Archive for year: 2025

Id-Dar tal-Providenza is firmly opposed to assisted suicide and euthanasia, as it believes they both strike at the heart of society, which has a duty to protect the life of every person. They also undermine the principle of inclusion. It also maintains that the dignity of life is not achieved through assisted suicide. For these reasons, it strongly opposes the proposal to introduce assisted voluntary euthanasia in Malta.

Id-Dar tal-Providenza notes that wherever assisted suicide has been introduced, there has been a cultural shift in which those who are “healthy” are increasingly valued, while negative attitudes towards those who require care and medical assistance are reinforced.

Euthanasia promotes a throwaway culture, in which human beings are seen as burdens, and the decision to die may not truly be a personal choice but rather influenced by internalised societal values that devalue care and portray dependence on others as something shameful.

Indeed, the current debate places a strong emphasis on personal autonomy and paints a picture that it is better to die than to live in dependence, in need of personal care, or in pain – a concept that suggests that the lives of those in such situations are of lesser value. This easily leads from a “right to die” to a “duty to die,” due to the pressure placed on individuals who depend on others and who may feel that they have become a burden to society and their loved ones.

This proposal can result in a dangerous shift in medical ethics, where doctors become instruments of death instead of defenders of life. Moreover, in a culture that views death as a solution, there have already been cases where doctors decided not to save the life of a person with a disability because they believed that the person had no acceptable quality of life – thus ignoring the person’s right to life.

Id-Dar tal-Providenza believes that so-called safeguards are deceptive, as they rarely remain in place over time, as seen in Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, and Canada. In Canada, assisted suicide occurs in the case of people with disabilities or mental health conditions, while in the Netherlands, parents may choose to end the lives of babies born with disabilities.

Furthermore, id-Dar tal-Providenza considers the consultation period to be too short, as it does not allow for a mature and informed discussion and does not provide for meaningful participation by organisations that represent persons with disabilities and their families.

Id-Dar tal-Providenza insists that Malta must continue to uphold the value of life and work towards providing better care and support. This can be done by investing in high-quality and holistic palliative care, improving services for persons with disabilities and those with mental health difficulties, and promoting the belief that every life is worthy of being lived.

On Saturday, 10th May, id-Dar tal-Providenza together with the Malta Catholic Action organised a mass for the repose of the soul of Mgr Mikiel Azzopardi, the Home’s founder, on the occasion of the 38th anniversary of his death. He died on May 13th 1987 aged 77 years.

The mass was celebrated by Fr Reuben Gauci, the Ecclesiastical Assistant of the Youth Catholic Action (ZAK), assisted by Mgr Martin Micallef, Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza. In attendance for this mass were the Home’s residents, employees and volunteers, the Directorate of the Malta Catholic Action and the residents of Casa Leone, a Church’s home for the elderly in St. Julians.

In his homily, Fr Martin spoke of the qualities of the Good Shepherd and said that these were reflected in persons that were gifted to us by God amongst whom were the lamented Pope Francis, our new Pope, Leo XIV and Mgr Mikiel Azzopardi. Mgr Micallef pointed out that we are all called to be shepherds according to God’s heart and according to our particular calling and all the environments that we live and work in.

At the end of the mass, the President of the Malta Catholic Action, Marija Cachia, thanked the residents and employees of Id-Dar tal-Providenza for their welcome, as well as the Casa Leone residents who together with those responsible for the administration of the home and the Diocesan office for the Homes of the Elderly accepted the invitation to attend. This is an annual appointment not only as a sign of respect for Mgr Mikiel Azzopardi but also with respect for those he represents. As Fr Martin explained in his homily Mgr Azzopardi always put the Gospel in practice especially with respect towards the dignity of every person from conception to natural death.

Pope Leo XIV reminded us that God loves everyone unconditionally. Maybe these are words that we as a society need to continually remind ourselves of.

Over the past 2 weeks, students from all schools within St. Benedict’s College took part in a variety of fun and meaningful activities promoting sustainable mobility, physical activity, and overall wellbeing – all centred around the use of the bike and managed to raise €5,200 for Id-Dar tal-Providenza with the help of everyone’s generosity and participation.

Ms Roberta Argento, College Principal, said that these events brought together students, educators and the wider community in a shared effort to support a great cause. She said this merited a huge well done to all students, staff and families for making this initiative such a success.

On behalf of the residents of Id-Dar tal-Providenza, Mgr Martin Micallef, Director of the Home, thanked the Principal of St. Benedict’s College, teachers, student and families for their generous donation and solidarity.

Schools within St Benedict College are the Birżebbuġa Primary, Għaxaq Primary, Gudja Primary, Kirkop Primary, Safi Primary, The Leli Camilleri Żurrieq Primary, Mqabba Primary, Qrendi Primary, the Ħal Kirkop Secondary and Middle School and the Helen Keller Resource Centre.