Council members, Chev. Ray Cassar and Dame Valentina Lupo, recently visited the primary school children at Saint Margaret College in Vittoriosa to educate them about the history and mission of the Equestrian Order of Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. The children were eager to learn and ask questions, and it was heartwarming to see their excitement as they met a real Knight and Dame!
28-29/04/2023
Our Lieutenant, H.E. Roberto Buontempo, along with Chancellor Ray Cassar and Lay Master of Ceremonies Michael Pace Ross, along with their respective consorts, traveled to Sardegna to attend the annual meeting of Italian-speaking Lieutenants in Sassari.
Convened by the Governor General Ambassador Leonardo Visconti di Modrone, this traditional meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the general situation of the Order following the Grand Magisterium and to prepare for the next Consulta.
The presence of our representatives at this meeting in Sassari reinforces our belief in the importance of collaboration and communication within the Order.
On Saturday the Maltese Lieutenancy participated in the bi-annual investiture of Italia Sardegna presided by our Cardinal.
Our Order participated during the Holy Week activities on the 7th and 9th April, namely the Good Friday procession from Our Lady of Jesus (Ta’ Giezu) Church, where we walked through the streets of Valletta alongside the historical statues and the one of Senglea on the same day.
These processions are amongst the oldest in Malta, with hundreds of people participating and thousands more observing this important moment in the religious and traditional element of the country.
On Easter Sunday, we participated in the Solemn Mass of the Risen Lord at the Jesuits’ Church in Valletta.
We were truly honoured to be part of these important events and to contribute so that these cultural and religious traditions are kept alive.
We are honoured to have participated in the solemn Black Procession at the St Lawrence Parish Church in Birgu, where our Order led by our Lieutenant joined the faithful in Vespers, Mass, and Procession with the Insignia Relics of the Passion of the Christ. The solemn and moving procession paid tribute to the Lord’s sacrifice and ultimate triumph.
This old tradition has a rich history dating back to the 19th century. The procession is known in Maltese as the Purċissjoni s-Sewda and used to involve the participation of several people, men and women, all dressed in black, who were either penitents or else doing a penitence, sometimes by enduring severe sacrifices during the procession. Even the participating confraternity members used to dress in black.
Members of our Order participated during Palm Sunday’s Mass at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta. The function was presided over by our Grand Prior, Archbishop Charles J Scicluna.
