An official visit to the EOHSJ Headquarters in Rome by His Excellency Roberto Buontempo, Lieutenant, took place this week. The lieutenant had a number of formal cordial meetings during this visit, including meetings with His Eminence Fernando Cardinal Filoni, Grand Master; His Excellency Leonardo Visconti di Modrone, Governor General; and Fr Maxim Baz, Ecclesiastical Assistant to the Grand Magisterium. All these meetings were held at Palazzo Della Rovere on the 20th and 21st February.

Among other topics discussed, our upcoming Investiture Ceremony in April 2020, featured prominently. It is worth remembering that the Maltese Lieutenancy will be honoured to receive His Eminence the Cardinal Grand Master, who will be presiding over our Investiture Ceremony, and that this will be his first investiture outside of Italy since he took on his his new role as Grand Master in January.

On Wednesday 12th February the Maltese Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem organised a public lecture on Heraldry and Nobility in Malta.

This was delivered by Dr Charles Gauci, the first Chief Herald of Malta, an international expert on Heraldry, as well as a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. 

At the end of his talk Dr. Gauci presented H.E. Roberto Buontempo, our Lieutenant, with his personal coat of arms which, apart from the Buontempo arms, also depicts the Jerusalem Cross. It is worth noting that this is the first Coat of Arms to be registered in Malta. 

Donations collected on the night will go towards the projects in the Holy Land which are being supported by our Lieutenancy. 

The lecture was held at the Aula Prima of the University Campus in Valletta, the complimentary use of which was offered by the University of Malta in support of our cause. 

On 16 January 2020, Cardinal Fernando Filoni, the new Grand Master of the Order, was officially welcomed to Palazzo della Rovere, the Rome headquarters of the Grand Magisterium, during a hand-over ceremony in which his predecessor Cardinal Edwin O’Brien also participated.

On Thursday 19th December, following an invitation received by the Lieutenant, a delegation composed of HE Kt. Gr. Off. Roberto Buontempo, Lieutenant; Chev. Dr. Ruben Depasquale, Chancellor; Chev. Christopher Busuttil Delbridge, Secretary; and Chev. Michael Pace Ross, Lay Master of Ceremonies, exchanged Christmas greetings with His Grace Mgr. Kt. Gr. Off. Charles J. Scicluna Archbishop of Malta and Grand Prior of the Maltese Lieutenancy and His Excellency Mgr. Kt. Gr. Off. Joseph Galea-Curmi Auxiliary Bishop of Malta at the Archbishop’s Palace in Valletta.

On Thursday 12th December 2019, the Maltese Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem held its Annual Christmas Gathering. Thanks to the benevolence of our Grand Prior, His Grace Archbishop Charles J. Scicluna, this event took place at the Archbishop’s Curia in Floriana. Mass at the Curia Chapel was followed by a reception in the Refectory. This event was well attended by members and postulants alike along with their families. All proceeds from this event will go to the project being supported by the Maltese Lieutenancy in the Holy Land.

By decision of the Holy Father, His Eminence Cardinal Fernando Filoni has been appointed Grand Master of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre starting this December 8 2019, Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception.

We publish below the official communiqué of His Eminence Cardinal Edwin O’Brien, Grand Master of the Order since 2012, who concludes his mandate a few months after reaching the age of 80.

“It is with complete acceptance and appreciation that I welcome the decision of Pope Francis to replace me as Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. I am especially pleased that His Holiness has appointed His Eminence Fernando Cardinal Filoni as my successor.

I have been privileged well beyond the time of my letter of resignation, submitted over five years ago. Throughout my more than eight years as Grand Master, my personal faith and love of our Church have deepened as I have witnessed our members’ commitment to the goals of our Order, expressed in different cultures and languages, all profoundly Catholic!

I am most grateful to the two Governors General with whom I have served, Their Excellencies, Professor Agostino Borromeo and Ambassador Leonardo Visconti di Modrone. Our collaborators in the Grand Magisterium and the daily, dedicated service of our office staff largely account for the steady growth of our Order. Their commitment to our lieutenancies and to the mission of the Latin Patriarchate has been unwavering.

Finally, I welcome His Eminence, Cardinal Filoni as Our Grand Master. His long and broad pastoral and administrative experience in service to the Universal Church will be precious assets as he leads our Order into the future. I offer him my full and fraternal support as I beg the continued intercession of Our Lady of Palestine.”

[Write-up reproduced from the Official EOHSJ Grand Magisterium website:

http://www.oessh.va/content/ordineequestresantosepolcro/en/gran-magistero/il-gran-magistero/news-dal-gran-magistero/benvenuto-al-nuovo-gran-maestro.html]

On Friday 1st November, All Saints Day, the Maltese Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem attended a Pontifical Mass at St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta.  Mass was celebrated by His Grace Mons. Charles J. Scicluna, Archbishop of Malta and Grand Prior of our Order. 

A number of members and postulants of the Order attended along with H.E. Roberto Buontempo, our Lieutenant.  Members of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, including their Ambassador to Malta,  were also present. 

On Sunday 15th September members of the Maltese Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem attended a procession followed by Holy Mass held at St. Mary of Jesus (Ta’ Giezu) Church in Valletta on the occasion of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Cross.

On Sunday 8th September members of the Maltese Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, together with H. E. Knight Grand Officer Roberto Buontempo, our Lieutenant, attended the Capitular Mass held at St. John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta on the occasion of the Solemnity of the Birth of Our Lady, Mother of the Redeemer and Queen of Victories.

This important occasion was also very well attended by our confreres and consoeurs from the Maltese Association of the Sovereign Military and Hospitaller Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta.