Għarb family wins Cana award

A family from Għarb that has shown faith, courage and steadfastness in the face of adversity has received the Familja Qalb tad-Deheb award presented annually by the Gozo Cana Movement.

The award was presented to the Mifsud family by President Eddie Fenech Adami at Palazzo Palina, Hotel Ta' Ċenċ, yesterday week in the presence of Gozo Bishop Mario Grech, Speaker Anton Tabone and Gozo Minister Giovanna Debono, among others.

Paul G. Pisani, chairman of the adjudicating board, said the Mifsud family - Joe, his wife Marija and their four children - had passed through some very difficult times. Joe had to spend months away from home for health reasons. He was accompanied by his wife while their children Michael, 17, and Christian, 16, had to take care of the rest of the family, including their twin siblings Mario and Josianne.

The Mifsuds also sufferred the loss of members of Marija's family. Yet, despite this adversity, Sue continued to look after the family.

Dr Pisani said that despite all these difficulties the Mifsud family remained united, thus deserving the coveted award, with particular appreciation for the sense of responsibility shown by Michael and Christian.

Speaking on adoption, Mgr Grech said it is important that a serious, independent authority be set up to ensure that adoption would truly be for the good of the child. At the same time, while one has to ensure that the adopted child is fully cared for by the adoptive family, these cases should be treated with the utmost discretion.

Sometimes, he said, women resorted to other options, even abortion, to avoid having their identities revealed in the course of adoption procedures.

Mgr Grech expressed the hope that the right to adoption would continue to rest with heterosexual married couples. In cases where the adopted children and their natural parents expressed the desire to meet, perhaps an independent authority could make such decisions, in the best interest of the adopted child, he added.

Other speeches were made by Fr George Borg, director of the Gozo Cana Centre, Fr Joseph Mizzi, director of the Cana Movement, and by Ms Debono.

The evening included musical interludes by the Chorus Urbanus conducted by John Galea.

cspiteri@timesofmalta.com