To all St John people
The 24th of June is a very special date in the St John calendar. It is the Feast Day of our Patron Saint and it marks a time of reflection, rededication, rejoicing and renewal as we come together to celebrate the hundreds of thousands of St John people across the world who improve the lives of millions of people within their communities each year under our eight-pointed white cross. We also take this special time to rededicate ourselves to the Order; its service to our lords the sick and poor; its Christian traditions and its Values.
We have a lot to be thankful for again this year. In 2024, our 168,000+ volunteers and 12,000 paid staff members worldwide collectively reached over 4million members of their communities. It is a great reassurance to all communities to know that our St John people are there, responding to the call and embodying our values in their service. Thank you to all who serve their communities in the name of St John, you save lives and change lives for the better every day.
St John’s Day is also a time of change within our family – it is often when leadership roles are handed over to their successors. I want to offer a huge thank you to everyone who completes their term in a leadership role on this St John’s Day. Your dedication to our mission, and your selfless service has had a profound impact on our ability to serve our lords, the sick and the poor. On this St. John’s Day we give special thanks and acknowledgment for the exceptional service and wisdom of The Rt Rev Bishop Tim Stevens, our Prelate for the past nine years, and Dr Steve Evans, our Sub Prior. These two leaders have been amazing and their contributions to the Order have been extraordinary. We are all in a much better place as a consequence of their selfless devotion as senior leaders in our Order. They retire from their roles with our heartfelt thanks and admiration. We now welcome as Prelate Archbishop Emeritus Sir David Moxon and as Sub Prior Dr Michel C. Doré as our newest Great Officers. Both David (from New Zealand) and Michel (from Canada) bring myriad skills and experiences and great depth of St John experience to their new roles. We warmly welcome them to the global Order leadership.
However you may celebrate today, I wish you a very Happy St John’s Day. Each and all our St John people play a significant and special role in ensuring our communities are stronger, safer and more resilient.
With every best wish,
Professor Mark Compton AM GCStJ
Lord Prior
