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International Seminar in Venice Mid January, Entitled ‘The Order Ten Years Ahead’

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International Seminar in Venice Mid January, Entitled ‘The Order Ten Years Ahead’ 2008 26/2/09 11:05 Page 1 The Hospitaller 2009 The annual newsletter of the British Association of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta T WAS COLD AND WET, but enthusiasm remained undimmed Ias over 400 Order leaders from the five continents attended the International Order’s International Seminar in Venice mid January, entitled ‘The Order Ten Years Ahead’. For three days they examined and defined the Order’s future strategies. Seminar in Venice Grand Master Fra’Matthew Festing opened the meeting, remembering first of all the Order leaders look to the future in a changing world Cardinal Patronus of the Order, Pio Laghi, who had died just days Message before, and who, in the fading moments of his life, sent his Rome, ‘virtual retreats’ and a ‘virtual Angelo Scola, who outlined the importance of the Order’s role as from the message to the participants to seminary’ to be developed; the Order’s humanitarian and spiritual promoter of peace among nations, honour their tasks, their Order to develop an important role mission and emphasised the religions and societies. President commitment, the Church. Fra’ in defending religious beliefs and Matthew stressed some of the practices in the face of secularist HIS LAST YEAR has seen many Order’s priorities: the legislation and propaganda changes, in the Order, in the encouragement of vocations, the concerning abortion, euthanasia; Tworld. In February we marked extension and enhancement of the Order to bring the work of the the passing of our beloved 78th health care and humanitarian International Association of Grand Master, Fra’ Andrew Bertie, operations, and the Order’s Catholic Bioethicists into a core who had led the Order for twenty emergency relief service, Malteser competency. years, the first Englishman ever to International. The reactions of one participant have been elected to that position. After special meetings for the reflected the reactions of all: ‘The He oversaw many important Professed knights, the Presidents, Order of Malta worldwide is in developments: extending the the Hospitallers and the Order’s good heart and very confident of diplomatic corps from 50 to over a Diplomatic Corps, twelve working addressing the very real challenges hundred, modernising the Order’s groups met and studied their own and opportunities the Venice administrative machinery, topics in detail. Some conclusions, Seminar has identified.’ increasing the number of national already clear: priority for The Seminar ended with a Associations to over 40, encouragement of vocations and solemn High Mass in the splendour encouraging the many hospitaller new members; a retreat house for of St.Mark’s Basilica, celebrated by and humanitarian initiatives which the Professed to be established in the Patriarch of Venice, Cardinal now means the Order has a presence in over 120 countries. The Order, in seeking its 79th members came to the fore. We Grand Master, turned again to an On assessing the examined how to encourage Englishman, Benedictine educated, vocations, including reviewing our as had been his predecessor. way of life and formation, from Fra’Matthew Festing, our own Order’s mission novitiate to final vows and thereafter, Grand Prior, was elected to the and also the purpose and formation Order’s highest office in March. The Venice international strategy seminar of the Second Class (bound by a Since then, he has undertaken State promise of Obedience) and the Third and Official Visits, received Heads probed the Order’s two-fold aims Class (committed by no formal of State and diplomats, gone on promise, but in honour bound). pilgrimage, visited the sick, and From the Grand Prior, Fra’ Fredrik Crichton-Stuart found time to encourage more vocations in the Order. Most N JANUARY, representatives from As well as religious aspects, our care recently, he opened the Order’s every Grand Priory, Sub Priory The religious life of the Order was a of our lords the sick was strongly International Strategy Seminar in Iand National Association gathered central focus. There are still members emphasised – the work for which the Venice, and listed the Order’s main in Venice for a Strategy Seminar - a who do not realise it is a religious Order was founded. Here too some priorities for the next decade: to vital and hardworking group which Order of the Church, far older than members are unaware of our great seek vocations, to support the examined the demands facing the the Dominicans or Jesuits. At its international activities, in spite of the Lourdes pilgrimage, the Holy Order over the coming years in our heart are the Professed, or Knights of excellent Activity Report produced Family Hospital in Bethlehem, and mission to remain faithful to our Justice. by the Grand Magistry biannually. Lourdes the Order’s worldwide relief service, ideals and continue to serve our When the Order was founded by Just two examples from the many Malteser International. lords the sick. Its recommendations Blessed Gerard in the eleventh where help is given to all, Pilgrimage 2009 These three great foci will will be taken forward to the Order’s century, the members were monks; impartially: our Holy Family Hospital Friday 1 May – occupy us throughout 2009 and Chapter General (election of senior only after the fall of Malta and the in Bethlehem is the only maternity well beyond. I ask you all to office bearers) in June 2009. loss of convent and priories did lay hospital for the entire Palestinian Friday 8 May response to our Grand Master’s call West Bank, serving a mainly Moslem for your commitment to help in population, without preference for whatever ways you can - with your race or creed, and where annual For more information or a time, your energy, your funds, running costs are over US$3 million; booking form, contact: whatever way you can best be part and the Blessed Gerard Foundation of these international efforts. Here in South Africa for HIV positive Anthony Brown at home we continue apace in mothers and infants, which serves Hospitaller Ltd developing the Companions, in our the Kwa-Zulu Natal region where Battens Farm Trust Homes, the hospital and over 80% of the population are HIV- Bickenhall hospice in London, the Dial-A- positive. It receives no government Taunton Journey in Scotland, some of which aid. Patients are a mixture of Somerset TA3 6TS you will note in this publication. different Christian and local religions And of course the many nameless and are treated totally impartially. kindnesses and support you give to Whilst considering how to Tel / fax 01823 480441 those in need throughout our land. maintain and expand our The world is undergoing a time of international work, we must Email: great uncertainty. There was never continue to develop local projects Alison- more need to help our fellow man. where our confreres can work anthony@battensfarm. directly with our lords the sick. fsnet.co.uk Charles Weld President, British Association of The Grand Prior, Fra’Fredrik the Order of Malta Crichton-Stuart 2008 26/2/09 11:05 Page 2 HOME On life’s pilgrimage Brightening lives An open letter from BASMOM Vice President, Patricia Talbot John Joliffe joined the weekenders and was impressed by the Kielder Trust in action S WE MOVE into another year OR EIGHT YEARS NOW the Order’s with morsels of meat. perhaps some of us are Scottish Delegation organises a There are engrossing indoor Athinking about our pilgrimage Fhighly popular weekend for a activities too – table tennis, pool, bar through life so far. Maybe the going dozen handicapped visitors from the billiards and scrabble, and a large is hard but as we are made for God, Glasgow area at the Calvert Trust’s chess board on the terrace, its pieces with His love and our perseverance Centre, Kielder Water, a large three feet high. The indoor facilities we can enjoy all the wonderful reservoir in magnificent natural are ideal in wet weather, though rewards that He bestows on us. surroundings just over the border in when I visited heavy rain hardly Northumberland. The leading spirit in seemed to hamper outdoor activities the project is Mrs.Cecilia McEwen, at all, proving that there is no such energetically supported by daughter thing as bad weather, only unsuitable There are many ways in which we Sophie who coordinates the Voluntary clothes. Beaming faces came in out of can show Our Lord that we really Helpers at the Hospital, when not the pouring rain, to dry off and start love Him by how we conduct our herself at the wheel of an ambulance. something else. The sense of lives and follow His will. As Some visitors are severely achievement which all these members of BASMOM we have many handicapped, but the outdoor strenuous activities provide is opportunities of being pilgrims, and activities organised by the Trust’s beyond price, and is reflected in the of sharing our journey with others. highly professional staff are an cheerful grins of those who have On our annual Lourdes pilgrimage inspiring example of ways to mastered them. we can really commit to helping our brighten their lives. Archbishop Mario Conti came sick pilgrims. For them it is a special from Glasgow to preside and say time with all the loving kindness that Vice President Patricia Talbot Mass, a tribute to this great project. is bestowed on them. They feel part Another aspect in our pilgrimage is As at Lourdes pilgrimages, 24-hour of an extended family with whom to think more deeply about our The emphasis is on outdoor activities care is required, with little time off they can share the joys, fears and prayer life.
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