Xaghra Parish » Gallery » 2009 » FEAST OF ST ANTHONY THE ABBOT - 2009 » 18 JAN 09 FEAST OF ST ANTHONY THE ABBOT - PROCESSION AND BLESSING OF ANIMALS
At 4.50 p.m. the procession started leaving the Basilica. When the artistic statue of St Anthony the Abbot reached the front of the parvis, the Victory Band, under the direction of its Musical Director Mro Joseph Galea L.C.M., played the Hymn to the Saint, music by the late Mro Nazzareno Refalo and Lyrics by Can. Julian Refalo Rapa. The procession afterwards started moving to St Anthony Square, the Victory Band marching in front of the statue playing musical marches along the way. Following Bishop Grech at the end of the procession were young and old carrying their pets and all sorts of animals. In St Anthony Square, Bishop and clergy went on stage where His Lordship said prayers to God to keep away from danger and in good health man and animal. He then blessed all those present in the Square and their accompanying pets and animals. It was then time for everyone to file past the bBishop and receive the bag of barley and the loaf of St Anthony the Abbot.
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