ATLANTA—Three women and one man from the Atlanta Archdiocese joined the Catholic lay religious Order of Malta, Saturday, Oct. 15, at St. Matthew’s Cathedral, Washington, D.C.

Jackie Bohling, Teresa Claugus, Susan Janetta and Neil Johnson, all of Atlanta, completed more than a year of formation, which included prayer, religious retreat, education about the order and the practice of works of mercy. Cardinal Donald W. Wuerl, archbishop of Washington and principal chaplain of the order’s Federal Association, celebrated the Mass.

The four will be among 47 men and women from the United States as the newest members of the religious community founded more than 900 years ago. The Federal Association has more than 1,000 members in the United States

The majority of members are lay married men and women. They carry out their vocation in the order while continuing their careers.

The order provides humanitarian and medical assistance in 120 countries.

To learn more about the Order of Malta in the Atlanta Archdiocese, visit www.orderofmalta-federal.org and worldwide at www.orderofmalta.int.