Hospitallers is published quarterly by the Sovereign military hospitaller of st. john of jerusalem of rhodes and of malta® Volume 5 Fall 2008 AMERICAN ASSOCIATION, U.S.A.

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Fellow members of the American Association: Changing the World One Child at a Time Upcoming Presidential and Other Elections he 2008 Presidential race, which will culminate A Visit to Honduras on November 4th, has been interesting, even By Bob Fredericks, KMOb Tbizarre, to say the least. And, at the same time, there are many important state and local contests. n July 28, a small group of American Associa- Soon we will be finally deciding for whom we will vote, and, in that connection, I want remind all of tion members traveled across time and space to you of our Order’s mission to WITNESS AND DEFEND Oa world that most Americans cannot conceive. OUR FAITH. As Catholics, as well as members of Joe Metz, KMOb, the American Association Hospi- our Order, we are duty bound to vote for candidates taller, Patricia King, DM, Chairman of the House of who are pro-life, and we must fulfill that obligation. Remember: the Church Friendship Board, Lou Cappelli, KM, Tony Rosa, Aux., teaches that there can be no set of social, economic, or other concerns that a member of the House of Friendship Board, and Bob can offset the promotion or support of abortion on the part of any candidate. Fredericks, KMOb, New Jersey Area Chair, flew to Hon- The stakes are high. If we help lead the way to elect pro-life candidates, at duras (one of the poorest countries in Central America) both the national and state levels, we will thwart pro-abortion legislation, and to visit our work in Honduras: the House of Friendship. enhance the chances that the right Supreme Court Justices will be appointed. Children at home in Honduras. In 1986, Patricia and Henry King traveled to Hon- Board of Councillors Meeting, September 4, 2008 duras to adopt Andrew, the first of their two children. Highlights of actions taken at our recent meeting of the Board of Councillors Seeing the abysmal poverty in Honduras, they mortgaged their home on the New Jersey Shore in New York include: to secure the necessary funds to construct their first shelter, which initially housed 12 chil- • Approval of the Report of the 2008 Nominating Committee, recommend- dren. From this modest beginning, the House of Friendship has grown to five shelters housing ing eleven excellent candidates, including three incumbents, to fill eight 221 boys and girls from ages two to eighteen. vacancies on the Board of Councillors as of January 1, 2009. Soon you will The children in our shelters are literally picked up off the street and from garbage dumps be receiving a ballot for your votes to elect a third of the 2009 Board of Councillors. Once again, I urge you to resist the temptation to be “provincial” where they have been abandoned. In Honduras, these children are referred to as “throw away when you vote, but rather to only consider the experienced leadership, geo- children”! If not rescued from the street, they will devolve to a life of drugs and prostitution. graphical / Area representation, and skill needs we have. Be sure to vote! We arrived at Hogar Providencia in El Progreso and were greeted by the 56 boys and girls • Approval of the following Area Chair appointments which I proposed for in residence who ran up to us with arms open, looking to be picked up and hugged. three year terms ending in September 2011: The children are clean, well-nourished, happy and energetic. Their dormitories are Connecticut: Mary Jean and Thomas Tisdale (Co-Chairs) (New) spotless. It is an oasis of love and care in a Catholic environment. Interestingly, five of these Florida – Miami: Mark Wolff (Reappointment) “throw-away children” have obtained university degrees and several more are currently study- Florida – Naples: Richard Copeland (New) ing at the university level. Helping us with the spiritual needs of the children are the School Florida – Vero Beach: Margaret Lyons (Reappointment) Sisters of Notre , whose motherhouse is in St. Louis. Indiana (Northern Division): Christopher Godfrey (New) The next day we visited the “homes” from which our children come. We saw poverty as Indiana (Southern Division): Hans Geisler (Reappointment) bad as anywhere in the world; the tarpaper shacks housing eight or nine family members, cor- Michigan: Thomas Larabell (Reappointment) rugated tin roofs, dirt floors that turn to thick mud during the rainy season. The only running Missouri: Carole Less (Reappointment) New York – NYC: Camille and Rory Kelleher (Co-Chairs) (New) water springs from a small spigot in the middle of the “village.” Buckets are filled with this Ohio: Declan O’Sullivan (Reappointment) water, which is contaminated with intestinal parasites. We saw one young teenaged boy trying Rhode Island: Joan and Robert Arrigan (Co-Chairs) (New) to shake the lice out of his hair. Sanitary facilities are non-existent. We commend these outstanding and for agreeing to take on Is this unusual for Honduras? No, this is typical. Ninety-eight percent of the country lives these responsibilities, and we look forward to their providing great leadership in poverty! in their Areas over the next three years. On Tuesday evening we had dinner with the Hospitaller of the Honduran Association, • Approval of Joan Straka as Hospitaller of the Pittsburgh Area. Bernard Casanova, KM, and both the plant manager and the director of human resources • Reception of a report on the Haiti Emergency Food Relief Project. Overall, at Fruit of the Loom, a major employer in Honduras in their clothing plant in El Progresso. we received $142,000 in contributions, including $50,000 from Malteser Through a personal contact with Warren Buffet in Omaha, whose Berkshire Hathaway owns International, $5,000 each from the Canadian, Federal, and Western As- Fruit of the Loom, personnel from that company have made two visits to our shelters, bring- sociations, and $77,000 from over 500 American Association members. ing gifts of underwear and tee shirts to each of our children. Both the Honduran Association To date, we have distributed $113,000 of these funds to our supported and Fruit of the Loom promised additional support for our shelters. projects in Haiti. When you see the poverty in Honduras, it is easy to become discouraged. But when you • Recognition of Msgr. Kevin Wallin, Spiritual Advisor to the Board, who has see happy, vibrant children, you come away with the thought that, to a small degree, some been designated a Conventual Chaplain by the and the Sover- lives are being saved. eign Council. He will be installed at our Annual Dinner in November. Lou Cappelli, KM, offered the following thoughts on our visitation to Honduras: • Approval of three new Deputy Chaplains: Thanks to all of you for the opportunity to share this wonderful experience visiting Hogar Msgr. J. Peter Cullen — CT Providencia. I will never forget the children we met. Seeing first-hand how the Order of Malta’s Rev. Kevin Reilly — Eastern CT contributions have been able to change the lives of hundreds of children was rewarding. That’s Rev. John Coughlin — Northern IN in no small part due to the fantastic group of staff and volunteers who give more than just their • Recognition of bequests to the Association from the estates of Elmer and time. They give their hope, energy, and their hearts as well. The most generous gift we can give Gerald Kamm of South Bend, IN, aggregating over $1 million. These funds are being added to those of the Malta Human Services Foundation, to to a person in need is the hope of a better future, and that is what is offered to these children. endow our grants program. There were many touching events that took place during this journey, and each of us has • Report on the American Association’s presentation about the Order’s initia- our own special remembrances. The warm and “celebrity-like” welcome by the children was tives and our intention to expand, at the meeting of the U.S. Conference of special. I believe I now know how celebrities feel when asked for an autograph. Catholic Bishops on June 12th, in Orlando, FL. Over 60 Bishops, Archbish- Joe Metz, KMOb, the Hospitaller of the American Association, offered the following reflec- ops, and Cardinals were in attendance. tion on our visit: • Updates on several initiatives led by members of the Board, of which some Our visit to the orphanage near the Town of El Progresso, which cares for 56 children, and are discussed below. our visits to the outlying after-school programs, left a profound feeling on me. I personally Stragic Planning of the American Association experienced and witnessed how the Order of Malta literally lifts up children who otherwise Jack Pohrer, and Chairman of the Strategic Planning Committee, would have been left to a lifetime of suffering, if not an early death, either literally or by sim- updated the Board on the status of the strategic planning initiative that com- ply giving up on life. It is a very basic matter of survival. The model of our Order, in lovingly menced earlier this year. caring for the least of our brethren (and let me assure you these children are among them), is Subcommittees have been working all summer, and the full Committee plans surely Mother Teresa of Calcutta. Sister Teracita of the School Sisters of (continued on page 2) to present their report to the Board for approval at the November 13th Board meeting. Jack Pohrer will present the final version of the plan at our Annual Business Meeting on November 14th. Our Mission Malta Human Services Foundation The American Association of the Order of Malta, carefully observing the centuries-old tradition of the Order, has Soon the Foundation will launch a major campaign to grow the assets of our as its mission, to enhance the glory of God through the sanctification of its members, through dedication to and Foundation. Why? So that we can build our endowed funds, so as to enhance our capabilities to fund the Lourdes (continued on back page) defense of the faith and the Holy See and through service to our man, especially the sick and poor. Lourdes Pilgrimage 2009 – Bernadette “A Personal Journey” by Sue and Hap Redgate

ach year, over the first weekend in May, the Members of the Order of Malta from all over the world gather in Lourdes to minister to the sick and give witness to our faith. This year the American Association will participate Efor the twenty-fourth consecutive year. Many years ago my friend and sponsor to the American Association, John McManmon, who was then Chair for the Boston Area, was encouraging me to participate in the annual Lourdes Pilgrimage. I knew of Lourdes and I was familiar with the story of Bernadette. I knew she was gathering wood not far from her house when she saw the Virgin Mary. I knew few believed this poor child experienced multiple apparitions, until she proclaimed, “The lady said her name was the Immaculate Conception.” I knew these things because I went to the Im- Hap and Sue Redgate maculate Conception School and heard the story at least once a year for eight years. John spoke of the six million people who visit each year. He told me that of the 6,800 people who have reported a cure, the Church has proclaimed 68 as miracles, most occurring at the Grotto. If I were to follow in the footsteps of mil- lions of pilgrims who preceded me, he said, “I would have a life-altering experience.” I signed up for the pilgrimage, firm in the call to service but as a sociological skeptic. Decades of practice in the financial industry had made me used to hyperbole. A life altering experience! Fast forward now to a Sunday evening, after the closing benediction, a conversation with the woman I spent the week in service to. I asked of her experiences on the pilgrimage and posed the question, “Would you come again?” Without hesitation she responded, “Yes, I finally feel worthy of my disease.” Worthy! This is a fully mature, married woman who is a competitive athlete. Worthy! When she posed the same question to me, I responded, “You have enhanced my life. If I had not come, I would not have met you. If I don’t come again, who will I miss?” My sense is that most people travel to Lourdes looking for some way to cope with an awful hand they have been dealt. To be able to participate in this struggle is such an extraordinary privilege; the life-altering blessing lays within witnessing the calm contained in the outcome. We have come to know that we all journey to Lourdes for different reasons. The personal joy we come away with is our gift from the sick we serve. So it is this personal journey that we encourage you to join, not unlike the personal journey Bernadette took from the cachot when she first saw the Virgin in 1858. Eighteen months ago when Sue and I were asked to chair this pilgrimage, we were humbled to be asked and accepted with enthusiasm. Not too difficult a task. Many successful pilgrimages had preceded us. We were not carving out new terri- tory, just following the blueprint. Simply organize a gathering for 400, as an away game. Well, a lot has changed over the past eighteen months. Jet fuel costs have skyrocketed and by the end of September, the airline industry will have removed some 10% of capacity from service. That has required rethinking the logistics of the entire pilgrimage — so much for the blueprint. In order to keep the cost of the 2009 Pilgrimage close to that of pilgrimages, we have arranged to fly a much smaller out of Newark. This charter will transport our malades, caregivers, medical team, auxiliary and those Knights and Dames necessary for the transfer and safety of the malades. The rest of us will travel commercially to Lourdes. Thankfully, we have a very experienced leadership group working with us augmented by the tireless efforts of Carla, Ray, Rev. Trexler and the entire staff in the New York office. We are grateful for their assistance in making an enormous task manageable. A number of Knights and Dames have informed us they would love to go on the pilgrimage if only they could travel differently, their dietary restrictions could be accommodated, or their (you fill in the blank) need could be meet. Knights and Dames who are not malades but have physical limitations are most welcome. If there is enough interest, we have plans to organize an “Emeritus” team to accommodate just such needs. As you will note, the theme for 2009 for the Domain in Lourdes is “Bernadette.” This blends seamlessly with the American Association theme of “A Personal Journey.” After the first vision on February 11, 1858, Bernadette traveled to the crack in the cliff where she hoped to see the girl in white. Although no one else saw the apparition, they witnessed Bernadette; how she changed physically, and her ecstasy. A poor miller’s daughter, Bernadette was forever changed by her time with the girl in white surrounded by the branches of roses. Our malades take this hope-filled journey for a myriad of reasons; some seeking a cure, some seeking the grace of peace, but all seeking. We are the facilitators. We are the wit- nesses. In our privilege of service, the grace that falls on the malade spills over on us as well. The 2009 Lourdes Pilgrimage departs Wednesday, April 29th and returns Tuesday. May 5th. We look forward to you joining us. If you are not able to attend, we ask your prayers. An invitation to join the pilgrimage, along with the reserva- tion form and related fulfillment information, has been mailed. If you plan to attend the Pilgrimage, please return your reservation as soon as possible, as the logistics this year are quite complex. Each pilgrimage is unique. Each pilgrimage presents unique opportunities for service. Each pilgrimage grants unique graces. It is with these thoughts in mind that we ask you to join us in Lourdes for “A “Personal Journey.” Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for us.

Changing the World One Child at a Time (continued from cover) Notre Dame of St. Louis, with her Sisters in the nearby convent and school, is truly the Mother Teresa of Honduras! She works along with Patricia King, DM, who was also greeted with hugs and kisses from the children in the Orphanage as one of their “Mothers.” This “hands-on” love and care is what the Order of Malta is all about. During our visit Bob Fredericks, the leader of our delegation, asked me to give the prayer before dinner one evening. In my prayer I recited the locution given by Jesus in 1947 to Mother Teresa. It tells the story of the work of our Order in this poorest of countries:

“Come Be My Light” My little one, come, come, Carry Me with you to them…. Carry me into the holes of the poor, I want you to bring the poor to Me, Come, be My light. I cannot go alone. And the Sisters, who would offer their lives The only source of water for the village. They don’t know Me, so they don’t want Me. As victims of My love, will bring these souls to Me. You come, go amongst them.

No one leaves Honduras without being affected. The Order of Malta finds itself in so many places where we are try- ing to change lives for the better and we also are changed in the process. The House of Friendship is a Work of the New Jersey Area and has been supported by grants from the American Association. Bob Fredericks, KMOb, is the New Jersey Area Chair and a member of the Board of Councillors 2 Shepherds Program Celebrates Tenth Anniversary

Ten years ago, a 14-year-old boy stood alone on a corner with little hope. His mother had died of AIDS, his father was in prison and he was a ward of the state of Connecticut.

The Shepherds Program, founded as an Order of Malta Project by Knights experience at Lourdes was a turning point in my life. How do you comfort Brendan Fisk and Barney Phillips, opened the doors to Kolbe Cathedral High someone who is dying, infirm, blind, deaf or disabled? I found that the only School and a brighter future for Jabar, Shepherds’ inaugural student. Today, tool needed is a humble heart. Helping others was such a fulfillment that with Brendan’s support as his Mentor, Jabar has earned I am now pursuing a Nursing degree.” Although sur- Finance and Accounting degrees from St. John’s Univer- rounded by strangers, Mary felt that “in Lourdes, it was sity (‘06), and now pauses on the corner of Wall Street as wonderful to know no matter what gender or race you he heads to his internship at Credit-Suisse. were, others still love you.” Celebrating its Tenth Anniversary year, Shepherds’ Taking time from their schedules, Bill Besgen mission is to provide at-risk inner city Connecticut and his wife, Dame Cathy Besgen, have made a difference youth with a quality education at a parochial high school in four students’ lives with their most recent Mentees en- and the introduction of a positive role model — a Men- tering St. John’s University and the University of Vermont tor — who fills a void in their lives. With financial sup- this Fall. “It is rare that someone would care so much port from the Order of Malta and personal commitments about a stranger, someone who is not part of his family,” from more than 45 Knights and Dames, Shepherds has remarks Bill’s student Mario. “Bill takes time to send me grown from five students at one school — Kolbe Cathe- postcards from his travels all over the world that make me dral — to 90 students across five partnership schools, feel that I am sharing the adventure with him.” serving the needs of disadvantaged youth in Bridgeport, While at Kolbe, Mario was recognized for his academic New Haven, Stamford and Danbury. Eighty-eight Shep- achievements as a State of Connecticut Scholar Athlete herds students have earned high school diplomas in dis- and member of the Spanish National ; he tricts where dropout rates hover at 22.4%. And 92% of scored the winning goal for the 2007 State Soccer Cham- them are enrolled in institutions of higher learning. pionship. “I am first generation to dream of going to col- Shepherds students hail from a myriad of ethnic lege. Bill inspired me and taught me that failing is not an Mary Webb’s participation in the Lourdes Youth heritages and religions. Most come from single parent Pilgrimage proved a life-changing experience option,” Mario shares. “When going forward in life, you homes or live with grandparents or guardians. Parents want to be able to look back on people who believe in are incapacitated or incarcerated. All lack adequate financial resources to ac- you; people who care about your future. For me, Bill and Cathy are there.” cess the education they need to reach their full potential. By Norma K. Darragh, Executive Director “The Order of Malta truly touched my life,” shares Mary Webb. “My Mentor, Mrs. Hope Carter, taught me kindness, generosity, commitment To learn how you can make a difference as a Shepherds Sponsor/Mentor, and the impact that one human being can have on another.” In 2004, Mary call (203) 367-4272, email [email protected] or visit the was able to “give back” through participation in the Youth Pilgrimage. “My Website at www.ShepherdsInc.com.

A Message from Jack Pohrer, Chancellor of the American Association

want to congratulate and thank all our Dames and I know that the Auxiliary Chairs in the following areas would be most happy to assist by shar- Knights for being so generous in the call for help for ing their ideas, programs and success with other areas. These are outstanding young Dames I Haitians who are starving. The response was very and Knights who are setting the bar for a successful Auxiliary Corps: in Boston, Tim Dolan; in impressive. You raised $76,503.72, the Canadian, Federal Connecticut, Jen and John Mitchell; in New Jersey, John Jennings; in New York, Ken Craig; and Western Associations each contributed $5,000 and and in St. Louis, Joan and Mark Guyol. Malteser International contributed $50,000. Thanks to your generous response, over 400,000 meals are being It is extremely important for Knights and Dames to invite and encourage Catholics that meet provided to the Haitian peoples. the criteria of our Order to join us in our mission to serve our Lord’s sick and poor and for the I am happy to report that the Strategic Planning process, defense of our Faith. because of the committee’s ongoing work, will result in I am often asked about the schedule that is followed for new candidates to enter the Order. a plan that will be ready to be presented to the Board of Here is an abbreviated calendar. For the complete instructions about completing the process, Councillors for approval at its November meeting. This will see the Members Only section of the Association’s website. set the American Association goals for the next five (5) June 1: Pages 1 and 2 of the application are due in the New York office . years. The Committee still invites comments from the membership — you can contact me or any committee member listed below. Contact information for each member is available on the July 1: Pastor’s letter of recommendation (page 4) is due in the New York office. American Association website. August 1: Baptismal Certificate, Marriage Certificate or Statement of Marital Status is due Strategic Planning Committee in the New York office. Jack E. Pohrer, Chair Marjorie L. Bycraft April 1: The signed pledge to the Grand Master (page 5), the Service in Preparation form (page 3), and the Passage fee are due in the New York office. Thomas F. Carney, Jr. Joseph M. Cianciolo Robert L. Dillmeier John T. Dunlap April-May: Admissions committee completes its review of the applications. Paul H. Durnan Thomas J. Flood May: Board of Councillors reviews and vote on Admission committee recommendation. Approved applications are sent to the Sovereign Council Robert J. Fredericks Mary C. McCooey in Rome for their review. Joseph G. Metz Richard D. Milone, MD End of June: Sovereign Council notifies American Association of disposition of applications. James F. O’Connor Howard V. Redgate November: Investiture at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, New York City John F. Shine Peggy Stanton If your area does not have an active Auxiliary Corps program, I encourage you to volunteer God Bless, your help to your Area Chair to begin an Auxiliary Corps program. If you have one already, see if you can help with the program in your area. The Auxiliary Corps has proven to be fertile Jack Pohrer, KM

ground to identify potential Knights and Dames for the Order as well as to allow others who 314-241-7777 Ext. 23

share our dedication, vigor, and commitment to do God’s work. [email protected]

3 Spiritual Reading by Rev. Msgr. James P. Cassidy, Assistant Principal Chaplain

ome subjects must be a part of our consciousness all the time. God, prayer, virtue, temptation, sin — these con- cepts all need to be woven into our daily thoughts, in fact, into our daily lives. One of the most compelling moral Sissues of the last thirty-five years is abortion. As Catholics, we have no choice but to be involved, out of a sense of recognition that an unspeakable evil has found its way into our society, not by accident but by the coordinated effort of a broad spectrum of different groups. Many of us remember the time when abortion was illegal and was considered morally reprehensible by society as a whole. Over the last four decades, so many forces in our country have tried to make abortion appear to be a public good; at a minimum, every woman’s right — and lately every child’s right as well. This obvious campaign to justify a procedure that destroys a life by packaging it every way but for what it really is which is the destruction of a human being has been a national tragedy. Rev. Msgr. James P. Cassidy Spiritual reading can sometimes take us into realms that are very physical, not always into the back of the chapel but into the lives and hearts of so many whose lives have been changed by abortion. This issue’s recommendation is not what one would normally consider “spiritual” in line with the works of theologians and philosophers. Instead, I am sug- gesting you consider reading a book that is certain to cause you to focus on the horrific work being done in the name of abortion rights. Forbidden Grief by Theresa Burke, Ph.D., with David C. Reardon, Ph.D. explores the dramatic impact that abortion has on the other participants in the process — the women and men who choose to have abortions. Dr. Burke points out the long-term damaging impact that abortion has on those who participate. She further explores the “inconvenient truth” that society, through Planned Parenthood, NARAL, the AMA, the APA, the media, politicians and individuals, seeks to ignore — that abortion does tremendous damage. The systemic effort to hide and distort the suffering caused by abortion only compounds the evil being perpetrated. This is not an easy book to read, long, small margins, no pictures, tables, illustrations — just straight text that gets to the core of the issue Dr. Burke is addressing. She is the same Dr. Burke who founded Rachel’s Vineyard, an organization that helps people face and deal with the personal, spiritual, emotional and psychological issues that result from abortion. You can not read this book without being moved. You can not read this book without being reminded that as Catholics and indeed, as caring human beings, we can not be on the sidelines on this issue. John Paul was very clear on the issue. Above all, the common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights — for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture — is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination. (Christifideles Laici, no. 38) As the USCCB has said, not every moral issue carries the same weight. Two temptations in public life can distort the Church’s defense of human life and dignity: The first is a moral equivalence that makes no ethical distinctions between different kinds of issues involving human life and dignity. The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life from the moment of conception until natural death is always wrong and is not just one issue among many. It must always be opposed. Read this book and pray.

We Serve Our Lords, the Sick and the Poor By Richard D. Milone, MD, KM

ach year during the week that encompasses the first Sunday in May, the American Association joins the World- wide Order of Malta in a Pilgrimage to Lourdes, France. Over 1,000 malades accompany members of the Order Efrom 54 countries to share in the wonder of Our Lady’s request to Bernadette – to process to the Grotto, to wash in the waters of the stream, and to pray. The American Association has been bringing malades and their caregivers to Lourdes since 1986, and in recent years, the number of malades sponsored by the American Association has numbered around 50 each year. Behind the scenes, there is a lot of work and a lot of prayer that leads up to the professional judgment of the medical committee that makes the decisions about who will go to Lourdes as a malade. The committee also makes recommen- dations about whether a caregiver is medically necessary. Since the selection and medical supervision of the malades is one of the most important aspects of the Pilgrimage, it seems appropriate that our members be given a fuller view of the work of the Malade Selection Committee. It is our hope that in doing so we will build a better understanding not only of the process, but also of the criteria used to determine whether a candidate for the Pilgrimage is medically appropriate. The malade selection process begins several months before the departure of the Pilgrimage. Only Knights and Dames of the Order may propose a potential malade. If a Knight or Dame would like to sponsor a malade, the first step is to complete a Malade Sponsor Form (available on line at the American Association website). It is important that the Malta member truly knows the malade, has spent time explaining the Pilgrimage and is available to the malade to answer questions during the selection process. It is not necessary, but it is an advantage, if the sponsor has been on the Lourdes Pilgrimage, and if the sponsor plans to attend that year. Sometimes a familiar face is very comforting to the malade, espe- cially at the outset, when it is all so unknown and overwhelming. Following an initial review and approval of the Sponsor Form, the American Association office will send a packet to the sponsor that includes a Medical Release Form to be signed by the malade permitting their physician to give medical information to the Malade Selection Committee, a Medical Evaluation Form to be completed by the candidate’s physi- cian which details the medical condition and nursing requirements, and a Malade Information Form which gathers other pertinent data such as passport information and caregiver information. Once all of the information is completed, the sponsor returns the packet to the Malta office. The Malade Selection Committee meets for the first time in mid-January, and continues to meet regularly until all of the malades are selected. The Committee is composed of physicians and nurses, each of whom receives and reviews a copy of the full medical packet prior to the meeting. Other non-medical Pilgrimage veterans also participate in this selection process, and although they do not have access to the medical data, their input is helpful regarding logistics, communica- tion and data tabulation. The Pilgrimage Chairs for that year are ex officio members of the Malade Selection Committee. Reviewing the Medical Evaluation Form itself often makes for an interesting challenge. First, the candidates come from all over the country and are not personally examined by the Committee, so decisions are made, for the most part, from a paper report. When there is a question, and additional information is needed, an MD or RN from the Committee is assigned to call the malade’s personal physician. Even with the best of intention, personal physicians completing the form and “signing off” that the patient is medically stable to travel to Lourdes, are likely not aware (continued on page 7)

4 The Hospitaller’s Report Thoughts on New Challenges for “Obsequium Pauperum” by Joseph Metz, Ph.D., KMOb

erhaps no one has captured the imagination and won the admiration, respect, and hearts of Americans more than St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta. To the end of her life, Mother Teresa insisted that the single most important reason Pfor the existence of her congregation was “…to satiate the thirst of Jesus…” this to be done by self-sacrifice and service for poor souls in His Name. So, too, when we enter the Order and promise to achieve “Christian perfection, and to practice love of neighbor…” we are called upon to satiate the thirst of Jesus by serving our sick and poor. But do we consciously link our mission and our many works to a Christ-centered spirituality as did Mother Teresa? In doing our works, do we proclaim our solidar- ity with each other and with the Lord Himself by adorning a Malta pin or decoration? This is not to set ourselves apart from those we hope to serve, but to affirm our calling as members of a lay . In a word, linking our place in the Order to our personal spirituality is our greatest new challenge in an advanced technological society. Americans have a long and proud history of volunteerism. It is often humanitarian and secular and sometimes loosely religiously-based. But we in the Order have to see ourselves differently! Our challenge, and indeed our only hope for “relevance” in a secular society, is to consciously link our works and ministries and our spirituality as followers of Christ. And I would like to suggest following our beloved Connecticut Hospitaller- emeritus, Don Wiesen, that while we Joe Metz, Hospitaller have all heard that we have a commitment to the Order — a mandate to help the sick and the poor — this commitment should be reversed in our minds: “Our commitment is first and foremost to ourselves. We have a commitment to our own spiritual progress. That is the single most important commitment in our entire lives. All other commitments- to our education, business, community, social lives — to the Order of Malta — all these commitments become insignificant in comparison to our own spiritual progress — our commitment to know and love God — to come to see him in every person we meet.” How do we go about meeting this challenge? First, we should develop this new mindset with the help of our Malta Chaplains. Have we utilized our chaplains by engaging in dialogue with them on developing a spiritual program for our Members, by encouraging daily Mass attendance, Masses together throughout the year, and by holding “days of recollec- tion” and retreats? In our Association, we are hoping to link our personal spirituality to our works by holding an “Area Chair/Area Hospitaller Retreat.” Our theme will be “Befriending the Stranger- Walking and Praying with Jesus and Jean Vanier.” We are doing this to allow our Members to share their works for the social and spiritual victims of modern society in the context of scriptural and theological reflection. Our challenge is to make membership in the Order more than an honor or a recognition of prior service to the Church, but to make it a “way of life” within the Church. And this will cost us our time, money and energy. Another challenge, closely related to our spirituality, is for all of us in the Order to better understand and teach one another how we relate to the Church itself. We would do well to follow and reflect upon the observations of His Emi- nence, Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran. Cardinal Tauran tells us that the Holy See offers us concrete and constant spiritual assistance through our Prelate and Chaplains. Second, His Eminence reminds us that the Order relates to the Church because the Order through its works lifts up the credibility of the Church, “lumen gentium” (a light to the nations). He writes: “Within the reality of human misery the Order accomplishes the “obsequium pauperum.” Finally, to succeed in our works, we should learn to be more business-like, to be guided by a “master plan,” includ- ing a stated goal, a strategic plan, a work plan and timetable, a sound budget and financial plan, and we must make use of ongoing monitoring and evaluation, in a word, “quality control.” We must work with the assistance of our younger Members in making maximum use of technology and communications. But, at the same time, we must be open to the Spirit in choosing which works we will do for the social and spiritual victims of modern society. We did this in the American Association when we designated “Prison Ministry” as the work by which we wished to be known. We put ourselves at risk in doing this. We must be good citizens of the international world. If we are really to be a light to all nations, we must be better citizens of the worldwide Order and learn more about how we can work together across continents in the 21st century. This is why the recent initiative of the Order of Malta Worldwide Relief — Malteser International Americas — has so much promise and meaning. It is possible that in the future, the Order of Malta will not only be known in the United States for its Lourdes Pilgrimages and many good works at home but also for the major role it plays in disaster relief in the Americas. And our challenge is to continue to bring many Members and their families to Lourdes to accompany our beloved Malades and caregivers. This is the training ground and root of our spirituality. We all come home with a cure, and thereafter we more easily take up our hands-on work for the sick and poor. It will bear fruit. “Works of love are works of peace” (Mother Teresa).

Natural Family Planning Video Available for Training Education and Defense of the Faith in Action

he Long Island Area has been working with the Diocese of Rockville Centre to produce a DVD video introducing Natural Family Planning (NFP). In an effort to “defend the faith” and debunk the myths of the Church’s teach- Tings on sexuality and marital love, this video reveals one of the Catholic Church’s best kept secrets: an effective, simple and natural approach to family planning. Using modern scientific methods, it is nearly 100% effective. NFP helps married couples to achieve or safely postpone pregnancy. Working in harmony with nature, this approach removes any artificial barriers to the full, free, faithful, and fruitful union of sacramental marriage. Matt and Jennifer DeMarco, Area Chairs for the Long Island Area, are joined on the video by other married couples who share their own experiences of discovering, learning, and living NFP. These couples give a heartfelt, real-life witness to its effectiveness, challenges, and many benefits — practical, relational, and spiritual — as they cooperate with God’s natural plan for married sexuality. This DVD can be used in Pre-Cana courses because many engaged couples are simply not learning the Catholic Church’s teachings in this realm. The video is now available nationwide, on the Diocese of Rockville Centre website (www.drvc.org, under Office of Faith Formation). Other groups such as the USCCB and other websites are interested in carrying the video as well. The American Association provided a grant to help fund this project. 5 Missions for Humanity by Kathy Crosson Standing Up and Being Counted t is a matter of life and death for my people” were the words of Cardinal Polycarp Pengo, Cardinal of MSNBC ran a poll recently on its website asking the Ithe Archdiocese of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, to the following question: mission team from Missions for Humanity, “Please come as Should the motto “In God We Trust” be removed from often as you can.” U.S. currency?” This team of 18 volunteers, led by Order of Malta Auxil- There were over eight million responses. The tally was a surprise iary Kathy Crosson, President of Missions for Humanity, was to some when 19% of respondents supported removing the motto one of two mission teams sent out this summer to work in and voted for the statement: “Yes. It’s a violation of the principle of some of the world’s poorest communities. The second team separation of church and state.” Building a village school in Mkamba Tanzania. of volunteers traveled to the Fall River, MA diocesan mission Eighty-one percent (81%) supported keeping the motto and in Guaimaca, Honduras. responded in favor of the following statement: “No. The motto has Although officially incorporated in January 2008, Missions for Humanity’s beginnings date historical and patriotic significance and does nothing to establish back to June 2004 when it was known as the Bishop Stang Mission Team. This inaugural mission a state religion.” team, comprised of seven volunteers (2 dentists, 1 contractor & 3 educators), traveled to Guaim- aca, Honduras. They set out on a journey that would forever change not only their lives, but the lives of many others. Since that first trip Missions for Humanity has grown tremendously. The size of the mission team has increased from 7 to between 30 and 40 each year and includes doctors, dentists, nurse Guidelines for the Sale practitioners, nurses, teachers and people with various other skills. In 2007 Missions for Human- of Malta Merchandise ity started running mission trips to both Honduras and Tanzania and this past summer completed its seventh and eighth mission trips. Guidelines have been developed and distributed to Area Chairs The problems and needs in Honduras and Tanzania are very similar. The majority of the peo- regarding the sale of “Malta” merchandise, including the sale of ple in both countries live in extreme poverty. In the villages, which are where most of the people merchandise in Lourdes. See your Area Chair for information. A we serve come from, the people live in mud houses with 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 dirt floors and no windows. They do not have clean water or involved in any way in the sale of merchandise at Order of Malta electricity and food is often scarce. They cannot afford what and American Association functions. minimal medical care might be available to them and dental care is an impossibility. The day to day tasks of the villagers are those of survival. “Each year when I return home, I know that they have given to me far more than I could ever give to them.” said Crosson of the Tanzanians. “As one person on Association Forms Available On-Line our team said, ‘We give from our excess; they give to us from their nothingness.’” Villagers waiting to see Many of the necessary forms including the Association Admissions Since 2004, Missions for Humanity teams have cared for Missions for Humanity pediatric nurses. application, the Auxiliary Admissions application, the Lourdes over 3000 people, pulled 2800 teeth and distributed 1800 pairs Pilgrimage forms, Grant applications, and on-line donation access of eye glasses. They have helped in the construction of schools, introduced jewelry making as a are available on the web site. All members are strongly encour- means of income for single mothers and collected and donated over $250,000 worth of medica- aged to retrieve forms from the web site since it is less costly. By using the web to obtain the necessary forms, it eliminates tions and supplies to the people we serve. Having only recently received 501 (c) (3) status, all the need to store, handle and mail forms, saving both time and mission trips to date have been funded solely by the volunteers and private donations. money. Forms are in the “Members Only” section of the Associa- If you would like more information about Missions for Humanity, or are interested in tion’s web site at www.maltausa.org. donating or joining us on a mission trip, please visit our ever growing website at www.missionsforhumanity.org, or contact Kathy Crosson at [email protected]. Kathy Crosson, President of Missions for Humanity, is also an educator and chairs the science depart- ment at Bishop Stang High School in North Dartmouth, MA. Deceased Members from 1/1/2008 to Present Service is at the Heart of the Order of Malta Mr. Robert O. Bachand Topsfield, MA Mrs. Margaret J. Black Kalispell, MT hen you need something done, ask the busiest person to do it.” Over the Mr. Charles A. Dailey Fairview, PA years, Carl Schwarz has found himself to be a very busy man in service to Deacon Arthur W. Eccleston Staten Island, NY Wthe Order of Malta. Carl Schwarz has proven himself to be ready, willing and able to serve — he has been an Mr. Joe Fechtel Dallas, TX active participant in the goal of the Order to maintain its historical and religious integrity by Mr. James G. Flannery Barrington Hills, IL defending its name and its symbols from unwarranted and unauthorized use by self-styled orders. Mr. John J. Flannery Warren, NJ As Chairman of the North American Committee, Carl has provided leadership and guidance to Mr. Thomas J. Flatley Milton, MA representatives from the other North American Associations. He has worked tirelessly to further Dr. Louis J. Iandoli Gulf Stream Breeze, FL the aims of the Committee to ensure that the Order’s standing and prestige is not damaged by Mr. James C. Laflin Clayton, MO groups seeking to benefit by falsely claiming a link to the Order of Malta for their own purposes. Mrs. Joan M. Lauler Niantic, CT For personal reasons, he has recently submitted his resignation to the committee. Mr. Gerald M. Luff New Canaan, CT The Grand Magistry and the Sovereign Council have recognized Carl for his work with the Mrs. Judith Maryanne McAree Fishers, IN North American Committee. H.E. Fra’ John A. MacPherson wrote to Carl recently: We will miss you on the North American committee, but I want to thank you on behalf of the Mr. James A. McTague Naples, FL Grand Magistry and the committee for your work during the past three years. I have proposed to Mr. James J. Oussani Brooklyn, NY the Sovereign Council, and they have agreed, that you be presented with the insignia of Com- Dr. Thomas Donald Pemrick Troy, NY mander of Merit “Pro Merito Melitensi.” Mr. Raymond G. Rinehart Hinsdale, IL Carl A. Schwarz, Jr., KMOb has been a member of the Order of Malta, American Association, Mr. Everett Monroe Scranton Grosse Pointe, MO for almost twenty-five years and is a Knight of Obedience. He served from 2001 through 2006 on Mr. Daniel S. Stone Newtonville, NY the Board of Councillors. He was Secretary for the Association from 2002 through 2006. At Presi- Mr. Gerard B. Tracy New Canaan, CT dent Dan Kelly’s request, Carl currently serves the American Association as a member of the Legal Dr. Elizabeth H. Tucker Slingerlands, NY and By-Laws Committee of the Board of Councillors. Mr. Charles Robert Wray North Falmouth, MA Carl continues to be an active member of the American Association and is one of the original members of the Sub-Priory of Our Lady of Lourdes. He resides in New York and is an attorney. Memorial Masses are said for deceased members at the Lady “As authorized by the Article 132 of its Code, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta may Chapel of the Cathedral of Saint Patrick in New York City by honor persons who have acquired special merit by service to the Order, with the decoration the Monsignor James P. Cassidy, Conventual Chaplain ad honorem of Ordine Cavalleresco al Merito Melitense as it is called in Italian. This may be translated roughly the American Association. as ‘Chivalric Order of Maltese Merit’ but is usually known by the Italian ‘Al Merito Melitense’ or by the Latin ‘Pro Merito Melitensi.’” According to documents from the Grand Magistry, the honor is bestowed on members and non-members — it is conferred on members of the Order “only in exceptional cases.” Carl Schwarz is clearly one of those cases! 6 Malta Human Services Foundation President’s Report by Hershel Smith, KM, President of the Malta Human Services Foundation Estate and Planned Gifts Can Support the Work of the tewardship is an important word in the “Giving” business. Gener- ous donors rightfully want to know what actually happens to Association for Years to Come their money. And, because of cases where appropriate steward- S Each year, the Malta Human Services Foundation provides a ship was not in place, there is also increasing government scrutiny into contribution to the American Association to support the Annual the way Foundations and Charitable organizations handle the money Grants program. Your consideration of the Foundation in your es- and resources entrusted to them. tate plan or with a planned gift will help to ensure that the works Stewardship has to do with trust based on the care and transpar- of the Order of Malta will continue for years to come. If you have ency of the caretakers of the money entrusted to them. People should questions about the Foundation, see the Foundation section of know that the money they have given to meet a need or improve a situ- our web site at www.maltausa.org. For more information, call ation actually gets there and is not dissipated somewhere in between the giving and the doing. Michael J. McMorrow, the Director of Development, in our New York office at (212) 371-1000, ext. 2683. The Malta Human Services Foundation Board is very sensitive to the trust that has been placed in us as the stewards and caretakers of the Foundation’s endowment. As an example of that stewardship, the Foundation is in the process of moving its assets from one “manager of managers” to another. Although the endowment has been subject to the vagaries of the financial markets, it is not for that reason that the Board voted to move the funds to another manager. In doing its normal oversight, the Board felt that it was time for a change, for a fresh approach, for a Web Only Articles new set of eyes to help the Board watch over the assets of the endowment. The orderly transfer of Be sure to go our web site at www.maltausa.org. assets is going on now and should be complete by year end. Click on “News & Events.” Click on “Association Newsletters.” At the same time that this change is occurring, we are reviewing and revising our Investment Click on the Fall 2008 issue of Hospitallers for a number of Policy Statement to make it clearer and more comprehensive in stating the true direction of the interesting and informative articles: Board and of the American Association. In addition to the care and feeding of the money from • World Youth Day 2008 — a young woman’s account of her a financial standpoint, there is the focus and concern that arises from the fact that our invest- trip to Australia for World Youth Day ments must, first and foremost, reflect the ethical and moral position of the Catholic Church. • Meditations On Care Of The Sick — A small piece by That means that we should not be investing in organizations whose products, services, or policies Father Vincent McNabb deals with the spirituality for the conflict with the Church’s teaching. care giver. “The sanctification of souls by sickness is a very In the interview process to identify a firm to manage our endowment, a key part of the ques- important function in our life on earth but the sanctification tions focused on the organization’s ability and interest in managing our assets in line with the guide- of those who have to do with the sick is also very important lines of the USCCB regarding ethical and moral investing. The firm we chose actually had a role in in the spiritual life.” helping the Bishops develop their guidelines. Some firms and some investment managers have lim- • A Malade Recalls Her Visit to Lourdes on the Pilgrimage. ited interest in dealing with the requirements set forth to keep in line with these guidelines — they • Board of Councillors member Peggy Stanton shares her do not want to be hampered by the restrictions such a policy places on the investment choices. perspective on the meaning of Lourdes. As the Investment Policy Statement is being reviewed and updated, all the right financial Also on the web is an extensive collection of photographs from words will be there about goals, objectives, strategies, and allocations. But first and foremost, the the 2008 Lourdes Pilgrimage. In the News and Events section, layer above those financial goals will be the layer of ethical and moral guidance that must be fol- there is information about the next Phase in the Home Renova- tion Program, a joint venture of the US Associations in the lowed by our investment managers. The policy statement will contain both the specific language Order’s continuing response to Katrina. An Event Calendar and the rigor under which those guidelines must be applied. Our new manager of managers will of key Association dates is also available in the News and work closely with us and with the investment managers selected to ensure 100% compliance. Events section as well as the Order of Events for the November Stewardship — it ain’t what it used to be — it’s a whole lot more. Investiture, Annual Meeting and Annual Dinner weekend.

We Serve Our Lords, the Sick and the Poor (continued from page 4) The Elections Are Coming! of the rigors of the Pilgrimage, particularly the long hours of sitting still, the high altitude, and the vari- While the United States is preparing for its own set of critical decisions this fall, the American Association is also getting set able and often inclement weather in the foothills of for its own important election process. When more members the Pyrénées. Further, many of the candidates are take the time to vote in the Board of Councillor elections, the acutely ill, with debilitating illness. An individual results are a better reflection of the true will of the membership. who is deemed safe to travel in January or February, Eight positions for the Board of Councillors will be decided in may not be so well at the end of April. Members of the election this fall. The nominating committee, assisted by an the committee often need to check on the malades Area Chair advisory team, has completed its work and submit- condition right up to the days prior to departure. ted a slate of candidates for Board of Councillor approval. As Other factors figure into the final decision of the Secretary of the American Association, James L. Ryan presides Selection Committee. For example, the number of over the entire election process. wheelchair bound malades must be limited, mostly On September 10th, Judge Ryan sent a letter to the constrained by the elevator availability at our hotels. membership advising them of the slate of candidates which was approved by the Board of Councillors at its September Likewise, converting European electricity so that it can be used by American appliances has meeting. Members who wished to offer themselves as candi- proved to be a real obstacle. The motor has been ruined on more than one medical device. Our dates had the opportunity, under the by-laws, to obtain member procedure now, when we can do so, is to rent medical equipment from a local Lourdes medical signatures to get themselves on the ballot. That process is now supply pharmacy. complete. Preparation of the candidate information/ballot pack- An interesting phenomenon has evolved in the past few years. In the field of medicine there ages is being completed and will be mailed to all members on is an increasing awareness of the value of spirituality, and an acknowledgment of the power of or before October 15th. Once they are mailed, the candidates’ prayer, in both physical and emotional healing. The Committee has had experiences recently information will also be available on the web site where the malade’s physician has encouraged and endorsed their participation in the Pilgrimage, (www.maltausa.org) in the News&Events section. even in the face of very acute illness. The Committee must work from the premise of “first do no Completed ballots must be returned by mail or hand-delivered harm”, and to the best of its ability must not bring on the Pilgrimage anyone whose medical con- to the NY office of the American Association (room 1350, 1011 First Avenue, New York, NY 10022) on or before 4:00PM (ET) on dition is likely to be made worse by the experience. The limited availability of medical facilities Wednesday, November 5th. It is very important that the ballot on the charter airplane and in Lourdes during the week we are there only adds to that concern. envelope be signed and the member’s name be legibly printed All of this underscores the important role of the sponsor. A sponsor who is knowledgeable of on the ballot envelope. the physical demands of the Pilgrimage, and knowledgeable of the malade candidate is in the best Election results will be announced at the Annual Meeting of the position to give the malade, the family, and indeed, the Malade Selection Committee the appro- American Association which will be held at the Waldorf-Astoria priate guidance in the selection of malade candidates. It is wonderful and magnificent privilege Hotel on Friday, November 14th at 9AM. to be able to sponsor a malade, but it is a privilege that carries with it a significant and enduring responsibility. No one rests until each malade arrives safely back home. Dr. Richard D. Milone, KM is a member of the Board of Councillors and the Chair of the Malade Selection Committee. 7 Volume 5 Fall 2008

Fellow Members of the Association (continued from cover) Pilgrimage and make grants in support of our members’ other works, projects, and ministries. The years, we will need a major effort to attract members to be invested in 2010 if we are to attain our Foundation has engaged a Director of Development, Michael McMorrow, who will lead our efforts to goal of 2000 members by the year 2010. Going forward, our annual target should be to attract 125 solicit major gifts, bequests, and other planned gifts from our members and others. The Board has or more very high quality Catholics. These goals are set to ensure the continued vitality and effective- recognition of the fact that the excess of revenues over expenses associated with the 2008 Lourdes ness of our Association. I urge all of you to put Membership Development at the top of your list of Pilgrimage was $200,000 — an extraordinary outcome resulting from the very effective fund raising priorities in your Area’s plans. efforts by the Lourdes Committee, led by Joe and Barbara Miller. To “jump start” a specific endow- ment of the Lourdes Pilgrimage, the Board has decided to transfer $200,000 to the Malta Human Other Initiatives Services Foundation. • Prison Ministry: The rollout to spark new prison ministry programs in the Areas has been very success- The Order on Catholic Radio and TV ful. Sixteen of our twenty-six Areas now have active programs. This is our main national project, and The Association’s Education / Defense of the Faith Committee, led by Paul Durnan, is about to launch ra- we need to promulgate it throughout our entire Association. dio broadcasts of “Malta Minutes” — periodic one-minute spots on programs broadcast on the Catholic • Order of Malta Worldwide Relief – Americas: The legal entity, which will soon be a 501(c)(3) Radio Channel (#159) of the Sirius satellite radio system. The topics would be the “basics” — the teach- organization, has been established. Fund raising activities (primarily outside of our membership) ings of the Church, as presented in our Catechism, and how they relate to our everyday lives. have commenced. Also, before year-end, we will be staging five half-hour Catholic TV station broadcasts called the “Order • New Orleans Home Restoration Project — Phase III: of Malta Series on the Catechism,” hosted by Jane Hansen. Another five are planned to be broadcast in Once again, the home restoration program has been extended. There are six more working ses- the first quarter of 2009. sions in October and December 2008, and in January, February, March and April 2009, and each will Pilgrimage to Malta, Rhodes, and Rome, September 15th to 26th require 20 - 25 volunteers. Details are included on our website. As of this writing in early September, Msgr. Kevin Wallin, with the assistance of John Hale, KM, will 2009 Strategic Planning Conference of the Order — Venice, Italy lead a pilgrimage of 32 of our members to the island of Malta, to Rhodes, and to Rome, from Septem- At the request of the Grand Magistry, several of our American Association’s leaders will attend the Or- ber 15th until the 26th. der’s Strategic Planning Conference in Venice, Italy, from January 14th to the 18th next year. Joe Metz, We will be visiting the three most recent “homes” of the Knights, and it’s bound to be a our Hospitaller, will be submitting our input into this process, considering the outcome of our strategic wonderful experience. planning exercise. Also, on January 18th, there will be a meeting of the National Association Presi- Area Chair and Hospitaller Retreat, October 31st to November 2nd dents, in preparation for the General Meeting, to be held in Rome on June 8th and 9th, 2009. Joe Metz and Mary McCooey, Hospitaller and Vice Hospitaller, have organized a weekend retreat, de- 2009 Lourdes Pilgrimage (April 29th until May 5th) signed primarily for our Area Chairs and Hospitallers (but other members are welcome to attend). It will Howard (“Hap”) and Susan Redgate, Co-Chairs of the 2009 Pilgrimage to Lourdes, along with the other be held at the Seminary of the Immaculate Conception on Long Island, from Friday, October 31st until members of the Lourdes Committee, have been working hard, for several months, to plan next year’s Sunday, November 2nd. We expect a good turnout. Pilgrimage. Primarily because of the increased cost of chartered air transportation, costs of our tradi- tional way of conducting the Pilgrimage have increased significantly. Accordingly, we need to alter our Annual Meeting, Investiture, and Dinner, November 14th approach. We will be sending our Malades, Caregivers, Medical Team, and certain others on a chartered The program for our 2008 Investiture Weekend is outstanding. As usual, on Friday, we will stage an flight for 240 Pilgrims; the other 200 or so will need to go in groups on interesting Business Meeting, followed by our Investiture Mass, celebrated by Edward Cardinal Egan, commercial flights. In any event, we will need to continue to rely on the when we will induct 100 new members as well as several chaplains. As usual, the Dinner, chaired by generosity of our members at large who contribute to help cover the Mary McCooey and Dede Milone, will be a wonderful, festive event. cost of taking our Malades and their Caregivers to the Shrine of Our Lady I hope you will be there! of Lourdes. Membership Development Best regards, The “Class of 2008” to be invested in November is exactly 100 strong. We project that next year’s Daniel J. Kelly, K.M. class will number 125 or more. While these numbers sound good in relation to those of some prior President

Favorite Prayers: Tantum Ergo 2008 Meetings/Events

The prayer and hymn, “Tantum Ergo”, is actually the last two stanzas of a prayer, “Pange Lingua”, written Area Chairs and Hospitallers Retreat, October 31st — November 2nd by St. Thomas Aquinas for the Divine Office for the Feast of Corpus Christi. There are other versions and other saints associated with prayers for the Feast but for contemporary Catholics in the United States, this Board of Councillors, November 13th, New York City may be the one most recognized. These final two verses are used as part of the Benediction service which Malta Human Services Foundation Board, November 14th, New York City often concludes a period of veneration of the Blessed Sacrament. This rite includes the blessing of the Annual Meeting, November 14th, New York City faithful, using the consecrated Host in the Monstrance. Many Catholics may remember the Latin text, while some will be familiar with the English translation. Investiture and Annual Dinner, November 14th, New York City

Tantum Ergo (Latin text) Tantum Ergo (An English translation)

Tantum ergo Sacramentum Down in adoration falling, veneremur cernui: Lo! the sacred Host we hail; Executive Office et antiquum documentum Lo! o’er ancient forms departing, 1011 First Avenue, Suite 1350 novo cedat ritui: newer rites of grace prevail; praestet fides supplementum faith for all defects supplying, New York, NY 10022-4112 USA sensuum defectui. where the feeble senses fail. Telephone: (212) 371-1522 Fax: (212) 486-9427 Genitori, Genitoque To the everlasting Father, www.maltausa.org laus et jubilatio, and the Son who reigns on high, salus, honor, virtus quoque with the Holy Ghost proceeding Editor: Raymond J. LaRose sit et benedictio: forth from Each eternally, Design/Production: Rappy & Company, Inc. Procedenti ab utroque be salvation, honor, blessing, Articles for future issues of this newsletter compar sit laudatio. might and endless majesty. Amen. Alleluja. Amen. Alleluia. 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] Prayer of the Order © 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. Change of address (physical or virtual)? Be it mine to practice and defend the Catholic, the Apostolic, and the Roman Faith Please notify the New York office of all changes of address. against the enemies of religion; be it mine to practice charity towards my neighbors, If your primary mailing address or your e-mail address changes, especially the poor and sick. please be sure to notify the American Association’s administrative team. Just send a note to the New York office or send an e-mail Give me the strength I need to carry out this my resolve, forgetful of myself, learning to [email protected] or call our office at(212) 371-1522. ever from the Holy Gospel a spirit of deep and generous Christian devotion, striving Maintaining correct addresses ensures that you will receive mailings ever to promote God’s glory, the world’s peace, and all that may benefit the Order of on a timely basis. It can also save the American Association a

Saint John of Jerusalem. Amen. significant amount of time and money.