Hospitaller Region - Northern Virginia

The Federal Association has been active in Northern Virginia since the mid-1980’s. A small group has grown into a very active group of over 100 Knights and Dames. The current Hospitaller is Bertha Braddock, who succeeded James Costantino, George and Carmen Egge, Sergio and Pilar Micheli, John Cady, and Barbara Murphy in that position. Bishop Paul Loverde (Arlington, VA) was invested as a chaplain of the Order in 1999, Father Richard Mullins was invested as an Associate Chaplain in 2007, Barbara Murphy was elected to the Association’s Board of Directors in 2002, and Rowena Morris was elected to the Board in 2007.

Primary initiatives of the Northern Virginia group have been the twice-monthly “coffee shops” held for the residents of the Cherrydale Healthcare Center (nursing home) in Arlington, the monthly “Defense of the Faith” discussion series which have taken place since 1998, and twice weekly service at the soup kitchen in Anacostia (DC) run by the Missionaries of Charity. Since 1997, members have held an annual fundraiser to feed the poor children at the Family Center run by the Daughters of Charity in Cite Soleil, Haiti.

Members of the Order (and their families) who are interested in participating in one of these activities should contact the Regional Hospitaller. The phone/fax number is available in Federal Association Directory.

• Cherrydale Healthcare Center – The Cherrydale Healthcare Center is a 260-bed nursing and rehabilitation center in Northern Arlington. Volunteers work at the Center on the first and third Saturday mornings of each month in the activities room visiting the residents and serving them coffee and non-sugar refreshments. Contact: Carmen and George Egge

• Mother Theresa’s House – Members of the Order are assisting other volunteers on Monday and Wednesday mornings. Volunteers arrive between 9 and 9:30 AM and help with food preparation and service. The main meal on Wednesday is provided by Sergio and Pilar Micheli’s Portofino Restaurant. Volunteers then assist with clean up. Contact: Bill Wallace and Bertha Braddock

• Haiti Project – The Daughters of Charity run a Family Center in Cite Soleil, on the outskirts of Port Au Prince, Haiti. Members of the Order organize an annual benefit dinner in the spring to help the sisters feed the children during the summer when school is not in session. In addition, volunteers help sell items made by the children’s mothers to help the sisters provide job training and a means of bettering their lives. Contact: Sergio and Pilar Micheli

• L’Arche Program – Members of the Order prepare, deliver and serve Sunday supper at the L’Arche Home, a faith-based community for adults with developmental disabilities in Arlington on the third Sunday of the Month. The members stay for dinner and interact with the residents and staff. Contact: David Carradini

• Friends of the Unborn Child – is a project in formation. The mission is, of course, to protect the unborn child from abortion through our personal efforts within the Order and, where appropriate, in the public square. Although we have many ideas the immediate undertaking is to attend Bishop Loverde's monthly Respect-Life Mass and with him pray the rosary in front of an abortion clinic. Contact: Austin Ruse