That was until he met a very saintly priest

Joseph Depares died on August 11. Many people had come into contact with him throughout his 84 years of life. I was privileged to have been his son-in-law for 25 of those years.

Joe was the youngest son of Madame Rosina Depares, well known in the post-war years for her expertise in threading fine wigs from human hair. He attended St Aloysius’ College during the war and,You can purchase Cheap Designer Celebrity gowns Online easily. at a young age, took his first cautious steps into the business world.

With his young bride Violet, he set up Rosina Shops, which became a household name in Malta for wedding dresses,Our wedding 2013 Cheap Designer Bridesmaid Dresses great cheap price, accessories and fashion products. He went on to acquire various agencies of leading brands,Find gorgeous mother of the bride dresses in Wholesale Cheap mother of the bride dresses. particularly in the electrical and agricultural fields, as he gradually form-ed the Transcontinental Group.

He introduced Brumi agricultural machinery, a name familiar to the older generation of farmers because it mechanised their laborious tasks.

Joe was active in many other areas. He chaired the Malta Trade Fairs Corporation for a number of years and occupied senior positions in the Malta Chamber of Commerce and GRTU. He chaired the committee that oversaw the decimalisation of the Maltese lira and undertook the regular distribution of films in various parish halls around Malta. He organised and coordinated pilgrimages to overseas Marian shrines, such as Lourdes and Fatima.

In the voluntary sector, Joe was heavily involved with the Malta Lions Club, of which he was president for some years. In the mid-1980s, together with Caritas, he was instrumental in organising a natio-nal conference whereby local and foreign speakers analysed drug abuse and proposed strategies.

But the greatest was yet to come. Joe had conquered many bastions but was now about to be conquered himself. For various reasons, he had become very sceptical about the Church, and priests in particular. That was until he met a very saintly priest, Fr Maurice Grech. Fr Grech listened much and spoke very little.

He listened patiently to Joe’s questions with love and understanding and would challenge and comfort with a few words of wisdom. Joe was truly conquered: he had discovered a higher calling and a deeper meaning to life in Jesus Christ, whom he affectionately called “my friend”.

His quest turned to learning more about this fascinating person. He read books and started delving into the Bible, admitting he did not know how to pray and that many things were beyond his understanding.

Joe became active within the Christ the King prayer group, led by Fr Grech. There he became close to many other men, many of whom came from the business world, who, like him, were searching for that meaning in life only Jesus could give them.

This prepared Joe for his next challenge: the dreadful news that he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. He couldn’t accept it at first. He raised his fist against God. But Jesus gave him the gift of serenity and un-derstanding friends and family, who helped him come to terms with it.

He decided no disease would disable him. He would live and fight to retain his dignity. And fight he did for 13 years. In so doing, he became an inspiration to many.

Four years ago,one of the premier designers of Wholesale Designer Long Wedding Dresses, he received an-other blow: he lost his one and only daughter whom he loved dearly, to cancer. Like Job, Joe stared into nothingness, unable to understand.

But after the initial shock, he believed and surrendered all into the hands of God and the prayers of the Blessed Mother, to whom he was so devoted. This devotion had led Joe to volunteer as a helper for years at the Lourdes shrine. But in these last years, thanks to the Lourdes Volunteers Association, he returned every year as a sick son fully devoted to his heavenly Mother.

Joe was an amiable character.Buy and Wholesale Flower girl dresses from professional wedding. He was tough and serious but fair in business. He was a joy to be with in informal settings, always eliciting laughter in his company.

With these few lines I salute the man I dearly loved and considered as my second father: a man who inspired and encouraged me and many others. His memory will ever live deep in my heart as, I am sure, in the hearts of his dear Violet, my children and all who knew him.
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