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Home , Bethany, Fernando Filoni, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Vatican Publishing House

Newsletter N° 59 October 2020 cross

ordinis equestris sancti sepulchri hierosolymitani

@granmagistero.oessh www.oessh.va @GM_oessh Message from the Woman of Dialogue, Mother of Encounter

n October we are preparing to celebrate Mary welcomes in her embrace the Land of the feast of the Blessed Mary, biblical promises and of her Son, a land of IQueen of Palestine, patroness of the Order many faces and many cultures. We find her in and constant presence alongside the , where she places in a of the Holy Land and all of us, Knights and manger and presents him to the world: from Dames. the shepherds of the nearest fields to the Magi This year our celebrations around the feast who come from afar; in where Jesus of October 25 will be necessarily different grows, within the social context of his time; in from those of previous where she is already years and I would like to advocate of humanity’s invite you to take thirst for fullness with her advantage of this Son; and in Jerusalem circumstantial adaptation where she listens and to experience this spiritual keeps the prophetic words occasion that is offered to of Anna and Simeon us at a deeper level. regarding the new-born Mary gives herself to baby she carries in her the world and to the arms until the day when in an ever new she will stand beneath the way, through history and cross and Jesus will entrust different cultures. This is her to John and will entrust why we invoke her with John and all of us to her. different titles that Mother of the Encounter, respond to the realities Mary does not fear that she takes to heart in diversity or new paths. our stories. But what is Indeed, she herself opens the specificity of our them up to us. In her arms patroness? The statue of Our Lady Queen of we rediscover closeness to Palestine in Deir Rafat, in the Holy Land. Woman of dialogue, each other, we rediscover contents

The Order in Union with MSGR. PIZZABALLA THANKS THE ORDER VIII the Universal Church 25 YEARS AT THE SERVICE OF CATECHESIS IX

GIVING THANKS FOR FIFTY YEARS OF The Life of the Lieutenancies PRIESTLY LIFE II SISTERHOOD AND HOW A Proceedings of the Grand Magisterium LIEUTENANCY CAN SUPPORT THE HOLY LAND IN ITS DIOCESE XI THE GRAND MASTER’S BOOK ON THE SPIRITUALITY OF THE ORDER AVAILABLE SOON IV THE ORDER IS GROWING ON THE AMERICAN CONTINENT V The Order and the Holy Land GRAND MAGISTERIUM OF THE EQUESTRIAN ORDER OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE OF JERUSALEM THE ORDER OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE 00120 SUPPORTS THE LATIN OF JERUSALEM IN RESPONDING TO COVID-19 VII E-mail: [email protected]

ourselves brothers and sisters. She cares Holy Land. about us all because we all have a place in We live in a moment in which social the heart of her Son and the Jerusalem that distancing is a key and necessary word. she cradles in her arms reveals this clearly. Let us work, Dames and Knights of the Today we learn from Mary to be men and Holy Sepulchre, so that in our life we may women of dialogue and encounter. The be able to experience spiritual closeness small actions of our daily life may not with our neighbour – through listening, change international systems but they can prayer, intercession and concrete acts – in bring us closer to each other: in our families, the school of Mary. in our dioceses, in our cities and even in the Fernando Cardinal Filoni

The Order in Union with the Universal Church giving Thanks for fifty years of priestly life

salm 84 is called the ‘Song of great personal importance: thinking of .’ In the Liturgy of the , of those who join in Christian “PHours, the prayer priests and marriage, but also the choice of priestly and consecrated persons are called to mark their . day with it, the following verse is recited: As a priest, I recited this verse whenever “Blessed are those, whose strength is in you, the Liturgy placed it before me; it was like whose hearts are set on pilgrimage” (v. 6). This renewing the request for blessing for the expression contains a blessing for those who commitment I made at my priestly undertake a ‘journey’ in faith, a spiritual ordination, on July 3, 1970, in the Mother ‘journey’ that involves a commitment of Church of Galatone, at the hands of Bishop

● ● Eucharistic celebration presided over by Cardinal Fernando Filoni on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.

Antonio Rosario Mennonna, of revered With regards the duties of a priest, he memory. I recite it also to find support in commented: “From the time of his God for fidelity to Him and to the preparation for the sacred ministry, a priest sacramental grace I received.” knows well that he always has two primary These were the first words of the homily tasks to devote himself to: the first – Cardinal Fernando Filoni delivered at the according to biblical teaching – is his Mass he presided on July 4, 2020 in dedication to the Most High: “You shall love Galatone (Lecce) to give thanks for 50 years the Lord your God with all your heart” (Dt of priestly life starting from that place in 6:5; Mt 22:37); , bishop and which his “yes” was pronounced. From martyr, taught not to “put anything before Puglia, then, the mission entrusted to him Christ”. It is a nice lesson to keep in mind. by the Church led Cardinal Filoni to many The second, alongside the same different places in the world at the service of commitment, is the exercise of pastoral the Word of God: “I have lived many years charity, that is, service to one’s neighbour in various countries: , , , and to all those whom the Lord will entrust / , , and the to him and whom he will meet on his way.” ; I remember everything about For the occasion, numerous messages of each one: events, ecclesial life, people,” he good wishes reached the Grand Master, first recalled. His family, the clergy and his of all that of Francis, Pope Emeritus friends, as well as religious, civil and Benedict XVI and Cardinal Luis Antonio military authorities attended the Eucharistic Tagle, of the Congregation for the celebration. The Cardinal concelebrated Evangelization of Peoples, a with, among others, Cardinal Salvatore De formerly headed by Cardinal Filoni. Giorgi – from Lecce – the of About ten days later, at Palazzo della Lecce, Msgr. Michele Seccia, and the bishop Rovere, on July 13, in the presence of the of Nardò-Gallipoli, Msgr. Fernando staff members of the Grand Magisterium of Filograna, co-organizer of the event together the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, Cardinal with the mayor of the town, Flavio Filoni. A Fernando Filoni presided a thanksgiving delegation of the Order of the Holy Eucharistic celebration for his 50 years of Sepulchre, led by the Lieutenant for Italia priesthood. Msgr. Tommaso Caputo, Meridionale Adriatica Ferdinando Parente, Assessor of the Order and archbishop attended the event. of Pompei, who concelebrated the During Mass the Cardinal gave thanks to mass, congratulated the Cardinal on behalf God for “the service of the and of all the Knights and Dames, assured him pastoral charity in the Church and for all of their fervent prayers for his ministry, and those brothers and sisters who have asked Our Lady of Palestine for her accompanied me throughout these years.” protection.

● ● IV Newsletter N° 59 ● JERUSALEM CROSS ●

Proceedings of the Grand Magisterium The Grand Master’s book on the spirituality of the Order available soon

tutta la casa si riempì del profumo in the footsteps of Jesus in the land we cherish dell’unguento” (“And the house was so much and in the holy land of our daily “Efilled with the fragrance of the lives. The grace granted to us in baptism perfume”): this is the title of the book by introduces us into the life of the Church, the Cardinal Fernando Filoni published by the mother who accompanies the journey of the Vatican Publishing House which will be Knights and Dames of the Order of the Holy available in bookstores in Italian from the Sepulchre. It is in this ecclesial dimension, second half of December 2020. Other language firmly attached to the Word of God, to prayer versions will follow in 2021. and to the that the spirituality of During the lockdown the Grand Master of the Order grows, matures and becomes a gift the Order dedicated himself with attention for the Universal Church. and care to drafting this text which aims to Today we discover that the ointment with sustain Knights and Dames in living their which Mary ardently desires to anoint the spirituality daily in body of Jesus, is in the light of the Holy our hands today. Sepulchre. Detail of a by We can choose In the prologue, Father Rupnik what to do with it, (Redemptoris Mater Cardinal Filoni Chapel in Vatican City), and over the writes: “Often illustrating centuries Knights members of the episode in which Mary of and Dames have anointed Jesus’ Order of the Holy feet and wiped them with been offered one Sepulchre of her hair. «And the house proposal: Jerusalem pose the was filled with the “Membership of fragrance of the perfume» question as to (,3). the Order allows us whether membership LEV to continue the © of this ancient and same work of Mary noble institution implies a specific of Bethany, that is to anoint ourselves the ‘spirituality’. This is a pertinent question given ‘’, which is the Church, in that it is not a simply honorific chivalric which Jesus now lives. I refer to the Church in Order; rather it is a vital and active entity with its universal and local reality, but, in particular responsibility and commitments that have as members of the Order, to the Mother been gradually entrusted to it by Pontiffs.” Church of all the Churches, that of Jerusalem The text then takes the reader by the hand with its faithful, , refugees, the poor and accompanies him in the discovery of the that Jesus left to us,” the Grand Master two central dimensions of the spirituality of affirms. the Order: the biblical and the ecclesiological. By fulfilling this mission, anointing the From the anointing of Bethany to the foot of Body of Christ today, we will contribute for the Cross, from the to the stretch our small part to spread the perfume of the of road travelled with the disciples of ointment in the house we have the joy of , Cardinal Filoni invites us to follow living in, our Church.

● ● N° 59 Newsletter V ● JERUSALEM CROSS ● The Order is growing on the Latin American continent

An interview with Enric Mas, Vice Governor of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre for Latin America

The new position of Our relationship with local bishops is Vice Governor for essential. In this regard, I received very clear Latin America was instructions from the Grand Master Cardinal created a few Filoni and from the Governor General months ago, what Leonardo Visconti di Modrone. does your mission involve? It is the bishops who help us to identify The Latin American continent represents and choose men and women of the Church, great potential for our ecclesial institution and capable of offering the right image of the this justified the appointment of a Vice Order, avoiding those candidates who seek Governor to coordinate the development of social promotion, for example. Even the the Order in this area of the world. I travelled members already engaged in our institution a great deal before the pandemic, meeting turn out to be excellent advisors, as they know Grand and Lieutenants. This contact their respective areas well, thanks to the continues principally through virtual means exercise of various professional activities. The while we await the return to normality. spiritual life of Knights and Dames represents We emphasize the spiritual life and a priority for us, as does their parish commitment of the members within their commitment. We insist a lot on deepening the dioceses, where they are a sort of formation of candidates within the peripheral ambassadors of the Holy Land, to quote an structures of the Order. expression of Cardinal . Brazil The relationships between the has two Lieutenancies and we are planning to Lieutenancies of Latin American countries expand further into this immense allow for multiple exchanges of experiences nation. The Order’s annual magazine is and a positive mutual stimulus. It is not the distributed here thanks to a generous quantity of members that matters, but the initiative of the Lieutenancy of Portugal, quality of their Christian witness and the which financed the translation and production pastoral will to support the Mother Church in of the Jerusalem Cross in Portuguese. the Holy Land. The Order is also present in Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela and Mexico. For the How does the Order currently represent moment we have around 400 members in a space in which its baptismal vocation total, but the development projects in Ecuador is expressed? and Panama allow us to count on a future I work as a lawyer, I am married and I have growth in the number of Knights and Dames, three children. My commitment to the Order despite the crisis that is hitting this part of the is a way of serving the Church, that is, the world hard. Catholic community. I believe that it is very important to boost awareness of the fact that How do you go about choosing new the Order is a modern and avant-garde members of the Order, careful to avoid institution in many ecclesial aspects, since the those who are more interested in baptized lay people fully assume the utmost appearing than in serving? responsibilities, be they men or women, under

● ● at a time when they did not vote and this was a revolutionary decision. With the same impetus, we continue to offer women an important place and, in fact, some of them are at the head of certain Lieutenancies. Beyond the distorted archaic image of the Order, I am happy to testify that my vocation as a lay Vice Governor Enric Mas, together with the person – priest, prophet and king through Governor General and the Grand Master. baptism – is fully expressed in the Order itself, a spiritual family that reminds us that the aegis of the Grand Master appointed by the Church is above all a community of the Pope, in collaboration with – but not brothers and sisters who love each other. dependent on – the clergy. Leo XIII allowed women to enter the Order Interview by François Vayne

Two new members of the Grand Magisterium

y decision of the Grand Master, Professor Vincenzo BBuonomo – rector of the Pontifical Lateran University – and lawyer Michael Scott Feeley – former head of the Western USA Lieutenancy – were appointed members of the Grand Magisterium of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. Vincenzo Buonomo and Michael Feeley – both born in 1961 – are both Knights Grand Cross. We wish them a happy and fruitful mandate in the service of the Holy Land, in the context of the advisory council which aids Cardinal Filoni and spreads his provisions regarding the important direction of the Order. N° 59 Newsletter VII ● JERUSALEM CROSS ●

The Order and the Holy Land

The Order of the Holy Sepulchre supports the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem in responding to Covid-19

ardinal Filoni revealed in May that the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, in the Grand Magisterium of the Order order to respond to the humanitarian needs Cof the Holy Sepulchre had of its faithful. established a special “Covid-19 The contributions sent to the Holy Land Humanitarian Support Fund”. The Cardinal have permission to respond immediately to had acted upon the wish of so many a series of urgent necessities, as described Knights and Dames who wanted to by the administrative director of the Latin demonstrate their communion with the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Sami El-Yousef: brothers and sisters of the Holy Land “With the humanitarian aid received, we severely struck by the health and economic have been able to help over 2,400 families crisis caused by Covid-19. at more than 30 parishes with basic needs Despite such difficult conditions at the including food coupons, hygiene and baby global level, generosity has not diminished supplies, medicines, and electric meter and in recent months the Grand refills. This was done through the parish Magisterium of the Order of the Holy priests and parish councils who Sepulchre was able to send, in addition to collaborated with local authorities to the regular aid planned each month, about ensure fair distribution.” Furthermore, he 3 million euros (of which around 2 million continued, “1,238 families in Jordan and were specifically for the Covid-19 fund) to 1,180 families in Palestine were supported with their unpaid tuition fees.” “We are grateful that the special aid sent to the Covid-19 Fund did not substitute the regular commitment of our members in contributing to the daily life of the diocese of Jerusalem, but rather was added to it,” concluded Governor General A meeting of the local Catholic community, in the Holy Land, during the Leonardo Visconti di health crisis. Modrone.

● ● VIII Newsletter N° 59 ● JERUSALEM CROSS ● Msgr. Pizzaballa thanks the Order

n these four years of service to the Latin response that went far beyond our diocese of Jerusalem, in the Latin expectations and that gave us the necessary IPatriarchate, I have been able to breathing space to manage this emergency personally ascertain the role of the Knights with greater serenity. We were all amazed and Dames of the Holy Sepulchre for this and humbled by the immediate response Church, not only in the context of and its scope. educational and pastoral activities, but in 2020 was also the year that, despite the general for the life of the diocese as a whole. many emergencies, nevertheless marked the Four years ago, at a particularly difficult end of a tiring path of restructuring and moment for the Patriarchate, the Knights resolution of difficult pre-existing situations. and Dames – through the Grand The large debt which the Patriarchate owed Magisterium – showed their solidarity and to the Saint foundation, closeness by encouraging linked to the University of and also concretely Madaba, has been fully supporting the processes repaid. This has reduced of revision and control of the overall debts that the administrative life of burdened the Patriarchate the diocese, which had administration by almost become urgent and 60%. It was possible necessary. thanks to the painful During these four years, relinquishing of some through and property, which however, with initiatives in their was not essential for the respective territories, the Patriarchate. We now various Lieutenancies have have a structured plan to nurtured their bonds with conclude the remaining the various realities of the commitments soon as Latin Patriarchate, not well. only in words but also with tangible facts. Much remains to be done, but we are now All of this has been reconfirmed in this at the end of a positive path for the life of last year marked by the Covid-19 pandemic the diocese of Jerusalem. and during which the Patriarchate found I wish to thank the Grand Master, both itself facing a new emergency, just as we the current one and his predecessor, for had believed our situation to be improving. their support and encouragement; through As a result of the measures decided by the them, our thanks extends to the whole various governments to tackle the pandemic, Order of Knights and Dames of the Holy in fact, a large part of our population found Sepulchre, without whom all that we have itself facing a drastic cut in wages, and a accomplished to date would have been general economic situation even more fragile impossible. than usual. Thank you for being, for this small but Thanks to the support of the Grand important Church, the concrete and tangible Master with the Grand Magisterium, our sign of Divine Providence! appeal to the Knights and Dames had a + Pierbattista

● ● N° 59 Newsletter IX ● JERUSALEM CROSS ● 25 years at the service of Catechesis

The Catechetical Office of the Latin Patriarchate celebrates its 25th anniversary and welcomes its new director.

he last commandment of Jesus their church and society,” she adds. before ascending into heaven Throughout these years, many activities “Treferred directly to preaching the have been run by the office, starting with Gospel to all nations. […] Throughout the visits to schools. Without doubt history, the Church has developed many spending time to become better acquainted forms in the service of proclaiming the Word and more familiar with each situation is a of God; one of these is Catechesis,” writes priority. Workshops and training courses for Msgr. Pierbattista Pizzaballa in the foreword teachers have been regularly offered for of the booklet prepared to celebrate the 25th different topics as well as spiritual retreats anniversary of the Catechetical Office of the and visits to the Holy Sites. Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. Interreligious dialogue is “an inseparable Back in 1994, the office was founded to dimension of our daily life in the Middle provide educational, pedagogical, doctrinal East and the practice in this field comes and spiritual help in the area of catechesis before the theory,” explains sister Virginie. for the Christian Education teachers not The topic of dialogue with other faith only working in the institutes run by the communities is therefore present in an Latin Patriarchate but in all Christian indirect way while the office has engaged schools in the region. more explicitly in ecumenical issues. “Our Sister Virginie Habib has run this office catechism books have this approach and we for the past 15 years until July 2020 and she try to deepen it through our discussions on says: “The programs and activities of the certain topics, like sacraments, and Catechetical Office contribute to the ongoing the Virgin Mary,” affirms Sister Virginie who formation of the Christian Education shares that the office decided to open its teachers in an integrated and comprehensive doors to all Christian schools to ensure that manner, encompassing all aspects required everybody, not only Catholic teachers, is to fulfill their mission in the best possible being offered the possibility of training and way.” “The final goal is to educate a new formation. “The advantage of this approach generation fully aware of their Christian is that through these meetings and faith, able to live what they believe within interactions over these years, the Christian 

Training sessions are regularly organised in the Diocese of Jerusalem for Christian education teachers.

● ● Homeland Palestine. Looking ahead to his Father new charge in the Catechetical Office, Haddad, Father Remon intends to continuing to Director of the “support teachers with courses and activities Catechetical Office of the and also provide all the modern and Latin electronic educational tools they need.” A Patriarchate of teacher himself, he comments: “I love Jerusalem. teaching Catechism in schools, I have been teaching for six years and I will continue to teach at the Latin Patriarchate school Education teachers became one team: they “National College” in .” He is share the same vision and goals although planning to conduct religious activities for they are teaching in different schools. students, such as competitions, and Furthermore, the experience of a larger help the students know better their Holy group from different backgrounds is more Land through visits to the holy places. enriching than a small group from the same Reflecting about parish life, Father Remon context,” concludes the former director of adds: “A book especially written for our the Catechetical Office. diocese Sunday Schools will soon be On August 5, 2020, Father Remon Haddad published, containing biblical texts and was asked to take over the responsibility of attractive lessons in new and fun ways. This director of the Catechetical Office from “the book will help the parish leaders to deliver respected Sister Virginie Habib who has the Word of God to the children.” worked with love and devotion in this office Father Remon concludes by thanking the for many years,” he says. Father Remon is 31 Order of the Holy Sepulchre for its constant years old, a priest since 2016 and now support and with a request: “I ask you to serving also as an assistant priest in the pray for me so that the Lord would grant me parish church of Ramallah and assistant to and those who work with me in this the spiritual leader of the Youth of Jesus’ ministry success.” N° 59 Newsletter XI ● JERUSALEM CROSS ●

The Life of the Lieutenancies Parish sisterhood and how a Lieutenancy can support the Holy Land in its diocese

bout two years ago, St. Mary’s Parish identified Our Lady of Fatima in in Holliston, Massachusetts USA as a possible sister Parish. In January 2020 Abegan planning its 150th Anniversary. St. Mary’s Parish Council agreed to invite Parishioners stressed that the anniversary Our Lady of Fatima Parish, and in February should be more than a celebration of their 2020, Fr. Issa Hijazeen, the Pastor of Our past and wanted it to be an opportunity to Lady of Fatima, accepted the sister parish reach out to others in new ways. The Parish relationship proposal. priest of St. Mary’s, Fr. Mark J. Coiro, Both parishes began by supporting each proposed the idea of adopting a “sister other in prayer. Fr. Issa pledged that each parish” – a Catholic community of faith First Friday the Evening Mass at Our Lady’s somewhere in the world with which they would be offered for the parishioners at St. could enter into a relationship of mutual Mary’s in Holliston. St. Mary’s is blessing and support. reciprocating with a monthly First Friday Morning Mass for Our Lady’s parishioners. The Northeastern USA Lieutenancy At St. Mary’s, all of the weekend Masses opens contacts in the Holy Land for include an intercessory prayer: “For Father St. Mary’s Parish Issa and the people of our Sister Parish, Our During a 2016 St. Mary’s Parish Lady’s in Beit Sahour.” Every Wednesday Pilgrimage to the Holy Land led by Fr. Coiro, both he and the parishioners who took part were shocked at how difficult life is for the Christian minority there. The parish therefore settled on the Holy Land as a worthy “sister parish” prospect. Fr. Coiro, a member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, reached out to Gerry Foley, the Lieutenant of the Northeastern USA Lieutenancy, to request assistance in identifying a parish in the Holy Land. Lieutenant Foley reviewed the request at the June 2019 meeting of the North American Lieutenancies and Cardinal O’Brien, then Gran Master, was very supportive of the idea. The Nunes Family of St. Mary’s Parish (Massachusetts, USA) with the gifts collected to be Fr. Coiro was able to connect with Dr. sent to the Holy Land for Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Sami El Yousef, the Chief Executive Beit Sahour. Officer of the Latin Patriarchate, who

● ● St. Mary’s Parish in Holliston (Massachusetts, USA) and Our Lady of Fatima Parish in Beit Sahour (Palestine) are sister parishes thanks to an initiative of the USA Northeastern Lieutenancy of the Order.

night, at Adoration, Fr. Issa prays for the Christian presence in the Holy Land,” he people of Holliston. concludes.

Covid-19 does not stop work on the Looking ahead project The two parishes are also exploring the A March 2020 St. Mary’s Pilgrimage to possibility of a St. Mary’s sponsored the Holy Land was scheduled to include a Scholarship to fully fund the tuition of a Beit visit and Mass with Fr. Issa at Our Lady’s. Sahour student each year. They are also St. Mary’s parishioners donated over 200 hopeful that St. Mary’s Boy Scouts of new English language books, educational America Troop 14 will be able to form DVD’s, and colored pencil sets for the connections with the Boy Scouts of Palestine pilgrims to carry with them for the children Troop at Our Lady’s Beit Sahour. It will be of the Patriarchate School in Beit Sahour. interesting for the boys to learn what When queried, Father Issa had indicated scouting is like in another land and culture. that these items would be the most useful – St. Mary’s is currently in the process of especially the books as the schoolchildren setting up an information bulletin board in spend one hour a day in English reading. its Parish Center to help people learn about Unfortunately, the pilgrimage was their new sister parish. It will include the postponed due to the Covid 19 Pandemic, so history of Our Lady’s in Beit Sahour, the gifts had to be shipped over instead. updates, information on the challenges of Additional school items will be collected and in the Holy Land, and ways to carried over when the pilgrimage can safely get involved. take place, hopefully in March of 2021. Everyone looks forward to seeing how “This initiative brings to life great energy this new relationship between fellow and enthusiasm within the St. Mary’s Parish Catholics in Holliston, Massachusetts and community towards Our Lady of Fatima in Beit Sahour evolves. The hope is that this Beit Sahour,” comments with joy Gerard will lead to personal friendships, spiritual Foley, Lieutenant of the Northeastern USA enrichment, and better understanding of the Lieutenancy. “This personal awareness and lives of Catholics in different parts of the zeal generate greater interest in the Order world. As this new experience successfully among young and old at St. Mary’s. It’s such develops, the Northeastern USA Lieutenancy interest that helps the Lieutenancy to grow will encourage other parishes in the with appropriate candidates and to increase Lieutenancy to consider other sister parishes funding to support the and in the Holy Land.

● ●