Naples Group a Blended Membership

Members of the Order in Naples, Florida come from both the Federal and American associations, though they recognize no such distinctions among themselves. Rather, the main distinction is between the year-round minority and the seasonal majority of members living there from October to April.

The group is active year-round.

We pray the Rosary every Monday morning in front of the Planned Parenthood building in Naples. Some of us volunteer at a Community Pregnancy Clinic and participate on its board of directors.  Each week, we pack 250 bags of food for children in one or two of the elementary schools in Naples.

Each month we go to a First Friday Mass and a dinner at the Naples Sailing and Yacht Club. Depending on the month, between 35 and 70 members and their spouses attend. The dinner includes a brief meeting on the activities of the Order, such as a monthly community food distribution, and preparation of backpacks for abused women and those who have been subjected to human trafficking.

In February, the Naples group goes on a mini-retreat led by a chaplain of the Order. These are excellent spiritual opportunities of the Order and very well attended. Similarly, we have attended Defense of the Faith Committee programs as well as American Association retreats at the Catholic Retreat Center in Lutz, Florida. Some of these retreats have been led by Bishop Frank Caggiano of the Diocese of Bridgeport.

I, for one, am so blessed to have such an active Order of Malta group here in Naples. My daily life is totally enriched by my participation with the Order here. It is a great blessing.