The Order in the United States of America
The origins of The Sovereign Military Order of Malta in the United States date back to 1926 with the founding in New York City of what is now known as the American Association, U.S.A. By 1953, the membership had become so geographically diverse, in a country larger than Europe, that the Sovereign Council established the Western Association, U.S.A. For twenty years the Order grew throughout the country, and in 1974, the Sovereign Council approved the formation of the Southern Association, which in 1985 changed its name to the Federal Association, U.S.A. In 1999, there were almost 3,100 members in the three Associations of the U.S.A.
In the United States, women were first admitted to the Western Association in 1975. They were admitted to the Federal Association in 1985, and to the American Association in 1986. Six women were admitted to the American Association during the period 1927 to 1931, four of whom were spouses of founding members.
As the three Associations in the U.S.A. have grown, they have expanded their support of various charitable projects in the United States and internationally. In addition to financial support, the personal "hands on" involvement of members has been fostered. Members take part as volunteers ministering to the sick in hospitals and clinics, feeding the poor in soup kitchens and food distribution centers, clothing and sheltering the homeless, aiding battered women, caring for AIDS patients, tending the elderly, staffing day-care centers for poor working mothers and providing job-placement services for the unemployed and other related services.
All of the U.S.A. Associations hold a variety of special Masses, retreats and similar spiritual exercises for their members in the cities of their headquarters and also in other cities throughout the county. The three Associations all have organizations of "Auxiliaries," many of whom are children and grandchildren of members. These young people are attracted to the personal "hands-on" charitable works of The Order, and may become Knights and Dames when they are older. Some participate in the Lourdes pilgrimage.