Mosta, 400 Years as a Parish

On the 16th September 1608, Bishop Thomas Gargallo decreeded that Mosta would be founded as a Parish.
Many Mosta people have been waiting this year, because it is with great joy that we remember that day of 400 years ago. During these years a very small village has grown and evolved into Malta's largest Parish. Proud with its natural and historical heritage, together with what this community has achieved, and most of all with the monumental Church that these people built with love to their Blessed Virgin Mary.Today Mosta is considered as a principal town in Malta and an attraction for many.

For the last few years our Society has been preparing for this year's special activities. Our Society's very existence came about as to render service to our parish. Nicolo Isouard band's History is charachterised by the parish's events thourgh the years. No wonder than that the Society made sure to celebrate with all due importance the 400 anniversary of our Parish. In fact on last year's feast day, president Nazzareno Vassallo announced a program of activities and suggestions, consisting of a year full of events, especially during the festa days.
As happened in 1973 when the back then president Carmelo Schembri of the Nicoḷ Isouard Society petitioned Archpriest Bartolomeo Bezzina on behalf of the Mosta people that the Titular Painting would be solemnly coronated, last year the president asked that our Archpresbiteral Church and Sanctuary would be given the deserved title of Basilica, a dream of many Mostin.
Unfortunately many suggestions and events were turned down by the eclesiastical authorities, including the one having the approval of the Rev. Archpriest Fr. Mario Tong. The Nicoḷ Isouard Society had commisioned four bands to play with our band during the feast days, this being denied by the Archbishop's Curia, these last days.



A Year To Remember

The Comittee of the Society wished that this year's centinary celebrations will not be forgotten and the memory passed on to the future generations. For this reason besides numerous activities, the society thought of composing a hymn for the occasion, making a new commemorative banner and painting the lounge's ceiling.

March-Hymn

On the 5th January 2008, the Nicoḷ Isouard society organised a musical program entitled 'Epiphany Concert'. This concert was the opening of a series of activities related to this special year's celebrations. During this event a new March-Hymn in occasion of the fourth centenary celebrations was inagurated. The words by Manwel D. Schembri were put to music by our band director Mro. Emanuel Spagnol.

Commemorative Banner

To commemorate this special year the society thought of making a new banner. This banner, designed by Salvatore Bugeja, was then hand embroidered in gold threads by Ms Marion Cefai, a silver pelmit for the banner is also being fabbricated.
This project was announced, On the 15th of August 2007, on the same day the paniting (seen on the right), by Chev. Paul Camilleri Cauchi representing the protection of Our Lady throughout these 400 years was presented and would be the centerpiece of the same banner.


Ceiling Painting

Driven by the desire to celebrate this year in a special way, our society decided to paint the lounge's celing. Chev. Paul Camilleri Cauchi was commisioned to piant the said ceiling, who prepared a design consisting of various panels relating important events which took place during the 400 years of Mosta as a parish
Silvio Pace prepared an enlarged design to model the panels. These panels (Seen on the left) were then reproducted in fibre-glass by Mario Vasallo and Clive Busuttil. Mario and Reuben Camilleri Cauchi were in charge of the decorations of the said ceiling.


Events


Starting from the 16th September 2007, the Nicoḷ Isouard Philarmonic Society organised many activities to celebrate this year's special occasion.

Calendar of Events