Your Catholic Neighbor: Peter Maland

The Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Glendale parishioner retired from his job with Prudential Financial, Inc. years ago, but spends 10 hours a week working as a volunteer at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul dining room in south Phoenix, alongside his wife.

Sporting a bright blue apron with “Peter” embroidered on the front, Maland sat back in an office adjacent to St. Vincent de Paul’s bustling kitchen and reflected on a life of service to the Church that began in Auburn, N.Y.

His parents were both from Italy and never learned to speak English, so Maland served as their interpreter. He attended Catholic school for only a short time, because the tuition — 10 cents a week — was too steep for the family.

“They did me a favor because I went to public school and met a little girl in the fourth grade,” Maland grinned. Two years out of high school, the couple married. “I never went to college — I couldn’t afford it,” he said.

For 10 years, Maland worked for International Harvester. Plagued by asthma, he was told to move to a drier climate or he would die. Packing up a few pots and pans, the couple headed west.

“The hand of God led me to Phoenix in ’51 and I never had an attack since I arrived,” Maland said.

The couple adopted all five of their children from Catholic Charities and Maland spent 10 years working as a contract administrator, making minimum wage.

“We were working from payday to payday. We never went out to eat, and we ate a lot of pasta,” he said. A friend recommended him for a job with Prudential and Maland found his niche.

“Even though I started in April, that year I sold more insurance than any agent in the state of Arizona,” said Maland. “I did it for 23 years until I was 60.”

Maland did well for himself and his family, and the man who once knew such hardship has generously shared his time and treasure with the needy.

“God has been so good to me that I just can’t believe my financial position,” Maland said.

He and his wife Sadie, who were married for 56 years, began the West Side Food Bank to help feed the hungry. Three years ago it merged with the St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, one of the biggest food banks in the country.

Maland said he has tried to live his life by Christ’s teaching that “whatsoever you do to the least of my brothers, that you do unto Me.” So dear are these words to him that Maland had them inscribed on a banner that hangs in the Sadie Maland Memorial Garden he had built at the downtown St. Vincent de Paul Society to honor his wife’s memory.

Five years ago, he became a newlywed again, marrying Kathy, the widow of a fellow Vincentian.

Maland clearly has a heart for young people and students at Bourgade Catholic High School know it well. Every year he gives a scholarship to a graduating OLPH student who plans to attend Bourgade but needs financial assistance.

He keeps in touch with the students, attending the Honor Society’s induction and awards ceremonies. The kids often see him at church and are quick to give him a hug and thank him for his generosity.

This year Maland’s former employer awarded him — for the fifth time — with the Prudential Cares Volunteer Grants award of $5,000. The grant was given to St. Vincent de Paul in recognition of Maland’s more than 600 hours of service to the organization during 2007.

What do you like most about being Catholic?

I like our faith because we admire saints, people that have been made into saints. I like the admiration for the Blessed Virgin. Kathy and I have visited Lourdes and we’ve gone to Poland and seen the black Madonna.

Why do you think a marriage at an early age is more difficult nowadays?

Young people today want too much. We got by and I just earned minimum wage. We were happy. We were close to the Church. All of our activities were close to the Church — going to dinner parties and dances.

Are you involved in any other ministries or organizations?

I’ve been a Knight of Columbus for 62 years and a member of the Miter Society. I’ve also spent 25 years on the board for Catholic Charities.

Photos: Joyce Coronel/CATHOLIC SUN

Peter Maland takes a break from serving meals at the Society of St. Vincent de Paul’s downtown facility.

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