In Rome, on June 4, 2004, Antonio Sanchez-Corea, Grand Cross of Grace and Devotion in Obedience, was elected to the Sovereign Council of the Order of Malta. The Order of Saint John of Jerusalem is a sovereign political entity with recognized territory, that independently governs its political and international relations. With approval of the Grand Master, the Sovereign Council serves as the governing body of this 900-year-old lay religious order.

As Sovereign Councilor, Tony will assist the Grand Master and High Charges in their efforts to strengthen ties with the North and South American Associations. He will provide needed support for their work, share his expertise in governmental administration, and offer his dedicated service to our worldwide membership.

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The Tri Association Order of Malta Choir held two "Thursday and Friday" rehearsals at the Hôtel Impérial Mercure. Then the fun began! They sang at the pilgrimage first mass at the Rosary Basilica on Thursday. On Friday, they sang at the mass at St. Bernadette's Church, on Saturday, at the Grotto, and again that day at the opening mass of the pilgrimage with the French choir at the underground Basilica.

On Sunday , with voices well-tuned, the Choir joined the French, Italian, German, and Dutch choir at the ten o'clock high mass at Pius X Basilica. The Tri Association from the USA made up half of the voices. At this Mass, our provisional Knight, Carl Noelke, of San Francisco, sang tenor in a duet of Panis Angelicus with the baritone choir master of Lourdes, Arno Penet. They were accompanied by the renowned composer /organist Frà J. P. Lecot. It was a most artistically beautiful and inspirational experience for all of the pilgrims. Sunday afternoon, the choir sang at the healing service at Saint Pius X Basilica.

On Monday afternoon, the Western Association choir sang at the healing service at the beautiful fifteenth century church of Saint Savin. Provisional Knight Carl Noelke sang a solo of Ave Maria.

On Tuesday, at the last mass of the pilgrimage, we were told neither the American of Federal Association would join us. Our Lady, however, had other plans. Fifteen minutes before the Mass at the Rosary Basilica was due to start, the American Association arrived in full force. So a strong bi-association choir sang and Arno Penet joined us singing a solo during communion. Le Deluge and Our Lady brought the American Association to us.

In sum, the Western Association Order of Malta choir sang at:
   2 rehearsals
   7 masses
   2 healing services
   1 rosary and hymns at the Baths

We can be proud of our Western Association Order of Malta choir that is so rich in voice and dedication and each year it is growing and getting better. The week at Lourdes is demanding and challenging and yet we have great attendance and wonderful camaraderie. For the whole Order of Malta in the United States, our choir participation is a wonderful expression of our unanimity in achieving quality music to enhance the liturgical settings during this pilgrimage. It was also excellent preparation for our début singing at an Investiture Mass on June 25th, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels, in Los Angeles. We believe this last event is another Western Association first.

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The Lourdes Reunion Dinner for the Los Angeles area was held on April 13, 2004 at Holy Family Catholic Church in South Pasadena. Over one hundred past and current knights, dames, and malades attended the event. Father Patrick Brennan, CP, was the celebrant of the Mass and the Lourdes Choir sang, under the direction of Patrick Flahive.

Following the Mass participants enjoyed a wonderful Mexican dinner. Pilgrimage directors, Jack and Jeannie O'Brien gave an enthusiastic talk to help everyone prepare for the journey.

The evening continued with a great deal of camaraderie and happy conversations. It was a festive and informative evening for all.

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Our group of 60 volunteers from the Order of Malta Youth Pilgrimage consisted mainly of teenagers, ages fourteen to twenty, a few adults, seminarians, and a nun, all led by Fr. Paul Carrier, S.J, Hope Carter DM, and Charlotte Kiesel DM. During the ten day pilgrimage, we worked with French and Italian scouts bathing the sick in the healing waters, escorting malades from their hospitals to church and back, getting sick pilgrims off trains and onto buses, guiding crowds of worshipers at outdoor masses and much more.

In Lourdes, where you never know what the Lord will ask of you, as our group shuffles through the streets at 3:45 a.m.; the town is far from asleep. Slurred songs reach our ears from French scouts on the banks of the River Gave. Through half-closed eyes, we observe shopkeepers arranging their wares in anticipation of their very special visitor. The smell of the previous night's festivities and freshly brewed coffee mingles in the chilly air. We too feel the anticipation, and it is what keeps us going despite the difficult timing of our work shift. As we arrive at the gates of the Domain, we see people already streaming in to get a spot on the prairie where Pope Jean-Paul II will be saying Sunday Mass in six hours. The prairie overlooks the Grotto where the Virgin Mary appeared to young Bernadette and where a spring of healing water miraculously erupted and still flows today.

Our task today is crowd control, not an easy feat when you don't speak the language and there are three hundred thousand people all pushing to get closer to our Holy Father. At 10:00 a.m., our group gets a break and we are able to sit and watch Pope Jean-Paul II say Mass on the big screen televisions set up in front of the Basilica. The experience is bittersweet. It is amazing to be in the presence of someone so spiritual, so close to God, but also very sad to see how sick the Pope truly is.

At the close of our day, when we had done our best with the crowds, held flags while eucharistic ministers distributed communion, and helped malades get back to the hospitals, one of the French Hospitalité volunteers presented our group with a gift: A golden statue of the Virgin Mary cradling baby Jesus. It was a lovely, yet totally unnecessary gesture, for us who had already been blessed with the gift of the experience.

When we weren't working, we made time to have daily Mass at Poor Claire's Oratory, have reflections each night and walk proudly beside our Malta flag in the candlelight procession. But, Lourdes isn't all work and no play. One of the best parts of the pilgrimage is the instant bonding that takes place. Everyone truly wants to exert themselves to make a difference, and the aura of enthusiasm is contagious. With sixty people working side by side to facilitate miracles, it is not hard to gain instant and lasting friendships.

Lourdes makes you feel vulnerable and small compared to the miracles and religious fervor of the believers, but at the same time it makes your heart feel enormous and bursting with love. One friend said, "Lourdes is like a cell phone charger, and you are the cell phone. When you arrive you only have one bar of power, but when you leave, you are fully charged with five bars ready to share your experience with the world." The spirit of generosity and compassion abundant in Lourdes comes back with each of us, so we can spread it to our families, parishes and communities and so those who may not have the chance to travel to France can feel Our Mother Mary's healing powers.

Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for Us. Saint Bernadette, Pray for Us.

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In an effort to keep the membership more completely informed, the president will provide regular reports on highlights from our Board of Directors meetings.

April 2, 2004 - San Francisco

• Chancellor Tony Sanchez-Corea reported the success of the newly formed Administrative Support Committee whose volunteers come into the San Francisco Office and help the staff with various mailings. Bay Area Members are encouraged to support this effort.
• Tony Sanchez-Corea also noted that 2,400 babies were born at Holy Family Hospital in Bethlehem last year.
• Gene Payne's Hospitaller report is summarized as follows:
 The committee's 25 members met for over six hours to review more than $1,300,000 of grant requests from 70 organizations. They recommended total grants of $798,000 to 56 organizations. The Board approved the recommendations.

• Bob Kilmartin, new director of the Auxiliary Committee, spoke of the progress being made in San Francisco and Orange County and noted the possibilities in other chapters .
• Mary McInerney, who initiated the Membership Support Committee last year, shared that her regionally based committee is now active in reaching out to our sick and bereaved members throughout the Western Association.
• Helen Mary Stein, Chair of the Western Association's Growing the Faith program reported the following:
  • Founded in 2001, The Growing the Faith program works with poor Catholic schools providing them with renewable grants. Its goal is the spiritual enrichment of disadvantaged children in our communities through distribution of religious materials and direct participation of knights, dames, and volunteers in school programs.
  • The program is run by regional groups, under the guidance of an oversight board with developed standardized procedures and materials.
  • Programs are currently underway in San Francisco, Martinez, and Sacramento.
• Tom Condon, new president of the Los Angeles Chapter, reported on the initial activities of the chapter and plans for the Investiture in June.

June 24, 2004 - Los Angeles

• The president noted that on June 22, 2004, Fra Andrew Bertie and Members of the Sovereign Council were received by Pope John Paul II who thanked the Order for our initiatives on behalf of the needy and added, "I assure you that I pray for you so that God through the intersession of Mary most Holy may bless every project of your institution. And I encourage you to continue generously along the path of fidelity to Christ and his Church."
• Charlie Lee retired as Membership Chairperson. Mike Grace was appointed as his replacement.
• Dick Dunn discussed the election of the Sovereign Council and noted that the new Grand Commander is Fra Giacomo dalla Torre. The Grand Commander is responsible for all religious activities of the Order.
• On behalf of the Executive Committee, the president reported:
  • Tony Sanchez-Corea was elected to the Sovereign Council and the creation of Dick Dunn to Bailiff Grand Cross of Honor and Devotion in Obedience. To the best of our knowledge, Dick is the first non-religious Bailiff outside of Europe in the history of the Order.
  • The Executive Committee accepted the resignation of Tony Sanchez-Corea as Chancellor as he cannot hold both positions. In his place, the Executive Committee elected Bill Regan to serve the balance of the term and approved Bob Stein to replace Bill Regan as secretary. The Board of Directors recognized the Executive Committee's decisions.
  • At the unanimous recommendation of the members of the Sub-Priority of Our Lady of Philermo and with Rome's approval, Dick Dunn agreed to become Regent of the Sub-Priory.
• The Tri-Association's "Celebration of Life" event will be held on Sunday, October 24, 2004. The three United States associations of the Order of Malta will simultaneously celebrate a "Mass For the Sanctity of Life." All chapters and regions are asked to schedule a Mass to be celebrated on that date.
• Jack O'Brien, Co-chair of the Lourdes Committee, reviewed the 2004 Lourdes Pilgrimage. The key to success was the addition of an extra day to this 28th pilgrimage. Of the total 236 pilgrims, 37 were malades, 23 were companions, 12 were clergy, 11 were medical doctors, and 6 were registered nurses.
• Sherry Van Meter, Chair of the Christmas card project, reported on this Tri-Association program:
  • Beautiful envelopes were included with the cards this year.
  • Order forms and cards were sent out in July.
  • Orders received by September 15th will be shipped on October 15th
  • Last year this program raised $12,000 for Holy Family Hospital, in Bethlehem. All members are encouraged to order cards through the Malta Office to help support this cause.
    

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WILLIAM NICHOLAS PAGE

On February 26, 2004, William Nicholas Page was born to Billy and Katie Page.
Nicholas's grandparents are Charlotte and George Kiesel, Western Association members, and Bill and Noel Page, of the Federal Association.

Monsignor Steven Otellini performed Nicholas's baptism at the Church of the Nativity in Menlo Park, on Sunday, July 10, 2004.

AUDREY LEE MORRISON

Andrew and Jenner Morrison announced the birth of their daughter, Audrey Lee Morrison, on July 12, 2004. Audrey is the sister of Ashleigh and the granddaughter of Barbara and Jay Fritz and Mr. and Mrs. Morrison.

ANDREW JOSEPH PETERSEN

Scott and Noelle Petersen announced the birth of a son, Andrew Joseph Petersen, on the Feast of the Annunciation, March 25, 2004. Andrew Joseph is the brother of Connor and grandson of His Excellency Richard Dunn, Bailiff Grand Cross of Honor and Devotion in Obedience, Regent of the Sub-Priory of Our Lady of Philermo and the late Marygrace Calhoun Dunn, Dame of Grace and Devotion in Obedience and of Mr. and Mrs. Petersen.

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