The new program will support religious women and men working at nursing homes during the Covid-19 pandemic—The Los Angeles location of the Order of Malta will launch “Operation Gratitude” on Tuesday, May 12, at 5 p.m. with the distribution of “gratitude kits” to nursing religious women at the Sacred Heart Retreat House (920 East Alhambra Road, Alhambra), operated by the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart. The kits will also be handed to other healthcare providers on the front line of the Covid-19 pandemic, along with letters of gratitude.
“Many of the sisters caring for the sick have chosen to quarantine at the facilities alongside the residents to reduce the possibility of their patients’ exposure to the virus,” said Mike Psomas, president of the Order of Malta, Los Angeles. “We want to thank them for their heroic commitment and let them know they are in our prayers.”
The Knights and Dames of Malta, along with their families, assembled 600 kits during Mother’s Day weekend for distribution to six Los Angeles-area elder care facilities, three of which are operated by the Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart and three operated by the Hospitaller Brothers of St. John of God.
In addition to the kits, the Order has created an Amazon gift registry listing the needs of the Sisters, Brothers, and staff as they navigate this crisis. The registry will be open for donations, to be delivered directly to the elder care campuses.
The Order of Malta is a 900-year-old lay religious order of the Roman Catholic Church dedicated to serving the sick and poor through humanitarian, medical and social projects in 120 countries. The Los Angeles location is one of the largest in the world, with 225 Knights and Dames committed to support outreach programs and non-profits. For more information, visit orderofmaltawestern.org.
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