Florida Catholic | Knights of Malta

Knights of Malta support local service projects

Published: 02.27.08

Members of the American Association of the Knights of Malta pray during the Mass at the cathedral, from right: Andrew J. Vissicchio, Jr., Juan J. Calvo, and Dr. Michael Griffin.

Members of the American Association of the Knights of Malta pray during A Mass at the cathedral Feb. 17, from right: Andrew J. Vissicchio, Jr., Juan J. Calvo, and Dr. Michael Griffin.
ANA RODRIGUEZ-SOTO | FC

MIAMI | Members of the American Association of the Knights of Malta gathered Feb. 17 at St. Mary Cathedral for the annual Mass of confraternity for representatives of the Cuban and American branches of the 900-year-old lay religious order.

Also known by its formal name — Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta — the order is composed mainly of lay men and women and was founded in Jerusalem around 1050.

Its two-fold mission is to defend the faith and help those suffering and in need. The order is unique in that it is recognized by international law and has formal diplomatic representation in more than 100 countries.

The Cuban Association has about 120 members in south Florida and Puerto Rico, while the American Association has around 155, according to area hospitaller Tom Flood.

Members support almost a dozen ongoing service projects, such as health and legal clinics for immigrants and the poor, in Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties, in addition to taking care of emergency needs as they arise.

The Knights’ 78th grand master, Fra Andrew Bertie, an Englishman who had led the order since 1988, died Feb. 7 in Rome. A state funeral is planned for March 8 at the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls in Rome.

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Knights of Malta support local service projects

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