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Id-Dar tal-Providenza commemorated the memory of Cardinal Prospero Grech, a month from his death with a Mass in the chapel of the Home in Siġġiewi that was attended by his relatives together with the residents. The Mass was concelebrated by Fr Martin Micallef, Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza and Fr Lino Cardona SJ.

Archbishop Alfred Xuereb, Apostolic Nuncio for Korea and Mongolia and a close associate of the Cardinal whilst at the Vatican, was asked to send a short eulogy to be read during the Mass. This is what Mgr. Xuereb said: “This provides me with a good occasion so that, nothwithstanding the distance between us, I join with you spiritually to offer prayers of sacrifice for his soul and at the same time to give a last farewell to a special person that honouored the Church of Christ and our country.”

“I will treasure forever my knowing him as a joyful religious priest, who chose to leave everything behind and follow Christ. His refined humour was a clear evidence of his unity with God and his faithful adherance to the promises he made when he joined the Augustinian Order.”

“Thousands of students benefitted from his teaching together with those who studied his writings full of wisdom that he published duing his academic office. His religious friends, with whom he lived in their community in Rome, also benefitted from his wise advice and gentle manner. The parishioners of St. Anne’s also benfitted from his beautiful meditations that he used to offer during Lent. The Holy See greatly benefitted from his valid collaboration as consultant to the Congregation of Faith. Other beneficiaries were the Augustinian Institute and the Pontifical Biblical Commission of which he was an active member. The College of Cardinals, of which he was part of when Pope Benedict XVI appointed him Cardinal in February 2012 and particularly when he was asked to offer the meditation on the opening of the last conclave in March 2013, also was a beneficary. And the last but not least who benefitted from Cardinal Prospero Grech were all those who had the good fortune to get to know him and who will continue to foster his presence.”

“When the Lord called hin to give him the merited prize, we were deeply saddened because we lost a friend who had enriched us with his great qualities. I kind of see him looking down from heaven on the people of Malta and Gozo and exhorting all of us to take courage because now we can also benefit from his intercessions to God so that we keep strong in our faith and remain a nation united in brotherly love.”

Cardinal Prospero Grech died on 30th December, soon after he celebrated his 94th birthday on Christmas Eve. Like his mother Amelia and his father Vincent, both benefactors of the Home, he was also a benefactor and friend of Id-Dar tal-Providenza. He had paid two visits since he had become Cardinal.

Next May there is going to be a pilgrimage to Fatima in Portugal which will be led by Fr Martin Micallef, Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza, on the occasion of the first apparition of Our Lady. We are highlighting a detailed programme for those of you who might be interested to go on the trip which will be in aid of the Home.

Fatima Pilgrimage details

Id-Dar tal-Providenza is mourning the death of Cardinal Prospero Grech that was announcded yesterday. Like his mother Amelia and his father Vincent, both benefactors of the Home, he was also a benefactor a friend of the Siġġiewi Home. He paid two visits since he became Cardinal, the first one in August 2012. On Christmas Eve, ardinal Grech celebrated his 94th birthday.
Fr Prospero Grech, an Augustinian Friar, was appointed Cardinal by Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI in February of 2012.
Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna, Gozo Bishop Mario Grech and Auxiliary Bishop Joseph Galea-Curmi offered their condolences to the relatives of Cardinal Prospero Grech and to the Augustinian community. They alsio encouraged the faithful to keep him in their prayers.
May the Lord give him eternal rest.

Details were given on the 24th edition of the Feast of Generosity that takes place every New Year’s Day. It is organised primarily to raise funds so that id-Dar tal-Providenza can continue to provide and improve on the services it offers. Fr Martin Micallef, Director of the Home, gave details during a press conference held this morning (Tuesday, 17th December 2019)

Fr Martin announced that Id-Dar tal-Providenza made the important step to get the necessary licence for the operation of every home it has as requested of it by the Social Care Standards Authority (SCSA) that was set up by a Legal Act last year. By having this licence, Id-Dar tal-Providenza shows its commitment lo protect and improve on the dignity, security and social care of its residents and of all those that use its services. The Home is also registered with the Office of thhe Commissioner for Voluntary Organisations (VO 1066) so that the general public will be assured that the Home operates in a transparent and fully accountable way.

As to projects planned for next year, Fr Martin mentioned the opening of a new home in the community of Balluta; the refurbishment and installation of a new lift at Dar Żerniq in Siġġiewi; refurbishment of the four flats in Villa Papa Giovanni and a specialised training course for management and staff by a foreign professional on “Difficult Behaviours”.

The Feast of Generosity kicks off at 9.00am with a Mass celebrated by Archbishop Mgr. Charles J. Scicluna in the Home’s chapel. Focus will then be on the main stage under the big tent where there will be a spectacle of entertainment and interviews with various personalities who visit the Home during the day. Under the big tent, there will be volunteersw to receive donations from the public. All visitors to the Home will be given a receipt for every donation made.

On the occasion of the year when the Church will be commemorating the hundred anniversary of the birth of St. John Paul II, during the day in the chapel  there will be a relic with a piece of gauze with the Saint’s blood of when he was shot in St Peter’s Square by Mehmet Ali Ağca on May 13th, 1981. This relic was donated to the Home by a Maltese nun that assisted the Pope when he was recovering at the Policlinico Gemelli.

The live auction of works of art kindly donated by Maltese and foreign artists that was going to take place later on this week at the foyer of the Parliament of Malta in Valletta, has been postponed for April of next year. However, during the Feast of Generosity on New Year’s day, the public will still have the opportunity to see the works of art that will be exhibited in the main hall of the Home.

For the benefit of those who will be visiting Id-Dar tal-Providenza, there will be a park-and-ride service between 3.00pm and 9.00pm from San Niklaw street, (the old runway). For those unable to make it, the whole telethon, that ends around midnight, will be relayed ‘live’ on the main television stations. Donations may be made at the Home in Siġġiewi or by phone as follows:

€10 Donation             –       516 02 012

€15 Donation             –        517 02 013

€25 Donation            –        518 02 014

SMS € 7 Donation    –        506 18 922

Mr Oliver Scicluna, Chairperson of the Commission for the Rights of Persons with Disabillity and the company Camilleri & Cuschieri Consulting Engineers, represented by Mr Charles Cuschieri, co-founder of the of the company, are the winners of this years’ Mons. Mikiel Azzopardi Award.

This was announced by Fr Martin Micallef, Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza, during the annual concert by the band of the Armed Forces of Malta that took place on Friday (6th December) at the Metropolitan Cathedral of St. Paul in Mdina in aid of the Siġġiewi Home on the occasion of the International Day for Persons with Disability.

This Award, that was launched in 1955, is given every year in recognition of the voluntary contribution by persons in the disability sector in Malta and Gozo as well as persons and entities that help Id-Dar tal-Providenza in its work.

Oliver Scicluna was appointed Chairperson of the National Commisskion for Persons with Disability in March 2014. Presently he is serving on various councils and boards on the national level. He is also Vice Chairperson of the Foundation for the Accessibility of Information Technology. He served as Chairperson of the Action Committee for a Just Society, which was set up to give advice at the preparation stage of the National Policy about Disability.

In June 2016, Oliver was appointed as the first Commissioner for the Rights of Persons with Disability.

Camilleri & Cuschieri Consulting Engineers, a company gthat provide consultancy services in the engineering sectir, was established in 1979 by the late Eng. Albert G. Camilleri and Eng. Charles Cuschieri and this year it is commemorating its 40th Anniversary.

The association of Camilleri & Cuschieri with Id-Dar tal-Providenza took off when Mgr. Lawrence Gatt was appointed Director of the Home in 1987. Since then, the company chose to support the Home with professional help as part of its Corporate Social Responsibility.

In 2012, Eng. Cuschieri was also given the “Excellence for Leadership Award” by the Malta Chamber of Engineers. He is also a Fellow of the Institution of Engineering and Technology of the United Kingdom.

The concert by the band of the Armed Forces of Malta was under the distinguished patronage of the President of Malta, H.E. Dr George Vella who was accompanied by Mrs. Vella. In a short concluding speech, Dr Vella said we talk a lot about dignity but persons with disabilities always had dignity it was the population in general that deprived them of their dignity because of its attitudes towards them. Thank God this attitude has changed through legislation and education so that persons with disability can now truly have their respect, dignity and rights.

The special address of the evening on the occasion of the International Day for Persons with Disability was by Mr Michael Debattista, himself a blind person since his early twenties.