The Most Rev Bishop Marcuzzo explained that the mission of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre was to help and protect Christians in the Holy Land. Photo: Ron Tan.
Carrying the cross with dignity and courage in living and suffering for others was the focus of Auxiliary and Patriarchal Vicar for Israel and Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, Bishop Giancinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, last week.
Bishop Marcuzzo’s comments came during the Investiture Mass of Knights and Dames into the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem at St Mary’s Cathedral on 10 August.
The Investiture Mass, celebrated by Bishop Marcuzzo and concelebrated by Emeritus Archbishop Barry Hickey, saw the addition of three new Knights and two new Dames to the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, together with the promotion of two existing members to higher ranks within the order.
Bishop Marcuzzo emphasised that carrying the cross meant having to suffer for others and to be living witness of the Gospel by sharing the light and hope of the Resurrection with others. Photo: Ron Tan.
Delegated by Grand Master of the Order and Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Eminence Cardinal Edwin O’Brien and Apostolic Administrator of Jerusalem, the Most Rev Archbishop Pizzaballa OFM, Bishop Marcuzzo travelled across Australia attending the ceremonies of Investiture of Knights and Dames into the Order.
Speaking exclusively to The eRecord, Bishop Marcuzzo explained that the mission of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre was to help and protect Christians in the Holy Land.
“The Catholic Church wanted to concretise the responsibility, creating an order which takes care especially of the church, schools, priests, the seminary and sisters of the Holy Land and associations of the faithful.
“In the Middle East unfortunately, almost all the Christians want to emigrate, which would be a catastrophe for the Holy Land. We want to help Christians stay in the Holy Land and protect the Church in the land of Jesus, as the living witnesses of the Gospel,” he said.
Three new Knights and two new Dames were invested into the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. Photo: Ron Tan.
In his homily, Bishop Marcuzzo said to those present that the call to be a Knight or Dame of the Order requires a special commitment.
“The Holy Spirit has called you to have a special style of life and special commitment and to live a life according to a certain spirituality.
“You are a special kind of Christians. Why? Because you commit yourself to live in the light of the Resurrection and of the cross of Jerusalem,” he said.
“It is not only a motto or evangelical expression, but a style of life. What it means is to take care of Jerusalem. We have to save all the people by carrying our own cross now to participate in the Passion of Jesus Christ.”
The two new Dames of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre together with their sponsors. Photo: Ron Tan.
Bishop Marcuzzo emphasised that carrying the cross meant having to suffer for others and called for members of the Order to be living witness of the Gospel by sharing the light and hope of the Resurrection with others.
“The Christian life is a life for others. If I want to achieve and to realise happiness in my life, I have to live for others.
“Man doesn’t achieve happiness by being closed into himself. He has to live his life for others.
“Living for others sometimes means carrying the cross that is not yours. But like Jesus Christ, we have to carry the cross for others and in a sense, suffer and die to ourselves for the sake of others,” he concluded.
New Knights:
- Michael Buba KHS
- Aloysius Gasper KHS
- Railton Williams KHS
New Dames:
- Luanna Bong DHS
- Jennifer Cornelius DHS
Promotions:
- Derek Peters – Knight to Knight Commander
- Anna Wong – Dame to Dame Commander