Our Lieutenant Roberto Buontempo was received yesterday by the Cardinal Grand Master Ferdinando Filoni and the Governor General Ambassador Leonardo Visconti di Modrone at Palazzo della Rovere in Rome, where discussions on the upcoming investiture and other Lieutenancy’s work were discussed.
Earlier today the Lieutenant paid a courtesy visit to our Grand Master Emeritus Cardinal Edwin O’Brien.
On Sunday 27 June, the Lieutenant together with the Chancellor Ray Cassar, received Bishop Athanasie together with members of the Romanian Community in Malta, at the Lieutenancy’s Church of Santa Maria Ta’ Doni in Rabat, Malta where the Order’s mission and work were discussed.
At the end of the meeting the Lieutenant presented Bishop Athanasie with Grand Master Cardinal Filoni’s book on the spirituality of the knights and dames of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. A number of copies were presented to the Parish Priest of the Romanian Orthodox Community in Malta, Fr George Alexandru Popescu, for use by members of the Community.
On Saturday 26 June the Lieutenant for Malta Roberto Buontempo, accompanied by the Secretary Chris Busuttil Delbridge, participated in a service organised by the Romanian Orthodox Community in Malta and presided by Bishop Athanasie from the Romanian Orthodox Diocese of Italy. This was held at the Church of St Rocco, Valletta.
On the occasion of the feast of St John the Baptist our Order participated in a Pontifical Mass at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta. The function was presided by our Grand Prior, His Grace Mgr. Charles J. Scicluna, Archbishop of Malta.
Their Excellencies Roberto Buontempo and Daniel de Petri Testaferrata, EOHSJ Lieutenant for Malta and SMOM (Malta) President respectively, led their members during the celebration. Members of the Maltese delegation of the Venerable Order of St John were also present.
Our Lieutenancy was invited to participate in the celebrations for the titular feast of the Heart of Jesus in Fontana, Gozo. On Saturday 19th June members attended the celebration for the Translation of the Relic of the Holy Cross and the First Solemn Vespers. Our members also attended the solemn Pontifical led by His Excellency Monsignor Bishop Anton Teuma, on Sunday 20 June 2021.
In 1264, Pope Urban IV instituted the feast of Corpus Christi, a special feast day to recognize and to promote the great gift of the Blessed Sacrament. A year earlier the Eucharistic Miracle of Bolsena (north of Rome) had happened and confirmed. He commissioned St. Thomas Aquinas to compose a Mass and an office for the Liturgy of the Hours honoring the holy Eucharist. St. Thomas Aquinas also composed the beautiful Eucharistic hymns “Panis Angelicus,” “Pange Lingua,” “O Salutaris Hostia” and “Tantum Ergo.” Around the world, brothers and sisters of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem are called every year to partake in the commemoration and celebration of this most generous miracle.
Today, members from our Lieutenancy took part in the commemoration and celebration of this most generous miracle. The mass was held at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Saint Paul, Mdina and was presided by our Grand Prior and Archbishop of Malta, H.G. Mgr. Charles J. Scicluna.
Their Excellencies Roberto Buontempo and Daniel de Petri Testaferrata, EOHSJ Lieutenant for Malta and SMOM (Malta) President respectively, led their members during the celebration.
Photo credit to Chev. Ian Noel Pace
The AGM was held on the 16th May 2021 and was presided by the Lieutenant Roberto Buontempo with the participation of the Council. A very good number of Members and Postulants followed the proceedings virtually. Special recorded messages by HG the Archbishop of Malta and Grand Prior Mons Charles Jude Scicluna, the Bishop of Sohag in Egypt Mons Thomas Habib, the Nuncio to Malta and Libya Mons Alessandro D’Errico and a concluding address by the Governor General Leonardo Visconti di Modrone, were shown.The AGM was held in the magnificent refectory at the Archbishop’s Curia in Floriana.
On the 8th May 2021 we commemorated the feast of the Blessed Virgin of the Rosary of Pompeii. Locally the devotion started in the Jesuits Church in Valletta soon after that in Pompeii.
Mgr. Charles J. Scicluna, Archbishop of Malta and Grand Prior of our Lieutenancy prayed the traditional supplika in front of the image of Our Lady of Pompeii. His Grace was assisted by Rev. Dr Nicholas Doublet, Rector of the Jesuits Church and an ecclesiastical member of our Order.
On this day we also remember the Blessed Bartolo Longo; founder of the Marian shrine in Pompeii and the only beatified lay member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre to date.
On the 5th May 2021 the Maltese Lieutenancy led by Lieutenant Roberto Buontempo were invited to a Solemn mass on the occasion of the feast of the Holy Cross at the Collegiate Basilica of Birkirkara.
The mass was celebrated by Mons. Paul Carmel Vella, Provost Archpriest of Birkirkara and an ecclesiastical member of our Order.
Photos by Mr Ronald Falzon and Mr Ivan Saliba.
Lent is a time of renewal, Metanoia (change of heart), a time of reflection by the religious practices of Prayer, Fasting and Works of Charity.
Ever heard of Metanoia? No? We invite you to read this beautiful Lenten Reflection