Order of Malta Moment

Pope Benedict XVI named Cardinal Donald Wuerl, Archbishop of Washington and our Principal Chaplain, as a member of the Vatican’s Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith—the oldest of the Curia's nine congregations. The wide ranging mission of the congregation is to promote and safeguard the doctrine on faith and morals throughout the Catholic world. Now headed by Prefect Cardinal William Joseph Levada, it has 23 members; Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, was Prefect of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith until his election as Pope in 2005.

In September 2010, Cardinal Wuerl was named as the delegate of the congregation to implement the apostolic constitution Anglicanorum coetibus in the United States. That document provides for establishing personal ordinariates for Anglican groups who seek to enter corporately into full communion with the Catholic Church. Cardinal Wuerl is also chairman of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ (USCCB) Committee on Doctrine, of which he has been a member for 15 years, and a member of the USCCB’s Committee on Evangelization and Catechesis and Ad Hoc Committee for Religious Liberty.

Cardinal Wuerl is the author of numerous articles and books, including the best-selling catechisms, The Teaching of Christ and The Catholic Way. His most recent book, Seek First the Kingdom: Challenging the Culture by Living Our Faith, was published in January 2012 and calls on Catholic Americans to seize daily opportunities to make a difference in transforming today’s culture.

All members of the Order are invited to attend the 18th Annual Memorial Mass sponsored by the US Archdiocese for Military Services. The Mass will be at 4:30 PM on Sunday, May 20 at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception in Washington. The principal celebrant and homilist will be the Most Reverend Timothy Broglio, the Archbishop for the Military Services and a Conventual Chaplain of the Federal Association. Please note – Members of the Order are requested to wear church robe at Mass, and should arrive no later than 4:00 PM for vesting in the lower church. Please click here for more information and to RSVP.

Annual Spring Retreat Jun 16-17 - St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore. Rev. Thomas Hurst, S.S., retreat director. Click here for more information

His Eminence Donald Cardinal Wuerl will be the celebrant at the St. John’s Day Mass for the metropolitan Washington region. The Mass will be at St. Matthew’s Cathedral and a wine and cheese reception will follow. Click here for details and the RSVP form

Although details are not yet final, February, 2013 marks the 900th Anniversary of the Papal Bull Piae Postulatio Voluntatis, which placed the patronage of our Order under the Holy See as a lay religious Order. Preliminary plans call for a celebratory Mass in Rome, inviting members from all national Associations to participate—including the Federal Association. While this is an early announcement, we wanted to inform our members of preliminary plans for a celebration in February. A US celebration will also be planned.

May 12 - Syracuse - Assumption Church Pancake Breakfast - Volunteers arrive by 7:30 AM. Contact: John Clark
May 17 - Baltimore - Volunteers needed for My Sister’s Place Women’s Shelter 3rd Tuesday Dinner 4-6:30 PM Contact: Margie Counselman
May 22 - Lancaster, PA - Defense of the Faith Series, “With Liberty and Justice for Some”, featuring Marie Hilliard, Ph.D., DM. Dr. Hilliard is Director of Bioethics and Public Policy at The National Catholic Bioethics Center. Mass 6:30, with lecture following at St. John Neumann Church. Contact: Pat Whalen
May 28 - Syracuse - Malta House Birthday Party; arrive by 2:30 PM. Contact: Kathy Mezzalingua
Jun 11 - Kansas City, MO - The St. James Place Steak and T-shirt Dinner for the hungry; contact Georgia Lynch for details.
Jun 16-17 - Annual Spring Retreat of the Federal Association; St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore; Rev. Thomas Hurst, S.S., retreat director. Click here for RSVP form.
Jun 19 - Wash DC - St. John the Baptist Mass & Reception; St. Matthew's Cathedral; 6:30 PM; His Eminence Donald Cardinal Wuerl, celebrant. Contact: Joe Dempsey
Jun 19 - Baltimore - Volunteers needed for My Sister’s Place Women’s Shelter 3rd Tuesday Dinner 4-6:30 PM Contact: Margie Counselman
Jun 22 - Lancaster, PA - Federal Association's primary observance of the Feast of St. John the Baptist; Mass - St. Mary's Church, 6:00 PM; dinner at the Hamilton Club. Contact: Pat Whalen
Jun 23 - Columbus - Mass for the Feast of St. John the Baptist - 5pm @ St. John the Baptist Church. Contact: Charles Mifsud
Jun 24 - Kansas City, MO - St. John the Baptist Mass and Dinner - is scheduled at the home of Chuck and Jackie Sullivan. Contact Georgia Lynch for details.
Jun 24 - Dallas - Feast of St. John the Baptist Mass and Dinner with Bishop Farrell as celebrant 4 PM St. Monica Church, followed by dinner. Contact: Theresa Martter
Jun 24 - Kansas City, MO - St. John the Baptist Mass and Dinner is scheduled at the home of Chuck and Jackie Sullivan. Contact: Georgia Lynch
Jun 24 - Dallas Region - Feast of St. John the Baptist Mass and Dinner with Bishop Farrell as celebrant 4 PM St. Monica Church, followed by dinner. Contact: Theresa Martter
Jun 28 - Atlanta - Defense of Faith, Holy Spirit Church, 6:30 PM. Feast of St. John the Baptist, Mass in the Church followed by dinner in McDonough Hall, 7:00 PM. Contact: Diane Festa