“Dun Mikiel responded with his heart full of love to bring into the open the persons with disability and provide them with a home: Id-Dar tal-Providenza.”
Fr Frans Abdilla, Ecclesiastical Assistant of the Malta Catholic Action (MCA), said this during his homily whilst concelebrating mass to commemorate the 36th anniversary of the death of Dun Mikiel, the founder of the Home. Fr Abdilla said a response shouldn’t be given with an argument but with the heart. This is what Dun Mikiel did when he responded to the Lord’s call to see that persons with disability find their place in society in order to participate fully with total respect of their rights and dignity.
For the mass, that was held at the Home’s chapel in Siġġiewi, Fr Abdilla was assisted by Fr Martin Micallef, Director of Dar tal-Providenza and Fr Bernard Micallef, Spiritual Director of the Social Assistance Secretariat of the Catholic Action. Also present were representatives of the MCA including Marija Cachia, its General President, and Mary Anne Muscat, General Vice-President, as well as the Home’s residents and employees.
Those present then gathered around Dun Mikiel’s grave for a moment of reflection and prayer and a blessing by Fr Abdilla.
Mgr Mikiel Azzopardi, who founded the Home in 1965, was born in Valletta on the 10th of February and died on May 13th 1987, exactly 36 years ago today.