Knights, guilds and lay societies
Order of Malta in the United States: Federal Association, American Association, and Western Association
Order of Malta Federal Association USA · Order of Malta American Association USA · Order of Malta Western Association USA · SMOM US associations
Founded 1927Three separate national Associations of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta covering the United States, each reporting to the Grand Magistry in Rome. The American Association (New York, founded 1927) was the first in the Americas; the Federal Association (Washington DC) and the Western Association (San Francisco) cover their own regions.2000
By invitation
Invitation only. Unclear; a Passage Fee (initiation) plus annual dues are required, and neither amount is published by any of the three Associations.
This one comes by invitation. Members are proposed from within the order and confirmed by it, so the warmest way in is simply to become known to the people already there.
Membership is by invitation, so this address is for asking about the Order's work and its volunteers rather than for applying.
There is no form to fill in. The Federal Association's own instruction is that the sponsor and applicant discuss the admission criteria before an application is even requested from the office, and the Western Association's only public step is emailing info@orderofmaltawestern.us with your name and location.
Members have a portal to sign in to.
If you are in the United States and interested in the Order of Malta, which of the three Associations you deal with is decided by where you live, not by preference, and the admission route is substantially the same in all three. In every case a current Knight or Dame has to invite and sponsor you first. The Federal Association is the most specific about it and requires two member sponsors, sets a minimum age of 25, and says the admissions and formation process takes 18 to 24 months. The American Association requires one sponsor who mentors you through a Year of Formation. The Western Association states plainly that a candidate must be invited. All three then run the same pipeline: admissions committee, a year of formation with required service and spiritual activities, approval by the Association board, and final approval by the Grand Master and the Sovereign Council in Rome, followed by an investiture Mass.
What you promise
Sponsorship by one member (American, Western) or two members (Federal). Being an active practicing Catholic in good standing who supports Church teaching on faith and morals, with a record of hands-on service to the poor and a degree of distinction in your professional field, regarded as a leader in your field and community. Federal Association sets a minimum age of 25. A Year of Formation beginning with a Weekend of Formation, required participation in the Order's service projects and spiritual activities, and a Formation Checklist signed by your sponsors and Regional Hospitaller. A Passage Fee before investiture plus annual dues thereafter, and encouragement to give to the annual appeal. Then a lifetime commitment, including the Lourdes pilgrimage.
What the Church attaches
Association chaplains and retreats, the annual Lourdes pilgrimage with sick pilgrims (called malades), investiture Mass in a cathedral, Mass cards purchasable through the Association, and spiritual formation on the Order's nine-hundred-year spirituality. The Order opened its first novitiate since the mid-eighteenth century in Rome in October 2026 for members pursuing the professed vocation.
Enrollment checked 2026-10-22. Details change without notice and parish practice varies. Confirm before relying on this sheet.