HELP FOR EARTHQUAKE VICTIMS IN ITALY

The earthquake which hit the town of San Giuliano di Puglia on the morning of 31 October killed 26 small children and 3 teachers at the local primary school. Half the school collapsed and surrounding buildings and houses were damaged. In the most serious earthquake to hit Italy since the September 1997 eruption in Assisi, the shocks, measuring 8 degrees on the Mercalli scale, were felt as far away as Rome. The Military Corps of the Order’s Italian Association moved quickly, sending a team of doctors, nurses, intensive care specialists and auxiliaries to the scene, and providing 3 ambulances, medical equipment and a range of medical supplies. Shocks continued to be felt in the area for a week, with a sudden drop in weather temperature complicating the living conditions of survivors who had been housed in hastily assembled tent villages.

EXTENDED FACILITIES FOR PATIENT CARE IN ROME’S HISTORIC CENTRE

Every day, more than 250 outpatients are treated at the Outpatients’ Clinic run by the Order in the heart of historic Rome, and the demand continues to grow. Last week, the Order’s head, Fra’Andrew Bertie, opened refurbished and extended premises for the Centre, funded by the Order’s own Association of the west coast of America. The new areas will provide much-needed additional facilities for the care of patients at the Centre. They include a further suite of treatment rooms and the installation of the most up-to-date medical equipment to meet growing needs.

GRAND PRIORY OF BOHEMIA WORKS TO REBUILD FLOODED AREAS IN THE CZECH REPUBLIC

Following the disastrous August floods in the Czech Republic, the Malteska Pomoc Hospital Service, an organisation operating under the Order of Malta’s Grand Priory of Bohemia, is working to rebuild the areas worst affected. Their volunteers are providing medical assistance and first aid for evacuees, distribution of foodstuffs, transportation for the disabled and elderly persons and constant checking of the extent of the damage. The volunteers are working under pressure, in Prague and the areas around Melnik, Ceské Budejovice and Olomuc, to improve living conditions before winter arrives.

THE MONASTERY OF ST. URSULA IN MALTA

Few people know that an uninterrupted presence since the 16th century of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and of Malta on the small Mediterranean island which has given its members the name by which they are usually referred to today is represented by a community of cloistered nuns in the capital city Valletta. The Monastery of St. Ursula in Valletta was, in fact, founded by Grand Master de Loubenx Verdalle in 1595.

Even fewer people know of the economic needs of the community and the urgent structural works required in the monastery .

DIPLOMATIC ACTIVITY REPORT NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE

The digital version of the annual Diplomatic Report of the Order of Malta, published in June, is now available online. Please note that publications in PDF format can be downloaded from the Publications page of this site. The Report is available in five languages: English, French, German, Italian and Spanish.

Two publications, the Diplomatic Report and the Activity Report, have been created to offer both members and non-members an up-to-date description of the works of the Order, its current activities, organization and historical context. The preparation of these publications, which together supercede the International Review, was the result of collaboration between all our Priories, National Associations, Embassies and the various agencies of the Order all over the world.

MEETING OF THE ORDER OF MALTA ASSOCIATIONS IN NORTH, CENTRAL AND SOUTH AMERICA

A meeting of the Associations of North, Central and South Americas of the Order of Malta will take place in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, from 5th to 8th November 2002. The meeting will be chaired by the Grand Master of the Order, Fra’ Andrew Bertie and its aim is to coordinate the Order of Malta’s humanitarian action throughout the American continent.

LA VERSION FRANCAISE DE NOTRE SITE INTERNET EST EN LIGNE

Nous vous annonçons que la version française du site Internet de l'Ordre de Malte est en ligne à dater d'aujourd'hui.

THE FRENCH VERSION OF THIS SITE IS NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE We would like to announce that the French version of the Order of Malta's website is available as of today.

THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF HUNGARY RECEIVED BY THE GRAND MASTER

The President of the Republic of Hungary, Ferenc Madl, accompanied by the Secretaries of State, Pal Becker and Peter Barsony was received by the Grand Master of the Order of Malta on June 19, 2002, in the Palazzo Magistrale in Rome. During the talks, apart from referring to excellent relations that exist between the Order and the Hungarian government, the President expressed his admiration for the humanitarian action carried out by the Order throughout the world and, in particular, in Hungary, through the Association and Hungarian Hospital Service (MMSZ).

“THE ORDER OF MALTA IS PROUD OF ITS ACTION IN THE LEBANON”

“We are not a political power, we are a humanitarian institution of Christian persuasion since we are all practising Catholics. Our position has been one of neutrality since the founding of the Order 900 years ago. We take care of the needy, regardless of race, colour, sex or creed. Such an attitude in the Middle Ages was considered avant-garde.” With these words the Count Jaques De Liedekerke, Grand Chancellor of the Order of Malta, answered to Mrs. Suzanne Baaklini, journalist of "L'Orient-Le Jour" a Beyrouth newspaper, city where the traditional meeting of the Presidents of the Order of Malta Associations took place, June 4th and 5th. Click "more" to read the article

SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST RESIDENCE FOR THE ELDERLY INAUGURATED BY GRAND MASTER

Inaugurated by the Grand Master, fra' Andrew Bertie the Residence Saint John the Baptist for the Elderly, a completely remodeled building with 2,700 square meters of floor area and grounds covering 5 hectares, is owned by the Hospitaler Foundation of the Order of Malta in Spain – FHOME (a foundation under Spanish law established by the Spanish Assembly of the Sovereign Order of Malta as part of the development of its humanitarian activities).