On November 15, 2025, Joshua stood tall to receive his gold bar insignia as a newly commissioned Second Lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps. For him and his family, it was a proud milestone. For Malta House, it was a living testament to what our mission makes possible. Standing beside Joshua was Michael O’Rourke, co-founder of Malta House, who had first known him not as an officer in uniform, but as the very first Malta House baby, born in January 1999.

Safe and Loving Home

Joshua and his mother, Galo Gopi, lived at Malta House during its early years, when the ministry was still taking root. They stayed for two years, finding not only a safe and stable home, but also a community that embraced them with dignity and love. Like so many mothers and children welcomed since, they arrived at a time of uncertainty and vulnerability. Malta House offered what our shared humanity calls us to provide: a safe and loving home, the protection of life, and a community that honors every mother and child.

To see Joshua today—no longer an infant in a crib, but a Marine officer taking his oath of office—is to see that promise fulfilled. His commissioning reflects years of sacrifice, discipline, and courage. Michael’s presence at the ceremony reveals something deeper: the long arc of Malta House’s mission. When we stand beside a young mother and her child in their most fragile moments, we are investing not only in their safety today, but in the futures they will build tomorrow.

A Call to Service

For Malta House, this moment is a milestone. Joshua’s journey—from our nursery in 1999 to the Marine Corps in 2025—embodies the values at the heart of our mission: the sanctity of life, the dignity of every person, the call to service, and the hope that springs from faith. Galo’s courage, her joyful spirit, and her trust in Malta House made this story possible. Michael’s presence at Joshua’s side was a visible reminder that Malta House is more than a temporary shelter; it is a family walking with mothers and children into the future shaped by love and hope.

As Joshua received his insignia and spoke his oath of office, he carried with him the prayers of our Malta House community that first welcomed him and his mother. His success reminds us why Malta House exists: to give pregnant mothers and their babies facing homelessness not only a roof and a bed, but hope, opportunity, and a path forward. On that special day, the story of Galo, Joshua, and Michael came full circle—a witness to what can unfold when together we choose to defend life, uphold dignity, and embrace the grace of love.