The postulator of the canonisation of the Blessed Dun Gorg Preca, Mgr Charles Scicluna, announced yesterday that there will be no public collection of money in connection with the canonisation of the Maltese saint.

The postulator also announced that sufficient momentoes will be produced in the coming months for distribution. He insisted that the distribution of momentoes will not be linked in any way to monetary donations.

Mgr Scicluna also pointed out that all those who wish to participate in the canonisation ceremony, to be held in Rome, must register in order to obtain tickets. He said that tickets will be available free of charge, and further details will be announced later.

In the meantime, the Curia announced yesterday that a commission appointed by Archbishop Paul Cremona OP will be organising a programme of activities to mark the canonisation of Dun Gorg Preca.

The commission will be composed of Mgr Charles Cordina, Mgr Arthur Said Pullicino, Mgr Lawrence Gatt, Mgr Anton Portelli, Fr Jesmond Manicaro, Mr Emanuel Curmi, Ms Rose Schembri and Mr Bennie Mercieca.

The first activities will be held in connection with the liturgical feast of Dun Gorg Preca on 9 May. Between 6 and 8 May, the remains of the blessed, which are conserved in a glass sarcophagus at the MUSEUM chapel in Blata l-Bajda, will be open for public reverence.

On the eve of Pentecost, on Saturday, 26 May, prayer vigils and a Mass will be celebrated in the dioceses of Malta and Gozo.

On Saturday, 2 June, the eve of the canonisation, a prayer vigil will be held in Rome, while on Monday, 4 June, a thanksgiving Mass will be celebrated in Rome.

On Tuesday, 5 June, the relic of Dun Gorg Preca will be taken to Gozo and exhibited for public reverence.

On the following day, the relic will be brought back to Malta and taken to St John’s Co-Cathedral for public worship.

A thanksgiving Mass will be held on Thursday, 7 June at a venue to be announced at a later date.

A meeting will be held for interested group leaders and tour operators regarding reservations for the Eucharistic service of the canonisation on Tuesday, 20 March at 11am at the Archbishop’s Curia in Floriana. Those interested in attending the meeting should send an email to [email protected] or telephone 2590-6506.