Xaghra Parish » Gallery » Randan 2008 » 22 MAR 2008 EASTER SATURDAY AGAPE

After the Service, Mgr Archpriest Carmelo Refalo went out on the church parvis on a cold night to mix with his parishioners and exchange with them warm Easter greetings during Agape. With the parents of the youngest member of the Community, Thea, baptized an hour earlier during the religious celebration held in her mother`s arms, the Archpriest cut a delicious cake made for the occasion giving the signal for the social celebration, Agape, to start. Members from the Eucharistic Communities prepared sandwiches and cake served with hot drinks. Young Nathania Camilleri went round with a basket entertaining the crowd with the traditional œqassatat ta` l-Ghid. They went down extremely well with the guests and Nathania was not given a chance to tire herself as in no time she was relieved of the load which her mother Rose had expertly prepared at home during the day. These œqassatat ta` l-Ghid are said to be made only in the village of Xaghra and only at Easter time. These are small cheese pastries filled with grated sheep`s cheeselets (gbejniet nexfin) mixed with beaten eggs and ground black pepper. The top is left open so that when they are baked in the oven the filling overflows and comes out symbolizing the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the tomb. The parvis was full of people of all ages and different nationalities “ ˜Gozitan`, Maltese, British, American, Australian, Indian. They enjoyed mixing, talking and drinking hot chocolate, coffee or tea keeping the members of the Eucharistic Communities quite busy. The altar boys were there too satisfied that their program for Easter was completed in full. In due course it was time to part and all went their way pleased taking with them a wonderful experience especially those attending for the first time.

E5 Altar boys
E6 Never tired and always happy
E7 Can Borg making his point to tight lipped Fr Jesmond Gauci
E8 'Friendlier than the camera'- says website cameraman

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