The new headquarters of Caritas in the Diocese of Gozo, have inaugurated and blessed by the Bishop of Gozo Anton Teuma.
The new premises are located at Dar Trionfi, Triq Sant’ Ursola, Victoria and the Bishop described it as, among other things, a “hotel for the poor” open to all those who seek the service that the Church in Gozo has been carrying out “according to the will of Christ.”
Since 1952, Dar Trionfi has been run and served for various charitable and beneficent purposes: for 20 years it was a clinic run by the Dominican Sisters, where specialists in the field of medicine visited Gozitan patients, while for several years afterwards it served as a home for the elderly. In 2022-2023, the Foundation for Social Welfare Services (FSWS) welcomed homeless and vulnerable people so that they could eventually be integrated into society.
Last summer, the Diocese of Gozo took care of extensive repairs and maintenance of the property so that Dar Trionfi could be opened and available to serve people with various needs. The work of Caritas was transferred to this place from the Curia and an apartment in Fontana on October the 14th.
As explained by Mgr. Jimmy Xerri, Director of Diaconia and Caritas in Gozo, various services are currently being offered from this house, all of which are free of charge. Among these is that of a social worker, with another group of volunteers welcoming people who request help such as clothing, food and hygiene items, and other services.
Dar Trionfi welcomes people every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9.30am to 11.30am.
Once a month, on Saturday, a legal clinic service is also provided, which helps migrants who need legal assistance regarding permits to obtain the necessary documents for residence in Malta and Gozo.
This clinic is run by a lawyer who works on behalf of Jesuit Refugee Services and another lawyer from Gozo who provides a service to those who make an appointment to have their case heard at home.
It was explained that maintenance work on the house is also expected to continue on the upper floor, so that people who need help in other areas of health can be better served. The next step is to start operating a laundry for people who do not have access to one due to the precarious situation in which they live in terms of the physical structure of the residence.
In the Diocese of Gozo, members of the Church take care of various works that all aim to promote humanity in its needs. Caritas in Gozo runs a soup kitchen through a group of volunteers who distribute 40 hot meals three times a week. This service is provided at the Convent of the Conventual Franciscan Friars in Victoria, and all the food is provided by Dar Arka and Villa San Lawrenz.
At the end of the opening ceremony, the Bishop thanked the many volunteers who helped in the renovation of this house, as well as helping in its daily management. In particular, he paid tribute to the memory of Mons. Emanuel Curmi, a priest of great heart and vision who died a few weeks ago, and who was not only the first Director of Caritas in Gozo, but was practically the one who conceived it and started various social and charitable services on behalf of the Church in Gozo.
The Arka Foundation, which he started, with its various homes and services, takes care of people with physical and mental disabilities, and recently launched a project to help people with problems related to autism.
In Gozo there are also two Church homes for the elderly, Villa San Lawrenz and St Dominic Home; Dar Guzeppa Debono carries out pro-life work; while near the Ta’ Pinu Sanctuary there is a counselling centre that helps families with problems.
The Migrant Commission responds to the needs of various foreigners living among us, with a low-cost rent subsidy service to some families.
The OASI Foundation, for its part, works in favour of people who have dependency difficulties.
Above all, Caritas in Gozo works hand in hand with all social work entities in Gozo to help people who need material, financial or human assistance. Along with all this, the work of Diaconia and charity continues in the Gozitan parishes, which is generally carried out “in secret and in a discreet manner,” said the Director of Caritas in Gozo.
Photos: Diocese of Gozo / Anthony Grech