Central Eastern Region Hospitaller: Mark Boffa KMG
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am happy to report that the Central Eastern Region has had another successful 12 months, with the development of new programs. Our members have continued to immerse themselves in various activities over the past year, an outline of which follows. Lourdes Day Mass On Saturday 1 December, more than 500 worshippers (including 40 malades) joined 50 Knights and Dames for our annual Lourdes Day Mass at St Mary’s Cathedral. Archbishop Anthony Fisher was the principal celebrant assisted by Fr Emmanuel Seo and our conventual chaplains, Monsignor Tony Doherty and Fathers Gerry Gleeson and Danny Meagher. In a moving and uplifting ceremony, we were able to distribute over 500 vials of water to the sick and the faithful, emphasising our broad co-operation as Hospitallers.
Winter Coats and Community Care Van The Coats for the Homeless program was once again well supported by members and
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volunteers, charitable organisations and religious groups under the leadership of Confrere Ben Franklin. Through the generous commitment of time and resources, we were once again able to deliver 3,000 coats – a record number to those in need within the Sydney metropolitan area, rural and regional NSW, and the ACT. We continue to receive positive feedback from those we support and were also this year able to transport two dozen coats to the United States for distribution. The Order of Malta Central East Region Community Care Van project delivers much needed community healthcare and homeless coats to the most vulnerable. The vans are now fully operational in Darlinghurst and Parramatta. Each month our volunteers distribute almost 200 hygiene packs (containing toiletries and toothpaste), and in summer we are able to add sunscreen, water and sun hats to the vans. The Sydney and Parramatta mobile Community Care Vans are so successful the Order of Malta’s Central East Region plans to expand the mobile initiative not only to other Sydney regions but to regional towns across NSW and the ACT.
Award for Excellence in Palliative Care Each year, the Central East Region has supported a prize awarded to a student in nursing who demonstrates an understanding of the value of palliative care. This year the focus of the essay included a study of the notion of dignity and the physical and psychological effects of symptom distress on the person. The recipient in 2018 is Catherine Gale, a student in the School of Nursing in the University of Notre Dame Australia. Mass for Deceased Members Our deceased members were remembered at Mass held at the Chapel of the Sacred Heart. We were privileged once again to have Monsignor Tony Doherty officiating at this special Mass which was well attended. Spiritual Activities and Defence of the Faith The robed monthly First Friday Vigil Masses at St Mary’s Cathedral continue with a regular attendance of around 20 to 25 members and postulants. The Masses are celebrated by one of the Orders’ chaplains on rotation. Members are also expected to attend Mass before the quarterly Central East Region meeting at the Chapel of the Sacred Heart Hospice in Sydney. Monthly Masses, supported by local priests and well attended by members, are also celebrated in ACT. On Sunday 24 June, members participated in Mass to commemorate the feast of our patron, St John the Baptist at St Mary’s Cathedral. On Saturday 5 August, members participated in the Central East Region annual day of reflection at Mary MacKillop Place in North Sydney. Around 40 members and postulants came together to reflect and discuss thoughts put forward by Rev (Dr) Gerard Kelly. This day followed two days of the Subpriory’s biannual retreat. On Sunday 9 September, at the invitation of the Maltese Chaplaincy, our members celebrated the Feast of Our Lady of Philermos and Our Lady of Victories at St Mary’s Cathedral. This beautiful and emotional celebration – a fixture in the calendar of the Maltese community, was 2018 Australian Hospitaller
