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.
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.
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.
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.
Today, Saturday, April 5, was our monthly cooking for our friends at the Amistad Catholic Worker (New Haven). Members of Communion & Liberation CT, the Order of Malta – Connecticut North East Area and Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem in CT prepared a nutritionally dense food. Our day together as friends gives meaning to our lives.
As Msgr Luigi Giussani wrote in his brief piece, “Meaning of Charitable Work,” par. 1:
Above all, our very nature requires us to be interested in others. When there is something beautiful within us we desire to communicate it to others. When we see others who are worse off than we are, we desire to help them with something of ours. This need is so original, so natural, that it is within us before we are conscious of it. We call it the law of existence. We do charitable work to satisfy this need.
I’ve named our group The Holloway Outreach 1 to honor the Shakespeare Lady, Margaret Holloway who died a few years ago and who lived with mental illness and was homeless.
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.
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.
Our annual Order of Malta picnic, old and new friends.
In advance of the solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the Order of Malta—CT North East Area met for a meeting, Mass, and lunch. Part of the day was at the Clelian Center at Mount Sacred Heart in Hamden, CT. Sister Susan Francis Graham gave a presentation on the spirituality of the Sacred Heart.
Bishop Peter Rosazza blessed the neck cross once worn by our Magistral Chaplain, Father Thomas Kelly who died 2 months ago today.
St. John the Baptist is a principal feast of the Order of Malta.
The parish welcomed the Order of Malta of the Eastern CT Area today for a meeting of 25 people, Knights, Dames, and Associates and friends. The day included updates on activities of our Eastern CT Area, the work of the Order in the Association, and a brief witness talk by Father Dennis McCarthy, our pastor.
The Divine Liturgy was served by Father Dennis McCarthy and concelebrated by Bishop Peter Rosazza (conventual chaplain) and Father Joseph MacNeill (deputy chaplain).
An incredibly delicious Lenten meal was prepared for us by Joumanna Hajj and her brother Maroun, with the assistance of several others.
The Order of Malta describes itself in this manner:
The Order of St. John of Jerusalem is one of the oldest institutions of Western and Christian civilization. Present in Palestine in around 1050, it is a lay religious Order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. Its 13,500 members include Professed Friars and others who have made the promise of obedience. The other Knights and Dames are lay members, devoted to the exercise of Christian virtue and charity. What distinguishes the Knights and Dames of Malta is their commitment to reaching their spiritual perfection within the Church and to expending their energies serving the poor and the sick.
More information here:
~Order of Malta
~Order of Malta American Association
~Order of Malta Eastern CT Area
