Malta Justice Initiative (MJI) is a sponsored work the Order of Malta, American Association, in Connecticut. Our overall prison ministry goal is to strengthen existing programs and ministries and to develop new ministries. This project, “The Justice Imperative– The Unrealized Potential of Connecticut’s Systems of Corrections and Criminal Justice” is a major step in our program in Connecticut to serve those in need by reaching out to the business community, faith-based organizations and academia.
Click here to visit our site: http://maltajusticeinitiative.org/
MJI seeks transformation and reconciliation of the imprisoned by affirming the God-given dignity of each inmate and ex-offender and stressing that his or her life matters. We provide support to the incarcerated to help them lead faith-focused and productive lives through visitation and instruction. We also strive to raise public awareness to the spiritual and material needs of the imprisoned, as they begin the process of transitioning back into the community.
Mission Statement:
- To serve the incarcerated community in Connecticut by:
- Visiting the incarcerated, affirming their human dignity and ministering to their spiritual needs;
- Facilitating former offenders return to their families and communities as rehabilitated, law-
abiding taxpaying citizens; - Promoting the critical need to hire qualified former offenders;
- Raising awareness among the business, faith and academic communities to the ineffectiveness,
inefficiencies and injustices of the criminal justice system; - Advocating for an effective, efficient and compassionate criminal justice system.
The Sovereign, Military and Hospitallar Order of St. John of Jerusalem and of Rhodes and of Malta is one of the oldest institutions of Western and Christian civilization. The Order constitutes the sole unbroken continuation of the Hospitallers of St. John recognized in 1113. Begun in Palestine in around 1050, it is a lay religious Order traditionally of military, chivalrous and noble nature. Its 13,500 members worldwide are devoted to the exercise of Christian virtue and charity.
What distinguishes the Knights and Dames of Malta is their commitment to reaching their spiritual perfection within the Church and to expending their energies providing assistance to the poor and the suffering. This becomes reality through the voluntary work carried out by Dames and Knights in humanitarian assistance with medical and social service activities. The Order of Malta is a sovereign political entity under international law with its own constitution, passports, stamps, and public institutions.
Today the Order carries out these activities in over 120 countries and does so without distinction of religion, race, origin and age. The American Association, one of three associations in the U.S.A., is a separate legal entity and a 501 (c) 3 not-for-profit corporation which is responsible for the day-to-day management and control of its business and affairs. As such, it acts on its own behalf subject to general oversight by the Order of Malta consistent with accepted corporate governance standards and practices. MJI is also a separate legal entity and a 501 (c) 3 Not-For- Profit Corporation acting on its own behalf, with its own board of directors and appropriate legal documents.