The Day we met the Grand

THE DAY WE MET THE GRAND MASTER

On 20 September, Sauro and Lilian Antonelli, and Gerard and Margaret O’Donnell were received by the Grand Master, Frá Giacomo Dalla Torre, at the Order of Malta headquarters in Rome. Dr Margaret O’Donnell DMG shares the experience in the place to call home. F rom the moment we first met the Grand Giacomo, as its leader, a man of the people. This is Master, Frá Giacomo, we were delighted encouraging, and gives us reason to be very hopeful with the warmth of his welcome. He that we can face the challenges that lie ahead. apologised for the fact that he did not speak very We asked Frá Giacomo what he sees as these much English. He introduced us to Mauro Bertero important challenges. His reply was that the Gutierrez, his personal aide and interpreter, ‘immigration issue’ is one which we must all tackle although his official title was Consigliere Del – it is a worldwide issue, one which governments Principe e Gran Maestro. of all countries must debate and then decide on a

We were served coffee and refreshments as Frá way forward for the good of the refugees, migrants, Giacomo expressed his delight at meeting with and the world at large. Frá Giacomo’s passion for Australians. He explained that he really enjoyed helping the marginalised was evidence of the fact welcoming Australians because he had been asked that this man, similar to Pope Francis, is calling for to visit Australia by a previous Grand Master, but us all to be proactive in finding a compassionate at the time, circumstances had prevented this solution to the immigration problem. We also visit. He also had fond memories of meetings with discovered that Frá Giacomo often slips out Sir James Gobbo and Richard Divall, whom he incognito at night to go and serve food at Rome’s admired greatly. soup kitchens for the homeless.

The Grand Master was very interested in As well as the immigration issue, the Grand the activities of the Order in Australia. He was Master talked passionately about the spiritual delighted to hear of the many opportunities we formation opportunities offered to members of the offer, as members of the Australian Order, for Order of Malta, as well as his desire to see greater spiritual formation, as well as for charitable works. numbers of women in the Order of Malta, and This includes the Lourdes Day Masses, Coats for the more women take on more active leadership roles Homeless and Biography programs, the provision within the Order. of palliative care through the Order’s partnership in Towards the end of our visit, Frá Giacomo Eastern Palliative Care, the Order’s work with the insisted on showing us around the beautiful clinic in Timor-Leste. building he calls home. He was adamant however,

Throughout our hour-long conversation, that it is not ‘his’ home but ‘our’ home. which was remarkably relaxed, Mauro (and Sauro) We came away delighted with our visit and translated the rapid Italian into English to allow impressed with the welcome extended to us by Gerard and I to take part in the conversation. our Grand Master Frá Giacomo and his Personal Mauro interjected on occasions. He was particularly Aide, Mauro Gutierrez – humble men – men of keen to let us know that although Frá Giacomo warmth, energy and with clarity of vision for the was too humble to say it himself, the Order has in Order of Malta.

Left to Right: Grand Master Frá Giacomo Dalla Torre, Gerard O’Donnell, Lilian Antonelli, Sauro Antonelli, and Margaret O’Donnell.

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