ORDER OF MALTA MOMENT

Normally, when Jim Willcox, KM, or Ted Middendorf, KM, drop by their local grocery stores, it is to pick up a carton of milk or a dozen eggs. But on a recent trip, they shopped not for themselves and their families, but rather for the residents of the Shalom House in urban Kansas City, Kansas.

The Shalom House, founded in 1988 by Mary Kay Myer as a Catholic Social Worker House, now serves as a volunteering opportunity for Kansas City members of the Order of Malta. On a recent Wednesday night in May, Jim and Ted were joined by current Kansas City Hospitallers Jim Lynch, KM, and Georgia Lynch, DM, to prepare and serve the evening meal. Other members of the Kansas City Chapter regularly volunteer to serve.

Doors of the Shalom House open in the late afternoon. Our members arrive before 6:00 pm to set up, make last minute preparations and socialize with staff and guests. Attendance is taken, and then a prayer of thanks is said before dinner is served around 6:30 pm.

On this May evening, the dinner was lasagna, dinner rolls, tossed salad and soda, with sweets for dessert. The cost of the entire meal was about $100, with the local grocer donating the dessert.

After dinner, the resident guests are responsible for cleaning up the tables and washing dishes. When the chores are done, the guests relax in front of the TV, have access to showers and the opportunity to wash their clothing.

Sadly, founder Mary Kay Myer died of lung cancer in 2008, and Catholic Charities of Northeast Kansas stepped in to preserve the Shalom House and its mission. In 2012, a professional case management approach was incorporated, helping guests prepare action plans and timelines, with the goal of transitioning away from the support of the shelter. Also in 2012, Sisters from the Fraternity of Missionaries took up residence on the second floor of the Shalom House.

Involvement with the Shalom House is one of many outreach activities supported by the 40 knights and dames in Kansas City. Similar to Shalom House, the Order of Malta’s association with St. James Place represents the same combination of financial support and personal interaction. St James is a food kitchen in Kansas City, Missouri that is run by the Bishop Sullivan Center. Every 5th Friday, our members serve dinner and, once each summer, they contribute to and serve a steak dinner that produces long lines and many happy faces. Click here to read more -

The Lafayette Region sponsored its third annual Mass for Healing and Anointing of the Sick on April 25 at St. Mary, Mother of the Church. The Knights, Dames and Candidates of the Lafayette Region, assisted by spouses and 51 volunteers, served over 200 malades and companions. The Most Reverend Michael Jarrell, Bishop of Lafayette, was principal celebrant and homilist. Concelebrants were Fr. Hampton Davis (Associate Chaplain of the Lafayette Region), Rev. Harold Trahan, Rev. Jason Vidrine, Rev. Keith Landry, Rev. Anselm Ofodum, Rev. Alphonse Thainese and Rev. Ryszard Kalinowski. Mass was followed by a light luncheon provided by the Knights and Dames. Each malade was offered an Our Lady of Lourdes medal and holy card as gifts from the Order. As the Mass was celebrated the week before the Lourdes Pilgrimage, written petitions were collected from the malades, carried on the Lourdes charter and placed at the alter in the Holy Grotto. - Paul David, K.M., Hospitaller, Lafayette Region

The bishops of the United States have announced that there will be a second Fortnight for Freedom from June 21 to July 4, 2013. Members will recall that at the same time last year there were activities and liturgies conducted around the country to educate the public about the threats to religious liberty that exist here and overseas.

These threats and new ones persist. An announcement from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Ad Hoc Committee on Religious Liberty about the second Fortnight for Freedom, with background information and links to information about activities that are planned by many dioceses across the country, is attached.

The Defense of the Faith committee commends this announcement to all Members and wishes to encourage all Members to participate in activities in their local area, to help organize activities in their parish or diocese if plans are not already in place, and to do whatever else the Spirit moves them to do in sustaining this important work in defense of the faith. - Defense of the Faith Committee.

On May 17, the Order of Malta’s Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations held a diplomatic reception in honor of the Order’s 900th anniversary of sovereignty and commemorating the Order’s illustrious history and current good works around the globe.

Hosted by Ambassador Robert L. Shafer, Permanent Observer, and Mrs. Ellen Shafer, the event was attended by 74 Ambassadors / Permanent Representatives to the United Nations including the Holy See’s Archbishop Francis Chullikatt.

His Excellency, the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Ban Ki-Moon thanked Ambassador Shafer for the Order’s tireless efforts to help those in need, noting that the Order has always been a great advocate of the Millennium Development Goals and an integral partner in their achievement.

Ambassador Shafer highlighted the Order’s extensive cooperation with the United Nations, “Humanitarian works have developed and expanded through the years and are now carried out in 122 countries, including some of the most challenging locations. This work is done through the Order’s extensive international network of hospitals and 100,000 trained volunteers and medical personnel."