The Local Council
To all intents and purposes, the Munxar Local Council is the only
official state body in the village. Local Councils were set up
by the Act of 1992, with the first election in Munxar taking place
in March 1993. The council exerts a legal jurisdiction over Munxar
and Xlendi and caters for the needs of the residents. Five councillors
(of whom one is mayor) and a secretary are the components of our
council which meets on regular fortnightly basis. The incumbents
have taken their oath of office as from March 1997. For further
information cf. page...
The Presbyterium
The highest administrative organ of the parish is the Presbyterium.
It is made up of the parish-preiest as President and the clergy
of the parish. The policies and major lines of pastoral action
are discussed in the Presbyterium which convenes approximately
once every term.
The Parish Council
The Parish Council is a consultative assembly made of representative
of the various organisations in the parish. It is chaired by parish-priest
and the members discuss and give suggestions on a wide range of
matters, from the day to day running of the parish to new capital
projects. Sometimes task teams are established to carry out agreed-on
initiatives. The Council has three sub-committees dealing with
the Liturgy, Catechism and Charity. It is also directly responsible
for the running of the Parish Centre.
The Legion of Mary
This is the oldest lay religious organization in the parish.
The first branch (female) was established in 1952 two years after
the legion had arrived in Gozo. Today their are nine branches
(called Praesidia) which cater practically for all age groups
starting from infants to adults. The charisma of the Legion, besides
prayer, is apostolic work which each legionary is bound to perform
every week.
The Catholic Action
In Munxar we have a female branch of the Catholic Action which
was established in the beginning of the eighties. The meetings
are held once a week and are chaired by the Ecclesiastical Assistant
who is a priest. The meeting involves prayer, talk and discussion
on chosen subjects. At determinate times during the year, the
branch organises activites, usually of a spiritual nature, for
the parishioners.
The Eucharistic Community
This is an organisation or recent set up and the group in Munxar
has been in effect since 1996. Meetings are held weekly and the
members are both male and female, in a number of cases even husband
and wife. At the centre of the meeting is the Eucharistic presence
which turns the gathering into a sort of prayer group where member
participation is essential. Longer meetings and retreats are held
in preparation for the high times liturgical year.
The M.A.S. Group
Originally, the M.A.S. Group in Munxar came into being after
the Central Committee of the Social Action Movement organised
a Social Week in our village in February 1990. Initially the group
was concerned with various environmental issues. Once of its main
achievements was a five day seminar on the work ethic held at
Munxar Parish Centre. After a lull of some months, the Group was
reconstituted in late 1996 with new members. Since then, its main
field has computer courses.
The Stage Group
Ghaqda Drammatika Munxarin is the latest offshot of successive
attempts to establish a permanent Stage Committee to oversee the
promotion of drama in our locality. Ever since the Parish Centre
was inaugurated, the popularity of the drama in our locality.
Ever since the Parish Centre was inaugurated, the popularity of
drama has never waned. Children, youngsters and adults have always
participated in both serious and comic sketches. Of a more regular
nature, the Passion Play and the Christmas Concert have always
attracted a sizable audience. The present group has ambitious
targets, which have been lately boosted by the installation of
a brand new PA System in the theatre-hall.
The Football
Club
Munxar Falcons F.C has been launched in 1972. Then, the team
of enthustic youngsters participated in the Gozo Youth Football
Association crowning the experience with the conquest of the championship.
In 1976 the club officially joined the Gozo Football Association
in the Second Division. During the last twenty years or so, the
club has had a chequered history which is given in more detail
on page...
The Feast Organising Circle
This is a wide-range group of loose adherence, practically every
parishioner is expected to contribute towards the feast effort.
It is almost exclusively concerned with the social side of the
village festa dedicated to St. Paul's Shipwreek. The build-up
activities, including fund raising, go on throughout year, but
reach a feverish height during the last month before the feast
in late May.