“Dun Mikiel Azzopardi truly had a big heart”
Mgr Frans Abdilla, the Ecclesiastical Assistant of the Malta Catholic Action, celebrated mass in the chapel of Id-Dar tal-Providenza on the occasion of the 37th anniversary of the death of Dun Mikiel Azzopardi, the Home’s founder. Mgr Abdilla was assisted by Fr Martin Micallef, Director of the Home. Amongst those who attended the celebration, together with the residents and employees, were the General President of the Malta Catholic Action, Ms. Marija Cachia, as well as members of its General Directorate and other members.
In his homily, Mgr Abdilla described Dun Mikiel Azzopardi as having a heart bigger than his body. He pointed out how Dun Mikiel started sharing his heart with all the Maltese. Mgr Abdilla reminisced the time when he was still a child and used to listen to him on Rediffusion relayed in his class every Friday explaining the Sunday’s Gospel. He also remembers his grandmother listening regularly to his ‘Is-Siegħa tal-Morda’ programme every Sunday. Then there was the dream about Id-Dar tal-Providenza and the one who made it happen had a heart bigger than his body, because his heart was full of love and we are still benefitting of this great love called Id-Dar tal-Providenza.
Following the mass, Mgr Abdilla blessed Dun Mikiel’s grave located in the yard of Villa Papa Giovanni.
Dun Mikiel Azzopardi, who for many years was also the Ecclesiastical Assistant of the Malta Catholic Action, founded Id-Dar tal-Providenza in 1965 to offer residency to persons with disability who for some reason needed this service. He died at the Siġġiewi Home on May 13th, 1987.
