Welcome HOSPITALLER

Welcome to Australian Hospitaller Magazine, the annual review of the Australian Association of the Order of Malta, for the year 2021.

It has been our pleasure to document in this edition the important work the Order has been undertaking locally, regionally and globally during the second year of the global COVID pandemic.

There is little doubt that COVID has impacted our works during this period with lockdowns and restrictions. But this yearly review highlights just how much work our hard working members were able to achieve during this most trying period.

Our cover story is a wonderful example of the resilience and determination of our Order members here in Australia. The Asia Pacific Youth Camp is dedicated to those with physical or mental handicaps and is run annually, hosted by different nations in the Asia Pacific region and inspired by the Order’s holiday camps in Europe that have been going for almost 50 years.

Against all odds, the Queensland association and volunteers were able to push through and host an inspirational event, even though they were impeded by border closures, lockdowns and negativity. Despite fear and uncertainty created by the pandemic, participants were able to experience a life-changing event.

2021 was also a year of opportunity to examine our national association structure and performance through consultation with our members. Not only were we able to launch a new constitution to govern our Order but for the first time in our history, we were able to formulate a national strategy to ensure that we become a relevant and practical force for good in serving our Lords the poor and the sick.

In this spirit we reference the message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the XXIX World Day of the Sick 2021.

“You have but one teacher and you are all brothers” (Mt 23:8). A trust-based relationship to guide care for the sick. Here I wish to mention the importance of fraternal solidarity, which is expressed concretely in service and can take a variety of forms, all directed at supporting our neighbours. Serving means caring … for the vulnerable of our families, our society, our people. In this outreach, all are called to set aside their own wishes and desires, their pursuit of power, before the concrete gaze of those who are most vulnerable… Service always looks to their faces, touches their flesh, senses their closeness and even, in some cases, ‘suffers’ that closeness and tries to help them. Service is never ideological, for we do not serve ideas, we serve people” (ibid.).

John Murphy KMG Publisher

2021 Australian Hospitaller

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Publisher: John Murphy KMG

Editor: Christine Clancy

Sub editor: Daniel Kwok KMG (Ob)

Design and Production: Michelle Weston

Tom Anderson

Contributors:

Michelle Rees

Daniel Kwok KMG (Ob)

John Murphy KMG

Ambassador Terry Tobin

Joseph Grogan KMG

Mark Dorney KMG (Ob)

Frank Testa KMG (Ob)

Barbara Piazza-Georgi

Eugenio Ajroldi di Robbiate

The Australian Association of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta

Members of Executive Council:

President:

The Hon James Sholto Douglas KHD

Vice President: Prof Michelle Campbell DMG

Chancellor: Scott Robert Samson KMG

Treasurer: James Gurry KMG

National Hospitaller: John Murphy KMG

Hospitaller Northern Central Region: Seán Parnell OAM KMG (Ob)

Hospitaller North Eastern Region: Danny Higgins KMG (Ob)

Hospitaller Central Eastern Region: Dr Stephen Christie KMG (Ob)

Hospitaller South Eastern Region: Geoffrey Horgan QC KMG (Ob)

Hospitaller Southern Central Region: Noel Mifsud KMG

Hospitaller New Zealand: Bevan Killick KMG

Delegate of Communications: Daniel Kwok KMG (Ob)

Vice Delegate of Communications: Anthony Gerada KMG (Ob)

National Communications Manager: Michelle Rees Communications Associate: Joseph Grogan KMG

Subpriory of the Immaculate Conception

Regent: Professor David Kissane AC KMG (Ob)

06 Blueprint for Faith and Service

An overview of the 2021 Biennial National Assembly.

17 A Piece of History

A look at the Knights of the Caribbean.

34 Community Care Kitchen

Offering hearty home cooked meals for those in need.

36 Malteser International

An overview of the amazing work done in 2021.

38 Bushfire Report

Black Summer and recapping two years of service.

42 Did you know?

Details on the House of the Knights of Rhodes.

44 World Day of the Poor

An overview of our members’ activities on this important day.

46 Guarding our Charism

Words of wisdom from Archbishop Mark Coleridge.

48 Activities in Timor-Leste

Work persists in the second year of COVID.

50 Lourdes Day Mass

Reports from across the country on this special day.

52 Report from the Hungarian Order

A report on the impressive activities from this European Chapter.

56 The role of chaplains

How chaplains are a special blessing to the Order.

58 Book Review

Summaries of The Venerable Adrian Fortescue and Holy Men and Women of the Order of Malta.

60 Requiem Sir James Gobbo

On a life well lived.

62 Obituaries

Remembering members who have gone to The Lord.

66 Humility

Make your way to the lowest place.

68 In honour of Fra’ Matthew Festing

An ode to our former Grand Master.