Pictured above: Archbishop Mitchell T. Rozanski, ChC, looks on as Rev. Msgr. Vernon Gardin, ChM, presents the decorations he has just blessed to Tim Gamma, K.M, who is accompanied by his wife, Donna

On Tuesday, December 7th, members of the Missouri Area gathered at Our Lady of the Pillar Catholic Church in St. Louis to celebrate the vigil of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception. Mass was concelebrated by the Most Rev. Mitchell Rozanski, Archbishop of St. Louis, the Rev. Msgr. Vernon Gardin, Area chaplain, and the Rev. Thomas French, pastor of the parish.

Archbishop Rozanski, who was himself invested as a member of the American Association in New York in November, presided over the presentation of decorations to Tim Gamma, a new member who had been unable to attend the investiture.

After Mass, local members gathered for a delightful holiday dinner at the Old Warson Country Club. Missouri Area Co-Chairs, Kathy and Greg Gantz, reported on the many charitable activities that members have engaged in during the last year, including the first year of the Malta Mobile Ministries work in the American Association. Since our mobile unit was blessed at last year’s holiday gathering, it has been in regular service and has helped several Catholic charities feed the hungry, succor the poor, house the homeless, and care for the captive.

The guest speaker was Thomas Casey, director of Criminal Justice Ministry, an affiliate of Catholic Charities of St. Louis. Casey thanked the Order of Malta volunteers who have helped provide housing for those newly released from prison. He also discussed the many ways in which our society makes it easy to become entangled in the criminal justice system, but hard to return an honest and productive life as a free person. In combining the themes of celebration and service, the event set the perfect tone for the advent season.