Welcome to the Minnesota Area

Welcome to the Minnesota area website. Minnesota is one of 30 Areas of the Order of Malta, American Association USA. Our members are located primarily within the Archdiocese of St. Paul/Minneapolis but we are hoping to expand into other dioceses throughout the state. Though we are a smaller Area with just 37 members we are active and growing.

The Order of Malta is a lay religious order of the Roman Catholic Church with 13,000 members and relief operations worldwide. Today, as at its founding over 900 years ago, the Order is foremost a Hospitaller Order, with members personally providing hands-on assistance to the sick and the poor. The Order traces its origins to the creation of a hospital in Jerusalem in the 1070s to care for pilgrims to the Holy Land predating the Crusades. The Order assumed its military role in the twelfth century as its members, who were also knights, provided armed protection for pilgrims and the defense of the new Christian Kingdom against Muslim attacks. Today, the mission of the Order is to give glory to God by promoting the spiritual well-being of its members and providing assistance to the sick and the poor. Knights and Dames of the Order are also charged with the responsibility of defending the Faith.

Our members volunteer to care for the sick and the poor in their communities in addition to our main local project of working with the Little Sisters of the Poor. We also support charitable projects in other areas of the United States, Central America and Haiti. Members also support worldwide relief efforts of the Order, the Holy Family Hospital in Bethelehem and the Order’s annual pilgrimage to Lourdes. In witness to and in defense of the Catholic faith, we participate in a variety of special Masses, retreats and seminars throughout the year.

Our Area calendar can be located here, or found at the link on the menu.