Centuries of Service to Christians in the Holy Land – The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is an ancient Catholic chivalric order of Knighthood, with the Pope as sovereign.
The specific mission of the Order is that of ‘animating zeal in the ecclesial community towards the Land of Jesus and sustaining the Catholic Church and the Christian presence there’.
The Order has 30,000 members worldwide, organized within Lieutenancies or Magistral Delegations.
The Lieutenancy of Ireland currently has 197 members, primarily lay faithful and some clergy, who have been invested Knights and Dames.
It is a registered Charity providing much needed aid to the Christian population, the ‘living stones’ in the Holy Land, by means of supporting Capital Investment projects, Humanitarian Aid initiatives and Pastoral Support activities.
In the past 18 months, members of the Lieutenancy of Ireland have donated €480,000 directly to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem’s parishes situated in Israel, The Occupied Palestinian Territories and Jordan.
In addition, Irish Knights and Dames have contibuted to a special international Order appeal to raise over €2m, to alleviate the enormous crisis in the region, resulting from the influx of refugees from Iraq and Syria and also the economic and health consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Cardinal Sean Brady is the current Grand Prior of the Lieutenancy of Ireland.
On Friday 22nd July 2022, His Excellency Bishop William Shomali, the General Vicar and Patriarchal Vicar for Jerusalem awarded promotions to nine members of the Order. On Saturday 23rd July 2022, His Excellency Peter Durnin, Lieutenant, awarded promotion to another member. On Saturday 23rd July 2022, Cardinal Brady invested four new members into the Order.
Newly invested Knights and Dames of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem – Lieutenancy of Ireland: Dame Aileen Sheridan (Dublin), Chevalier Rev. Derek Leonard (Dublin), Dame Fiona Kane (Wicklow), Chevalier Dermot Brennan (Meath) with Chevalier Thomas Kilduff (Cavan) Communications Officer holding the Order flag on the extreme left.. Seated at front, from left to right: His Excellency Peter Durnin, Lieutenant of Ireland; His Excellency Bishop William Shomali, the General Vicar and Patriarchal Vicar for Jerusalem; His Grace Eamon Martin, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland; His Eminence Cardinal Sean Brady, Grand Prior and Grand Officer Bishop Denis Nulty, Diocese of Kildare and Leighlin.
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