This article was originally printed in the Hospitallers Newsletter Volume 23 Summer 2023, Page 14.

As we have said from the beginning of the CALLED TO SERVE Capital Campaign, the purpose of this effort is engagement, education and ultimately, transformation.  As we have spent much of the last three years engaging members across the Association, we have learned a lot about what our members are thinking, about what they are concerned about and, frankly, some of the things we need to do better to ensure that all our members are engaged, and more basically, are aware of the various components that make our Association tick.

While gaining commitments so far of almost $19,000,000 in pledges is the most visible sign of the work that has been going on, in many ways, it is not the most important outcome. By and large, we found that our members want to be engaged in the work of serving the sick and the poor and in giving witness to our Faith. We found that members are happy and feel blessed with the path they have chosen to grow their spiritual lives and the most satisfied are the ones who have been most engaged.

Another observation we have made is that many of those members who are not fully engaged want to be and only need to be invited. That learning point needs to be a focus going forward. A third major learning has been that many of our members at every level in the Association do not know much or anything about the important work of the Malta Human Services Foundation (MHSF). In our Case Statement, we started the process of sharing some of the background and function of the MHSF but nothing demonstrates the Foundation’s purpose and function more that a discussion about the important role the MHSF plays in the life of the Association, quietly and behind the scenes.

A former president of the Association, Dan Kelly, once remarked that the grants program was the lifeblood of the Association – providing the resources to support the hands-on work that keeps our members engaged. The MHSF provides the most significant part of the funding for the American Association’s Annual Grants program. As the 2023 grants process is practically complete, it might be helpful to look at some of the outcomes of that process. Over $640,000 came from the Malta Human Services Foundation to support the grants program of the American Association.  

• Melissa came to the Malta Dental and Medical Clinic in Detroit to obtain dentures. Because the Malta Clinic seeks to treat the whole patient,  she received an eye examination appointment with the ophthalmologist. During the exam, he noted that Melissa’s eye pressure was increased so he arranged for Melissa to see the retinologist the next day. The retinologist said that she required immediate carotid artery surgery. Melissa’s physician initially insisted that there was no reason for the surgery. For five days, the retinolologist continued to discuss why it was critical  and he finally referred Melissa to a specialist.  The outcome was that Melissa needed two stents in in the carotid artery; she felt so much more alive. The ultrasound from the carotid artery screening identified a mass on her thyroid. Melissa started treatment at Karmanos Cancer Center. The visit to the Dental Clinic resulted in critical care that otherwise would likely have only been discovered when it was too late.  The Clinic was a recent recipient of a major grant to purchase and outfit a mobile van to bring clients to the clinic who many have no other means of transportation – the third van in the Malta Mobile Ministry supporting American Association works.
• Jason is serving a life sentence in a medium security prison outside of Boston. He was seeking help and looking for new ways forward in his life. He discovered and engaged with members of the Order at a weekly liturgy held on Monday nights in the prison chapel. After many conversations, he was encouraged to join a group of dedicated Catholic inmates. Over time, he experienced God’s love in many new ways, and has been given a profound sense of hope for brighter days ahead.
• The Anti-Human Trafficking Ministry, working in coordination with the United Nations, has been swift to respond to the urgent situation in Ukraine, Poland, Romania, and neighboring states. Collaborating with international local aid workers, they launched a comprehensive awareness campaign – translated into six languages – utilizing leaflets, posters, banners, and cellular push notifications. These communication channels are being used to alert refugees about the grave risks and perils posed by traffickers. In the American Association, an Anti-Human Trafficking education program has been launched for healthcare professionals and work is currently underway to develop an education process for the local areas.
• Thirty-nine grants to provide food-related assistance were approved totaling over $150,000. These grants support people who are at risk and often lack the basic necessities of life.
• Nineteen Local Area Projects have been funded with grants to start or grow projects that involve direct, hands-on work. Over $70,000 went toward these projects whose sole purpose is to provide opportunities to members to live the charism to support the poor and the sick.
• Thirty-two 501c3 organizations where members are involved in hands-on work are receiving over $200,000 to sustain and enhance the services they provide deliver while providing opportunities for members to live the charism of service.

Several international works of the Order have received grants from the 2023 Grants Program.

• Malteser International is an international humanitarian aid organization and is the relief agency of the Order of Malta. The organization has been very active in support of refugees from war-torn areas. It serves the sick and the poor throughout the world. You can learn more about it at https://orderofmaltarelief.org/ .
• The Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem in Palestine stands as a beacon of hope for families throughout the Holy Land. The hospital recently celebrated its 100,000^th birth since the Order took over the hospital at the request of Saint John Paul II. Despite decades of political conflict, economic hardship, and public health issues, the Hospital welcomes every woman and child who comes through its doors. No one is ever turned away. Each of these women and children has a story and they are all precious. You can learn more about the Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem at the Foundation’s website at https://www.birthplaceofhope.org/ .

There are dozens of stories of people being served by organizations benefiting from grants funded by the MHSF. The CALLED TO SERVE Capital Campaign has raised over $9.7M in pledges to the MHSF and Anti-Human Trafficking ministry, of which almost $4.5M has been collected in cash. The remainder of the pledges will be collected in the coming months and years.

As we move forward, the transformative function of the CALLED TO SERVE Capital Campaign should lead to a focus on works and ministries that make a significant impact on the people whose lives we seek to serve, our lords, the sick and the poor.  The unprecedented generosity of the members of the American Association continues to amaze us and fills us with gratitude. Over 25% of the families in the Association have made a commitment to the Campaign. pledges for the most part continue to be paid on or ahead of schedule. You have invested for the future to secure a legacy of service to the sick and the poor. Your continued support will help us ensure that we meet and surpass our goals for this campaign.

This article was contributed by Gail and Joseph Berardino, Co-Chairs of the Capital Campaign. Gail can be reached at gtberardino@gmail.com and Joe can be reached at jfberardino@gmail.com. They welcome your comments, questions, and suggestions.