It is with immense pride and pleasure that
we announce what marks a very important milestone in the history our
Order.
The Official Premises of the Maltese Lieutenancy of the EOHSJ in Merchants Street, Valletta.
For the first time in its history, the Maltese Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem now has its Official Premises in the heart of our Capital City, Valletta.
This was only possible with the help of our beloved Grand Prior, His Grace Mgr. Knight Grand Officer Charles J. Scicluna, Archbishop of Malta, Adjunct Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
Archbishop Scicluna signed the agreement granting us use of the property earlier this week on the 15th May 2019, which coincidentally happened to be his birthday, in the presence of H.E. Roberto Buontempo, Lieutenant for Malta, and Chev. Michael Pace Ross, Administrative Secretary of the Archdiocese of Malta, also a member of our Order.
H.E. Roberto Buontempo is seen here presenting His Grace with a small gift, a hand painted crest of our Order, to commemorate this occasion.
The Vigil at Arms and Investiture Ceremonies of the Maltese Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem were held on the 10th & 11th May 2019 respectively in the presence of our Lieutenant, H.E. Roberto Buontempo.
We were honoured by the presence of His
Eminence Cardinal Edwin Frederick O’Brien, Grand Master of the Order, this
being his 3rd visit to Malta on the occasion of our last three
consecutive investitures.
Both occasions were also attended by Representatives
of other Lieutenancies including:
H.E. Ing. Maurizio Russo KGCHS
– Lieutenant of Sicily
Comm. John McDermott KGCHS –
representing the Lieutenant of England & Wales
Comm. David Tabarracci KCHS –
Delegate of Lucca, Lieutenancy of Central Apennine Italy
Comm. Tiago Teles de Abreu
KCHS – representing the Lieutenant of Portugal
Knights and Dame to be invested seen here during the Vigil Ceremony
The Vigil at Arms Ceremony
The Vigil at Arms Ceremony was held on
Friday 10th May 2019 at the St. Mary of Jesus (Ta’ Ġieżu) Church,
Valletta. This was presided by His Grace
Mgr. Knight Grand Officer Paul Cremona, OP, Archbishop Emeritus of Malta and
Grand Prior ad Honorem of the Maltese Lieutenancy.
This ceremony served as a time of solemn
prayer for the Knights, Dame and Clergy to be invested, as well as for all
members of the Order, in preparation for the Investiture.
On this occasion the following promotions
were conferred:
To Commander with Star,
Commander Ray Cassar
To Commander with Star,
Commander Charles Mifsud
To Commander, Knight Glen
Farrugia
To Commander, Knight Marino
Egisto Paolucci
To Commander, Knight Frederick
Schembri
To Commander, Knight George
Scicluna
To Dame Commander with Star,
Dame Commander Elizabeth Olivieri
and the following awards were given:
Chev. Raymond Zammit – Bronze Palm of Jerusalem
Dame Marianne Zammit – Bronze Palm of Jerusalem
Mrs. Mariella Fenech Pace – Cross of Merit of
the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
Mrs. Rosanne Licari – Cross of Merit of the
Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem
The ceremony was
followed by a reception at Palazzo Messina in Valletta.
The Investiture Ceremony
His Eminence Cardinal Grand Master Edwin Frederick O’Brien
The Investiture Ceremony was held on Saturday 11th May 2019 at St. John’s Co-Cathedral, Valletta. This was celebrated by His Eminence Cardinal Grand Master Edwin Frederick O’Brien.
His Grace Mgr. Knight Grand Officer Charles J. Scicluna
Major Concelebrants included His Grace Mgr.
Knight Grand Officer Charles J. Scicluna, Archbishop of Malta, Adjunct
Secretary of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith and Grand Prior of
the Maltese Lieutenancy and His Grace Mgr. Knight Grand Officer Paul Cremona,
OP, Archbishop Emeritus of Malta and Grand Prior ad Honorem of the Maltese
Lieutenancy.
The ceremony was also attended by H.E. The Noble Daniel de Petri Testaferrata,
President of the Maltese Association of the Sovereign Military and Hospitaller
Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta.
H.E. Roberto Buontempo with H.E. The Noble Daniel de Petri Testaferrata
On this occasion, the following were
invested:
Knights – Mr. Roger DeGaetano, Mr. Marco Ortica, Mr.
Michael Pace Ross
Dame – Mrs. Louisa Depasquale
Ecc. Knight – Mgr. Paul Carmel Vella, Provost Archpriest of B’Kara, Canon ad
honorem of the Metropolitan Cathedral Chapter
Ecc. Knight Grand Officer –
His Lordship Mgr. Joseph Galea Curmi, Auxiliary
Bishop of Malta, Titular Bishop of
Cebarades
The ceremony was followed by a Gala Dinner
held at the Casino Maltese in Valletta.
The Maltese Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem took part in the annual Good Friday procession organised by the Franciscan Church of St. Mary of Jesus (Ta’ Giezu).
Last Sunday, 7th April 2019, the Maltese Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem organised a Thanksgiving Mass at the Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish Church in Fontana, Gozo.
Mass was celebrated by Fontana’s Parish Priest, our confrere Rev. Fr. Kt. Comm. John Muscat, and concelebrated by Rev. Fr. Dr. Nicholas J. Doublet. After mass, the Fontana Parish kindly organised a pre-lunch drinks and canapés in honour of our new Lieutenant H.E. Kt. Gr. Off. Roberto Buontempo.
The attending knights and dames, accompanied by family and friends, had a very pleasant lunch at the Grand Hotel in Mgarr, Gozo.
On the 21st March 2019, our Confrere, Chev. Dr. Charles A. Gauci KHS, upon recommendation of the Hon. Prime Minister and the Cabinet Secretary, was appointed by Heritage Malta as Malta’s first Chief Herald of Arms. We would like to congratulate him on his well deserved appointment and wish him all the luck in his new role.
The members of the Maltese Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem would like to congratulate their Confrere, H.E. Mgr. Paul Cremona KC*HS, Archbishop Emeritus of Malta and Grand Prior Ad Honorem of the Lieutenancy on the occasion of the 50th Anniversary since his Ordination to priesthood. We wish him well in the many years to come. Ad multos annos!
On Sunday 17th March 2019, the Lieutenancy of Malta held its Annual General Meeting at Porziuncola Retreat House, Baħar iċ-Ċagħaq. This was presided by H.E. Roberto Buontempo, the Lieutenant, and was very well attended by members. Healthy discussions ensued concentrating on how members can help the Lieutenancy, through prayer as well as financial means, in supporting the proposed projects needed by the Latin Patriarchate in the Holy Land. The meeting was followed by Holy Mass and a very enjoyable lunch together with family and friends of the Order.
On the 23rd of February 2019, H.E. The Lieutenant, Roberto Buontempo, accompanied by the Vice Chancellor, Commander Ray M. Cassar, attended an investiture ceremony in the Cathedral of Palermo as the honoured guests of the Lieutenant of Italia-Sicilia, H.E Maurizio Russo. The ceremony which saw the investiture of a good number of knights, dames, priests and even bishops, was conducted by the Cardinal Grand Master, His Eminence Edwin O’Brien, in the presence of H.E. the Governor General, Leonardo Visconti di Modrone.
This occasion served, amongst other things, to strengthen the links that exist between Malta and Sicily and to form new ones with the Lieutenancy of Italia Centrale Appenninica, represented by H.E. Giuseppe Michele Marrani.
Last Saturday 2nd 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 3rd 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:
