Born in Ottawa and the first Canadian to lead the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Grand Master Fra’ John Dunlap opened Toronto’s Good Shepherd Clinic, a new health unit for homeless people, on Friday 2 October, presiding over the ribbon-cutting ceremony and participating in the blessing. The event is part of a three-day visit to Canada, dedicated to spiritual and humanitarian meetings and initiatives.
The facility was born from the collaboration between Order of Malta’s Canadian Association and the Good Shepherd Ministries run by the Hospital Order of St. John of God, with the aim of offering healthcare to people in conditions of poverty and marginalization.
«Our service must always remain personal. The Order was founded on the encounter with those who are sick, poor or vulnerable, and nothing can replace that direct human contact. But our responsibility goes further. We must also build works and institutions capable of making that service lasting and reaching more people» the Grand Master stressed, recalling the Order’s mission to serve the most vulnerable.
Located in a reception centre, the clinic is designed to facilitate access to primary care for homeless people by providing medical assessments, treatments and links to community health services. The project was implemented thanks to philanthropic funds, equipment donations from local hospitals and contributions from volunteer medical staff.
The ceremony was attended by Cardinal Frank Leo, Chaplain of the Order of Malta, and leaders of the Canadian Association, as well as institutional, religious, and community medical representatives. In the afternoon, Holy Mass was held in St. Paul’s Basilica, followed by an official reception.
The Grand Master’s journey will continue to Midland, Ontario, with the traditional annual pilgrimage to the Canadian Martyrs’ Shrine. In this place of intense spirituality, Fra’ John Dunlap will share moments of prayer, recollection, and closeness with members, volunteers, and numerous sick pilgrims, participating in the Eucharistic celebration and the rite of the Anointing of the Sick.
