Today, we received four new members for our Area of the Order of Malta in Connecticut. They were among 106 new members. Mass was celebrated by Cardinal Timothy Dolan and the preaching was done by Bishop Robert Brennan of Brooklyn. Interestingly five of the professed Knights of Justice were part of the ceremony. (We rarely get that many of the professed present!)
Our little area in CT is growing incrementally. We are grateful for our new brothers and sister.
Blessed Gerard, pray for us.
The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem—CT Section, met for Sunday Mass and a festive lunch at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception, Waterbury, CT.
It was the first annual Msgr. John J. Bevins Memorial Mass and Lunch.
Today the Order of Malta – Connecticut North East Area gathered for the annual Liturgy for deceased members, family and friends at St. Ann Melkite Church (Waterford). The parish belongs to the Eparchy of Newtown.
The Divine Liturgy was served by Fr Dennis McCarthy and the bishop of the Diocese of Norwich, Bishop Richard F. Reidy preached. They were joined at the altar by Fr. Joseph L. MacNeill, a priest of the Archdiocese of Hartford, rector of St Thomas More Chapel, New Haven –the Catholic chaplaincy at Yale University and a Deputy Chaplain of the Order.
This is the second time the Order of Malta met at St Ann’s.
The Order of Malta is a 1000 year old lay religious order with more than 30K members worldwide serving the poor, the sick, and those in need of any sort. Historically, the Order has a rich history of service in Lebanon and throughout the East.
May all those prayed for today rest in peace. Eternal memory.
Since we had the canonization of Bartolo Longo on October 19, the first layman of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem to be so recognized, I wondered who are the others. It turns out we have two other laypeople be studied for canonization: Venerable Servant of God Enrique Ernesto Shaw (Argentina) and the Servant of God Gertrude Shaw (Erie, PA, USA).
Here is what I can find on Enrique Shaw: he was a holy business man and that Pope Francis approved of his cause. Cardinal Filoni, Grand Master of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre wrote on Shaw here. More to come on Shaw.
But on Barber we know:
Born September 16, 1911
Becomes a Dame of the Holy Sepulchre in 1991
Becomes a Dame Commander of the Holy Sepulchre in 1995
Becomes a Dame Grand Cross of the Holy Sepulchre in 1997.
Dies April 29 2000
Cause for canonization opened in the Erie Diocese in December 1991.
The edict opening the Cause was displayed in St. Peter Cathedral in December, 2019; approval from the Vatican, which issued a “Nihil Obstat” to indicate that no obstacles “stand in the way” of the cause proceeding; and a presentation and vote by the United States Catholic Conference of Bishops. The group of more than 200 active and retired U.S. bishops approved the advancement of Dr. Barber’s cause after a presentation at their annual Fall Plenary session on Nov. 12, 2024 in Baltimore, MD.
Prayer for the Beatification and Canonization of Gertrude A. Barber
Merciful Father,
You guided your servant, Gertrude Barber,
in bringing hope to children and families who faced
the often overwhelming challenges of living with autism and disabilities,
while inspiring us to recognize all individuals as people of God.
We know you hear our prayers as we gather in Your name.
Through her intercession, please grant the intention
I ask in Jesus’ name (state your intention,)
if it be in accordance with Your Divine Will.
If it is in Your design that Gertrude be glorified by the Church,
so as to further her extraordinary mission, show us Your will.
Grant us the grace to hear your answer and commit ourselves to take up her
cause by the merits of Jesus Christ, Our Lord, Amen.
Imprimatur: The Most Rev. Lawrence T. Persico, J.C.L. , Bishop of Erie , 11 December 2019.
Those of us in the EOHSJ ought to pray for the advancement of these causes of sanctity.
The Connecticut Section of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem gave thanks and praise for the canonization of Bartolo Longo.
Saint Bartolo Longo, a layman, husband, ex-priest of Satan, third Order Dominican and member of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.
The biography of Longo shows us that he dedicated himself to justice concerns, founding schools, orphanages, and charitable institutions for the children of prisoners. His life, interestingly, reminds us of the Byzantine Saint Cyprian (October 2), who was also a demonic worshipper, who sent demons to seduce the holy virgin Justa. When the demons were repulsed by her faith, he repented, renounced the magical arts and burnt his books. He became a bishop and martyr.
A relic of Saint Bartolo was available for veneration.
Saint Bartolo Longo, pray for us.
On Friday and Saturday, October 10 and 11, the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem invested new members into the Order particularly for the Connecticut Section. We have 7 new members who accepted a new vocation to serve God, Church, and our least brothers and sisters.
Congratulations and prayers for:
William H. Atwood, Diocese of Bridgeport
Bishop Juan Miguel Betancourt, SEMV, Archdiocese of Hartford
Jorge Chevere, Archdiocese of Hartford
Father Michael J. Dolan, Archdiocese of Hartford
Bishop Richard F. Reidy, Diocese of Norwich (transferred to CT due to his appointment as bishop)
Robert Niedbala, Diocese of Norwich
Mona Ann Niedbala, Diocese of Norwich
Tonight the Connecticut Section of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem –Eastern Lieutenancy sung Vespers for the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross at St John’s Chapel of the Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist, Meriden. With Vespers we also had Benediction of the Blessed Sacrament and veneration of the relic of the Holy Cross About 20 members attended.
Bishop Juan Miguel Betancourt, SEMV, presided and preached assisted by Deacon Confessol Rodriquez. Msgr John Bevins, Fr Peter J. Langevin, Fr John Mariano were present.
The Sisters were extraordinary in the preparation, their presence and friendship.
It was an extraordinary grace.
Photo credit: Luis Fuentes.
Today, July 15th is Dedication of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem.
A day of importance to those of us who belong to the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem. The dedication of the original church happened in 1149.
We commemorate not merely the dedication burial place but a liturgical remembrance of the Resurrection of Jesus from the dead. It deepens the our understanding of the Paschal Mystery (the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Jesus). In his homily today, Franciscan Father Ibrahim Faltas, Vicar of the Custody of the Holy Land, said, “Today we celebrate a feast that is much more than a historical commemoration. It is a living, current celebration that speaks to us today, here, in the heart of our Holy Land.” Further, Faltas said, “This tomb is empty today. And that empty tomb cries out to the world: Christ is risen!”
Thus, the Holy Sepulchre is not only a place of memory, it is the symbol (read: reality) of Christ’s resurrection. Hence, it is a sign of hope.
Saint Bonaventure: Friar, theologian, bishop, cardinal and doctor of the Church.
St. Bonaventure, a close friend of St. Thomas Aquinas, was deeply committed to both theology and philosophy and became a leading scholar in the Franciscan tradition.
What follows is an excerpt from his famous work The Journey of the Mind to God:
Christ is both the way and the door. Christ is the staircase and the vehicle, like the “throne of mercy over the Ark of the Covenant,” and “the mystery hidden from the ages.” A man should turn his full attention to this throne of mercy, and should gaze at him hanging on the cross, full of faith, hope and charity, devoted, full of wonder and joy, marked by gratitude, and open to praise and jubilation.
Then such a man will make with Christ a “pasch,” that is, a passing-over. Through the branches of the cross he will pass over the Red Sea, leaving Egypt and entering the desert. There he will taste the hidden manna, and rest with Christ in the sepulchre, as if he were dead to things outside. He will experience, as much as is possible for one who is still living, what was promised to the thief who hung beside Christ: “Today you will be with me in paradise.”
Let us die, then, and enter into the darkness, silencing our anxieties, our passions and all the fantasies of our imagination. Let us pass over with the crucified Christ “from this world to the Father,” so that, when the Father has shown himself to us, we can say with Philip: “It is enough.”
We may hear with Paul: “My grace is sufficient for you;” and we can rejoice with David, saying: “My flesh and my heart fail me, but God is the strength of my heart and my heritage for ever. Blessed be the Lord for ever, and let all the people say: Amen. Amen!”
St. Bonaventure, pray for us.
Today, the Order of Malta – CT North East Area met to honor the memory of Saint John the Baptist with a meeting, Holy Mass and lunch.
We met at St. Thomas Seminary-Pastoral Center, Bloomfield, CT.
One the great joys of the day was to officially welcomed 4 as new Knights and Dames of the Order.
Besides the announcements of various ministries, Bishop Peter Rosazza and Bob O’Hara spoke of their recent pilgrimage to Lourdes.
St. John the Baptist, pray for us.
