The annual collection in favour of Church Charitable Activities and Church Homes will be held during all Saturday evening and Sunday Masses, which will be celebrated on 5 and 6 April in all churches of the Archdiocese.

The funds collected will be distributed, according to the needs of the various Church Homes and Church Charity activities. These include Homes providing shelter to children and young persons who have experienced difficulties in their up-bringing as well as families who have faced domestic violence. They also include the various services offered by Caritas; the Dar tal-Providenza; the Homes for the Elderly; the Social Assistance Secretariat of the Catholic Action; and the work the Refugee Section of the Secretariat for Emigration and Tourism.

There are currently around 160 residents in Church Homes for Children. There are also five child day care centres caring for 60 children, and two shelters for victims of domestic violence sheltering 18 families with children. Caritas is providing 22 different services reaching hundreds of people. The Tal-Providenza Home provides shelter and care for 100 persons with disabilities. The Homes for the Elderly, 16 in all, provide care for 720 persons. The Social Assistance Secretariat provides various forms of assistance to people in need. The Refugee Section is offering shelter to around 400 persons in 14 homes run by the Emigrants’ Commission.

Also on 5 and 6 April, anyone who so desires may contribute articles of foodstuffs and other commodities in baskets which will be placed in churches. The contributions will later be donated to homes for children, young people and persons with special needs, as is being indicated to each parish.

Charity Day is organised through the initiative of the Council of the Church Secretariat for Social and Charitable Action (Caritas). The theme for this year is “The poor are always with you”.