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In his address of welcome, Fr Martin Micallef, Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza, announced that since Parliament started hosting this art exhibition eight years ago, the auctions that followed raised €226,542 for the Siġġiewi Home.

He thanked the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Hon. Dr Anġlu Farrugia who offered the Parliament building for the Home to put up another exhibition that this year was presenting to the public 108 works of art by well known artists but also others who were exhibiting their work for the first time like Tonio Mercieca, who only paints with his mouth and who is also a resident in one  of the community homes for persons with disability. This is Tonio’s first go at exhibiting his works of art.

In his speech at the exhibition’s inauguration, the Speaker praised the priceless work continuously done by the Siġġiewi Home in our society and said that the Home is not only a shelter for persons with disability but is also a symbol of the love and solidarity of our people.

The Speaker said that this artistic exhibition is a shining example of the genuine spirit of unity and generosity as the contributions by artists and the public’s support uplift the Home’s mission. Whilst thanking Fr Martin for his continuous commitment, the Speaker expressed his confidence that this initiative will be a huge success and will show once again the strength of the solidarity of the Maltese and Gozitan public.

The auction of these works of art will be held online on new year’s day during the Festa ta’ Ġenerożità telethon and will be in the hands of Belgravia Auctions. The exhibits will then be in the hall at id-Dar tal-Providenza when the auction will be taking place.

Fr Martin said that thanks to the full support of Maltese society, id-Dar tal-Providenza will remain committed in improving the quality of life  of the residents and the services it offers as well as seeing that residents will enjoy inclusion and will participate even further in the life of our communities.

He ended by encouraging the Maltese and Gozitan people to continue with its support on January 1^st during Festa ta’ Ġenerożità which will again be taking place in the Home’s Siġġiewi car park as well as with the auction.

Tony Sammut, volunteer at Id-Dar tal-Providenza and various other organisations, won the Premju Nazzjonali Volontier tas-Sena 2024. He said he wanted to dedicate this award to his mother, father and Id-Dar tal-Providenza. The prize was given during the ceremony for the various awards as part of the Premju Nazzjonali Volontier tas-Sena 2024 organised by the Maltese Council for the Voluntary Sector.

Mgr. Victor Grech was given the Special National Award for Voluntary work in 2024. Anthony Gatt, Director of Caritas Malta, received this award on behalf of Mgr. Grech who was indisposed.

In a short recorded message, Mgr Grech said: “I regret not being able to be physically with you. I thank the Maltese Council for the Voluntary Sector for this special award. The voluntary sector was and will always be dear to my heart because I always believed in it. It was thanks to a small group of volunteers that the services within Caritas started in aid of persons in need. I encourage you to keep fostering and working in this sector so that it is recognised and appreciated. I invite all those who can commit themselves to an organisation or to help some vulnerable person to do so. Through volunteering you receive more than what you give.”

Other awards given were:

• Dylan Farrugia volunteer with the Foundation for the Conservation of the Maltese Bee who was awarded with the Premju Volontier Żagħżugħ/a for 2024;
• Victoria Fenech volunteer within The Malta Rabbit Club was given the Premju Victor Calvagna għat-Tifel/Tifla Volontier for 2024;
• The Rise Foundation was awarded with the Special National Prize for the Special Project in the Voluntary Sector for 2024;
• The Equal Partners Foundation was awarded the prize for the Voluntary Organisation of the Year 2024.

At the parish church of Żejtun on Friday evening, Dun Anġ Seychell was posthumously given this year’s Mons. Mikiel Azzopardi Award for his huge contribution to the sector for persons with disability. This was announced by Fr Martin Micallef, Director of id‑Dar tal‑Providenza, as part of the annual concert by the band of the Armed Forces of Malta. Dun Anġ, a priest who hailed from Żejtun, dedicated his life towards others especially persons with disability whom he respected. So much so that he offered his own house for them to live in. With the founding of Fondazzjoni Nazareth, Dun Anġ ensured that the residential services he started offering will still be on offer for years to come.

The Mons. Mikiel Azzopardi Award was presented by H.G. the Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna to Ms. Muriel Grech, Director of Capital Projects at the Fondazzjoni Nazareth after Etienne Schembri, presenter for the evening but also Administrative Director of the Fondazzjoni read the biography of Dun Anġ.

Earlier on in his speech, Fr Martin said that we are on the threshold of a new year, a year during which id-Dar tal-Providenza will be celebrating its sixtieth anniversary. We are also on the threshold of the Jubillee of Hope. In his proclamation of the 2025 Jubillee, Pope Francis proclaims social works as id-Dar tal-Providenza, as works of hope. He defines inclusive services given by these institutions or organisations as an “anthem for human dignity, a song for hope.”

Fr Martin added that whilst we look back at these last sixty years of work of id-Dar tal-Providenza we, as a society, as a Church, as individuals can truly say that the Home was, still and will hopefully remain an “anthem for human dignity, a song for hope.” During these sixty years, id-Dar tal-Providenza offered hope to around 270 persons with disability by offering them a residence, in a family-like environment, a safe enviroment and above all an environment that respects their dignity and rights.

Fr Martin ended by saying that the Home has offered hope and still thus not only to those needing a permanent residency but also to those persons with disability and their families that needed respite service, amongst other services. May the Jubilee of Hope contines to fill us with verve so that in the coming years we continue, as Pope Francis says, “to open up our doors with a welcoming generosity, so that no one will give up hope of a better life.”

The concert, which was under the direction of the band’s Musical Director and Maestro, Major Jonathan Borg, included vocal and instrumental works by well known foreign composers as well as Maltese composers Tano Monseigneur, Ray Magri and Sgt Gilbert Camilleri whose musical work ‘Refuġju’ was dedicated to Staff Sergeant Tony Lautier who died last September at the age of 60 years. There was quite an emotional monent when Ssgt Camilleri presented Mrs. Lautier with the sheet music of  ‘Refuġju’ together with a memento of her late husband.

Following the presentation of mementos to various participants at the concert, Archbishop Charles Scicluna recalled and praised the work of Dun Anġ Seychell in the disability sector and urged Maltese and Gozitans alike to give their unstinted financial support during the Festa ta’ Ġenerożità on new year’s day as they have always done in the past.

Photo: Ian Noel Pace, Archdiocese of Malta

Grand Christmas bazaar in aid of Id-Dar tal-Providenza in Siġġiewi  from Friday eighth to Sunday tenth November  between nine am and four in the afternoon. You can find new and second-hand items like books, clothing, plants, kitchen goods and utensils, decorations, antiques and other useful objects.

See you then. V.O/1066

His Royal Highness Prince Edward, Duke of Edinburgh, visited Id-Dar tal-Providenza in Siġġiewi Wednesday afternoon, where he met with Maltese para athletes. During this significant visit, the Duke also met with residents of the home, staff, volunteers, schoolchildren and various sporting communities.

Upon his arrival, His Royal Highness was warmly welcomed by Fr Martin Micallef, Episcopal Vicar for Diaconia and Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza, along with Prof. Joseph N. Grima, President of the Malta Paralympic Committee and the Siġġiewi Rowing Club. Among the dignitaries present were Mgr Joseph Galea-Curmi, Auxiliary Bishop of Malta; Hon. Julia Farrugia, Minister of Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector; Hon. Graziella Galea, Shadow Minister of Inclusion and the Voluntary Sector; and Architect Julian Borg, Mayor of Siġġiewi.

During his visit, the Duke met with players from Malta Wheelchair Basketball and Frame Football, followed by a wheelchair dance performance led by Ms Pippa Roberts in Dar tal-Providenza’s main hall. He also met with rowers, para rowers and administrators from Siġġiewi Rowing Club who use the gym at Dar tal-Providenza for their regular land training. The Duke received an overview of the club’s inclusive approach, which unites athletes with physical, visual and intellectual impairments allowing them to train alongside some of Malta’s top rowers.

At the end of his visit, the Duke presided over a certificate ceremony for the winners of the “Paris 2024 Paralympic Games Schools Competition,” which involved local schoolchildren and their families. The competition brought together eight schools, engaging over 50 enthusiastic participants, in a celebration of inclusivity and sportsmanship. It is one of several initiatives by the Malta Paralympic Committee aimed at raising awareness and creating a legacy for the Paris 2024 Paralympic Games. By promoting engagement and understanding of adaptive sports, the competition aimed to inspire educators to promote more inclusive sports and encourage the next generation to make a lasting impact in schools.

The Malta Paralympic Committee, a full member of the International Paralympic Committee, is the sole recognised national governing body responsible for the development and promotion of Paralympic Sport and para sport in Malta and Gozo.

Id-Dar tal-Providenza is a Church-run NGO which offers residential services for individuals with disabilities in Malta. It empowers residents in a family-like environment designed to enhance and maximises their abilities. Until 1962, the premises visited today by the Duke of Edinburgh served as a Royal Navy Rest Camp.

Photos: Archdiocese of Malta – Claire Camilleri