N° 43 JULY 2016

www.oessh.va REFLECTIONS OF THE GRAND MASTER

ll of us are quite familiar with the – newsletter medi- opening foundational statement in tations. AArticle 2 of our Statutes declaring the This would principal purpose of membership in the Order imply three steps of the Holy Sepulchre: for each “....to strengthen in its members the Lieutenant and practice of Christian life, in absolute fidelity to Staff: the Supreme Pontiff and according to the 1. Having familiari- teachings of the Church....” ty with each According to our records 7.3% of our priest member membership are ecclesiastics – that is, and specific overwhelming, priests. (Individual knowledge both lieutenancies vary significantly in their of his willing- percentage of priest members.) ness to assist It is my solid impression that our priests and in which of could be more effectively employed in the above areas Pastores Dabo Vobis, fulfilling our members’ goal to achieve he might be of Cardinal Edwin O’Brien’s personal holiness and I would ask our service; motto, recalls God’s 2. Making it clear promise as recounted by Lieutenants and Priors to help bring this the prophet Jeremiah: “I will about. Indeed, we might stress our clergy to each incoming give you shepherds after serving more as chaplains than as “knights”. ecclesiastical my own heart” (Jer 3:15). I’ve no doubt that the great majority of our member that in priests would take to the pastoral challenge of joining the Order serving members at every level and in every he is assuming important spiritual and pas- area of our lieutenancies in spiritual support: toral responsibilities to the extent he is able; – liturgical planning and advise; 3. Informing members of the resources our – individual spiritual direction; “Knight Chaplains” offer them. – availability for Reconciliation in connection As I mentioned during our Spring meeting with liturgies; of European and North American Lieutenants, – conferences for members and for prospec- there is vast potential here for the spiritual tive members/members in formation; strengthening throughout our Order. – assistance in identifying worthy new mem- To ecclesiastics already so engaged: Thank bers; you! – organized outreach to “inactive” members; To those not yet so engaged: Help Wanted! II N° 43 - JULY 2016

c o n t e n t s

The Order in Union with ANNUAL MEETING OF EUROPEAN LIEUTENANTS IN IX the Universal Church ECHOES OF THE GRAND MASTER’S VISITS XI THE JUBILEE OF MERCY CONTEMPLATING THE FIVE WOUNDS OF CHRIST II The Order and the Holy Land JUBILEE INDULGENCES IV STARTING ANEW WITH THE RISEN CHRIST XII A NEW CUSTOS OF THE HOLY LAND XIV Proceedings of the Grand Magisterium THE ORDER OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE COLLABORATING IN ROACO PROJECTS XV WELCOME TO AMBASSADOR ALFREDO BASTIANELLI, SPRING 2016 IN THE HOLY LAND XVI NEW CHANCELLOR OF THE ORDER V THE ORDER OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE BIDS FINAL The Life of the Lieutenancies FAREWELL TO HONORARY ASSESSOR MSGR. GIUSEPPE DE ANDREA VI TESTIMONY OF THE CHANCELLOR FROM A NEW WEBSITE WITH A UNIVERSAL DIMENSION: THE SWISS LIEUTENANCY XVIII www.oehss.va VII THE MEDAL OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE IN NORTH AMERICAN LIEUTENANTS ANNUAL MACARENA COTELO, SPAIN XX MEETING IN BALTIMORE VIII WHERE ARE THE RELICS OF ST. HELENA? XXII

IMPRESSUM GRAND MAGISTERIUM OF THE EQUESTRIAN ORDER OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE OF JERUSALEM 00120 VATICAN CITY – E-mail: [email protected]

The Order in Union with the Universal Church The Jubilee of Mercy contemplating the five wounds of Christ

he Jubilee of Mercy, which closes “Lord, In memory of the five wounds that November 20, the feast of Christ the we carry on our insignia, we pray to You...,” TKing, has already seen about 10 reads the famous prayer of Knights and million pilgrims flock to Rome, despite the Dames. “We can find the definitive icon fact that this “decentralized” Holy Year can of the vessel of mercy in the wounds of be fully experienced in every diocese in the the risen Lord. Those wounds remind us world. During a recent Jubilee event the that the traces of our sins, forgiven by God, Pope spoke in particular of the five wounds never completely heal or disappear; they of Christ and we would like to propose his remain as scars. Scars, we know, are words to readers in this newsletter as they sensitive; they do not hurt, yet they remind perfectly illustrate the message transmitted us of our old wounds. God’s mercy is in by the Order of the Holy Sepulchre insignia. those scars, our scars,” Pope Francis  III N° 43 - JULY 2016

The Cross of Jerusalem, symbol of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, evokes the five wounds of Christ, source of inner purification and spiritual renewal for pilgrims who, like us, are on the path to the Kingdom of God.

summed up perfectly speaking to the priests, Wednesday, June 22, “Lord, if You are who came to the eternal city for the Jubilee willing, You can make me clean!” inspired in June, 2016. “In the scars of the risen by the Leper’s plea to Jesus (Luke 5, 12). Christ, the marks of the wounds in his The Pope added that every night he says five hands and feet but also in his pierced heart, Our Fathers, “one for every one of we find the true meaning of sin and grace,” Christ’s wounds, because Jesus cleanses he continued, stating that in contemplating us with his wounds”. Could we too not the wounded heart of the Lord, we see pray invoking the mercy of the Heavenly ourselves reflected in him, as in a mirror, Father through the five wounds of Christ, “His heart, and our own, are similar: both which in becoming scars, are a testament to are wounded and risen. But we know that his victorious love? In the words of Peter’s his heart was pure love and was wounded successor, may every member of the Order, because it willed to be so; our heart, on called to witness to the power of the the other hand, was pure wound, which Resurrection, renew their awareness during was healed because it allowed itself to this Holy Year that: “The real vessel of be loved”. Another example of the spiritual mercy, then, is the mercy which each of us logic with which the Holy Father encourages received and which created in us a new us to move forward is the prayer he recites heart. This is the “new wineskin” to which before going to bed, which he mentioned to Jesus referred (cf. Luke 5:37), the “healed pilgrims during the general audience on sore”.

Jubilee Calendar up to the feast of Christ the King

here are still a few months left to receive the grace and spiritual renewal of the Jubilee Year. TThe great events scheduled to take place in the Eternal City include the Jubilee of Operators and volunteers of Mercy, September 2 to 4, the Jubilee of Catechists, September 23 to 25, the Marian Jubilee, October 23 to 25 and the Jubilee of Prisoners on November 6, prior to the closing of the Holy door at St. Peter’s in Rome on November 20, the feast of Christ the King. IV N° 43 - JULY 2016

Jubilee Indulgences

Many readers have asked for further information on the indulgence granted in the Jubilee of Mercy. This is a special grace that frees us from the consequences of sin, a sin from which the soul must be purified in the afterlife, even when it has already been forgiven. In this the communion of saints – namely solidarity in prayer and acts of charity, including those for the dead – is of great help for sinners on their journey, as we all are. We would point readers to Pope Francis’ words in the Bull of Indiction for the Holy Year, Misericordiae Vultus, No. 22:

hough we feel the transforming power of us to the saints and blessed ones whose Tgrace, we also feel the effects of sin number is beyond counting (cf. Rev 7:4). typical of our fallen state. Despite being Their holiness comes to the aid of our forgiven, the conflicting consequences of our weakness in a way that enables the Church, sins remain. In the Sacrament of with her maternal prayers and her way of Reconciliation, God forgives our sins, which life, to fortify the weakness of some with the he truly blots out; and yet sin leaves a strength of others. Hence, to live the negative effect on the way we think and act. indulgence of the Holy Year means to But the mercy of God is stronger even than approach the Father’s mercy with the this. It becomes indulgence on the part of the certainty that his forgiveness extends to the Father who, through the Bride of Christ, his entire life of the believer. To gain an Church, reaches the pardoned sinner and indulgence is to experience the holiness of frees him from every residue left by the the Church, who bestows upon all the fruits consequences of sin, enabling him to act of Christ’s redemption, so that God’s love with charity, to grow in love rather than to and forgiveness may extend everywhere. Let fall back into sin. The Church lives within us live this Jubilee intensely, begging the the communion of the saints. In the Father to forgive our sins and to bathe us in Eucharist, this communion, which is a gift his merciful “indulgence.” from God, becomes a spiritual union binding

rossing the Holy Door constitutes one Cof the conditions for obtaining a Jubilee indulgence, in addition to receiving the Sacraments of Reconciliation, Holy Eucharist and actively praying for the Holy Father’s intentions. In recent months, Pope Francis has often reminded us of the importance of uniting the sacramental aspect to corporal and spiritual works of mercy.

Corporal and spiritual works of mercy (see Newsletter 42, p. 5) V N° 43 - JULY 2016

Proceedings of the Grand Magisterium Welcome to Ambassador Alfredo Bastianelli, new Chancellor of the Order

The Grand Master of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, Cardinal Edwin O’Brien, has appointed Ambassador Alfredo Bastianelli as Chancellor for a term of four years. Bastianelli is a Knight of the Order of St. Gregory the Great and a Grand Officer of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic. Born in Rome on January 26, 1951, he married Fiammetta Fiorentino in 1983, and is father to three sons: Giovanni Battista, Ascanio and Niccolò. A graduate in Law, the new Chancellor served the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs for many years, holding positions at the Italian Consulate in Sao Paulo, , and at Italian embassies in Canada, and , in addition to the Permanent Representation at the . He then served as Ambassador of his country in Angola, Cyprus and . Alfredo Bastianelli has also been a Gentleman of His Holiness since 2007. The members of the Order, present throughout the world, wish him welcome, and join together in prayer, entrusting his new mission to Our Lady of Palestine. VI N° 43 - JULY 2016

The Order of the Holy Sepulchre bids final farewell to Honorary Assessor Msgr. Giuseppe De Andrea

rchbishop Giuseppe De Andrea was O Lord... your servant is listening’ (Samuel born in Rivarolo Canavese on 20 3:1-10). Like Mary on the day of the AApril, 1930. He was ordained a priest Annunciation, you expressed your ‘yes’ to in 1953 in the Consolata Missions Institute, the Lord’s call”. In 2003 he was also a congregation that devotes particular appointed Apostolic Nuncio to . In attention to the evangelization of peoples. 2005, upon having reached the age limit, he The young priest served in the Diocese of retired from diplomatic office. Greensburg, Pennsylvania (USA), for more The Equestrian Order of the Holy than two decades, where Sepulchre of Jerusalem he held various pastoral has been fortunate enough positions in education and to benefit from the administration. He was experience and pastoral called by the to care of Msgr. De Andrea serve in the office of in the years when he Permanent Observer to served as Assessor of the the United Nations in Order (2008-2013), a New York from 1983 to position which he carried 1994. Subsequently for out with special dedication five years he worked for from 2011-2012, the the Vatican as the period of time between Undersecretary of the the resignation of the Pontifical Council for the Grand Master Cardinal Pastoral Care of Migrants Foley and the moment his and Itinerant People. successor, Cardinal Edwin Monsignor De Andrea O’Brien, took possession received the fullness of of his position. From that the priesthood in 2001 and time until his last days, as was appointed titular Archbishop of Anzio. Honorary Assessor, he was always close to He also received the responsibility of the mission of our Knights and Dames, and serving as Apostolic Nuncio to Kuwait, sustained it with his efforts and prayers. and , in addition to serving as Monsignor De Andrea passed away on 29 Apostolic Delegate to the Arabian Peninsula. June, 2016, the Solemnity of Saints Peter and In the homily at De Andrea’s episcopal Paul, and his funeral was held on the first consecration, Cardinal Friday of July in St. Peter’s Basilica. All recalled the faithfulness to the call received members are united with the Grand Master, that has always accompanied this pastor of the Governor General and members of the God’s Church: “Dear Father Giuseppe, an Grand Magisterium, in accompanying this immense field of work opens before you. As friend and supporter of the Order with the young Samuel, you listened to the Lord’s prayers as he has returned to the house of voice, and promptly responded: ‘Here I am, the Father. VII N° 43 - JULY 2016

A new website with a universal dimension

n Tuesday June 28 last, during the European Lieutenants meeting in Rome, the Grand Master Cardinal Edwin O' Brien officialy launched the Grand Magisterium's new Owebsite, which is now available in five languages: www.oessh.va. All members, Knights and Dames, but also friends of the Order and press can now subscribe to the Newsletter via email. Each Lieutenancy can send texts and images to be included, as well as links to articles published in the press. This site will be able to reflect the universality of the Order, and the dynamism of its members and create links, where possible, to the Lieutenancies various publications in the corresponding language areas. The Grand Magisterium is also present in social media: a Facebook To subscribe to page (Gran our Newsletter Magistero OESSH) and a Twitter account (Gran Mag OESSH), with the cross representing the five wounds of Christ and the icon of Our Lady of Palestine. All this helps to renew the Order’s image to raise awareness of its spiritual mission. Visit us and follow us! VIII N° 43 - JULY 2016

North American Lieutenants Annual Meeting in Baltimore

In early June the North American Lieutenants gathered for their annual meeting in Baltimore, Maryland. It was the first ever meeting of Lieutenants in the Premier See of the United States.

The Lieutenants of North America and their consorts is Eminence, Cardinal during the meeting which where Archbishop Lori greeted Edwin O’Brien, Grand was held in Baltimore, in guests and provided details on Master, and Governor the United States, last the history of the first Roman H June. General Agostino Borromeo, Catholic diocese in the United travelled from Rome to attend States. the meeting. Vice Governor General Powers, The Archdiocese of Baltimore was and four members of the Grand established as a diocese on 6 November Magisterium, attended two days of meetings 1789, with Father John Carroll as the first along with Monsignor John E. Kozar, Bishop of Baltimore. Baltimore was later President of the Catholic Near East Welfare established as an Archdiocese in 1808. It is Association (CNEWA), and Monsignor here where the Catholic University of Robert Stern, President Emeritus of the America was founded, the site of the First CNEWA and consultant to the Order. Synod and Councils of Baltimore, and On Thursday evening, June 2, the Grand where Baltimore Catechism was Master presided at Vespers in the historic promulgated. Basilica of the National Shrine of the The meetings commenced with the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Grand Master giving an opening address in Most Reverend William E. Lori, Archbishop which he emphasized the importance of the of Baltimore, welcomed the group to annual meeting, and asked that the Baltimore. Following Vespers, a reception Lieutenants continue their efforts in was held in the Archbishop’s residence renewing the spiritual lives of the Knights  IX N° 43 - JULY 2016

and Dames. Governor General Borromeo insight into the planned 2016 programs. also addressed the group and provided an Monsignor John E. Kozar, President of the update on the hotel, which thus far is Catholic Near East Welfare Association entrusted to the Columbus society, and the (CNEWA), having recently returned from recent appointment of the Order’s new the Middle East, provided first-hand insight Chancellor, His Excellency Ambassador into the refugee crisis facing Christians in Alfredo Bastianelli. Vice Governor General Kurdistan. Powers gave a detailed presentation on the On Saturday morning, the Lieutenants finances of the Order. and their spouses attended Mass at the The two days of meetings included a historic National Shrine of Saint Alphonsus wide variety of topics ranging from the Liguori, located in downtown Baltimore, daily operations of a Lieutenancy, to where Monsignor Robert L. Stern was the finances, liturgy, pilgrimages, and candidate principal celebrant and homilist. The final formation. Several newly appointed day of meetings included discussions about Lieutenants attended and the meeting the legacy program, recruitment efforts, provided them the opportunity to observe microcredit opportunities, the Squires and participate in various discussions. program, and activities planned during the Professor Thomas McKiernan, President Year of Mercy. The meetings officially of the Holy Land Commission, gave an concluded on Saturday with an evening update on the construction projects dinner honoring the Grand Master. currently underway in the Patriarchate and John Carmen Piunno Annual meeting of European Lieutenants in Rome

he European Lieutenants of the Order thanking the cardinal for his “fruitful of the Holy Sepulchre held their stimulus of the Order’s spiritual Tannual meeting at the headquarters of development,” seen in his actively taking the Grand Magisterium in Rome, June 27 part in Investitures on all five continents. and 28, 2016. The Governor then spoke of how the Welcoming them, the Grand Master members of the Order, encouraged to Cardinal Edwin O’Brien spoke of the become increasingly involved in the importance of the imminent Jubilee commitments they have taken on, were pilgrimage to the Marian shrine of Pompeii, more generous than ever considering that October 15, in the footsteps of Blessed donations have reached, for the first time, Bartolo Longo, the first lay member of the more than 13.5 million euro (here we must Order to be beatified, a model of holiness take into consideration the past year's for all the Knights and Dames. European fluctuating currency excahnge rates). Lieutenancies are particularly invited to The continued growth and expansion of send their delegates on this pilgrimage, the Order, especially in Eastern Europe and organized by the Italian Lieutenancies. Latin America, was outlined by the newly Following on from this, the Governor appointed Chancellor, Ambassador Alfredo General, Agostino Borromeo, spoke of giving Bastianelli. He also unveiled the new priority to prayer and Christian formation, website of the Grand Magisterium, in five  European Lieutenants gather around Cardinal O’Brien languages, which will foster during their Spring Meeting at development is promising the Order’s international the Order’s headquarters in and, through the Foundation, Rome. communications the Secretariat of State has (www.oessh.va). provided a loan that the Engineer Pier Carlo Visconti, gave a Latin Patriarchate will have to repay over presentation of the Grand Magisterium’s five years. financial budget, noting a favorable trend Other topics that were covered include and a positive year, thanks to reduced costs the frustration expressed by Lieutenants in and increased revenue. Pierre Blanchard, a the delay in the reconstruction of Gaza, member of the Grand Magisterium, went on despite considerable funds having been to explain that this positive result is also the allocated. However, for the moment the fruit of the Grand Magisterium’s prudent Israeli authorities generally continue to management of revenues in favor of the prohibit the export of products that are not Holy Land. food, clothing and medicines to this Archbishop Antonio Franco, Assessor of territory. The Lieutenants are also interested the Order, then gave an outline of the in the evolution of the social reality in Israel, financial situation regarding the San a country that sees the Hebrew-speaking Giovanni Battista Foundation, the institution Catholic community in expansion due to the established by the Holy See to support number of migrant workers, in particular Catholic universities and in particular that of from Asia, whose children are educated in Madaba, , to promote a culture of Israeli schools. encounter. Last year Lieutenancies The president of the Holy Land responded to the Grand Master’s call to Commission, Thomas McKiernan, gave a support this Church institution, whose presentation on the Order’s involvement  XI N° 43 - JULY 2016

with the Vicariate for migrants in Israel, in Monday night, honoring the Lieutenants and helping the younger children of immigrants the whole Order with his presence. Through through the establishment of a his cooperation, the Order can count on a professionally organized daycare center. He healthy coordination of aid, with each also spoke in detail of the other projects of Lieutenancy being able to devote 10% of its the Grand Magisterium in the Holy Land for resources to projects other than those of the 2016: a kindergarten in Jordan that will Latin Patriarchate, for example to aid the allow the development of a school, the Catholic communities of the Greek-Melkite expansion of a playground at another school, and Maronite churches. building work for a nursing home in Taybeh, The meeting was followed by a lengthy Palestine, and an increase in teachers’ exchange on how to reach out to the non- salaries in the Patriarchate schools, which is active members of the Order. Some of these vital in order to preserve the quality of are very old but still in communion of education. prayer with the Holy Land, while others In this context the Commission has have distanced themselves, even morally. In proposed a five-year plan to simplify the this regard, a committee chaired by the management of schools and to improve Chancellor will present proposals to the provisions for social security contributions Grand Master. and staff pensions, to the Patriarchate. “We Concluding, Cardinal O’Brien spoke of want to be part of the solution, not the his desire that ordained members of the problem,” said the Vice Governor General in Order be increasingly integrated into the America, Patrick Powers. He was referring spiritual accompaniment of Knights and to the issue which faces the new apostolic Dames’ missions, especially during this Year administrator, Father Pizzaballa, one he will of Mercy, the door of which is still open have to attempt to resolve. In fact, Fr. until the feast of Christ the King, November Pizzaballa joined the group over dinner 20 next.

Echoes of the Grand Master’s visits

he Grand Master of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, Cardinal Edwin O’Brien, Ttravels throughout the world to meet Knights and Dames and to continuously encourage them to live their spiritual vocation witnessing to the grace of the Resurrection of Christ and his merciful love in the heart of the society to which they belong. Cardinal O’Brien was in Poland, on June 10 and 11, for the Investiture that took place in the Pelplin Cathedral; he then went to Pompeii, to the Marian shrine of Our Lady of the Rosary, founded by Blessed Bartolo Longo, for the Investiture of a Member of the Order organized by the Lieutenancy for South Tyrrhenian, on June 24 and 25. From July 22 to 24 he presides at an Investiture in Maynooth, Ireland. In September, the Grand Master will be in Asia, where he was invited to preside over an Investiture in Guam on September 8; on September 11 he will be in Taiwan and the Philippines on September 15. He will be in Paris, on September 23 and 24, to celebrate an Investiture of the French Lieutenancy in Saint-Louis des Invalides. Finally, at the end of September he will be among the members of the USA Western Lieutenancy in Tucson, Arizona. XII N° 43 - JULY 2016

The Order and the Holy Land Starting anew with the Risen Christ

The following is an interview with the new Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, who was appointed by Pope Francis to assume this position on the feast of St. John the Baptist and raised to the dignity of Archbishop. Father Pizzaballa will receive his episcopal consecration on September 10 in the Cathedral of Bergamo, his diocese of origin.

ather Pierbattista Pizzaballa, in those who are desperate are admirable, but your opinion, what are the it remains objectively difficult to offer Fvarious current challenges of the opportunities to hundreds of thousands of Christian presence in the biblical people who arrived so suddenly, above all, lands, from a pastoral point of view, as we said, in an economical context that is especially in those territories already fragile. entrusted to the Latin Patriarchate? In the Holy Land the Israeli-Palestinian As you know, the Patriarchate extends conflict is a political reality that is known to from Jordan to Cyprus, passing through the all and honestly I would not know what to Holy Land (Israel and Palestine), with the add in this regard. We hope that the political heart of Jerusalem. It is a vast territory and earthquake that has shocked the Middle quite diverse, where politically, socially and Eastern ports will also cause the rulers of pastorally speaking the issues are Palestine and Israel to meet again in order to completely different. give a perspective to their respective peoples In Jordan, the political environment is that is not only to accuse one another. It stable. Compared to the tragedies in the seems that they are redefining a new countries that surround it, especially in equilibrium between the various Middle Syria and Iraq, it is a calm and serene oasis. Eastern countries. In the Holy Land it is also But even here, as is the case everywhere, time for a new language that offers there are plenty of problems: the economy prospects and a future. The alternative to remains fragile and there is a serious this is only war. problem of unemployment among the youth. In Cyprus too it seems that discussions The vast number of refugees, who are between the two sides have become easier. mainly Syrian, is creating a serious unease We hope that this is the case not just in from a social point of view. It must be noted appearances. that the efforts of the whole country to help In this context of great change, our  pastoral activity also changes. The changes, in fact, not only concern the macro-political, but also (and I would say especially) the societies of the respective countries. The role of the family, the youth field and the world of work are rapidly changing in the Middle East. Interreligious dialogue, in a Father Pizzaballa, just three days after his context of a growing fundamentalism, poses appointment as Apostolic Administrator of the new and difficult questions. The relationship Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, was received at between the Christian churches is faced headquarters of the Grand Magisterium of the with common needs of coordination not Order of the Holy Sepulchre by the Grand Master and the Governor General and shared a only on a pastoral level. convivial meal with European Lieutenants. The questions are many, therefore, and we will try to understand and to work together as a Church to find the possible only born and understood through an answers. encounter with Christ. Otherwise it is and You know the Holy Land perfectly remains only one of many spiritual well, as you have already served the abstractions. Gospel there for a quarter of a In what way do you, a son of Saint century. The situation of extreme Francis who chose to marry Sister tension that prevails in Palestine Poverty, think that the Order of the seems particularly, to our human Holy Sepulchre can raise better eyes, to have no way out. What is the awareness of its profound vocation, secret of your hope and what do you which is sometimes hidden behind intend to do in order to participate in ceremonial appearances, and is there the search for solutions that promote a spiritual message you would like to peace? share with the 30,000 Knights and Our hope, the hope of every Christian, is Dames who are committed in their the risen Christ. We have to start from there. dioceses to serving the “living stones” The Church does not believe that it can of the Holy Land? change or affect big politics. The great things The Holy Land is a testimony of the of this world do not succeed, let alone what history of salvation. For this reason it is we can do. We can certainly try to bring our holy. A Knight must therefore be the bearer, voices and make them known, but the herald of that experience of salvation remaining well aware of our limitations. that he has experienced. Before his What we need and want to do is to never conversion, Saint Francis wanted to become lose hope and trust, and remain stubbornly a knight and in this way to win a heraldic passionate and in love with this Land and title. After his conversion he would become these peoples. In this context we want to the herald of the great King, Jesus. bear witness with our lifestyle of a way of A Knight of the Holy Sepulchre who living inside this conflict. Above all, we serves the living stones, that is the Christian want to be in peace and to not allow the communities of the Holy Land, wants to language of hate and violence to prevail joyfully and concretely show the beauty of among us. We do not want to stop believing having encountered Jesus and of still being in the goodness of people. In short, we want able to “touch” him, to experience him to be a place of encounter that goes beyond through the Mother Church of Jerusalem. all walls and all barriers. And this force is Interview by François Vayne XIV N° 43 - JULY 2016

A new Custos of the Holy Land

In May, Father Francesco Patton was of St. Anthony of the Friars Minor, which is appointed to take over as Custos of the Holy located in Northern Italy. Besides Italian, he Land from Father Pierbattista Pizzaballa, speaks English and Spanish. He made his who had held the position since 2004. The first profession September 7, 1983, his Custos of the Holy Land is the provincial solemn profession October 4, 1986 and was minister, that is, the major superior of the ordained a priest on May 26, 1989. In 1993, Franciscans in a large portion of the Middle he graduated in Communications at the East. He has jurisdiction over the territories Pontifical Salesian University in Rome. He of Israel, Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria, has held various positions in his province of part of Egypt, Cyprus and Rhodes. By virtue origin and in the Order. He has twice been of his office, he is a member of the secretary general of the General Chapter of Assembly of Catholic Ordinaries of the Holy the Order of Friars Minor (2003 and 2009), Land. The Custos’ main mission, in addition but also General Visitor (2003), Provincial to his responsibility for his brothers, is to Minister of Trentino (2008-2016) and ensure, together with the local Church, the President of the Conference of Ministers of “living stones” of the region: the Christians Italy and of Albania. The members of the who reside there. This responsibility has Order of the Holy Sepulcher present in the been entrusted to him by the Holy See for world, Knights and Dames, pray for his over 600 years. intentions, as well as those of his Francesco Patton was born in Vigo predecessor, who was appointed Apostolic Meano, in the Diocese Administrator of the of Trento, Italy, on Father Patton (center) is the new Custos Latin Patriarchate of December 23, 1963 and of the Holy Land, succeeding Father Jerusalem on June 24. belongs to the Province Pizzaballa. As Superior of the Franciscans of much of the Middle East, he is in charge of ensuring the reception of pilgrims to the holy sites in coordination with the local leaders of the various Christian churches. XV N° 43 - JULY 2016

The Order of the Holy Sepulchre collaborating in ROACO projects

ach year, as part of the Reunion of Aid project to protect the church from Agencies for the Oriental Churches vandalism which unfortunately has E(ROACO), the Order of the Holy recently damaged the structure. Sepulchre commits to support some projects, expanding its mission of solidarity in the ■ There is a small Christian community of Holy Land, meaning all the biblical Catholic Greek-Melkite faithful and territories, and all the Catholic communities Greek-orthodox faithful in the village of in addition to the Latin Patriarchate of Bi’ina, next to Akko, in northern Israel. Jerusalem. At the recent ROACO Spring The Melkite Church of Saint Peter, built in meeting, the Order has agreed to collaborate 1907, has 250 parishioners. The project in projects for the Catholic communities of supported by the Order will provide for the Greek-Melkite Church and of the Rosary the construction of an annex to the church Sisters who welcome a thousand pupils, in to accommodate religious and social Gaza, in very difficult conditions. activities for the local community and the surrounding villages. ■ The Greek-Melkite community of Nazareth has about 10,000 faithful. The ■ The last project that the Order has Church of St. Joseph, built 50 years ago, committed to in 2016 through ROACO, is works to meet the spiritual needs of the renovation of The Sisters of the Rosary parishioners, as well as hosting prayer School in Gaza. This school, run by a meetings for students of the annexed Latin rite Catholic congregation of women Greek-Catholic school twice weekly and religious, welcomes about 900 students – many other of which only 9% parish are Christians, activities. Work The West needs considering the began on badly small number of needed the East Christians left in renovation two the Gaza Strip – am grateful to everyone for the zeal you put years ago, with “Iinto carrying out the mission entrusted to you and provides a local and for the attention to the needs of our brothers of schooling from contribution the East,” said Pope Francis last June when he pre-school to the covering 60% received the members of the Reunion of Aid age of 15-16. The of costs. The Agencies for Oriental churches of which the Order Order will fund of the Holy Sepulchre is part. The Holy Father also Order of the greeted the papal representatives in Jerusalem, in the renovation of Holy Sepulchre Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Jordan and Ukraine the toilets and will contribute participating in this work under the direction of kitchens, as well as specifically to Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, prefect of the realize side access about 75% of Congregation for Oriental Churches, and concluded stairs to the facility by quoting St. John Paul II in his apostolic letter the costs for Orientale Lumen, “the words of the West need the and install a new the fence words of the East, so that God’s word may ever drainage system. more clearly reveal its unfathomable riches”. XVI N° 43 - JULY 2016

Spring 2016 in the Holy Land

A brief overview of the most important events that have touched the life of the Catholic communities in the Holy Land in recent months.

he last few months have brought with the beautiful icon painted onto the part of them important innovations to the the wall that separates Bethlehem from TCatholic community of Latin rite Jerusalem in 2010 by iconographer Ian present in the Holy Land with the Knowles, comes to mind: Our Lady who appointment of the new Custos of the Holy Brings Down Walls. We share the prayer to Land, Father Francesco Patton; the end of her which reads: “We beg you, through your the mandate of the Patriarch Fouad Twal ardent intercession, to bring down this wall, and the appointment of Father Pierbattista the walls of our hearts, and all the walls Pizzaballa as Apostolic Administrator of the that generate hatred, violence, fear, and Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. indifference between people and between Within the context of the Jubilee Year nations”. proclaimed by Pope Francis, on May 12, the Regarding the situation of Christian “Garden of Mercy” was inaugurated in schools in Israel, unfortunately we cannot Jordan in the presence of the report any significant progress over the past Undersecretary of the Pontifical Council few months. The 50 million shekels (local Cor Unum, Monsignor Segundo Tejado currency) promised by the Israeli Muñoz. This is a sustainable farm that will Government to offset the cuts in school provide jobs and will allow the trade of support in the past few years have not been local products. This concrete initiative of transferred to schools within the agreed mercy has been promoted and supported by deadline (March 31, 2016) and the schools Pope Francis, to help the many Iraqi are facing difficult economic conditions. refugees present in  Jordan. The beautiful icon created in 2010 on the Our Lady who Brings wall that separates Down Walls Bethlehem from Jerusalem inspires in all On a sadder note, ardent prayer for justice construction continues of and peace. the separation wall in the Cremisan Valley. On May 26, an EU delegation visited the site to see the situation firsthand and listen to the testimony of Issa Al-Shatleh, a land owner whose olive trees have been uprooted to build the wall. Prayer is certainly of support to the local people and in this XVII N° 43 - JULY 2016

Restoring the face of the Church incrustations, and the tears and bloodshed caused by war, violence and persecution, On June 16, Pope Francis received beneath this apparently impenetrable cover participants at the Reunion of Aid Agencies there is a radiant face like that of the angel in for the Oriental Churches (ROACO) in the mosaic. All of you, with your projects and audience, who were gathered in Rome for your activities, are part of a “restoration” that their usual spring meeting. The Holy Father will enable the face of the Church to reflect began by noting how the ongoing restoration visibly the light of Christ the Word of the Basilica of the Nativity in Bethlehem Incarnate”. (for more information A few days after the end of the Muslim www.nativityrestoration.ps) sends a strong holy month of Ramadan, it is nice to message to the whole Church: “I have been remember the moments of sharing between told that in the course of restoration work in the Christian and Muslim communities of the Bethlehem, on one of the walls of the nave a Holy Land, such as the breaking of the fast seventh angel in mosaic has come to light, meal (iftar) organized by the Latin forming with the other six a sort of Patriarchate and by Abraham’s House on procession towards the place commemorating June 17. In the spirit of the call to fraternal the mystery of the birth of the Word made and spiritual communion, the thirteenth flesh. This can lead us to reflect on how the edition of Extraordinary Prayer of all the face of our ecclesial communities can also be Churches in Jerusalem for reconciliation, covered by “incrustations” as a result of unity and peace, took place on June 19. This various problems and sins. Yet your work year it was organized by the Maronite must unfailingly be guided by the certainty Church. that, beneath material and moral Elena Dini XVIII N° 43 - JULY 2016

The Life of the Lieutenancies

Caring for migrants’ children in Israel Testimony of the Chancellor from the Swiss Lieutenancy

The testimony of Donata Krethlow-Benziger, Chancellor of the Swiss Lieutenancy of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, about their commitment to the Holy Land and the “Babywarehouse” project in Tel Aviv.

hat it is unique With around half a million in our Order – Swiss francs a year, the “Wsays the members of the Order of this Chancellor of the Swiss country are important Lieutenancy Donata Krethlow- supporters of the Benziger – is the total equality humanitarian projects of the of Knights and Dames”. Equal Christians in the Holy Land, rights for men and women as said the Chancellor. Her next experienced within the visit will be devoted to the Equestrian Order of the Holy “Babywarehouses,” revealed Sepulchre of Jerusalem are an Donata Krethlow-Benziger, example for the laity of the who now wants to mobilize organizations. the Swiss to make more Donata Krethlow-Benziger was donations to improve these the first woman in Switzerland facilities. to assume the post of According to the report of Chancellor in 2010. the authorities in the Holy “My membership in the Equestrian Order Land, there are more than a hundred is a family tradition,” continues the 45 year unlicensed nurseries structures in Tel Aviv, old historian. After her first pilgrimage to many taking in children of illegal the Holy Land with the Order, about ten immigrants, especially Africans, Filipinos years ago, her outlook completely changed: and Indians (it is estimated that there are the theory of the Order’s social commitment about 2,600 infants and young children). was tangible in the Holy Land. The These “Baby camps” or “Children’s garage” proximity of the Christians and visits to the are called “Babywarehouses’, and are many projects supported by the Equestrian located at the train station in Tel Aviv and Order fostered a desire in her to take a more surrounding areas which are inhabited by a active part. She was impressed and majority of Christian refugees from Eritrea. encouraged by the way people live their Given the great demand for childcare faith in the Holy Land, and how different facilities, it is the refugee families this seemed when compared to Europe. themselves who organize these structures.  The Chancellor Donata Krethlow-Benziger in front of the Caritas Baby Hospital in the Holy Land and below accompanied by Msgr. Pier They built these camps as an emergency Giacomo Grampa, Grand Prior of the Swiss solution for Eritrean mothers who have to Lieutenancy for the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. work and have little money to help their children. Some of these “Babywarehouses” welcome between sixty and one hundred children in one room. The support staff is unskilled and often inadequate. Up to 100 children can be taken under the care of a single person. In these conditions, infants suffer, get sick and some die. The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, under the direction of Jesuit Father David Neuhaus, Patriarchal Vicar for Hebrew- speaking Catholics, has taken up the challenge of creating a structure for these nurseries: properties have been leased and trained nurses contracted to educate the rest of the staff. The current project involves the construction of over 400 care centers and should allow for refugees and migrants to have a legal and healthy structure for the custody of their children. This project, which is particularly dear to Donata Krethlow-Benziger, has already received on the ground. funds from Austria and Germany. This year, In August 2016, Chancellor Krethlow- Switzerland has given its contribution in the Benziger, will visit the Babywarehouses in hope that the “professionalization” of Tel Aviv with Father David Neuhaus. Babywarehouses can improve the situation Interview by Nina Oezelt XX N° 43 - JULY 2016

Acts of solidarity in the spirit of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre The medal of the Holy Sepulchre in Macarena Cotelo, Spain

Members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre are called to inspire acts of solidarity towards the Holy Land in the heart of society. So for example Pilar Lara, Dame of the Order, has initiated a partnership between the Foundation for the Promotion of Social Culture (FPSC), of which she is president, and the Holy Land represented by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. The FPSC supports a network of the Patriarchate schools in Palestine and Jordan through the restoration and expansion of facilities, as well as the construction of new buildings, as is the case in Gaza, and a training program for teachers. Other areas of focus are housing and job creation projects. In recognition of twenty years of this fruitful partnership (which has resulted in thirty cooperation projects costing over 10 million euro), Macarena Cotelo, director of projects of the Foundation for the Social Promotion of Culture, received the Gold Medal of the Holy Sepulchre from the hands of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.

ranting us an interview, Macarena situation of Christians during all these years, Cotelo describes the beginnings of “when we went to Palestine, we learned that Gthe Foundation that she heads in the there were fewer and fewer Christians and Holy Land. “We started our business in the that they were living in very precarious Middle East, in Lebanon, in 1993 after a conditions. This reality drove them to journey that our former president, Pilar remain “to become involved in those places, Lara, Dame of the Order of the Holy to fight and to continue to help where we Sepulchre, made to the Holy Land.” “Pilar could”. Talking about the current situation of was deeply struck by the reality of the Christian communities in the Holy Land, problems which Christians in this part of she tells us that today it is “more dramatic the world face that we started to work in than ever”. Lebanon”. The following year, “through an acquaintance in Jerusalem, we were From Lebanon to Palestine to the proposed for a project of the Latin communities of Iraq and Syria Patriarchate. We made our presentation and it was approved by the Spanish “Since the outbreak of conflict in Syria, government”, she says. In December 1995, the existing Christian communities across Macarena Cotelo and Pilar Lara arrived in the region are struggling to stay on their the Holy Land, fell in love with these places land,” she adds. “I am always surprised and “we discovered that there was much to when I meet Christians from the Middle do,” she says. For several years the Latin East. I realize the effort they make to stay, Patriarchate was their only on-site partner. knowing that they must ensure a Christian Macarena Cotelo speaks of the delicate presence. Many of them have the  XXI N° 43 - JULY 2016

opportunity to leave, Patriarchate of some have family in Jerusalem, which hosts other countries and thousands of pilgrims could have far better every year, tries to put lives than in the these communities in biblical lands where contact with local they were born, yet Christian Arabs. “It is they remain because critical to realize that they know that that is they are living their mission. communities, where Unfortunately, we in people feel at home.” the West don’t really These communities understand this”. “participate very “The war is forcing actively in the life of people to leave” she the parishes, which reminds us, and they view as a second communities who home,” emphasizes the leave Iraq FPSC director of “unfortunately will Macarena Cotelo while receiving the Gold projects. not be able to return Medal of the Holy Sepulchre in recognition of She adds: “I think home. The same thing the help offered to the Latin Patriarchate by those Christians in the the Foundation which she directs. will happen to those Middle East probably communities that felt very alone, ignored have been forced to leave Syria and who in by all, even before the war had broken out. all likelihood will never return”. Then news about the suffering of Christians Since the beginning of the Syrian conflict started to spread....” Today, the awareness is in 2011, the Foundation for the Promotion of global. Social Culture has set up an important Macarena says that over the past year she humanitarian operation. The main has resumed concrete collaboration with the objectives are to save lives, alleviate Latin Patriarchate to plan together, and that suffering and safeguard people’s dignity. the Foundation is very “happy to help the “Because of the crisis in Syria, we have Patriarchate in these new projects”, developed a series of humanitarian projects especially for the renovation of the Gaza that we are trying to carry out in both parish and school. Lebanon and Jordan.” In particular, “we run Macarena Cotelo ends with words of a clinic for disabled refugees in Jordan”. As thanks for the Latin Patriarchate for the for Lebanon, Macarena Cotelo says the award of the Medal of the Holy Sepulchre: Foundation is working in partnership with “I am touched, honored ... it really is an the Ministry of Health, in a clinic for award for the whole institution, the refugees suffering from mental illness. Foundation, and a team that has always worked and served with dedication”. She “There is a population of Arab culture, also stresses the importance of the mission but of Christian profession” of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre as an institution of very interesting origins and “People are discovering that there is a evolution, and one that “is still fully inserted population of Arab culture, but of Christian into the reality of our time”. profession,” says Macarena. The Latin Interview by Mireia Bonilla XXII N° 43 - JULY 2016

Where are the relics of St. Helena?

On August 18, the Order celebrates one of its patrons, St. Helena, but do the Knights and Dames know where the relics of the mother of Emperor Constantine are, to whom we owe the conversion of the Roman Empire to Christianity and the construction of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre?

orn into a family of modest means, in long ago: a cross in the sky with the words: Asia Minor, towards 248, Helena was “By this sign you will conquer”. Constantine Bworking at an inn. A tribune, a native favored the spread of the Christian faith of Illyria, named Constantius, was attracted with the promulgation of the Edict of Milan by the quality of the girl and married her. which put an end to the persecution of Helen accompanied her husband at all Christians. In 317, Constantine appointed stages of his military career, to Germany, to Helena “Augusta”, mother Empress. England ... The young Constantine was born Helena decided to go on pilgrimages to from their union. In 293, Constantius holy places. On arriving in Jerusalem, she became Caesar in Gaul, Britain and Spain. destroyed the Temple of Venus that Hadrian He was then forced, by Roman law and the had built on Calvary. During the excavation, custom in use at the time to repudiate many crosses were discovered one of which Helena and marry Princess Theodora. was identified miraculously as the Cross of Constantine was brought by his mother up the Saviour. The emperor’s mother laid the in the court of Nicomedia, partly guest, first stones of the basilicas wanted by partly hostage, but later joined his father in Constantine: the Church of Calvary and the Britain and helped him in his military Holy Sepulchre, the Church of the campaigns. When his father died, in 306, his Ascension on the Mount of Olives, the troops brought him to power. In 312 his Church of the Grotto of Bethlehem. rival, Maxentius, was proclaimed emperor of Helena died in Constantinople, next to Rome. Constantine took to the road of the her son. Her body was brought to Rome. eternal city, and was victorious in Ponte Constantine decided to transform her Milvio, attributing it to a vision that he had residence into a church, the Basilica of Santa  Praying with St. Helena

aint Helena, you who were able to pass on the Christian faith to Syour son Constantine, grant us the simplicity, courage and judgment to speak of the love of God to those who are close to us. When your son Constantine was the leader of the empire, for the love of Jesus, you desired to find the place of his crucifixion and the wood of the Cross. Help us understand that if we too desire, nothing can separate us from the love that God has testified to us in gifting us His Son Jesus. Show us the Cross as a reminder of that love. Make us true disciples of Jesus. And if life places trials on our path, help us to know how, as He asked us, to take up our cross every day and follow Him with love. Amen. Croce in Jerusalem. In 840 or so, a monk named Theutgise, stole a part of the saint’s remains and brought them to the Benedictine Abbey of Hautvillers, where they were placed in a reliquary behind the altar. Granted the prayers of the Archbishop of Reims, the Pope approved their transfer. Rich in numerous relics, the Abbey has honored St. Helena down through the centuries. On the anniversary of her death, August 18, and on the feast of the Holy Cross, a solemn office of the saint is celebrated, followed by a procession where, with great fervor, many pilgrims implore the intercession of St. Helena to receive healing. During the French Revolution, Dom Jean- Baptiste Grossard saved the relics of St. Helena, which in 1820 were placed at the St. Helena’s relics are in the crypt of the Church Saint-Leu-Saint-Gilles church in Paris, the of Saint-Leu-Saint-Gilles in Paris, the Order Chapter Church of the Order of the Holy Chapter Church of the Holy Sepulchre for the French Lieutenancy, and are an object of Sepulchre in France. They are today an developing ecumenical worship and pilgrimage, object of ecumenical worship for Catholic after the rapprochement of the Moscow and Orthodox faithful who come on Patriarchate and the Holy See following the pilgrimage to invoke she who so loved the meeting between Kirill and Pope Francis in Cuba on February 12, 2016. Holy Land.