The Circolo Gozitano, for the forth year running, will be commemorating Gozo Day which falls on Wednesday, the 28th of October 2009.

Gozo day commemorates the day when Gozo was liberated from the French occupation, as a result of which Gozo for a brief beriod of time gained complete autonomy. This year is the 211 anniversary of that important day

The programme of activities planned for this day commence with at 9.00am with a High Mass at St James Church, in Independence Square, Vctoria. The main concelebrant will be H.L. Mons Mario Grech, Bishop for Gozo.

At 10.00am Circolo Gozitano Committee members and other attendees at the Mass will participate in a Commemorative Programme to be organised by the Regional and National Festivities Committee in front of the Archpriest Saver Cassar monument in Independence Square, Victoria. The President of the Circolo together with other personalities will lay wreaths at the feet of the monument.

At 7.30pm the ‘Gieh Ghawdex’ 2008 Awarding Ceremony, the major annual event of the Circolo Gozitano, will be held at Palazzo Palina, Ta’ Cenc Hotel, Sannat, This year the ‘Gieh Ghawdex’ awards will be conferred by the President of Malta. H.E. Dr. George Abela.

The ‘Gieh Ghawdex’ award, now in its fifth year, was instituted by the Circolo Gozitano in 2005 as a means to honour personalities or organisation who through their work would have given an outsdanding contribution to the socio-cultural and economic development of Gozo. The ‘Gieh Ghawdex’ is also awarded to individuals or organisations have who have contributed to the preservation and promotion of Gozo’s distinct identity.

Bass Noel Galea accompanied on the piano by Mro. Stephen Attard will be participating in the Activity.