Commemorating the thirtieth anniversary of the death of Mgr Mikiel Azzopardi, the founder of “the oasis of Christian charity”

Catholic Action members, residents and friends of Id-Dar tal-Providenza attended a Eucharistic Celebration at the Home’s chapel to commemorate the thirtieth anniversary of the death of Mons Mikiel Azzopardi. Dun Mikiel, as he was popularly referred to, was born in Valletta on February 10th, 1910 and died on May 13th, 1987. This Catholic Action initiative started eight years ago and has since become an annual event.

In a short message from Prague, where Fr Martin Micallef, Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza, is taking part in a European meeting on the pastoral work with deaf persons, appealed for more prayers so that the Lord would continue to bless the work being done at the Home as well as for the beatification and canonisation process of Mgr Azzopardi so that we might finally have the miracle to confirm the holiness of this priest, a huge benefactor of the Maltese society. Fr Martin said that Malta and Gozo are forever grateful towards the Malta Catholic Action that created what Dun Mikiel used to love to refer to as the oasis of Christian charity.

The eucharistic celebration was led by Fr Reuben Gauci, Ecclesiastical Assistant of the Catholic Action Youth Movement ŻAK. In his homily, Fr Reuben referred to Dun Mikiel as the one who used to look at each and every person with great love when he was in the education sector, then in the Malta Catholic Action (MCA) and later at Id-Dar tal-Providenza.

At the end of the celebration, Josef Debono, the President of the MCA addressed the congregation and described Id-Dar tal-Providenza as the social soul of Malta.

Those present then gathered around Dun Mikiel’s grave for a moment of reflection and prayer.
Next year, Id-Dar tal-Providenza will be commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of when on the 11th January 1968, Villa Mons Gonzi welcomed its first residents as well as the fiftieth anniversary since the Sisters of Charity started giving their invaluable service to the residents of the Home.

This post is also available in: Maltese