Grand Master Andrew Bertie Dies, Leaving a Legacy of Caring

Hospitallers is published quarterly by the
Sovereign military hospitaller order of st. john
of jerusalem of rhodes and of malta ®
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION, U.S.A.
Volume 6 Spring 2008
www.maltau sa.org
Fellow members of the American Association:
Events in Rome:
I
t has been my honor and privilege over the
past month to be in Rome twice, representing
the American Association. On February 16th, I
attended the Private Funeral of His Most Eminent
Highness, Prince and Grand Master of the Order,
Fra’ Andrew Bertie. I also attended his State Funeral,
held on March 7th. Following that, on March 11th, I
participated in the election of our new Grand Master.
Fra’ Andrew Bertie:
There is a separate article about Fra’ Andrew in this issue of the Hospitallers,
but I want to also comment here.
Shortly after the Grand Master died on February 7th, Pope Benedict XVI sent
his condolences to the Order in a telegram to the Lieutenant ad interim of the
Order (Grand Commander), Fra’ Giacomo Dalla Torre. In it, His Holiness stated
that Fra’ Andrew was “a man of culture and commitment who used his office
to help the most needy.” That’s an excellent summary of the nature of the man,
who was considered in the Church to have a status equal to that of a Cardinal.
Although I was not “close” to Fra’ Andrew, I got to know him well enough to
realize that he was, in his quiet way, a great, effective leader of the Order for
twenty years. A very holy person, he possessed the ultimate of character and
integrity. We certainly will miss him.
The Private Funeral, February 16th:
In this space, it’s impossible to give a comprehensive description of this historic event. This grand ceremony surely demonstrated not only how much Fra’
Andrew was revered and respected as the Head of State of a Sovereign entity,
but also how much our Order is respected worldwide.
Not so “private,” more than 1,000 were present at the Basilica of Santa
Sabina, up on the Aventine Hill near our palace, Villa Magistrale. In addition
to a very large contingent of members of our Order from all over the world,
there were ten Cardinals and several other Bishops and Priests, and our own
Ambassadors as well as Ambassadors from the 100 countries with whom we
have diplomatic relationships.
It would be a gross misstatement to say that the word “magnificent” adequately describes the procession from our own chapel, Santa Maria at Villa
Magistrale, down the street to Santa Sabina. First went the cross and flag
bearers and next the uniformed Honor Guards of both the Italian Army and
the Order, then the Presidents of the National Associations, next the Regents
of the Sub-Priories and the Knights of Justice, then the Grand Priors, next the
casket carried above their shoulders by six pall bearers, then Fra’ Andrew’s
brother, Peregrine, and other members of the family, next the Lieutenant
ad interim (the Grand Commander), then the High Charges (Officers) and
other members of the Sovereign Council, and then the concelebrants of the
Requiem Mass, led by Pio Cardinal Laghi, the Cardinal Patronus of the Order.
During the procession, seminarians sang Gregorian chants. Spectacular!
Of course, the Mass, during which the Papal Choir sang, was beautiful, and
Cardinal Laghi’s homily, voiced in Italian, was extraordinary.
After Mass, we processed back to Santa Maria Church where Fra’ Andrew
was entombed under the marble floor of the church, in front of the altar. Then
we enjoyed a reception in the gardens of the Villa Magistrale.
All in all, it was wonderful — an experience of a lifetime for me.
The State Funeral, March 7th:
The State Funeral, a solemn memorial service attended by several hundred,
again including many members of the Order, was held at the Basilica of St. Bonifacio and St. Alessio, also near the Villa Magistrale on the Aventine Hill. There
were dozens of Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops in attendance, including
several among the concelebrants of the Requiem Mass, led by Cardinal Sadona,
Pope Benedict’s representative and retired Secretary of State. In addition, there
were other Heads State or their representatives, including the President of Italy,
heads of other religious orders, and members of the diplomatic corps.
The Mass, again sung by the Papal Choir, was a beautiful tribute to the life of
Fra’ Andrew. And after Mass, once again, there was an elegant reception at
the Villa Magistrale for all in attendance.
The Election of the New Grand Master on March 11th:
The meeting to hold the election of a Grand Master is called the “Council Complete of State.” Again, what an honor it was for me to be able to attend that
Council and to participate in the election of the 79th Grand Master of our Order!
Over the weekend prior to the election, the various categories of members of
the Order held meetings to determine who among them would have the right
to vote. For example, according to the Code of the Order, of the 47 National
Associations in the Order , only 15 are allowed to vote. So all the Presidents
present in Rome had a meeting to elect 15 “electors.” All three U.S. Associations were selected as electors. Later, the representatives of these 15
associations held another meeting to gain agreement on whom they would
support among the 15 members of the First Class (Professed Knights) who
were eligible for election. There were 34 other votes allocated to the Knights
of Justice, Members in Obedience, the High Charges, and the other members
(continued on page 2)
of the Sovereign Council.
Grand Master Andrew Bertie Dies,
Leaving a Legacy of Caring
“Our Fràternity will last forever, because the soil in which it is rooted is the misery of this world, and
— if it should please God — there will always be men who will labour to diminish the suffering and to
make the misery more endurable.” – Blessed Gerard, founder of the Order, 1099 A.D.
W
hen Frà Andrew Bertie died at the age of
78 on February 7, 2008, he undoubtedly
met Blessed Gerard at the Gates of Heaven
— the Saint may have accompanied the Grand Master
to Jesus for an assessment of Frà Bertie’s life. It seems
likely that Jesus quoted His own words from the
Parable of the Talents as He turned with love to His
humble servant and said, “Well done, good and faithful servant.”
For the late Grand Master had led his life by taking the words of the founder of the Knights Hospitaller to heart, laboring to diminish suffering and to
Grand Master in Lourdes, 2006
make misery more endurable. Since 1988, Andrew
Bertie led this same organization with a charism to defend the faith and to assist the sick and
the poor. His quiet reserve, his ability to be in the world and to focus on the needs of a segment of the world that is too often ignored or forgotten by many, served the Order of Malta
well. Through his leadership, the Order of Malta has entered the21st Century, ready, willing
and most importantly, able to carry on the mission which Blessed Gerard began more than
900 years ago.
Frà Bertie was born in London on May 15, 1929 and spent time during his growing
years in Edinburgh, Scotland, when his father, in the Navy, was away during the war. He
was a gifted linguist who spoke six languages and a financial journalist with an interest in
foreign travel.
The year 1956 was a year of great international turmoil. The Soviet invasion of Hungry resulted in more than 200,000 refugees escaping from the country. Andrew Bertie spent
much of his time assisting those refugees, perhaps a
precursor of the work he would eventually lead for
the Order. The year 1956 was also a year of great importance for the future of SMOM as it was that same
year that the Grand Master joined. In the following
years, he would become increasingly involved in the
Lourdes Pilgrimages.
In 1960, Andrew Bertie began a twenty year
career as a modern language teacher. Surely, he was
not a typical school master, given his Rolls-Royce and
black belt in judo. But his love of languages, his love
of the young students and his sly and witty sense of
humor served him well. Despite his lack of the stern
disciplinarian’s demeanor, his approach of treating his
charges as equals gained him the respect, admiration
and compliance of his students.
His school days were ended when he joined the
Sovereign Council in 1981 and took his final vows
as a Knight of Justice. His election as Grand Master
seven
years later in 1988 came as a surprise to many
Fra’ Andrew Bertie
— an Englishman and a relative youngster at that. Frà
Bertie served in that role for twenty years.
During his time as Grand Master, Fra Bertie came to the United States to visit and
encourage the work of the US Associations. Over his twenty years as Grand Master, he
witnessed significant growth in the American Association; he also saw the formation of the
Sub-Priory of Our Lady of Lourdes, established to foster the growth of the spirituality of the
members in the American and Federal Associations. Worldwide, there are over 12,000 members and over 80,000 associates connected to various works of the Order. In 2006, the Order,
worldwide, spent nearly $1B on its various works of charity.
Frà Bertie was committed to the care of the sick and the poor — his focus for the members of the Order was on the growth of each individual’s spirituality. Through the work of the
members with the sick and the poor, he hoped they would come to know Jesus. He lived his
own life that way, he provided the example and the leadership to all.
Eternal rest grant to him, O Lord; and let perpetual light shine upon him. May he rest in
peace. Amen
Our Mission
The American Association of the Order of Malta, carefully observing the centuries-old tradition of the Order, has
as its mission, to enhance the glory of God through the sanctification of its members, through dedication to and
defense of the faith and the Holy See and through service to our fellow man, especially the sick and poor.
Fellow members of the American Association:
(continued from cover)
The election took place at Villa Magistrale, where we started with Mass and a special prayer. All of us in attendance wore our robes and decorations. The
Lieutenant ad interin, Fra’ Giacomo Dalla Torre, presided at the meeting which was carried out in a very orderly manner. The voting was by secret ballot.
Three members of the First Class were nominated by the Professed Knights and then the voting took place. I can report, happily, that Fra’ Matthew Festing
was elected the 79th Prince and Grand Master of the Order.
Fra’ Matthew, age 58, has, for several years, demonstrated excellent leadership and achievement as the Grand Prior of the Order’s Grand Priory of England.
A graduate of Cambridge University and a Ph.D. in literature, he recently retired from Sotheby’s, the famous London-based auction house, where he was a
senior officer. Fra’ Matthew is fluent in French and Latin, as well as in English. We will all learn more about Fra’ Matthew, and get to know him better, over
the next several months
World Day of the Sick — The Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes:
Several of our Areas held Healing Masses on February 11th in recognition of World Day of the Sick, proclaimed by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI. Also,
several of us flew to Washington, D.C. to participate in a special ceremony at The National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. In spite of unusually cold
weather that day, the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick was attended by hundreds of Malades and others, as well as 60 members of the Order who
volunteered as supporters of the Malades.
The Mass was concelebrated by a host of Priests and Bishops, including Archbishop Edwin O’Brien of Baltimore and Archbishop Donald Wuerl of Washington, who led the concelebration and delivered a wonderful homily.
Fra’ Matthew Festing,
79th Grand Master
January Board Meeting:
At our January 10th Board of Councillors meeting, held in New York, we seated eight members of the Board for terms ending December 31, 2010.
Incumbent Jack Pohrer was re-elected, and there are seven new members: Marjorie Bycraft, Tom Carney, Bob Dillmeier, the Honorable Marie Garibaldi,
Tom Schlafly, Jack Shine, and Peggy Stanton. These are excellent additions to the Board, and I know that they will contribute greatly to the success of the
Association over the years.
Other highlights of the meeting:
•We elected Jack Pohrer as Chancellor, succeeding Joe Miller whose term on the Board ended in December.
• We elected Joe Metz, Ph.D. as Hospitaller, succeeding Fran Hardart whose term on the Board ended in December.
• We elected Mary McCooey as Vice Hospitaller, succeeding Joe Metz.
• The various committees of the Association for 2007 were established. These are listed elsewhere in this issue of the Hospitallers.
• We decided to launch a Strategic Planning exercise, to be carried out by a new Strategic Planning Committee led by Jack Pohrer, Chancellor.
• We received a report from Bob Fredericks on the status of the implementation of our Prison Ministry Program. We now have programs operation in ten
Areas, including most of our larger Areas.
• We received a report from Jim O’Connor on the progress being made to establish a new entity called Order of Malta Worldwide Relief — Malteser International Americas. This organization will heighten the awareness of Malteser International in the United States and solicit contributions from major foundations and corporations interested in international relief initiatives.
• Joe Miller, Co-Chairman, along with Barbara Miller, of the 2008 Lourdes Pilgrimage gave us a status report. The Lourdes Committee has, once again, done
an excellent job of carrying out the complex plans to execute the Pilgrimage. This year, the 150th anniversary of the apparitions of the Blessed Mother to
St. Bernadette, there will be 385 on our Pilgrimage.
Membership:
We continue to stimulate efforts in every Area to build our membership with excellent Catholic men and women who will dedicate themselves to hands-on
care for the sick and the poor. Once again, we have more than 100 candidates for admission to the Order in 2008. Now is the time to identify and sign up
candidates for the Class of 2009.
With the help of Sean Cardinal O’Malley, arranged by Jim O’Connor, our Membership Committee Chairman, we will be making a presentation to the U.S.
Cardinals, Archbishops and Bishops who will be attending a meeting of the National Conference of Catholic Bishops in Orlando in June. The purpose is to
educate the Bishops on the nature and workings of the Order and to enlist their help in building our membership.
Also, along with Archbishop Timothy Dolan, we will be holding a membership development reception in Milwaukee this spring.
Other Matters:
• Once again, the Board of Councillors has scheduled one of its four 2008 meetings away from New York City. The purpose is to give the members of the
BOC the opportunity to get better acquainted with our members and our candidates for membership, and to receive their
(continued on page 5)
Spiritual Reading
by Rev. Msgr. James P. Cassidy, Assistant Principal Chaplain
S
Rev. Msgr. James P. Cassidy
ince his election to the Papacy, Pope Benedict XVI has written a book that is taking its place
as one of the masterpieces of wisdom and insight into the life and meaning of Jesus Christ.
Jesus of Nazareth, which I have mentioned before, continues to receive acclaim in the academic and intellectual world. People in many different walks of life have taken the book and have been
using it in discussion groups as well as for personal reading.
It is not easy reading but has certainly, for many people, been worth the challenge. It is not
the kind of book that makes for light reading — it requires both serious study and much re-reading to get the full meaning of what the Pope is telling us. If you decide to read the book, take it
slowly and with prayerful study. More than 2,000,000 copies have been sold — clearly, there is a
message there that people are yearning to find.
Pope Benedict says in the foreword, that “It goes without saying that this book is in no way an
exercise of the magisterium, but is solely an extension of my personal search for “the Face of the Lord.”
Here is what one publisher says about the book. “In this bold, momentous work, the Pope — in his first book written
as Benedict XVI—seeks to salvage the person of Jesus from recent “popular” depictions and to restore Jesus’ true identity as
discovered in the Gospels. Through his brilliance as a theologian and his personal conviction as a believer, the pope shares
a rich, compelling, flesh-and-blood portrait of Jesus and incites us to encounter, face-to-face, the central figure of the Christian faith.” (from Doubleday web site)
The following quote from the book, Jesus of Nazareth, provides some insight into what you can find in this wonderful
work: “…the great question that will be with us throughout this entire book: But what has Jesus really brought, then, if he
has not brought world peace, universal prosperity, and a better world? What has he brought? The answer is very simple:
God. He has brought God! He has brought the God who once gradually unveiled his countenance first to Abraham, then to
Moses and the prophets, and then in the wisdom literature—the God who showed his face only in Israel, even though he
was also honored among the pagans in various shadowy guises. It is this God, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob,
the true God, whom he has brought to the peoples of the earth. He has brought God, and now we know his face, now we
can call upon him. Now we know the path that we human beings have to take in this world. Jesus has brought God and
with God the truth about where we are going and where we come from: faith, hope, and love.”
If you have not read this book, you should make the effort. If you have tried to read it but gave up, try again. I would
welcome your feedback.
Final Preparations – 2008 Lourdes Pilgrimage
“Sent to Love and Serve”
by Barbara and Joseph Miller
W
Barbara and Joseph Miller
e are in the final phase of making preparations for our annual Pilgrimage to Lourdes. The response has
been overwhelming. Although we cannot accommodate all who applied to go, we are bringing close to 400
Knights, Dames, Auxiliary, Candidates, Clergy, Malades, Caregivers and Medical people with us this year.
Lourdes has been abuzz since December 8, 2007 when the celebration of the JUBILEE YEAR began and will continue
throughout all of 2008. This will be the 23rd visit of the American Association to that small town in the Pyrenees where
the Blessed Mother appeared to Bernadette 150 years ago. This pilgrimage also marks the 50th Anniversary of the International Order of Malta. There is much to celebrate!
We found this story recently in the Magnificat and want to share it with you:
After the last apparition at Lourdes, the wife of Marshal Bruat, lady-in-waiting to the French Empress Eugenie and
governess of the Prince imperial, was sent to Lourdes by the Empress who was enthralled by the events that took place
there. She asked Bernadette to accompany her to the Grotto. Bernadette stopped at the fence which had been erected to
bar entry to the site. Madame Bruat crossed and asked the warden himself to fill a flask with the water, to pluck a blade
of grass and to gather some pebbles which she took back to the Empress.
Soon after this encounter, the young prince imperial became dangerously ill and was feared to be close to death. In
the middle of the night, the Empress had him drink the water from Lourdes and eat the blade of grass. The Prince made
a miraculous recovery. Soon after, at the behest of his wife, Napoleon III ordered the fences removed to allow all free
access to the grotto... 150 years later people still come to the Grotto for their miracle.
We will be leaving on April 30 from Newark Liberty International Airport when we will board a chartered flight and
fly directly to Lourdes. Fifty pilgrims will fly on a commercial flight from JFK to Pau with a stopover in Paris. Another
group will fly from Boston with a stopover in Paris as well. We have an advance team of eight going ahead to prepare for
our arrival.
We want to thank Jack Shine and Madeline Lacovara who so graciously agreed to take on the task of leading this
group of Pilgrims which enables us to accommodate this large number. Very special thanks to all of these experienced
pilgrims who so willingly agreed to these arrangements. Their spirit of cooperation has enabled us to bring as many
people as we are bringing.
Waiting at the airport in Newark to greet all will be Michael Castine, Jack Pohrer, Ken Craig, Bob and Jeanette
Fredericks and many of the auxiliary. They will be there to assist with luggage and registration, to answer any questions
and provide refreshments for our Malades.
Dr. Richard Milone and his Selection committee have accepted fifty-four Malades. They met in March to make their
final recommendations and wrap up the work of their committee. This committee has a tremendous responsibility in
their selection of our Malades and for their care while traveling and for their time at Lourdes. We appreciate all they do.
We want to thank the entire staff at the American Association office for their dedication and hard work... always
willing to do whatever they are asked... Dr. Jeffrey Trexler, Executive Director, Carla Gunerard , and Dame Ann Peabody
form a wonderful team, supported by Kathleen Trabucco, Maria DiGiacomo, Miquan Festus and Ray LaRose.
Thank you to Hope Carter, Coordinating Director, for all the many jobs she does, without whose help this Pilgrimage would not be possible... assigning seats on the plane... assigning rooms... leading the advance team who work hard
preparing for our arrival... putting together the black book... mailing informational packets and much more.
We would be remiss if we did not mention our Captains who will be working hard all day long to keep the teams
together and moving. They are Bill and Kathy Besgen, Paul and Sherry Durnan, Joe and Elissa Metz, Jeanie and Tom
Tisdale, Peggy and Bob Dillmeier, Gail and Joe Berardino and newly added to the ranks are Karen and Bob Tanzola.
It is difficult to start thanking people because there are so many
who are working to make this a safe, joyful, memorable and spiritual
journey. We are humbled by all that you do to make this Pilgrimage a
success and we thank you.
We have noted in the past that we have the responsibility of
raising the very large sum of more than $300,000 to cover the cost
of bringing our 50 beloved Malades and their caregivers on Pilgrimage; with the uncertain cost of rising fuel prices and the value of
the dollar, this is a daunting task. We are very close to reaching
our goal. We thank all of you who have been so generous in your
response and urge others who have not donated to do so now. We
need your help. Please mail your gift to the New York office and
keep us in your prayers.
Our Lady of Lourdes, please pray for us.
In the Domain at Lourdes at night
Prayer is the Lifting up of Our Hearts and Minds to God
I
f you remember the Baltimore Catechism, you might remember that prayer can be divided into four types: worship/
praise, thanksgiving, contrition or petition. Jesus tells us that we should pray. He also reminds us that when two
or three gather in His name, great power comes from that gathering. It is not clear that He had our electronic age
in mind or the dispersion of His followers across the globe, but it seems likely that the members of the Order of Malta
recognize His instruction as they join together around the world each day to say the Daily Prayer of the Order.
In another way, some members of the American Association have been linked together as a community of prayer
through the kindness and energy of one of its members. Michael O’Rourke, KM, a Knight from the Connecticut
area, has been compiling a list of prayer requests from members and distributing them on a daily basis to those who
have requested to join in this blessed activity of praying together for the intentions of those who have requested to
be on the list.
When Jesus told His disciples that they must care for the least of God’s children, He certainly must have included
prayer as one of the most blessed gifts one could share. Prayer offers a way for all members and friends, regardless of
time constraints and circumstances of life, to live the charism of the Order to assist the sick and the poor.
If you are not on Michael’s distribution list but wish to be, send him an e-mail at [email protected] and be
linked to this important spiritual work of mercy.
3
Ducks Swim to Benefit Project Pierre Toussaint
by Jennifer Mitchell, DM
E
Ducks in Mill River
verybody loves rubber ducks — with spring around the corner, plans are currently underway for the Second Annual Rubber Duckie Derby in Fairfield Connecticut; a tentative date of May 17th has been set! Once again, members of Connecticut Auxiliary and Members of the Order of Malta join efforts to organize this fun, “affordable-toall” and family-oriented event to raise money for Project Pierre Toussaint, a school in Haiti for orphaned street children.
Father Paul Carrier and Fairfield University graduate Doug Perlitz founded PPT 10 years ago when they traveled
to Haiti to visit Crudem, a hospital established by the Order of Malta. They felt the poverty and squalor these homeless
children were subjected to could no longer be ignored so they set out to open a school. Today, over 160 children receive
educational, medical, nutritional and spiritual guidance at PPT.
On May 17th, more than 2000 little rubber ducks will be released into the Mill River. Monsignor Kevin Wallin will
bestow a “blessing of the fleet” and then these bright yellow ducks will take off, racing down the river with the strongest
of duck swimmers competing to claim first, second and third place.
Winners receive trophies and silly duck-related prizes!
To further delight the crowd, more then 50 large Rubber Ducks will
be fabulously decorated by folks of all ages and entered into the Decorated Duck Beauty Contest. Winners of various categories will be judged
and awarded prize ribbons. Also on hand will be the entertaining Duck
Mascots playing games of Duck, Duck, Goose and lots of delicious baked
goods for folks to eat.
For more information on how you can participate in this duck-filled day
or for more information on Project Pierre Toussaint, go to www.haitippt.com
or contact the co-chairs of the event, Kelly Weldon and Liz Tamarkin at
[email protected].
First place 2007
The Hospitaller’s Report
A message on the 150th Anniversary of the
Apparitions of Our Lady to St. Bernadette
by Joseph Metz, Ph.D., KMOb
The Lourdes Jubilee Year December 7, 2007 to December 8, 2008
L
ourdes is the spiritual home of the Order of Malta. The annual Lourdes Pilgrimage is a “work” of our Association
as a whole in our service to the sick and physically-challenged and the most vulnerable of our brothers and sisters.
The Jubilee Year, marking the 150th year of the apparitions of our Lady to St. Bernadette, was opened officially
on December 8, 2007, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, at a Mass celebrated by Cardinal Ivan Dias of India in
The Pius X Basilica. It was followed by a procession to the Grotto. The spirit of the Congregation of some 25,000 was joyful, spirit-filled and reverential.
The Order and the Jubilee Year
Joe Metz, Hospitaller
There are three elements of the Jubilee Year we in the Order of Malta should reflect upon to better appreciate the special
place our Order has in Lourdes. These elements are
1) entrusting to the Order the celebration of one of the twelve Missions of the Jubilee Year during our Pilgrimage;
2) bringing the spirit of the “Jubilee Way” to all those who are sick and physically-challenged, whether in Lourdes or at
home; and
3) participating with other SMOM Associations to staff an Order of Malta Visitors Center in the Domain during the
Jubilee Year.
The Twelve Missions to be Celebrated During the Jubilee Year
The Sanctuary in Lourdes asks Pilgrims to celebrate twelve Missions throughout the Jubilee Year. The purpose of these
Missions is to address the needs of the Church today. The mission statements highlight the message of Lourdes in light of
the contemporary Church of evangelization. To make them manifest, each Mission is purposely linked in the Jubilee Year
calendar to special events, conferences, liturgies and pilgrimages.
The 12 Missions are:
1. The Church in Mission with its volunteers in the service of others
2. The Church in Mission with Mary
3. The Church in Mission with Young People
4. The Church in Mission with Christian Unity
5. The Church in Mission in the Call to Conversion
6. The Church in Mission with the Sick
7. The Church in Mission with People with disability
8. The Church in Mission between Nations (entrusted to the Pilgrimage of The Order of Malta)
9. The Church in the Mission for Peace
10. The Church in Mission, Nourished by the Eucharist
11. The Church in Mission for Inter-Religious Dialogue
12. The Church in Mission with the Marginalized
Medallion to track the “Jubilee Way”
To celebrate the first mission, “The Church in Mission with its Volunteers in Service to Others,” the Second International
Meeting of Hospitalities was held in Lourdes on December 7, 8 and 9, 2007, in conjunction with the opening of the Jubilee
Year. The American Association of the Order of Malta was represented among the 100 Hospitaller associations present for this
convocation of pilgrimage organizations from throughout the World. Each Association, including those of the Order of Malta
from several countries, set up a visitor’s booth in the “Village of Hospitalities” to welcome visitors, to explain its programs,
and exchange information on respective missions in Lourdes and at home. The American Association displayed our projects
(continued on page 6)
on poster boards and played DVDs on our works and ministries for the benefit of our visitors.
The Thomas Merton Campus
Finding new ways to serve people
Thomas Merton wrote about serving people where they are. He said,
“The beginning of love is to let those we love be perfectly themselves, and
not to twist them to fit our own image. Otherwise we love only the reflection
of ourselves we find in them.”
Merton House, now known as the Thomas Merton Campus (TMC) in Bridgeport, Connecticut, started out thirty-two years ago as a place to get a sandwich and a drink. Today it is a full service campus encompassing a soup
kitchen, family support center, a food pantry for the working poor, counseling, medical clinic and now, at long last, Low Income, Permanent, Supportive
Housing. Thirty-two years later, we are still
serving people where they are.
Our “guests” come from a variety of
backgrounds and land on our doorstep,
usually, because of hunger. But hunger, for
so many, is just the tip of the iceberg. And
so, as we have fed people, we have come to
understand some of their deeper struggles.
We’ve learned that some of our parents
want training to be better with their children. The Family Support Center which
teaches solid parenting skills and good nutrition grew out of that need. We
know that many of our guests struggle with addiction. Our counseling and
medical clinic grew out of that need. We know that our children can get
lost in the public school system. The Educational Assistance Program whose
funds enable our children to go to the smaller, Catholic schools grew out of
that need. We know that working families living near the campus can’t make
ends meet. The St. Stephen’s Food Pantry, which supplements a family’s groceries, grew out of that need.
As we have met their hunger, mental health, and family support issues,
we have known that another major hurdle loomed. Low Income, Perma-
nent, Supportive Housing was the next component in serving our guests. It
carried with it its own set of difficulties: the cost of land in Fairfield County, Connecticut; our guests’ need for access to affordable, permanent housing which includes on-site, comprehensive support services, another large
expense; and the construction budget.
For the last four years, in what can only
be called a collaborative effort, the Diocese of
Bridgeport, Catholic Charities, Mutual Housing, the City of Bridgeport, and the State of
Connecticut combined their time, talent, and
treasure to bring Low Income, Permanent,
Supportive housing to the Merton Campus.
The Diocese allowed land, at the site, to be
used for 16 family units. The City of Bridgeport turned over 3 parcels of land to be utilized for an additional 6 units of family housing and to assist the development in reaching an economy of scale. Mutual
Housing developed a proposal to be sent in for funding from the Connecticut
Housing and Finance Authority. Catholic Charities went to work to locate
Support dollars. All of this time and energy has culminated in a $6.7 million
dollar grant being awarded for the development of twenty-two family units.
Many years later, I can tell you that housing, for the poor, is a long, slow
process. It demands fidelity to the cause. In April of 2009, the new construction of twenty-two family units will be completed. One more step along the
way of The Thomas Merton Campus serving people where they are.
Jeanie Tisdale, DM Fellow members of the American Association:
(continued from page 2)
input and suggestions. This year we are going to visit the Philadelphia Area for a meeting on May 23rd. On that evening, we will have a Mass and a special reception
in honor of Justin Cardinal Rigali, on whom we will bestow the highest honor of the Order, that of Bailiff Grand Cross of Honor and Devotion.
• I urge you to utilize our website (www.maltausa.org). We keep it current, and there are a lot of interesting postings on it.
• The Malta Human Services Foundation has engaged a Director of Development. He is Michael McMorrow, who recently retired from Manhattan College where he
served as the Executive Director of their recent $160 million capital campaign. Mike will be leading our efforts to significantly build the Foundation’s assets, so that
we can enhance the Association’s annual grant making capacity.
• There is still time to sign up for next fall’s pilgrimage to Malta, Rhodes, and Rome, led by Msgr. Kevin Wallin. Call our New York Office for information about this
wonderful opportunity to trace a lot of the history of the Order
Once again, we are off to a great start in 2008. Keep up the good works, ministries, and Brother Gerard projects!
Best regards, Daniel J. Kelly, K.M. President
A Message from Jack Pohrer, Chancellor of the American Association
M
ost of you may know that the
Board of Councillors, at its January meeting, elected several new
officers to replace those whose terms had
expired. I am honored and humbled by my
selection to be the Chancellor of the American Association. Two other distinguished
Board members were elected as officers:
Joseph Metz was elected Hospitaller and
Mary McCooey was elected Vice Hospitaller.
Of course, Dan Kelly remains as President and Judge James Ryan remains as
Secretary. I look forward to the opportunity
to meet with you, hear from you about your
suggestions, concerns, and reports about
what is going on in the Association and in your areas. I hope you contact me by e-mail
at [email protected] or by phone at (314) 241-7777.
of all the committees with their chairs and members. Feel free to contact any committee member with your suggestions and questions about the work of their committee.
The Board of Councillors has a number of committees that focus on key organizational
issues and opportunities. The committees include the Admissions committee, the Area
Development committee, the Audit committee, the Auxiliary committee, the Communications committee, the Defense of the Faith/Education committee, the Disciplinary
committee, the Executive committee, the Finance and Budget Review committee, the
Grants committee, the Legal and By-Laws committee, the Membership committee, the
Nominating committee, the Prison Ministry committee, the Spirituality committee, the
Strategic Planning committee, and the Works and Ministries committee. And there is
the Board of the Malta Human Services Foundation. Separately, with this issue, is a list
2008 is going to be an important year for the Order of Malta — with the death of the
Grand Master and the election of a replacement, the leadership at the top will change.
With that as a backdrop, it makes sense for each of us to look at our relationship to
the Order and to the Association and find ways to strengthen the ties that bind us
together in a common charism to defend the Faith and to serve the sick and the poor.
May we all be blessed under the guidance of Our Lady of Philermo to seek out and
participate in the works and ministries of the Order to the best of our abilities. Let the
year of 2008 be a year of deeper personal spiritual commitment so that we may be
perfected as Dames and Knights. I look forward to the opportunity to be of service.
You may have noticed that there is a new committee this year, the Strategic Planning
committee — at President Dan Kelly’s recommendation, the Board established a Strategic Planning committee to review the work of the prior Strategic Plan of 2004 and
move forward with a plan for the future of the Association. I have been appointed as
chair of this committee and plan to engage the committee members and any members of the Association who have any constructive ideas about areas or issues that we
should consider.
This committee will present to the Board our recommendations for the strategic direction of the Association in a number of key areas. We will be contacting many area chairs
as well as other members. If you are contacted, please take the time to provide thoughtful input. If you have any thoughts, don’t wait to be contacted — get in touch with me or
any of the members of the committee (Marjorie Bycraft, Tom Carney, Joe Cianciolo, Bob
Dillmeier, John Dunlap, Paul Durnan, Tom Flood, Bob Fredericks, Mary McCooey, Joe
Metz, Dick Milone, Jim O’Connor, Hap Redgate or Jack Shine). Any of us would be glad
to hear from you. An idea or question you share may be very helpful to the committee.
5
Estate and Planned Gifts Can
Support the Work of the
Association for Years to Come
Each year, the Malta Human Services Foundation provides a
contribution to the American Association to support the Annual
Grants program. Your consideration of the Foundation in your
estate plan or with a planned gift will help to ensure that the
works of the Order of Malta will continue for years to come. If
you have questions about the Foundation, see the Foundation
section of our web site at www.maltausa.org. For more information, call Michael J. McMorrow, the Director of Development, in
our New York office at (212) 371-1000, ext. 2683.
Looking for a job with no pay?
The Communications Committee is looking for a volunteer
who has experience in developing and placing press releases
to work with the Committee and with the New York office to
spread the word in the Catholic press about several key
Association activities each year. If you have the skills, the time
and the interest to take this on, please send an e-mail to
Tom Flood, KM, Communications Committee chair at
[email protected].
Guidelines for the Sale
of Malta Merchandise
Guidelines have been developed and distributed to Area Chairs
regarding the sale of “Malta” merchandise, including the sale
of merchandise in Lourdes. See your Area Chair for information.
A copy of the guidelines is also posted on the web site in the
News and Events section. Please become familiar with them if
you are involved in any way in the sale of merchandise at Order
of Malta and American Association functions.
Association Forms
Available On-Line
Many of the necessary forms including the Association Admissions application, the Auxiliary Admissions application, the
Lourdes Pilgrimage forms, 2008 Grant applications, and on-line
donation access are available on the web site. All members are
strongly encouraged to retrieve forms from the web site since it
is less costly. By using the web to obtain the necessary forms,
it eliminates the need to store, handle and mail forms, saving
both time and money. Forms are in the “Members Only” section
of the Association’s web site at www.maltausa.org.
2008 Deceased Members
Mr. Robert O. Bachand
Topsfield, MA
Mrs. Judith M. McAree
Fishers, IN
Mr. Everett M. Scranton
Grosse Pointe, MI
Memorial Masses are said for deceased members at the Lady
Chapel of the Cathedral of Saint Patrick in New York City by
Monsignor James P. Cassidy, Conventual Chaplain ad honorem
of the American Association.
Malta Human Services Foundation
President’s Report
Building the Endowment
by Hershel Smith, KM, President of the Malta Human Services Foundation
E
ndowment: A most sacred word, built as it is on the trust of
those who believe in an organization and its mission. That trust
prompts donations that strengthen a charity’s foundation and
touch the future in ways that donors will only begin to see. Such virtue — both in fact and in spirit — is one of generosity’s highest forms.
Down somewhere deep in our psyche each of us is called to be a
“giver.” Whether it is initial stirrings caused by following our parents’
example, or we feel a need to share or suddenly want to give back
something to society isn’t so important. These outside factors are
simple catalysts to unlock the deeper need to be a “giver.”
A story that I read recently illustrates another dimension of why people give. The story concerns a young Florida woman who had an extremely rare blood type, with antibodies that occur
in only one of 50,000 persons. After repeated urgings to donate her blood in case someone else
ever needed help, she finally relented. Frozen and handled properly, such blood has a shelf life of
three years.
Two years later, having moved to Michigan, this woman was stricken with a strange hemorrhaging. Her doctors knew that she would need blood, but hers was a rare type. Initial searches
produced none, but her doctors persisted until they discovered some at a small hospital in
Florida. Yes, it was the woman’s own blood and it saved her life.
Two basic truisms of giving emerge from this story. First, when we give of ourselves to others,
we always end up helping ourselves; second, time and again, it seems that the donor will receive
so much more than he or she has given. Do you think that this woman received more when she
gave blood or received blood? When she gave blood, it was blood she could “live without.” When
she received the blood back, it was “life-saving” blood.
The Hospitaller’s Report
(continued from page 4)
The eighth mission, “the Church in Mission Between Nations,” has been entrusted to the
Worldwide Pilgrimage of the Order of Malta, the first week of May. (This year is the 50th anniversary of the Order of Malta Pilgrimages to Lourdes.) The Pilgrimage of the American Association
departs on April 30th and returns May 6th under the leadership of our Pilgrimage chairs, Barbara
and Joseph Miller.
The theme of the “Church in Mission between Nations” has been entrusted to the Order of
Malta, because, in the words of the Rector of the Sanctuary, “When the Pope gives the blessing
“Urbi et Orbi” to the Church and the World in numerous languages, we have a sense of the universality of the Church. We have six official languages in the sanctuary, French, Italian, Spanish, English, German and Dutch…the Ancient Order of Malta represents people from the five continents.”
Just as Lourdes is a universal home to all throughout the world who seek to identify themselves
with those in need, so too, our Order has a worldwide mission and is active on all continents.
The Jubilee Way
A highlight of the opening of the Jubilee Year was the announcement and launching of the “Jubilee Way,” a pilgrimage within the City of Lourdes itself, whereby pilgrims throughout the Jubilee
Year can travel the footsteps of Bernadette herself from her place of baptism to her first communion. To commemorate Bernadette’s life in Lourdes, pilgrims are invited to follow the “Jubilee
Way,” wearing a medallion given to each Pilgrim with four places on it to affix a symbol after
visiting each of four places in the life of Bernadette.
The Jubilee Way begins at St. Bernadette’s parish church, Sacred Heart, in the Old Town. The
parish church contains the baptismal font in which Bernadette was baptized on the 9th of January,
1844. (Open daily from 9:00AM to noon; from 1:30PM to 6:00PM.)
The second visit on the Jubilee Way is the “Cachot”, a one room prison rented by Bernadette’s
father for the family, on the Rue Petits-fosses. This is where the Soubirous family lived at the time
of the apparitions. And it was from this house that Bernadette made her way to the Grotto, for the
first time on February 11th, 1858, in hopes of finding firewood for the family. (Open daily from
10:00AM to noon and from 2:30PM to 5:00PM.)
The third place in the Jubilee Way is the Grotto, itself, where the Blessed Mother appeared
to Bernadette for the first time on February 11th and for 17 times thereafter that year.
Significantly on March 25, 1858, Our Lady responded to Bernadette’s question as to her identity
with the response (spoken in dialect), “I Am The Immaculate Conception.” (Accessible daily
from 11:00AM.)
The final stop on the Jubilee Way is the present-day Lourdes Hospital (formerly the old
Hospice). It contains the Hospice Chapel where Bernadette attended school to learn how to read
and write and where she made her first Communion on June 3, 1858. (Open daily from 3:00PM
to 5:00PM.)
Pilgrims who are able to visit these four sites on the Jubilee Way will receive a Plenary Indulgence granted especially for the Lourdes Jubilee by His Holiness, Pope Benedict XVI. Mindful that
many malades will be unable to traverse the entire Jubilee Way (especially a steep walk up to the
Parish Church, Hospital and Cachot), the Sanctuary has arranged to set up a special booth in the
Domain where Pilgrims unable to walk the entire Jubilee Way will be able to receive all four symbols for their Jubilee Way medallion as they receive the Plenary Indulgence. (continued on back page)
What’s in a Name?
False Orders Obviously Think a Lot!
A
False Order is an organization that uses the name or some part of the name of the
Order of Malta or any of its symbols (such as the white Malta Cross on a red shield,
which is a registered service mark of the Order) in its title or in its communications to
mislead people into believing that it represents the true Order of Malta. Groups do this because
membership in the true Order of Malta is perceived to be a prestigious honor. Their efforts are
usually associated with attempts to gain money by feeding on the egos of their victims, but could
be used for other unethical purposes (such as to gain access to important personages or organizations by claiming to represent the Order of Malta or one of its legitimate organizations, such as
the American Association).
In a recent Judgement issued by the United States District Court for the Eastern District, a
false order was enjoined to cease in the use of any of the Names or Service Marks of the Order of
Malta. The specifics include directives not to use the name(s) linked to the Order or parts of the
names. The Judgement specifically required that funds not be solicited while using the name or
symbols of the Order. This court order resulted from the continuing effort of the North American
Committee for the Protection of Names, a joint committee composed of representatives from the
US Associations which reports to Fra John MacPherson.
The particular case that resulted in this court order was initiated as a result of one of our
members reporting the activity of the false order in the New York area. This false order is part of
an international group in Europe. The Order of Malta and the Associations within it continue to
be diligent in protecting the name and the symbols of the Order. By preventing false orders from
illegally using the names and symbols of the Order of Malta through legal action where necessary, the Order and the Associations protect the heritage of the Order and prevent confusing and
misleading activities under the banner of the Order.
It is important that our members be aware of such false orders and recognize their illegal
activity. Should you come upon any use of the Order’s name or its servicemarks by organizations
which are not a legitimate part of the Order, please alert the New York office. Carl Schwarz is the
Chairman of the North American Committee and he and Tom Flood are the American Association representatives on the Committee.
A Window to Our Lady of Philermo
by Stephen Estey, KM
T
he voices of the Lord and our Blessed Virgin are not
often heard in loud cries, but rather in a gentle calling originating from deep within the heart. So it was
that members of the Michigan Area Order of Malta discerned
from Our Lady the calling to commission a new writing of the
Icon of the Madonna of Philermo — Our Patroness. The word
“icon” is derived from the Greek eikon, meaning an image; the
same word used in the Bible in Genesis 1:27: “God created
man in His image.”
Msgr. Michael LeFevre, Chaplain of
the Michigan Area of the American
Icons are popularly known as the art of the Eastern OrthoAssociation, dedicating the icon; Bishop
dox
Church, but they are much more. An icon is referred to as
John Quinn is in the background.
being “written” not painted and is in fact a visual “prayer.” Indeed the icon contains a mysterious spiritual “language.” Each icon is unique because it provides
a window, opening our world to the invisible — to the spiritual realm. As Paragraph 1160 of the
Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition states: “Christian iconography expresses in
images the same Gospel message that Scripture communicates by words. Image and word illuminate each other.”
The history of the original Icon of Our Lady of Philermo is one filled with mystery and adventure. According to tradition, the Icon had been written by Saint Luke and had been brought
to Rhodes from Jerusalem around the year 1000 by a pilgrim monk named Filermo who was
returning from the Holy Land. Although the Icon was lost for some time after World War II, it is
believed that the original Icon has been located and she currently resides today at the Magistral
Palace of the Order in Rome’s Via Condotti. The Icon is one of the most sacred relics of the Order.
It was against this history and through the discernment of our Blessed Mother’s call that the
local Board of the Michigan Area responded to the request to bring her image to each of the Michigan Area events in a particular way through the Icon and to entrust the works of the Michigan
Area to her intercession and protection. Iconographer Kathleen Bordo Crombie was commissioned
to write the Icon. Ms. Crombie wrote the Icon over a six-month period of prayer and fasting.
The Icon of Our Lady was blessed for public veneration on January 26, 2008 at the Michigan Area Order of Malta’s Annual Faith Conference. The Icon is 30”W x 36”H x 1/2”D and is
constructed on an Interglow Painting Panel constructed of three layers of Douglas fir combined
on both sides with mahogany sheets. The Icon depicts Our Lady in a sorrowful state without
the Divine Child. She is covered with a bright red cloak representing martyrdom/witness to faith
surrounded by a gold halo accented with deep blue background behind her. The blue represents
transcendence and mystery — all that is of God. The Halo is 23k Gold Leaf representing a Holy
aura to identify with the sacred nature of Our Lady and the inscription on the back of the Icon
reads “Our Lady of Philermo, pray for the Order of Malta — Michigan Chapter.”
The Michigan Area is also designing a Prayer Card with the image of the Icon on the front
and the daily prayer of the Order on the back, with the eight pointed Maltese Cross. These prayer
cards will be available to members of the Order within the United States and throughout the
world. Anyone wishing to receive a copy of the prayer card may contact the American Association’s headquarters in New York.
The Wonder of Lourdes Touches
Many Lives in Many Ways
Since giving up his medical practice three decades ago to
devote the rest of his life to the right-to-life movement, Dr. Jack
Willke, KM, has experienced his share of inspirational stories.
The Cincinnati physician has traveled the world, working
tirelessly to promote the culture of life. In the process, he has
witnessed first-hand the results of God’s love for the afflicted.
Nothing, however, quite prepared him for what would happen
when he and his wife Barbara took their own very personal
cause on an Order of Malta pilgrimage to Lourdes.
Dr. and Mrs. Willke have 22 grandchildren. In her childhood, one
of them, Anne, started showing the symptoms of Tourette’s syndrome, a troubling disorder affecting the victim’s motor and vocal
skills. Anne’s abnormality would cause her to experience compulsive, involuntary movements, vocal tics, usually without apparent
reason. Typically this condition worsens into the teens, plateaus
in a person’s twenties, and slowly fades in later adulthood.
When medical intervention did not seem to be working, the Willkes approached her parents about taking Anne as a Malade in
the American Association’s Jubilee Year Pilgrimage to Lourdes
in 2000. During that memorable week and for many months
thereafter, the grandparents and her parents prayed for Our
Lady’s aid in helping this talented child overcome her heartrending difficulty.
As so many others have learned over the course of the Order’s
annual pilgrimages to Mary’s shrine, their prayers did not go
unanswered. In a recent letter from her parents, Anne’s mother
summed up what has happened over the ensuing eight years.
“Looking back,” she wrote, the trip to Lourdes, “was clearly
when her symptoms began to subside, and although it took
several years, she is now symptom-free and achieving more
than we ever thought was possible.”
What Anne is achieving has the Willkes swelling with more
than the normal amount of grandparent pride. Overcoming her
disability, she excelled through her high school studies. She was
first string on the high school softball and water polo teams,
and an avid horse enthusiast.
Then her preparations for college brought a triumphal affirmation of her recovery. As Jack recently reported to his Order of
Malta area, Anne recorded a perfect 1600 score on her SAT
examination and has been granted early admission to a prestigious college in California.
Web Only Articles
Be sure to go our web site at www.maltausa.org.
Click on “News & Events.” Click on “Association Newsletters.”
Click on the Spring 2008 issue of Hospitallers for a number of
interesting and informative articles:
• The formation of “Worldwide Relief – Malteser International”
to focus on sharing the message of Malteser International in
the Western Hemisphere.
• Transcripts of talks given by Archbishop Dolan and Justice
Scalia at the Investiture weekend.
• A reprint from Long Island Catholic written by Elizabeth
Maynard, a Long Island student about the Youth Pilgrimage to
Lourdes last Summer.
• A reprint from National Catholic Register on “Lourdes at 150”
with interviews of Joseph Metz and Dr. Richard Milone.
Also on the web are materials about the 2008 Lourdes pilgrimage (in the Members Only section) and an extensive collection
of photographs from the Holy Land Pilgrimage (in the Works and
Activities section). An Event Calendar of key Association dates is
also available in the News and Events section.
7
Volume 6 Spring 2008
The Hospitaller’s Report
The Present
Day Hospital
(continued from page 6)
Order of Malta Visitors Center in the Domain
An Order of Malta Visitors Center has been constructed in the Domain
near St. Michel’s Gate where Members of the Order will answer questions and provide assistance to individual pilgrims. The center will be
open throughout the Jubilee Year, and will be staffed by Members of
the Order from Associations throughout the world. It is anticipated
that the three U.S. Associations will be asked to provide volunteers
who have had experience serving the sick and the disabled in Lourdes.
They will staff the Order’s Visitors Center at designated times during
the Jubilee Year.
The Order of Malta Visitor’s Center in the Domain is a visible sign
of the special place our Order occupies in Lourdes and our shared mission with the Sanctuary in serving the sick and physically-challenged
throughout the world.
The Presence of the American Association in Lourdes
The Grotto
The Cachot on the
The Parish Church
The Order of Malta has a strong presence in Lourdes, most visible in
Rue Petits-Fosses
in the Old Town
the annual Pilgrimages of the Order from many countries during the
first week of May. Along with our confreres from other Associations of
the Order, we in the American Association participate in other activities and convocations of the Sanctuary, including, most recently, the Second Rencontre of Hospitaller Associations this December.
In addition to our annual Pilgrimages during the first week in May, the American Association conducts “Order of Malta Lourdes Youth Pilgrimages”
during the summer months. These have been very successful and have positively contributed to our Order’s important place in the Lourdes family.
In 2008, the American Association Lourdes Youth Pilgrimage will take place from July 21st to July 30th. A second Youth Pilgrimage will be conducted jointly by the American and Western Associations from August 8th to August 18th. (For more information, contact Hope Carter, DMOb.)
Several members of the American, Federal and Western Associations return to Lourdes each year for a week or more to do volunteer service with
the Hospitalité Notre Dame de Lourdes in the hospices, at the train station and airports, in the baths, at the Grotto and throughout the Domain during the processions and liturgies. These volunteers (“stagiaires” and hospitallers who have completed their “stage”) welcome and care for malades
who are brought to Lourdes by the many national pilgrimage groups from April until November.
Thanks to the internet at www.lourdes.france.com, the Jubilee Year will be made available to virtual pilgrims throughout the World.
Favorite Prayers: The Angelus
The Angelus is a Christian devotion in memory of the Incarnation. Its name is derived from the opening
words, Angelus Domini nuntiavit Mariæ. It consists of three Biblical verses describing the mystery, recited
as verse and response, alternating with the prayer, the “Hail Mary!” The Angelus traditionally is recited in
Catholic churches three times daily, 6:00AM, 12:00 noon and 6:00PM, accompanied by the ringing of the
Angelus bell. Some High Church Anglican and Lutheran churches also use the devotion.
The Angelus is replaced by Regina Coeli during Eastertide, and is not used between the Liturgy of Holy
Thursday and the Easter Vigil. (from Wikipedia)
The Angelus
V. The Angel of the Lord declared unto Mary.
R. And she conceived of the Holy Spirit.
2008 Meetings/Events
Lourdes Pilgrimage, April 30th – May 6th
Board of Councillors, May 23rd, Philadelphia
Board of Councillors, September 4th, New York City
Malta, Rhodes, Rome Pilgrimage, September 15th – September 26th
Board of Councillors, November 13th, New York City
Investiture and Annual Dinner, November 14th, New York City
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.(Lk 1:28) Blessed art thou among women, and blessed
is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of
our death. Amen.
V. Behold the handmaid of the Lord.
R. Be it done unto me according to thy word.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee...
V. And the Word was made flesh.
R. And dwelt among us.
Hail, Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee...
V. Pray for us, O holy Mother of God.
R. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.
Let us pray;
Pour forth, we beseech thee, O Lord, thy grace into our hearts; that we, to whom the Incarnation
of Christ, thy Son, was made known by the message of an angel, may by his Passion and Cross be
brought to the glory of his Resurrection. Through the same Christ, our Lord. Amen.
Glory be to the Father…
Prayer of the Order
Executive Office
1011 First Avenue, Suite 1350
New York, NY 10022-4112 USA
Telephone: (212) 371-1522 Fax: (212) 486-9427
www.maltausa.org
Editor: Raymond J. LaRose
Design/Production: Rappy & Company, Inc.
Articles for future issues of this newsletter
should be mailed to:
Raymond J. LaRose
American Association
1011 First Avenue, Suite 1350, New York, NY 10022
or sent via email to: [email protected]
© 2008 Order of Malta®,
American Association, U.S.A.
Lord Jesus, Thou hast seen fit to enlist me for Thy service among the Knights and Dames
of Saint John of Jerusalem.
I humbly entreat Thee through the intercession of the Most Holy Virgin of Philermo,
of Saint John the Baptist, Blessed Gerard and all the saints and blessed of our Order,
to keep me faithful to the tradition of our Order.
Be it mine to practice and defend the Catholic, the Apostolic, and the Roman Faith
against the enemies of religion; be it mine to practice charity towards my neighbors,
especially the poor and sick.
Give me the strength I need to carry out this my resolve, forgetful of myself, learning
ever from the Holy Gospel a spirit of deep and generous Christian devotion, striving
ever to promote God’s glory, the world’s peace, and all that may benefit the Order of
Saint John of Jerusalem. Amen.
Please notify the New York office for all changes of address
If your primary mailing address changes or is going to change,
please be sure to notify the American Association’s administrative
team. Just send an e-mail to [email protected] or call our office
at (212) 371-1522. Maintaining correct addresses ensures that you
will receive mailings on a timely basis. It can also save the American
Association a significant amount of time and money.
SMOMAA Committees 2008
Admissions/Preparation Committee
Thomas J. Flood, Chair
Hope E. Carter
Paul H. Durnan
Howard V. Redgate
Thomas F. Schlafly
Area Development Committee
James F. O’Connor, Chair
James L. Claus
Joseph G. Metz, Ph.D.
Thomas J. Reedy
John F. Shine, Ph.D.
Audit Committee
Paul H. Durnan, Chair
Peter C. Krause
P. Declan O’Sullivan
Auxiliary Committee
Jack E. Pohrer, Chair
Kenneth R. Craig
Peter C. Krause
Jennifer D. Mitchell
Thomas Pecora
Communications Committee
Thomas J. Flood, Chair
Laure C. Aubuchon
John T. Bycraft
William R. Burleigh
Thomas F. Carney, Jr.
William S. Dinger
Peggy M. Stanton
Robert J. Wormington
Defense of the Faith/
Education Committee
Paul H. Durnan, Chair
William R. Burleigh
Barbara M. Burns
Hope C. Carter
Monsignor James P. Cassidy
Elizabeth B. Flynn
Mary Reilly Hunt
Honorable Marie L. Garibaldi
Hans E. Geisler, M.D.
William C. Mattison, Ph.D.
Joseph G. Metz, Ph.D.
Richard D. Milone, M.D.
Robert A. Nalewajek
Jack E. Pohrer
Susan M. Reese
Honorable James L. Ryan
John F. Shine, Ph.D.
Peggy M. Stanton
Monsignor Kevin W. Wallin, Advisor
Disciplinary Committee
Honorable James L. Ryan, Chair
Thomas J. Flood
Honorable Marie L. Garibaldi
Executive Committee
Daniel J. Kelly, Chair
Joseph M. Cianciolo
James L. Claus
Thomas J. Flood
Robert J. Fredericks, Ph.D.
Mary C. McCooey
Joseph G. Metz, Ph.D.
James F. O’Connor
Jack E. Pohrer
Honorable James L. Ryan
Lourdes Pilgrimage 2008
Barbara A. and
Joseph H. Miller, Co-Chairs
Richard D. Milone, MD, Medical Director
Intl Assoc. of Catholic Bioethicists
John M. Haas, Ph.D.
Finance/Budget Review Committee
Joseph M. Cianciolo, Chair
Robert F. Dall
Robert L. Dillmeirer
William J. Koenig
P. Declan O’Sullivan
Anthony E. Rapp
Grants Committee
James L. Claus, Chair
Marjorie L. Bycraft
Robert L. Dillmeier*
Peter C. Krause*
Margaret R. Lyons
Joseph G. Metz, Ph.D.
John R. Mullen*
P. Declan O’Sullivan*
Howard V. Redgate*
Thomas F. Schlafly
John F. Shine, Ph.D.
Hershel F. Smith*
* member of the Foundation Board of Directors
Honors Committee
Hope E. Carter, Chair
Marjorie L. Bycraft
Robert J. Fredericks, Ph.D.
Mary C. McCooey
Richard D. Milone, MD
Legal and By-Laws Committee
Honorable James L. Ryan, Chair
Thomas F. Carney, Jr.
Honorable Marie L. Garibaldi
Carl A. Schwarz, Jr.
Membership Committee
James F. O’Connor, Chair
Joseph M. Cianciolo
James L. Claus
Robert L. Dillmeier
Robert J. Doyle
Paul H. Durnan
Thomas J. Flood
Honorable Marie L. Garibaldi
John M. Haas, Ph.D.
Peter C. Krause
Richard D. Milone, M.D.
Peter F. Muratore
Anthony E. Rapp
Thomas J. Reedy
Thomas F. Schlafly
Betsy M. Swanhaus
Sub Priory of Our Lady of Lourdes
John T. Dunlap, Regent
Daniel D. McCarthy, Chancellor
Hope E. Carter, Councillor
Robert J. Fredericks, Ph.D., Councillor
Daniel J. Kelly, Councillor
Works/Ministries Committee
Joseph G. Metz, Ph.D., Chair
Hope E. Carter
Monsignor James P. Cassidy
Paul H. Durnan
Daniel M. Fitzpatrick
Robert J. Fredericks, Ph.D.
Margaret R. Lyons
Mary C. McCooey
P. Declan O’Sullivan
Howard V. Redgate
Honorable James. L. Ryan
Order of Malta Worldwide Relief
James F. O’Connor
Lourdes Pilgrimage 2009
Susan T. and
Howard V. Redgate, Co-Chairs
Richard D. Milone , MD,
Medical Director
Nominating Committee
P. Declan O’Sullivan, Chair
Marjorie L. Bycraft
Robert L. Dillmeier
John F. Shine, Ph.D.
Peggy M. Stanton
Prison Ministry Committee
Robert J. Fredericks, Ph.D., Chair
William F. Benedict
Fred P. Crowe
John F. Dick
Joseph Feitelberg
Fran Finn
John Finn
JoAnne Kuehner
Daniel D. McCarthy
Joseph G. Metz, Ph.D.
John M. Powers
John S. Santa
Thomas F. Schlafly
Andrew J. Vissicchio
Spirituality Committee
Mary C. McCooey, Chair
Richard D. Armstrong
C. Anne Burleigh
Hope E. Carter
Monsignor James P. Cassidy
John T. Dunlap
Daniel M. FitzPatrick
Honorable Marie L. Garibaldi
Augustus T. Grace
Hreinn P. Lindal
Margaret R. Lyons
Daniel D. McCarthy
Joseph G. Metz, Ph.D.
P. Declan O’Sullivan
John P. Reiner
Peggy M. Stanton
Monsignor Kevin W. Wallin, Advisor
Strategic Planning Committee
Jack E. Pohrer, Chair
Marjorie L. Bycraft
Thomas F. Carney, Jr.
Joseph M. Cianciolo
Robert L. Dillmeier
John T. Dunlap
Paul H. Durnan
Thomas J. Flood
Robert J. Fredericks, Ph.D.
Mary C. McCooey
Joseph G. Metz, Ph.D.
Richard D. Milone, MD
James F. O’Connor
Howard V. Redgate
John F. Shine, Ph.D.
Malta Human Services Found BOD
Hershel F. Smith, Jr., President
William M. Kearns, Jr., Vice President
Mary Kay Farley, Secretary
Bernard P. DiFiore, Treasurer
Robert L. Dillmeier*
Thomas J. Flood*
Daniel J. Kelly*
Peter C. Krause*
Scott C. Malpass
Mary C. McCooey*
Gerald H. McGinley
Joseph G. Metz, Ph. D.*
John R. Mullen
P. Declan O’Sullivan*
Howard V. Redgate*
Honorable James L. Ryan*
John R. Sise
* member of the American Association Board
of Councillors