Good Shepherd clinic builds on Order of Malta's history

A new 2,000-square-foot medical clinic opened at Good Shepherd Ministries in downtown Toronto earlier this month thanks to a fundraising and construction project spearheaded by the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.

Representing a poignant return to his Canadian homeland, Order of Malta Prince and 81st Grandmaster Fra' John T. Dunlap, a 69-year-old Ottawa native, stood side by side with Toronto's Cardinal Frank Leo, government and religious representatives, donors and volunteers during an Oct. 2 grand opening of this facility. The Hospital Order of St. John of God will operate this facility serving the homeless and marginalized.

The Catholic Register sought to speak with Dunlap, but organizational policy prevents him from participating in media interviews.

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Dunlap did remark during the special event, however, that “our service must always remain personal. The Order was founded on encountering those who are sick, poor or vulnerable, and nothing can replace that direct human contact. But our responsibility goes further. We must also build works and institutions capable of making that service lasting and reaching more people.”

This endeavour exemplifies that remarkable fidelity to a 1,000-year mission to serve the poor and sick.

Following the ribbon-cutting and tour of the health-care space — which greatly expanded beyond its original 150-square-foot iteration — at Good Shepherd Ministries, the participating dignitaries attended Mass at St. Paul’s Basilica followed by a reception. The following day, Dunlap journeyed to Midland, Ont., to visit the Canadian Martyrs’ Shrine. He prayed with members, volunteers and sick pilgrims and joined them for a Eucharistic celebration and Anointing of the Sick.

Key figures from the committee who shepherded this project from infancy to completion said it will provide medical assessments, treatments and connections to community health services.

Dr. Fabio Varlese, the national hospitaller for the Order of Malta Canadian Association, shed light on the gaps in service the clinic addresses on behalf of Good Shepherd visitors.

“Many of these individuals are affected and afflicted by very advanced chronic conditions and medical conditions,” said Varlese. “(For) most of these patients the only alternative they have is landing in emergency rooms in the downtown hospital rather than have the opportunity to avoid the ER experience and receive urgent-type care, which was historically offered in a very tight space at the Good Shepherd.”

Bruce Adams, the Order of Malta – Canada president, said the new health unit opens on a promising note. He said there is already a “bond of trust” between medical staff and guests. The space’s proximity, a trip one floor down from the dining area, is also a plus as guests “kind of lose their momentum as time goes on as they take instructions to find some obscure office somewhere.”

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Just a fortnight into Adams’ presidential term, he shared how this work to build an institution of service honours the Order of Malta’s foundational history.

“That's how the Order of Malta began 1,000 years ago,” said Adams. “It's Italians from the Amalfi coast and some Benedictines who went to Jerusalem and built a hospital… and now here we are. The more hands-on we are, not just in the construction, (but also) the fundraising, I think (is) an amazing thing.”

Joseph Gulizia, a Malta knight and president and CEO of the senior care organization UniversalCare Canada Inc., said this work also honours Matthew’s Gospel.

“The book of Matthew says, ‘for I was hungry, you gave me food, I was thirsty, you gave me a drink, and I was a stranger, you welcomed me,’ ” said Gulizia. “That’s what the Knights and Dames of Malta have been trying to do, and along with the Good Shepherd Ministries is really taking those steps in Jesus' footsteps and trying to live up to a standard that we can all be proud of as Catholics.”

Regarding the fundraising, the specific number raised was not divulged, but it was a project that received the necessary donations — including from the Archdiocese of Toronto — and was constructed in less than 18 months since it was greenlit in May 2025. Joe Stephen, the media contact for the Order of Malta – Canada, did confirm that “the actual construction costs came under budget and on time — even ahead of time."

Adams noted how “here are people that thought the project was going to be too big for us because it was a very tight timeframe, and we had to raise a lot of money in terms of the build. We persevered, and I think it's a testament to this committee. It's an incredible group of people with incredible skills.”

Because of the economical building process “the Good Shepherd folks (have) a pool of money to provide the necessities for the clinic beyond just furniture fixtures and the beautiful, constructed site,” said Stephen.

Frontline nurses and staff at Good Shepherd were consulted during the construction about how to create a flexible space that could lend itself to grow in a way that best meets the needs of guests. This approach is known as future-proofing the space.

While content with how the clinic was realized, Dr. Giuseppe Papia, an Order of Malta - Canada representative of the third class, accentuated that the drive to collect donations did present surprising challenges.

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“I naively didn't know the stigma the marginalized and homeless have against them in a way that some people didn't want to donate,” said Papia. “They were like, ‘No, we don’t. These people, it's their fault.’ There's a big stigma there. It's easy to forget when you're at arm's length that these are human beings who are made in the image of God and need our help.”

Now with a blueprint on how to succeed on time and under budget amid challenges, the Order of Malta – Canada is already envisioning building a similar clinic elsewhere in Toronto and in other cities across the country.

(Amundson is an associate editor and writer for The Catholic Register.)