By Amanda Murthy
A call to be opened to the gift of God’s love, compassion and forgiveness was the core message of Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, DD, KC*HS during his homily at a Mass held for the Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem last week at St Mary’s Cathedral.
Held on Sunday 15 September, Archbishop Costelloe was joined by concelebrants Father Michael Cheah KCHS, Fr Richard Smith KCHS, and Fr Nicholas Nweke KHS.
Prior to the Mass, two Knights, Claude Josef Benjamen Coutinho KHS and Carl Philip Perrozzi KHS, along with Dame Anna Hoe DHS were officially inducted into the Order of the Holy Sepulchre with an investiture ceremony.
Archbishop Costelloe, appointed by the Vatican as Grand Prior of the Lieutenancy of Western Australia, represented Cardinal Grand Master of the Order, Edwin Cardinal O’Brien for the occasion.
The candidates were required to journey through a process, attending a Vigil Service the night before which involved a public signing of personal oath of allegiance to the Pope and to the Order’s mission to seek personal faith development by practise of Christian Charity to the people of the Holy Land.
The Vigil Service also saw promotions within the Order, which included Jack Gardner to Knight Grand Cross of the Holy Sepulchre (KGCHS), Eric Coutinho, Dr Paul Skerritt, Colin Lanza and Paul Seah Chin Hua to Knight Commander of the Holy Sepulchre (KCHS), Janet Gardner to Dame Grand Cross of the Holy Sepulchre (DGCHS) and Dr Margaret Skerritt to Dame Commander of the Holy Sepulchre (DCHS).
In his homily during the Mass on the Sunday, Archbishop Costelloe congratulated the new members, then reflected on the Gospel reading for the day from St Luke – recounting three stories Jesus had told of the lost sheep, the lost coin and the lost son.
“When you put these three stories together, we are confronted with the question that Jesus wants us to ponder on in our hearts, ‘Do I really believe that God is who Jesus says He is – a loving, forgiving and compassionate God,” he said.
“Today, we induct two knights and one dame into the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem and we heard them proclaim that they want to bear witnesses to Christ.
“Well this is the Christ to whom we witness, this is the God whom we proclaim –
A God of extraordinary love, a God of unbelievable compassion and unending forgiveness.”
Archbishop Costelloe concluded by inviting those present to pray for one another to gain the courage to commit their lives to God – to walk in His ways, believe in His truth and imitate the life of Christ.
At the conclusion of Mass, WA Lieutenant Kevin Susai KC*HS delivered a speech, expressing his heartfelt thanks to all involved in making the ceremony and Mass an occasion to cherish.
“Can I also ask that you remember the Archbishop (Costelloe) in your prayers,” he said.
“That he will continued to be filled with the Holy Spirit and will be empowered as he continues the mission of Christ, especially with the upcoming Youth Festival as well as the Plenary Council,” Lieutenant Susai concluded.
Recognised as a Knightly Order of Christian Chivalry and a Papal Order of the Church, the Order was established in Australia-Western back in 1985.
It remains the only lay institution of the Vatican State (accepting only several religious members) charged with the task of providing for the needs of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and of all the activities and initiatives to support the Christian presence in the Holy Land.
Presently, there are lieutenancies extended across New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland and South Australia.