to do another sign of solidarity with the Church in the Holy Land. Bishop Grech will present a donation to the Franciscan Friars, who are responsible for the protection and upkeep of the various Sanctuaries of the Holy Land. This donation will help the friars to employ other Christian families in Nazareth so that they would not have to leave the Holy Land altogether. Those who would like to help financially in this project can do so by contacting the Rector of the Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary or some other priest. The collection that will take place during the Vigil will also go for this aim.

The Vigil on Tuesday 14 of August will begin at 8 pm. with hymns and recitation of the Psalms characteristic of the Eastern Churches. Maltese-Australian singer Joe Apap will sing songs of praise in honour of the Virgin. Fr Twanny Chircop OFM, Maltese Commissioner for the Holy Land will lead. Bishop Grech will say the Vigil Mass. There will be quiet time for prayer between 10.15 p.m and midnight. Another Mass will take place at midnight.

Transport will be provided from all the parishes of Gozo and from Malta by Radju Marija. The vigil will be transmitted on the same radio.