29 September 2007 Rating 7% No Comment  

Full details of tomorrows funeral of the former Archpriest of St George's Basilica Mgr Salv Borg have just been published. The earthly remains of the Archpriest, clothed in sacred vestments, his hands holding a rosary, will tomorrow be transferred from the Gozo General Hospital to the Church of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Heart, where prayers will be held until 4.50pm. The Collegiate Chapter and clergy of St George's Basilica, presided by Archpriest-elect Mgr Paul Cardona, will then accompany the coffin along Republic Street to Independence Square and into St George's Square, in the traditional cortege that will include the immediate family and other mourners. HL Mgr Mario Grech, the Bishop of Gozo and Dean of the Collegiate Chapter will preside at a concelebrated High Mass in which all the members of the Urban Chapter, the parish clergy of St George's and a large number of priests from all over Gozo are expected to participate. Mass starts at 5.30pm. The Laudate Pueri Choir, the musical chapel of the Basilica, and the Schola Cantorum Gregoriana will animate the liturgy. On the request of the family Mgr Joseph Farrugia will deliver an oration in honour of his predecessor. Mgr Joseph Farrugia, the deceased Archpriest's successor at St George's, will accompany the family in the funeral cortege and will concelebrate the Mass. He will then accompany the coffin from the Basilica and the La Stella Band will play funeral marches. Mgr Borg was not only Archpriest Emeritus of St George's but also the spiritual director of the La Stella Philharmonic Society. The band will perform music composed for the occasion by its musical director Mro Joseph Vella. Late this evening, the bells of the basilica have tolled solemnly in bereavement for a pastoral benefactor and a beloved priest. According to tradition they will toll again tomorrow morning, at 9.30, in formal announcement of an Archpriest's death, and again at noon and then in connection with the funeral rites. Tomorrow, the day of beloved Dun Salv's funeral, the parishioners of Victoria and all the Gorgjani of Gozo who have flag-masts are being called on to raise the flag of St George to half-mast in unity with the Basilica as a sign of deep bereavement but also trustful prayer to the Risen Lord. The flag of St George bears, in fact, the symbol of the Risen Christ. All non-religious activities at St George's have been cancelled as a sign of mourning, including the traditional dinner on St Michael's Day and the Tombola Get-Together next week. Parishioners are also invited to visit the coffin of Mgr Borg as it lies in state in the Church of the Franciscan Sisters between 2.30 and 5.00pm. Mgr Paul Cardona will be leading the prayers. The Collegiate Chapter will celebrate the Liturgy of the Hours immediately before the start of the cortege. The remains of Mgr Borg will be interred in the state cemetery of Santa Maria Addolorata of Victoria late in the evening.