The Columbus region of the Order of Malta held its annual dinner on Wednesday, Nov. 12 in the Jessing Center at the Pontifical College Josephinum in north Columbus to benefit its Center of Care, a clinic that offers free medical care to those struggling with lack of medical insurance.
The clinic is located on the near east side of Columbus and operates each Thursday morning with the addition of free dental care every other week. The clinic is staffed by volunteer nurses, dentists and physicians as well as non-medical volunteers, providing an opportunity volunteers to fulfill a portion of the Beatitudes.
The Order of Malta is a lay religious order of the Catholic Church. Started in the 12th century, the order has the dual charisms of tuitio fidei et obsequium pauperum, the defense of the faith and care for the poor. The dinner supported both charisms by collecting funds for the clinic and featuring Joseph Pearce, a Catholic convert, biographer, teacher and journalist.
Honorees for the Center of Care included Dr. Bill Meily, the medical professional volunteer of the year, and Jessica Joseph, the non-medical volunteer of the year.
Pearce told his story of conversion from atheist and racist to Catholic intellectual. He quoted the famous hymn “Amazing Grace” to illustrate that he was saved by grace, especially the grace of reading the works of G. K. Chesterton and C.S. Lewis. He noted that his conversion occurred through his rational participation but, more important, through the healing of the emotional scars of his racist past.
The dinner began with an Invocation and blessing by Father Thomas Blau, OP, the regional chaplain, and ended with the daily prayer of the Order lead by Charles Mifsud, who encouraged all in attendance to join the work of the Order as a volunteer at the clinic or in prison ministry.
