Gordon Hewitt, a dedicated volunteer of Id-Dar tal-Providenza, passes away

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It is with deep regret and profound sadness that we announce the passing away of Mr Gordon Hewitt, a dedicated volunteer of Id-Dar tal-Providenza. His funeral will be held on Wednesday 6 January 2021 at Siġġiewi Parish Church at 3.30pm. Eternal rest, grant unto her O Lord.

For Gordon Id-Dar tal-providenza was his second home and used to refer to it as “the happiest place in Malta, where everyone smiles.” Gordon volunteered at the Home working closely with residents with a persistent commitment until his health permitted.

Most of Mr Hewitt’s daily work involved taking out residents around the gardens of Dar tal-Providenza and was very active in various activities organized for residents both inside as well as outside the Siġġiewi Home. We especially mention his involvement in drama and other main activities throughout the year. The last play he took part in with the residents was “Il-Presepju tan-Nannu” that took place at the Catholic Institute in Floriana a year ago. Mr Hewitt was also the one who suggested the name of St. Isidore for the Agricultural Centre at Dar tal-Providenza in Siġġiewi where during the week residents preserved aromatic herbs which were then sold to the general public. Every year, he saw to it that a mass is celebrated in the Home’s chapel on the occasion of the feast of St. Isidore, the patron saint of farmers, when residents who worked at the Centre were invited and participated.
Gordon used to say that the best gift you can give to anyone is to give your time to him or her. This is exactly what Gordon used to do with the residents of Dar tal-Providenza until a few months ago when his health did not permit him to. He built a nice rapport of a sincere friendship with a lot of persons with disability who will surely treasure it throughout their lives.
Last December he recieved the Mgr Azzopardi Award 2020 for his dedicated work as a volunteer.

A great gift of €2,531,540 for Dar tal-Providenza

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“I am moved in no small way with the generosity and solidarity shown by the Maltese people that notwithstanding everything that is going on handed a beautiful gift of a record €2,531,540 to Dar tal-Providenza.” This was stated by Fr Martin Micallef, Director of the Home, who from his office in Siġġiewi followed the proceedings, handled incoming telephone calls and made a number of interventions using Skype. He continued to say that notwithstanding the Covid-19 and the uncertainties that followed, the Maltese population has again did big things with Dar tal-Providenza that in the last few months witnessed a substantial drop in revenue due to cancelled fundraising events such as the volleyball marathon. This was indeed a message of hope in a time of disheartenment by this pandemic.

Fr Martin said this at the end of the annual televised marathon to raise funds for the Home so that it can continue to provide the best residential services to a hundred and fifteen persons with disability that live in the Siġġiewi Home or its other community homes. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic situation the country is in, the whole programme as well as the venue for the activity had to be changed. In order to ensure the wellbeing and the security of the residents, which have been a top priority since last March, nothing happened at the Home’s Siġġiewi car park except for a ‘drive-through’ where persons wanting to make a donation did so without getting out of their car.

The important fundraising aspect of “Festa ta’ Ġenerożità” including appeals, telephone and on-line donations were done at the We studios in Qormi between noon and midnight. During the marathon, visitors to the studios included the President of Malta, Dr George Vella and Mrs Vella, Archbishop Charles Scicluna, Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi, President Emeritus Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca and, through Skype, Gozo Bishop Anton Teuma and the Leader of the Opposition and Mrs Grech. Also present were ministers and members of parliament from both sides of the House, delegations representing the main poplitical parties, various personalities and representatives of constituted bodies who also took time to answer the phones.

Obviously, everything was done according to the protocols in place by the health authorities including the mandatory wearing of masks, social distancing, separation by perspex, etc.

As has now been the custom, various parishes in Malta and Gozo made special collections during church celebrations that were donated to the Home on behalf of the community some of them also using Skype.

The first official visitor was Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna who also celebrated Mass in the Home’s chapel on the feast of Mary, Mother of God. He was assisted by Mgr. Charles Cordina, Episcopal Vicar for Diaconia and Fr Trevor Fairclough, Spiritual Director of the Home. In his homily he emphasised God’s blessings in the quote from the first reading from the Book of Numbers that the Lord will bless us and keep us and give us peace.

The Archbishop said that those who have been to Dar tal-Providenza easily understand that the Lord uses simple people to do big things. He did this when he used Mgr. Mikiel Azzopardi to work on founding a home for persons with disability and for the last fifty-five years the residents found a home that respected their rights and dignity. He thanked all the carers, workers and volunteers who for the last ten pandemic months have been protecting and caring for the residents and keeping them safe as well as their co-workers.

Mgr. Scicluna referred to the pandemic situation and said that taking the vaccine was not obligatory but was also a duty to show that we, as citizens, are capable of taking care of ourselves and of each other.

The day’s activity started at 9.30am with Holy Mass on TVM2 whilst the televised marathon started at noon and continued till around midnight when the final sum was announced. TVM2, ONE TV and NET TV took part for long stretches of the 12-hour broadcast. This included entertainment provided by the top entertainers on the island.

Another effort to help out Dar tal-Providenza – The Archbishhop

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Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna this morning appealed for the Maltese to make another effort to help out Dar tal-Providenza during the fallout of the Covid-19 pandemic. He emphasised God’s blessings in the quote from the Book of Numbers that the Lord will bless us and keep us and give us peace.
The Archbishop said that those who have been to Dar tal-Providenza easily understand that the Lord uses simple people to do big things. He did this when he used Dun Mikiel Azzopardi to work on founding a home for persons with disability and for the last 55 years the residents found a home that respected their rights and dignity. He thanked all the carers, workers and volunteers who for the last 10 pandemic months have been protecting and caring for the residents and keeping them safe.
Mgr. Scicluna referred to the pandemic situation and said that taking the vaccine was not obligatory but was also a duty as a sign that we, as citizens, are capable of taking care of ourselves and of each other.
The Archbishop celebrated Mass on the feast of Mary, Mother of God at the Home’s Chapel. He was assisted by Mgr. Charles Cordina, Episcopal Vicar for Diaconia and Fr Trevor Fairclough, Spiritual Director of the Home.
Today is another big day for Maltese solidarity with Dar tal-Providenza when “Festa ta’ Ġenerożità” takes centre stage as the major annual fund-raiser for the Home. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic situation we are in, the whole programme as well as the venue for the activity had to be changed. In order to ensure the wellbeing and the security of the residents, which have been a top priority since last March, nothing is happening at the Home’s Siġġiewi car park except for a ‘drive-through’ where persons wanting to make a donation may do so without getting out of their car.
The important fundraising aspect of “Festa ta’ Ġenerożità” including appeals, telephone and on-line donations will be done at the We studios in Qormi between noon and midnight.