Schola Cantorum Jubilate animated the Holy Thursday evening Mass of the Lord's Supper at the National Shrine of Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu.
Holy Thursday is the commemoration of the Last Supper that Jesus celebrated with his Disciples. The Rector, Fr Gerard Buhagiar presided over the mass. The mass started at 6.30 pm. The Choir performed the ‘Missa Cantate Domino’ (G. Oltrasi), ‘Jesu Dulcis Memoria’ (P.Portelli) at the introit and ‘Ubi Caritas’ (M. Duruflé) during the washing of the feet. Cantor Stefan Attard sang the psalm ‘Il-Kalċi Imbierek’ (P. Portelli). The ‘O Sacrum Convivium’ (D. Bartolucci) was sung for the offertory and ‘Tantum Ergo’ (M. Duruflé) and ‘O Ras ta' Kristu’ (Corale, J. S. Bach) during communion. At the end of the mass the choir sang ‘Agħti lsien’ (Plain Chant) as the celebrant placed the Holy Eucharist at the altar of repose for the adoration of the faithful.
The choir was under the direction of Mro Mark Gauci and accompanied on the organ by Jean Noel Attard. From this evening till the celebration on Holy Saturday no musical instruments are used during the liturgy as a sign of mourning for Our Saviour’s death.
