Città APPEAL BY del Vaticano DECLARATION BY THE THE GRAND MASTER No. I GRAND MAGISTERIUM JULY 2002 News Letter

ORDO EQUESTRIS SANCTI SEPULCRI HIEROSOLYMITANI

This, the first issue of the Newsletter of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, launches a periodical designed to carry information of current interest. The publication falls within the development plan for Communications approved by the Grand Magisterium and forms an integral part of other activities which are already under way (the annual magazine Annales Ordinis Equestris Sancti Sepulchri Hierosolymitani and the website www.oessg-gm.net). Unlike the Order’s magazine, which is printed, the Newsletterwill be distributed solely by e-mail. In this way, the Presidency of the Order hopes to meet the demand for general information on the life of the Order to be publicised in a way that is more immediate and makes more impact.

APPEAL BY THE GRAND MASTER DECLARATION BY THE THE ORDER’S FOR HUMANITARIAN AID GRAND MAGISTERIUM ...... 5 FIRST PILGRIMAGE FOR THE HOLY LAND ...... 2 TO LOURDES ...... 7 MEETING OF LIEUTENANTS SCHOOLS COMMISSION ...... 3 IN CHICAGO ...... 6 MEETING OF THE SECOND MEETING GRAND MAGISTERIUM ON AN ENCOURAGING OF THE 16 & 17 APRIL ...... 4 DEVELOPMENT ...... 7 SCHOOLS COMMISSION ...... 8 2 News Letter NO. I · JULY 2002

The Grand Master of the Order, Cardinal Carlo Furno, has renewed the appeal he made to the Lieutenants last year – Call to all the Knights and Ladies to make a generous effort to meet the urgent needs of the peoples of the Holy Land in this moment of crisis.

APPEAL BY THE GRAND MASTER FOR HUMANITARIAN AID FOR THE HOLY LAND

6 June 2002 implemented by a specially ever before. I will be especially created local body subject to grateful to you if the donations Your Excellency and the authority of our own Holy for this purpose do not reduce Dear Confrères Land Commission, it has proved the level of those collected for timely and useful and we are our other works, in particular You will remember that, at the therefore encouraged to the Schools, but are made in beginning of last year, the Grand continue the operation. addition to your regular contri- Magisterium, being aware of the butions. extremely serious and continual- I hardly need to remind you ly deteriorating situation in the that, despite our most fervent The needs of the Holy Land are Middle East, expressed the fee- hopes and prayers, the situation great, but I know very well that lings of all our members by laun- in the Middle East has not every one of you will fulfil the ching an appeal to collect and improved in the meantime. commitment you made when you distribute funds for Social and On the contrary, the most recent joined the Order to the best of Humanitarian Aid, intended to news leads us to fear that the your ability. meet the most urgent needs of quest for peace still has a long our Christian brothers and si- and painful road to travel. Thanking you in anticipation, sters in the Holy Land. please accept the expression of I therefore turn once more to my highest consideration. Your notable generosity has each and every one of you to be enabled this initiative (announ- generous in your support for Yours sincerely in Christ ced to you in my appeal of this initiative, for which the 28 February 2001) to go ahead; need is more clearly felt than Carlo Cardinal Furno 3 News Letter NO. I · JULY 2002

The Grand Master has renewed the mandate of the Schools Commission – The first meeting of the new Commission took place in Rome in February 2002. SCHOOLS COMMISSION

The Cardinal Grand Master At its meeting in Rome on 21-22 Education can be of significance voiced his appreciation of the February 2002, the Commission to students now and in the years work undertaken by the Com- discussed the ways in which it ahead. mission for the Schools in the saw education, and concluded to The Commission arranged its Holy Land and, with a decree establish the five principles next meeting for early July 2002 dated 15 February 2002, where it believes Catholic in Rome. renewed its mandate for another three years. The members of the THESE PRINCIPLES ARE: Commission are: Professor Bartholomew J. McGettrick, Christian education available to all Christian families Chancellor of the Scottish 1 in The Holy Land. Lieutenancy and former Dean of the Faculty of Education of the Christian education should be based on the Gospel University of Glasgow; Professor 2 values, and the teaching of Religious Education Agostino Borromeo of the “La inspired by the Gospel. Sapienza” University of Rome and Member of the Grand Christian education should be of a high quality. Magisterium; Professor Edwin 3 This quality should be reflected at all levels in the Gräupl, Lieutenant for Austria; educational provision – student learning; Knight Grand Cross Thomas E. teacher effectiveness; buildings and support; McKiernan of the USA North links with parents and the wider communities; etc. Central Lieutenancy; Professor Jacqueline Sfeir, Dean of Educa- 4 Christian education should be affordable. tion at Bethlehem University; Monsignor William Shomali, Christian education should be accountable. Procurator General of the Latin 5 Patriarchate of Jerusalem. 4 News Letter NO. I · JULY 2002

Full agenda reflects serious current problems. Fundamental importance of humanitarian aid at this time – Communications take on an important role in the Order.

MEETING OF THE GRAND MAGISTERIUM ON 16 &17 APRIL

The Spring meeting of the Um Zweitineh, Madaba, Naour, financial resources and support Grand Magisterium took place Rafat and Taybeh. for the people in the Holy Land on 16th and 17th April 2002. The report by the Schools Com- (reprinted at the beginning of As a new member, Count Enrico mission again showed the extent this Newsletter). Pietromarchi took part for the of the problems in the Holy On the item “Communication first time. He was warmly welco- Land at that time. In this con- and Image of the Order” it was med by the Governor General, nection, the different social con- agreed that all Lieutenancies H.E. Count Carducci Artenisio. ditions in the three areas Israel, would receive a sufficient num- At the beginning of the meeting, Palestine, Jordan also have to ber of copies of the publication Mgr. William Shomali presented be taken into consideration. The Annales. The Lieutenancy Coun- His Beatitude Patriarch Sabbah’s goal must be that all Christian cils should distribute this publi- written account, which reported families have access to Christi- cation to individual members on the difficult situation of the an education. H.Em. Cardinal and families respectively. Christians in the Holy Land. The Furno has extended and confir- From now on the Annales will be Grand Magisterium formulated med the mandate of the Schools free of charge. In addition, it was a resolution expressing its deep Commission for another three agreed that a newsletter should concern and awareness. The full years (see article earlier in this be published regularly in the text will be sent to all our mem- Newsletter). future. You are now reading the bers (it now follows this article). H.E. Vice Governor Parola pres- first edition. The President of the Holy Land ented the Accounts for the year The Assessor of our Order, H.E. Commission, Lady of the Collar 2001. Funds had to be frozen for Mgr. Cordero Lanza di Monteze- Elisabeth Verreet, presented the that year in order to have suffi- molo reported on the progress projects and their financing. cient reserves for Humanitarian of the preparatory work for the Both were unanimously appro- Aid. At this point H.Em. Cardi- Consulta which will take place ved. These are the projects in nal Furno again called for more from 14th to 17th October 2003. 5 News Letter NO. I · JULY 2002

DECLARATION BY THE GRAND MAGISTERIUM

17 April 2002

The Grand Magisterium of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem met on 16 and 17 April 2002 at its Headquarters in Via della Conciliazione, Rome.

The Grand Magisterium was

deeply shocked and grieved entrusted to the Order to assist Appeals to all public figures, by the events in the Holy Land, and sustain the peoples in that whether political, social, region, without distinction as religious or lay, and to all the listened to the report by the regards nationality or religion, leaders of countries directly or Grand Prior of the Order, His indirectly involved in working Beatitude Monsignor Michel stressed the great importance for the solution of the conflict, Sabbah, Latin Patriarch of of the schools in paving the way so that, in the words of the Holy Jerusalem, who explained all the to reconciliation and mutual Father, “those who have the aspects of the extremely grave understanding between the power and the responsibility situation that has now been different peoples living in the take the necessary steps, even at going on in the Holy Land for Holy Land. In this respect the a price, to set the opposing many weeks, atmosphere of mutual respect, parties on the road towards an as taught and experienced in agreement that will provide shared in the expressions used the schools supported by the justice and dignity for all”; by the Grand Master, His Emi- Order in the Holy Land, was nence Cardinal Carlo Furno, to duly noted. Invites the Lieutenants to pro- describe the feelings of pro- mote initiatives aimed at provi- found sadness and deep concern The Grand Magisterium: ding humanitarian aid, encoura- of all the Members of the Order ging dialogue, understanding for the Land in which the Expresses the strongest possi- and partnership between all the Saviour lived, died and was re- ble solidarity with those suffe- peoples of the Holy Land in surrected, ring peoples whom the vicissitu- order to pave the way gradually des of history have destined to to an alternative life of expressed its awareness of the live together in the same Land coexistence in which all forms traditional bonds that unite the and who seek only peace with of violence and terror are Order of the Holy Sepulchre to justice and the orderly progress banished. that area, and of the mandate of mutual understanding and which the Supreme Pontiffs have co-operation; 6 News Letter NO. I · JULY 2002

Third meeting of North American Lieutenants in Chicago – Attended by the Grand Master and the Governor General

MEETING OF LIEUTENANTS IN CHICAGO

The Third Annual Meeting of the emergency situation adequate justification, a point to North American Lieutenants of in the Holy Land which the Governor General had the Equestrian Order of the also made special reference. Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem the spiritual life of the Order Many contributors to the discus- was held in Chicago on 2 and 3 sions mentioned the problems May 2002. organisation of the that will arise in connection with His Eminence the Grand Master Lieutenancies the reconstruction necessary fol- presided at the meeting. Those lowing the extremely serious so- present included the His Excel- problems relating to the trans- cial and material damage crea- lency the Governor General, the fer of funds collected ted by the current conflict, to Vice-Governor General H.E. which, unhappily, there seems to George Ryan, Member of the expectations for the Consulta – be no visible solution. The mee- Grand Magisterium Count Rome, October 2003 ting also dealt with our hopes of Enrico Pietromarchi and, in his co-operating with other agencies capacity as an expert, Mgr. Vice-Governor General Ryan that operate in the Holy Land Robert Stern of the CNEWA. spoke in particular of the finan- and was pleased to note that The meeting, which opened with cial contribution made by the consultations were taking place greetings from the Grand Master North American Lieutenancies to set up an American and a report by the Governor in 2002, which showed an incre- Foundation for the Holy Land. General, presented participants ase of US $775,000 over the pre- with a full exchange of opinions vious year. He also raised the The next meeting of North on the main items on the problem of resources retained American Lieutenants will take Agenda: by some Lieutenancies without place in Boston, Massachusetts, in the second week of May 2003. 7 News Letter NO. I · JULY 2002

Easier transfer of contributions to the Patriarchate thanks to help from many Lieutenancies AN ENCOURAGING DEVELOPMENT

An internal concern, but one monthly payments to cover such H.E. Parola reported recently with far-reaching repercussions, items as, for example, teachers’ that the funds transferred in the is the pattern of payments from salaries. So the Grand Magiste- first three months of this year the Lieutenancies to the Grand rium must transfer the funds in exceeded last year’s figure by Magisterium. It had almost beco- good time. However this can 83%. This is indeed a great help me a tradition that membership only be done if the resources to the Patriarchate. Thank you fees were collected over the are available and that is why the for this sign of your co-opera- course of the year and then the Grand Magisterium has fre- tion. It is hoped that in the futu- payments arrived in Rome main- quently expressed the wish that re the transfer of funds will ly during the last quarter. But the relevant contributions be continue to be evenly spaced the Patriarchate needs regular sent at regular intervals. over the whole year.

1430 participants from about 20 countries attend the pilgrimage of the Order THE ORDER’S FIRST PILGRIMAGE TO LOURDES

From 8th to 12th June, Knights During the international Anyone acquainted with this and Ladies from Australia to services and processions the place of pilgrimage is familiar North America and from Poland mantillas of the Ladies and with its particular influence. to Italy assembled in Lourdes cloaks of the Knights dominated For all those who were in for several days of prayer and the scene in that holy place. Lourdes for the first time it was community spirit. The Order More than once we were invited a meaningful experience. chose this important centre of to return to Lourdes. Our Particularly touching is the the Virgin Mary’s grace in order Cardinal Grand Master Carlo respectful and loving service to pray to our Lady and to ask Cardinal Furno received a provided to the sick. The long for her intercession, as Queen of special sign of the great appre- line of wheelchairs always has Palestine, on behalf of the ciation of our visit when hono- the right of way. A fact which people in the Holy Land, rary citizenship of Lourdes brings home to us the special especially at this time. was conferred upon him. message of this place. 8 News Letter NO. I · JULY 2002

The Schools Commission met again in Rome on 2 & 3 July – Commitment to continually improve the quality of education.

SECOND MEETING OF THE SCHOOLS COMMISSION

The Schools Commission recog- of difficulty, knowing that, in are used efficiently, effectively nised that it had three areas of time, there will be more oppor- and in the best interests of the responsibility entrusted to it by tunities for a free and positive children and of the Order. the Cardinal Grand Master approach to education. This is an area of particular relating to the Christian Schools difficulty, and the Schools of the Holy Land. the professional responsi- Commission is keen to work with These responsibilities relate to: bility to ensure that education those who are able to access is of a high quality – both to greater resources. the moral and ethical respon- enable the student to undertake sibility for ensuring the educa- employment for the common The Commission therefore tion of Christian children in the good on leaving school, as well discussed and approved a strate- Holy Land. The current position as for his/her own personal gic plan aimed at improving the in the Holy Land makes it incre- fulfilment. Students will require quality of education (by various asingly difficult for the parents the skills and ideas which means, in particular staff to pay fees to educate their will support them in their development projects for the children. The Equestrian Order developing lives. teachers in the schools of the is anxious to provide what Patriarchate) and looked at ways resources it can to defray costs. and the financial responsi- of raising the necessary funds. The Grand Magisterium is not bility to ensure that the resour- The next meeting was set for prepared to submit to the forces ces made available to schools October 2002, in Jerusalem.

Published by the

GRAND MAGISTERIUM OF THE EQUESTRIAN ORDER OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE OF JERUSALEM 00120 Vatican City

Editor: AGOSTINO BORROMEO Co-Editor: OTTO KASPAR