Volleyball Marathon 2022

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After an absence of two years due to the pandemic, Dar tal-Providenza is this year bringing back the Volleyball Marathon in aid of the Home. This was announced by Fr Martin Micallef, director of Dar tal-Providenza, during a press briefing during which details of the 12th edition of the Marathon were given.

The Marathon is once again taking place at the Home’s carpark in Siġġiewi between Friday, 1st July and Sunday, 3rd July, 2022. The President of Malta, H.E. Dr George Vella will officially inaugurate the games on Friday at 6.00pm. 40 players spread between 5 teams will be playing volleyball for a total of 53 hours until midnight on Sunday. Every evening there will be musical entertainment on the main stage, food stalls and games for kids. The Marathon will also be broadcast live on the main local TV stations as well as on the website and Facebook page of Dar tal-Providenza.

Fr Martin referred to the COVID-19 pandemic and said that these were difficult times indeed but, in spite of all this, everything was done to ease as much as humanly possible the effects of isolation the residents had to go through. He said that in the last two years most of the fundraising events became inexistent and now that we are back to normality, this Marathon is headlining the calendar of fundraising events that are so necessary for the Home to continue offering residential services of the highest quality.

Fr Martin also announced that the next few months will see the beginning of an ambitious renovation project involving four flats in Villa Papa Giovanni in Siġġiewi, a project that had to be shelved because of the pandemic. He encouraged the Maltese public to drop by at the carpark to support the players, who during this Marathon will be making huge personal sacrifices, and to also help Dar tal-Providenza by making a donation.

Emmanuel Zammit, the Chairperson of the Volleyball Marathon committee, said that besides the 40 players who will be the main protagonists of this Marathon, there will be another 200 volunteers helping out during the event. He thanked all the sponsors especially Bank of Valletta, the main sponsor of the Marathon, the local TV stations who will be relaying the event and all those who in one way or another will be seeing that the Marathon is a success.

The public may make a donation by calling the following listed phone numbers, by using the BOV Mobile Banking or PayPal or by using the Home’s online banking accounts with APS Bank, BOV, HSBC, Lombard Bank and BNF Bank. For more information kindly visit our website : www.sabihlitaghti.org.

€10         5160 2011

€15         5170 2012

€25         5180 2013

€50         5190 2070

€100       5130 2044

Pledge Line: 2146 3686

BOV Mobile  7932 4834

Government and Dar tal-Providenza renew financial agreement for Dar Akkwarell.

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Photo: DOI Jason Borg

Government and Dar tal-Providenza have signed a €350,000 agreement spread over three years for the daily operation of Dar Akkwarell in Qawra. An agreement that the Minister for Inclusion, Voluntary Organisations and Consumer Rights, Julia Farrugia Portelli described as the seal of the excellent relations existing between Government and the Home.

The Director of Dar tal-Providenza, Fr Martin Micallef said that this agreement renewal is an assurance for persons with disability to have an opportunity to live independlty as much as possible.

The CEO of Aġenzija Sapport, Oliver Scicluna said that this agreement confirms the close relationship there is between Government and the Siġġiewi Home that provides support to so many persons with disability and sees that they too have a voice.

The agreement was signed by Mrs Nancy Caruana, Permanent Secretary at the Ministry, Mr Oliver Scicluna for Aġenzija Sapport and Fr Martin Micallef for Dar tal-Providenza.

Dar Akkwarell was officially opened on November 22nd 2012 by the Archbishop Emeritus, Mgr, Pawl Cremona OP. Its residents are persons with physical disabilities and they have all the support they need, It is one of four homes in the communities of Siġġiewi, Birkirkara and Żurrieq. Another home is expected to open its doors in Balluta in the next few months.

 

Apex Group employees volunteer their time at Dar tal-Providenza.

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On Saturday, 21st May 2022, a sizeable number of employees of Apex Group spent half a day helping out at Dar tal-Providenza. Some of them helped in the kitchen, others in the laundry whilst others washed the corridor windows.

Fr Martin Micallef, Director of Dar tal-Providenza, also thanked the Apex Group and their employees for their generous donation of €1,000 together with other items  useful to the Home. He praised their commitment and  show of solidarity by helping out with chores that are ongoing at the Home and for which every helping hand is appreciated.

The Apex Group is an international company in the financial sector. They have been operating in Malta for the last 14 years and have 130 workers in their employment.

Well done Krisstian and Ivan

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Id-Dar tal-Providenza congratulates Krisstian Gregory and Ivan Mangion, residents at Id-Dar for their success in swimming during the Special Olympics Invitational Games 2022 held in Malta.  Krisstian won a gold medal while Ivan won silver. During the Special Olympics, 192 Maltese athletes won a medal out of which 65 were gold, 60 silver and 67 bronze. Krisstian and Ivan were  among the 17 Maltese athletes who won a medal in swimming.

All the best to Mr Oliver Scicluna and thank you to Mrs. Ruth Sciberras

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Id-Dar tal-Providenza wishes all the best to Mr Oliver Scicluna on his appointment as the new Chief Executive of Aġenzija Sapport within the Ministry for Inclusion, Voluntary Organisations and Consumer Rights.

In his new post, Mr Scicluna, will be bringing with him a wealth of knowledge and experience in his involvement with the disability sector. His new work will surely ensure that the services offered by Aġenzija Sapport will continue to improve the quality of life of persons with disability using them. We, therefore, assure him of our total support.

Id-Dar tal-Providenza also wishes to thank Mrs Ruth Sciberras, the ex-Chief Executive of Aġenzija Sapport for her work within the Agency and for the cooperation she afforded us during our mutual involvement in the sector.

Dun Mikiel Azzopardi remembered on the 35th anniversary of his death

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“Mgr Mikiel Azzopardi, whose 35th anniversary of his death, is being remembered today, 13th of May, will remain for us a model for the love he showed towards persons with disabilities. He also showed courage. Courage strengthened with a tremendous faith in God’s providence and Dar tal-Providenza is proof of this”. This was the message conveyed by Mgr. George Frendo O.P., Archbishop of Tirana in Albania, during a commemorative mass for Dun Mikiel.

Archbishop Frendo was assisted by Fr Martin Micallef, Director, and Fr Trevor Fairclough, Spiritual Director of Dar tal-Providenza. Also present were the residents and employees. For the past two years, this commemorative mass was not held because of the restrictions in place due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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 35 years ago.

In his homily, Mgr Frendo also addressed the Home’s employees and told them that their work wasn’t simply a job but it was really and truly a mission and a mission of love. He encouraged them to look at the face of every resident of the Home and see in it the face of Christ. This way their work wouldn’t just be an act of love, but would be, first of all, an act of faith. Faith in Christ, who in the Gospel told his apostles that he was the way that will lead them to truth and life.

This was the first official visit of Archbishop Emeritus, George Frendo at Dar tal-Providenza. He was shown around Dun Mikiel’s museum adjacent to the chapel, the therapeutic pool, the St Isidore Agriculture Centre, the SPRED Centre as well as the multisensory rooms.

Melita Foundation sponsors drip irrigation system for Id-Dar tal-Providenza’s olive grove

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The Melita Foundation has committed to funding the drip irrigation system for the olive grove located at Id‑Dar tal‑Providenza’s garden. Id‑Dar tal‑Providenza provides residential services to persons with disabilities in a family‑like environment.

The grove, which was created through donations from various benefactors, is one of the most popular areas among residents at the property in Siġġiewi. Moreover, the olives produced by the olive trees are grinded and the produce is sold by the residents during folkloristic activities which are organised throughout the year in various localities in Malta.

Fr Martin Micallef, Director at Id‑Dar tal‑Providenza, said, “Our commitment has always been to promote the holistic personal development of all our residents, essential to which is spending time in nature. The space and tranquillity provided by our olive grove as well as the work they can do in it provides immeasurable benefits. It is great to know that thanks to The Melita Foundation, we no longer need to worry about the manual daily watering of more than 300 olive trees.”

Tanya Sammut‑Bonnici, Chairperson of The Melita Foundation, said, “For more than 50 years, Id‑Dar tal‑Providenza has provided outstanding support for people with disabilities. It has done this, thanks also to the support and generosity of thousands of Maltese which provides the organisation with the significant human and financial resources it needs to operate. Both Melita and The Melita Foundation have supported Id‑Dar tal‑Providenza’s work over the years and this latest support will help ensure residents continue to enjoy the peace, the beauty and other benefits which the olive grove offers.”

More information on The Melita Foundation is available at https://www.melitafoundation.org/

 

Monsignor Lawrence Gatt – 60 years of priesthood.

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Wednesday the 7th of April 2022, Mgr. Lawrence Gatt celebrates 60 years of priesthood. He was ordained priest by the then Archbishop of Malta, Mgr. Mikiel Gonzi at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta on the 7th April 1962.

Mgr. Gatt was born in Paola on the 7th of February 1937 to Olga nee Scicluna and Joseph. After primary school he studied at the Lyceum and in 1954 he entered the Archbishop’s Seminary to start his formation for the priesthood. He got his academic formation at the University of Malta where in 1958 he attained Bachelorship in Greek and Latin and in 1962 a Licenciate in Thrology. At the beginning of his pastoral ministry he was Vice-Rector of the Archbishop’s Seminary.

In 1977 he went back to the Archbishop’s Seminary, this time as Rector until June 27th 1987 when then Archbishop Ġużeppi Mercieca appointed him as Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza and he officially took office on July 1st 1987. He remained in this capacity for twenty-two years after which Archbishop Pawl Cremona O.P. appointed him Chancellor at the Curia.

During his tenure Villa Papa Luciani was inaugurated, Dar iż-Żerniq opened its doors in the community of Siggiewi and Villa Monsinjur Gonzi was rebuilt from scratch. Also under his watch, apart from improved support for the residents and respite services, the residents with intellectual disabilities started getting support to grow in their faith through symbolic catechesis with the support of the Glasgow based Agency SPRED, Special Religious Development.

In 2010, he was given the Dun Mikiel Azzopardi Award in appreciation for his work as Director of Dar tal-Providenza whilst on the 5th March 2017 the Siġġiewi Local Council presented him with the ‘Onorifiċenza Mertu Siġġiewi’.

Ad Multos Annos.

The reliquary of Our Lady of Tears of Siracuse, Sicily venerated at the Home’s chapel.

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Residents and support workers of Dar tal-Providenza had the privilege to take a few moments to pray in the presence of the reliquary of Our Lady of Tears of Siracuse in Sicily that was brought to the Home’s Chapel.

The reliquary is in Malta on the initiative of the Fraternity of the Virgin Mary of the Girdle at St.Catherine’s parish in Żejtun.

Support Worker Evelyn Borg passes away

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Dar tal-Providenza is deeply saddened by the passing away of Support Worker Evelyn Borg. Evelyn was a very committed worker at the Anġlu Kustodju Flat in Siġġiewi. She will be sorely missed.

On behalf of the residents and administration of Dar tal-Providenza our deepest condolences to the family.

Eternal rest grant unto her O Lord.