Order of Malta

The Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard is the relief organisation of the Order of Malta in South Africa.

Extract from our Statutes:

The Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard is affiliated to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta as an autonomous body (work).

Extract from the official communication of the Hospitaller of the Order of Malta of 3.5.1993:

Dear Father Gerhard Lagleder,
At the meeting of the Sovereign Council on 20 April I presented the Brotherhood of the Blessed Gerard and your initiative received unanimous approval.
No objections were raised against including the Brotherhood in the circle of the Order's auxiliary organisations.
The emblem has also met with approval. ...
I wish you success and God's blessing for your work and the tasks of the Fraternity in South Africa.
With warm greetings
Albrecht Baron von Boeselager

The threefold nature of the Order of Malta

The Order of Malta is a subject of international law. As such it maintains

diplomatic relations with more than 100 countries and has diplomatic
diplomatic representations to many international organisations, e.g. the UN.

The Order of Malta is an international aid society. It operates

international relief organisations (e.g. Malteser International) and
national aid organisations.
The Brotherhood of Blessed Gérard is the Order of Malta's relief organisation in South Africa.

The Order of Malta is a religious order. Its members are usually

Grand Priories or Subpriories and
National Associations.