Order of Malta Moment
October 12, 2012
Bishop Kevin Farrell
VIPS ATTENDING INVESTITURE WEEKEND ACTIVITIES
Once again this year the Federal Association will be honored to welcome His Excellency, Gian Luca Chiavari and his wife, Elena, to our Investiture Weekend activities. Mr. Chiavari is the Receiver of the Common Treasure (Treasurer) of the Order, and he is also the General Coordinator of the Order’s international pilgrimage to Lourdes. Also joining us next week will be Fra’ John Dunlap, a member of the Sovereign Council of the Order and Jack Pohrer, the President of the American Association. The Regent of the Subpriory of Our Lady of Lourdes, Joseph Metz, will be with us again this year, as will Roman Ciezwierz, the Vice President of the Canadian Association. The Most Reverend Kevin Farrel, Bishop of Dallas and a Conventual Chaplain ad honorem of the Federal Association, will be the principal celebrant and homilist at the Investiture Mass. Bishop Farrell was a longtime priest and Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Washington, and is well known to many of our members in Washington and Dallas.
Gian Luca Chiavari (left) greets Dr. Nic Bazan, the Regional Hospitaller for New Orleans.
LOURDES 2012 – SIGN UP NOW
The dates are set – May 1 – 8, 2013 – the pricing is complete (same as last year!) and you are now able to register for the 2013 pilgrimage to Lourdes. Please click here to access our On-Line Invitation and Registration Form. There you will find information about the travel and hotel arrangements, tentative schedule of pilgrimage activities. Once again we will charter a 250-seat aircraft that will take our pilgrims – non-stop - from Baltimore (BWI) to Lourdes. To be sure that we fill the plane, once again this year we will only accept registrations from pilgrims who will be joining the group on the aircraft. Lourdes-Only applications will not be accepted until the plane is full. Registering on-line is completely secure and all your information will be received immediately by the Federal Association office. If you still prefer to pay with a check, please contact Leif Carlson in the Federal Association office.
NEW ORLEANS – 7th YEAR OF SERVICE
In November members of the Order of Malta will begin the 7th year of service to the people and city of New Orleans. Since March 2006 over 1000 volunteers from all across the US have participated in the Order of Malta New Orleans Home Rebuilding Program. Thanks to a successful partnership with Rebuilding Together, Catholic Charities of New Orleans, and the New Orleans Marriott our volunteers have worked 37 one-week work sessions in Treme, Gentilly, and New Orleans East - and 45 families have moved back in their homes as a result of the great work done by our Order of Malta volunteers. Volunteers stay in the New Orleans Marriott in the French Quarter. The work weeks are Monday – Thursday (Sunday and Friday are travel days) from 8:00–4:00 PM, all three meals will be provided, and there is a farewell banquet on the last night. Please click here for more details and to access registration form.
WEEKEND RETREATS
The Federal Association will sponsor three weekend retreats this fall, and another in Florida in January. The retreats are 2 ½ days of peace, quiet, and spiritual reflection with other members of the Order. November 2-4 are the dates of the Western PA Retreat at St. Vincent Archabbey in Latrobe. Fr. Justin Matros, OSB, will lead the retreat. The Texas Retreat will be November 9-11 at the Montserrat Jesuit Retreat House outside Dallas. Fr. Brendan Gatt will be the retreat director. The Jesuit Retreat Center at Ignatius House outside Atlanta will be the location of the Federal Association’s Fall Retreat on November 16 – 18. Fr. Jose Fetzer, SJ, will the retreat director.
TRIP TO ROME FOR 900 YEAR ANNIVERSARY
In commemoration of the 900 year anniversary of the signing of the Papal Bull that formally recognized the Order of Malta, all members of the Order (and spouses) will be invited to a special Mass and audience with the Holy Father on February 9, 2013. There will be international meetings for officers of the Priories, Sub Priories, and National Associations on February 7 – 8, but we have not yet received the specific details about hotel accommodations, meals and receptions, etc. We will send a detailed invitation to all members as soon as this information is available.
Upcoming Events:
Oct 16 - Chicago - Mass for the Sanctity of Life, will be held at Holy Family Church. Dinner follows at Rosal’s, Taylor St. Contact: Sam Ciccarelli
Oct 19-20- Investiture Weekend, Washington, Click here for more details.
Oct 21 - Washington, DC - Fifth annual CRUDEM benefit for Hopital Sacre Coeur, at Georgetown Visitation School, 1524 35th Street, NW, Washington, DC at 10 AM followed by a champagne brunch from 11 to 1.
Oct 27 - MontCo, MD - Halloween Party 4-6PM at St. Ann's Center for Children, Youth and Families (www.stanns.org) in Hyattsville, MD. Contact: Chrissy Page
Oct 27 - Charlotte - Retreat 9 AM- 2 PM at Belmont Abbey. Retreat given by Abbot Placid. Contact: Jerry Schmitt
Oct 27 - Wash, DC - Day of Reflection and Healing for the sick and elderly at 9 AM at Visitation School. Contact: Ann Fox
Oct 28 - Charlotte - Urban Ministry Center (UMC) lunch. Volunteers are needed to serve hundreds of people who will arrive. Contact: Jerry Schmitt
Oct 29 - Malta House Birthday Party - Volunteers arrive at 2:30PM.
Contact: Pat Fallon
Nov 2 - Columbus - Mass for the Deceased of the Order at 6 PM, St. John the Baptist Church, 720 Hamlet Street, followed by 7:15 PM Reception and Dinner at Cafe Del Mundo. Contact: Charles Mifsud
Nov 2-4 - Pittsburgh / Western PA Retreat at St. Vincent's Archabbey with retreat master Fr. Justin Matro. Click here for more information.
Nov 6 - Chicago - Mass for deceased members of the Order will be held at St. Louise de Marrillac Chapel at Catholic Charities with dinner to follow. Contact: Sam Ciccarelli
Nov 8 - Washington, DC - Memorial Mass for Deceased Members. Georgetown Visitation Preparatory School; Rev. Msgr. John Enzler. Click here to register.
Nov 9-11- Dallas - Retreat, featuring Fr. Brendan Gatt, from Malta. Click here for details.
Nov 11-16 - New Orleans – Order of Malta Home Repair Program – work week # 1. Please click here for details and sign-up sheet.
Nov 14 - Atlanta - Defense of Faith in Side B of McDonough Hall. 6:30 PM. 7 PM Memorial Mass for Deceased Members, St. Mary’s Chapel followed by dinner at the Rectory. Contact: Diane Festa
Nov 16-17 - Atlanta - Fall Retreat of the Federal Association. Jesuit Retreat Center at Ignatius House - Sandy Spring, GA; Rev. Niel Jarreau, SJ - retreat director - Click here to register.
Nov 17 - Assumption Pancake Breakfast - Volunteers arrive at 7:30AM. Contact: John Clark
Nov 18 - Malta House Thanksgiving Dinner - Volunteers arrive at
11:30 AM. Contact Pat Fallon
Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta
Federal Association, U.S.A.
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