New York City Spirituality in Action

40 Days for Life

The NYC community works with the organizer of the local 40 Days of Life campaign. People of faith are praying that this effort will bring an end to the tragedy of abortion. 40 Days for Life is a focused pro-life campaign that has already mobilized over 700,000 people worldwide, saved over 11,700 lives from abortion, led to the conversion of 133 abortion workers, and seen 73 abortion facilities close. NYC Area Members participate with the 40 Days for Life through Prayer, Fasting, and Peaceful Vigils.

Confrères Helping Confrères Outreach Program

Recognizing that a few of our Knights and Dames may in fact be elderly, infirm, or homebound, we are launching a new initiative: The Confrères Helping Confrères Outreach Program, which represents an attempt to encourage all members of the Order in the NYC Area to show their appreciation to those Knights and Dames who came before us and kept the Order’s charism so strong in earlier years.

Don’t Walk By

Don’t Walk By is an annual outreach in NYC where volunteers walk the streets in Manhattan each winter in search of the homeless. Volunteers seek to offer the homeless or those in need food, warm clothing, a blanket and the opportunity to enter a shelter and residential program.

Annual New Member Welcome Reception and Dinner

The NYC Area members host a welcome reception for all new NYC and Westchester Area members during Investiture Weekend in NYC. The event also incorporates a Thanksgiving solicitation to support the Area’s local food pantries.

First Monday Mass

Members, Auxiliary, Candidates and friends gather monthly for an evening Mass on the first Monday of each month. Mass is celebrated by one or more of our Area Chaplains.

Healing Mass on the Occasion of the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of the Sick

Healing mass on the occasion of the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of the Sick. A reception is held following Mass.

Malta Walks

The Malta Walks was founded as an embodiment of working with the sick and the poor in the NYC Area. Similar to other charitable efforts, the year-round service is to the homeless through the distribution of food, warm hats and other clothing. Members begin in prayer while making sandwiches and preparing care packages. The attendees are divided in groups to address areas of the city where needs are known to be the greatest for basic food and drink. This includes walking through public shared spaces, parks, and transit terminals until all food bags and other available resources have been delivered to those in need.

Mary Manning Walsh Nursing Home

Mary Manning Walsh Home cares for people of all faiths in an atmosphere of grace and elegance. Members visit residents, transport them to Mass, and act as Eucharistic Ministers. Members also support the annual Walk-a-thon, holiday celebrations throughout the year, the Annual Day at the Races, and the Annual Super Bowl Party.

New York Common Pantry

Members volunteer at the Common Pantry in East Harlem, either distributing healthy food packages or serving hot meals.

NYC Area Annual Christmas Party

Each year the Area hosts a Christmas party at the home of Members, Camille and Rory Kelleher. Underwritten by a Member, the event raises funds to support the charitable activities of the Area and supplement American Association grants. The highlight of the evening is singing Christmas carols.

Order of Malta NYC Junior Committee

The Order of Malta NYC Junior Committee was formed as an umbrella group for members, Auxiliaries, and new volunteers under the age of 40 to facilitate community, spiritual development, and involvement in the works of the Order among the young adult age group. As such, there is coordination with the works of the Order organized by the Auxiliary and long-standing activities in which Members are involved.

St John’s Bread

Members serve on the Board and assist in clothing drives aimed at raising money for the food pantry in Brooklyn. Members also serve meals to those in need.

St. John the Baptist Feast Day & The Feast of Our Lady of Philermos.

On each of these feast days of the Order, Members gather for Mass and attend a reception.

St. Nicholas Project Shopping Day

The St. Nicholas Project is an annual day of shopping for needy families. Each family has a profile sheet with a brief description of the family members, including children, and the items they are most in need of. It is often basic clothing and clean bedding. Members participate in the annual shopping day to select new clothing and necessities shipped in time for Christmas.

Support of Pregnancy Help Organizations

Members serve on boards of pregnancy help organizations and Life Centers: Pregnancy Help, Inc., Catholic Guardian Services, Sisters of Life. Sisters of Life Friends Committee to coordinate activities and fundraising events; as volunteers, co-workers, providing pro-bono medical, legal and accounting services; employment of and assistance to pregnant women and new mothers; prayer vigils at Planned Parenthood; participation in 40-Days for Life; participation in March for Life in Washington, DC.

Terrence Cardinal Cooke: Assisting Disabled Children

Knights, Dames and Auxiliary host a sing-along for the severely disabled children of TCC. They visit five to seven children’s recreation rooms on the second and third floors of the Healthcare Center. Equipped with song books, musical instruments, and noise makers, a group of volunteers, young and old, sing to and engage with younger residents. Each Spring, the group hosts a circus for the children with games, music, and clowns.

Terrence Cardinal Cooke: Speciality Hospital/Nursing Home

TCC is a multi-purpose healthcare facility run by the Archdiocese of New York. The complex includes a residence for the elderly and persons with Alzheimer’s disease; hospital units for HIV-AIDS and Huntington’s disease patients; a unit offering care for severely disabled children and young adults; and a physical rehabilitation unit. Every Sunday since the early 1980’s, Members transport residents to and from Mass, assist at Mass, distribute Communion to those unable to get to the Chapel for Mass, and generally befriend and socialize with the residents. Several other members serve as “Special Visitors” two to three times per month. Additionally, the NYC Area hosts two Thanksgiving dinners and a Christmas party (with gifts distributed by Santa) each year for the residents and their families, at which members serve food and converse with guests.

Witness For Life

Knights, Dames, and Auxiliary provide a presence of prayer where it is most needed the First Saturday of each month, across the street from Planned Parenthood in Manhattan. They pray and witness for the protection and enhancement of the sacredness of every human life. Members are also involved in aiding the Sisters of Life in their monthly Witness for Life program which runs for several hours once a month.

White Cross Ball

The White Cross Ball of New York is an annual black tie benefit supporting the charitable works of the Order of Malta in service to the sick and the poor. Three of the Order of Malta’s international humanitarian works: The Order of Malta International Summer Camp for Disabled Youth, American Team; The Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem Foundation; Malteser International and Order of Malta Worldwide Relief receive support from this fundraising event.

World Day of the Sick and Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes

Hosted by the Subpriory of Our Lady of Lourdes, Members gather together for Mass to honor the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and recognize World Day of the Sick. Members of the Order, Auxiliary and Candidates in their Year of Formation, including Members from Westchester and the Supriory attend the Mass. Mass includes an anointing of the sick and concludes with a candlelight procession to the Shrine of the Virgin at which the Litany of Our Lady of Lourdes is prayed. Following Mass all gather for refreshments.