The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem invested, promoted and awarded members of the Catholic faithful from the Diocese of Columbus at the North Central Lieutenancy’s annual Investiture held Sept. 12-15 in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
In a solemn investiture ceremony held Sunday, Sept. 14 at the Basilica of St. Adalbert in Grand Rapids, Bishop Jerome Listecki, Archbishop Emeritus of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and former Coadjutor Prior, invested David Amrine of Worthington St. Michael the Archangel Church, Cody and Angela Egner of Chillicothe Our Lady, Queen of the Apostles Parish, John Paul and Christine Munhall of Granville St. Edward the Confessor Parish, and Richard Wanner Jr. and Rita Wanner of Columbus St. Andrew Church into the Equestrian Order as Knights and Dames of the Holy Sepulchre.
A Memorial Mass followed the investiture ceremony, celebrated by Archbishop Listecki and concelebrated by archbishops, bishops and priests of the Order.
In a separate ceremony on Saturday, Sept. 13, Bishop Ronald Hicks of the Diocese of Joliet and Coadjutor Prior promoted Brett Gissel of St. Michael the Archangel Church to the Equestrian rank of Knight Commander and Mark McGrath of Columbus St. Patrick Church to the rank of Knight Grand Cross.
At the same ceremony, Bishop Hicks awarded Charles and Susan Hickey of West Jefferson Ss. Simon & Jude Church the Silver Palm of Jerusalem, one of the Order’s highest honors. It is awarded by the Cardinal Grand Master to longstanding members of the Order who have attained the rank of Grand Cross and have distinguished themselves by extraordinary service to the Order and the Holy Land. The Hickeys currently serve the North Central Lieutenancy as the Vice-Chancellors of Formation.
The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is a Pontifical Order of Chivalry under the protection of the Holy See, with origins that can be traced to 1099 and the First Crusade. Members make a lifelong commitment to live a life of the Order’s spirituality and to the Order’s mission of service and support for the Christians in the Holy Land. The Order numbers over 30,000 members worldwide.
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