The people of Malta and Gozo have again shown their generosity towards Id-Dar tal-Providenza and expressed their solidarity by donating €1,520,517 during Festa ta’ Ġenerożità on New Year’s Day.

The funds raised will help the Home to continue providing the best residential services to 115 persons with disability that live in its homes. These funds will also help the Home to finish the refurbishing and improvements of the environment for the residents of Villa Papa Giovanni in Siġġiewi where extensive renovation works have already been done during the past year. 

At the end of the twelve‑hour televised marathon, Fr Martin Micallef, Director of the Home augured that the solidarity shown towards Id‑Dar tal‑Providenza on the first day of the new year will continue throughout the year with all those in our Maltese society who need support.

This year’s Festa ta’ Ġenerożità was broadcast from under the big tent purposely set up in the Home’s parking lot in Siġġiewi. It started off with a mass celebrated by H.G. The Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna in the Home’s chapel and went on till midnight. At the beginning of the celebration, which was attended by the President of Malta, Dott. George Vella and Mrs Vella, there was the traditional Christmas homily delivered by 10-year old Kate Prasel Caruana.

On again was the art auction – paintings, sculptures and ceramics – donated by various Maltese and foreign artists. Once again everything, including the bidding, was online and the sale of the works of art raised €39,042.

Julia Farrugia Portelli, Minister for Inclusion, Voluntary Organisations and Consumer Rights who represented the Prime Minister Dott. Robert Abela, donated €25,000 from the Good Causes Fund.

As has happened every year, an appreciable number of parishes in Malta and Gozo organised special collections on New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day that were then presented to Id-Dar tal-Providenza on behalf of the parish communities.

In his homily, Archbishop Scicluna focused on the five blessings that the national poet Dun Karm Psaila mentions in the National Anthem: wisdom, charity, health, unity and peace that should guide us through the year. He augured for peace in the hearts of all Maltese and Gozitans because whoever has no peace in his heart is a poor person whilst those embracing peace are very rich indeed.

In the concelebration, the Archbishop was assisted by Mgr Charles Cordina, Episcopal Vicar for Diaconia, Fr Josef Mifsud, Archpriest of Siġġiewi, and Fr Martin Micallef, Director, and Fr Trevor Fairclough,  Spiritual Director of Id-Dar tral-Providenza.