In Celebration of the Knights of Malta

I was honored to be present for the New York festivities surrounding the installation of the new Knights of Malta today at Saint Patrick's Cathedral. Bishop Robert Deeley, Boston's own Vicar General, was installed as a Coventual Chaplain ad honorem, while I was privileged to be installed as a Deputy Chaplain.

The Sovereign Militar Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Rhodes and of Malta (American Association USA) "seeks to glorify God by promoting the sanctification of each member through his or her work with the sick and the poor and defense of the Catholic faith." The Knights celebrated their 900th anniversary earlier this year, during which celebration Pope Benedict XVI reminded the order’s members that their guiding spirit "aims not to exercise power and influence of a worldly character, but in complete freedom to accomplish its own mission for the integral good of man, spirit and body ... with special regard for those whose need of hope and love is greater."

Bishop Robert Deeley, Cardinal Timothy Dolan, and Nancy Gibson at the Banquet earlier this evening.

Marilyn Colman, who was installed as a member today, is shown here with her "classmate."