Archive for category: News

83 persons in total have applied  to take on the Volleyball Marathon challenge in aid of id-Dar tal-Providenza that this year will take place between Friday, 30th June and Sunday, 2nd July 2023.

Presently, they are all undergoing intensive training at the grounds of St Clare College Pembroke Seconday School. This will culminate on the weekend of June 17 and 18 with a 24-hour marathon session of volleyball. It will lead to the final choice, according to established criteria, of 40 players who will then be participating in the 12th edition of the Volleyball Marathon.

As in past years, the Marathon will be held at the Dar tal-Providenza car park in Siġġiewi.

Photo: Raycine Farrugia

“Dun Mikiel responded with his heart full of love to bring into the open the persons with disability and provide them with a home: Id-Dar tal-Providenza.”  Fr Frans Abdilla, Ecclesiastical Assistant of the Malta Catholic Action (MCA), said this during his homily whilst concelebrating mass to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the death of Dun Mikiel, the founder of the Home. Fr Abdilla said a response shouldn’t be given with an argument but with the heart. This is what Dun Mikiel did when he responded to the Lord’s call to see that persons with disability find their place in society in order to participate fully with total respect of their rights and dignity.

For the mass, that was held at the Home’s chapel in Siġġiewi, Fr Abdilla was assisted by Fr Martin Micallef, Director of Dar tal-Providenza and Fr Bernard Micallef, Spiritual Director of the Social Assistance Secretariat of the Catholic Action. Also present were representatives of the MCA including Marija Cachia, its General President, and Mary Anne Muscat, General Vice-President, as well as the Home’s residents and employees.

Those present then gathered around Dun Mikiel’s grave for a moment of reflection and prayer and a blessing by Fr Abdilla.

Mgr Mikiel Azzopardi, who founded the Home in 1965, was born in Valletta on the 10th of February and died on May 13th 1987, exactly 36 years ago today.

Id-Dar tal-Providenza bids a sad farewell to Mr John Micallef, ex-administrator of the Home who passed away on Wednesday, 3rd May 2023. His funeral took place on May 5th at the Our Lady of Mt. Carmel church in Mdina.

Mr John Micallef, son of Carmelo and Imelda née Caruana was born in Qormi on the 11th of January 1943. He was the eldest of nine siblings. At the age of 11, he moved to Gżira with his family.

At the end of his studies, John used his training to help others in need. He went abroad and amongst others he was Director of the Family Centre within the Department of Social Assistance in London and later in Ontario, Canada. His work was mainly with families in distress.

When he came back to Malta, he gave a helping hand to Mgr. Mikiel Azzopardi and in 1980 he started working at Id-Dar tal-Providenza. In 1984, he was appointed as the third administrator of the Home, a position he held for a whole 20 years until he retired in 2004. He continued helping the Home even after his retirement.

He was also the President of the Third Carmelite Order (Lunzjata Branch), President and founder of the Circolo Cultural Hispanico Maltes, member of the Migrants and Refugees Commission as well as a member of the Malta Philatelic Society.

John was married to Victoria née Moreno and had three children, John Charles, Imelda and Paquita.

Our sincere condolences go to his family. Lord grant him eternal rest. Amen.

The Egyptian Ambassador to Malta, H.E. Khaled Ansi, paid an official visit to Id-Dar tal-Providenza in Siġġiewi. He was welcomed by the Director of the Home, Fr Martin Micallef, and met the residents and also had the opportunity to see for himself some of the services the Home offers including the therapeutic pool and the St. Isidore Agriculture Centre.

In an address of welcome Fr Martin thanked the Egyptian Ambassador for his visit.  On his part, His Excellency praised the work done by the Home with persons with disability.

The Leader of the Opposition and the Nationalist Party Dott. Bernard Grech  paid a visit to Id-Dar tal-Providenza in Siġġiewi. He was welcomed by the Director of the Home, Fr Martin Micallef, management and residents and had the opportunity to see for himself some of the services the Home offers including the therapeutic pool and the St. Isidore Agriculture Centre. Two residents offered gifts to Dott. Grech including some products that are produced at the Agriculture Centre.

In an address of welcome Fr Martin thanked Dott. Grech for his visit and explained the work done at Id-Dar tal-Providenza. He praised the fact that different governments contributed to the betterment of this sector and augured that the Nationalist Party will continue to work in favour of the rights of persons with disablity.

On his part, Dott. Grech said that the Nationalist Party appreciates the commitment of every government in all that has to do with residential services and in favour of the rights of persons with disability but believes that there is always more that can be done in this sector. The Nationalist Party believes in the financing of these homes and in the principle that they should be in the heart of the community as much as possible. He also thanked the residents for the welcome they gave him and also thanked all the employees for their commitment.