Category: Order of Malta

Order of Malta–CT North East meets for Advent 2025

The Advent event for the CT North East Area was held at the Holy Apostles College & Seminary, Cromwell CT on Saturday, December 6. We spent some time meeting, praying the Mass and having lunch.

Fr. Joseph MacNeill, our Deputy Chaplain, offered the opening prayer and remarks on the Order Spirituality based on the Association Chaplain’s meeting. He emphasized that the Order’s spirituality is marked by profound identification with the poor and a willingness to place ourselves in humble service to them as “our lords and masters.”  Additionally, Father Joseph focussed our attention on a recent talk at Yale’s St. Thomas More Chapel on human-centered leadership principles outlined by Sr. Raffaella on trust, community, and shared participation.

The Area Chair gave his end-of-year remarks on the Area including key ministries and current demographics. He also updated the Area on the senior members of the Area. The Treasurer presented the sound financial condition and audits of the Area. The Grants Chair reported that all the 2025 Grant allocations were completed and submitted successfully to the Association Chairman.

The incoming Area Chair reviewed the important remarks from the Association sessions at the Investiture leadership and business meetings. The members expanded on his introduction to core 2026 projects over lunch.  Further details were discussed, in particular, about ample opportunities for Spirituality activities, on the difference between the essential Diocesan Prison Ministry versus Social Justice, and the Diocesan involvement in Anti-Human Trafficking and Pro-Life.

Fr. Joseph celebrated the Mass and preached on our Advent journey noting how St. Nicholas is a good model for the Order. Father also administered the RENEWAL OF PROMISES to the members before they recited the DAILY PRAYER of the ORDER Order by the Area Chair.  The outgoing Area Chair thanked the officers for their strong support during his tenure and wished them well on the ministry and future growth of the CT North East Area. The ChD blessed the icon of St. John the Baptist as a token of the Area appreciation and thanked him for his years of Area service. The Officers presented the icon with a detailed volume on the Saints in gratitude from the members.

St Andrew –crossed no more

Andrew, the fisherman first-called by Jesus to be among the 12 Apostles. He eventually dies a cruel death and on an X shaped cross. View the image with this post closely. Andrew’s adherence to Jesus is noteworthy. He really should have the title of “the Apostle of the Kerygma” because of preaching the Good News. Do we adhere, or do we even aspire to adhere as St Andrew, to the Lord?

On another note, today in the pouring rain I had the privilege of joining friends to celebrate the 125 years of New Haven’s Saint Andrew Society at Woodwinds in North Branford. Nearly 350 people at dinner. Originally a mutual benefit society for the Italian immigrants to New Haven, today the Saint Andrew Society is more a social group which sponsors a festival, some social projects and keeping friendship important.

The first founders and their families of the Saint Andrew Society came from Amalfi which has a significant import for those who belong to the Order of Malta: Blessed Gerard Sasso was born in the Amalfi area and a Benedictine monk there before moving to Jerusalem. The cross on our habit bears what is called the Maltese Cross on the breast, and the cross is used in abundance in Amalfi on churches, sidewalks, tee-shirts, etc.

The eight-pointed cross reminds us of the Eight Beatitudes as taught by the Lord and recorded in Matthew 5:7. The Paschal Mystery and the Beatitudes are intimates in that they deepen our way of living the Christian life: Lex orandi, lex orandi, lex agendi.

New members invested in the Order of Malta-American Association

Today, we received four new members for our Area of the Order of Malta in Connecticut. They were among 106 new members. Mass was celebrated by Cardinal Timothy Dolan and the preaching was done by Bishop Robert Brennan of Brooklyn. Interestingly five of the professed Knights of Justice were part of the ceremony. (We rarely get that many of the professed present!)

Our little area in CT is growing incrementally. We are grateful for our new brothers and sister.

Blessed Gerard, pray for us.

CT Order of Malta prays for deceased members, family and friends

Today the Order of Malta – Connecticut North East Area gathered for the annual Liturgy for deceased members, family and friends at St. Ann Melkite Church (Waterford). The parish belongs to the Eparchy of Newtown.

The Divine Liturgy was served by Fr Dennis McCarthy and the bishop of the Diocese of Norwich, Bishop Richard F. Reidy preached. They were joined at the altar by Fr. Joseph L. MacNeill, a priest of the Archdiocese of Hartford, rector of St Thomas More Chapel, New Haven –the Catholic chaplaincy at Yale University and a Deputy Chaplain of the Order.

This is the second time the Order of Malta met at St Ann’s.

The Order of Malta is a 1000 year old lay religious order with more than 30K members worldwide serving the poor, the sick, and those in need of any sort. Historically, the Order has a rich history of service in Lebanon and throughout the East.

May all those prayed for today rest in peace. Eternal memory.

CT Lourdes in a Day

Today, the Connecticut North East Area of the Order of Malta gathered at St Peter Claver Church (West Hartford) to have the annual Lourdes in a Day of prayer.

The Lourdes in a Day is a gesture of prayer whereby we gather those who desire to receive the sacraments of healing. Many who are ill of body and mind or are living with the effects of being a senior and are in need of healing of body, mind and spirit. We offer the sacraments of confession, the Anointing of the Sick, Holy Mass, the rosary, and Benediction of the Most Blessed Sacrament. A lunch bag is provided. An additional aspect is the washing of hands with Lourdes water and the writing of ones’ intentions.

The Lourdes in a Day is the child of Mark and Cherith Sullivan, both members of the Order of Malta.

This is my 3rd or 4th time at the Day and I am always very moved by the grace of God poured out upon the participants. From my vantage point I witness to the impact that sacraments and friendship have in the lives of those in need.

Thanks be to God for inspiration the Sullivans have had and the ongoing commitment of the Order of Malta to the spiritual wellbeing of the sick and elderly.

Frá Jean-Louis Mainguy falls asleep in the Lord

On August 14th, Frá Jean-Louis Mainguy died. He was 71. Jean-Louis was a solemnly professed member of the Order of Saint John (2014), a Knight of Justice. In the Order of Malta he was a member of the First Class.

What is noteworthy for me is that he was born in Beruit. An Eastern Catholic member of the Order of Malta being Maronite. He was only Professed Knight of Solemn Vows who lived and worked in the Middle East for nine centuries.

The religious superior of the Fraters, Frá John Dunlap said, “Fra’ Jean-Louis was a model of faith, dedication, and service, with the title of the first Professed Knight in Lebanon and a resident knight in Malta. His tireless commitment to the service of the Order and his noble spirit will remain etched in our hearts.”

The announcement of Frá Jean-Louis’ death is noted here by the Order of Malta. Here is an article on Jean-Louis here.

The Grand Priory of England noted two things about Jean-Louis that I want bring to our attention here:

1. “His distinguished work as an architect/interior designer and scenographer of spaces, stage and cinema, was recognised nationally and internationally.

2. “Profoundly spiritual … He was a leading light in the Order’s spiritual and humanitarian mission. A man of deep philosophical reflection, he lived a spirituality which was both inspiring and impressive. It was a privilege to have known him and worked with him.

May Our Lady of Sorrows assist Frá Jean-Louis, the Order of Malta, and his family and friends in this time of mourning. May St John the Baptist and Blessed Gerard attend to him. May the memory of Frá Jean-Louis Mainguy be eternal.

CT Order of Malta honors patron saint

Today, the Order of Malta – CT North East Area met to honor the memory of Saint John the Baptist with a meeting, Holy Mass and lunch.

We met at St. Thomas Seminary-Pastoral Center, Bloomfield, CT.

One the great joys of the day was to officially welcomed 4 as new Knights and Dames of the Order.

Besides the announcements of various ministries, Bishop Peter Rosazza and Bob O’Hara spoke of their recent pilgrimage to Lourdes.

St. John the Baptist, pray for us.

Solemn Vespers for Laetare Sunday 2025

The CT North East Area of the Order of Malta and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem met Sunday, March 30, for Solemn Vespers at St Monica’s Church (St Ambrose Parish), Northford. Archbishop Leonard Blair, emeritus archbishop of Hartford and a member of both Orders presided and preached.

The evening was attended by parishioners of St Monica’s which was hosted by Father Robert L. Turner, KHS, pastor. The sacred music was beautiful and the reception was a nicely done.

Gaudete Sunday Vespers

The Dominican nuns of Our Lady of Grace Monastery welcomed the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, the Order of Malta – Connecticut North East Area and the Fraternity of St. Dominic for Solemn Vespers for Gaudete Sunday.

Chaplains to the two Orders, Fr Peter J. Langevin and Fr Joe MacNeill sat in choir.

Fr Brian Mulchay, OP, presided and preached.