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The following appeal for aid is republished
in full. For a printable version , click
here.
Rome, 22nd July 2006
URGENCY - LEBANON
Dear
Confrères,
His Excellency
Marwan Sehnaoui, President of the Order's
Association in Lebanon , has just sent this
information:
"The
situation in Lebanon is dramatic. The basic
infrastructures, especially in South Lebanon
and in the Bekaa plain are destroyed. Lebanon
is submitted to a total blockade. Even
trucks moving on the highways are arbitrarily
destroyed. The solution will take time.
The
population's distress and its needs are
many and increasing daily. Our centers
throughout the country are working very
hard and we must increase our efforts to
try to do the maximum for our Lords the
Poor and the Sick. Their numbers are rising
at an alarming rate. More than 500.000
Lebanese civilians are now refugees in
their own country.
However,
the presence of our Cross of Love in
the midst of all the different communities
that make up Lebanon is
on the one hand, the living Expression
of the LEBANON MESSAGE as described by
the late Holy Father Pope John Paul II,
and on the other a symbol of both moral
comfort and urgent necessity to the Christian
communities.
These
combined factors help the Christians
stay in their ancient homeland instead
of seeking to immigrate. It is our essential
participation in the defence of the Faith
in this part of the world.
Our
real needs are financial,
to help our centers go on with their
work which has been increased tenfold,
and to be able to assure medical and
elementary food supplies that we will
surely want to provide to meet this
humanitarian disaster. Meanwhile, keep
us in your prayers. Thank you for caring."
H.M.E.H. the Prince and Grand Master and the Sovereign Council kindly ask all
Confreres to contribute to the efforts of the Lebanese Association and of its
ten assistance Centres. These financial contributions will allow the Lebanese
Association to purchase medical equipment.
For the most up-to-date information please visit our website at www.orderofmalta.org
With our best confraternal regards,
| Albrecht Freiherr von BOESLAGER |
Jean-Pierre MAZERY |
| Grand Hospitaller |
Grand Chancellor |
Please note: Due to the impossibility
of sending any kind of help into Lebanon because of the conflict conditions,
the best way to contribute to the Order of Malta in Lebanon is by sending your
financial aid (by check) made out to the "Order of Malta",
and sending it to the Western Association, marked for "Malta—Lebanon".
We will then forward these monies to the Lebanese Association. Thank you for
your generosity. --Richard B. Madden, KM, President
 Click
here for printable version (PDF) >>
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In September 2005, the international Order of Malta held a conference on the
Holy Land attendees including representatives from the Holy Land , Jordan, Iraq
, Syria and Lebanon as well as the High Charges and members of the Sovereign
Council and the Papal Nuncio to the Holy Land and Lebanon Archbishop Batti.
The highlights of the conference included statements for the Grand Chancellor
H. E. Jean-Pierre Mazery, President of the Lebanese Association, H.E. Marwan
Sehnaoui, Raphael Debbone, government councilor.
The primary concern was
identified as the defense of the faith in
the Middle East . Mr. Deeone stated that to defend the Christians
in the Middle East and to give them power, three elements of quality,
service and dialogue should be assured: schools, healthcare and the
orientation for the development of small and medium enterprises that
would guarantee their survival.
H.E. Marwan Sehnaoui’s introductory speech insisted on the intervention
of the Knights in defense of the faith for love and service. This action in Lebanon
should be encouraged, supported, reinforced and developed in order to serve an
example for other countries of the region, as the role of the Order in the region
is fundamental.
Over twenty years ago, the Lebanese Association created and has controlled socio-medical
centers in disadvantaged regions with mixed population of Christian and Muslim.
The rapprochement between Christians and Muslims can be illustrated by the example
of one of the Centers in the Southern Lebanon managed by a great Muslim Shiite
woman, Mrs. Rabab El Sadr Caraffedine. These Centers need financial help of the
West for their survival, development and well-being. Each of the 13 Centers requires
$100,000 annually. The great sums of money from Arab countries and Iran for Muslim
organizations create an unbalance that we shall try to recuperate. Places that
were once the Citadels of the Order, the great fortresses for the Defense of
the Christian Faith, now, in juxtaposition, have become the Clinics of the Hospitaller.
The homeowner is usually around during the day, and it is wonderful to meet and work with the people who have suffered so much and are now so hopeful and excited about moving back into their home. By the end of the week every volunteer is tired, has lots of new friends from around the country, and feels a great sense of pride about what their group has accomplished.
The Christians of the Middle East
lead their everyday battles for survival. Their faith is alive. We, the members
of the Order of Malta , whose primary mission is the protection of the religious
faith, must be present there. We must intervene in this region of the world.
We must contribute to the success of this mission.
In the 12th century, the Knights
came to save and to protect the Christians of the East with their swords and
service to the poor and the sick. Today we ask for the assistance of the members
of the 21st century for the support of the Christians in this Eastern land
where Christianity was born through the development and perpetuation of the
hospital and social works of the Sovereign Order of Malta.
The Holy Land , Jordan , Iraq Syria
and Lebanon are the starting point of Christianity. Today the human needs in
these countries are considerable: the Christians are a minority and lead an
everyday battle for the protection of their faith and for their own survival.
Their future depends on the favorable climate of the co-existence of all the
communities based on the mutual respect.
The Sovereign Order of Malta responds
to this attempt of Christian minorities and during these years in Lebanon it
managed to demonstrate its humanitarian and social actions in the whole country
in service to “the poor and the sick” of mixed confessions, and
created the link of love and essential and constructive comprehension between
people. In this sense the Order’s vocation is to spread and develop its
action.
Mrs. Rabab el Sadar Caraffedine,
an influential Muslim woman who was awarded the Order of the Merit of the Order
of Malta for her humanitarian activity stated that “Collaboration for
charity purposes and piety is the best and surest way for the dialogue of our
cultures as it leads to Heaven, while a political dialogue is based only on
personal interests.”
For
a printable version click here >>
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Even as we enter into this year's "hurricane season", the three American Associations
of the Order of Malta are helping New Orleans recover from the devastation of
Hurricane Katrina. Please see the report by Joseph Dempsey on the work in progress.
Many members of our Western Association have already pitched in: John & Georgeann
Fannon, Andrew Madden, Jay Hurley, Don Larsen, Tricia Lasman, Zee Marzec, Bryan
Morehouse, Bill Regan, Peter Johnson, Ralph & Oonagh Linzmeyer (and 4 children),
Mack & Jeanne Miller, George Delucchi, and Dick Hunsaker. But more volunteers
are needed, beginning in September!
The three US Associations of the Order, Malteser International, and Rebuilding Together have joined forces in an effort to repair 30-40 homes in New Orleans damaged by Hurricane Katrina. Working closely with Catholic Charities of New Orleans and two inner-city parishes, Order of Malta volunteers are working with skilled laborers provided by Rebuilding Together one week per month.
Volunteer
Now! Click here for details.
The bulk of the funding for this
project (almost $1.5 million) has come from contributions from members of the
Order in the United States. There have also been significant contributions
made by Malteser International and Banamex (Bank of Mexico). The project is
being administered by the Federal Association office, and the volunteer coordinator
is a member of the Federal Association who now works for Malteser.
Three teams of Order of Malta volunteers have already worked a week inNew Orleans. Thirty-seven volunteered for the first work session in March, twenty-five volunteered in April, and thirty-nine Knights, Dames, family members and others volunteered the last week in May. As a result, six families in St. Leo the Great Parish in Gentilly have had their badly damaged homes repaired. And their lives are a lot closer to normal.
Volunteers arrive in New Orleans
from all over the country on Sunday afternoon, and make their way to The New
Orleans Marriott in the French Quarter. There is an informal reception and
orientation meeting on Sunday evening, and the work (light carpentry, painting,
installing drywall and insulation, gardening, and lots of hauling) goes from
Monday morning thru Thursday afternoon. The Marriott provides a simple breakfast
and box lunch every day, and a hearty dinner each night at the hotel. There
is a farewell banquet on Thursday evening, and everyone checks out and heads
home on Friday morning.
The homeowner is usually around during the day, and it is wonderful to meet and work with the people who have suffered so much and are now so hopeful and excited about moving back into their home. By the end of the week every volunteer is tired, has lots of new friends from around the country, and feels a great sense of pride about what their group has accomplished.
Volunteers are needed on the six remaining
sessions (see below). If you are interested, please go to Volunteers Needed - Announcement for more information and a sign-up sheet.
Volunteer
Now! Click here for details.
Work Sessions Remaining -
- September 24 - 29, 2006
- October 22 - 27, 2006
- December 3 - 8, 2006
- January 21 - 26, 2007
- February 11 - 16, 2007
- April 1 - 6, 2007
Volunteer
Now! Click here for details.
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By 7am the bright skies of Memorial Day were filled with flavorful BBQ smells
floating around St. Anne’s Home in San Francisco . On Monday May 29, 2006
forty one Knights and Dames together with 4 Provisionals, 6 Auxiliary members
and 15 volunteers gathered to prepare and serve a BBQ Picnic lunch for the residents
of the Little Sisters of the Poor home for the elderly.
On Sunday,
traditional picnic salads and marinades were
prepared in preparation for Memorial Day
by an enthusiastic and talented team of 20.
These folks return year after year to cook
and share time with the elderly and we are
so grateful to each person for their continued
involvement and dedication to the Little
Sisters and the elderly.
Msgr. Steven
Otellini celebrated the Mass for Justice
and Peace. We prayed for those who sacrificed
so much for the founding principles of our
country and for the work of the Order in
aiding the most needy to achieve dignity
and justice.
After Mass,
the residents and members of the Order descended
to the spacious entry hall to enjoy refreshments
hosted and served by Jeff Dito. With the
assistance of many, everyone delighted in
the great BBQ festivities, including a balloon-sculpting
clown!
We are
appreciative of Mother Patricia’s continued
hospitality to the Order of Malta and welcome
one and all to our next event at St. Anne’ Home
on October 7 th, Lourdes Day!
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