By this time the news has made therounds. And what good news it is:Ambassador Leonardo Visconti di

Modrone has become the new GovernorGeneral of the Equestrian Order of theHoly Sepulchre of Jerusalem. We arevery blessed and grateful to theAmbassador for accepting thischallenging call.

Not that our new Governor General isa stranger to challenge! Anaccompanying biographical summary inthis issue will detail his long anddistinguished diplomatic career inservice to Italy. Indeed, he took up thesenew responsibilities soon after serving asprincipal consultant on behalf of the hostnation for the G7 Summit which tookplace in Taormina the end of last May.

Interestingly, the Visconti and Borromeofamilies have been close friends for manygenerations of strong Milanese Catholic bonds.The Ambassador’s ancestors number 7Archbishops of Milan and one Pontiff, PopeGregory X (Tebaldo Visconti), from 1272 to1276. More to the point, he now enters officewith impressive experience in areas where themajority of our Lieutenancies are located:Europe, the Americas, the Middle East andAsia. (There’s hardly a modern language hedoes not speak!)

He begins duties humbly aware of the“learning curve” ahead and with thecompetent assistance of Governor GeneralEmeritus Borromeo will navigate the months

ahead, most anxious to listen and to meet asmany of our Lieutenancies as his energies andschedule allow.

The blessings that have come to us underthe extraordinary leadership of ProfessorAgostino Borromeo will continue, in God’sProvidence, under Ambassador LeonardoVisconti. We gladly and gratefully welcomehim, his wife Anna into our family, along withtheir three daughters and six grandchildren.

I know how encouraged he is and willcontinue to be by the many expressions ofsupport he is receiving. (Hopefully, ourreaders will view a short video on HisExcellency’s accession, Renewal in Continuity,on YouTube).

Edwin Cardinal O’Brien

Reflections of the Grand Master

www.oessh.va

N° 47 SUMMER 2017

@granmagistero.oessh @GM_oessh

ordinis equestris sancti sepulchri hierosolymitani

jerusalem cross

Newsletter

The new Governor General, Ambassador Visconti diModrone, welcomed by his predecessor, Professor Borromeo.

Eminence, in your role in chargeof the Congregation for OrientalChurches, what would you see

as the priorities in providing supportto Christians living in the vast biblicalterritories?I often receive groups of Catholics led by

their bishops, eager to express theirgenerosity to their brothers and sisters of theEast. Benefactors want to know ourpriorities. Promoting the fullness of religious

freedom of Christians is part of the issues atstake, especially in Muslim majoritycountries. Eastern bishops work with us, sothat governments legislate in this directionand so that all citizens are treated in thesame way. I also insist on the importance ofCatholic schools in the Holy Land, forexample, as they are a source of dialogueand peace in society. Without the economicsupport of the universal Church, theseschools would not survive: the competition

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The Order in Union with the Universal Church

“We must show EasternChristians our closeness”

The Order in Union withthe Universal Church

Proceedings of the Grand Magisterium

The Order and the Holy Land

The Life of the Lieutenancies

c o n t e n t s

IMPRESSUM GRAND MAGISTERIUM OF THE EQUESTRIAN ORDER OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE OF JERUSALEM00120 VATICAN CITY

E-mail: comunicazione@oessh.va

An interview with Cardinal Leonardo Sandri, Prefectof the Congregation for Oriental Churches.

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“WE MUST SHOW EASTERN CHRISTIANSOUR CLOSENESS” II

SHEPHERDS AND MEMBERS OF THE ORDER,HONORED BY THE POPE’S TRUST V

IN ROME THE EXHIBITION “MENORAH: WORSHIP,HISTORY AND MYTH” V

“I WANT TO SERVE THE ORDER IN CONTINUITYWITH MY PREDECESSOR” VII

NORTH AMERICAN LIEUTENANTS’ MEETING:A CHANCE TO GET TOGETHER AND SHARE X

ANNUAL MEETING OF EUROPEAN LIEUTENANTSAND THE WELCOME OF THE NEW GOVERNORGENERAL XII

NEW APPOINTMENTS BY THE GRAND MASTER XVTHE GRAND MASTER’S CALENDAR XVI

NEW APPOINTMENTS FOR THE LATINPATRIARCHATE OF JERUSALEM XVII

A MOSAIC LABORATORY SERVING REFUGEESIN JORDAN XVIII

THE “THANK YOU” OF THE CHILDREN OFBETHLEHEM TO THE MEMBERS OF THE ORDER XIX

THE THOUSAND FACES OF THE HOLY LAND:SUMMER 2017 XX

PRAYING FOR PEACE IN THE HOLY LAND XXI

THE ENGAGEMENT OF THE ORDER OF THE HOLYSEPULCHRE IN THE AMERICAN CONTINENT XXII

is very strong and many teachers preferprivate institutes that are able to pay thembetter. Another challenge is emigration fromthe Middle East. Christians leave the areabecause of insecurity, so their absenceunbalances the countries. We must work torestore trust and this happens every time webuild bridges of friendship where we live.Finally, we need to show Eastern Christiansour closeness and to support them morally,as do the Knights and Dames of the Orderby going on pilgrimage to the Holy Land andmeeting the local communities that formpart of the “Mother Church”.

Each year, you coordinate the GoodFriday collection, which involves thewhole Church. How are the fruits ofthis action of solidarity shared?All the dioceses in the world deliver the

outcome of these collections to Rome: 65%goes to the Franciscan Custody for themaintenance of the holy places; 35% isassigned to our Congregation for OrientalChurches Projects, which – we can say –extend from Ukraine to Iraq, from EasternEurope to Mesopotamia ... This is certainlynot enough, but fortunately someInstitutions are dedicated throughout theyear to supporting these Christians who areoften in difficult economic situationsbecause of the various conflicts that woundthe world. Some good news is that of theprogressive return of Christians in the

Nineveh Plain: many are returning to theirliberated villages and there is the effort ofhelping reconstruct their homes and theirchurches.

The Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalemoccupies a special place in the heartof the universal Church. How is thepastoral care of the Catholic Churchin the Holy Land, partly coordinatedby the Franciscan Custody,articulated?Christians throughout the whole world go

on a pilgrimage to “see Jesus” by retracinghis steps in the Holy Land, where he livedand gave his life. The popes entrusted theseholy sites to the Franciscans, through theCustody, whose mission extends far beyondthe territory of the Latin diocese ofJerusalem. This patriarchal diocese –reconstituted at the end of the 19th century– today expresses the identity of a localchurch gathered around its bishop, withoutlosing that universal openness that hasalways characterized the vocation of theholy city of Jerusalem. It is the formerFranciscan Custos Msgr. PierbattistaPizzaballa who leads the patriarchal diocese,that stretches from Cyprus to Jordan,passing through Palestine and Israel. TheMother Church of Jerusalem is at the centerof our concerns in Rome, and I would like tothank the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, forwithout its help the life of the Latin

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During hisrecent visitto Jordan,CardinalLeonardoSandri metwith someMiddleEasternrefugeessupportedby the localCaritas.

Patriarchate would be impossible, especiallywith regard to the seminary, Catholicschools and all the pastoral activities ofevangelization. It is also important toemphasize the importance of the work doneby the Order for Hebrew-speaking Catholics,also present in Israel. In the areas ofeducation, assistance and protection of theChristian presence in the Holy Land there isan effective collaboration between thePatriarchal Diocese and the Custody of theHoly Land, while maintaining the shrinesand serving the pilgrims is almost entirelyentrusted to the Franciscans.

The Order of the Holy Sepulchrecollaborates with you through theReunion of Aid Agencies for theOriental Churches known as “Roaco”,which you preside over. What is thiscommittee’s role?Indeed, the Order of the Holy Sepulchre

is part of Reunion of Aid Agencies for theOriental Churches, a coordinating bodyestablished in 1968. It brings togetherseveral Catholic agencies and institutionsoperating alongside the Catholic Churches,Oriental and Latin, in the territoriesfollowed by the Congregation. Every yearwe gather to reflect together on someparticular themes or to focus on precisegeographic areas - even though the HolyLand is usually always among them. And itis also an opportunity to verify thewillingness to support various aid projects inpastoral outreach, education, health care oremergencies, as we have unfortunately seenin recent years in Syria, Iraq, and Ukraine.The Holy Father wants the help given to theHoly Land be understood in a broad sense,integrating all of the biblical territories. Weare especially grateful to the Order, who alsoduring the last meeting – its 90th to beaccurate – expressed its support for severalprojects, in addition to the trulyextraordinary and praiseworthy commitmentto the life of the Latin Patriarchate ofJerusalem. This year we wanted to reflect on

the formation of priests in the Middle Eastin particular, to foster the preservation oftheir respective cultures and traditions infull unity with the universal Church. Sincethe birth of the Congregation for OrientalChurches, established by Pope Benedict XVone hundred years ago, the formation of theclergy has always been a priority, becausethe people of God needs shepherds. Thatwas the theme of our last Roaco meeting.

How would you envision theevolution of relations between theCongregation for Oriental Churchesand the Order of the Holy Sepulchre?There is an existential connection

between our Congregation and the Order ofthe Holy Sepulchre. Relations have beenstrengthened thanks to Cardinal EdwinO’Brien – Grand Master of the Order – andthe outgoing Governor General AgostinoBorromeo, two personalities who haveencouraged aid to the Oriental Churches,also in the name of the Order’s commitmentto serving the Holy Land. I would like toexpress our profound gratitude to theKnights and Dames of the Order for thiseffort: they are witnesses to the resurrectionand joy of the Lord, especially in today’stimes when we face the problem of refugeesin the Middle East, trying to supportfamilies fleeing from the areas of war and tofuel their hope of returning to the lands oftheir ancestors. I would like to express mygreetings and my warm wishes to Prof.Borromeo’s successor, AmbassadorLeonardo Visconti of Modrone.

Interview by François Vayne

You can access the full interview on our partnerwebsite Vatican Insider, by following this link.

EDITORIAL NOTEOn May 31, Archbishop Pizzaballa, ApostolicAdministrator of the Latin Patriarchate ofJerusalem, was appointed by Pope Francis asa member of the Congregation for OrientalChurches.

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On the occasion of the Consistory lastJune, Pope Francis appointed theBishop of Stockholm, His Eminence

Anders Arborelius, Knight Grand Cross andGrand Prior of Honor of the Lieutenancyfor Sweden and Denmark, a cardinal. TheGrand Master, Cardinal Edwin O’Brien, wasable to congratulate the first ScandinavianCardinal personally, expressing his joy inseeing the growing development of theOrder in Scandinavia.

Among the recent highlights announcedby the Holy Father, two other eminentmembers of the Order were honored by histrust: the new president of the ItalianBishops’ Conference in the person ofCardinal Gualtiero Bassetti – Archbishop ofPerugia, Knight Grand Cross and Prior ofUmbria section – as well as the new Vicarof the Pope for the Diocese of Rome, Msgr.Angelo De Donatis, a member of the Orderfor thirty years. We entrust the mission ofthese shepherds to the intercession of the

Virgin Mary, Our Lady of Palestine, Patronof the Order of the Holy Sepulchre.

Jerusalem and Rome. There are so manyelements linking these two cities. Anexhibition hosted in the Charlemagne

Wing in the Vatican and in the JewishMuseum of Rome from May 16 to July 23 -the first born of a collaboration between theVatican City State and the Jewishcommunity of Rome – is emphasizing one:the Menorah.

A seven-armed candelabrum made ofpure gold by Moses following the detailedinstructions received from the Lord, theMenorah was then placed in the first Temple

of Jerusalem. Over the centuries this object,whose pilgrimage has accompanied those ofthe people of Israel, has become a strongsymbol of Jewish culture and religion.

The Menorah metaphorically conjures upthe light of the Lord, who through the Torahleads man to spiritual fullness, and thenumber seven of arms has led many to see aclear link with the biblical Shabbat, theseventh day of the week.

Historian Flavio Giuseppe recounts Tito’striumphal entry to Rome after the victory inIsrael, culminating in the destruction of the

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Shepherds and members of theOrder, honored by the Pope’s trust

In Rome the exhibition “Menorah:worship, history and myth”

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The new Cardinal Anders Arborelius, a Swedishmember of the Order, in the company of theGrand Master during the Consistory in Rome,June last.

second Temple of Jerusalem in 70 AD,and among the objects brought toRome, he also describes the famousseven-armed candelabrum. It is alsocarved into the Triumphal Archerected at the foot of the Palatine Hill,the Arch of Tito (81-82 AD). It wasthen placed in the Temple of Peacebuilt by Vespasian at the Forum. In the5th century with the sack of Rome bythe Vandals, all traces of the Menorahwere lost and all the hypotheses ofwhere it was brought became the stuffof legend.

What remains, however, is the valueassociated with this symbol, sometimeseven in the Christian world, especiallyin the medieval age, in the liturgicalcontext, but above all in the Jewish onewhere it is a carrier of spiritualsignificance and identity to the pointthat it was chosen as the main element inthe coat of arms for the State of Israel. Inaddition to the vicissitudes of history, the

Menorah remains for us all an invitation tobe bearers of the light of the living God.

Elena Dini

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The seven-armed candelabrum, forged on the basis ofthe divine indications given to Moses, was taken byRoman troops from the Temple of Jerusalem. All tracesof this object were definitively lost with the sack of Romeby the vandals led by Genseric.

Excellency, as you settle into therole of Governor General of theEquestrian Order of the Holy

Sepulchre, what are you innermostsentiments?I have some trepidation, being well aware

that this is a very important office withinthe Church in the service of our brothersand sisters in the Holy Land. ProfessorAgostino Borromeo has devoted hisprofessional life to the history of the Churchand has always viewed his commitment tothe Order as an ecclesial mission, so he wasvery well suited to taking on theresponsibility of the Governorship for twoterms. We must pay homage to him as heleaves a healthy legacy: we have never hadso many members and so many donations.My experience is very different, as I haveserved my country in the diplomatic serviceas an ambassador and this has allowed me toestablish many important internationalrelations. I trust that this will be useful toour pontifical institution which is universalin dimension. However, I still have a lot tolearn from my consoeurs and my confrères,Dames and Knights all over the world, and Icount on Agostino Borromeo to accompanyme, especially in the first phase of my four-year term. I want to serve the Order incontinuity with my predecessor.

You mentioned your diplomatic

experience. In what way would yousee it as being valuable to exercisingyour new role, alongside the GrandMaster, at the head of the Order?Lieutenancies and Magistral Delegations

that structure the life of the Order on allcontinents are somewhat equivalent toembassies for a government. Looking at themap of our peripheral structures, in manycountries, I think of my work that has been,for over forty years, in dialogue with amultilateral diplomatic network. I cantherefore make this dialogue experienceavailable to promote cooperation, exchange,coherence in action and a dynamic ofcommunion between all and everyone. I willhave to visit the Lieutenants, keep in touchwith our local leaders in continuity withwhat Professor Borromeo accomplished andin accordance with the directives of ourGrand Master appointed by the Holy Father,His Eminence Cardinal Edwin O’Brien. Hehimself sets the example by frequentlytraveling to meet our members and toencourage their spiritual life and theirmission of service to the Mother Churchwhich is in the Holy Land. His visits, inrecent years, have revitalized the Order in atruly exceptional way.

Your right-hand-man in all of this,Ambassador Alfredo Bastianelli, whohas been Chancellor of the Order for

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Proceedings of the Grand Magisterium

“I want to serve the Orderin continuity with

my predecessor”

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Exclusive interview with Ambassador Leonardo Visconti of Modrone,the new Governor General of the Equestrian Order of the Holy

Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

about a year, is also a close formercolleague from the diplomatic service.How will your collaboration work?I am pleased to find my colleague and

friend Ambassador Alfredo Bastianelli. Weworked together with the Italian Ministry ofForeign Affairs in close collaboration formany years. As Chancellor of the Order, hisin-depth knowledge of the current situationwill be of great help, especially as I takemy first steps as Governor General. We willcontinue to work in close proximity andcomplementarity, as we did earlier in ourshared diplomatic career.

In your opinion, what is the currentsituation of the Order and what arethe challenges that lie ahead in thecoming years?The Order is important for the Church

and for society, but it deserves greaterconsideration because it is too oftenunknown to the public and even to thepolitical world. For example, we are honoredthat the President of the Italian Republic,Sergio Mattarella, is a member of the Order.His engagement could inspire other

authorities who, by approaching ourpontifical institution, could contribute todeveloping a synergy at the service of thepeople of the Middle East who suffer somuch in this time of “piecemeal world war”as the Pope has called it. Our action in theHoly Land is in fact fundamental, especiallythrough the educational works we sustain inJordan, Palestine, Israel and Cyprus, on thevast territory of the Latin Patriarchate ofJerusalem. We will have to boost ourcommunications to participate in initiativesin favor of justice and peace in these regionsof the world where people aspire tofraternity and serenity in a dialogue ofcultures and respect for different religioustraditions.

The Pope counts on the Order of theHoly Sepulchre to continue to supportChristians in the Middle East whoserole as mediators is fundamental:they constitute a great bridge betweencommunities, as witnesses ofopenness to others and actors ofdialogue in fidelity to the Gospel ofChrist. In your view, what can be

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The newGovernorGeneral inhis office atPalazzodellaRovere.

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improved within the Order to helpboost this mission?The Holy Father invites us to evangelical

consistency. His directives call out to us: wemust give less importance to the externalaspect of our belonging to the Order andemphasize our inner, spiritual commitmentto deepen our struggle for dialogue and socialjustice in the Holy Land. My concept of theChurch is in full agreement with that of PopeFrancis, and I hope that the members of theOrder will be increasingly focused on theliving Gospel, abandoning everything thatcan, from a distance or from close up, evokevanity, pride, and “worldliness.” This is theexpression of the Catholic faith that my wifeand I have tried to convey to our threechildren and that is what we now witness toour six grandchildren. Humility is the onlypath that radiates the joy of the Kingdom ofGod already in this world.

What is the first message you want tosend to the members of the Order asyou take up office?I invite all the members of the Order to

unity and ask them to strengthen theireffective participation in resolving problemsin the Holy Land, especially by going onpilgrimage and being in contact with people

on the ground as often as possible. I havebeen deeply affected by my pilgrimages tothe Holy Land, which began in myadolescence. At 13 I had the opportunity tolive for some weeks in a kibbutz with otherpilgrims and the priest of my parish, and Ibelieve that we must do everything toeducate young people to love this land,where God-made-man gave his life to teachus to live as brothers and sisters. In thissense, we should take care not tosuperimpose our liturgical celebrations withrespect to our mission of solidarity: theirmeaning is to spiritually nourish ourcommitment to serving the Church’s workson biblical territories that the Pope entruststo our care. That is why we must createlocal synergies with all the political, socialand economic forces, eager to promotepeace and justice in these lands of sufferingand hope.

Let’s prepare for the 2018 Consulta,which will bring together the leaders of theOrder in order to welcome our new statutesto adapt our whole course of action to thechallenges that await us. The urgency isconsistency.

Interview by the CommunicationOffice of the Grand Magisterium of the

Order of the Holy Sepulchre

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BRIEF CURRICULUM VITAE OF AMBASSADORLEONARDO VISCONTI DI MODRONE

Leonardo Visconti di Modrone was born in Milan in 1947 and graduated in Economics and Commercein 1970.He entered the Italian Diplomatic Corps in 1971 and served in diplomatic representations in New

York (United Nations), Cairo, London, Vienna and Madrid. He has also carried out foreign missions invarious European nations, North and South America, Africa, the Middle East and Asia.

He has served as an advisor to the Presidency of the Council of Ministers with ten different heads ofgovernment.

From 2005 to 2010, he was the Head of the Diplomatic Ceremonial of the Republic. He finished hiscareer in 2012 as Ambassador of Italy to Spain.

Later he held positions for the Italian Government, among which he was recently consultant in theorganization of the G7 Summit in Taormina.

He is a member of the Grand Magisterium of Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalemsince 2014.

Married in 1971 with Anna Sanfelice di Monteforte, he has three daughters and six grandchildren.

In early June, the 16 North AmericanLieutenants gathered for their annualmeeting in Omaha, Nebraska, USA.

Situated on the banks of the Missouri River,Omaha is the heartland of America ... a stopon the Lewis & Clark National Historic Trail;it is known for its pioneer history,agriculture, beef industries, and a crossroadof railroads and commerce. His Excellency,P. Thomas Pogge, Lieutenant of the NorthernUSA Lieutenancy, and his wife, Anne,hosted the meetings.

His Eminence, Cardinal Edwin O’Brien,Grand Master, and the then GovernorGeneral Agostino Borromeo, travelled fromRome to attend the meeting. Vice GovernorGeneral Powers and three members of theGrand Magisterium attended two days ofmeetings along with Monsignor John E.Kozar, Secretary General of the CatholicNear East Welfare Association (CNEWA),and Monsignor Robert Stern, SecretaryGeneral Emeritus of CNEWA and consultantto the Order.

On Thursday evening, June 1, the MostReverend George J. Lucas, Archbishop ofOmaha, presided at Vespers in the presenceof the Grand Master, at the recentlyrenovated Jesuit Church of Saint John,located on the campus of CreightonUniversity. It has recently been the practiceof the Lieutenants to commence theirmeetings with Vespers. This year theLieutenants and their wives had the uniqueopportunity to chant Vespers with over 180seminarians from across the United States,Canada, and several foreign countries. Theseminarians were participating in the

Summer Spiritual Formation Programoffered by The Institute for PriestlyFormation (IPF), based in Omaha. FollowingVespers, a reception was held at thePhysicians Mutual Insurance Company,hosted by the Section Councilors for Omaha,Sir Robert and Dame Betsy Reed.

On Friday morning the meetingscommenced with the Grand Master givingan opening address in which he emphasizedthe importance of the annual meeting, andasked that the Lieutenants continue theirefforts in renewing the spiritual lives of theKnights and Dames.

Governor General Borromeo alsoaddressed the group announcing the end ofhis mandate as Governor General of theOrder. Professor Borromeo reflected on hisyears of service, provided updates on theSaint John the Baptist Foundation andColumbus Hotel, and the appointment of theOrder’s new Governor General, AmbassadorCount Leonardo Visconti di Modrone.

Following the morning session, theLieutenants and their wives returned to theChurch of Saint John where CardinalO’Brien celebrated Holy Mass and gave amoving and poignant homily for the IPFCommunity and seminarians.

On Friday afternoon, Vice GovernorGeneral Powers gave a detailed presentationon the finances of the Order, provided anupdate on the status of the revised Statutesof the Order, and announced the dates of the2018 Consulta in Rome. On Friday evening,all of the Lieutenants were invited to thehome of the Pogge’s for a wonderful, grilledOmaha steak dinner.

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North American Lieutenants’Meeting: a chance to get

together and share

June 1-3, 2017

The two days of meetings included awide variety of topics and exchange of ideasranging from the operations of aLieutenancy, finances, liturgy, pilgrimages,and candidate formation.

Several newly appointed Lieutenantsattended and the meeting provided them theopportunity to observe and participate invarious discussions.

On Saturday morning, Professor ThomasMcKiernan, President of the Holy LandCommission, gave an update on theconstruction projects currently underway inthe Patriarchate and insight into the planned2017 programs. Additionally, MonsignorJohn E. Kozar, President of the CatholicNear East Welfare Association (CNEWA),having recently returned from the HolyLand, provided first-hand insight into theon-going refugee crisis facing Christians inSyria and Iraq.

The final day of meetings includeddiscussions about the Speakers Bureau, aSquires Program, the Legacy Program,recruitment efforts, and activities plannedfor the 2018 Consulta. The Lieutenants alsoenjoyed time allocated to open discussion ofwhatever was on their minds, and a robustexchange of best practices and a sharing ofideas. Late Saturday afternoon, theLieutenants and their spouses attended theVigil Mass of Pentecost where Monsignor

Kozar was the principal celebrant andhomilist.

The meetings officially concluded onSaturday with an evening dinner honoringthe Grand Master and the GovernorGeneral. H.E. Thomas Pogge presented onbehalf of the North American Lieutenants abeautiful framed image of Our Lady ofPalestine to the Governor General inthanksgiving and appreciation for all he hasdone for the Order during his variousmandates.

John Carmen PiunnoMember of the Grand Magisterium

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A group photo taken at the Church of St. John of Creighton University in Omaha during the annualmeeting of the North American Lieutenants.

Lieutenant Thomas Pogge while presentingProfessor Agostino Borromeo, on behalf of allthe American Lieutenants, a beautiful picture ofOur Lady of Palestine in the presence ofCardinal Edwin O’Brien.

The Grand Master of the Order,Cardinal Edwin O’Brien, warmlythanked Professor Borromeo who

received a lengthy and warm applause fromparticipants at the meeting of EuropeanLieutenants. The new Governor General,Ambassador Leonardo Visconti di Modrone,was then presented, declaring that he hoped

to focus his attention on the needs of all themembers of the Order and to work incontinuity with his predecessor, who has leftan exceptional legacy.

Consultor Pier Carlo Viscontiaccompanied by Professor Pierre Blanchard– member of the Grand Magisterium –presented the financial report, revealing an

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Annual Meeting of EuropeanLieutenants and the welcomeof the new Governor General

June 27-28, 2017

During the meeting of the European Lieutenants in Rome, Cardinal Pietro Parolin – Secretary of State ofthe Holy See – delivered the Grand Cross of the Order of St. Gregory the Great on behalf of Pope Francisto Governor General Agostino Borromeo, at the end of his second and last four-year mandate. The Orderof St. Gregory was founded by Pope Gregory XVI in honor of Pope St. Gregorio (590-604). The GrandCross expresses the highest appreciation of the Holy Father for the services rendered to the Holy Seeand the Church.

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unparalleled growth in donations to theHoly Land (over 16 million euros), madepossible above all through the activity of theGrand Master who systematically visits theLieutenancies throughout the world, givingimpulse and vitality to their local life andencouraging international communicationswithin the Order. “In this way, a climate oftrust and fraternity has been created,bringing the center closer to theperipheries,” Professor Borromeo noted.

The Order continues to see newcommunities of Knights and Dames bloom:for example, new Magistral Delegations areplanned in Chile and Peru. ChancellorAlfredo Bastianelli illustrated thiscontinuous growth with statistics: about30,000 members on all continents, a third ofwhich women. Attraction to the Order inAsia and the Pacific is particularly revealing.

Regarding support provided to theChurch in the Holy Land, the Assessor,Archbishop Antonio Franco, stressed thatthe St. John the Baptist Vatican Foundation,

wanted by the Pope, has succeeded inrestoring the situation of the University ofMadaba, favoring best practices andtransparent management on the pathtowards full autonomy. In a broader sense,the Foundation’s vocation is to promoteculture and education in the Middle East.

Professor Thomas McKiernan, Presidentof the Holy Land Commission – in charge ofmanaging the Grand Magisterium projects atthe request of the Latin Patriarchate –presented the current state of the projectsconcerning the church of Jubeiha, the schoolin Naour, as well as the pay increase forteachers in schools belonging to the thepatriarchal archdiocese of Jerusalem, whichincludes Cyprus, Israel, Palestine, andJordan. These schools – which welcomemany Muslims – are key places for buildingbridges of friendship and mutualunderstanding, which are key elements andguarantees for a future peace.

The Lieutenants have expressed thedesire to be more active in Palestine where

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A working session of the meeting of the European Lieutenants in one of the halls of Palazzo della Rovere,headquarters of the Order in Rome.

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despair reigns, when at the instance of theLatin Patriarchate most of the GrandMagisterium projects are carried out inJordan. It is true – as Professor Borromeopointed out – that the proportion ofCatholics in Palestine is very small (2% ofChristians), however a future meeting withArchbishop Pierbattista Pizzaballa, ApostolicAdministrator, will take place on thissubject.

Vice Governor General for NorthAmerica, Patrick Powers, recalled that overtwo thirds of the expenses of the LatinPatriarchate are covered by the Order,including, for example, 100% of formationcosts for priests in the Beit Jala seminary,located near Bethlehem, Palestine.

The United States, along with Germany,lead in donations, thanks to substantiallegacies due to the particularly intense andparticipatory information activities amongmembers (over $ 2 million in legacies lastyear).

Subsequently, the issue of the Consulta,scheduled for 12 to 16 November 2018, was

discussed. The main agenda items willinclude the adoption of new Statutes for theOrder; the preparation of Lieutenants tocarry out their functions, as well as the placeoccupied by the ecclesiastics in theLieutenancies. The Grand Master hopes thatclergy will not exceed 10% of the membersand that priests or religious be explicitlydestined for a specifically spiritual service.Their role must therefore be better definedin this essentially secular Order, as opposedto that of Malta, which is instead a religiousorder.

The meeting ended with the welcome ofthe new Governor General, who called for acommon prayer to coordinate all theLieutenants “in a spirit of concrete, openand sincere dialogue.”

F.V.

DATES OF THE CONSULTAThe Consulta, a five-year meeting of the leadersof the Order, will be held from November 12 to16, 2018.

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Dr. SaverioPETRILLO, KnightGrand Cross of theOrder of the HolySepulchre, wasborn in Rome onOctober 7, 1939,and holds a Lawdegree. To date hehas held the role ofLieutenant forCentral Italy, and is currently acting interim.A married family man, he was the directorof the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfoand has always occupied certain functions atthe service of the Church, in particular as aGentleman of His Holiness, Vice PresidentGeneral of the Circle of St. Peter and also asa member of the Permanent Delegation of

Holy See at the United Nations Food andAgriculture Organizations. In July he wasalso nominated as a member of theNomination and Promotion Committee ofthe Grand Magisterium of the Order.

Dr. HeinrichDICKMANN, KnightGrand Cross of theOrder of the HolySepulchre, was born inKevelaer, Germany, onFebruary 24, 1941. Hecompleted his studies inmathematics andphysics, then served asdirector of a company. Married, he isLieutenant of Honor for Germany since2015, after two very fruitful terms as leader

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XV N° 47 - SUMMER 2017NewsletterJERUSALEM CROSS

New appointmentsby the Grand Master

Cardinal Edwin O’Brien, Grand Master of the Order of the HolySepulchre, has accepted the resignation of Professor Giuseppe DallaTorre del Tempio di Sanguinetto, Lieutenant General, entrusting this

position to Professor Agostino Borromeo as of July 27, 2017.

The Lieutenant General, who is part ofthe Grand Magisterium, exercises thosespecial functions entrusted to him by

the Grand Master and represents him inevents involving the Order as his delegatewhen necessary.

Professor DALLA TORRE has been amember of the Order since 1991. He was bornin 1943, is a graduate in law and is presidentof the Vatican State Tribunal and rectoremeritus of the Lumsa University (LiberaUniversità di Maria Ss. Assunta). Recently he

was appointed by the Holy Father to theBoard of Directors of the Roman PediatricHospital Bambino Gesù, which belongs to theVatican.

Governor General of the Order until June29 last, and a historian by profession,Professor BORROMEO, is Secretary Generaland member of the Board of Directors of theSt. John the Baptist Vatican Foundation, insupport of education and culture in theMiddle East. He is also a member of the HolySee’s Historical Science Committee.

Also in July, the Grand Master appointed three new membersof the Grand Magisterium – an Italian, a German and anIrish man – who will attend the meetings of the Order’s

advisory body of government.

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of the Order in his country. He is also amember of the Holy Land Commission ofthe Grand Magisterium.

Nicholas McKENNAwas born in Ballymena,Ireland, in the dioceseof Down and Connoron July 9, 1947.Married and father offamily, he was active inthe financial sector. A

Knight Grand Cross, he has been theLieutenant of Honor for Ireland since 2014.

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Professor Pierre BLANCHARD, whocompleted his two terms on the GrandMagisterium, was greatly thanked by the GrandMaster who conferred upon him the GoldenPalm of Jerusalem, the highest rewardaccording to the Order’s Statutes. ProfessorBlanchard remains a member of theNomination and Promotion Committee.

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XVI N° 47 - SUMMER 2017NewsletterJERUSALEM CROSS

The Grand Master’s Calendar

After having celebrated Investitures for the month of May in Viterbo (Lieutenancyfor Central Italy) and Zagreb, the first Investiture and erection of the MagisterialDelegation for Croatia, and those of June in Halifax (Lieutenancy for Atlantic

Canada) and Salzburg (Lieutenancy for Austria), the Grand Master presided over the tworegional meetings of the American (June 1-3 in Omaha, USA) and European (June 27-28at the headquarters ofthe Grand Magisteriumin Rome) Lieutenants.During these meetingsHis Eminence formallywelcomed the newGovernor General of theOrder, AmbassadorLeonardo Visconti ofModrone.

From July 15 to 18,Cardinal Edwin O’Brienwent to Amman wherehe met Prince Hassan ofthe Hashemite Kingdomof Jordan, particularlyengaged in theChristian-Muslimdialogue and the issueof refugees. On the same occasion, he attended the graduation ceremony at theUniversity of Madaba which the Cardinal follows through the St. John the BaptistVatican Foundation, of whom he is President.

For the month of September, the Grand Master is scheduled to visit the Lieutenanciesfor Malta and France on the occasion of their respective Investiture ceremonies(September 22-23 and September 30 to October 1).

This summer, the Grand Master delivered diplomas to studentsfrom the University of Madaba, Jordan.

After a year of careful listening,analysis and evaluation, theApostolic Administrator of the Latin

Patriarchate of Jerusalem has announcednew appointments for the dioceseentrusted to his governance by PopeFrancis. Some changes had already beenannounced and put into effect, forexample, the appointment of Msgr. WilliamShomali as vicar for Jordan. In a letterpublished on June 14 on the Patriarchatewebsite, Archbishop Pizzaballa also notesthe other appointments.

First of all, as he himself states, “Ibelieve that the presence of a bishop inJerusalem is important, given all thedifferent public commitments of the LatinPatriarchate. Bishop G. Boulos-Marcuzzo,after more than twenty years, hasexpressed his readiness to leave Nazarethand to come to Jerusalem, while AbounaHanna Kaldani leaves Jordan for the firsttime in his life, to face a completely newadventure: Vicar in Nazareth.”

With regards the FinancialAdministration, Archbishop Pizzaballa tookthe opportunity to thank Abouna ImadTwal for his service over the years asGeneral Administrator and announce that“as Administrator I will take the direct

responsibility of the office, with alayperson who will help me in itsmanagement. Mr. Sami al-Yousef, who iscurrently the director of the PontificalMission to Palestine, expressed hisreadiness to help us in this period ofassessment.”

Changes are also envisaged for thePatriarchal Seminary. Abouna JamalKhader who served for many years will bereplaced as rector by Abouna YakoubRafidi who spent some years in Romewhere he recently represented thePatriarchate at the 90th ROACO PlenaryMeeting which dealt with the theme of theinitial formation of seminarians and theongoing formation of priests.

Finally, Abouna George Ayoub,Chancellor, will leave his post to continuehis studies in Moral Theology in Rome andwill be replaced by Abouna IbrahimShomali who will also take up the role ofdeputy director of the new Pastoral Officethat will be chaired by Abouna RafiqKhoury.

Msgr. Pizzaballa ends his letter thankingeveryone for their ready obedience andannouncing that the new posts are effectivefrom August 15, 2017.

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XVII N° 47 - SUMMER 2017NewsletterJERUSALEM CROSS

New appointments for the LatinPatriarchate of Jerusalem

The Order and the Holy Land

New appointments to the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem include Sami al-Yousef,who for several years served as regional director of CNEWA - Pontifical Mission

for Palestine and with whom the Order has collaborated on several occasions,especially for projects Supported by the Order through ROACO. In this interviewgiven a year ago Sami al-Yousef spoke of interventions and projects in Gaza.

In order to support Iraqi Christianrefugees in Jordan, the Latin Patriarchateof Jerusalem has launched a new project

called “Living Mosaic”. This project consistsof forming some refugees so that they cancreate mosaics, from design to production,using various traditional techniques andinstruments such as the hammer. Given therich craft history of Byzantine and Umayyadmosaics, the project is being carried out inthe city of Madaba.

The workshop is a positive element forrefugees in many ways. On the one hand,employment will allow them toearn 10 Jordanian dinars eachday, and to ensure dailysubsistence, as well as theopportunity to sell works tovarious institutions. On theother hand, the workshop is anopportunity for them to takeadvantage of their idle time,learning new skills andacquiring professionalknowledge. More generally, thisproject enriches refugees inJordan by giving them anoccupation as well as helpingthem better prepare for transferto another country.

The Latin Patriarchatefinances materials such as stone,pincers, mortar and wood fibers.The first month of trainingallowed ten families to ventureinto the field, and in thefollowing two months, anotherten families joined the project.Following some traditionalmotifs, these refugee families

make mosaics on different wooden supports,with stones mainly from Jordan. For theparish of Al-Huson, they created a largemosaic that resembles the eastern motifs ofthe Dutch painter Piet Gerrits, depicting thecreation with twigs, angels, doves, trees andrivers. The laboratory currently producesnumerous mosaic models and awaits buyersin order to support the activity of thesehouseholds.

This project for refugees aims to helpthem stabilize and start again, thanks to thisactivity in the mosaics sector. In the springof 2017, twenty-one Iraqis were engaged in

the Madaba atelier daily. Inaddition to enhancing individualtechnical skills, they found acommunity of belonging andespecially a meaning to give totheir days.

Charles-Edouard Guilbert

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XVIII N° 47 - SUMMER 2017NewsletterJERUSALEM CROSS

A mosaic laboratory servingrefugees in Jordan

The Order currently supports this beautiful initiative of the LatinPatriarchate of Jerusalem through the Lieutenancy for Germany.

The Mosaics Laboratory offered by theLatin Patriarchate of Jerusalem inJordan, with the help of the Order,allows refugees to work.

A Children’s Reception Center inBethlehem, administered by theDaughters of Charity, received thesupport of the Order: the GrandMagisterium forwarded the aid destinedfor them specifically by the Lieutenancyfor Germany. We are happy to publish themoving letter that the children of thiscenter, The Holy Family Children’s Home,wrote to their benefactors of the Orderbefore the start of summer holidays.

Dear friends and benefactors,We have come to the end of the school year

once again which closes, as always, with asmall party enriched by the presence thefamilies and parents of outside children whoparticipated in our playful performances, fullof joy, amused and we were very excited toreceive our report cards!!!

As always it was a lot of fun, but beneath itall there remains a little bit of sadness forthose who will leave us to begin a new path ofgrowth and learning in primary school.

We too have to prepare to say goodbyecarrying with us beautiful memories that wewill jealously and carefully guard in ourhearts.

Many of us have never had the fortune toknow a family and this makes us feel evenmore alone and forgotten.

After the Crèche experience our futureremains unknown even though other doorswill open and welcome us to prepare for ourfuture.

You know dear friends, these are alwaysthe sad moments of our story: Lives thatcontinue with chapters that are more or lessjoyful, but which gift us the strength tocontinue and to go on despite everything.

We know we are very fragile but also verysensitive to gestures of affection, care, humanwarmth and tenderness.

We are, like all the other children, in needof gestures of humanity, fraternity, andfriendship that have been unfairly deniedsince we were born.

Dear friends, your desire to help us andyour concern for us, move us...We are very grateful to you.

It is all of you who are our strength andour support... Do not forget us, do notabandon us! We carry the experience ofabandonment within us from birth... It’s avery harsh and frustrating experience not tobe repeated.

Thank you for all that you have alwaysdone with great love and that you continue todo with the same generosity that we knowwill not fall into a void.

We love you so much.The little ones of the Bethlehem Crèche

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XIX N° 47 - SUMMER 2017NewsletterJERUSALEM CROSS

The “thank you” of the children ofBethlehem to the members of the Order

The children of Holy Family Children’s Home in Bethlehem wrote to the members of the Order to thank themfor their help to the Daughters of Charity who care for this educational institution.

Summer in the Holy Land is always ahot period. This year, in July, weunfortunately witnessed some clashes

involving the area of the al-Aqsa Mosque,leading at first to the choice of the state ofIsrael to impose restrictive measures onaccess to the third holy place of Islamincluding the obligation to pass throughmetal detectors. In protest of what hasbeen considered a violation of the freedomof movement of the faithful and of theStatus Quo, hundreds of Muslim faithfulpreferred to pray outside Temple Mounton Friday, July 21. Patriarchs and heads oflocal Churches in Jerusalem issued astatement on July 19, in which theyexpressed their concern over the escalationof violence in force, recalling that “anythreat to continuity and integrity [of theStatus Quo] could easily lead to seriousand unpredictable consequences thatwould be particularly unwelcome in thecurrent climate of tension betweenreligions.” Even Pope Francis in theAngelus on Sunday, July 23, recalledJerusalem and invited to prayer: “Dear

brothers and sisters, I am in trepidationover the grave tensions and violence ofthese days in Jerusalem. I feel the need toexpress a heartfelt appeal to moderationand dialogue. I invite you to join me inprayer so that the Lord will inspire in allthe purpose of reconciliation and peace.”Some restrictions were later lifted but thesituation is still tense.

But summer in the Holy Land is not justthis: it is summer camps for young people -such as the two camps at Deir Rafat on“peace” and “respect” in July that involvedabout 200 children, young people andadults of Hebrew speaking Catholics andmany other parish-organized camps; orinternational activities and meetings, suchas the Schola Occurentes Congress inJerusalem that brought together professorsand students from 41 universities in theworld to discuss the theme “Universitiesand schools, Building peace through theculture of encounter”; and it is pilgrimageand spiritual refreshment for all those whochoose to travel to the Land of Jesus andfollow in his footsteps.

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XX N° 47 - SUMMER 2017NewsletterJERUSALEM CROSS

The thousand facesof the Holy Land: Summer 2017

CA

BID

OC

HE

Our Lady, Queen of Palestine, extendyour hand over the Holy Land andover all who live there: Jews,

Muslims, Druze and Christians, Palestinians,Israelis, migrantworkers and refugees.

Our Lady, intercedefor us all and especiallyfor the Church, theBody of your Son, JesusChrist Our Lord. Wehave been sent topreach Good News toall in the land that isyours and His, the landof the patriarchs, kings,prophets, apostles andof the first communityformed to walk in theway of your Son, theMother Church ofJerusalem. This missionneeds the courage andthe perseverance, thewisdom and the faiththat were yours, prayfor us.

On your knees He,who was your Lord andMaster, learnt to speakand to pray, to act andto obey. We ask you toteach us to speak and topray, to act and to obey today in the landcalled to be holy. In the midst of war andhatred, walls, occupation anddiscrimination, fear and rejection, instructus how to be instruments of justice andpeace, pardon and reconciliation. We affirmwith you that he is our peace.

Show us the way to incarnate in our lifeas Church both fidelity to your Son and anembracing love for all in this land, especiallyfor those who are the poorest and the most

excluded, thehomeless, therefugees, theprisoners, those whoare maltreated,oppressed and arevictims of injustice.

Our Lady, Queenof Palestine, you areour mother, given tous by your Son on theCross. With you, weare called to bewitnesses to theResurrection thatalready heralds HisKingdom. Modelingourselves on you, weask Him to anoint usas Spirit filledproclaimers of theGood News that Hehas vanquished deathby His death on theCross and has givenlife to those in thetombs. May we,members of His Bodythe Church, be living

signs that point to the Kingdom that isalready among us. Amen.

Mother Mary, Queen of Palestine, prayfor us.

Father David Neuhaus, sjVicar of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem

for Migrants and Hebrew-speaking Catholics

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XXI N° 47 - SUMMER 2017NewsletterJERUSALEM CROSS

Praying for Peace in the Holy LandThe following prayer was written for us by Father DavidNeuhaus, to help us prepare our hearts for the upcomingFeast of Our Lady of Palestine, patron saint of the Order,

marked each year on October 25.

What does it mean to be a ViceGovernor General? Howwould you define the

relationship between North Americaand the Holy Land?The responsibility of Vice Governors

General is to oversee the Lieutenancies andthe Magistral Delegations within thegeographic area assigned to them. In NorthAmerica, for which I am responsible, thereare five Lieutenancies in Canada, nineLieutenancies in United States and oneLieutenancy each in Puerto Rico and inMexico. All together those Lieutenancies inNorth America account for about 50% of themembership worldwide. They also accountfor about 65% of the financial contributionsraised for the Order worldwide.

Would you like to tell us anexperience of one of your recent tripsaround America?In April, my wife and I were in Mexico

where we are trying to rejuvenate and re-energize the Lieutenancy because untilrecently the members were without aLieutenant for a number of years.

The first night we met with the membersof the Order in Mexico City. After vesperswith them, Deb and I went to the Basilica ofOur Lady of Guadalupe with its rector,Monsignor Enrique Glennie. After 9 pm the

tilma or image of Our Lady of Guadalupethat is stamped or fused onto the apron ofSaint Juan Diego is retracted into the vaultwhere it is locked and kept all night.Monsignor Glennie opened the vault,allowed us to go into it, and we spent half anhour in front of the tilma.

It was such a spiritual and movingexperience. I sincerely felt I was standing,kneeling and praying in the presence of OurLady. It was like she was physically presentwith me. I was so excited about having thisopportunity and during mass the Sundaybefore I was think about what I would prayfor when I was in front of Our Lady. A

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XXII N° 47 - SUMMER 2017NewsletterJERUSALEM CROSS

The Life of the Lieutenancies

The engagement of the Orderof the Holy Sepulchre

in the American continentExcerpts of an interview with Vice Governor General Patrick

Powers who describes the action of the Order in NorthAmerica and tells more about his recent visit to Mexico, a

Lieutenancy in his geographic area of responsibility.

Vice Governor General for North America,Patrick Powers.

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friend of mine withcancer came to my mindand I prayed for him. Itwas a wonderful timeand I feel very gratefulto have had thatexperience.

The devotion to OurLady of Guadalupe isamazing. In 1531 sheappeared to Juan Diego.At that time the priestsin Latin America wereconverting maybe 30,000indigenous people ayear. In the 10 yearsafter the apparition, 9million people convertedto Christianity. It was soinspiring to go there andexperience their devotion.

Then we went to Morelia where we metwith Cardinal Alberto Suárez Inda,archbishop of Morelia. We shared news ofthe Order with him and invited him to join

the Order. Then, wewent to Guadalajaraand met with themembers of the Orderthere who received usvery warmly. We hadvespers and thendinner together andthey celebrated SaintPatrick’s Day, my feastday, with me. Theyinvited my wife andme to come back onOctober 12 andparticipate with themin the procession fromthe cathedral to theBasilica de Zapopan.We accepted theirinvitation with honor.

It is a seven mile procession involving overone million people!

Interview by Mercedes de la Torre(click here to read the full article)

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XXIII N° 47 - SUMMER 2017NewsletterJERUSALEM CROSS