The Maltese heart of gold kicks off Id-Dar tal-Providenza’s Golden Jubilee year with €903,564

€903,564 were raised during this year’s Feast of Generosity organised by RTK4Charity in aid of id-Dar tal-Providenza that kicked off the Home’s Golden Jubilee celebrations. In spite of the extreme cold and continuous rain that fell during most of the day, the crowds made it to Siġġiewi to make their donation and join the fun under the big tent set up in the parking lot.

The Director, Fr Martin Micallef, said that this edition of the Feast of Generosity has shown the heart of gold of all the Maltese people who once again showed their solidarity with and generosity towards Id-Dar tal-Providenza. He thanked the civil and political authorities for their support as well as all those hundreds of volunteers that took part in the organisation of the Feast of Generosity, this being the nineteenth year. Various parishes made special collections.

During the day there were visits by the President of Malta, Mrs Marie Louise Coleiro Preca and her husband Edgar; the Prime Minister, Dr Joseph Muscat; the Leader of the Opposition, Dr Simon Busuttil; the Minister for The Family and Social Solidarity, Dr Michael Farrugia; the Parliamentary Secretary for the Rights of Persons with Disability and Active Ageing, Dr Justyne Caruana, the Apostolic Administrator Bishop Mgr. Charles J. Scicluna and the Archbishop Emeritus, Mgr. Pawl Cremona OP who also celebrated Mass in the Home’s chapel. Ministers and members of Parliament from both sides of the House, constituted bodies and others also made it to Siġġiewi during the day.

As part of the Feast of Generosity, €26,526 were raised through an auction of various works of art donated by more than seventy local artists. Various bids were placed online but most bidders were there personally to follow the process.

The live television broadcast started at 9.00am with Holy Mass from the chapel of the Home and continued till just after midnight when the total sum collected during the day was announced amidst the joy and celebrations of the organisers and volunteers. PBS, ONE TV and NET TV took part for long stretches of the 15-hour televised marathon which included entertainment provided by the top singers on the island, various entertainers that managed to create a festive family atmosphere.

2nd January 2015