The World Hospice & Palliative Care Day is a unified day of action to celebrate and support hospice and palliative care around the world. It is celebrated worldwide on the second Saturday of October every year. The main aims of the World Hospice Day are: to provide a platform for improving awareness of the Hospice Movement, and increase the provision of services; to raise awareness and understanding of the physical, emotional, social and spiritual needs of cancer patients and their families; and to raise funds for these causes.

The theme chosen for this year's edition is: 'Hospice and Palliative Care: A Human Right.' Every person is entitled for access to hospice and palliative care.

Many different international, national and local awareness and fund raising events are planned all over the world. In Malta , it will be celebrated on Friday the 10th of October 2008, with a concert of 'Musica Sacra' at St. John's Co-Cathedral at 7.30pm. The concert features the prominent Schola Cantorum Jubilate under the Direction of Marouska Attard. At the end of the concert a collection towards the free of charge palliative care services offered by The Malta Hospice Movement, will take place.

The concert features various pieces, mainly Baroque, which will be performed 'a cappella' or otherwise with organ accompaniment. During this concert, some popular pieces like 'Ave Verum Copus' by Mozart and 'Jesu Joy of Man's Desiring' (Bach) will be performed. However there are other pieces by Handel and Bartolucci. The latter is a 91-year old Maestro, Perpetuo della Cappella Musical Pontificia Sistina and academician of ' Sta. Cecilia National Academy ' of Rome . He is considered as the second Palestrina and is famous for being both director and composer. The choir had the honour to visit Mgr. Bartolucci in his residence in Rome last September and was presented with a collection of his compositions. Moreover, 'Make me a channel of your peace' ( arr. Temple ), St. Francis prayer will be sung with the aim to help support the soiree' theme. Another two pieces are composed by young Maltese musicians Paul Portelli and Mark Debono who are closely related to Schola Cantorum Jubilate.

Marouska Attard, who is also the soloist of the Schola will interpret two pieces which are composed by Handel and Mendelssohn - Bartholdy. Ms. Attard has a B. A. (Hons) in musicology from the University of Malta but is persuing her musical studies in voice technique and violin studies. Dr. Hugo Agius Muscat will perform some organ pieces and will accompany the soprano and the choir on the Cathedral Mascioni organ. Dr. Agius Muscat is well known in the local musical scene as well. He has obtained his Licentiate Diploma of the Royal Schools of Music, London (LRSM) in Organ Performing in 1992 and played on the major organs worldwide; just to mention a few: at Westminster Cathedral, Coventry Cathedral, Salzburg Cathedral, Edinburgh Cathedral and Dublin Cathedral.

Everyone is invited for the concert. Please note that ladies are not allowed with stiletto heels at the Co-Cathedral. It is also suggested that patrons be seated by 7.15pm. For more information one can visit The Malta Hospice Movement, website on www.hospicemalta.org, or telephone mobile no. 79055207.

Schola Cantorum Jubilate accepted to help support the Movement for the support it offers to the Maltese patients and their families. They hope that all will attend to give their support to this important cause.