Please note these upcoming events. For a complete list, see the Calendar page.

• See the complete San Francisco Chapter calendar (PDF)
• See the complete Los Angeles Chapter calendar (PDF)

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Recently the members of our Association in the Phoenix area were asked to indicate their preferences about charitable and spiritual works. Their brief survey gives us all a chance to see how many and varied are their activities. It is most gratifying to see the depth of their commitment to the ideals of our order.

Maltesian Preferences Survey - Sept. 2007

Programs	Number of Members Involved	Percent of Conscripted Participations
Physcial Charities
Andre House	23	34
Christmas Gift/ Headstart	19	28
Dignity House	16	17
Ozanam Manor	10	15
Mission of Mercy	7	10
Christ Child Society	7	10
Lourdes Malades	13	19
Parish Nurse	5	7
Spiritual Charities
Spring Lenten Retreat	15	22
Growing the Faith	4	6
Defense of Faith	4	6
General Support
Hospitaller	5	7
Fund Raiser	5	7
Membership	8	11
Liaison with Bishop	5	7
Historian/ Communications	4	6

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With the cool days of September the summer “madness” is a memory and the Sacramento Location is fortunate to gather for Retreat with Msgr Kidder September 15th. This is a wonderful time to reorganize our activities. Our fall Journal theme is “Noble by our Works”. The Grand Master commented that Knights and Dames of Malta are made “noble by their actions”. How do we increase our humility over self in serving the Lord’s Sick and Poor?

Our talents are gifts from God. It is “hands on” assistance; professional services, construction, counseling and administrative support. Your time and abilities are a gift that money can’t buy. The participation by Knights, Dames, family members and volunteers with the sick and the poor is encouraged and needed.

Wellspring offers many opportunities; helping on various committees for their annual golf tournament, and the upcoming dinner and auction are two immediate needs. Gift certificates for restaurants, spas, gift baskets or frequent flyer miles and frequent stay certificates are popular items. Pickup and delivery runs for the center are needed. These can be done pretty much on your own time and as infrequently as one or two times a month. Contact Julie or Yolanda at 454-9688, or Sue Murchison at 482-6548

Our Hospitaller grants depend on our volunteer services. The Moral Values Program, contact 391-8754, always has a hands on need, as does Bishop Gallegos Maternity Home, contact 395-9370. We will be adding another Growing the Faith program this fall, details to come soon.

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PHASE II –
Order of Malta Home Renovation Program in New Orleans, Louisiana
September 2007- April 2008

From March 2005 to April 2006, over 250 members of the Order of Malta from all across the US participated in Phase I of the Order of Malta Home Renovation Program in New Orleans. Thanks to a successful partnership with Rebuilding Together, Catholic Charities of New Orleans and the New Orleans Marriott our volunteers worked none different one-week work sessions in Treme, Gentilly, and New Orleans East. Sixteen families have moved back in their homes as a result of the great work done by our Order of Malta volunteers. So successful was the program that we have decided to extend it for six more sessions – Sept & Dec 2007 and Jan/Feb/March/April 2008.

The exact work weeks are listed below, along with all of the other information about the program. One of the major differences in Phase II will be the overall size and scope of the project. In Phase I our volunteers were working on homes with major damage requiring extensive and expensive repairs. Teams of 30-40 volunteers would work all week, and the house would still be weeks from completion. In Phase II we will be working in houses that only need a week’s worth of finishing work before the family can move back in. We are only accepting 25 volunteers per week.

Our efforts will be concentrated in the Treme / Esplanade Ridge section of New Orleans. Very near downtown / French Quarter, this entire neighborhood will positively be re-built.

We need six teams of volunteer workers, 20-25 per team, one team for each of the six weeks listed below. Volunteers will arrive on their own (usually) on Sunday afternoon, and check into the New Orleans Marriott ( Canal Street). We work (usually) Monday – Thursday from 8:00 AM – 4:00 PM. All three meals will be provided, and there will be a farewell party on the last night.

If you can help, please contact Bill Regan at the Malta Office (415) 788-4550.

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Our Association has found it unnecessary to have a formal Disciplinary Commission during its entire history. Unfortunately, due to the actions of a very few members, one now is necessary.

The Order of Malta’s Code states, “members . . . shall conduct themselves so as to give Christian example in their private and public lives.” In addition, the Code establishes, “Disciplinary Provisions For Members Of The Second and Third Class.” Finally, these “Provisions” provide for a Disciplinary Commission to deal with “actions gravely incompatible with his or her membership in the Order.”

Effective immediately such Commission is established. The Chair will be the General Counsel of the Western Association, currently George Tichy. Procedural and other issues relative to this commission are under review by the Association’s General Counsel and the former General Counsel.

In the future any person, member of the Order or not, who believes a member of the Order has exhibited conduct not giving “Christian example” or has spoken or acted in a way “gravely incompatible with his or her membership” may write the General Counsel, explaining the issue and requesting action. This provision is not retroactive with regard to the request for an investigation, but, if an investigation is started the Disciplinary Commission will review all past actions of an accused member as well.

Richard B. Madden

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In April, His Excellency the Ambassador and Mrs. Rudy paid their official visit to the Grand Master as the newly appointed Ambassador of the Order of Malta to the Marshall Islands. At the invitation of the Grand Master, members of the Sovereign Council welcomed the Rudys warmly at luncheon in their honor.

Ambassador Rudy assured His Highness of his commitment to the Order and to the Marshall Islands and told the Grand Master that he would do all in his power to assist the Order in our work to relieve the poverty and suffering there.

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In May, Bill and Mary McInerney paid a visit to the Via Condotti. The residents at the Grand Magistry welcomed them warmly and we had a nice visit. The purpose of Bill and Mary’s visit was to tour the Order of Malta Clinic located on the premises in order to bring home ideas for our new clinic soon to be a reality in Oakland’s Cathedral of Christ the Light of the World, where Bishop Vigneron has enthusiastically welcomed our participation for this much needed clinic.

In August during the Grand Commander’s visit, officers and members of the Sovereign Council were treated to an excellent tour of the new Cathedral, including the proposed Clinic area. Judging from what we saw, Bill and Mary did well on their “fact-finding” Roman tour, because the Order of Malta Clinic will be the BEST in the world! Thanks to the hard work of so many members from the Bay Area, the Clinic will fulfill a real need for an active, participatory, Hospitaller work of our very own, right here in Oakland.

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From April 30 through May 2. 2007 a very important convocation took place in Rome. To commemorate the 130 th Anniversary of the Association of Italian Knights of Malta, the Grand Magistry organized a forum for Grand priors, Regents and Presidents to present to them a compendium of the works and projects of the Order and to offer suggestions for the future growth of our Order, worldwide.

The first of three speakers, Cardinal Tauran of France offered a very well-informed and comprehensive of the “Global” Order, today. The Cardinal emphasized the need for a balanced approach to our two missions, Tuitio Fidei and Obesequim Pauperum. His inspiring words were greatly appreciated both for their call to action and for his knowledge and appreciation of the Traditions of our Order.

The Second Speaker, a representative of the Kinsey Consulting Group made an effective presentation, based on work performed by Kinsey for Malteser, of how important name recognition, uniformity and branding can assist the Order present a solid, recognizable model to influence world politics in defense of the faith and assistance to the sick.

The third speaker, Antonio Sanchez-Corea, presented the cooperative works of the three associations in the USA as an example of the power and achievements that occur with mutual understanding of our common goals unencumbered by personal ambition.

The three days of celebration and confraternal exchange were a great achievement of the Grand Chancellor toward the goals of the Malta Strategy Conference 2004, for deeper understanding among the groups and greater cooperation with the Grand Magistry.

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On June 15, 2007, in Vienna Austria, the Grand priory of Austria held its annual investiture. The beautiful Haydn Mass, celebrated by the Papal Nuncio for Austria, Archbishop Edmund Farhart, took place in the “Emperors Cathedral” of Saint Augustine of Vienna.

The Mass was followed by luncheon at Palais Pallavicini after which the annual meeting of the Grand Priory was conducted by the procurator of the priory, Norbert Count Salburg-Falkenstein. Abbot Gregor Henckel von Donnermarck O Cist praised the members for their good works in many areas but especially for their courageous activities on behalf of their neighbors in Hungary and Slovakia during the dissolution of the Soviet Republics and the restoration of the independent governments.

On June 16, 2007 the Malteser Hielfdienst of Austria invested over 200 volunteer Maltesers at a Mozart Mass performed by the Vienna Symphony. The Mass at Saint Stephens Cathedral was celebrated by the Chief Chaplain of the grand priory of Austria. After Mass a special convocation was held for 200 members and volunteers. The special guests at the meeting were the President of the Republic of Austria, Dr. Heinz Fischer and the President of Hungary, Dr. Lazlo Solyan. The Grand Chancellor, Jean-Pierre Mazery, the Receivor, Gian Luca Chiavari and members of the Sovereign Council represented the Grand Magistry on these occasions.

On the evening of Saturday, June 16 a traditional Austrian Grand Ball was held in celebration of the 50 th anniversary of Malteser Austria and to benefit the works of the Order in Austria. Young women of the leading families of Vienna were presented to society at the Ball which featured Viennese Waltzes and the traditional quadrilles.

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