Festa ta’ Ġenerożità raises €1,556,453 for Id-Dar tal-Providenza

Notwithstanding the cold temperatures and isolated showers in certain places of the island, for the people of Malta and Gozo the first day of the year was again a show of generosity towards Id-Dar tal-Providenza, an expression of solidarity by donating €1,556,543 during Festa ta’ Ġenerożità.

At the end of the televised marathon, Mgr. Martin Micallef, Director of the Home augered that the solidarity shown towards Id‑Dar tal‑Providenza on the first day of the new year will continue throughout the year with all those in our Maltese society who need support.

On again was the art auction – paintings, sculptures and ceramics – donated by various Maltese and foreign artists. Once again everything, including the bidding, was online and the sale of the works of art raised €49,229.

The Hon. Michael Falzon, Minister for Social Policy and Childrens’ Rights who represented the Prime Minister Dott. Robert Abela, donated €25,000 on behalf of the Maltese government from the Social Causes Fund.

As has happened every year, an appreciable number of parishes in Malta and Gozo organised special collections on new year’s eve and new year’s day that were then presented to Id-Dar tal-Providenza on behalf of the parish communities. Gozo parishes collected €41,560.

This year’s Festa ta’ Ġenerożità was broadcast from under the big tent purposely set up in the Home’s parking lot in Siġġiewi. It started off with a mass celebrated by H.G. The Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna in the Home’s chapel assisted by Mgr Martin Micallef, Episcopal Vicar for Diaconia and Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza and the Siġġiewi Parish Archpriest Fr Josef Mifsud. Two youngsters, Alexia Vella and Max Prasel Caruana, delivered the usual traditional Christmas homily focused on the precious announcement of the birth of Christ.

In his homily, Archbishop Scicluna appealed that on this first day of the new year we should be a blessing towards each other and that we look over each other with compassion and love which are so lacking in our world today.