Published: 12 October 2016

WASHINGTON, D.C. — Two women and seven men from the Charlotte diocese will become members of the Catholic lay religious Order of Malta Oct. 15 at St. Matthew Cathedral in Washington, D.C. Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington and principal chaplain of the order’s Federal Association, will celebrate the investiture Mass.
Geraldine McComb, Debora Ritzel, Stephen Dahlstedt, Claude Martin and Richard Valitutto of Greensboro; Paul Herndon and Richard Rotondi of Charlotte; Jason Gyure of Summerfield; and David Parker of Winston-Salem have completed more than a year of formation exercises including prayer, religious retreat, education about the traditions of the order, and practice of the works of mercy. They will be among 47 men and women from across the United States to become the newest members of a religious community founded more than 900 years ago.

In the year 1099 in Jerusalem, Gerard, a European lay brother, founded the order and enlisted other lay brothers as an outgrowth of his service directing the Hospital of St. John. Notwithstanding the conflicts of the Crusades, this Catholic hospital provided care without discrimination to Muslims and Jews as well as Christians. Later beatified by the Church, Blessed Gerard made it a rule that he and his confreres should call the patients and guests “our lords, the sick and the poor.”

Religious and political conflict over the centuries caused the brothers, often called the Hospitallers, to move from Jerusalem first to the island of Rhodes and later to that of Malta – hence the order’s best known contemporary name.

Today the order’s vocation remains centered on acts of mercy for the sick and the poor, as well as defense of the Catholic faith. During the past half-century, the order has undergone major renewal and expansion, particularly in the Western hemisphere. With a worldwide membership of 13,500, the order provides humanitarian and medical assistance in 120 countries. The Federal Association, with more than 1,000 members in 28 regions of the U.S., is one of 47 national associations of the global Order of Malta.

The great majority of members are lay men and women, most of whom are married. They carry out their vocation in the order while continuing their secular careers. A few members of the order in the United States and around the world follow the ancient calling of taking solemn vows as celibate religious brothers.

Members of the order perform corporal works of mercy in facilities including nursing homes, clinics and food distribution centers. The order’s members also donate and raise funds to operate hospitals and clinics in needy communities around the world, including the order’s Holy Family Maternity Hospital in Bethlehem. This facility serves Palestinian women and babies, most of them Muslims, just steps away from the sanctuary of the birthplace of Jesus Christ.

Every year in May, thousands of members of the order from around the world congregate in France at the Marian shrine of Lourdes. For a week of meditation and liturgical celebration, they escort people with serious illnesses whose travel and accommodations are sponsored by the order.

“The annual Lourdes pilgrimage is a powerful experience,” said Margaret Melady, president of the order’s Federal Association, U.S.A. “It always provides spiritual renewal – and sometimes, also physical healing – through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary.”

“This extraordinary Holy Year of Mercy,” Melady added, “is an occasion of joy and deepening commitment for both new and veteran members of the Order of Malta. We welcome the prayers and support of Americans as we continue to grow our membership and activities at home and throughout the world.”

Learn more about the Order of Malta in the diocese at www.orderofmalta-federal.org and worldwide at www.orderofmalta.int.

Joseph Duggan, Special to the Catholic News HeralD. Joseph Duggan serves with the Order of Malta, Federal Association, in Washington, D.C.

Published: 14 October 2016

CHARLOTTE — Bishop Peter Jugis announces the following appointments within the Permanent Diaconate:

• Deacon Marcos Mejias has been appointed regional coordinator of the Permanent Deacons of the Triad Region effective Oct. 17 while continuing his ministry at Our Lady of Grace Church in Greensboro.

• Deacon C. William Schreiber has been appointed regional coordinator of the Permanent Deacons of the Hickory Region effective Oct. 17 while continuing his ministry at St. Aloysius Church in Hickory.

• Deacon John A. Martino has been appointed director of the Permanent Diaconate for the Diocese of Charlotte for a five-year term effective Oct. 17 while continuing to serve at St. Charles Borromeo Church in Morganton.

• Deacon Ronald F. Steinkamp’s tenure as director of the Permanent Diaconate will end on Oct. 17.

• Deacon Andrew J. Cilone of Immaculate Conception Church in Forest City will retire effective Oct. 17, although he retains his faculties to minister. Also concluded is his tenure as regional coordinator of the Permanent Deacons of the Hickory Region.

• Deacon Vincent H. Shaw of St. Mary Church in Greensboro will also retire effective Oct. 17, although he retains his faculties to minister. Also concluded is his tenure as regional coordinator of the Permanent Deacons of the Triad Region.

— Catholic News Herald

CiloneMartinoMejiasSchreiberShawSteinkamp