the feast

One of the main purposes of establishing the voluntary organisation was to restore this church to the heart of parish and local life. In line with this aim, the church naturally takes a central role in the celebrations honouring its patron saint, Saint Julian the Hospitaller and Confessor. The feast belongs to the entire parish, and as such, the church where the parish was founded is central to the festivities commemorating Saint Julian.

During the feast week, the Tuesday Mass is dedicated to the elderly and sick of the parish. During this Mass, the sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is administered, and members of the St Julian’s Choral Group lead the music and hymns. Following the Mass, the elderly are invited to a get-together on the church parvis, organised by the parish Diaconia Commission.

The first day of the triduum is dedicated to the children and adolescents of the parish. On this day, a Mass is celebrated for the youth, followed by a procession featuring the children's statute of the saint, accompanied by the Spinola Band. The procession is marked with the ringing of bells, the scattering of confetti from homes of parishioners, as well as the belfry, and lively musical marches, enhancing the festive atmosphere. In recent years, this event has been organised jointly with the Spinola Musical Society and the Briju Ġiljaniż group, and our voluntary organisation has supplemented the festivites with ground and aerial fireworks, as well as delish snacks, surprises, toys and giveaways for the children who attend. 

Since 2015, on the initiative of the voluntary organisation, the final day of the triduum has been celebrated again in the Old Parish Church in the traditional liturgical format. In the evening, a Mass is held, followed by a sermon inspired by the Patron Saint's Christian heroism, delivered by a guest preacher from the pulpit, following which, the principal celebrant, assisted by two members of the clergy wearing a cope, leads the Triduum Hymn, Nomine Insignem in praise of St Julian, followed by the saint's liturgical antiphon Beate Juliane (1847), accompanied by the orchestra, soloists and full choir. The celebration continues with the solemn exposition of the Blessed Sacrament and Eucharistic Benediction, accompanied by music from the Cappella Nani, and concludes with the congregations' veneration of the saint's reliquary, which sees the faithful lining up to the altar to kiss the Holy Relic, accompanied by the popular hymn and the hymn O Ġiljan Maħbub Imqaddes.

On the eve of the feast, a Mass is celebrated in the church, animated by members of the Coro Bel Canto. Following the Mass, the translatio (translation) of the Holy Relic takes place, led by a guest cleric, accompanied by the clergy, piccolo clero, and parish confraternities.

On the day of the feast itself, a Mass is celebrated at 9:00hrs, animated by the Coro Bel Canto. In the evening, around 20:30hrs, the procession with the artistic statue of Saint Julian is welcomed in front of the Old Parish Church, accompanied by the hymn O Ġiljan Maħbub Imqaddes, music by Maestro Ray Sciberras, and lyrics by Anselm Sciberras, sung live by Soprano Rosabelle Bianchi. The ceremony continues with the Popular Hymn to Saint Julian, composed by Maestro Angelo Pullicino with lyrics by Silvio Frendo, as the titular statue faces the church. At this moment, the Parish Priest leads the parish community and all present in prayer to Saint Julian, marking the conclusion of the voluntary organisation’s involvement in the feast.