On Monday, February 2, the NYC Area braved the cold to celebrate our First Monday Mass in the Lady Chapel of St. Patrick’s Cathedral. Msgr. Robert Ritchie, GCChC and Chief Chaplain of the American Association was the celebrant of the Mass, which fell on the feast day of the Presentation of the Lord.
In his homily, Msgr. Ritchie said that while it is easy to focus on the Lord’s divinity, we need to remember that he was also human: Jesus’ presentation in the temple in today’s Gospel was a sign that Jesus was truly a child of Israel, a faithful son of the law of Moses, and the fulfillment of all the prophecies in the Old Testament. Through his suffering on the Cross, he won our salvation.
As Msgr. Ritchie reminded us, as followers of Jesus, the Order of Malta is called to walk in his steps. Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum: We defend the faith and serve the poor and sick. Our service is not separate from our faith—it is our living proclamation. Just as Christ’s humanity was inseparable from his divine mission, so too are our works inseparable from our witness to the Gospel.
Following Mass, a large group enjoyed fellowship at a nearby tavern. Please join us for our February 11 celebration of the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes/World Day of the Sick and for our next First Monday Mass and monthly social hour on Monday, March 2.
Please scroll through the slideshow below to see more photos from the Mass.
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Msgr."},{"id":"78311","link":"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/2026\/02\/05\/feeding-the-hungry-michigan-area-members-prepare-serve-lunch-at-st-leos-soup-kitchen-on-january-30\/","name":"feeding-the-hungry-michigan-area-members-prepare-serve-lunch-at-st-leos-soup-kitchen-on-january-30","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-MI-Soup-Kitchen-January.png","alt":""},"title":"Feeding the hungry: Michigan Area members prepare, serve lunch at St. Leo\u2019s Soup Kitchen on January 30","author":{"name":"tmazza","link":"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/author\/tmazza\/"},"date":"Feb 5, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-02-05 19:19:02","modifiedDate":"2026-02-05 19:19:03","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-02-05 19:19:03","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/latest-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Latest News<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/area-news\/michigan\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Michigan<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/latest-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Latest News<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/area-news\/michigan\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Michigan<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":57},"status":"publish","content":"Despite the bitter cold of a Michigan January, dozens of hungry people came to St. Leo\u2019s Soup Kitchen in Detroit seeking food and fellowship \u2013"},{"id":"78308","link":"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/2026\/02\/05\/westward-expansion-michigan-area-extends-membership-activities-to-grand-rapids-area\/","name":"westward-expansion-michigan-area-extends-membership-activities-to-grand-rapids-area","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/2026-MI-Expansion-Story.png","alt":""},"title":"Westward Expansion: Michigan Area extends membership, activities to Grand Rapids area","author":{"name":"tmazza","link":"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/author\/tmazza\/"},"date":"Feb 5, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-02-05 19:14:53","modifiedDate":"2026-02-05 19:14:54","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-02-05 19:14:54","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/latest-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Latest News<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/area-news\/michigan\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Michigan<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/latest-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Latest News<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/area-news\/michigan\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Michigan<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":2,"sec":9},"status":"publish","content":"Long based in metropolitan Detroit, the Michigan Area has expanded to include members in the western part of the state, raising the Order\u2019s profile in"},{"id":"78207","link":"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/2026\/01\/31\/cleveland-members-witness-the-faith-at-mass-for-life-and-pilgrimage-for-life\/","name":"cleveland-members-witness-the-faith-at-mass-for-life-and-pilgrimage-for-life","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2026-OH-CL-Life-Events.png","alt":""},"title":"Cleveland Members Witness the Faith at Mass for Life and Pilgrimage for Life","author":{"name":"tmazza","link":"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/author\/tmazza\/"},"date":"Jan 31, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-01-31 16:06:27","modifiedDate":"2026-02-02 14:39:59","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-02-02 14:39:59","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/latest-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Latest News<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/area-news\/ohio-cleveland\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Ohio - Cleveland<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/latest-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Latest News<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/area-news\/ohio-cleveland\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Ohio - Cleveland<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":24},"status":"publish","content":"Members of the Ohio - Cleveland Area embodied our charism to witness the Faith through a range of pro\u2011life activities last week. 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Beginning"},{"id":"78215","link":"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/2026\/01\/30\/south-west-connecticut-areas-eucharistic-mass-and-reflection\/","name":"south-west-connecticut-areas-eucharistic-mass-and-reflection","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2026-CT-SW-EM-2.png","alt":""},"title":"South West Connecticut Area's Eucharistic Mass and Reflection","author":{"name":"tmazza","link":"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/author\/tmazza\/"},"date":"Jan 30, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-01-30 16:41:56","modifiedDate":"2026-01-30 16:41:58","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-01-30 16:41:58","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/area-news\/connecticut-western-northern-spirituality-in-action\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Connecticut - Southern, Western & Northern<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/latest-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Latest News<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/area-news\/connecticut-western-northern-spirituality-in-action\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Connecticut - Southern, Western & Northern<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/latest-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Latest News<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":47},"status":"publish","content":"On Saturday, January 24, a beautiful morning Mass celebrating Eucharistic Ministry was hosted at St. Thomas Aquinas in Fairfield, CT. The Mass was celebrated by"},{"id":"78212","link":"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/2026\/01\/30\/south-west-connecticut-area-malta-walks-provides-winter-relief\/","name":"south-west-connecticut-area-malta-walks-provides-winter-relief","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2026-CT-SW-Jan-Malta-Walk-Prep.png","alt":""},"title":"South West Connecticut Area Malta Walks Provides Winter Relief","author":{"name":"tmazza","link":"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/author\/tmazza\/"},"date":"Jan 30, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-01-30 16:17:14","modifiedDate":"2026-01-30 16:17:15","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-01-30 16:17:15","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/area-news\/connecticut-western-northern-spirituality-in-action\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Connecticut - Southern, Western & Northern<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/latest-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Latest News<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/area-news\/connecticut-western-northern-spirituality-in-action\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Connecticut - Southern, Western & Northern<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/latest-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Latest News<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":35},"status":"publish","content":"On Wednesday, January 23rd, members of the South West Connecticut Area came together to assemble Malta Walks bags for our unhoused neighbors. Each bag was"},{"id":"78204","link":"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/2026\/01\/30\/philadelphia-meal-ministry-continues-into-the-new-year\/","name":"philadelphia-meal-ministry-continues-into-the-new-year","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2026-PA-PH-Jan-Meal.png","alt":""},"title":"Philadelphia Meal Ministry Continues Into the New Year","author":{"name":"tmazza","link":"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/author\/tmazza\/"},"date":"Jan 30, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-01-30 15:53:32","modifiedDate":"2026-01-30 15:53:34","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-01-30 15:53:34","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/latest-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Latest News<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/area-news\/pennsylvania-philadelphia\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Pennsylvania - Philadelphia<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/latest-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Latest News<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/area-news\/pennsylvania-philadelphia\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Pennsylvania - Philadelphia<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":40},"status":"publish","content":"On the first Saturday of the new year, members of the Philadelphia Area gathered for the Saturday Salve Mass in honor of the Blessed Virgin"},{"id":"78201","link":"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/2026\/01\/30\/feast-of-saint-nicholas-a-day-of-fellowship-service-and-devotion\/","name":"feast-of-saint-nicholas-a-day-of-fellowship-service-and-devotion","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/2025-PA-PH-Dec-Meals.png","alt":""},"title":"Feast of Saint Nicholas: A Day of Fellowship, Service, and Devotion","author":{"name":"tmazza","link":"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/author\/tmazza\/"},"date":"Jan 30, 2026","dateGMT":"2026-01-30 15:41:43","modifiedDate":"2026-01-30 15:41:44","modifiedDateGMT":"2026-01-30 15:41:44","commentCount":"0","commentStatus":"closed","categories":{"coma":"<a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/latest-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Latest News<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/area-news\/pennsylvania-philadelphia\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Pennsylvania - Philadelphia<\/a>","space":"<a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/latest-news\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Latest News<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/category\/area-news\/pennsylvania-philadelphia\/\" rel=\"category tag\">Pennsylvania - Philadelphia<\/a>"},"taxonomies":{"post_tag":""},"readTime":{"min":0,"sec":39},"status":"publish","content":"On the Feast Day of Saint Nicholas, Saturday, December 6th, Philadelphia Area Knights and Dames welcomed several guests as we gathered for our monthly First"},{"id":"77818","link":"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/2026\/01\/29\/how-is-marriage-a-vocation-learn-more-on-february-4th\/","name":"how-is-marriage-a-vocation-learn-more-on-february-4th","thumbnail":{"url":"https:\/\/orderofmaltaamerican.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Marriage.png","alt":""},"title":"How Is Marriage a Vocation? 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