Scott Muryasz, chair of our parish's Finance Council, and his wife and daughter Debbie and Samantha, joined hundreds of other Catholics in Washington, D.C.’s National Cathedral last weekend as His Eminence, Cardinal Donald Wuerl, archbishop of Washington, invested him as a Knight of Malta. He now joins fellow parishioner Robert O'Hara, who was knighted in New York's St. Patrick Cathedral by New York Archbishop Timothy Dolan in 2009. Hartford Archbishop Henry Mansell sent both their names to the Vatican where they were accepted by the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI, and invested as Knights in a majestic and ancient ceremony.

The Knights of Malta are a worldwide, lay, religious order of the Roman Catholic Church, which seeks to glorify God by promoting the sanctification of each member through his or her work with the sick and the poor and the defense of the Catholic faith. Headquartered in Rome, this sovereign order is an independent country. Male members are known as Knights of Malta and female members are known as Dames of Malta.

Hartford's Knights of Malta at work here at home. The Knights of Malta advance spiritual activities and programs as well as a host of social services for the benefit of individuals and families in need and the care for the sick. The latter is accomplished in a particular and very practical way: the Malta Mobile House of Care (MMHC), essentially a mobile emergency room and primary care facility that provides an array of diagnostic services, onsite medical treatments, and follow-up care to the working poor, families, and to the poorest people in the greater Hartford area.

A new way to caring. The MMHC travels on a regular schedule to designated parishes in the Hartford-Waterbury area complete with volunteer healthcare providers (doctors, nurses, dentists, nutritionists), and with a full supply of medicine and medical equipment. The MMHC receives funding from the Archbishop's Annual Appeal and other organizations to meet its operation needs. The cost to operate this "mobile ER" totals $750,000 per year.

Since I know you are a pretty “royal crowd” here is how all of us can be “knights and dames.” This year Saint Catherine of Siena Parish's Advent Giving Pro-gram will benefit two (2) organizations: the Malta Mobile House of Care and Simsbury Social Services, through our Pantry Partners of St. Catherine of Siena program. With the latter, we will help feed families and individuals who live in town. The number of Simsbury residents in need continues to grow due to the protracted recession. Pantry Partners of St. Catherine of Siena will provide food for local seniors and families in need thanks to you. The MMHC will enable us to reach beyond our safe and comfortable neighborhoods into some of Connecticut's normally unseen yet desperately poor communities. Your support is greatly appreciated. More detailed information on the upcoming Advent Giving Program will be forthcoming as Karen Carew and her team organizes our efforts. Thank you in advance!