Tag: Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem

Order of the Holy Sepulchre prays Vespers

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.

Dedication of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre

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.

Serving our brothers and sisters in New Haven

Today, Saturday, April 5, was our monthly cooking for our friends at the Amistad Catholic Worker (New Haven). Members of Communion & Liberation CT, the Order of Malta – Connecticut North East Area and Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem in CT prepared a nutritionally dense food. Our day together as friends gives meaning to our lives.

As Msgr Luigi Giussani wrote in his brief piece, “Meaning of Charitable Work,” par. 1:

Above all, our very nature requires us to be interested in others. When there is something beautiful within us we desire to communicate it to others. When we see others who are worse off than we are, we desire to help them with something of ours. This need is so original, so natural, that it is within us before we are conscious of it. We call it the law of existence. We do charitable work to satisfy this need.

I’ve named our group The Holloway Outreach 1 to honor the Shakespeare Lady, Margaret Holloway who died a few years ago and who lived with mental illness and was homeless.

Solemn Vespers for Laetare Sunday 2025

The CT North East Area of the Order of Malta and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem met Sunday, March 30, for Solemn Vespers at St Monica’s Church (St Ambrose Parish), Northford. Archbishop Leonard Blair, emeritus archbishop of Hartford and a member of both Orders presided and preached.

The evening was attended by parishioners of St Monica’s which was hosted by Father Robert L. Turner, KHS, pastor. The sacred music was beautiful and the reception was a nicely done.

Blessed Bartolo Longo slated to be canonized

Great news!

​Yesterday, 24 February, during ​an audience g​iven to ​the Cardinal Secretary of State Pietro Parolin and Archbishop Edgar Peña Parra, Substitute for General Affairs of the Secretariat of State, the Holy Fathe​r, Pope Francis authorized the Dicastery for the Causes of Saints to promulgate the decree​ that Blessed Bartolo Longo, Knight of the Holy Sepulchre​, will be canonized.

Blessed Bartolo is the first layman and member of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem to be canonized.

He was a lawyer, ex-Satanist, Dominican tertiary, and founder of the Shrine of Our Lady of Pompei.

Blessed Bartolo, pray for us.

Order of the Holy Sepulchre in CT opens Holy Door in Norwich

Members of the Connecticut Section of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem met earlier today at the Cathedral of St. Patrick, Norwich, CT, to open the Holy Door for the Jubilee year very recently inaugurated by Pope Francis.

The Most Reverend Juan Miguel Betancourt celebrated and preached the Mass.

The witness of the EOHSJ brings alive the fact of the Lord’s Resurrection and one’s new life in the Lord. The jubilee year is meant to convey and to put into practice in the Christian life the reality of the Paschal Mystery: the Life, Death, Resurrection and Ascension of the Lord Jesus.

Blessed Bartolo Longo

Today is the liturgical memory of Blessed Bartolo Longo (1841-1926).

Blessed Bartolo is dear to the Knights and Dames of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. To date, he’s only lay member of the Order to be beatified. He’s an example for us because of his practice of constant prayer, active charity, and love for the most needy. From the Italian City of Pompeii, a city that he helped regenerate thanks to the grace of recitation of the Rosary, Blessed Bartolo continues to inspire initiatives of prayer and charity worldwide.

Let’s ask him to intercede for the Order of the Holy Sepulchre.

Blessed Bartolo Longo, pray for us.

CT EOHSJ Mass for St Pius X

Mass for the liturgical memorial of St Pius X, pope and former grand master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

Several members of the EOHSJ in Connecticut met for Mass and dinner.

Father Robert Turner, pastor of St Ambrose Parish (North Branford, CT) and a Knight Chaplain offered Mass and preached.