Forum on Dun Mikiel and the 50 years of Id-Dar tal-Providenza

The Siġġiewi Local Council together with Id-Dar tal-Providenza organised a Forum with the theme: “Dun Mikiel Azzopardi and the 50 years of Id-Dar tal-Providenza”. This was an evening of sharing of experiences by persons that in one way or another and at one time or another touched the greatness of Dun Mikiel and witnessed the miracles that Divine Providence did and still does at the Home. The evening started off with a short documenary on Dun Mikiel Azzopardi.

Speakers who shared their experiences with a good-sized audience who attended the Forum were Dr Tonio Azzopardi, nephew of Dun Mikiel; Mr Paul Mifsud, collaborator of Dun Mikiel within the Catholic Action as well as in the broadcast media; Mr John Micallef, ex-Administrator of the Home; Mr and Mrs Edna and Antoine Barbara, parents of an intellectually disabled resident of the Home; Miss Angela Agius, a person with a hearing disability that was a resident of the Siġġiewi home but now lives independently in her own home; Sr Gesuina Mangion, from the community of the Sisters of Charity that has served in the Home since 1977; Mgr. Lawrence Gatt, Director of the Home between 1987 and 2008 and Mr Joe M. Camilleri, ex-Chairperson of the National Commission for Persons with Disability (KNPD).

Dr Karol Aquilina, Mayor of the Siġġiewi Local Council, talked about the contribution of Siġġiewi towards the every day life of Id-Dar tal-Providenza obviously because of the proximity but more so because of the number of people from the Siġġiewi community that work at the Home as carers, support workers and other duties. He announced that a monument in honour of Dun Mikiel will be inaugurated in the near future in the street bearing his name.

Fr Martin Micallef, Director of Id-Dar tal-Providenza, presented Dr Aquilina with a gift of appreciation. (Photos: Roberto Runza)