September 26 | 
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Bishops help order mark its 25th year
St Andrew’s Cathedral in Glasgow was the scene of rejoicing as Bishop Joseph Toal of Motherwell helped the Scottish Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre mark its 25th anniversary.
The order was established in Scotland on September 22 1989 with a principal mission of providing support for the Church in the Holy Land. The order has particular responsibility for supporting Our Lady of Sorrows in Aboud—a village on the West Bank northwest of Jerusalem.
During the anniversary celebrations at St Andrew’s Cathedral, three new members—Monty d’Inverno, from Edinburgh, Tony Graham from Bishopbriggs and John Kane from Dumbarton—were added to the Lieutenancy’s numbers, bringing their total to 125 knights and dames.
Saturday’s ceremony had a number of similarities with the order’s inaugural event that took place 25 years ago, with both being held in the Archdiocese cathedral. Archbishop Emeritus Mario Conti provided a further link between the Lieutenancy’s foundation and the present day, with his presence at the anniversary celebrations harking back to his time in Aberdeen diocese. In 1989, when Bishop of Aberdeen, he was invested as one of the founder members of the Scottish Lieutenancy; 25 years on, as Grand Prior, he invested the new recruits at the celebration Mass.
In his homily, Archbishop Emeritus Conti spoke about the Order’s spirituality, personal spiritual development and support for the Church in the Holy Land.
Bishop Toal in his homily preached at the Vigil service the previous evening during which the candidates made a solemn promise to uphold the values of the order.
Reflecting on the vigil and investiture ceremonies, Paul Donnelly, the chancellor of the lieutenancy, said the anniversary ceremonies where magnificent.
“Over the first 25 years of its life the Scottish Lieutenancy has certainly made a significant contribution to the world-wide order and we look forward to building further on that very strong foundation in the coming years,” he added.
The Equestrian Order of which the Scottish members are a part can trace its history back to the first crusade at the end of the eleventh century. In 1848 Pope Pius IX restored the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem—the archbishop in the city—and entrusted the order with the primary task of supporting the Patriarchate’s activities.
—Read the full version of this story in September 26 edition of the SCO in parishes from Friday.
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