Walsh University President Tim Collins was formally invested as a Knight of Magisterial Grace into the Roman Catholic religious Order of St. John of Jerusalem, widely known as the Order of Malta, during a solemn ceremony at St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City. His public investiture by His Eminence Timothy Cardinal Dolan reflects a deepening of his life's vocation and speaks of a growing commitment to Catholic higher education and Walsh University.
From November 13 to 15, members of the Order of Malta from across the country gathered in New York City for the annual Investiture Weekend, which included prayer, formation, and fellowship. The weekend culminated in the Investiture Mass at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where new members, including President Collins, took solemn vows to uphold and witness to the Catholic faith, defend the Church, and lead lives rooted in service and compassion.
Tracing its origins to 1113, the Order of Malta is among the world’s oldest Catholic religious orders. It operates in more than 130 countries, dedicated to assisting the sick and poor and promoting human dignity through medical, social, and humanitarian works. The Order remains unique in that membership is by invitation only—individuals cannot apply—and the discernment process is rooted in a deep spiritual calling to live out the Order’s charism of “defense of the faith and care for the sick and poor.”
Following the invitation, each candidate enters a yearlong formation process that includes retreats, service projects, and spiritual reflection before being approved for investiture by the Order’s leadership in Rome. President Collins joined a small group of new members from Ohio who were formally admitted earlier this year, before taking part in the public investiture in New York. Today, the Order includes approximately 13,000 members worldwide, with about 50,000 affiliated medical professionals and more than 100,000 volunteers who assist in its humanitarian missions, including the annual pilgrimage to Lourdes, France, to serve those seeking healing.
President Collins views his investiture as a continuation of his lifelong call to integrate faith and professional service. For him, joining the Order represents not only a personal deepening of faith but also a reflection of the mission he advances at Walsh University—to form students intellectually, spiritually, and morally for lives of purpose and service.
“Jesus Christ invites all of us to a radical conversion of heart. Through the Order, I am responding to His asking to have an even greater part of my heart—deepening my service to others and re-centering my focus on Him,” said President Collins. “I thank the Lord for this gift and the opportunity to unite my personal and professional life more fully in His service.”
