NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2018

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1 The path of preparation for the Synod has taught us that the universe of the young is so varied that it cannot be fully represented, but you are certainly an important sign of it. Your participation fills us with joy and hope. Pope Francis at Opening of Synod2018 on Young People, the Faith and Vocational Discernment 3 October 2018 NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2018 Mass of Installation - Agnes Sheehan DHS 6:00pm Monday, 3 December 2018 St Peter s Church 581 Toorak Road, Toorak Knights and Dames to wear robes and regalia Bishop Peter Elliott, supported by Fr Brendan Hayes, will install Agnes as Lieutenant for Victoria at our regular December Mass. For this formal occasion it is appropriate for Knights and Dames to wear robes and regalia. Knights, Dames and Chaplains are urged to attend and give support to Agnes as she begins her term as Lieutenant. Following Mass and Rosary there will be drinks and supper in the Community Centre. The Community Centre will be available for robing from 5:30pm. Knights and Dames will process into the Church at 5:55pm. The underground car park will be open from 5:30pm to 5:50pm. Parking is available on the south side of Toorak Road (towards the city; the north side is a clearway until 6:30pm). Our Lady of Palestine Thursday 25 October is the Feast of Our Lady of Palestine, patroness of our Order. As noted in the September Newsletter, a visit to the Franciscan Priory in Box Hill is not possible this year. We acknowledge and support the work the Franciscans are doing in the Holy Land and we look forward to again joining with them next year for Mass and to share a meal. Please try and attend a local Mass on this Feast Day and say the prayer to Our Lady EOHSJ Australia-Victoria October 2018 Newsletter pg. 1

2 Prayer To Our Lady Of Palestine (Patroness Of The Order) O Mary Immaculate, gracious Queen of Heaven and of Earth, behold us prostrate before thy exalted throne. Full of confidence in thy goodness and in thy boundless power, we beseech thee to turn a pitying glance upon Palestine, which more than any other country belongs to thee, since thou hast graced it with thy birth, thy virtues and thy sorrows, and from there hast given the Redeemer to the world. Remember that there especially thou wert constituted our tender Mother, the dispenser of graces. Watch, therefore, with special protection over thy native country, scatter from it the shades of error, for it was there the Sun of Eternal Justice shone. Bring about the speedy fulfilment of the promise, which issued from the lips of Thy Divine Son, that there should be one fold and one Shepherd. Obtain for us all that we may serve the Lord in sanctity and justice during the days of our life, so that, by the merits of Jesus and with thy motherly aid, we may pass at last from this earthly Jerusalem to the splendours of the heavenly one. Amen. Birthday with Bishop Peter Elliott On 1 October, on his 75 th birthday, Bishop Peter with Chaplain Fr Arnold Heredia, celebrated our regular Mass. During supper that followed, members joined in singing Happy Birthday to Bishop Peter and enjoyied a scrumptious decorated cake prepared by Knight Julian Doyle and his staff at the Bridge Hotel. Bishop Peter then shared some highlights of his life and Ministry. It was a blessing to share this important moment in Bishop Peter s life. EOHSJ Australia-Victoria October 2018 Newsletter pg. 2

3 Reflections from the Holy Land At the conclusion of his first year in office as General Administrator of he Latin Patriarchate, Sami El Yousef provided a report on three areas of the administration. This is a summary of the report. Administrative Update A new structure was devised with clear job descriptions that clearly defines the lines of responsibility, authority and accountability. A new bank authorisation policy was introduced and implemented to ensure proper controls, and brand new Standard Operating Procedures were introduced in the main functional areas of: treasury and financial reporting; endowments management; capital expenditures; fundraising; human resources and payroll; and procurement. Along this journey, the external audit function was reintroduced which will lead to a unified fiscal year-end resulting for the first time ever in Combined Financial Statements including all entities of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem which will be complete and clear. General Political Situation The past year has witnessed many developments on the ground that leaves little hope that a peaceful resolution in Israel/Jerusalem is coming anytime soon. The one-sided positions of the current US Administration represented by moving the US Embassy to Jerusalem and taking it off the negotiating table ; by allowing unrestricted settlement construction; and more recently trying to dismantle the UNRWA and disrupt educational, healthcare and social services in the region will in no way contribute making peace and ensure justice and equality to all. Additionally, Israel introduced racist laws by enacting the unnecessary Nation State law creating a double system based on one s religion. The Palestinians continue to be in disarray as they are engaged in internal conflict with little regard to the suffering of the people., especially in Gaza. In Gaza the humanitarian situation is simply appalling with no electricity or clean water supplies, coupled with an open sewage system, not to mention the unemployment rate of some 45% (over 70% amongst youth and women). New Beginnings Over 19,000 students at the LPJ school network of 45 schools and 36 kindergartens, employing over 1,580 staff, enthusiastically went back to school. With the new school year students across the LPJ educational enterprise have better facilities to return to after the summer break. The construction of a new kindergarten and nursery complex in Jaffa-Nazareth in the Galilee was completed, accompanied by a complete renovation of the existing school structure. A new state of the art kindergarten in Hashimi in Amman was built to replace the old decaying one and meet new government standards. A new campus for the Salt school was renovated away from the hustle and bustle of the old city centre. A new kindergarten at the Holy Family School in Gaza was constructed, as well as an additional floor for the school that offers more classrooms and other school facilities. New technological equipment was introduced in a number of schools including Beit Jala and Kerak among others. Finally, going green meant introducing new solar electrical systems in Aboud, Bir Zeit, Beit Jala, Gaza, and Zabadah schools as well as the seminary in addition to some in Jordan, including Our Lady of Peace Centre, Irbid, and Misdar on top of the ones installed earlier. Not only do these systems cut the operating costs, but are also environmentally friendly. More importantly, behind the scenes, endless workshops and training sessions took place with new and returning teachers bringing so much positive energy along the way, with the main purpose being to improve the standards and the quality of education. EOHSJ Australia-Victoria October 2018 Newsletter pg. 3

4 Many thanks to all our generous donors and in a particular way the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem among others who made this wonderful new beginning possible. You are all part of this exciting journey. Sami El-Yousef 7 September 2018 [Against a background of unrest and discrimination, it is clear that the Latin Patriarchate is making headway in supporting the education and social services for Christians in the Holy Land. The annual contributions of Knights and Dames of he Order are important in making the work of the Latin Patriarchate possible.] Annual Contributions Again, a gentle reminder that Annual Contributions are due and should be paid before the end of November. Thank you to those members who have already given generously or arranged for a monthly bank transfer. (See end of Newsletter for payment methods) 2019 Pilgrimage to the Holy Land Thursday 2 May through Wednesday 14 May 2019, starting in Amman, Jordan and finishing in Bethlehem. This is an opportunity to meet with Christian brothers and sisters, to witness many of the activities of the Latin Patriarchate, and for visiting the Holy Sites that form the basis of our Christian faith. Through pilgrimage we come to a deeper understanding of the mission of our Order. The pilgrimage will commence from Amman, Jordan on Thursday 2 May and conclude on Wednesday 14 May with departure from either Amman or Tel Aviv. For those interested it is possible to arrange a visit to Petra ahead of the pilgrimage. The itinerary includes: Day 1: Arrival and overnight in Amman Day 2: Mukawer and Baptismal site on the Jordan. Overnight Amman Day 3: Madaba, Mt Nebo and on to Galilee. Overnight in Tiberius Day 4: Primacy of Peter, boat on Sea of Galilee, Caesarea Philippi. Overnight Tiberius Day 5: Cana, Mt Tabor, Basilica of the Annunciation and St Joseph s School. Overnight Nazareth Day 6: Mount Beatitudes, Capernaum, Tomb of the Just Man. Overnight Nazareth Day 7: Crusaders Fortress at Akko, Mt Carmel, Caesarea Maritima. Overnight Jerusalem Day 8: Holy Sepulchre, Dome of the Rock, Jewish Library, Dead Sea scrolls. Overnight Jerusalem Day 9: Co-Cathedral of the Latin patriarch, Way of the Cross. Overnight Jerusalem Day 10: Chapel of the Ascension, Gethsemane Gardens, Dormition Abbey. Overnight Bethlehem Day 11: Jericho Church and School, Mount of Temptations. Overnight Bethlehem Day 12: Church of the Nativity, Bethlehem University, Ein Karem. Overnight Bethlehem Day 13: Nativity Church, St Martha s House, Shepherd s Field. Overnight Bethlehem Day 14: Transport to Amman or Tel Aviv EOHSJ Australia-Victoria October 2018 Newsletter pg. 4

5 The pilgrimage is to draw on the spirituality of the life of Jesus by travelling to places where he lived and preached. The pilgrimage will bring to life the gospels as we daily celebrate Mass in the Holy Places. During the pilgrimage we will also meet with our Christian sisters and brothers, and their children. These encounters will bring home the reality and difficulties of Christians living as minorities but giving witness to their Faith. Knights and Dames are encouraged to bring family and friends along with us on this spiritual journey. It is a wonderful introduction to the Order and our mission of support to the Latin Patriarch and the people of the Holy Land Cost: The land component of the pilgrimage is $US 2,425 pp (approx. $AUD 3,500) for twin share. Single supplement is $US 726 (approx. $AUD 1,040) and a child under 12 y.o. in a room with two adults, will be charged $US 1,628 (approx. $AUD 2,326). The actual AUD cost will be determined at the time payment is due in mid-february Included in the cost are: Airport transfers, Accommodation in double occupancy based on dinner, bed and breakfast, Modern air-conditioned transport, English speaking guide, lunches every day, Jordan border tax, Entrance fees. Pilgrims need to arrange their own flights to and from Amman. Departure can be arranged through Tel Aviv. It is important to arrange travel insurance for the duration. It is nearing time to make a decision on joining the pilgrimage to the Holy Land in It is essential to make early reservations for the land component and arrange airline travel separately. Payment for the land component is required at the beginning of February. However early commitment will ensure that hotel bookings are secured. For more information contact Will Kininmonth on or w.kininmonth@gmail.com. Helping Iraqi Christians in Jordan refugees. Although the war against the Islamic State is drawing to a close, thousands of Christian families from Iraq remain displaced in neighbouring Jordan, where the Christian community is struggling through embassy and donor fatigue to provide basic pastoral and material services to Iraqi EOHSJ Australia-Victoria October 2018 Newsletter pg. 5

6 The Catholic Near East Welfare Association, a papal agency, provides food aid and sponsors educational programs for these refugees in Amman, the capital of Jordan. In a country already coping with millions of Syrian and Palestinian refugees, however, many Iraqi Christians wish to permanently resettle elsewhere. Iraqi Christians seeking refuge face unique challenges in Jordan. The government does not allow Iraqi refugees, unlike Syrian refugees, to work legally. Additionally, most Christians in Iraq are Assyrian-Chaldean, an ethnic minority that speaks Aramaic rather than the Arabic spoken in Jordan. The Catholic Near East Welfare Association reports that it is currently providing food vouchers to 1,754 families with 6,481 individuals. It has a wait list of 297 more families comprised of 956 individuals. The Catholic Near East Welfare Association officials say that more families call every week asking to be placed on the wait list, but the organization does not have the funds to accommodate more or to sponsor a census of the total number of Iraqi Christians in Jordan. Although many Iraqi Christians have resettled in Europe, North America and Australia, refugee resettlement in the United States has fallen to record lows under the Trump administration. Youth leader Danny George has been in Jordan since He is from the Iraqi province of Nineveh, the historic Chaldean-Assyrian homeland. Mr. George complains that it is now impossible to go to the United States. But few of the refugees are interested in returning to Iraq. Return to what? asks Remel Somo, another Chaldean-Assyrian refugee. He says that Iraq is a Frankenstein, not a state because of the persistent ethnic and sectarian divisions. The 24-year-old lost two uncles and his home in Baghdad to al-qaeda. Hasnaa Babaka says that she has hundreds of relatives in Australia and the United States, but if we go back [to Nineveh], there is no one left. The memory of persecution in Iraq is still raw. Ms. Babaka remembers the exact date she was forced to leave: March 29, Iraq remains dangerous for returnees. Mr. Somo notes latent popular support for ISIS and poor treatment of Assyrian-Chaldeans by the Kurdish regional government as two issues of concern. He says that Chaldean-Assyrian seats in parliament were unfairly taken by non-christian parties in May s election. He notes that Chaldean Christians in the province have been under threat long before ISIS invaded Nineveh in 2003, citing the 1915 genocide by Ottoman soldiers and another notorious massacre of Assyrian Christians in 1933 at Simele at the conclusion of the British Mandate of Mesopotamia. ISIS was only an episode, he warns, not the whole series. Ra ed Bahou, director of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association for Jordan and Iraq, says that foreign support is slower to come when there is no immediate crisis. This embassy and donor fatigue is especially hard on C.N.E.W.A., which relies primarily on American and European donors. Though some refugees depart, their numbers are quickly matched by new Iraqi-Christian arrivals in Jordan, according to Mr. Bahou. As services for displaced persons in Iraq shut down as the war against ISIS winds down, many Christians have decided to try for refugee status and the possibility of resettlement abroad by crossing into Jordan. Some have moved in with relatives in the Amman neighbourhood of Hashemi, which is nicknamed Little Qaraqosh after the largely Christian city in Nineveh where many once lived. But the yearslong wait for resettlement quickly depletes families savings. EOHSJ Australia-Victoria October 2018 Newsletter pg. 6

7 All young children registered with the Catholic Near East Welfare Association are eligible to receive free milk, whether or not their families officially receive food vouchers. The organization also provides refugees with health care, blankets and heaters and other miscellaneous needs. While these services are short-term life-preservers, they cannot work as a reliable support to refugee families in the long run. The amount varies depending on family size and conditions, but for one family, a food voucher worth 40 Jordanian dinars, or about $55, is supposed to last one month. Many families must work illegally in order to make ends meet. Mr. Bahou says that while the Jordanian government does not harass Iraqis who work under the table, he wishes that Iraqis could have a legal pathway to work, citing stories of Syrian refugees who excelled when given the opportunity. In addition to immediate material aid, the Catholic Near East Welfare Association also provides for the psychological and spiritual needs of the refugees. The Catholic Near East Welfare Association community centre also offers a variety of classes aimed at refugees, including English lessons. Adults practice speaking and writing with Americans and Canadians who volunteer at the library, while their children mingle and play board games surrounded by shelves of English and Arabic books. Some refugees come from as far as Zarqa, a city an hour east of Amman, just for the chance to use these services. Every Monday and Wednesday afternoon, librarians teach the children their ABCs in English. It is difficult because many of the students speak Aramaic rather than Arabic at home. Lessons move slowly and deliberately, as the Arabic-speaking children translate for their friends. But because many refugees plan to resettle in English-speaking nations, the classes are crucial in preparing for the future, the Catholic Near East Welfare Association officials say. In the picturesque hilltop neighbourhood of Marka, the Theodor Schneller School for at-risk youth hosts a summer camp for Iraqi refugees. Franciscan Missionary Sisters and graduates of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association s lay leader formation program teach Christian refugee children about the role of the Virgin, while also leading hymns, sports and handicrafts. The children and counsellors are housed at the school; at night, the children put on theatrical performances and staff lead them in saying the rosary. The Catholic Near East Welfare Association and the Franciscans have been running this program since the U.S. invasion of Iraq in [Source: Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem] An Invitation to Membership Knights and Dames are encouraged to approach fellow Catholics with information about our Order and its mission. Our commitment is to give support, through the Latin Patriarchate, to our Christian sisters and brothers in the Holy Land. Our prayers and fellowship are also a source of personal enrichment as we seek to meet our own Christian ideals. Growth of our Lieutenancy will only come about through the efforts of our Knights and Dames to encourage other Catholics to join us in our endeavours. The need is great. There is resource material to assist in making an approach to fellow Catholics who you would like to make aware of and interest in our Order. You are encouraged to invite potential members to our Masses and other events so that they may begin to get an appreciation of how we go about our mission. There will be an Information Night in February 2019 to begin preparing those who may wish to join our Order at the next investiture ceremony later in EOHSJ Australia-Victoria October 2018 Newsletter pg. 7

8 Welfare Knights Michael Howard and David Perrin continue their recovering from illness and are grateful for our prayers. Knight Max Potter s wife, Val and Knight Michael Howard s wife Jeanette are in hospital and in need of our prayers. Prayers should also be offered for Knight Julian Doyle as he supports his wife Edwyna in her declining health PROGRAM Please note: Thursday 25 October 2018 is the Feast Day of Our Lady of Palestine, Patron of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem. Knights and Dames are asked to offer prayers and if possible attend a local Mass on this special day. Monday 5 December 6:00pm Installation of Lieutenant Agnes Sheehan, Mass and Rosary followed by refreshments. Knights and Dames to wear robes and regalia. St Peter s Church, 585 Toorak Rd, Toorak Making Payments By Cheque: payable to EOHSJ Mail, clearly identifying your name, to: Michael Gilmour KCHS EOHSJ Treasurer PO Box 1120 Waverley Gardens, VIC 3170 Bank Transfer to National Australia Bank Account Name: EOHSJ BSB: Account: Please Treasurer Michael Gilmour KCHS (michael_gilmour@hotmail.com) with your name, the purpose of payment and amount transferred. Fraternally in Christ, Will Kininmonth KCHS Lieutenant Australia-Victoria 2503/80 Lorimer Street Docklands, VIC w.kininmonth@gmail.com EOHSJ Australia-Victoria October 2018 Newsletter pg. 8