The St Paul Chamber Ensemble with another donation to Id-Dar tal-Providenza

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Last December, the St Paul Chamber Ensemble held a Christmas Concert at the St Anthony Church in Għajn Dwieli in aid of Id-Dar tal-Providenza. During these last few years the Ensemble, led by H.E. Chev Mro. Mark Agius, organised various fund-raising concerts in aid of the Siġġiewi Home.

Mro. Agius, together with members of the Orchestra Board, Mr Pierre Grech and Mr Christian Lewis, presented a cheque to Fr Martin Micallef, Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza, representing donations made at the concert.

Happy Birthday Sr Bernarda

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Fr Martin Micallef, Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza, celebrated a Mass of thanksgiving on the 80th birthday of Sr Bernarda, from the Sisters of Charity of St Joan Antide de Thouret, who has been giving dedicated service at the Siġġiewi Home for the last nineteen years. A number of relatives as well as residents, carers and support workers of the Home also attended.

After the Mass, Sr Bernarda was presented with gifts and a reception took place.

Over $9,000AUD raised in fundraising concert in aid of Id-Dar tal-Providenza

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Over $9,000AUD were raised in fundraising concert organised by The Friends of Providence House NSW group in aid of Id-Dar tal-Providenza. The Australian “Festa ta’ Ġenerożità”, combining fundraising and entertainment, was held at the La Vallette Social Centre in Blacktown on Sunday, 24th February 2019. The final sum raised will be presented to Fr Martin Micallef, Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza, at the start of the annual Volleyball Marathon which this year will be held on July 5th, 6th and 7th.

Special guests for the afternoon were Lawrence Buhagiar, Consul-General of Malta for NSW, Godfrey Sultana Vice President of La Vallette Social Centre and the group’s major sponsor, George Vella of Breakaway Travel, Blacktown.

This was the third fundraiser of its kind and the La Vallette Committee and volunteers are to be commended and thanked for their part in providing the use of their hall, which looked amazing. Another thank you goes to all the entertainers including the popular MCA Choir, for their professionalism and for offering their services for free. They all kept the capacity crowd entertained for over four hours!

The Friends of Providence House NSW, extend their appreciation and heartfelt thanks to all those who attended as well as to all the Sponsors, especially Breakaway Travel, Minchinberry Fruit Market, Zammit Ham & Bacon Curers, and Limestone Café at Schofields. The Voice of the Maltese E-Newsletter and community Radio Stations 2GLF and WOW FM are also acknowledged for their ongoing support.

(Report by Marisa Previtera)

The Maltese nation generous once again with Id-Dar tal-Providenza

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A record sum of €1,275,442 was raised during the New Year’s day Feast of Generosity organised  by Id-Dar tal-Providenza. The dry but rather cool  weather did not dampen the enthusiasm of the large crowds that made it to Siġġiewi during the day to make their donation under the big tent set up in the parking lot. Lapsi Road that leads to the Home is seldom this busy. As has now been the custom, various parishes in Malta and Gozo made special collections during church celebrations and presented them during the telethon.

The Director, Fr Martin Micallef, said that this year’s edition of the Feast of Generosity has once again shown the solidarity with and generosity of the Maltese people towards Id-Dar tal-Providenza. He said these funds will enable the Home to continue to provide a better quality of life for its residents.

The first official visitor was Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna who also celebrated Mass in the Home’s chapel. He encouraged all Maltese to continue respecting and defending the rights of persons with disability whilst also being generous towards the Dar tal-Providenza residents. He reminded everyone not to forget what St George Preca used to preach continuously that we need the Lord and there is no better way to do this than to appreciate more the Lord’s prayer.

Other visits during the day were made by the President of Malta, Mrs Marie Louise Coleiro Preca and her husband Edgar; Dr Chris Cardona, Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Business who stepped in for the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, Dr Adrian Delia, the Parliamentary Secretary for the Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Ageing, Anthony Agius Decelis; Archbishop Emeritus, Mgr Pawl Cremona OP and Auxiliary Bishop Mgr Joseph Galea Curmi. Members of Parliament from both sides of the House and representatives of constituted bodies also made it to Siġġiewi during the day and also took time to answer the phones.

€29,487  were raised from the auction of various works of arts kindly donated by ninety-eight Maltese and foreign artists. The auction took place for the first time at the Parliament Building foyer in Valletta. It was held on the Thursday 20th at the end of a seven day long exhibition that was officially inaugurated by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Dr Anġlu Farrugia. Works of art that were not auctioned off were on sale at their original price during the News Year’s Feast of Generosity.

The live television broadcast started at 9.00am with Holy Mass and continued till just after midnight when the total sum collected during the day was announced. TVM2, ONE TV and NET TV took part for long stretches of the 15-hour televised marathon. This included entertainment provided by the top singers and musicians on the island that managed to create a festive family atmosphere under the big tent.

Last-minute preparations for tomorrow’s Feast of Generosity in aid of Id-Dar tal-Providenza

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Last minute preparations are going on at the car park of id-Dar tal-Providenza in Siġġiewi for tomorrow’s Feast of Generosity in aid of the Home. The big tent that has been erected, will tomorrow be hosting a musical spectacle featuring the best local talent between 10.00am and midnight. Alongside the entertainment, a number of volunteers will be taking donations from the general public as well as answering the telephones. This fund-raising marathon will be broadcast ‘live’ on TVM2, ONE TV and NET TV. In the hall beside the chapel there will also be for sale various works of art donated by Maltese and foreign artists.

The Feast of Generosity will kick off with a Mass in the Home’s chapel celebrated by H.G. the Archbishop, Mgr Charles J. Scicluna at 9.00am. A number of distinguished personalities will be attending this activity during various times of the day including the President, H.E. Marie Louise Coleiro Preca, the Hon. Dr Chris Cardona representing the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon. Dr Adrian Delia as well as the Maltese Bishops.

For the benefit of those attending this activity under the big tent, there will be a park-and-ride service that leaves the road of the old San Niklaw runway. At 7.00pm  there will be another Mass celebrated in the chapel of the Home.

The Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza, Fr Martin Micallef, is encouraging Maltese and Gozitans to be generous once again with the Home so that it can continue to provide the best for the residents with total respect for their individuality and rights.

Those unable to make the drive to Siġġiewi to make their donations, will be able to use these phone numbers instead.

Donation  €10    –        516 02 012

Donation  €15    –        516 02 013

Donation  €25    –        516 02 214

SMS Donation  €7 –        506 18 922

Pledge Line     –        2146 2759

€2,426.76 from train rides around Siġġiewi

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Id-Dar tal-Providenza, with the help of the group Ħbieb tad-Dar, organized a ‘Train Ride’ for kids in St Nicholas Square in Siġġiewi from which €2,426.76 were raised. As in past years, judging from this year’s attendance and enthusiasm of the kids, the activity was an overall success. The train driver had to do twelve rides around the village.

The Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza, Fr Martin Micallef, thanked the whole team of the group Ħbieb tad-Dar as well as all the helpers. To help creating a festive atmosphere there were not one but two Father Christmases, the Bouncing Castle and face painting. Fr Martin ended by thanking all those, who again this year, made it to the square for the train ride in aid of Id-Dar tal-Providenza and issued an invitation for next year …… because “the train is already booked.”

Residents of Id-Dar tal-Providenza exchange Christmas greetings with the Bishops of Malta

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On Sunday 23 December, a number of residents of Id-Dar tal-Providenza accompanied by Fr Martin Micallef, Director of the Homes joined others to exchange Christmas greetings with the Bishops of Malta at the Archbishop’s Curia in Floriana.

Initiative at the Workplace Awards 2018

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The Maintenance Section at Id-Dar tal-Providenza has won the Teambased Initiative at the Workplace Awards 2018 whilst Mary Caruana, Kitchen Supervisor, won the Personal Initiative Award. Also nominated were the Warda Flat (Team) and Anna Marshall, Analisa Cutajar, Rita Vella and Maritess Nava (Personal).

The presentation of these awards was made during a reception for employees that took place on Tuesday, 11th December 2018 at the Limestone Heritage in Siġġiewi.

Mementos were also given to a number of employees. Mario Sciberras, Nicolette Ciappara and Raphaella Saliba on attaining 20 years of service with Id-Dar tal-Providenza whilst Mary Caruana, Mario Balzan, Francis X. Farrugia and Mary Cassar will be retiring soon.

Responsible Gaming Foundation’s workers carry out voluntary work at id-Dar tal-Providenza

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A group of workers from different sections working within the Responsible Gaming Foundation spent a full day carrying out voluntary work at id-Dar tal-Providenza in Siġġiewi.

The employees carried out various tasks such as general cleaning, washing windows and food preparation. The foundation organised the activity with the help of the Parliamentary Secretary for Financial Services, Digital Economy and Innovation as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility Programme.

The Parliamentary Secretary Hon. Silvio Schembri attended for the event as well where he met with Fr Martin Micallef, Director at Dar tal-Providenza, and also met with the Responsible Gaming Foundation’s staff. He thanked the staff for their healthy initiative and stated the importance of voluntary work in today’s society. Hon. Schembri visited and talked with various workers at Dar tal-Providenza, where he thanked them and Fr Martin Micallef for their precious work with people with disability on a daily routine.

On behalf of the residents, Fr Martin Micallef, Director of id-Dar tal-Providenza, thanked the staff of the Responsible Gaming Foundation for the voluntary work done and reminded everyone about the New Year’s Day fundraising event in aid of Dar tal-Providenza.

On the other hand Mr Shawn Zammit, Head of Operations at the RGF thanked the Parliamentary Secretary Hon. Silvio Schembri for his attendance for this social activity and Fr Micallef for his sterling work in helping person’s with disability.

Mr Speaker inaugurates exhibition of works of art to be auctioned off in aid of Id-Dar tal-Providenza

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“The story of Id-Dar tal-Providenza which was founded by Dun Mikiel Azzopardi on September 12th, 1965, although it dates back to fifty-three years ago, is also the story of a people and a nation.” This was said by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon. Dr Anġlu Farrugia when he officially opened an exhibition of works that will be auctioned off on the 20th of December in the foyer of the Parliament building in Valletta in aid of Id-Dar tal-Providenza.

The exhibition will be open every day between 9.00am and 8.00pm until the 20th when the auction starts at 7.00pm. Ninety-eight works of art were donated by Maltese and foreign artists. One can view the catalogue online on www.dtpauction.com.

In his welcome speech, Fr Martin Micallef, Director of the Home, said that during the three years that the exhibition had been held in the Parliament building, Id-Dar tal-Providenza benefited from around €100,000 from the sale of the works of art. He thanked Mr Speaker for so graciously offering the prestigious foyer to host the exhibits as well as for his accepting to have the auction done also in the foyer.