The Maltese Association

The Island of Malta has a long and distinct association with the Sovereign Military and Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta dating back to the period 1530-1798. This long and deep association witnessed by the fact that SMOM carries the name of Malta as part of its appellation and the Island in turn has been associated so much with the eight pointed cross of the Order, that this is now known as the Maltese cross.

Since 1798 when the Knights left Malta, the Order had been officially absent for almost two hundred years on the Island. In 1960 a small group of Maltese knights was set up and this was formally constituted as the Maltese Association of the Sovereign and Military Order of Malta (MASMOM) in 1965, close to and following Malta’s Independence from the British in 1964. The Order nominated its first ambassador to Malta on the 20th May 1966.

 

MASMOM is slowly but surely growing since its foundation in 1965. This growth embraces stringent but regular addition of new members as well modification and increasing aspirations in accordance with the statutes and regulations of the Order.

The Maltese Association is proud to have its seat (picture above) in a prominent place in the Capital City,Valletta. In fact it is situated in Victory Square only two doors away from the Church of Our Lady of Victory and less than one hundred metres away from the Auberge De Castille – the Office of the Prime Minister.

 

 The Maltese Members are proudly conscious of their dual identity, that of being Knights and Dames and also sons and daughters of a country so intimately connected historically with that very Order. Malta, being a small strategically located Island has, since time immemorial exchanged cultural values with innumerable countries and races. Our Association seeks to do the same, within a staunch Catholic framework forever fighting for the Order’s principles of  "Tuitio Fidei" (defender of the Faith) and "Obsequium Pauperum" (Service to Our Lords the Sick).

MASMOM'S AGENDA

MASMOM’s agenda is divisible into Religious and Hospitaller activities. The former comprise both national and international pilgrimages, retreats and meetings. The Lourdes pilgrimage is the highlight of the annual religious activities and much preparation goes into the organization of selecting the malades and planning and executing their transport to and from Lourdes.

On a much smaller scale of organization is the Association’s annual pilgrimage in May to the Marian shrine of Ta’ Pinu located on the sister island of Gozo. The pilgrimage is also much loved by our Malades who as our guests are entertained and invited to a much looked after meal at one of the local Hotels in Gozo. Among the purely religious functions we find retreats as those at Lenten, attendance at processions such as those of St. John’s, St. Paul’s and participation at High Mass on numerous feasts and occasions. Visits are also regularly held in the various hospitals in the Island.

Much work of charity and useful assistance are often ably offered by the Friends of the Order (FOTO) consisting of the wives of members, who daily offer a tea and coffee service at Boffa Hospital.

Some of the other organised activities include the organising of first-aid courses, and historical lectures to various cultural groups and individuals; members often embark on personal academic publications about the historical aspects of the Order of St. John.

Under the MASMOM umbrella we also find an enthusiastic group of volunteers, VOTO (Volunteers of the Order), from both Malta and Gozo  who are very active in voluntary work.

The Maltese Council for the period 

2009-2012

H.E. Dr Philip Farrugia Randon M.O.M., LL.D., KM

 President
H.E. Amb. Comm. Anthony Miceli Demajo KM Vice- President
Marchesino Daniel de Petri Testaferrata KM Chancellor
Dr Michael Grech B.A., LL.M. (Lond), LL.D. KM Hospitaller
Mr Mario G. Camilleri KM Treasurer
Major Raymond P Miller KM Master of Ceremonies
Dowager Marchioness Vivien Cassar de Sain DM Member
Dr Joseph L Pace MD, FRCP(Ed), FRCP (Lond), FCPP, FAAD, KM Member
Dr Alfred Caruana Galizia KM MD FRCP (Edin) (Glas) (Lond) Member

The Very Revd Mgr Lawrence Gatt

 Principal Chaplain

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