Last Saturday 2^nd February 2019, Knights and Dames of the Maltese Lieutenancy participated in a liturgical celebration on the occasion of the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus Christ in the Holy Temple of Jerusalem.   This was held at St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta and was presided by His Excellency Mgr. Charles J. Scicluna, Archbishop of Malta and Grand Prior of the Maltese Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

On this occasion, H.E. Archbishop Scicluna, having been appointed Regent of the Maltese Lieutenancy by the Order’s Grand Master following the untimely departure of the previous Lieutenant of the Order H.E. Eric Fenech Pace, also officiated the ‘passaggio di consegna’, thereby officially handing over the reigns to H.E. Kt. Gr. Off. Roberto Buontempo who was recently appointed as the 3^rd Lieutenant of the Maltese Lieutenancy.

It is with immense pleasure that the EOHSJ Lieutenancy of Malta announces that His Eminence Cardinal Edwin O’Brien and the Grand Magisterium have approved the proposal made by our Regent and Grand Prior H.E. Mgr. Charles J. Scicluna KC*HS, to appoint His Excellency Roberto Buontempo KC*HS as the third Lieutenant of Maltese Lieutenancy.  His appointment is effective as of 1st January, 2019.

His Excellency Roberto Buontempo is a committed Christian, husband and father to one daughter. He has been a very active Chancellor within our Order representing our Lieutenancy at various functions both locally and overseas. Only last year he was also invited by our Regent to represent the Maltese Lieutenancy at the Consulta 2018. He is a Chartered Manager and holds professional fellowships with the Chartered Management Institute, the Institute of Supply Chain Management as well as the Royal Society of Arts, and has occupied the post of Director on a number of boards.  His Excellency has also just been appointed by our Archbishop to the position of Property Administrator for the Curia in Malta. 

As set forth in the order’s constitution, upon the appointment of a new Lieutenant, each member of the council yields office automatically.

The new council, constituted by the Lieutenant, and approved by the Grand Prior of the Lieutenancy & Presidency of the Grand Magisterium, is as follows:

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On the 23rd of September, the Maltese Lieutenancy held an investiture of five new Knights and a Dame. Our members were, for the second time in two years, honoured by the presence of our Cardinal Grand Master Edwin Frederick O’Brien who presided over the investiture in the presence of the new Apostolic Nuncio for Malta, and the Grand Prior Emeritus Mgr. Paul Cremona, Archbishop Emeritus of Malta.

The Cardinal Grandmaster with the Apostolic Nuncio Monsignor Alessandro D’Errico

During the investiture, the Lieutenant, H.E. Eric Fenech Pace presented the Cardinal Grandmaster with a custom made red Mitre with gold embroidery baring the cross of the Order on the front and the coat of arms of the Cardinal Grandmaster on both back strips.

The Cardinal Grandmaster wearing the new Miter

The investiture ceremony was preceded by the Vigil which was held at the St Mary of Jesus Church (Ta’ Ġieżu) the official base of the Maltese Lieutenancy, on Friday 22nd September at 7.00pm, this was presided over by Archbishop of Malta and Grand Prior of the Maltese Lieutenancy H.E. Charles J. Scicluna. His Excellency the Lieutenant, Knight Grand Cross Eric Fenech Pace and Chancellor Commander Roberto Buontempo, would like to thank all those who were involved in this important event as well as to the foreign delegates from Eastern Spain, Begium, Sicily, Italy, Netherland and Ireland.

Investiture 2017 group photo

On Sunday 24^th of September, the Cardinal Grandmaster was invited for lunch at the Lieutenant’s private residence together with the Council members of the Maltese Lieutenancy. During this event, His Eminence, donated his zucchetto (calotte) in exchange of the new one which came with the Mitre. A generous donation was presented by H.E. Eric Fenech Pace on behalf of the Lieutenancy of Malta to support the Holy Land.

The Maltese Lieutenant, H.E Eric Fenech Pace Kt.Gr.Off. and the Chancellor of the Lieutenancy, Comm. Roberto Buontempo KCHS paid a visit to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem on the 27 March 2017. The Vicar of Nazareth Bishop Giacinto Boulos Marcuzzo welcomed the two members of the Order and presented the Pilgrim Shell conferred by the Latin Patriarch. The Pilgrim Shell is presented to all Knights of the Equestrian Oder of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem when they visit the Holy Land as pilgrims. This trip was part of the outreach programme which the Maltese Lieutenancy is currently undertaking.

Bishop Marcuzzo presenting the Pilgrim certificate to Roberto Buontempo, Chancellor – Lieutenancy of Malta

H.E. Eric Fenech Pace, Lieutenant for Malta, H.E. the Vicar of Nazareth Bishop Giacinto Boulos Marcuzzo and Roberto Buontempo, Chancellor – Lieutenancy of Malta.

The Bishop Vicar of Nazareth, Mgr. Giacinto Boulos Marcuzzo, presenting the Pilgrim certificate to H.E. Eric Fenech Pace, Lieutenant for Malta

The 14th of September 2016 marked the 20th anniversary of the Lieutenancy of Malta. This important date represents the continuous commitment and efforts of the Council and members who, for the last two decades, endeavored to secure a prosperous future for our lieutenancy.  As part of the celebrations, the Council organised a commemorative event on which shall involve a thanksgiving mass at St Ursola Church in Valletta followed by a dinner at the Corinthia Palace in Attard.

Archbishop Emeritus of Malta, and Grand Prior Emeritus of the Maltese Lieutenancy, Mgr. Paul Cremona O.P, celebrated the anniversary mass together with two of our ecclesiastical members – Rev. Mgr. Kt.Comm. Lawrence Mifsud and Rev. Fr. Kt. John Muscat. St. Ursola church was packed with members of the Order, families, friends and the choir of nuns of the Cloistered Monastery of St Ursula who kindly accepted to take part during this important holy mass.

Upon arrival at the dinner venue, H.E. the Lieutenant, Knight Grand Office Eric Fenech Pace delivered a memorable speech where he thanked his predecessor, the Lieutenant Emeritus Knight Grand Cross Victor Licari, the members of the Council, members of the Order, their families and friends who constantly support the Maltese Lieutenancy.

This event was also a great opportunity for new prospective members of the Order to meet the dignitaries of the Maltese Lieutenancy while experience the synergistic and respect evidently present among our members. The celebrations ended with the cutting of a anniversary cake by H.E. the Lieutenant which was specifically prepared for this occasion.

His Grace, Archbishop Emeritus of Malta, Mgr. Paul Cremona O.P celebrating the anniversary mass

H.E. the Lieutenant Knight Grand Office Eric Fenech Pace (first from right)

First reading by Chev. Dr. Ruben Depasquale

Second reading by H.E. the Lieutenant Emeritus KtGrCross Victor Licari

Rev. Fr. Kt John Muscat con-celebrating mass together with Rev. Mgr. Kt.Comm.  Lawrence  Mifsud (on the left) and the Archbishop Emeritus

Group Photo – Knights and Dames of the Maltese Lieutenancy

Nuns of the cloistered monastery of St Ursola with the Archbishop Emeritus and the Lieutenants

H.E. the Lieutenant delivering a memorable speech before dinner

Members of the Orders and some prospective members during dinner

H.E. the Lieutenant cutting the anniversary cake.

The Maltese Lieutenancy held a Vigil and Investiture ceremony on the nine and ten of October 2015. Seven Knights were installed while several members were promoted to higher ranks and given awards for their work and contribution towards the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. The Cardinal Grandmaster H.E. Edwin F. O’ Brien presided over the the investiture ceremony. The Grand Prior of the Maltese Lieutenancy, Mgr. Charles J. Scicluna, Archbishop of Malta and the Grand Prior Emeritus Mgr. Paul Cremona, Archbishop Emeritus of Malta were also present.

Thanks to the leadership of His Excellency the Lieutenant as well as the members of the Council, these events were a complete success in terms of logistics as well as attendance. All the members of the Maltese Lieutenancy were also key to the success of such important event.

Photos from the event

Photo © Mr. EVGENIY BODISHTIANU

Photo © Mr. EVGENIY BODISHTIANU

Photo © Mr. EVGENIY BODISHTIANU

Photo © Mr. EVGENIY BODISHTIANU

Photo © Mr. EVGENIY BODISHTIANU

Photo © Mr. EVGENIY BODISHTIANU

It is with great pleasure that the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem Lieutenancy of Malta announces that an investiture of Knights will be held on Saturday the 10th of October 2015 at the St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta. This ceremony will be preceded by the Vigil which will take place at the St Mary of Jesus Church (Ta’ Ġieżu), the official base of the Maltese Lieutenancy. The Cardinal Grandmaster of the Order, Edwin Frederick O’Brien, will lead the investiture ceremony together with H.E The Grand Prior Mgr. Charles J. Scicluna, Archbishop of Malta, Knight Grand Officer and The Grand Prior Emeritus Mgr. Paul Cremona, OP, Archbishop Emeritus of Malta, Knight Grand Officer. The general public is cordially invited to these events. Those interested in attending are kindly requested to send an email to eohsj.malta@gmail.com.

St John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta © maltacultureguide

St Mary of Jesus Church (Ta’ Ġieżu), Valletta  © Francisco dos Santos

Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
Lieutenancy of Malta

On Sunday 2nd March 2014 Knights and Dames gathered at Palazzo Xara in Rabat for the Annual General Meeting. Initial prayers were followed by an introduction by H.E the Lieutenant Eric Fenech Pace who presided the meeting. Dame Commander Elizabeth Olivieri proceeded with the reading of the Minutes of the preious AGM. The meeting continued with the Lieutenant’s report for the year 2013, the presentation of accounts and the Calendar of Event for 2014.

From left to right- Comm Ray Cassar, H.E the Lieutentant Comm Eric Fenech Pace,Dame Comm Elizabeth Olivieri

Members of the Order together with their families took this opportunity to meet for lunch and get to know each other better in a more relaxed environment.

On the occasion of the Year of Faith, some 3,200 Knights and Dames of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem flocked to Rome from all-over the world for a three-day pilgrimage which took place between the 13^th and 15^th September 2013.

For this occasion, the Lieutenancy of Malta sent a delegation of 16 people made up of two dames, 6 knights and 6 friends of the Order. The delegation was led by H.E. the Lieutenant, Knight Grand Officer Eric Fenech Pace. During this event the Lieutenant had the unique opportunity to personally meet Pope Francis.

The pilgrimage opened with a High Mass celebrated in the magnificent basilica of San Paolo Fuori le Mura, which stands upon the holy tomb of the Apostle Paul. This was followed in the afternoon by an audience with Pope Francis, in the Pope Paul VI Audience Hall, who, while praising the Order for its commitment in supporting Christianity in the Holy Land, stressed that every Christian is personally responsible for the Holy Land.

On Saturday 14^th, the knights and dames attended a concelebrated high mass at the Vatican also celebrated by the Cardinal Grand Master of the Order, His Eminence Edwin. F. O’Brien. The pilgrimage was concluded on Sunday 15^th with another liturgical celebration and investiture of French and Brazilian knights and dames at the basilica of San Paolo Fuori le Mura.

Pope Francis greets the Delegates of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem

Delegates from the Lieutenancy of Malta led By H.E the Lieutenant Knight Grand Officer Eric Fenech Pace

Lay Master of Ceremonies Commander Ray Cassar together with other Delegates from the Maltese Lieutenancy and friends of the Order.