Archive for category: News

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.

“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.

This year’s Dun Mikiel Azzopardi Award went to Mgr PhIlip Calleja as Id-Dar tal-Providenza’s sign of recognition and appreciation of his work and support of the Siġġiewi Home. After the death of Dun Mikiel in May 1987, Mgr Calleja entrusted by then Archbishop Joseph Mercieca to organise the funeral and to take administer the Home until Mgr Lawrence Gatt was appointed Director.
This was announced by Fr Martin Micallef, Director of id-Dar tal-Providenza, during a concert that took place at the Mdina Cathedral, by the Band of the Armed Forces of Malta under the distinguished patronage of H.E. the President of the Republic, Marie Louise Coleiro Preca and H.G. the Archbishop, Mgr. Charles J. Scicluna.
Mgr Calleja was ordained priest on August 2nd, 1953. His first pastoral work was mainly with the children of Valletta. In 1956, then Archbishop Michael Gonzi appointed him as Deputy at the marriages; office at the Curia. It was literally a providential appointment for Id-Dar tal-Providenza.

In Malta, at that time, quite a number of Maltese young ladies got married to members of the British Services. Fr Philip knew all the Chaplains and when it was time for the Services tom let go of their barracks in Siġġiewi, one of them told him that the rest camp was to be transfer4red to Mellieħa. He also told him that if the Malta Church need the land, it should be applied for without delay. With Fr Philip’s initiative talks soon started so that the camp will be taken over by the Malta Catholic Action and, for the first two years, it was used a summer camp for children. In the meantime, action was set in motion for Dun Mikiel Azzopardi to use the place as the base for Id-Dar tal-Providenza.

Today, at 90 years, Mgr Philip Calleja is the Archdeacon of the Metropolitan Cathedral and attends regularly Dar l-Emigrant, home of the Malta Emigrants’ Commission to help, in every possible way, those that sought his help.

Earlier, Fr Martin Micallef congratulated the President, Marie Louise Coleiro on her birthday. He emphasised that it was wonderful that in the coming feats of Christmas and New Year, besides buying each other gifts, we also put our hands in our pocket and think of those in our society that need some sort of support to be able to live like first class citizens. Fr Martin added: “The generosity of the Maltese people is a beautiful characteristic that distinguishes us but I beg that we do not help financially out of pity for these persons, but because we genuinely wish them to enjoy a quality of life that respects their dignity as befits everyone. I therefore appeal to all Maltese and Gozitans alike to help as much as we can Id-Dar tal-Providenza, the Malta Community Chest Fund and other organisations that work in the social sector so that we will truly have a just scoiety.”

The main address was made by Alishia Xuereb Jones, a parent of an autistic person. She shared with the audience a few thoughts so that in our country we will have awareness on the condition of autism and how we can give these persons affected by it the support they need so that their rights are safeguarded. More awareness of the rights of persons with disability helps people to drop all prejudices and obtacles that do not guarantee a true integration and equality to these persons.

In a short address, Auxiliary Bishop, Mgr Joseph Galea Curmi congratulated Mgr Phlip Calleja for being honoured with the Mons. Mikiel Azzopardi Award and praised him for his long years of hard work that not only symbolises his character but also epitomised the ongoing commitment of the Maltese Church towards the wellbeing of the needy and the emarginated in our society.

The Band of the Armed Forces of Malta was under the direction of Mro Capt. Jonathan Borg. The musical programme included works by Tobani, Tschaikovsky, Mozart, Arnold & Brown, Bach, Rossi, Hahn, Franck and Jenkins. The AFM Band was accompanied by the Coro Bel Canto.

Id-Dar tal-Providenza gives out the Dun Mikiel Azzopardi Award every year in recognition and appreciation of voluntary work done by persons or organisations with persons with disability in Malta and Gozo. The Award was launched for the first time in 1995 to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the founding of Id-Dar tal-Providenza. (A list of previous winners of past editions may be seen hereunder).

The concert was organized Id-Dar tal-Providenza with the co-operation of the Metropolitan Cathedral Chapter.

A group of 2O employees from different sections working within the Planning Authority spent a full day carrying out voluntary work at Id-Dar tal-Providenza in Siggiewi.

The employees carried out various tasks such as general cleaning, laundry work, washing cars and food preparation. The Authority also donated the sum of €3000 which was collected from a fund raising event to support id-Dar tal-Providenza in its sterling work with persons with disability. The Authority’s Flimkien Fund Committee organised this initiative with the support of the Management as part of PA’s Corporate Social Responsibility programme.

On behalf of the residents, Fr Martin Micallef, Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza, thanked Management and staff of the Planning Authority for the voluntary work done as well as for the donation made.