Bishop Earl Fernandes was installed on Saturday, March 18 as a Conventual Chaplain ad Honorem in the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of St. John of Jerusalem of Rhodes and Malta, commonly known as the Order of Malta.

The investiture took place at a Mass in the bishop's residence chapel with members of the Columbus Region of the Federal Association of the Sovereign Order of Malta in attendance.

Fra’ Thomas Mulligan, president of the federal Association, USA of the Order of Malta, presided over the installation ceremony. Father Thomas Blau, OP, the magistral chaplain of the Columbus region of the order, blessed the insignia that was presented to Bishop Fernandes.

The installation was part of a day of recollection for the local region of the order. Dr. Daniel Gullo, director of the Malta Study Center Hill Museum and Manuscript Library in Collegeville, Minnesota, presented a talk in the afternoon in the Cathedral's undercroft.

He explained that the order’s spirituality is attached to its work as “Hospitallers,” starting in Jerusalem and moving to the islands of Rhodes and then Malta, to care for the sick and the poor but especially to those on pilgrimages to holy sites.

The Columbus region of the order operates its Center for Care Clinic, located next to Columbus Holy Rosary-St. John Church at 640 S. Ohio Ave., to provide free medical and dental care to those in need.

Members of the Order of Malta and Bishop Earl Fernandes process into the bishop's chapel for the start of a Mass on Saturday, March 18 that included his investiture as Conventual Chaplain ad Honorem. CT photo by Ken Snow

Father Thomas Blau, OP, chaplain for the Columbus region of the Order of Malta, blesses the insignia held by Leonard Barbe, the regional hospitaller, to be conferred upon Bishop Earl Fernandes during the investiture to the rank of Conventual Chaplain ad Honorem in the Order of Malta. CT photo by Ken Snow
Fra’ Thomas Mulligan (left), president of the Federal Association, USA of the Order of Malta, presides over the installation of Bishop Earl Fernandes. CT photo by Ken Snow 
Leonard Barbe, regional hospitaller, hands the insignia for Fra’ Thomas Mulligan. CT photo by Ken Snow
Fra’ Thomas Mulligan (left) places the insignia around the neck of Bishop Earl Fernandes with Leonard Barbe assisting. CT photo by Ken Snow
Bishop Earl Fernandes wears the insignia after the investiture. CT photo by Ken Snow
Bishop Fernandes elevates the sacred host and the chalice at Mass with Msgr. Frank Lane (left) and Father Thomas Blau, O.P., joining him at the altar. CT photo by Ken Snow
Bishop Fernandes recites the final prayer at the Mass. CT photo by Ken Snow

Dr. Daniel K. Gullo, director of the Malta Study Center Hill Museum and Manuscript Library in Collegeville, Minnesota, was the featured presenter at the Columbus Region of the Federal Association of the Sovereign Order of Malta's day of recollection in the Columbus St. Joseph Cathedral undercroft. CT photo by Ken Snow

(From left) Father Thomas Blau, OP, Magistral Chaplain of the Columbus Region of the Order; Bishop Earl Fernandes, Conventual Chaplain ad Honorem; and     Fra’ Thomas Mulligan, president of the Federal Association, USA of the Order of Malta.

Members of the Columbus Region of the Federal Association of the Sovereign Order of Malta are pictured with Bishop Earl Fernandes in the St. Joseph Cathedral undercroft. CT photo by Ken Snow