The Columbus Region of the Federal Association of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta held its annual Mass for the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, the patron saint of the order, on Friday, June 21 at Columbus St. John the Baptist Church with Bishop Earl Fernandes as the celebrant. During the Mass, members renewed their commitment to the Order, part of which includes to "promise, calling on the name of God, in chivalrous fidelity, always to bear witness to the Catholic faith, to defend the Church and to lead my life in accordance with the teachings of Holy Mother Church. I declare myself ready as a member of the Order of Malta to care for our lords the sick and the poor with all my strength and ability." This encompasses the Order’s charisms of defense of the faith and service to the sick and the poor. Members and candidates in attendance were (from row from left) Marilyn Dono, Kay Gibbons, Teresa Kenney, Dr. Brian Kenney, Jerry Woodhouse and Christine Woodhouse; (second row from left) Jason Thomas, Dr. Marian Schuda, Len Barbe, John Reiner, Dr. Richard Mena, Bishop Fernandes, Don Brey, Jeff Kaman, Mary Parker, Teresa Parker and Albert Navarro. Members, candidates and guests gathered for a dinner with Bishop Fernandes and Father Thomas Blau, OP, the region’s chaplain, after Mass. Photo courtesy Order of Malta