Thanks to three successful years of recruitment, the Michigan Area has seen a net increase of 39 members over the past eight years, reported Michigan Area Chair Andy Smith, KM, at the Area’s June 28 annual meeting.

The annual meeting followed the Area’s Mass honoring the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, celebrated at the Chapel of the North American Martyrs at the University of Detroit Jesuit High School and Academy. (See “Michigan Area celebrates Nativity of St. John the Baptist at annual Mass.”) While Michigan Area members, candidates, and guests enjoyed brunch in the school dining room, Andy Smith presented the Area’s annual report.

This year, the Michigan Area will add 10 new Dames and Knights, representing 10 percent of all incoming members of the American Association, he noted. In 2024, the Michigan Area saw the investiture of eight new members, again representing 10 percent of all new members in the American Association.

Andy Smith credited a focused membership effort led by Barbara Wilson, DM, and Robert Wilson, KM, former Co-Chairs of the Michigan Area and now Admissions Co-Chairs for the American Association. Following the most recent prospective member event in May 2025, the Michigan Area already has three membership applications “and counting,” he added.

At the American Association’s Pilgrimage for Life this past January, Michigan Area members accounted for 10 percent of participants, and at the 2024 Pilgrimage to the National Shrine of  Our Lady of Champion, one-third of the participants were members of the Michigan Area, Andy Smith noted.

And, at this year’s Lourdes Pilgrimage, the Michigan Area accounted for 39 members, malades, and caregivers – up from seven in 2024, he observed. “We are punching above our weight class,” he said.

Other highlights of the annual meeting:

• In 2024, the Michigan Area awarded $18,757 to Malta Dental and Medical Clinic, “Into the Fire” homeless ministry, Rose Hill Center, St. Leo’s Soup Kitchen, and Wayne County Jail Outreach Ministry.
• The Michigan Area continues to serve at Leo’s Soup Kitchen on the second and fourth Fridays of each month, plus the fifth Friday if there is one. The soup kitchen is located at People’s Community Church in Detroit. Michigan Area Hospitaller Kathleen Mastrangelo, DM, estimated that in the past year, the Michigan Area has provided over 40 volunteers serving about 6,000 meals to soup kitchen guests.
• The Michigan Area’s Pope St. Paul VI Ministry has obtained over 349 plenary indulgences. Through this ministry, Michigan Area members perform an important work of mercy while being reminded of the Church’s beautiful teachings about praying for the dead. The ministry is named after St. Pope Paul VI, not only because he is an important saint of the Order, but also because he helped revive the indulgence process as an act of charity.
• The “Into the Fire” ministry, led by Patrick Jones, KM, and John Juriga, KM, continues to provide lunches to people living on the streets of Detroit. Kathleen Mastrangelo estimated that over the past 12 months, about 25 Michigan Area volunteers served over 1,500 meals to the homeless. With Patrick Jones moving to western Michigan, Sean Shriner, KM, will step in to co-lead this ministry.
• The Wayne County Jail Outreach Ministry is now located in the new Center for the Works of Mercy, along with the Malta Dental and Medical Clinic. Kathleen Mastrangelo encouraged Michigan Area members to volunteer; training will be provided. Michigan Area Auxiliary Hon. Stephen J. Murphy III, judge of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, has chaired the ministry’s board, on which Auxiliary Hon. Maura D. Corrigan, former Chief Justice of the Michigan Supreme Court, also serves.

Also at the annual meeting, service awards were announced for the following:

• 15 years: David Wilson, KM
• 20 years: Orly Benedict, KM; John Hale, KM; Dr. Ed Jelonek, Jr., KM
• 25 years: Carol Chisholm, DM
• 30 years: Joan O’Brien, DM; Hon. James Ryan, DM

The meeting concluded with a presentation by Peter D. McGuire, GCMOb, regent of  the Subpriory of Our Lady of Lourdes. He spoke about the Subpriory’s role as a spiritual community within the Order, and explained what it means to enter the Second Class as a Dame or Knight in Obedience.

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