Gozo Bishop Mario Grech will make a pastoral visit to the United States between next Tuesday and May 31 following an invitation from Maltese and Gozitan migrants in New York and Washington.

In New York he will meet the migrants at Mass at the Mount Carmel Church in Astoria and at a reception at the adjacent Maltese Centre. He will visit St Patrick's Cathedral, the UN headquarters and Ground Zero. He will also have a meeting with Gozitan priests.

In Washington Mgr Grech will take part in a concelebration during which a painting of Our Lady of ta' Pinu will be blessed in a chapel dedicated to Our Lady at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. The ceremony will be led by Cardinal Teodor McCarrick and the Bishop of Gozo will deliver the homily.

Among those present will be a group of 50 pilgrims from Malta and Gozo led by Mgr Benedict Camilleri. Several groups of Maltese from various US states will also attend.

Mgr Grech will also visit the John Paul Cultural Centre and Arlington Cemetery. He will attend a memorial concert near the Capitol and will receive Malta's ambassador John Lowell and the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Mgr Pietro Sambi.