Two years ago, Pope Francis called forthis October, 2019 to be an“Extraordinary

Missionary Month” withthe aim both of fostering anincreased awareness of themission ad gentes (to non-believers) and of taking partwith renewed fervor in themissionary transformationof the Church’s life andpastoral activity. This issimply an obedientresponse to Christ’s partingwords to his disciples “Gointo the whole world andproclaim the gospel toevery creature” (Mark16:15; cfr. Matthew 28:19).

Quoting extensively fromVatican II, the Pope callsthis the “essential task” ofthe Church which is“missionary by nature” andis the responsibility ofevery believer. He suggestsit remains an enormousone, quoting Pope SaintJohn Paul II that the

mission is far from completion and in fact isstill only beginning.

What might we say aretoday’s challenges to theevangelization of theworld?

1. There is a growing,worldwide“Christianophobia.” Therespected Pew ResearchCenter (PRC) recentlyfound Christians to be “themost widely targeted bodyof believers” with morethan 80% of the world’spopulation (6.6 billion)living in religiouslyrepressive countries—144countries, in fact. This hascreated a tidal wave ofrefugees escaping tortureand murder even incountries that are “allies” ofWestern democraticnations.

2. Moreover, as PopeFrancis notes in his address

Reflections of the Grand Master

“An enormous task”

To mark the missionary month ofOctober 2019, decreed by our HolyFather Francis, the Grand Master ofthe Order of the Holy Sepulchre isappealing for prayer in favor of all thepersecuted Christians worldwide.

www.oessh.va@granmagistero.oessh @GM_oessh

Newsletter N° 55

ordinis equestris sancti sepulchri hierosolymitani

jerusalem cross

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The Order in Union withthe Universal Church

Proceedings of the Grand Magisterium The Order and the Holy Land

The Life of the Lieutenancies

c o n t e n t s

“MAKING OURSELVES TRAVEL COMPANIONSFOR EVERY HUMAN BEING” III

MSGR. TOMMASO CAPUTO, NEW ASSESSOROF THE ORDER VI

STRENGTHENING THE PRESENCEOF THE ORDER IN CENTRALAND LATIN AMERICA VIII

THE INVESTITURES PRESIDED OVER BYTHE GRAND MASTER XII

TWO NEW MEMBERS OF THE GRANDMAGISTERIUM XIII

THE GRATITUDE OF FATHER JOHN BATEMAN,FORMER SECRETARY OF THE GRAND MASTER XIII

THE MISSIONARY CROSS OF THE EUCHARISTICCONGRESS IN BUDAPEST CREATEDBY A MEMBER OF THE ORDER XVI

A SOLIDARITY FUND: 600 FAMILIES HELPEDIN ONE YEAR XVII

“OUR SPIRITUAL PROMISE MUST FILL ALLOF OUR LIFE” XIX

YOUNG VOLUNTEERS AT THE SERVICEOF HOPE IN THE HOLY LAND XXII

GRAND MAGISTERIUM OF THE EQUESTRIAN ORDER OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE OF JERUSALEM00120 VATICAN CITY

E-mail: comunicazione@oessh.va Printed in September 2019

to us in the Vatican at the close of last year’sConsulta: “In addition to this martyrdom ofblood, there is also this ‘white martyrdom’,such as that which occurs in democraticcountries where freedom of religion islimited.” Increasing instances can be cited inwhich those who advocate Church teachingson marriage and family life are threatenedwith legal reprisal as hate speech.

3. Finally, this year‘s official Vatican Bookof Statistics notes that the Church’s growthis increasing in most of the world. From2016 to 2018, there has been a loss of240,000 Catholics in Europe. Other recentresearch shows that in North America 33%of those ages 21 - 29 (overwhelminglyChristian) consider themselves non-religious.A critical call for “re-evangelization.”

This is a huge and discordant landscape.It might even be depressing were it not forthe Lord’s promise on departing, “I am withyou always even to the ends of the earth.”For members of our Order, our call topersonal prayer, holiness, formation and oursolemn commitment for the defense andpromotion of our Faith in the Holy Land aresure steps in response to Pope Francis’ finalexhortation to all of us in his call at ourConsulta’s conclusion.

Citing our devotion to Mary under thetitles Our Lady of Palestine and Our Lady ofPersecuted Christians, he asked: “Together,let us invoke Mary’s concern for the Churchin the Holy Land and, more generally in theMiddle East, along with her specialintercession for those whose life andfreedom are in danger.”

Edwin Cardinal O’Brien

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During the summer theCommunications Office of the GrandMagisterium of the Order had the

privilege and the honour of meeting Msgr.Miguel Ángel Ayuso Guixot, President of thePontifical Council for InterreligiousDialogue, created Cardinal by Pope Francisduring an Ordinary Consistory on October5. We discussed various topics together withhim and below share some abstracts of thefull interview that will be available in ourannual magazine.

What is the specificity of dialogue inthe Holy Land?The heart of this reality is the city of

Jerusalem and Pope Francis on his trip to

Morocco wanted to sign a documenttogether with King Mohammed VI for theprotection and defence of the city ofJerusalem as a Holy City, centre of the threemonotheistic religions. If the heart of thisland, Jerusalem, lives the reality of dialogue,understanding and communion betweenJews, Christians and Muslims, it can radiatelight throughout the region. We know thatthe Middle East cannot be understoodwithout Christians but neither is it possibleto do so without interreligious dialogue.

The question of citizenship plays animportant role in allowing thedialogue to flourish ...The embryo of this discussion by the

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“Making ourselves travelcompanions for every human being”

The Order in Union with the Universal Church

Recently designatedCardinal by PopeFrancis, Abp. MiguelÁngel Ayuso Guixotsucceeds CardinalJean-Louis Tauranas head of thePontifical Council forInterreligiousDialogue. Here wesee him in hisoffices, in Via dellaConciliazione inRome, in front of thepainting that recallsthe declaration ofthe Second VaticanCouncil on therelations of theCatholic Church withnon-Christianreligions.

Interview with the President of the Pontifical Council for Interreligious Dialogue

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Catholic Church comes from the appeal ofthe Synod of the Middle East which askedthat Christians not be considered second-class citizens but full citizens. Fullcitizenship is a fundamental element forpreserving identity.

It is therefore necessary to work withrespect and friendship for the commongood, as Pope Francis wishes, beyondreligious differences and matters of majorityand minority. This is a field which does notgive precedence to the numerical superiority

of one or another community: every personmust be respected in their individuality,clearly even those who do not belong to anyreligious tradition.

What paths does the recent documenton the Human Fraternity signed byPope Francis and the Grand Imam ofAl-Azhar al-Tayyeb open?So often we talk about difficulties and

problems but my experience as a missionaryhas taught me that ordinary people, on the

“There is a hidden oceanof good that grows”The Pope welcomes birth of a High Committee

for the Document on Human Fraternity

Pope Francis expressed his joy over the establishment of a Committee aimed atachieving the objectives contained in the Document on Human Fraternity for World

Peace and Living Together, signed in February 2019, in Abu Dhabi, with the Grand Imamof Al-Azhar. The director of the Holy See Press Office, Matteo Bruni, issued a declarationin late August. “The Holy Father has learned with joy the news of this initiative, pointingout that ‘although sadly evil, hatred and division often make news, there is a hidden seaof goodness that is growing and leads us to hope in dialogue, reciprocal knowledge andthe possibility of building, together with the followers of other religions and all men andwomen of good will, a world of fraternity and peace’”. “The Holy Father – said Bruni –encourages the efforts of the Committee to spread knowledge of the Document; hethanks the United Arab Emirates for the concrete commitment shown on behalf ofhuman fraternity and he expresses the hope that similar initiatives can spring upthroughout the world.” (Source: Vatican News)

The first meetingof the HighCommittee set upto implement theobjectives of theDocument onHuman Fraternitywas held in theVatican, at CasaSanta Marta, onSeptember 11last.

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other hand, often live a spirit of closenessand coexistence. Beyond the pessimisticversion, every citizen and believer is calledto work for the common good. The AbuDhabi document has drawn a Road Map inthis direction. Fraternity, peace andcoexistence are the three essential elementsthrough which to walk a path of integrationto heal the wounds of the world. The onlybalm that can heal from populism passesthrough the human fraternity that unites us.The problems that create discomfort andhinder the climate of communion have amore political and ideological character.

The Order of the Holy Sepulchre hasabout 30,000 members worldwide.What advice would you like to sharewith them?I very much appreciate the work done

and the action of your 30,000 members whosupport and help local communities in theHoly Land. In my experience of mission, Igave all my life and my youth to the serviceof the Church and now I realize that what Ireceived is much more than anything I ever

gave. So I want to remind these 30,000benefactors that what they do is verygenerous and I invite them to discover moreand more how much they receive from thetestimony of those whom they support withtheir help because those who give alwaysreceive.

The word “dialogue” is often used inmany different contexts and ways.What does it mean for you?Dialogue is not a betrayal of the Church’s

mission or a new method of conversion toChristianity. Dialogue is an existentialattitude that opens us to the reality of theother. I remember the message that PopeFrancis sent us on the occasion of the 50thanniversary of our Dicastery in which,among other things, he reminded us that wemust make ourselves travel companions forevery human being on our journey towardsthe truth. As Pope Benedict XVI said, it isnot we who possess the truth, it is the truththat possesses us.

Interview by Elena Dini

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Msgr. Tommaso Caputo,new Assessor of the Order

Proceedings of the Grand Magisterium

Your Excellency, what has yourreaction been to thisappointment as Assessor of the

Order of the Holy Sepulchre?I welcome this appointment with deep

gratitude to the Holy Father Francis whoapproved it and to the Grand Master, HisEminence Cardinal Edwin O’Brien, whoappointed me to the role of Assessor of theEquestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre ofJerusalem.

What has your relationship with theOrder been in recent years?My bond with the Order dates back to

about two decades ago and became evenstronger when, in 2012, I was entrustedwith the Prelature of Pompeii, a cityparticularly dear to the heart and spiritualityof all the Knights and Dames of the HolySepulchre. Pompeii was born to new lifefrom the faith and the works of charity ofBartolo Longo, the only lay person among

After the resignation of Msgr. Giuseppe Lazzarotto for healthreasons, the Holy Father approved the Grand Master’s

appointment of Msgr. Tommaso Caputo as Assessor of theOrder of the Holy Sepulchre, starting from September 2019.The new Assessor kindly responded to some questions for the

Jerusalem Cross.

A highlyexperienceddiplomat,ArchbishopTommasoCaputo,Prelate andPontificalDelegate forthe Shrine ofPompeii, is thenew Assessorof the Orderwho assists theGrand Masterespecially withregard torelations withthe RomanCuria.

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the Knights of the Order to have beenbeatified. The founder of Pompeii recallsthe Christological heart of Marian devotion,so intensely practiced by every member ofthe Order.

Recently you also accompanied adelegation from your Lieutenancy tothe Holy Land to mark a specialoccasion ...A recent initiative involved our church of

Pompeii and the Order in a pilgrimage tothe Holy Land, during which, in the Basilicaof the Annunciation in Nazareth – the place

where the Word became man in the wombof the Virgin Mary – a stained glass windowdedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary ofPompeii was inaugurated, a gift from theLieutenancy for Southern Tyrrhenian Italyof the Order of the Holy Sepulchre.

It was a simple sign, but since this officehas also been entrusted to me, each elementtakes on a deeper meaning, taking intoaccount the tasks to which each member ofthe Order is called, in relation to the verynature of this historic Pontifical institution,placed under the protection of the Holy See.

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Msgr. Tommaso Caputo was born inAfragola (NA) on 17 October 1950. He

attended the Archiepiscopal Seminary ofNaples and obtained a Licentiate in SacredTheology at the Theological Faculty ofSouthern Italy, section “San Tommasod’Aquino” (Naples).

He was ordained a priest on April 10, 1974for the Archdiocese of Naples, where heworked as a formator for high schoolseminarians (1973-1974), as vice-parish priestof the Parish of San Benedetto at the ArcoMirelli in Naples (1974-1976) and religionteacher in State Schools (1973-1976).

A student of the Pontifical EcclesiasticalAcademy since October 1976, he hassimultaneously attended courses in CanonLaw at the Pontifical Lateran University andobtained a Doctorate. At the service of theHoly See since March 25, 1980, he wasSecretary of the Apostolic Nunciature in Rwanda (1980-1984) and Assessor at theNunciature in the Philippines (1984-1987) and in Venezuela (1987-1989).

Called to the Vatican, he was responsible for the Secretariat of the Substitute to theSecretary of State until June 19, 1993, when Pope John Paul II appointed him Head of theProtocol of the Secretariat of State.

On September 3, 2007, His Holiness Benedict XVI appointed him Apostolic Nuncio toMalta and Libya, elevating him to the archiepiscopal dignity and conferring episcopalconsecration on him on September 29, 2007 in the Papal Basilica of St. Peter in theVatican. On November 10, 2012 Pope Benedict XVI named him Prelate of Pompeii andPontifical Delegate for the Sanctuary of the Blessed Virgin Mary of the Rosary ofPompeii.

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Central and Latin America form animmense continent with strongChristian roots that deserves every

effort for greater development and anauthentic enhancement of the presence ofour Order. Unlike other geographical areas,such as North America, Europe and Asia-Oceania, so far the South Americancontinent has not benefitted from thecoordination of a dedicated director in theGrand Magisterium. The Cardinal GrandMaster favorably welcomed the idea ofcreating the office of Vice Governor forLatin America, entrusting it to Enric Mas,former Lieutenant for Eastern Spain, topromote the potential of this huge basin.

The new Vice Governor was able toimmediately place his vast experience andinternational knowledge at the disposal ofthe confreres of the Latin Americancontinent, developing an action plantogether with the Governor General

Leonardo Visconti di Modrone during visitsto Mexico, Argentina and Brazil in July andAugust.

■ MEXICO

In Mexico the Lieutenancy had beenlabouring for some time under a seeminglyirreversible crisis. In December 2017, thevisit of the Cardinal Grand Master, theLieutenant General and the GovernorGeneral and the appointment of GustavoRincón Hernandez as regent, laid thefoundations for a process of rebirth. Fromthat moment on and with greatdetermination, a process of renewal of theCouncil began coupled with the search fornew forces, drawing on the experience ofmany confreres also active in the Order ofMalta. Indeed, it was found that theobjective of developing charitable activities

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Strengthening the presenceof the Order in Central

and Latin America

What do you consider to be theOrder’s contribution to the UniversalChurch and to the inhabitants of theHoly Land that you hope to helpadvance?A little less than a year ago, the Holy

Father Pope Francis received members ofthe Consulta and praising the assistanceinitiatives in the Holy Land towardseveryone, beyond the various faithaffiliations, he recognized that theEquestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre ofJerusalem helps “pave the way to makeChristian values known, to the promotion ofinterreligious dialogue, mutual respect andmutual understanding.”

These are the main indications for

arriving at the great goal of achieving peacethroughout the Holy Land. Significantly, thePope underlined this commitment asprimary, recalling that the Order is “not aphilanthropic entity committed to promotingthe material and social improvement ofrecipients”; the Dames and the Knights arecalled “to place the evangelical love ofneighbour as the central and final aim ofyour works, to bear witness everywhere tothe goodness and care with which God loveseveryone.”

On this path, and with the help andprotection of the Virgin Mary, I am countingon also fulfilling this service within the greatfamily of the Order.

Interview by François Vayne

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in favour of the Holy Land, specific to theOrder of the Holy Sepulchre, is perfectlycompatible, and in fact complementary, withthat strongly felt in the Order of Malta toboost active assistance to the localpopulation.

On July 29, and despite an injured arm,the Governor General accepted theinvitation of the Lieutenant-Regent and wenton a lightning visit to Mexico City. Theretogether with the Grand Prior, CardinalNorberto Rivera Carrera, they evaluatedwhat had been accomplished to date anddiscussed the next steps to be taken.Considering the advanced age of GustavoRincón, particular attention was given to themodality of alternating his responsibilitieswith a younger but experienced Lieutenant,capable of carrying on the great project ofreconstruction and ensure its continuity. Thechoice fell on Guillermo Macías Graue – apolyglot professor, with internationalexperience gained in prestigious universitiessuch as, the Gregorian in Rome, Salamancaand the Hebrew University of Jerusalem –

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The GovernorGeneral at ameeting in BuenosAires attended byMsgr. Héctor Aguer,Grand Prior of theLieutenancy forArgentina (seatedto the right of theGovernor General),along with twoecclesiastics,Lieutenant JuanFrancisco RamosMejía (standingnext to the GrandPrior) and ViceGovernor Enric Mas(seated on theright).

In Mexico, the Governor General Visconti diModrone was able to spend time with CardinalNorberto Rivera Carrera, Grand Prior of the localLieutenancy, together with the Regent, GustavoRincón Hernandez.

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Msgr. Héctor Aguer and met withLieutenant Juan Francisco Ramos Mejía andthe leaders of the Lieutenancy in that city.One of the objectives of this second journeywas to place the leaders of the Order in fullharmony with the guidelines of the GrandMagisterium in Rome and with the localepiscopate, following the directives of theHoly Father. Communication difficulties didnot help in the recent past in the life of theOrder in Argentina, but in a conversationwith the leaders of the local hierarchy, thepremises were hopefully set for starting amore constructive dialogue. In Argentina,90% of the inhabitants claim to be Catholic,but the percentage of practicing Catholics ismuch lower. Speaking with members of theLieutenancy, following his meeting with

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The Investiture of new members of the Order in Argentina, the country of origin of Pope Francis, was oneof the central moments of the visit of the Governor General to Latin America during the summer. TheKnights and Dames of Argentina wish to engage more and more in the life of the local Church.

who will take the lead in November at theInvestiture ceremony of the Lieutenancy,while Gustavo Rincón, in recognition of themeritorious work performed, will beappointed Lieutenant of Honour. Incommenting on the meeting with theGovernor General, Cardinal Rivera definedthe process thus started as an authentic“resurrection” of the Lieutenancy.

■ ARGENTINA

On August 20-21 the Governor General,accompanied by the Vice Governor GeneralEnric Mas, paid a visit to Argentina wherehe attended the Investiture ceremony inBuenos Aires officiated by the Grand Prior

local Church leaders, the Governor Generalurged them to support greater participationin diocesan activities by the whole Catholiccommunity, given the moment of difficultythat the nation is currently experiencing. Hethen recalled that the Order of the HolySepulchre is an institution of the Churchwith a precise mandate to maintain theChristian presence in the Holy Land,strongly encouraged by Pope Francis.

■ BRAZIL

The Governor and the Vice Governorwere in Brazil from August 22 to 24, wherethey met the Archbishop of Rio de JaneiroCardinal Orani João Tempesta, Grand Priorof the Lieutenancy. Together with him theyexamined in detail the issues relating to

what is unquestionably the country with thegreatest number of Catholics in the world,and therefore deserving of special attention.

The program then included a meetingwith the Lieutenant of Rio de Janeiro, IsisCunha Penido, and with the heads of theLieutenancy in the offices hosted at thesplendid Old Cathedral of Our Lady ofCarmel, to review the various charitableactivities undertaken by the Lieutenancy,addressed to the needs of the country aswell as to the Holy Land.

Finally, the Governor and the ViceGovernor met the Lieutenant of São Paulo,Manuel Tavares de Almeida Filho,discussing the prospects of opening newperipheral structures of the Order in thecountry after those of Rio and São Paulo, inorder to achieve the aims of the Order of theHoly Sepulchre, through a widespread andcapillary presence. The opportunity toorganize a first meeting of all LatinAmerican Lieutenants in São Paulo was alsoevaluated. Before leaving, the GovernorGeneral and the Vice Governor granted aninterview to a local television station.

■ A UNITARY STRATEGY

In addition to a strengthening of thepresence of the Order in Brazil, the programof the Governor General and the ViceGovernor General for Latin Americaenvisions visits to other countries in the areain view of a concrete enlargement. TheLatin American continent must in fact beplaced in a situation of absolute parity ofimportance with the other threegeographical areas in which the Order isactive. An exchange of experiences betweenthe respective four Vice Governors (threerecently appointed) is hoped for. For reasonsof cultural and linguistic affinity, it wasdecided that the Lieutenancy for Mexico,previously included in the North Americanarea, will become part of the new LatinAmerican formation, while continuing for

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In Brazil, the Grand Prior of the Lieutenancy forBrazil-Rio de Janeiro, Cardinal Orani JoãoTempesta welcomed the Governor General totalk together about the testimony offered bymembers of the Order in the largest Catholiccountry in the world according to the number ofbaptized.

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now to participate as a guest in themeetings of the North AmericanLieutenants, also in order to ensure aconnection and greater sharing. One of themost interesting aspects that emerged in thevarious sectoral geographical meetings –and always emphasized by the GovernorGeneral – is the need to foster the sharingof experiences between Lieutenancies ofdifferent areas and therefore – by analogy –between the four Vice Governors.

“The Order is one and it is right that thestrategy be unitary – said Governor GeneralVisconti di Modrone in one of his recentinterventions – but in implementing it wemust also carefully consider local customsand traditions and above all the differentexperiences. We must unite in feeling weare working to maintain the Christianpresence in the Holy Land, despite thedifficulties the Church faces today,treasuring at the same time the wealth ofideas and proposals that come to us fromdifferent corners of the earth.”

One strong suggestion that emerged fromthe meeting of the North AmericanLieutenants in Houston last May regarded

the importance of the pastoral componentand of the participation of families inspiritual activities. The EuropeanLieutenants who met in Rome emphasisedthe charitable commitment and therealization of projects for the formation ofyoung people in the Holy Land. Asianconfreres gathered in Brisbane concludedthat distance does not constitute a hindranceto collective participation in the Order’scharitable activities (and the Cardinal GrandMaster’s planned visit to these countries inJanuary, following on from his trip toAustralia last year, is a visible confirmationof this). The Grand Magisterium’s activefocus on Latin America is part of thisunifying context.

“Our Order is inspired by the image of theSepulchre from which Our Lord wasresurrected,” the Governor General recalled.“Therefore it is not a funeral monument butthe symbol of the unity of our Faith. Theprinciples we are inspired by are those ofcharity, humility and obedience: they bringus closer and make us brothers and sisters inevery corner of the world.“

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The Investitures presidedover by the Grand Master

Always present alongside the Knights and Dames throughout the world, the GrandMaster of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, Cardinal Edwin O’Brien, presided over

the Investiture ceremonies in Luxembourg (September 14 and 15), in Innsbruck, Austria(September 20 to 22) and in Montreal, Canada (September 27 to 29).

In October (from 4 to 6), he is expected in New York for the Investiture of the USEastern Lieutenancy and in Copenhagen (18 and 19) for the official welcome to the newmembers of Denmark and Sweden.

Furthermore, on October, 23 for the annual feast of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen ofPalestine, Patroness of the Order, he will welcome guests to the Palazzo della Rovere inRome. He will then travel to Toledo (October 25 and 26) for the Investiture of theLieutenancy for Western Spain.

Recently, Cardinal O’Brien was confirmed by the Holy Father as a member of theCongregation for the Oriental Churches.

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In a recent article I mentioned howcoming to Rome and becoming amember of the Order truly was led by

God. The blessings that God has showeredupon me over these past 3 ? years are clearevidence of the Lord’s presence anddirection. Now that I completed my time ofservice to the Grand Master as his priest-secretary and to the Order, it is anopportune moment to share my reflectionson the wonderful experiences in which Godhas deigned to allow me to participate.

The Universal Church. One of the

wonderful things about our Grand Master isthat he is always “out there” among theLieutenancies and members of the Order.Because of his desire to personally visit asmany Lieutenancies as possible, travel hasbeen a normal part of life. But it is nottourist trips but always pastoral and spiritualjourneys that have allowed me to gain atremendous experience of the world-wideChurch. Visiting the Lieutenancies andMagistral Delegations throughout Italy andEurope, in South Africa and South America,in Australia, Asia and North America hasenabled me to see the One, Holy, Catholic

Two new members of theGrand Magisterium

By decision of Cardinal O’Brien, two new members have been appointed part of theGrand Magisterium, the Grand Master’s international council, which meets twice a

year in Rome to discuss current affairs relating to the Order.Italian Leopoldo Torlonia dei Duchi di Poli e Guadagnolo is president of the “Circolo

San Pietro” – an association of solidarity with the poorest, founded in Rome in 1869.Dominique Neckebroeck is the Chancellor emeritus of the Lieutenancy for France and

is very involved in the Order’s projects in the Holy Land.We wish them a fruitful activity, alongside Governor General Leonardo Visconti di

Modrone and all those in charge of the Order.

The gratitude of FatherJohn Bateman, former secretary

of the Grand Master

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Father John Bateman, an American priest who was secretary toCardinal Edwin O’Brien, shares witness with gratitude to theservice he carried out in the Order. He expresses his personalgratefulness to our Grand Master, Cardinal Edwin O’Brien,whose humility, spirituality and love have helped him and

continue to form his priestly heart. We welcome his successor,Father Maxim Baz, a young Lebanese priest of the Maronite

Catholic Church, who took office in early summer 2019.

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Church as her Faithful live the Faith in theirparticular cultural and historical situations.Yet, through it all, despite differences ofculture and language, we are One Body inChrist (cf. 1 Cor 12:12-27).

Fraternal Love and support. We allknow how difficult it can be to be a strangerin a strange land. But for us, as members ofthe Order, this is never the case. Amongstour Knights and Ladies there is animmediate connection that unites us withone another. Certainly that is first andforemost the Holy Eucharist (as theEucharist unites all Catholics). But asmembers of the Order that Eucharisticunion is further enriched by our commonpurpose and mission: personal holiness andlove for the people of Jesus’ Holy Land.

Being with others who take their faithseriously and ever strive for greater personalsanctity encourages me to strive evenharder. I have had the unique and specialopportunity to meet so many of YOU whohave, unknowingly, given me wonderful andencouraging examples of the constant questfor holiness (the true vocation of everyChristian). Seeing the sacrifices that ourmembers make for others, without anythought of self, has helped me to grow inlove for our brothers and sisters who live indifficult circumstances in the Holy Land.

Pilgrimage. Every journey these pastyears has truly been a pilgrimage.Celebrating the Investiture and the HolySacrifice of the Mass in every continent hasmade every trip a spiritual one. But of

Father John Bateman, secretary of the Grand Master for several years, received two statues representingthe apostles Peter and Paul as a present for his departure. Here we see him together with Cardinal EdwinO’Brien, the main authorities of the Grand Magisterium, the staff and his successor, Father Maxim Baz (tohis right in the photo).

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course, as the Equestrian Order, one of ourgreatest joys (and responsibilities) is also tomake pilgrimage to the Holy Land. How,after seeing the parishes and meeting herpeople, after comforting the sick and elderly,after talking with the students of BethlehemUniversity and the Patriarchate schools,after visiting the Holy Stones and the LivingStones… after all of this, how could our livesnot be changed? My pilgrimages to the HolyLand, both those with the Cardinal andGrand Magisterium staff and my ownpersonal pilgrimages, have opened my eyesand my heart to a greater Faith and deeperlove and concern for the Christians of theHoly Land.

The Institutional Church. Living inRome is a unique experience in itself. To beso close to our Holy Father and the tombs ofthe Holy Apostles Peter and Paul (myconfirmation patron) and to so many saintswho lived, worked and died in Rome hashelped me to better love the Church. It canseem to many to be a bureaucratic structure,and certainly that exists because we arehuman beings in need of a structure. Butwhat most are not able to see or experienceis the humanity of theChurch: so many menand women, priests andreligious, who workdiligently and faithfullyto build up and providefor the needs of theChurch. Certainly thisapplies to our staff at theGrand Magisterium,whose tireless laborsmake possible all thatour Order is able to doto support our Christianbrothers and sisters. Butit also applies toeveryone who works forthe Church and theCuria. My experienceshere in Rome have

allowed me to see the love and sincereconcern to help provide for the needs ofGod’s people from every part of the world.

Resolve. Completing my assignment withthe Order and returning to my Diocese as amember of the Order, I could not be morecommitted to the work of the Order. As apriest, I have heard and understand ourGrand Master’s insistence that we priest-members not just wear a mozzetta and signsof dignity, but that we take on an additionalresponsibility to provide for the spiritualneeds of the members of our Lieutenancies,Magistral Delegations and Sections. I can’twait to get involved in my own Lieutenancy(USA Eastern) when I return home.

Gratitude. Through it all, is a profoundsense of gratitude: First, gratitude to God forhaving called me to this task andresponsibility; gratitude for all of you whomI have been privileged to meet and to serveand to be inspired by your love andcommitment; personal gratitude to ourGrand Master, Cardinal O’Brien, whosehumility, spirituality and love have helped tocontinue forming my priestly-heart.

If you have everwondered if our Ordermakes a difference, Ican assure you that itcan and it does—if wefully engage in theactivities and projects ofour local Lieutenanciesand when we gathertogether, as fellowpilgrims, at theEucharistic Table of theLord. It is there, eitherhere on earth or in theblessedness of heaven,that I look forward tomeeting you all onceagain.

Father John Bateman

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The Grand Master thanked FatherBateman and promoted him toCommander of the Order of the HolySepulchre.

TheMissionaryCross of

the BudapestInternationalEucharisticCongress is thework of amember of theOrder of theHoly Sepulchre,Csaba Ozsvári,who diedsuddenly in 2009at the age of 46.The Cross waspresented for thefirst time duringthe 2007Budapest city mission. In 2017 Pope Franciswelcomed it to Rome and blessed it. Thismarvellous work of art is adorned in archaicHungarian style and contains ornamentalcases: one in silver in the centre with a relicof the Holy Cross, surrounded by smallerones that contain relics of Hungarian saints,including five new saints and blessed: St.Martin, the blessed Gisella and the blessedTódor Romzsa, Vilmos Apor and ZoltánMeszlényi.

Csaba Ozsvári, adevoted family man,was known both for

his artistictalent as agoldsmithexpert insacred art, andfor hisexemplarChristian life.Also amember of theHungarianSchönstattMovement,Ozsváricreatedtabernacles,crosses,bishop’s rings,chalices and

sacred furnishings that are present in almostall the Hungarian dioceses and many alsoabroad. In 1991 the Hungarian EpiscopalConference donated a magnificentornamental cover for the Book of theGospels to Saint John Paul II, the work ofthe Knight of the Order, and still today, it isoften used during the Easter Vigil in theVatican.

Let us therefore approach with greater joythe International Eucharistic Congress nextyear, strengthened by this further bond asmembers of the Order of the HolySepulchre.

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The Missionary Cross of theEucharistic Congress in Budapestcreated by a member of the Order

The Grand Master wishes the Order’s Lieutenancies toorganize themselves to send delegates to the International

Eucharistic Congress in Budapest, Hungary, which will beheld from September 13 to 20, 2020. For all of theinformation on how to register visit www.iec2020.hu

The Knight Csaba Ozsvári is the artist who made the crossfor the next International Eucharistic Congress, in which theGrand Master hopes members of the Order will show a livelyparticipation.

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Solidarity with the most needy isone of the areas that the Order of

the Holy Sepulchre has most atheart and it is expressed throughvarious projects supported in the

Holy Land. “Through this programwe are not only offering economic

assistance, but we bring hope tomany and allow them to live a

dignified life,” notes Sami El-Yousef, CEO of the Latin

Patriarchate of Jerusalem.

In 2018, the contributions sent by themembers of the Order of the HolySepulchre allowed, among other things,

600 people to be helped throughscholarships, family aid, healthcare supportand support for the purchase of medicines,without counting the beneficiaries of aspecific project in East Jerusalem for legalassistance and the program for IraqiChristian refugees in Jordan.

Reading the parameters to be includedamong those entitled to help, goes some wayto helping us understand the gravity of thesituation. Those who receive help are part ofa family whose income does not allow themto respond to the primary needs of familymembers or a family where the primarybreadwinner is sick or recently deceased.There are also families who cannot affordtreatment for a sick member, who do nothave health insurance or who are elderlywithout a pension.

Even the smallest contribution given toone of these families hides a story of daily

challenges and difficulties. For example, S.A.is a 35-year-old woman, married and withfour children who works as a cleaner. Shelives on the Mount of Olives in a rentedhouse and is the primary provider for herfamily, but her salary does not cover basicneeds such as rent, food, utilities and schoolfees. Through the solidarity fund, the LatinPatriarchate succeeded in helping S.A. topay part of her daughters’ school fees and,together with the Custody of the Holy Land,to cover part of the debt contracted with thecompany that supplies the electricity in thefamily apartment.

W. A. is also 35 and lives in Gaza with hisfamily of five. He worked as a police officerbut was forced into early retirement on a

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The Order and the Holy Land

A solidarity fund: 600 familieshelped in one year

The new president of the Grand MagisteriumHoly Land Commission, Bart McGettrick, isparticularly concerned about solidarity with thosemost in need of help in the Holy Land: this is oneof the great priorities of the Latin Patriarchate ofJerusalem and its main international supporter,the Order of the Holy Sepulchre.

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very low salary, the only income in thefamily, and which does not allow them tosurvive from month to month. W. A. askedfor help when, due to debts with thelandlord, he had run the risk of beingevicted from the rented apartment in whichthe family lives. The Latin Patriarchate,thanks to the contributions sent by theKnights and the Dames present in thevarious continents, managed to pay a part ofthe debt thus allowing the family of W.A. tocontinue living in their home.

The medical aid program helped 124patients in 2018. Among them, a 15-year-oldboy from Zababdeh(Jenin governorate, inPalestine) who suffered atraffic accident and hadto face variousneurological operations,only partially covered bythe public health system,and K., 72, of Aboud(Ramallah governorate,in Palestine), who for 5

years has been fighting a bowel cancer thatinvolves numerous operations andchemotherapy sessions. These cases, besidesthe difficulties and suffering they involvefrom a medical and human point of view,also represent a great challenge for the sickand for their families who cannot cover thecost they partly incur for the operations,treatment or medicines.

Our thoughts turn to the 600 needyfamilies who have received help that allowsthem to move onwards – by continuing theirstudies, by living in their own homes or byreceiving the necessary medical care – and

we thank the LatinPatriarchate and thesocial workers whowork on this projectand who ensure thatthe people most at riskare not left alone andthat the contributionsof the Knights andDames go to those whoneed them most.

These cases representa great challenge for thesick and for their familieswho cannot cover the costthey partly incur for theoperations, treatment ormedicines

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Juan-Gualberto de Balanzó y de Solá –Knight Grand Cross, 86 years –passionately recalls his commitment.

Born in a family belonging to the Orderof the Holy Sepulchre for over a century,he himself served the Order in Spain asan Assessor, Master of Ceremonies andChancellor.

When did you enter the Order of theHoly Sepulchre of Jerusalem andwhat were the reasons for doing so?I joined the Equestrian Order of the Holy

Sepulchre on January 26, 1957, sixty-twoyears ago! The reasons were many, but thepersonal one – the most important – is mylove for Jesus. I love his land, and I love theliving Holy Sepulchre, a testimony ofResurrection, where I also served Mass. Ican describe this place as the homeland ofall Christians, although often forgotten: theOrder wants to act as an intermediarybetween those enemy brothers who fightover it. For me the Order expresses the loveof the Good Samaritan towards the localpopulations.

Furthermore, I have family reasons,because in my case, being part of theEquestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchrerepresents a tradition. I have “drawn” onfamily sources...

Of all the commitments of the Orderof the Holy Sepulchre, what is themost important work for you?

I believe that the most important rule forthe Order is “Ora et labora”: we must beboth Martha and Mary. Our motto issummed up in serving everyone withoutreligious or ethnic distinctions, but first wemust support the Christians of the HolyLand, since without us they wouldunfortunately become extinct.

In your opinion, what does the Orderneed to improve to make itself betterknown and help the Christians of the

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The Life of the Lieutenancies

“Our spiritual promise must fillall of our life”

Two Knights of the Lieutenancy for Eastern Spain – Jordi, 26 andJuan-Gualberto, 86 – bear witness to their love for the Order, telling

of the “inseparable bond” that unites them to the Holy Land.

Juan-Gualberto de Balanzó y de Solá testifieswith joy the spiritual support he has receivedwithin the Order of the Holy Sepulchre over theyears that has nourished his Christian life.

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Holy Land?The Order is proceeding very well;

nowadays it has made its mission currentwith the true and fundamental nobility ofsoul that characterizes the members. I wouldeven say that we are and belong to thevanguard of the Church. We must preferholiness to quantity ... I think it is essentialto pay particular attention when an aspiringcandidate comes to our doors. It is essentialthat the Lieutenancy requests thecandidate’s presentation folder from hisparish priest. It is also necessary that thosewho present the future Knight or Dameprove himself or herself responsible for themorality of this aspirant...

It would be desirable to avoid thosepeople who do not feel deeply called toholiness, based on the example of Jesus. Wemust preach by example! There is nothingworse than salt that becomes tasteless ...The Knight and the Dame must perceive thedifference between the before and afterentering our beloved Equestrian Order ofthe Holy Sepulchre.

Here I am living with humble pride myinner journey towards the Kingdom of God.The Knight’s Cross – that of the first rank –must honour our dark coat, impeding evillike a shield. Our spiritual promise must fillall of our life.

Jordi Tomás – a 26 year-oldKnight – tells us about hisjourney in the Order,

expressing the joy of serving theMother Church in the HolyLand.

“I was lucky enough to encounterthe Order at the beginning of myuniversity studies, thanks to somepeople in my group. I think this isthe most natural way to enter theOrder: the white garments worn bythe Knights attract glances andawakens sensitivities; therefore, weask ourselves questions such as:Who are they? Why are theydressed like that? What are theydoing? That is how I started thegreat journey that led me to theorigins of the Order’s millennialhistory. The curiosity that themembers of the Holy Sepulchrearoused in me – when I was soyoung – prompted me to readeverything I could find about theirhistory, I looked for variousdocumentation and I really foundjoy in discovering how the HolyLand has always been linked to our

Like Jordi Tomás, more and more young people arefinding a path to holiness through regular prayer,especially community prayer, and concrete solidaritytowards our brothers and sisters of the Holy Land, in theOrder of the Holy Sepulchre.

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faith.Nowadays, the mission consists in

making the presence of Catholic Christiansin the Holy Land possible, assisting them intheir material and spiritual needs. I amconvinced that the greatness of mind of theKnights of my Lieutenancy – whether theyare ecclesiastics or lay people – representsone of the main reasons that have made megrow in my determination to enter theOrder. On the other hand, it is obvious thata considerable effort is required: to ensurethat our testimony of life becomes a sourceof inspiration for others. I believe that theduty of all Knights and Dames of the Orderis to try and fulfil in us the words ofMatthew’s Gospel: “Bytheir fruits you shallknow them” (Mt 7:16). Iam sure that we mustalways act as an example,trying to offer the mostappropriate help to theHoly Land.

It is a great honour tobelong to the Order, butthis must never make usforget the responsibilitieswe assume on ourInvestiture: not only an economiccommitment but also, and above all, a lineof conduct in conformity with the Gospel ofChrist, which arouses curiosity in others,pushing them to want to know and learnwhat we are doing.

We care about the Holy Land: it is astrategic point on the globe, where East andWest converge, and has been a privilegedwitness of the evolution of three culturesfor a thousand years! This is the placewhere the Catholic faith took root. FromNazareth to Jerusalem, passing throughCana, the Sea of Galilee, the Lake ofTiberias, the Jordan River, Mount Tabor,Capernaum ... walking on that land offers aunique emotion, knowing that Jesus sawand lived in the same places about twothousand years ago! I believe we can also

say that our baptism binds us in a particularway to the place where Christ was baptized.

Collaborating with the Holy Land is notan exclusive mission of the Order, but asKnights, we must act as majorrepresentatives in the task entrusted to us.Through our activities we highlight theneeds of the Holy Land in today’s society,trying to arouse the interest of all those whocan help us, each according to theirpossibilities.

We all, Knights and Dames, havesomething in common: on the day of ourInvestiture, we decided to make a hugecommitment to the Catholic Church,belonging to one of its Chivalric Orders. I

am deeply convincedthat the CatholicChurch – despite thedifficulties existingin our globalizedsociety – offers theanswer to thathuman desire to findmeaning in our lives,filling the need fortranscendence. In aninterconnected andincreasingly

digitalized world, where everything isexpected immediately, the path that Jesus ofNazareth defines in the Beatitudescontinues to be a current example for a fulland happy existence.

As one of the youngest members of theOrder, I believe that the greatest challengethat modern times asks of all of us is tomake ourselves worthy of the trust placedin us on the day we entered the Order ofthe Holy Sepulchre. Prayer assists us in this,without it, we would be as empty as falsewitnesses would!

Our support for the Holy Land alwayscomes in a way that is appropriate andappropriate to the changing material andspiritual needs of our brothers and sisters inthat land, where our Lord lived over twothousand years ago.”

It is a great honour tobelong to the Order, butthis must never make usforget the responsibilitieswe assume on ourInvestiture: a line ofconduct in conformity withthe Gospel of Christ

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“Two years ago the Lieutenancymade its pilgrimage to the HolyLand with the new Lieutenant José

Carlos Sanjuán y Monforte and part of hisfamily, including his son Lucas, and threeother boys, sons of a future Knight whowould soon enter the Order. During thejourney the idea was born to organize apilgrimage geared towards an experience ofvolunteering that would allow the youngestto learn first-hand about the Holy Land andthe work of the diocesan church and thereligious organizations that are present in theHoly Places supporting Christians and theneediest among the population.” These arethe words of María José Fernández y Martín,Dame of the Lieutenancy for Western Spain,describing how the foundations were laid forthe magnificent experience shared this yearby 13 young people (4 boys and 9 girls)

Young volunteers at the serviceof hope in the Holy Land

whom she accompanied to the Holy Land fortwo weeks of pilgrimage and volunteeringfrom June 30 to July 14.

“We had to prepare a program that wouldcombine work and pilgrimage. For most ofthe young people it was their first contactwith the Holy Land. As a first experience, itwas clear for the Lieutenancy that it had tobe a special moment that would allow us toopen a promising path for the future from ahuman and spiritual point of view, unitingChristian values with putting them intopractice in a real and active way,”commented Maria José.

Close to the children of Bethlehem

Of the 13 volunteers, the 5 youngest girlsvolunteered at La Crèche, an orphanage inBethlehem run by the Sisters of Charity ofSaint Vincent de Paul while the remaining 8young people offered their service to theHogar Niño Dios, an institute of theReligious Family of the Incarnate Word thatwelcomes children with disabilities. Bothinstitutions are long standing beneficiaries ofthe support of the Order of the HolySepulchre.

There are about 60 children between 0and 5 years old at La Crèche. “When wearrived, a baby born in the 7th month andabandoned was just entering the orphanage.His lungs, still unable to breathe on theirown, needed oxygen and, in his cradle at thecrèche, his little body battled to open up tolife. Together with this new-born, anotherdozen children were under 6 months old ...everyone was waiting for a caress, a gestureof affection that made them feel loved ...”,said Maria José, adding that at the end of thevolunteer period, the 5 volunteer girls hadbeen affectionately nicknamed “CrècheLadies”.

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A group of volunteers organized by theLieutenancy for Western Spain spent two weeksof service during the Summer in the Holy Land.

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The other destination for our volunteerslies a short walk from the Basilica of theNativity: the Hogar Niño Dios. The sistersimmediately suggested the best attitude tohave to really experience the time spent atthe Hogar: “an open heart, a smile on yourlips and a great desire to action”. Thechildren of the Hogar need a lot of attentionand the boys have helped both with thechildren as well as with the daily activities ofmanaging the house: cleaning, washing,organising, helping in the kitchen and in thepantry. Among the many special moments,Maria José points to the party celebrated onthe final day.

“When the volunteers finish their time atthe Hogar there is a big party. Then SisterNives attaches her cell phone to an amplifierand puts a compilation of happy songs thatchildren really love. Each child chooses avolunteer, entrusts himself/herself to him/herarms and dances. Even those who can moveon their own choose a volunteer to joinhands and make their own fun and tenderchoreographies. How can we truly give avalue to moments such as these? How canyou describe the laughter of a child or babywhose limitations are so great that they canbarely move alone? How can you describewitnessing the joy of a child whosedeformation is a permanent risk to his life?After you have danced with one of theselittle ones, everything changes. In thatembrace all distances are erased. There is a

perfect fusion of hearts and unconditionallove. That child will be your friend forever.You will remember them in your prayers andyou will know that, for them, God blessesyou in every prayer.”

Fernando Elias Perez Esteban Picazo, oneof the young volunteers, says: “Thisexperience was a gift from the Lord. It wasespecially wonderful to be able to be withthe children that the sisters take care of.Although many could not speak, they saideverything with their eyes. Theirs is a look oflove, joy, simplicity. A look that thanks youfor every little detail. Their eyes look justlike how God looks at us in this world:loving and hoping to be loved. There are somany things to learn from them.”

Pilgrims in the footsteps of Jesus

Besides being volunteers, these youngpeople also had the joy of being pilgrims.The first three days in the Holy Land weredays of pilgrimage in Galilee based inNazareth, a few meters from the Basilica ofthe Annunciation, in one of the houses of theSisters of the Rosary. We turn again toFernando who describes his experience inthe basilica: “This was the most special placefor me. Sitting there was like being present atthe time of the annunciation. I caught myselfthinking how God had entrusted a task ofsuch great importance to Nazareth, to a girlwho lived in such a modest house. But it is

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Voluntaryactivities withchildren in oneof the structuressupported bythe Order in theHoly Land.

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precisely in this that we see the greatness ofGod: he looks at the heart. And in the heartof Mary found a joyful yes, a totalabandonment to His love.”

On arriving in Bethlehem, which wastheir base for the remaining days ofvolunteering, some afternoons and eveningswere dedicated to visiting the holy places inBethlehem and Jerusalem. In particular, thenight between July 8 and 9, a group of 5volunteers accompanied by Maria Joséremained in prayer inside the Basilica of theHoly Sepulchre. “From 10 to midnight wewere able to stay and pray inside theaedicule. The rest of the night we were invarious holy places. We have prayed togetherand devoted time to personal prayer,” saidMaria José. A few hours later, the group waspreparing for another unique experience: tocelebrate the Eucharist inside the aedicule ofthe Holy Sepulchre. “It is not easy todescribe the emotion they each experiencedwhile we were in the place of theresurrection celebrating the Eucharist. Theywere 25 intense and emotion-filled minutesand everyone gave thanks to God for havinghad this opportunity,” explained Maria Joséwith joy.

At the end of the pilgrimage, the group ofvolunteers of the Lieutenancy for WesternSpain, together with a group of volunteersorganized by the Lieutenancy for Portugal(that is running the volunteer initiative forthe third year) had the opportunity to visitthe Latin Patriarchate and spend time with

Archbishop Pizzaballa who wanted to hearabout the experience that these young peoplehad lived and who also told them about theChristian presence in the Holy Land andabout the Order’s activities.

“A before and after in my life”

Nuria Garcia had already been in the HolyLand but “through the needs of others I feltvery close to Jesus. It was an unforgettablepilgrimage that undoubtedly marked a beforeand after in my life. Now I understand muchbetter why they call this Earth the FifthGospel.“

Sergio Hallado initially did not want to gowhen the volunteer pilgrimage was firstproposed to him. He had various reasons,including the economic aspect. But asolution was found thanks to the generosityof many. At the end of the experience hecommented: “I can only say three wordsabout the trip: unique, unforgettable andemotional. And this not only for theexperience itself but for the other people inthe group whom I already misstremendously. I would like to take thisjourney again, it changed my way of seeingthings and, even more than that, it changedmy life. Now I am more patient and morehelpful. This is why I wish to say to all thosewho have lived this experience with me andto those who organized it: THANK YOUEVERYONE, FROM THE BOTTOM OF MYHEART!” E.D.

Apostolic Administrator of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Abp. Pierbattista Pizzaballa, wished toexpress his gratitude to the young Spanish and Portuguese volunteers, officially receiving them at theheadquarters of his diocese.