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

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.
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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