Spirituality in Action | Order Of Malta American Association

About the Order The Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and Malta is one of the oldest institutions of Western and Christian civilization. The 13,500 Knights and Dames remain true to its principles – nurturing, witnessing and protecting the faith and serving the poor and the sick.

Ohio – Cincinnati Spirituality in Action

Jail Ministry

Our members volunteer their time in two separate detention facilities to pray and share Scripture with incarcerated men and women.

Members, student volunteers, and a local Deacon from the Kent State University Parish Newman Center meet with juvenile residents of the Juvenile Portage Geauga County Detention Center. The Detention Center is a 46 bed coed detention facility administered by a Joint Board of Trustees made up of representatives from Portage and Geauga County. During weekly visits on Fridays around 7PM, the ministry includes preparing for and participating in a Communion service. The Deacon leads the service with help from members, students, and residents.

Pregnancy Center Plus

Pregnancy Center Plus provides free pregnancy testing, free ultra sound, parental education, post abortion counseling, abortion counseling, pregnancy consultations and adoption education and referrals. Six Ohio Area members serve as counselors, board members and raise funds from inception of the idea to stuffing the invitations, mailings and staffing the fundraiser.

Ruah Woods

Ruah Woods is a publishing company creating lessons taught in Catholic primary and secondary schools, derived from St. John Paul II. This program works to restore the family and renew the culture by educating and training others to understand, embrace and evangelize the message of the Theology of the Body. Knights, Dames, and Auxiliary of the Ohio Area serve on the Board of Directors and Ruah Woods Ambassadors, they perform administrative tasks, facilitate classes and assist with large events.

St. Anthony Center

St Anthony Center provides sit down meals to the poor and underprivileged residing in the urban core of Cincinnati. Additionally, SAC provides brown bag lunches and offers cooking and sewing classes for individuals and families.

St Francis Seraph Ministries

Knights and Dames of the Ohio Area of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta’s American Association support St. Francis Seraph Ministries, which prepares and provides breakfast, lunch and dinner as well as skills training to the urban poor.

This is an innovative, private sector initiative that has been providing free, professional pharmaceutical care to people in need since 2006. In addition to serving as a pharmacy of last resort for people who have no other way to afford their medicine, they provide basic health screenings, counseling to ensure clients take medication properly and referrals to clinics and medical homes. Since opening in September 2006, they have filled 150,000 prescriptions with a retail value of more than $14 million. Three members from the Ohio Area participate in the fundraising to raise start-up costs and other initiatives.

Order of Malta