The Order of Malta was officially recognized by Pope Paschal II on February 15, 1113. Last Sunday, February 15 – 913 years later – the Michigan Area officially welcomed a new chaplain of the Order, His Excellency Edward J. Weisenburger, Archbishop of Detroit.
The presentation took place at the Archdiocese of Detroit’s annual Mass with Anointing of the Sick at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament in Detroit.
The Mass of Anointing is held each year to commemorate the World Day of the Sick, a day of devotion established by Pope St. John Paul II in 1992. Coinciding with the liturgical Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes, World Day of the Sick reminds the faithful to reflect on the Church’s teachings about sickness, and to serve and pray for the sick and their caregivers.
Before Mass, members of the Order welcomed those who were coming to be anointed and presented them with vials of Lourdes water, hundreds of which were bottled in advance by the children of Michigan Area Chair Andy Smith, KM, and Andrea Smith, DM.
The Mass was celebrated by Archbishop Weisenburger with other priests concelebrating, including Michigan Area chaplain Rev. John Maksym, ChD.
As in years past, the archbishop invited members of the Michigan Area to participate in the healing Mass. Dames and Knights assisted priests with anointing of the sick.
Readings at Mass were proclaimed by Eileen Newell, DM, and Louis Grech-Cumbo, KM. Linda Couzens, DM, and Associate Andrea McKenna brought up the gifts, escorted by Kathleen Mastrangelo, DM, and Marcia McBrien, DM.
Other Michigan Area members participating at Mass included Dr. Lourdes Andaya, DM; Stephanie Le, DM; Jim Nowka, KM, and Kathy Nowka, DM; Auxiliary Jenna Shriner and Sean Shriner, KM; Dr. Freddy Sosa, KM, and Josefina Sosa, DM; Alan Wegienka, KM, and Angie Wegienka, DM.
After Communion, Marcia McBrien led Michigan Area members, and others at Mass, in the Daily Prayer of the Order. She also presented Archbishop Weisenburger with his official membership decree as a chaplain of the Order, with the rank of Conventual Chaplain Ad Honorem.
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