NEWPORT — On Friday, Nov. 16, the annual Vigil and Promotion Ceremony of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem was held at St. Mary Church.
During this ceremony 68 current members of the order in the Northeastern Lieutenancy — which covers all New England states except Connecticut — were promoted in recognition of their contributions to the financial and spiritual support of the Christians in the Holy Land.
In 2011, the Northeastern Lieutenancy contributed more than $200,000 to this effort, while the order worldwide contributed more than $16 million. The funds are used to support schools, elder care facilities, orphanages and hospitals, as well as seminaries and colleges for the education of young people. On Saturday afternoon 66 new members were invested into the order at St. Augustin's Church.
The Order worldwide contributed over $16 million through the Grand Magesterium (the world wide governing body of the Order) to the efforts undertaken by His Beatitude Fouad Twal, the Latin Patriarch.
The Northeastern Lieutenancy covers all the New England States except Connecticut which is in the Eastern Lieutenancy. The Northeastern Lieutenancy has over 750 members. The Rhode Island area has 77 members. Eleven members were invested from RI in this year's class - 2 clergy and 9 lay people.
Two Cardinals, Edward Cardinal Egan, Archbishop emeritus of New York, and Sean Cardinal O'Malley of Boston and Grand Prior of the Northeastern Lieutenancy were in attendance. Also, Bishops Evans of Providence, Matano of Burlington,Vt., McDonnell of Springfield, Ma, McCormack, retired Manchester, NH, and Coleman of Fall River were in attendance.
