The Order of St John of Jerusalem is one of the oldest institutions of Western and Christian civilisation. Present in Palestine in around 1050, it is a lay religious Order, traditionally of military, chivalrous, noble nature. Its 12,500 members include Professed Friars and others who have made vows of obedience. The other Knights and Dames are lay members, devoted to the exercise of Christian virtue and charity. What distinguishes the Knights of Malta is their commitment to reaching their spiritual perfection within the Church and to expending their energies serving the poor and the sick. The Order of Malta remains true to its inspiring principles, summarised in the motto "Tuitio Fidei et Obsequium Pauperum", defence of the Faith and assistance to the poor and the suffering, which become reality through the voluntary work carried out by Dames and Knights in humanitarian assistance and medical and social activities. Today the Order carries out these activities in over 120 countries.
The Sovereign Order of Malta is a sovereign subject of international law, with its own constitution, passports, stamps, and public institutions. The 79th Grand Master, Fra' Matthew Festing was elected Head of the Order for life in 2008. The Order has diplomatic relations with 100 countries - many of which non-Catholic - and missions to major European countries, as well as to European and international organisations. The Order of Malta is neutral, impartial and non-political, which is why it can successfully act as a mediator between States.
www.orderofmalta.org
www.orderofmaltaFAS.org
The Order of Malta Volunteers (OMV)
The Order of Malta Volunteers (OMV) is a group of young people
who volunteer to dedicate some of their time to the care of the sick,
handicapped or terminally ill people. Their aims are to provide for people
suffering from a range of debilitating illnesses or from social exclusion and
offer them the chance to enjoy a break from their normal environment, whether it
be a hospital, special school or even their own home, Secondly, to provide
young people between 17 and 29 with the opportunity to gain valuable experience
of working with people with disabilities or social behavioral problems.
Hospiz und Sitzwache Ulm
The Hospice has been developing strongly over recent years in
and around the town of Ulm. Recently they have started discussions about
accepting a very significant donation of a hospital to offer permant care places
for people. This would be a stepchange to the magnitude of what the
organisation can offer. The centre offers a wide range of services for those
immediately affected and their friends and relatives.http://www.hospiz-ulm.de/