Canonical Visitation 2024

What is Canonical Visitation?

A Canonical Visitation is a visit by a senior Religious Brother to a Province within the Order. He represents the International Leadership of the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God to the Province and their local ministries. Canonical Visitation serves as an invitation for both the local Hospitaller Brothers and the Co-workers to renew their commitment to the mission, while also encouraging them to safeguard and cultivate the Order’s Values of Hospitality, Quality, Respect, Responsibility, and Spirituality. It is about listening, mutual sharing of our hopes, dreams, and struggles, while encouraging a deeper sense of journeying together.

Over the last few weeks each Ministry location in North America, welcomed Brother Joseph Smith, accompanied by Brother David Lynch, Provincial, where they both had the opportunity to see the amazing things that happen in our Ministries each day.

"This Canonical Visitation I hope has been an opportunity to “feel our hearts alive,” to reflect on our everyday life experiences and to engage together in conversation sharing our unique stories."

Brother Joseph Smith

About Brother Joseph Smith

Born at Newcastle, Australia, September 5, 1954. Temporary profession in August 1975 and solemn profession in September 1981. Provincial of the Australian Province from 1992 to 1998. Appointed as Regional Delegate for Asia-Pacific and North America from 2012 to 2019. Elected to the position of General Councillor to the Prior General, on January 29, 2019, at the General Chapter held in Rome, Italy.

Make sure to check out the video below, Celebrating Hospitality in a Changing World!