The Confraternity of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul was established by Naduri Peter Paul Portelli in June, 1997 in Melbourne, Australia.
Peter Paul Portelli – Grand Master of the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul, was born in Nadur and aged 19 emigrated to Melbourne.
Today the Confraternity has forty four chapters around the world including the USA, Canada and Europe. The Grand Chapter of Malta is based in Nadur, Gozo.
The Chancellor of the Grand Chapter of Malta, is former champion footballer of Valletta City and Malta National Team, Chevalier Eddie Vella of Nadur.
The main aim of the Confraternity is to help the poor and the sick. The Confraternity sponsors the Catholic mission of Bishop Emanuel Barbara OFM. Cap. in Malindi, Kenya, the mission of Fr. Raymond Portelli in Peru and missions in Nigeria, the Philippines and local hospitals and cancer foundations.
The Confraternity is celebrating the twentieth anniversary from its humble beginning by having its first convention in Malta between the 23rd. and 30th. June next year.
Knights from all over the globe will arrive in Malta to spend a week visiting places of interest in Malta and Gozo.
The knights will attend the feast of St. John in Xewkija and the feast of St. Peter & St. Paul in Nadur.
Bishop Msgr. Emanuel Barbara OFM Cap. is intending to visit Malta to say Mass for the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul in the Basilica of Nadur.
Pope Francis heard and acknowledged the existence of the Confraternity last November, by reading the letter from the Grand Master Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli.
In April this year the Holy relics of St. Peter & St. Paul were given to the Confraternity during a Mass by the Chaplain Fr. Manuel Sunaz, they were obtained through the kindness of the good Franciscan Nuns, the Poor Clares of St Francis.
The Grand Chapter of the Philippines and the Grand Prior Chevalier Ramon Moreno have been helping them rebuild and repair their old monastery and in gratitude they obtained the Holy Relics through their Monastery in France.
"God has his ways for the relics, which are hundreds of years old, to be given as a gift to the Seat of the Confraternity in Melbourne," said Chevalier Peter Paul Portelli.
To read more about the Knights of St. Peter & St. Paul visit their website [1].