Conference of the Grand Priors, Procurators, Regents and Presidents in Rome February 20-22

More than 70 members of the Sovereign Council, heads of priors, national associations and Grand Magistry staff  met with the Grand Master for two and a half days following the Mass and Formal Opening for the Cause of Beatification of Fra' Andrew Bertie at the Basilica of St. John Lateran Church in Rome. Woven through the various topics on the agenda was the Grand Master's emphasis on vocations to the First Class and the need to attract young people to the Order. 

A number of new initiatives, many being an outgrowth of the Rhodes strategy seminar held in February 2014, were announced. A 30-minute film was viewed on the First Class and our own Fra' Tom Mulligan was one of the Knights of Justice interviewed in the film.  We should have copies soon. A training center, using the conference space at the Villa Magistrale on the Aventine Hill in Rome, will offer its first course for chaplains in the fall of 2015. The course will emphasize the role of chaplains in fostering and directing vocations to the First Class and giving spiritual direction to the Members. Fra' Duncan Gallie, who heads the training center initiative, is also looking to use e-learning to promote further study of Catholic teachings and the precepts of our Order. A possible vehicle for this on-line program is the Catholic Distance University, headed by Federal Association member Marianne Mount. In the administrative area, the Grand Magistry is looking to improve its IT capabilities, providing more accessibility to important data and information on projects throughout the world. 

Attendees at the conference were given an update on the financial status of the Order. New initiatives are being taken to improve the management of the many Order-owned agricultural properties in Italy, the Order's hospital in Rome, as well as the registration of the Order's brands. The historic properties of the Order present challenges as some are in need of repair and restoration. For example, each day of the conference, attendees participated in Mass celebrated in the Order's chapel Santa Maria del Priorato, which is part of the property redesigned by the Italian architect Piranesi in 1765. The magnificent altar has been cleaned and restored to its original classical white, but many other parts of the chapel are in need of repair. 

Included in reports on the Order's world-wide humanitarian activities was the announcement of the Order's intent to participate in the organization of a symposium on "Religions Together for Humanitarian Action" in Geneva in May 2015.  Its aim is to highlight the added value of faith-based institutions to humanitarian assistance and protection as part of the debate leading to the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul planned for May 2016.  

Vision 2050, a plan to focus on the future of the Order and youth as the new generation of Members, was a continuing theme.  Among the activities planned are the international camps in France and in Lebanon this summer, the youth liaisons reception in Lourdes and continuing youth representation in the Order's activities.