On Monday, May 12, New Englanders eager to learn about recent challenges confronted by Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem gathered at the Harvard Club of Boston for a lively reception and educational program. Attendees included 67 Knights and Dames of the Order of Malta, Knights and Dames of the Order of Holy Sepulchre, trustees of leading Catholic organizations, friends of the Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem Foundation, and other physicians, lawyers, and executives.

With Judge Marianne B. Bowler moderating, insights rooted in on-the-ground experience and scholarship were offered by four panelists: Ambassador Michèle B. Bowe, President, Holy Family Hospital Foundation; Dr. Harry W. Johnson, President, International Medical Committee, Holy Family Hospital; Dr. Michael M. Espiritu, Counselor, the Order of Malta’s Permanent Observer Mission to the United Nations; and Msgr. J. Bryan Hehir of Harvard University, Catholic Charities, and the Council on Foreign Relations.

Ambassador Bowe offered fundamental history and background on the Hospital, on its resources and ongoing capital improvements, and on the future of the Hospital and related projects in the region. Dr. Johnson, who has extensive experience teaching, advising, consulting and performing surgery at the Hospital, explained to the audience its profound importance to the community and all that must be done to further expand patient care. Applying his own on-the-ground experience in Bethlehem, Dr. Espiritu described challenges the Hospital has been overcoming to deliver the same level of care to newborns and their mothers in Palestine as in the US. He also enlightened the audience on the effect of war and economic hardship on the outcomes of newborn births and their mothers.

Father Bryan located the Hospital firmly within Scripture and within the missions and ministries of the Order of Malta and the Catholic Church more broadly. He analyzed subtleties of the range of regional and global conflicts affecting the Hospital and discussed how constant turmoil within the Middle East challenges these missions and ministries to overcome obstacles and affirm and carry out the teachings of Christ. Ultimately, he showed how the missions of our Order and Church become sublimely fulfilled through the Hospital community.   

An audio recording of this discussion is available here. 

Click here to see a video provided by Dr. Johnson with Foundation support.

Click here to see a photo slideshow created by Justin O’Brien with Foundation support.

Click here to see a handout created by Justin O’Brien with Foundation support. 

Marlene O’Brien, DM, and her husband, Duncan O’Brien, organized and sponsored the gathering, with support from the Holy Family Hospital Foundation’s Executive Director, Kate Robinson, and Staff Members Grace Lindstrom and Anna Stephens. If you would like to offer a similar reception and program in your community, please click here to email Ms. Robinson or click here to email Ms. O’Brien.