By Amanda Murthy

_{As of 2020, the growing Papal Order has 53 Lieutenancies: 24 in Europe, 15 in North America and Canada, five in Latin America and six in Australia and the Far East. On Saturday 30 January, four more members were installed to the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (EOHSJ), Western Australian Lieutenancy. Photo: Tony Stefanoff.}

The Equestrian Order of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (EOHSJ), Western Australian Lieutenancy, held its postponed 2020 Investiture services for new members and the promotion of current members in two ceremonies - Friday, 29 January and Saturday 30 January 2021 at Saint Mary’s Cathedral.

New members and promotions were approved by His Eminence Fernando Cardinal Filoni, Grand Master of the Order on 24 of September 2020 at the Vatican.

The Vigil service held on Friday, was a solemn occasion to contemplate on readings from the Old and New Testaments connecting the Orders tie with Jerusalem and with the Holy Sepulchre. The messages serve as the foundation for the four new candidates who publicly took their oath of promise to support the Christian presence in the Holy Land.

In addition, nine current members were awarded promotions for their ongoing service and commitment to the Order and a pilgrim shell, granted by the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, was given to members who fulfilled a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

The Mass on Saturday celebrated by Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB, who sits as Grand Prior of the Order, and concelebrated by Father Richard Smith KCHS, Fr Nicholas Nweke KHS, Fr Mariusz Grzech KHS and Fr Mark Rucci.

_{Perth Archbishop Timothy Costelloe SDB celebrated Mass and installed four new members to the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (EOHSJ), Western Australian Lieutenancy, on Saturday, 30 January 2021 at Saint Mary’s Cathedral. Photo: Amanda Murthy.}

At the start of Mass, Archbishop Costelloe formally invested four new members who were then robed with their cloaks and insignia – Dame’s Maureen De Wind and Maria Davies, Knight’s Nathan Peter Barnie and Allan Francis Dwyer.

EOHSJ WA Lieutenant Kevin Susai explained that “the cross which is emblazoned on the cloak is a symbol of the Order and testimony of our submission to the Cross of Christ bringing to our minds the wounds of Our Lord and the suffering in the Holy Land with His own blood.”

Archbishop Timothy began his homily, by explaining that while WA continues to deal with the COVID-19 crisis, the rise of violence and mental illness (particularly among the young) in the community, it is through our Christian faith, that “no matter how wayward and lost our society may at times seem to be, our faith teaches us, that every human being is created in the image and likeness of God and therefore is capable, with God’s grace, of overcoming evil and living life as God intended it to be lived.

“What we believe matters because what we believe sets the pattern, or should set the pattern, for our daily lives,” Archbishop Costelloe said.

“What we believe can give us direction and purpose.

“But faith is more than intellectual assent to certain truths. At the heart of faith is the matter of trust,” Archbishop Costelloe went on to state.

_{Archbishop Costelloe spoke about the importance of faith, hope and trust in a God who never leaves us, at the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (EOHSJ), Western Australian Lieutenancy, on Saturday, 30 January 2021 at Saint Mary’s Cathedral. Photo: Ron Tan.}

Drawing on the readings of the day, Archbishop Costelloe commended the newly installed knights and dames, for their act of courage and of trusting faith in joining existing members on their journey of common faith.

“This faith journey (of the new members) would have been, as it has for all of us, a journey with its ups and downs, a journey with its moments of clarity and its moments of uncertainty, a journey, perhaps, that has been marked at times by less than perfect fidelity,” the hopeful senior leader said.  

“But that they are here, and that we are all here, is a testimony to one of the most fundamental truths of our faith, found in the Second Letter to Timothy: We may be unfaithful but God is always faithful for God cannot disown his own self (2 Tim 2:3).

“May the witness of those who today commit themselves anew to God through this act of dedication renew in all of us our awareness of God’s love and God’s fidelity, and strengthen us as we continue to strive to be faithful to him,” Archbishop Costelloe concluded.

_{Dame Maureen De Wind stands with her family, who witnessed her installation along with three other new members, who are now members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (EOHSJ), Western Australian Lieutenancy, held on Saturday, 30 January 2021 at Saint Mary’s Cathedral. Photo: Tony Stefanoff.}

After the Mass, members old and new gathered at the Duxton Hotel for a celebratory lunch joined by Guest of honour Italian Consul in Perth Mr Nicolo Costantino, along with 75 members, family, friends and six Archdiocesan priests.

At present, there are around 30,000 members. The Order is the sole benefactor for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem to aid young people, persons with disabilities, orphanages, the poor and marginalised, education and the pursuit of justice and peace.