Order of Malta Moment
October 5, 2012
ANNOUNCING – 2013 Lourdes Pilgrimage
May 1 – 8 are the dates of the Federal Association’s annual Lourdes Pilgrimage in 2013. Once again we will charter a 250-seat aircraft that will take our pilgrims – non-stop - from Baltimore (BWI) to Lourdes. The total group (usually 260 – 280 people) is divided into six teams. Each team will have 4–5 malades and their companions and 25-30 Knights, Dames, candidates, and volunteers who assist the malades throughout the week. There are doctors and nurses assigned to each team, and every team has a chaplain.
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.
If you would like to recommend and sponsor a malade for the 2013 pilgrimage, please contact your Regional Hospitaller or contact Leif Carlson in the Federal Association office.
We are finalizing the budget for the pilgrimage and will send everyone our on-line application next week. In the meantime, please mark your calendar – May 1-8, 2013.
DEFENSE OF THE FAITH FORUM – NEW TIME ON OCT 19 – 3:30 PM
Defense of the Faith Essay Contest
The Defense of the Faith Committee will be pleased to welcome Knights, Dames, and their guests to the annual Defense of the Faith Forum at a new time, 3:30 pm, on Friday, Oct. 19, at the Mayflower Hotel. Challenges Facing Catholics in America Today will be the topic. The principal speaker will be Most Reverend William Lori, the Archbishop of Baltimore and chairman of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops’ Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Freedom. Jane Belford, DM, the Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Washington, will moderate the question and answer period following Archbishop Lori’s talk.
Defense of the Faith Essay Contest - The Defense of the Faith Committee is also pleased to announce a new essay contest being sponsored by the Federal Association in cooperation with the Fraternity of Catholic University Students (FOCUS). Designed to stimulate college students to think about what their Catholic faith means to them, the contest has been announced to 25,000 students on 85 college campuses in the U.S. Three winners will be selected by the Defense of the Faith Committee. Prizes will be awarded by Federal knights and dames at the FOCUS convention, which attracts over 7,500 students to Florida in January.
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
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.
Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta
Federal Association, U.S.A.
1730 M Street, NW | Suite 403 | Washington, DC 20036
202.331.2494 | Email Us