Order of Malta hosts Day of Formation
Last Updated on Thursday, 21 June 2012 00:26 21 June 2012
CHARLOTTE — A Day of Formation was recently held in Charlotte for new candidates discerning a lifelong commitment to the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta – commonly known as the Order of Malta.
This lay religious order, the fourth oldest order in the Church, has for nine centuries fulfilled its two-fold mission of defending the faith and serving the poor and the sick. During the Day of Formation, held over two days in April, Mass was celebrated by Benedictine Abbot Placid Solari of Belmont Abbey and Bishop Emeritus William G. Curlin, both Conventual Chaplains ad Honorem of the order.
Participants also toured the Belmont Abbey campus and Holy Angels in Belmont, where the order's Federal Association awarded a $25,000 grant to purchase lift equipment for residents. Members John Gannon and Kathy Tronco of Charlotte and Gary Fly of Greensboro also spoke about the order's various works of service in the Charlotte region.
About 125 candidates and members from around the U.S. participated in the Day of Formation, hosted by the Charlotte Chapter of the Federal Association of the Order and organized by Jackie S. Gallagher, member of the board of directors and executive committee, and Jerry Schmitt, Regional Hospitaller for the Charlotte chapter. They are pictured above with Bishop Curlin at St. Peter Church in Charlotte.
— Jackie S. Gallagher