Our Order attended the Vespers and Mass on the end of the Quarantore, the Forty Hours’ Devotion inside the Basilica of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, Valletta.
The vespers were celebrated by the Prior Rev. Alex Scerri O.Carm, the mass was celebrated by the Provincial Rev. Joe Saliba O.Carm.
A delegation composed of council members Comm. Raymond Mercieca, Comm. Michael Pace Ross and Dame Valentina Lupo accompanied H.E Roberto Buontempo to exchange Christmas greetings with His Grace Mgr. Charles J. Scicluna l, Archbishop of Malta and Grand Prior of the Maltese Lieutenancy and His Excellency Mgr. Joseph Galea-Curmi, Auxiliary Bishop of Malta.
The Maltese Lieutenancy held a Christmas Mass at Saint Mark’s Church, Rabat, organised by the Spiritual commission and celebrated by one of our ecclesiastical members Rev. Can. Chev. Robin Camilleri. Following mass, a reception was held at the Mdina Cathedral Museum with the kind support of Mgr. Edgar Vella. On entering the museum the attendees were invited to a private tour conducted by Rev. Can. Chev. Nicholas Doublet. The event was well attended by numerous members of the Council, members of the Order, postulants and family members.
On the personal invitation of the Patriarchal Exarch of Malta, Metropolitan Kyrillos of Krini, members of the Council representing our Lieutenant and Order, participated during special vespers held at St. Nicholas Church, Valletta.
The ceremony was presided by His All-Holiness the Archbishop of Constantinople and New Rome and Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, in the presence of His Grace Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna and other distinguished guests.
This was a historical moment for this was the first ever visit of the Head of all the Orthodox Church to Malta, marking 40 years from the establishment of the patriarchate.
Our Lieutenant, Roberto Buontempo, was invited to take part at the Solemn Investiture of 30 new Knights and Dames of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, held at the Basilica Sanctuary of the Incoronata Madre del Buon Consiglio in Naples. The ceremony was presided over by Cardinal Filoni, Grand Master, together with the Assessor Mons. Tommaso Caputo, Archbishop Prelate if Pompei and Grand Prior of the Lieutenancy, Archbishop Mons. Depalma.
The Lieutenant for Italia Meridionale Tirrenica, Giovanni Battista Rossi, joyfully welcomed the new Knights and new Dames together with the Chancellor of the Grand Magisterium, Ambassador Bastianelli and the other Lieutenants present (Italia Meridionale Adriatica, Italia Sicilia, Italia Sardegna, Switzerland and Malta).