Golden Palm of Jerusalem presented to archbishop

By Jeff Graham

At the solemn Investiture of Knights and Ladies in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, Dr. Declan Lawlor presented Archbishop Raymond Roussin, SM, with the Golden Palm of Jerusalem on behalf of the Order.

Special to The B.C. Catholic William McCarthy, the new Lieutenant of the Vancouver-Canada Lieutenancy of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre Order, and Lady Dolores with Archbishops Roussin and Miller.

During a solemn Pontifical Mass offered by Archbishop Raymond Roussin, SM, and Archbishop J. Michael Miller, CSB, Oct. 20, three ladies and two knights were officially knighted and received the cross and mantle as members of the order.

Father John Horgan, pastor of Sts. Peter and Paul Parish and the Knight Commander of the Vancouver-Canada Lieutenancy of the order, had directed a vigil at which the ladies and knights had recited and signed their promise to the order.

At the investiture banquet at the Point Grey Golf Club, keynote speaker Archbishop Miller spoke about the challenges for the Church in this century, and William McCarthy was installed as the new lieutenant of the Vancouver-Canada Lieutenancy for the next four years.

The award presented to Grand Prior Archbishop Roussin recognized the dedication and support the lieutenancy had received from him in fulfilling its mandate to support the patriarch of Jerusalem.

The Order began in 1099, when Godfrey de Boullion answered the call of Pope Urban II to lead a crusade to free Christian shrines from Muslims. After he won back the Holy City and the Holy Sepulchre, he and his knights received their investiture at the Holy Sepulchre itself, and constituted a guard of honour at the shrine. This ancient ritual is now continued with the acceptance into the order of ladies and knights who are willing to contribute to the Church in the Holy Land.

The order, which has approximately 22,000 members worldwide, is responsible for 95 per cent of the operating expenses of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem, sustaining the diocese and helping provide schooling for Catholic children as well as taking on other projects.

The Vancouver lieutenancy has accepted as its prime responsibility providing bursaries and scholarships for 300 elementary boys and girls of Beit Sahour (The Town of Shepherds). It has established an Education Legacy Fund and accepts donations.

The lieutenancy has as ecclesiastic members three archbishops, two bishops, and 16 priests. In 1888 under Pope Leo XIII ladies began to be accepted, and half of the members in this lieutenancy are now ladies. Membership is by invitation only.