Easter at the Holy Sepulcher

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Contents

Page 1 • Calendar Page 2 • Jordan: Father Khalil Jaar: “I rub shoulders with the saints of the 21st century!” Page 3 • 50 pilgrims walk in the footsteps of the disciples of Emmaus to meet Christ Page 4 • Easter reflections of Mr. Sami El-Yousef, Chief Executive Officer of the Latin EASTER AT THE HOLY SEPULCHER: “HE IS Patriarchate Page 6 • Homily of Archbishop NOT HERE; HE IS RISEN” Pizzaballa: The Paschal Mystery of the Resurrection The bells and the organ pierced the silence: Easter was thus announced in Jerusalem. With the anticipation of the 2018 Easter vigil on Saturday morning, the Holy Sepulchre was the first place in the world where the Resurrection was Page 8 • St. Louis Hospital sees announced. (Read more) restoration of its fading Crusaders frescos

Page 9 • Easter at the Holy Subcriptions and Gifts are now being taken, Sepulcher: “He is not here; he please assist us by contributing as soon as possible. is risen” Page 10 • A Chaplain’s Reflection

CALENDAR 500 pilgrims walk in the footsteps of the Page 11 • Vice Governor disciples of Emmaus to meet Christ General's Report 2018

Page 12 • Lieutenant’s Report Mass at St Patrick's More than fifty people marched from Jerusalem to 2018 Emmaus-Nicopolis. (Read more) Church, 9:00am first Page 14 • Pilgrimage 2017 Sunday of the month

followed brunch. St. Louis Hospital sees restoration of its fading Crusaders fresco Editor Mr. Simon Milton KHS A partial restoration of frescos at St. Louis Hospital 0448 350 272 Cardinal O’Brien is was completed. (Read more) [email protected] visiting Brisbane from September 16 -

20, 2018, more details Jordan: Father Khalil Jaar: “I rub shoulders with the saints of the 21st will follow regarding century!” events during his visit. Father Khalil Jaar opened a free “evening school” for all those children who had no place elsewhere. (Read more)

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Jordan: Father Khalil Jaar: “I rub shoulders with the saints of the 21st century!” Jerusalem, April 4, 2018 AMMAN – In August 2014, hundreds of Iraqi refugees, fleeing Daesh, flock to the Marka-Hashemi neighborhood, one of the poorest neighborhoods in Amman, near the Latin Parish of Marka. Father Khalil Jaar opened a free “evening school” for all those children who had no place elsewhere and who are waiting with their families to get a visa to reach a host country. A vast courtyard filled with students in gray and red uniforms. It’s time for recreation. The children have fun and pose for a photo. Suddenly, a bell sounds: Abouna Jaar sounds the hour The children line up with discipline in front of the chaplain and sing a of prayer. The children line up with powerful song. discipline in front of the chaplain and sing a powerful song. It’s the Our Father in Aramaic, the language of Christ, which young children also call “the language of Christians”, the language in which they were used to pray, and which some speak fluently. Realizing the linguistic richness of their culture and “that they do not forget their roots,” Father Jaar instituted this daily Our-Father, learning this prayer by heart. From humanitarian urgency to the creation of a school

In August 2014, this tireless parish priest of Marka faces the arrival of more than 800 Iraqi Christian families hunted by Daesh. He speaks of the difficult first months of these families. “At first, everyone was sleeping here. We turned the school into a giant dormitory. It was hard, we had a lot of sick people. Then, little by little, thanks to generous wealthy families from Amman, we were able to rent apartments in which two or three families settled. In addition to material worries, Father Jaar recalls the psychological distress, and recounts how he led children, scared by the noise of planes’ takeoff, to Marka airport to show them that it was not about warplanes. “There is not one family here who has not lost a loved one,” he sums up.

Once the state of “humanitarian crisis” passed, “the evening school” was born in February 2015. The school today welcomes, free, 200 children at night, in addition to 100 children integrated with Jordanian schoolchildren in the morning. “These children had no place elsewhere,” continues Father Jaar. In a few months, the establishment becomes a pillar in the lives of many families. Cafés for women, games for children, Masses and prayers: everything is organized around the parish. “Some people were scared to go out and still are, but this school has brought them joy,” continues Father. Aware that each expense is a sacrifice because some families cannot properly feed their children, he has gone so far as to transform an old storage room into a hairdressing salon: in exchange for compensation, a young trained hairdresser cuts hair from all the little community!

Although he can count on the generous support of the Embassy of France that finances the schooling of all these children, Father Jaar does not hide his concern. “There are still more than 220 Iraqi out-of-school children in the neighborhood, but we do not have the funds to accommodate them. The Iraqi situation has sadly gone to the background in terms of humanitarian urgency. In addition to the 800 families already in his care, Father Jaar has recently been entrusted with the care of 355 Chaldean families following the departure of the Chaldean priest to Australia.

MMXVIII 1st QUARTER A united community, “awakened” by Iraqi distress UARTER In recent weeks, the parish has also opened a free clinic because medical costs remain very high for Iraqis. The entire community around him, Christian and Muslim, also benefits. “Among the Jordanians, many isolated elderly people cannot move because the hospital is too far away or too expensive. Marka is a poor neighborhood.” A nurse comes three times a week and the doctor travels punctually. “We hope to be able to finance compensation so that she can come regularly because the needs are immense: just today, we had 56 patients!” Father Jaar also does not intend to forget all these young Iraqis, deprived of the right to study in Jordan and, what is more, to work. In order to better prepare them for the future that awaits them in their future host country – Australia, Canada or even in Europe – the chaplain has created a computer center. Every day, 20 young Iraqis come to take classes to prepare for the ICDL (International Computer Driving License), an essential test to find work afterwards. “The majority of these young people could not continue their studies because of Daesh,” he explains. This training also benefits young Jordanians without resources. “I want everything that is made available to Iraqis to benefit my parishioners as well,” he summarizes. “Whether they are Jordanians or Iraqis, I say to these young people every day that they must not waste a minute of their lives.” This mix between the different existing communities is a difficult but successful challenge for the parish of Marka which has found a new breath since the arrival of the Iraqis. “You only have to see the number of young Jordanians who volunteered to help these families! This Iraqi community has awakened my parish,” says Father Jaar. For his part, the priest from Bethlehem saw this apostolate as a radical call that changed his life. “When these families arrived, I realized that God had sent me here to take care of the Iraqis while I was wondering what I would do in this parish. They are martyrs, witnesses. I often have in mind this Gospel sentence that says,‘They will persecute you because of your Faith!’ That’s what they have lived! Yes, I rub shoulders with the saints of the 21st century.” Claire Guigou

50 pilgrims walk in the footsteps of the disciples of Emmaus to meet Christ

Religious, volunteers, expatriates, or simple lovers of the Holy Land – found themselves re-living the walk of 30 kilometers made by the Emmaus disciples over 2000 years ago

JERUSALEM – April 2, 2018, Monday after Easter, the day of the resurrection of Christ, more than fifty people marched from Jerusalem to Emmaus-Nicopolis to relive the journey of the “disciples of Emmaus” 2000 years ago of that.

Departing from the Cenacle at 6 a.m., more than fifty people – religious, volunteers, expatriates, or simple lovers of the Holy Land – found themselves re-living the walk of 30 kilometers made by the Emmaus disciples over 2000 years ago. Each year, this walk that is organized by the Beatitudes community of

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Emmaus-Nicopolis, brings many people together. Nevertheless, the position of the locality of EmmausUARTER still provokes so much debate.

The Gospel according to St Luke mentions the distance: “Emmaus, about 7 miles [60 stadia] from Jerusalem”

(Lk 24:13). The Catholic Encyclopedia states “the distance given by Luke varies in different manuscripts and the figure given has been made even more ambiguous by interpretations.” Based on the tradition of the early Fathers of the Church and on the relatively early hour when the disciples left Jerusalem, the first hypotheses – that it corresponds to the village of Nicopolis near Latrun Abbey – is the most likely one. The village located at “about 7 miles” or 60 stadia, would correspond with Abu Ghosh, which is recognized by the majority of pilgrims as the village from which Jesus began to walk with the disciples. Another hypothesis exists that the Franciscans hold, that Emmaus corresponds to the Palestinian village of Qubeibeh. After a picnic break at Abu Ghosh, the adherents of the Emmaus day arrived in Nicopolis where more than 200 people gathered in the late afternoon for the celebration of the Holy Mass presided over by Bishop Boulos Marcuzzo, Patriarchal Vicar for Jerusalem and Palestine. In his homily, the Vicar recalled three different states of Christ. First, the glorious historical Christ: the great event of the Resurrection. Then, the state of the complete glorious Christ: Christ with the Church and her believers. “We are resurrected with Christ. A new people, new men and women for a new world. Finally, the glorious cosmic Christ: “Even the cosmos, world, matter, history, absolutely everything is renewed by the resurrection of Christ.” [1] “This walk is not only a tradition to imitate the In his homily, the Vicar recalled three different states of Christ. disciples,” said the Vicar, “it is also there to venerate the holy places and especially to appreciate the many aspects of a pilgrimage done by foot. Thus, everyone can focus on the beauty of the details of nature that we no longer take the time to observe in everyday life. To make a pilgrimage on foot is to take the time to observe and listen to the world around us – its landscapes, its fauna, and flora, etc. – and get back to basics. It is also a way for all to re-situate in a biblical context.” Vivien Laguette

Easter reflections of Mr. Sami El-Yousef, Chief Executive Officer of the Latin Patriarchate It has been a mere six months for me at the Latin Patriarchate though it feels like I have been here for ages! I suppose my previous two employers, Bethlehem University and CNEWA – Pontifical Mission, being institutions of the Catholic Church prepared me very well for my current work. The warm welcome extended to me by both religious and lay staff of the LPJ as well as partners from around the world only gave me added strength to tackle the many challenges not only facing the Latin Patriarchate as an

MMXVIII 1st QUARTER institution, but more importantly the communities it is serving in four countries in the Holy Land, each withUARTER its distinct reality, challenges, and opportunities.

Over the past six months, every time I felt the heavy burden of the administrative and financial restructuring we are undergoing, I went on field visits only to be reminded that behind the administrative work lies the living stones faithful who are tied to the institutions of the LPJ either spiritually through the Church or through the institutions of the Church providing services with distinction in education, health, and social services. I have visited Churches and prayed with various communities, some rich and some very poor, weak and marginalized including locals, migrants, and refugees. I also visited schools, refugee centers, elderly homes, special needs centers only to see the great witness these institutions are to the true meaning of Christian values, always providing quality services to anyone who comes calling without any consideration to their national origin, color, religion, age, or gender. As we continue to focus our mission and vision for the future, it is clear that, in addition to our main task being the spiritual and faith formation, there are three main pillars to our work being education, humanitarian support, and pastoral work. What the last six months have reminded me is that looking at any institution from the inside is much different than looking at it from the outside. It truly has been an honor for me to look at the LPJ from the inside and to realize that all the great work done in education, humanitarian aid, and pastoral work has been overshadowed by the financial difficulties the LPJ faced in recent years, mostly as a result of the construction of the university in Jordan. While the administrative and financial challenges are being dealt with systematically and as a realist realize they will not disappear anytime soon, it is indeed time to focus on the great work done to support our mission in Israel, Jordan, and Palestine (not to forget Cyprus which I feel guilty for not visiting so far!). It is time for greater involvement with our youth, families, and the elderly, and it is time to support our various communities wherever they are so that we contribute to keeping a vibrant Christian presence in the Holy Land, without which, this troubled region of the world will not be the same. It is only through the prophetic message of the Church and its various institutions that you hear a message of love, peace, respect, appreciation, acceptance, and the true meaning of human dignity. It is a consistent message that is not only preached but actively practiced in all our institutions. Over the past six months, our relations with our main partners and donors from around the world and in a very special way the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem are stronger than ever. There is a new spirit of cooperation and coordination aiming at providing better services and reaching out to more communities whether in Jordan, Israel, Palestine and eventually Cyprus. I was further privileged to have joint visits with many donor representatives to meet with priests, teachers, physiotherapists, social workers, students, refugees, migrants, and other service recipients. It was an eye-opening experience to not only share our challenges and realities with our guests but to also listen to their challenges and experiences elsewhere around the world so that we always challenge ourselves to improve our work. There is always a better way to do our work and improve and sharing some of these international experiences is truly priceless. Thus, again I feel privileged to be able to develop these partnerships with our partners to new levels. It should be said in very clear terms that without the support provided by all our international supporters, our work will truly be impossible. On behalf of the local church and its institutions, and more importantly the communities it serves, a huge thank you is in order. Despite the political upheaval in our greater Middle East, the violence around us especially in Gaza these days, the messages of hate and revenge that is heard all around us, especially in the great city of Jerusalem that is supposed to symbolize the Christian message of love and peace, during this most holy week in our Christian tradition, we are reminded again of the simple message of our Savior. The various religious celebrations and processions, church bells, and the sound of chants in tens of languages of locals and pilgrims from around the world in the narrow alleyways of the Old City are a reminder to all of us that it all started here in Jerusalem. Starting with Palm Sunday’s triumphal entry to Jerusalem when tens of thousands marched from Bethphage on the Mount of Olives to all the various religious ceremonies throughout holy week; to Maundy Thursday’s celebrations including the last supper and the events at the garden of Gethsemane; walking the way of the cross on Good Friday, the trial, crucifixion, death and burial; to Saturday’s events at the Tomb and finally resurrection Sunday when Christ has risen! There is no other place on earth where you are reborn as a Christian during holy week and you live again the events of this holy week that changed the world over two thousand years ago! We truly feel privileged and honored to call this great city of Jerusalem home with all the symbolism it presents and to walk on the same blessed paths of our Lord and recount his life, death, and resurrection. Thank you so much for your unending generosity and support to the Church of Jerusalem and Happy Easter! Christ has risen; Christ has risen indeed. Sami El-Yousef

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Chief ExecutiveUARTER Officer

Homily of Archbishop Pizzaballa: The Paschal Mystery of the Resurrection 2018

Dear brothers and sisters, Christ is risen, He is truly risen! I greet you all gathered here, around the empty tomb of Christ, the “sign” that throughout two thousand years announces the resurrection and the life. I greet the bishops and priests who come from around the world and who today join with our Church in celebrating together the Paschal Mystery of the Resurrection. I greet all the civil and religious authorities, the Consuls General and all those who are following by way of television: may the Paschal Mystery of Christ be for all the passage to a new life! Today’s Gospel of John brings to fulfillment a promise that starts from its first pages right through the entire Gospel. Jesus promises His disciples and those who believe in Him what no man could promise to another. Jesus promises Life. He said this for the first time to Nicodemus, when he affirmed that it is truly necessary that the Son of man be lifted up, so that whoever believes in Him has eternal life (Jn 3:14-15). He repeated it to the Samaritan woman, speaking of the thirst of each person and saying that whoever drinks this water that He gives will never thirst but will become a spring of water welling up to eternal life (Jn 4:13-14). To the king’s official who asks Him to heal his son who is ill in Capharnaum, Jesus promises “Your son will live!” (Jn 4:51). This same promise is repeated many times in the long diatribes with the Pharisees: “whoever listens to my words and believes in the One who sent me has eternal life and will not come to condemnation but has passed from death to life.” (Jn 5:24). The long discourse in the synagogue of Capharnaum (Jn 6) is the promise of a bread that nurtures for eternal life. There is almost no chapter in John where this promise does not resonate, in its various nuances. In Jesus’ farewell discourses to His disciples (Jn 14-17), this promise takes on a clearer and a more defined aspect and outline, it takes on the element of full communion, that between Jesus and the Father. A relationship of love, of a mutual gift of life; a relationship that does not close in on itself, but opens to all believers, called to enter and live in this same flow of life.

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It is not a new promise, but an echo of an old promise, which runs all through the Old TestamentUARTER and the entire history of salvation, and keeps our history open to the expectation of fulfillment; it keeps it open to hope. So many times, this promise seemed to get lost in the darkness of the people’s infidelity, in forgetfulness, in the impossible of history. But every time, despite our infidelity, the promise returned to sound again. Still today, we see that Mary Magdalene goes to the tomb (Jn 20:1-9) to weep over an unfulfilled promise: He Who promised Life lies in a sepulcher, a prisoner of death, for three days. This time, all hope seems finished. But, when it is still dark, Mary sees that it is not so, that something new has happened, that history is not ended, that the tomb is no longer closed. The promise of life, indeed, could only be realized if death too had been conquered. And there was no other way to overcome the obstacle of death by crossing it completely, until emerging victoriously, opening a way for all. As long as this had not happened, the promise of life could not be kept: death was there to remind that it had the power to say “no.” And no one could escape it. But this morning, the first day of the week, it is also the first day of a new era. It is the era when one can live without fear of death, through which one can truly and always trust in the promise of life. That is the Paschal Mystery. That is Easter. On this Easter morning, we do not yet read of any encounter of the Risen Lord with His disciples. But we do read of an Easter faith: Mary runs to inform the brothers; and the disciple who arrives second enters the tomb, sees and believes (Jn 20:8).

Photo © LPG

What does he see? He does not yet see the Risen One, but he no longer sees death: death is no more. Then, we can genuinely believe that the Risen One will come, as He promised. The Risen Lord is the One Who now can always arrive, because He is alive and no longer limited by death. Today’s Gospel teaches us that two attitudes are necessary to enter this newness of life. Like the women of the Gospel and the disciples, also for us, it is necessary to start entering the tomb, that is, going there where death reigned, and where we still see signs of its presence. Then the eye of faith is necessary; that is, an eye capable of looking at life in the light of the promise. It’s a way of recalling the promise of Life that attracts us. This is my Easter wish to you this year. Not to fear death, not to run away from the Tomb, but to set out on a journey, and to go without fear to one’s tombs, the places where death seems to reign. Our times are marked by death. We see it everywhere around us. Life has little value in our parts. Here one dies easily. We see this around us, in surrounding countries, and we also see it at home. I do not want to repeat again the usual litany of death that envelops us, like the linens that wrapped the body of Jesus. We know well by name the wars and political conflicts. But what we witness is only the consequence not the origin of death. Even before the conflicts and the tensions occur, the shadow of death is the cynical use of power that decides the destiny of entire peoples, that decides wars and sends thousands of people to die and that creates conflicts and tensions. Death is sowing mistrust and hatred. Death is the frustration that leads to having no more hope in true life, that leads to stop dreaming. The shadow of death also believes that one’s family cannot live reconciled; that our community has no future; that our lives, in short, are forever marked.

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Easter is entering there, into those sepulchers, those wounds of ours and experience that thoseUARTER sepulchers, those wounds, deep down, are not life-threatening. So, we can realize that we were only closed in our little cenacles, like the disciples, within fears.

Easter is the ability to come back and look at our history in the light of the promise of life that takes place today. Yes, today, at Easter, we announce a Life that death can no more extinguish. We proclaim a hope that already inhabits us and gives us the strength to run outside our tombs and declare the life that has conquered us. The Empty Tomb of Christ may not be the final stage of our journey, but the springboard from which to start again, full of hope, life, and joy. It is the testimony of so many that in every part of the world and also in our ecclesial community, continue to live life passionately and fearlessly and so testify to belong to the Risen Lord, even when they are rejected or killed. So, we ask this gift for one another, to be authentic announcers of a Life that never dies. Christ is risen! He is truly risen! +Pierbattista Pizzaballa Apostolic Administrator

St. Louis Hospital sees restoration of its fading Crusaders frescos JERUSALEM – Just outside Jerusalem’s Old City ramparts, a partial restoration of frescos at St. Louis Hospital was completed. The frescos, which give window into Crusaders’ history in Jerusalem, depicts knights, coats of arms and names of first Crusade leaders like Tancred and Godfrey de Bouillon. St. Louis Hospital, built by French Count Marie Paul Amédée de Piellat between 1879 and 1896 and named after King of France Louis IX, was erected in the place where the army of Tancred Mrs. Marie-Josèphe Tournon, a French restorer who did the restoration. besieged the Holy City during the first Crusade.

An artist himself, Piellat was also the one who painted the frescos on the floor -to-ceiling wall in the terminally ill unit of the hospital. The 5-meter high wall portrays figures of Crusaders knights in armor, coats of arms as well as the French knights’ families, their names and genealogy. “The frescos recall the spirituality of this period of French history in this country and testify to families whose descendants still find their roots today on this wall” said Mrs. Marie-Josèphe Tournon, a French restorer who did the restoration.

In December 2017, the Order of the Holy Sepulcher in France approached

Mrs. Tournon, who worked on many restoration projects in France and the Holy Land, to start the process of repairing the frescos in this unit. During one week, Mrs. Tournon refurbished coats of arms and names of

Crusaders along two fifth of the wall. “Employing the most recent, the

MMXVIII 1st QUARTER most reliable and reversible process, I used what we call aquazol for repainting, a product whichUARTER restoration teams use for the churches of Paris” Mrs. Tournon pointed out.

One section of the wall, which was challenging to repair, was a view of Jerusalem. “The view of Jerusalem was complicated,” said Mrs. Tournon, “because it required removing repaints that was applied to the original painting and reconstructing the base of the scene based on old documents with acrylic background paints on a dry coating, covering it with aquazol”.

The restoration work is yet to be finished and now requires secure scaffolding to reach the height of the 5- meter high wall.

In May 2014, the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition, who run the hospital, discovered Crusaders wall frescos hidden under plaster and paint after a water pipe burst in one of the storerooms adjacent to church at the hospital. A conservation team from Israel Antiquities Authority were called afterwards to help the Sisters with cleaning and stabilizing the frescos.

Saher Kawas

Easter at the Holy Sepulcher: “He is not here; he is risen” The bells and the organ pierced the silence: Easter was thus announced in Jerusalem. With the anticipation of the Easter vigil on Saturday morning, the Holy Sepulcher was the first place in the world where the Resurrection was announced. At the Holy Sepulcher, the special times of the celebrations were based on the needs of the holy place, where different Christian churches coexist. On Holy Saturday at 7:30 a.m., it was time for the Easter Vigil, and Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate, Mons. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, presided over the liturgy. After the short candlelight ceremony—where the faithful’s candles are lit from the Paschal candle—the seven readings from the Old Testament were proclaimed and then two were read from the New Testament. On the occasion of the Gloria, the bells and the organ were played loudly. And all of the emotion of being in the place where Christ rose could be seen in the eyes of many of those present in the form of tears of gratitude. One could perceive so much emotion and disbelief at celebrating Easter in the place where it occurred. “We have the grace and the responsibility to celebrate the Easter Vigil in the Holy Place par excellence, to touch and witness that which we have just heard in the Gospel is true and we have experienced it,” said Mons. Pizzaballa in his homily. “In this vigil, we celebrate God’s faithfulness to the covenant and his forgiveness,” he continued. “Over the centuries, God does nothing but forgive and reactivate his relationship with man, from Adam, to Abraham to Jesus, who through death and sin brings us back to that full communion once and for all.” The well wishes of Mons. Pizzaballa to the Church was not to close in on oneself and he concluded: “I would like this Easter to make us capable of a way of gazing upon ourselves and our own histories, the gaze of those who have met the Lord and his salvation.” The following day, on Sunday, the Easter Mass took place in front of the Shrine of the Holy Sepulcher. The Franciscan friars of the Custody of the Holy Land, the priests of the Latin Patriarchate, the general consuls of Belgium, France, Spain and Italy and the Apostolic Nuncio Mons. Leopoldo Girelli were present, as well as faithful and pilgrims from around the world. At the Holy Sepulcher, the communities of the Orthodox

MMXVIII 1st QUARTER churches celebrated Palm Sunday, since according to their liturgical calendar, Easter will fallUARTER within one week, and so the chants of the various celebrations often fuse together. This provided a snapshot of the diversity of the Christian Churches of today, which nonetheless share the announcement of the news on which the whole faith is based: Christ is risen. At the end of the celebration, the joy of Easter was proclaimed four times with the reading of the Gospel passages, at four different places, representing the four cardinal points. The Word of God was carried in a solemn procession around the Edicule and the Stone of the Anointment. In his homily, Pizzaballa said that “Jesus promises life” and “the promise of life, in fact, could only be accomplished if death had been conquered. And there was no other way to overcome the obstacle of death if not by completely going through it, until emerging victorious and opening a passage for everyone. This is my wish for Easter this year: do not be afraid of death,” said Pizzaballa. “This time of ours is marked by death. Life has little value in our parts. One dies easily here. We see it around us, in the countries that surround us and we even see it at home. Easter is entering into these spaces and making it such that those sepulchers, those wounds—in the end—are not mortal to us. Easter is the ability to go back and look at our history in the light of the promise of life that is being fulfilled today.” Beatrice Guarrera A Chaplain’s Reflection Listening leads to action Allow me to share a story that you may have heard. “A Native American and his friend were walking along streets that were busy, noisy, and filled with people. The sounds of the city were almost deafening. Suddenly, the Native American said, “I hear a cricket.” His friend said, “What? You couldn’t possibly hear a cricket in all of this noise!” “No, I’m sure of it,” the Native American said, “I heard a cricket.”

The Native American listened carefully for a moment, and then walked across the street and looked into some bushes. Sure enough, he located a small cricket. In utter amazement, the friend said, “That’s incredible! You must have superhuman ears.” “No,” said the Native American. “My ears are no different from yours. It just depends on what you’re listening for.” The friend replied, “There is just no way. I could “THE SAME QUESTION MUST BE never hear a cricket in this noise.” But the Native American simply replied, “It depends ASKED TO EACH OF US; WHAT IS on what is really important to you. Here, let IMPORTANT TO YOU? WHAT ARE me show you.” WE LISTENING FOR? AS WE GO THROUGH OUR DAILY WALK, He reached into his pocket, pulled out a few WHERE IS OUR FOCUS?” coins, and discreetly dropped them on the sidewalk. Even with all the noise of the crowded street blaring in their ears, nearly every person within twenty feet noticed the sound of the coins and turned to look and see if the money that hit the pavement was theirs. “See what I mean?” said the Native American. “It all just depends on what’s important to you.”

The same question must be asked to each of us; what is important to you? what are we listening for? As we go through our daily walk, where is our focus? Far too many people are busy and focused on so many worldly aspects of life (Like Martha in Luke 10:38-42 who was so busy she didn’t stop to listen, refocus and act differently). It is no wonder that people have difficulty listening in the midst of difficult situations when they are focused on so many other things.

Aside from standard definitions of listening I want to focus on one that is perhaps closer to what we do in our various places of human care. The dictionary says amongst other things that listening is about; “taking notice

MMXVIII 1st QUARTER of and act on what someone says; respond to advice or a request.” We could add to this we listenUARTER and respond to the needs of the most vulnerable in society bringing practical compassion to them.

Rather than spend way too many words urging you to something I simply want to say “thank you” for what you do in response to what you see and hear. As a Christian minister I could well add, and God blesses what we seek to do even as we know there so much more to do!!

Every day due to what we see and hear, we support those who are in need knowing that we are part of a community nationwide which seeks to address human needs, support veterans, honour police and first aid responders, care for the elderly, combat homelessness, assist disadvantaged families and children, address mental health issues, fight substance dependencies, and much more. And listening should not only give way to action it gives way too much needed advocacy. So please keep listening… keep responding…and keep trusting that it’s worth it.

Blessings in and on all you do.

Chaplain Peter D-M

Vice Governor General's Report 2018

I would like to thank Lt Monica Thomson and her counsel for inviting me to speak at the annual Jerusalem day seminar at Seminary.

It is about four years since I unexpectedly received a telephone call asking me if I’d be prepared to become a member of the Grand Magisterium of the Order. Obviously, I accepted and have come to know the extensive workings and problems that the Order faces in support of the Church in the Holy Land. The magisterium meets twice a year usually in April and October and the major focus is evaluating the projects that the Latin patriarchate would like to have funded and in addition deciding what funds are available for each particular project. Obviously as we depend on donation it is not always easy to predict how much money will be available. In the October meeting in 2017 it became apparent that building buildings was going to come to an end for the foreseeable future and be replaced by humanitarian projects. The current building projects will, of course, be completed and after the Magisterium meeting in April I will be able to tell you which projects and how much money will be spent on them. At the same time, we are also improving the salaries of the teachers in “IT STRIKES ME THAT IF our schools because we have been losing good teachers to PEOPLE DON’T HAVE THE private schools but having our teachers 30% below their OPPORTUNITY TO WEAR colleagues in terms of salary is not a way to retain good THEIR ROBES AND INSIGNIA teachers. IT WILL RAISE THE QUESTION OF WHAT IS THE The humanitarian crisis in Syria and Jordan should not be a surprise to any of you but clearly there is a huge amount PURPOSE IN HAVING of work that needs to be done. This was also brought THEM.” home to us when our Holy Land commission were directed to a so-called baby warehouse in Tel Aviv where the infant children the Filipino migrant workers were kept in a warehouse totally blacked out, lying on the floor and had roughly one worker 50 babies. With an American legacy that warehouse was opened up and cots were provided and one worker for each five children is now the norm. How many more of these warehouses we will find is anybody’s guess.

In October 2016 I was asked if I would accept the title of Vice Gov General for the area from South Africa through Australia New Zealand the Philippines, Guam and Taipei. These 10 Lieutenancies and Magistral Delegations have become my responsibility. We had a regional meeting, along with the national retreat in Sydney, in June 2017 and had a representative from Taiwan as

MMXVIII 1st QUARTER well is the new Lieutenant of the Philippines and the delegate from New Zealand in additionUARTER to the Australian lieutenants. The next meeting of this grouping, which is euphemistically called the Pacific rim, will be at the consulta in Rome in November.

One thing that has become apparent to His Eminence Edwin Cardinal O’Brien, with his travelling too many different Lieutenancies is the huge variation in ceremonies and dress amongst the Lieutenancies and he is addressing that. The investiture can no longer occur in the middle of mass. This is a decree from the liturgical commission in Rome that the only thing that can interrupt the Mass is a sacrament. Accordingly, the investiture will occur before the Mass and then the celebrants leave the sanctuary and robe for Mass. The consulta that will be held in Rome in November this year has been referred to as a Boot Camp for Lieutenants, hopefully to introduce the new constitution and to reinforce the various standards of dress and ceremonies.

Clearly at a local level we need to renew and reinvigorate the Lieutenancy by involving more people in the various functions but also in a drive for an increase membership so as to increase the donation base. Obviously, all should look at our own level of donation to see if that can be increased in the current crisis in the Middle East.

Under Australian law sending money overseas for the promotion of a religion does not attract tax-deductible status but individual projects such as scholarships at Bethlehem University can attract a tax deduction. At the present time Father Lucas, who is secretary of the pontifical Mission Society in Australia, is discussing with the Gov general in Rome about how to transmit Australian donations through that organisation to the Order in Rome so that a tax deduction can be obtained. It will probably be like the pontifical Mission Society’s own envelopes, that some activities do not attract taxation deductions such as support of the church but running buses to take old people to respite care may well attract a tax deduction. This will be discussed at the Australian and New Zealand Lieutenants meeting in Perth on 28 April which is if you like a planning meeting for the visit of the Grand Master to the Australian and New Zealand Lieutenancies and Magistral Delegation in September this year.

Locally I think we have to become much more visible and certainly attending a public Mass at St. Stephens Cathedral in robes would seem to me to be an obvious move to make and I hope to see us having more Masses at St Stephens. It strikes me that if people don’t have the opportunity to wear their robes and insignia it will raise the question of what the purpose in is having them. Another area that needs to be considered seriously and acted on is the absence of any articles in the Catholic leader. This is a good way to bring both the work of the Order and the visit of the Cardinal to Australia together to emphasise the humanitarian crisis in the Holy Land the need for concerted action by the Knights and Dames. The re- introduction of the annual Lenten letter to the parish priests of the Archdiocese would seem to be an obvious way of bringing to the attention of the local clergy the existence and work of the Order.

Dr. Paul Bartley KGCHS Vice Governor General Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem

Lieutenant’s Report 2018

I begin my report today by first acknowledging the loss of recent members. This has been a sad time for us as we have attended the funerals of many of whom we hold dear. We know that they are watching over us and holding us in their love but that does not make it easy for those who have suffered loss. Today at mass we will pray not necessarily for those that we know are sharing God’s grace in heaven but for those who are here amongst us.

Hold them dear.

Queensland is far from Rome and Jerusalem but we have a great link to both. You have already heard from Dr Paul Bartley our Vice Governor General. It is almost unbelievable that the Queensland Lieutenancy would

MMXVIII 1st QUARTER have such a direct link. And it is only due to the commitment that Paul has shown the Order. I wouldUARTER like to acknowledge not only our support for him in all his endeavours but our pride in his reaching such a high office in the Order.

I would also like to acknowledge the members of our Council. You all know Dr Edward Foley, and Mr Michael Greene, Eddie and Michael because they are the ones who are always talking to you. But there is also Trish McMahon and Chris McMahon in Townsville our Masters of Ceromonies, Michael Gattas our esteemed Chancellor and our sober and diligent head. Simon Milton our newsletter editor who understands the mythical pathways of the new technologies. and always our Own Fr Adrian Farrelly our Liturgical Master who has guided us and led us through all our years. I thank them for their work and their enthusiasm for the Order.

2017 has been a busy year for the Order.

We had the first annual retreat held in Sydney in May. We had anticipated that Archbishop Pizzaballa would lead the retreat but due to the over whelming requirements of his duties in the Holy Land he was unable to attend and sent a more than adequate replacement in Bishop Marcuzzo. Bishop Marcuzzo for those that met him on his visit here in Brisbane is an extremely talented and gregarious man. He led the retreat in Sydney and then embarked on a visit to all the jurisdictions in Australia. We welcomed him here in Brisbane and he officiated at our Investiture. He always emphasised the link between the Order and the Mother Church --- the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. He was also a fervent advocate of the support of the Christians in the Holy Land and ensuring that they remain a presence in not only Jerusalem but throughout the land of Israel. He was most grateful of the support of the Order and it was gratifying to those of us who do not get to see it first-hand that the Order is held in such high regard by those who live and breathe the life of a Christian in the Holy Land.

The other highlight of the year was the fourth pilgrimage held by this Lieutenancy. Led by Dr. David Thomson, 24 pilgrims retraced the footsteps of the prophets and Our Lord Jesus Christ. It was a happy and homogenous group with a strong contingent from our Townsville brothers.

I cannot emphasise enough that to partake of a pilgrimage which whilst recommended by the Order is still a life changing experience. It is not necessarily religious but it is like a lovely smothering blanket of happiness as you traverse the words of the gospels. It also gives you an unbelievably realistic view of what the people in Palestine live through on a daily basis.

It brings you home determined to help in any way you can and makes you realise not only the high esteem the Order is held in but the reason we need to help.

We look forward to the ongoing months in 2018 when we will be privileged to welcome the Grand Master Cardinal O'Brian as he visits all the Australian Lieutenancy’s.

I would encourage you all to hold as precious the dates 17 and 19th September this year as we get the chance to meet and talk to our Grand Master Cardinal O'Brian. It is a chance that we here in Australia do not often experience.

Looking forward to 2019 Queensland has been honoured to hold the second annual retreat of the Order. It will be held here in Brisbane on the 18-19th may 2019. Mark it now in your diaries as it gives us a chance to meet with the knights and dames of all the Australian Lieutenancies and a chance to reinforce our commitment to not only the Order but the work of the Order.

You may have noticed that there has been an underlying theme in everything that I have said: 1. The work of the Order is very important and is ongoing and increasing. 2. It is what we signed up for. To help the Christians in the Holy Land 3. It is needed.

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We will talk later in the AGM about how we may all help in the support of the Order but I thankUARTER you for your support of me.

Help me to grow the Order and the works we all hold so dear.

Thank you.

Pilgrimage 2017

Pilgrimage of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem Australia - Queensland Lieutenancy.

One of the understated expectancies of a member of the EOHSJ is that they would undertake a pilgrimage of the Holy Land. Unlike other religions it is not a requisite, but an encouragement to deepen your faith by giving you an exposure to the sites that denote your faith.

In 2017, 24 pilgrims from Queensland undertook such a pilgrimage. It was the fourth such pilgrimage sponsored by our Lieutenancy.

As like all the others, the pilgrims comprised not only members of the Order, but also family members, and fellow travelers who wished to join us. We were again absolutely lucky to be led by our Ecclesiastical Master, the Right Reverend Dr Adrian Farrelly.

We started in Amman, Jordan. It gives you Latin Patriarche an understanding of landing in a foreign land as you make your way into Amman after arriving at the Airport and you see the beautiful white stone houses that ring the hills. It is an ancient land that has seen tremendous growth as they seek to adjust to the huge influx of refugees.

After a tour of the town and a marvelous visit to the local markets and the beautiful Roman theatre we returned to our hotel for the first of many of our masses. It gave us a chance to meet and greet all our pilgrims.

The next day saw us heading off to Madaba, the site of the marvelous mosaic map and also the site where many of the refuges are being retrained in promoting the work of the local mosaics. Then onto Mt Nebo with the sight of the Promised Land.

We finished our first day with lunch and a swim in the ever-diminishing Dead Sea and then onto the site of the christening of Jesus by John the Baptist. This area has been a source of controversy as the Israelis lay claim to the site farther afield but it has been acknowledged that the Jordanian site it historically more correct.

The next day we traversed the Allenby Bridge and entered Israel. Fortunately, this time it was less stressful and we were met by our Guide Jacob and our Driver who guided us throughout the rest of our journeys.

Nazareth and all it's wonderful sites. The Basilica of the Annunciation where we saw the beautiful gift of Australia depicting the Annunciation, visits to Cana and the site of the first miracle. We visited Mt Beatitudes and had mass in the beautiful gardens overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Masses were also celebrated at Mt Carmel and Mount Tabor, the site of the Transfiguration.

MMXVIII 1st QUARTER UARTER Before we arrived in Jerusalem we overnighted in

Taybeh, the only remaining Christian village in Israel. The support we give to these "living stones” the Christians living in the Holy Land, is so much appreciated.

Jerusalem is of course the Highlight of any pilgrimage. We met with Bishop Marcuzzo at the Latin Patriachate, where the new pilgrims Dr Eddie Foley and Mrs Mary Bartley were presented with their Pilgrim shell. We had mass in the Crusaders chapel in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and undertook the Way of the Cross and returned to the Calvary. Dead Sea Swim

We followed the path of Our Lord on his journey into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday.

We also enjoyed the the normal tourist sites, shopping in the narrow streets and visiting the Wailing Wall.

The pilgrimage is a wonderful and prayerful experience. It delivers an enthusiasm for the work of the Order and the absolute necessity that this support is required and appreciated.

We Remember Our Deceased Members

Mr John Bell, KHS Brisbane Dr John O’Duffy, KHS Brisbane

Mr Frank Bowling, KHS Brisbane Dr Lawrence Parker, KHS Brisbane Mr Cedric Hampson, KGCHS Brisbane Bishop Michael Putney, KC*HS Townsville

Rev Fr John Holyoak, KHS Townsville Rev Fr Brenden Rogers, KHS Brisbane

Mr Barry Kelly, KHS Brisbane Dr Charles Salanitri, KHS Brisbane Dr Barry Knight, KHS Brisbane Dr Frederick Schubert KCHS

Mr Jon Moore, KCHS Brisbane Judge Pat Shanahan, KHS Brisbane

Dr Michael Moore, KCHS Brisbane Brig (Ret’d) Neil Weekes, KCHS

Dr Robert Needham, KHS Brisbane Mr Leo Williams, KCHS Brisbane

Mr John (Jack) Gleeson KC*HS, Mr James Gardiner KHS, Gold Coast Townsville MAY THEY REST IN PEACE.

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UARTER

LIEUTENANCY OF AUSTRALIA – QLD COUNCIL MEMBERS Some Internet Links Most Reverend Mark Coleridge DD KC*HS • Prior THE AUSTRALIAN ORDER • Most Reverend Joseph Oudeman OFM Cap KC*HS • Coadjutor Prior http://www.eohsjaustralia.org/ Password “Member”

Dr. Monica Thomson DC*HS • Lieutenant ORDER HIERARCHY • http://www.catholic- Dr. Paul Bartley KGCHS and Mr. Peter hierarchy.org/diocese/dxhsj.html • Carroll KC*HS• Lieutenants of Honour http://www.lieutenancedemontreal.com/magistere- Dr. Michael Gattas KCHS • Chancellor e.htm Mr. Michael Greene KCHS • Secretary

Ms Trish McMahon DCHS and Mr. Chris PRINCIPLES OF CONDUCT • McMahon KCHS • Masters of Ceremonies http://www.eohsj.net/PrinciplesOfConduct2006.pdf Dr. Edward Foley KCHS • Treasurer

Mr. Vince Crowley KHS • North Qld THE WEST AUSTRALIAN WEBSITE • President http://www.eohsjwa.org.au/ Mr. Chris McMahon KCHS • Councillor

Mr. Simon Milton KHS • Newsletter Editor GOODS • http://www.cafepress.com/koths

Very Rev Dr Adrian Farrelly JCD KCHS • Ecclesiastical Master of Ceremonies GRAND MAGISTERIUM WEBSITE • http://www.oessh.va/content/ordineequestresantosepo lcro/en.html

GRAND MAGISTERIUM FACEBOOK PAGE • LIEUTENANCIES OF AUSTRALIA https://www.facebook.com/granmagistero.oessh/ Australian Website NEW SOUTH WALES QUEENSLAND WESTERN AUSTRALIA SOUTH AUSTRALIA VICTORIA

Lieutenancy Lieutenant: Lieutenancy Lieutenant: Lieutenancy Lieutenant: Lieutenancy Lieutenant: Lieutenancy Lieutenant: http://www.eohsjaustrali 27 June 2016 H.E. Monica 15-5-2006 H.E. John 18-6-2008 H.E. David 8-3-2010 Will Kininmonth 18-06-2008 H.E. Francois a.org/ Kunc, KGCHS NSW – Thomson, DCHS Gardner, KC*HS WONG, KC*HS KCHS Australia NZ Lieutenant 11 Kentia Street, Mount P.O. Box 733 Nedlands - 21 Gertrude Street, Magill [email protected] Vice Governor General of [email protected] Gravatt Queensland – WA 6909 Australia - SA - 5072 -Australia Australia 4122 [email protected] [email protected] the Grand Magisterium and [email protected] [email protected] Australian Delegates

Prior: Prior: Prior: Prior: Prior: His Eminence George H.E. the Most Rev. Mark H.E. the Most Rev. Barry H.E. the Most Rev. Philip H.E the Most Rev. Denis Dr Paul Bartley KGCHS Cardinal PELL B. Cole- ridge Archbishop J. HICKEY Archbishop of E. WILSON Archbishop J. HART Archbishop of Archbishop of Sydney, of Brisbane, GPO Box Perth, Catholic Church of Adelaide, Catholic Melbourne, James Goold Level 16, Polding Centre 5238, Brisbane, Queens- Oce, 25 Victoria Avenue Diocesan Centre House, P.O. Box 146, 228 133 Liverpool Street land 4001 G.P.O. Box 1364 Victoria Parade