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Dear Confrere, -
The joyous season of Christmas has gently opened to a weary world and this is my last communique as the Minnesota Area Chair.
It has been an honor to serve in this role and opportunity to grow in generosity these past six years and I thank the Lord for the ways he has grown my capacity to love.
Although we have been blessed with many new Knights, Dames and Auxiliary during this time it's the intimate times of prayer, serving and fellowship that have been the blessing to me personally.
Those one on one times of getting to know each of you will be my greatest treasure that I am taking with me. Thank you for sharing your joys, burdens and inspirations for ways our Minnesota area can grow and serve locally. Some things have come together beautifully and other ideas are still percolating as more details and hands to serve are being prepared by the Lord.
With Christmas joy I wish all of you a blessed Christmas season.
Please join us for our Christmas gathering on January 11th at my home. Like always bring an appetizer to share.
With deep affection,
Anne Marie Hansen, DM
Minnesota Area Chair
Order of Malta, American Association
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Dear Confreres,
As I am sure you can imagine my Advent season has been a bit busier than usual as I prepare to transition into the Area Chair position. I want to again share my heartfelt thanks to all our outgoing board members for their support during this transition, but I am most grateful of all for their kind words and prayers. I also want to thank all of you that have passed on your warm regards. Everyone of you has been such a blessing to Susan and me.
Over the coming weeks and months, the board will be reaching out to you to ask for your help to serve on the various committees, get feedback on current as well as new ideas for service opportunities, and to encourage our members to more fully participate in area events and spiritual growth opportunities. I know all of you are very busy with work and family and we all have those seasons in life that create even more of a time constraint on us, but the board and I need your help to keep our Area moving forward in growth and in our mission to serve our Masters the Sick and the Poor.
Our services to our brothers and sisters in need is key to our identity and what we are called to do as an Order, but we also must not forget that we are called to be a community that prays together. A community that asks the Lord to give us the graces, humility, strength, and compassion to carry out the service for which Jesus Christ has enlisted each of us.
I pray that all of you and your families have a Wonderful Christmas and a Blessed New Year,
Sincerest Regards,
Ivan Posthumus, KM
Incoming MN Area Chair
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 Investiture 2019
Dominique, Conseil, KM became our newest Area Knight. Dominique was invested in Nov. 2019.
Year of Formation for 2020 Investiture
Dr. Rodolfo Savica
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MN Area Leadership for 2020
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Ivan Posthumus, KM - MN Area Chair
Arika Heffron, DM - Area Co-Hospitaller
Matt Heffron, KM - Area Co- Hospitaller
Patty Hooley, DM - Co-Membership Committee Chair
Tom Hooley, KM - Co-Membership Committee Chair
Britt Noser, KM - Treasurer
Andrew Busam, KM -Communications Committee Chair
Marc Jenny, KM - Grants Committee Chair
Dorothy Guanella, DM - Auxiliary Committee Chair
Father Joseph Johnson, CpM - Area Chaplain
Auxiliary Co-Chair - AUX To be named
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MN Area Advent Retreat Recap
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Fr Eric Hollas gave a fantastic retreat on December 14th. He left everyone with a strong sense of purpose and joy in our mission as the Order of Malta and the unique opportunity we have been given to serve the sick and the poor. He knows the characteristics of Knights and Dames and our generous spirits. He reminded us to be cognizant of who or what has taken residence in the 'living room' of our mind and heart. To make time for prayer and conversation with God daily and seek forgiveness which allows our hearts to be more open to love of God and neighbor. We are so grateful for Fr Eric and the blessing of this time during Advent to pause.
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MN Area Annual Meeting Recap
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 On December 14, 2019 we had our annual meeting and dinner at Axel's in Mendota Heights. The evening was a review of outgoing area chair, Anne Marie Hansen, DM six years of service in this role. Some highlights from chairperson reports: -45 Knights and Dames/ 21 Auxiliary/1 year of Prep. -Current cash: 12,100.00 -MN members are attending Lourdes, Our Lady of Good Help pilgrimages and have staffed the hospitality center at the shrine in Green Bay. -Grants were given to multiple charities and confreres were encouraged to share grant opportunities with chairperson for 2020 -Communications have steadily progressed to more electronic versions and continued us of the associations mobile application is highly encouraged -Area works have expanded but participation still is up and down. Hospitaller shared a year in review and the 2020 calendar highlights to be posted soon -Auxiliary manages the pen pal program for prison ministry now and see below for more information
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Prayer Requests:
- Arika Heffron, DM for a healthy rest of her pregnancy
-Courtney Savica for her health and that of their baby,Allesandra
-Special intention of BN
-Sharon, 4th stage breast cancer
- E.F. recovering from colon cancer surgery
- Continued recovery for Andrew Busam's Goddaughter Veronica
- All of the Knights, Dames, and Auxiliary from the American Association who passed away in 2019
If you any prayer requests please contact
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World Day of the Sick on Feb 8, 2020
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Please save the date of Saturday, February 8, 2020 for the World Day of the Sick Mass and Luncheon, which will be held at the Church of Saint Agnes in St. Paul.
Holy Mass will be celebrated by Archbishop Hebda at 10 a.m. Following Mass there will be a blessing of the Sick with Lourdes water and distribution of medals, a luncheon, and a talk.
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The birthplace of Blessed Gerard
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 Dominique, Conseil, KM has written a wonderful article on the birth place of Blessed Gerard. Click here to view the article
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Sodality of St. John The Baptist Packing Food Events
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 The Sodality of St. John the Baptist has 3 scheduled food back events coming up at the following locations:
1) Our Lady of the Lake in Mound - 3/6/2020
2) The Church of St. Agnes - 3/21/2020
3) St. Francis of Assisi - 6/17/2020
There are also other events that are being finalized which we will communicate out to the area. To learn more about each event and to register click here. |
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World Day of the Poor Service at Franciscan Brothers of Peace
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 During the winter holiday season, the Franciscan Brothers of Peace in Saint Paul, Minnesota, distribute packages of food to about 450 local families in need. To celebrate the 3rd World Day of the Poor on November 17, volunteers from the Minnesota Area sorted and stacked a large pile of food donations the friars had received, so that the holiday food packages could be assembled for distribution later in the week.
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Caroling at the VA Medical Center in Mpls
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 On Sunday, Dec 22nd our members and their families sang Christmas Carols for the Veterans at the VA Medical Center in Mpls. We also provided Holiday treats for the Veterans. For those Vets that were not able to leave their rooms the caroling was broadcast over a local channel within the VA. A special thank you to Father Damien Schill for his assistance with the event. |
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Prayer at Abria Pregnancy Resources
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Our Association has asked us to engage in protecting the vulnerable through efforts on abortion, end of life care, human trafficking, and similar threats to human life and dignity.
To unite in prayer for these efforts, our Area will meet at Abria Pregnancy Resources, 2200 University Avenue, Saint Paul. This location, one block away from the building where over half of Minnesota's abortions occur, provides services to women and children in need- and contains a chapel where, with permission of the Archbishop, the Blessed Sacrament is reposed.
We invite Members and Auxiliary to join us in prayer on Thursday, Feb. 27th and Thursday, May 21st at the Chapel at 7:00pm; we will pray Compline and have a few minutes of silence with Our Lord.
Social afterwards as Confreres in attendance choose.
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Our Area would like to offer some opportunities for Members and Auxiliary to obtain this training. The first opportunity will be January 2nd and 9th, 2020, with training on two consecutive Thursday evenings, from 6:30pm to 8:30pm at the Church of Saint Mary, 261 East 8th Street, Saint Paul. The training will be led by Matt Heffron, KM and Area Co-Hospitaller. There is a $10.00 charge per person to cover the cost of the licensing.
Please contact Matt at [email protected] or at 320-282-6437 to register or if you have any questions.
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Moving forward all MN area events will be listed on the American Association website under our area page in the calendar section. We are in the process of uploading our local events.
Click here to access the area calendar
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MN Area Chair
Co-Hospitaller
Co-Membership Chair Co-Membership Chair AUX Member Co-Chair Treasurer
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Order of Malta around the world
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Holy FamilyHospital in Bethlehem: over 4,700 births in 2019. Click here to read more
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Read the current edition of the American Association Newsletter, "Hospitallers"
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Download the Order of Malta, American
Association mobile app
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Upcoming Area Events and Service Opportunities - To register or for more information use the mobile app
or website
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1) Serve the Sick and the Poor at Dorothy Day - Friday Dec 27th at 4:00 pm
2) First Friday of the Month Holy Hour and Mass on Friday, Jan 3rd at Nativity Church in St. Paul- 4:00pm
3) MN Area First Aid Training, Jan 2 and 9th at St. Mary in St. Paul - 6:30 pm
4) Serve the Sick and the Poor at Dorothy Day - Friday Jan 24th at 4:00 pm
5) First Friday of the Month Holy Hour and Mass on Friday Feb 7th at Nativity Church in St. Paul- 4:00pm
6) World Day of the Sick Mass on Saturday Feb 8th at St. Agnes at 10:00 am
7) Prayer at Abria Pregnancy Resources in St. Paul - Thursday Feb 27th
8) Serve the Sick and the Poor at Dorothy Day - Friday Feb 28th at 4:00 pm
9) First Friday of the Month Holy Hour and Mass on Friday, March 6th at Nativity Church in St. Paul- 4:00pm
10) Sodality of St. John Food Packing at Our Lady of the Lake in Mound - Friday March 6th
11) Sodality of St. John Food Packing at St. Agnes in St. Paul- Saturday March 21st
12) Serve the Sick and the Poor at Dorothy Day - Friday March 27th at 4:00 pm
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