At the Michigan Area’s final First Saturday of 2024, Archbishop Allen H. Vigneron, GCChC, urged the members to become “pilgrims of hope” – the theme Pope Francis has chosen for the 2025 Jubilee Year.

The December 7 Mass took place at the Grosse Pointe Academy Chapel in Grosse Pointe Farms. Archbishop Vigneron, the Michigan Area’s principal chaplain, concelebrated Mass with Fr. Dave Tomaszycki. In his homily, the archbishop focused on the Order’s Daily Prayer, reminding the assembled Dames, Knights, and other members of the Order to learn from the Gospels and cultivate a spirit of Christian devotion.

The first reading at Mass was proclaimed by Olivia Arnold, spouse of newly-invested Steven Arnold, KM.  Alan Wegienka, KM, and Angie Wegienka, DM – both invested this November – offered the Prayers of the Faithful. Area Chair Andy Smith, KM, led the group in the Daily Prayer of the Order at the end of Mass.

The Area’s annual Advent brunch was held at the Grosse Pointe War Memorial. The Michigan Area’s annual meeting followed, with reports from various Michigan Area ministries.

Thomas Larabell, KM, president of the Malta Medical and Dental Clinic, reported that the clinic is awaiting a certificate of occupancy from the city of Detroit and hopes to move into its new, larger location soon.

Hon. Stephen Murphy, Auxiliary, who heads the Area’s prison and jail ministries, reported that the federal prison in Milan will be reopening to Malta volunteers. The Wayne County Jail Outreach Ministry, based in Detroit, also needs volunteers, he noted.  With over 30,000 incarcerated in the state of Michigan, the need is great, he added.

Also at the meeting, Michigan Area members packed tote bags with items for the homeless, including blankets, hats, gloves, socks, Starbucks gift cards, and more. The tote bags, as well as the St. Michael prayer cards tucked into the bags, offered information about the Malta Dental and Medical Clinic and its services. That afternoon, as part of the Area’s “Into the Fire” ministry, Andy Smith, Auxiliary Jenna Shriner, and Member in Formation Sean Shriner distributed the tote bags, as well as sandwiches, to people living on the streets of Detroit.

The Michigan Area’s next First Saturday will take place on January 4, 2025, at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral in Detroit. After Mass, there will be a discussion of the book On the Demonic, a collection of Venerable Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen’s writings on the subject, compiled and edited by Fr. Tomaszycki.

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