As you may know, His Beatitude, Cardinal Pizzaballa, was able to enter Gaza two weeks ago, on May 16, and was able to reach the parish of the Holy Family for a pastoral visit. The Patriarchate website indicates that His Beatitude, along with “His Excellency, Fra’ Alessandro de Franciscis, Grand Hospitaller of the Sovereign Order of Malta… met the suffering population to encourage them and to deliver a message of hope, solidarity, and support. His Beatitude presided the mass in the parish church with the local community.” See https://www.lpj.org/en/news/press-release-of-the-latin-patriarchate-of-jerusalem-1

If you have not seen it already, I would like to mention the “Holy Land Update of May 2, 2024” with Sami El-Yousef, CEO of the Latin Patriarchate, available on the North American website, at https://eohsjnorthamerica.org/

On Wednesday, I will be traveling to Quebec City for the 2024 North American Lieutenants meeting. 2024 marks the 350th anniversary of the Archdiocese of Quebec, and I and some of our members will be treating this event also as a special time of pilgrimage. This year, in addition to discussing the business of the Order, the work of the Holy Land Commission, and financials, the lieutenants will be discussing means of growing the Order in membership and in revenues. I will send a short summary of the meeting once I have returned.

I would ask that you keep me and all of the lieutenants in your prayers at this time. Best wishes for the summer season,

In Christ

Will Sweet

Excellencies, Knights, Dames and Patrons of the Canada-Atlantic Lieutenancy,

North American lieutenancies have proposed providing support for essential renovations to Catholic schools in the Holy Land – in Jordan, Palestine, and Israel. At present, many of the schools are in urgent need of renovation, and we see this as an opportunity – accelerated by the current crises in the Holy Land – to support children, their teachers, and communities in a concrete way that will contribute towards a future with peace for future generations of the Holy Land.  

The target is $8 million (US) dollars, or the equivalent of $16,000 per classroom to be renovated/ reconstructed. This is an appeal for funds over and above our annual membership oblation/donation to the Order. 

As a small Lieutenancy, our resources are limited. Nevertheless, we have decided to fund at least one classroom as an effort to address in a concrete way the needs of the schools in the Holy Land. We have already raised $4,000, and we hope to raise at least the full amount for one classroom – i.e., an additional $12,000 – within the next 2 months - by January 28, 2024. If you wish a tax receipt for this year, however, please send your contribution by December 31. 

Donation in any amount would be gratefully welcomed. Please, then, strongly consider providing a donation for the “Ensuring the Futures” fund. Of course, tax receipts will be provided. Please send your donation to Sir Michel Comeau, Treasurer, EOHSJ Atlantic, 851 Tower Road, Halifax, NS, B3H 2Y1 [email protected]

The children and teachers in our schools in the Holy Land need our support, and they will be the leaders and part of the Christian presence in the Holy Land for future generations. 

Thank you for your prayers, your ongoing support and for helping to get the news out.

In Christ, 

Will Sweet

In an effort to stay connected with each other, Vice – Governor, H E Tom Pogge, KGCHS  invites all members from the Lieutenancies of North America to join monthly Livestream Webinars. The next is on Saturday, January 16th at 12:00 AST. The Canada Atlantic Lieutenancy will be acting as host for this webinar with an overview of this Lieutenancy by H E Trudy Comeau, DC*HS and prayers led by Fr Paul Morris, KCHS. The Governor General, H E Leonardo Visconti di Modrone will speak about the works of the Order and Dame Cynthia Monahan, DGCHS, of the Holy Land Commission will provide an update of the Order’s projects in the Holy Land. Please join for this event which is expected to be about 45 minutes. Go to the North America website to join: www.eohsjnorthamerica.org

February Webinar: Cardinal Filoni will present a Lenten Reflection.

​March Webinar: His Beatitude, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Latin Patriarch, will provide an Easter Reflection.
​
H.E. Trudy Comeau

You are invited to join in to Fr Paul Morris’ Gospel Reflections on Wednesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00. For the past few months, Fr Paul Morris, KCHS has been hosting a Wednesday evening Bible study where he explores the upcoming Sunday Gospel on the Zoom platform. Often there have been between 30 and 40 participating and there is room for all of you. If interested send an email to [email protected] and request to be included in Fr. Paul’s Wednesday evening Bible study. You will receive the Zoom instructions and the link. They begin at 7 pm (try to join 5 minutes before that as they do start on time). The session is for one hour including some time for breakout rooms for small group discussion.

H.E. Trudy Comeau

On Saturday, Oct 3, 2020, members gathered for Mass at Saint Mary's Cathedral Basilica, Halifax, NS to celebrate the Installation of Archbishop Brian Dunn, KGOHS. Archbishop Anthony Mancini, KGOHS, presided over the liturgy to install Archbishop Dunn, in accordance  with the Decree from our Grand Master, Fernando Cardinal Filoni which had been prepared and dated  May 2020.

In his homily, Archbishop Dunn reminded the members of their commitment to the mission of the Order.  We must be constant in our practice of Christian life and we must be generous to our brothers and sisters in the Holy Land with our prayers and support, especially in this time of the pandemic when so many of them are without employment and struggle to meet daily needs. We asked for the Intercession of Mary, Our Lady of Palestine, to inspire and guide us to be instruments of justice and peace, pardon and reconciliation. 

H.E. Trudy Comeau

​The weekend of October 2 / 3, we will have our Investiture and AGM. At this time Archbishop Dunn will be installed as the Prior for our Lieutenancy as Archbishop Mancini is retiring later in the fall. This is also the 10th Anniversary of our Lieutenancy so we have lots to celebrate. Events will be taking place in Halifax with liturgical celebrations at Saint Mary's Cathedral Basilica. If any of you are willing to be part of a committee to plan events for this weekend, please email or phone me. Mark your calendars and plan to come and celebrate.

Unfortunately the October 25 pilgrimage to Fatima, Lourdes and Barcelona lead by Father Paul Morris, KCHS has been cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The June Pilgrimage to Lourdes for all members of the Order has also been cancelled. The last time all of the membership was invited to gather, 3400 members of the Order assembled in Rome. This was in September 2013 and it was a deeply moving experience to pray and journey with so many members of the Order.

The pandemic is an evolving situation and conditions could change anytime. I will send more details on the pilgrimages as they come to me.

​H.E. Trudy Comeau

​Attached is an article I wrote about the pilgrimage to Mexico that Michel and I participated in.

H.E. Trudy Comeau