| 26th January
|
World Leprosy Day
- Annual General Meeting - Social Event.
The Grand Priory held its Annual General Meeting at the Topaz Hotel,
Bugibba where various activity and financial reports were presented by
the Council's officials and approved by the members. The Statute of the
Grand Priory was presented and approved by the members.
The meeting was followed by an Illustrated Talk entitled "The
Sacra Infermeria of the Order of St. John – Jerusalem to Malta: 700
years of service" by Chev. Prof. C.
Savona-Ventura KLJ OMLJ.
The event was followed by a social
gathering for an informal buffet dinner at the Hotel.
|
| 20th April
|
 Members
of the Grand Priory enjoyed a day together in Gozo. The activity was
initiated by celebrating Mass at St. George’s Basilica in Victora;
followed by a Buffet Lunch at the Calypso Hotel at Marsalforn. The
activity was topped by the viewing of the film by Paul Cox “Molokai—The story of Fr, Damien”
who relentlessly gave of himself and served the lepers who had been
exiled to this barred island, at the cost of his own life. The film was
made available for private viewing through the agency of DISCERN: Institute for Research on
the Signs of the Times.
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|
| 21st May |
 Members
of the Grand Priory had the opportunity to meet informally with a
delegation of the Order from Finland led by the Grand Prior Aarne J.
Koskimies together with representatives of the Grand Commandery
of the
Castello at Torri Lanzun. Grand
Prior H.E. Chev. J. Pace presented the
senior officials of the Finish Delegation
with a copy of the book "The
Hospitaller Knights of St. Lazarus"
authored by Chev. Prof. C. Savona-Ventura.
The Grand Priory of Finland has
a number of subjurisdictions including: the Commandery
of St. Lawrence; Commandery of St.
Mary; Delegation of St. Andreas; Delegation of the
Holy Cross; Delegation of St. Jacob; Delegation of St.
Margaret; Delegation of St. Nikolaus; Delegation of St. Olof;
and the Delegation of St. Christopher.
|
12-13th
September
|
Chapter General 2008 in Manchester
An eight-man
strong delegation led by the Grand prior attended the Chapter General
Meeting held in Manchester. During the meeting, a new GrandMaster H.E.
Don Carlos Gereda de Borbon was elected and installed. The solemn
installation service included readings, communal prayers and hymns. A
homily was delivered by Gregorious III Leham, spiritual protector of
the Order and Patriarch of the Greek Catholic Melchite Church. The
activities ended in a Gala Dinner where the Grand Priory presented the
new Grand Master, as well as the GrandMaster Emeritus and H.B.
Patriarch Gregorious III, with a signed copy of The hospitaller knights of St.
Lazarus published by the Grand Priory.
|
| 12-13th
September |
The
Grand Priory supported an illustrated talk organised by the Order of
Charity and delivered by UK-based Consultant Hand surgeon Mr Donald
Sammut describing his work among lepers in India and Nepal. The talk
held at the Catholic Institute was a prelude to the full affiliation of
the Order of Charity to the Grand Priory.
|
| 6th
December |
The
Investiture Ceremony was held at the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Mount
Carmel in Valletta. The well attended ceremony saw the investiture of
new postulants and the promotion a number of well-deserving members of
the Grand Priory. This was followed by a Gala Dinnr at the Casino
Maltese, Valletta.
|
21st
December
|
Members
of the Grand Priory commemorate St. Lazarus Day in December by
organising a Eucharistic Service at Dar il-Kleru at Santa Venera. Mass
was celebrated by our chaplain Fr. Moore; after which the opportunity
was taken for Christmas carols to be sung. A Christmas Hamper was given
to the Home for the benefit of the elderly inmates there.
|
