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CURRENT NEWS
This section is dedicated to the news of the Maltese Association. The Order's International News are available at the following links:
The Order of Malta - International News
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April 2010 |
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10/04/2010 Lourdes Fund Raising Lunch
The Maltese Association organised a fundraising lunch at the Radission Bay Point Hotel in St. Julians, in aid of the forthcoming Lourdes Pilgrimage.
The President, HE Dr Philip Farrugia Randon welcomed the guests and the Chancellor and Pilgrimage Director, Marchesino Daniel de Petri Testaferrata gave a briefing on the Lourdes Pilgrimage.
Holy Mass was celebrated at 12.00 by Fr David Gauci. Lunch was served immediately after Holy Mass.
Photos JD'A About 115 members, volunteers and pilgrims participated in this event. |
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04/04/2010 Donation of Defibrillator The Malta Heart Foundation has donated an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) to the Order of Malta Gozo Volunteers. A defibrillator is a lifesaving device that delivers a therapeutic dose of electrical energy to the affected heart. The latest technology has provided humanity with such automated devices which can be utilized by basic first aiders and even members of the public. The Order of Malta has also got several personnel who are professionals in this field. The Maltese Association intends to utilize this lifesaving equipment for the Lourdes Pilgrimage and other functions where medical emergencies can occur. The SMOM Gozo volunteers are also present during activities for the elderly and relief programmes. The Gozo Volunteers have also been present on standby during the Victoria Good Friday processions where devout Catholic followers walk with chains tied to their feet or barefoot during the procession. The Order of Malta also helped organize transport for elderly persons who wished to be present for such religious functions. Some 2 procession participants needed medical assistance, but fortunately the AED was not needed. The AED is always available to members of the Order when needed and can also be utilized swiftly when the Maltese Association responds to national contingencies. CG |
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March 2010 |
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26-28/03/2010 Annual Lenten Spiritual Retreat
The Lenten Weekend Spiritual Retreat was held on the 26th, 27th and 28th March at the Archbishop’s Seminary Retreat House in Tal-Virtù, Rabat. The sermons were delivered by the Very Rev. Mgr Anton Gouder, Pro-Vicar General, (above).
Over forty MASMOM members and members of the voluntary groups participated in this spiritual retreat, excellently organised by MASMOM Vice-President Comm Anthony Miceli Demajo. Members of the Order al Merito Melitense also participated.
Above: Praying The Way of The Cross on Saturday afternoon |
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19/03/2010 Corporate Social Responsibility Day
Villa Chelsea Redecoration
On the occasion of the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, the Maltese Association, joined a number of other organisations in a day-long activity to help in the redecoration of several Charity Homes. Holy Mass for all the corporate volunteers was held at 8.30 am at the Chapel of Dar Qalb ta' Gesu in Santa Venera. Coffee was served immediately afterwards.
The MASMOM helpers, together with the HSBC Group were allocated Villa Chelsea in Birkirkara as their chosen charity home.
Mrs Kate Gonzi - the Prime Minister's wife - and HG the Archbishop of Malta, Mgr Paul Cremona OP, visited Villa Chelsea in the morning and saw the works being carried out.
Photos:JD'A
The work was divided in the following categories: painting of walls, furniture, doors and windows; general cleaning; sewing and gardening.
It was amazing to see so many helpers working in harmony, managing to give the entire place a facelift in one day.
MASMOM members and volunteers actively participated in this event. |
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10/03/2010 VOTO Lenten Talk
On the 10 March 2010, VOTO (the Volunteers Of The Order) held a Lenten talk for its members. Originally organised at Osanna Pia Youth Hostel, this had to be moved at the 11th hour to St Patricks due space limitations arising from the positive response of attendees confirming their attendance.
Fr Savio kept his flock glued to every word. His exposition on the meaning of the “Incarnation of God” and the implications thereof in our everyday life, as well as the true meaning of being a Christian was both insightful and extremely challenging.
This talk is planned to be the first of a series of talks that will be organised by VOTO for its members. The aim of these talks is to help members to understand the true meaning of being a Christian, and how to live one’s life as a sincere Christian with the final aim of getting closer to God. MES |
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7/03/2010 FOTO Fund Raising Lunch
FOTO organised their traditional fund raising buffet curry lunch for their members and spouses. This year the venue chosen for this well attended event was the Casino Maltese, in Sliema.
Holy Mass was celebrated by The Very Reverend Canon Karm Busuttil at noon and after Mass the guests were treated to a welcome drink and assorted canapés.
A scrumptious curry buffet lunch followed. The food and desserts were exquisitely prepared by the FOTO ladies themselves.
The Friends of the Order (FOTO), are a voluntary branch of the Maltese Association of the Order of Malta, consisting of the wives of members and also Dames.
Anne Marie Gauci Maistre, FOTO Chairperson, addressed the guests and explained how the proceeds from this event will be utilised. She thanked the benefactors and all those who helped to make the activity a success.
Above right: Dr Joseph Pace drawing the raffle tickets for the gifts that were donated to FOTO for this occasion and on the left: one of the lucky winners claiming her prize. |
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5/03/2010 First Friday Mass
The First Friday Holy Mass was celebrated by our Principal Chaplain, The Very Rev Mgr Lawrence Gatt, Conventual Chaplain Grand Cross ad honorem at Our Lady of Victory Church in Valletta at 18.00hrs. The Very Reverend Canon Karm Busuttil concelebrated. This month the Holy Mass was offered for the repose of the souls of Nathalie Bianchi, Lina Frendo and Harold Bartoli. Refreshments followed at Casa Lanfreducci. |
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February 2010 |
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17/02/2010 Ash Wednesday Mass
In line with an annual tradition, the Maltese Association was invited by the Archpriest of Birgu, the Very Reverend Canon Joseph Caruana and Collegiate Chapter of St Lawrence Church, to Holy Mass on Ash Wednesday.
The event started with a procession with the revered Reliquary of the Holy Face of Christ, from the monastery of Santa Scolastica, through the main streets of Birgu, to the parish church of St Lawrence.
Canon Joseph Caruana led the ceremony of the placing of ashes on the foreheads of the sizeable congregation during ths mass.
The mass ended with a procession to the chapel of the Holy Crucifix on the right side of the church, where the congregation followed the members present, in the ritual of the kissing of the reliquary.
The venerated reliquary consists of an icon of Our Lord's face, surrounded by twenty recesses covered in glass, containing relics of our Lord's Passion, such as pieces of thorns, pieces of the pillar and of the cross. This reliquary was donated to SttLawrence Church by Inquisitor Mons Paolo Passionei (1743-1754) in 1753 and is only exposed for veneration on occasions.
H.E. Fra John Edward Critien, Knight Resident at Fort St Angelo participated in the religious celebration. |
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10/02/2010 Din L-Art Helwa Commemorative Mass St. Paul’s Chapel, St. Paul’s Bay
The President and Council of Din l-Art Helwa invited the Association to participate in their activities to commemorate the 400th Anniversary of the laying of the foundation stone of the Wignacourt Tower.
Holy Mass was celebrated at St Paul’s Chapel, St Paul’s Bay, at noon.
After Mass, a commemorative plaque was unveiled in the Wignacourt Tower, by Judge Maurice Caruana Curran, Founder President of Din l-Art Helwa.
Above: the restored room on the top floor of the tower.
A reception at Wignacourt Tower concluded this event.
Above: the left and right breath taking views from the rooftoop of the tower
Above left: Dr Stanley Farrugia Randon MD, Din l-Art Helwa council member, presented a book to Architect Graziella Galea, St Paul's Bay Mayor. Right, centre: Dr Farrugia Randon is cutting the cake with the volunteers that look after the tower. |
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5/02/2010 First Friday Mass
The First Friday Holy Mass was celebrated by our Principal Chaplain, The Very Rev Mgr Lawrence Gatt, Conventual Chaplain Grand Cross ad honorem at Our Lady of Victory Church in Valletta at 18.00hrs.
This month the Holy Mass was celebrated in memory of the late Mgr John Dimech, who had dedicated so much effort to his role as Principal Chaplain of the Maltese Association. Members of the Dimech family, as well as close friends of Dun Gwann participated in the Mass.
A group of Austrian members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem who are visiting Malta this week, were invited and joined us in the liturgical celebration. Mr Victor Licari, Lieutenant of the Maltese branch of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, was also invited and met his Austrian confreres.
Photos: JdA
After the religious service light refreshments were served at Casa Lanfreducci. |
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January 2010 |
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17/01/2010 FUN DAY EVENT
DOLMEN HOTEL BUGIBBA – SUNDAY – 17th JANUARY 2010
A Fund Day Event was organized by MASMOM.
Coaches picked up the special guests from two locations in Malta and they were taken to the Dolmen Hotel in Bugibba, the venue for this event.
At 10.30, Holy Mass was celebrated by our
Magistral Chaplain, Mgr Paul Carmel Vella.
This was followed by a Tea and Coffee break, with singing by Philippa Farrugia Randon and music by Dr Kevin Dingli and Mr Paul Sultana.
A three course Buffet Lunch was served at the Menhier Restaurant in the Hotel.
Fra Richard Divall and Fra Richard Cheffins, both currently in Malta, also participated in this event.
After lunch the performance by Magician Brian Rolé entertained all those present – with both young and old participants trying to catch him out or copy his tricks. Needless to say, none of them succeeded.
The animation team then took over and this is when the fun reached its best moment: face painting, balloon twisting, games, and most of all, the dancing.
Young, old, children, volunteers and helpers crammed the dance floor, giving it all they’ve got. The twisting, singing, jumping and the latest fancy dance moves were enjoyed by all.
Coffee and sweets were later served. Dr. Philip Farrugia Randon, MASMOM President, thanked the sponsors and organizers - especially Comm Tonio Casapinta and Mrs Nadya Chetcuti, without whose enthusiasm, this event would not have been possible.
Presents were also given to the children and families at the end of the day, before they went back to their coaches to be taken back home.
It was gratifying to see the smiles on the faces, the laughter, the participation, everybody enjoying himself. MASMOM’s aim was reached - the activity was a huge success, all their various problems being put aside for the day. |
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16 January 2010 Investiture Ceremony
An Investiture ceremony was held during Holy Mass celebrated by Mgr Lawrence Gatt, Conventual Chaplain Grand Cross ad Honorem, at the Oratory, St John's Co-Cathedral, in Valletta at 16.30hrs. The ceremony was presided over by HE Dr Philip Farrugia Randon, President of the Maltese Association.
The members to be invested processed to the Oratory under the guidance of the Chancellor, Marchesino Daniel Gera de Petri Testaferrata, and took their seats.
All the other members present, processed from the sacristy in inverse order of rank, led by the Standard-Bearer of the Association.
The Chancellor read the brevet issued by the Grand Chancery, and Mgr Lawrence Gatt blessed the insignia.
Their Excellencies Frá John Critien, Frá Richard Cheffins and Frá Richard Divall also participated in the ceremony.
After the sermon, the Veni Creator Spiritus was sung and the President conferred the insignia on behalf of the Prince and Grand Master, HMEH Frá Matthew Festing.
Donati of Devotion
The Most Noble Amy Bugeja Fontani
Promotion
Mrs Helen Farrugia Randon
Promise Of Obedience Admissions to the Second Class
Knight Grand Cross of Magistral Grace in Obedience
H.E. Amb. Antonio Ganado GCSGM
Knights of Magistral Grace in Obedience
H.E. Dr Philip Farrugia Randon
Mr Alexander Caruana Soler
Mr John Gauci Maistre
Mr Paul K Sultana The Mass then continued in the usual way. At the end of the ceremony, the President followed the Standard-Bearer of the Association, who led the Procession out of the Oratory and back to the Sacristy, where a group photo was taken.
A reception was later held at Casa Lanfreducci for the newly invested, their families, members, volunteers and guests. |
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HAITI: MALTESER INTERNATIONAL RESPONDS TO DEVASTATING EARTHQUAKE
Port-au-Prince, 13 January 2010 Medical team leave for emergency relief in the disaster region
A 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck Haiti in
the late evening yesterday, with reports giving many hundreds dead,
thousands injured and leaving countless people homeless. Grey dust covers
the area where as yet an unknown number of buildings and homes have been
destroyed. There is significant damage to the infrastructure, roads and the
communication system.
“Due to the soil erosion, our capital lacks a
solid base. With mudslides following the earthquake, the slums built on the
hills have completely slipped off,” reports Eduard Aimé from Haiti. “Even
the more solid buildings like the presidential palace, the ministries and
the cathedral have been severely damaged.” For 15 years the Order of Malta, through its Associations in the United States, has been supporting a hospital (Hôpital Sacré Coeur, Milot) in the north of Haiti, the poorest country in the Western hemisphere. The 73-bed hospital is the only one in the region. In 2008, Hôpital Sacré Coeur treated 56,000 outpatients, with over 4,100 hospital admissions and 1,262 newborn deliveries. There is no other pharmacy or laboratory in the area, so last year the hospital filled 136,000 prescriptions and completed over 77,000 lab tests. |
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ADDRESS OF THE GRAND MASTER TO THE DIPLOMATIC CORPS
12 January 2010
The Grand Master of the Order of Malta, Fra'
Matthew Festing, received at the Magistral Villa on the Aventine the
Ambassadors of the 104 countries accredited to the Order for the audience of
the beginning of the new Year. |
Malteser International - Order of Malta
