The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem – Eastern Lieutenancy is an association of Roman Catholic Christian faithful entrusted with an important mission from the Holy Father – to serve as witnesses to the Christian faith and supporters and protectors of the Church and the living Christian communities in the Holy Land.  The Order’s mandate originates from the time of the crusader knights who were responsible for protecting the Christian pilgrims traveling to the sacred sites. Today the Order’s members continue to aid the Church in the Holy Land and to strengthen the practice of Christian life amongst its members.

It is a great honor to be a part of The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre.

Present Knights and Ladies from Saint Leo the Great are:

Reverend John T. Folchetti
Sir Cornelius Begley
Sir Timothy Andree
Sir Thomas DiChiara
Sir Ronald Gentile
Sir Raymond Harter & Lady Gloria Harter
Lady Patricia Hicks
Sir Michael Lee & Lady Mary Lee
Sir Joseph Manzi
Sir Mark Russo & Lady Christy Russo
Sir John Senkewicz & Lady Deirdre Senkewicz
 

This is the only Lay Institution of the Vatican State charged with the task of providing for the needs of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem and for all the activities and initiatives which are necessary to support the presence of Christians in the Holy Land. The contributions made by its members throughout the world are therefore the Patriarchate's institutions' main source of funding.

The Order's support for the Christians in the Holy Land does not just take the form of financial contributions and prayers, important though we recognize that these are. All of the Order's Lieutenancies arrange formal pilgrimages, in the course of which Members do not simply view and explore the Holy Sites, but also have the opportunity to meet the people whom they are supporting and assure them that they are not forgotten.

The Order is charged, in its Constitution:

• To strengthen in its members the practice of Christian life, in absolute fidelity to the Supreme Pontiff and according to the teachings of the Church, observing as its foundation the principles of charity which make the Order a fundamental means of assistance to the Holy Land.
• To sustain and aid the charitable, cultural and social works and institutions of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land, particularly those of and in the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem, with which the Order maintains its traditional ties.
• To support the preservation and propagation of the Faith in those lands, and promote interest in this work not only among Catholics scattered throughout the world, who are united in charity by the symbol of the Order, but also among all other Christians.
• To uphold the rights of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land.

Invested as Knights & Ladies of the Holy Sepulchre on November 18, 2016 at Saint Patrick's Cathedral

The Lumen Christi (Light of Christ) Award is given to Parishioners acknowledging the time and talent they have generously given to the Church of Saint Leo the Great over the years.

This year's recipients were recognized at the 11:30 a.m. Mass on Sunday, November 13, 2016 - which was the Feast Day of the first American citizen, Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini.

Click Here or the image to the left to see and save pictures from the 11:30 Mass when the Lumen Christi Awards were presented.

Congratulations!