By Herald Malaysia
PENANG – The Diocese of Penang celebrated a historic event on May 24 when Cardinal Sebastian Francis KGCHS was invested as the Grand Prior of The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem (EOHSJ) by Archbishop Thomas Chung of Taiwan. The Order’s Prior, Fr Michael Cheah KCHS was also appointed as the Grand Prior Coadjutor.
These preceded the elevation of the Penang Section of the Lieutenancy of Western Australia, set up 10 years ago in Malaysia, to the rank of Lieutenancy of Malaysia-Penang.
In the ceremony, His Excellency Leonardo Visconti di Modrone, the Governor General of the Order, read the Decree from His Excellency Fernando Cardinal Filoni, the Grand Master, and assigned John Luis Chen KCHS as its first Lieutenant. On the same day, seven new members and Fr Dominic Santhiyagu were prepared to be invested into the Order the following day.
The Investiture was held at the Church of Immaculate Conception, Pulau Tikus, the same venue for the inaugural local investiture for 19 members on Feb 19, 2020.
The occasion was also graced by the Apostolic Nuncio to Malaysia, His Excellency Archbishop Wojciech Zaluski and honoured with the presence of Fr Richard Smith; Lt. Kevin Susai; Lt. in Honour Robert Peters and Lt. in Honour Jack Gardner of Western Australia; Lt. David McCabe of South Australia; Lt. Joseph Lee of Taiwan; Fr Maxim Baz of Rome, a delegation of 10 other members from Australia and a delegation of 29 other members from Taiwan.
After the Investiture and Mass, the celebrations culminated in a grand dinner and joyful fellowship over the resounding success of the elevation, also attended by Cardinal Sebastian Francis, the Governor General, The Apostolic Nuncio, Msgr Jude Miranda, 87 members of the Order and invited guests. In his speech, His Excellency the Governor General said that he was honoured to represent the Grand Master and the entire Grand Magisterium of the Order in the ceremonies and to celebrate this milestone with the new lieutenancy.
The Malaysia-Penang Lieutenancy currently has 91 members from all walks of life. Enquiries about the Order may be sent to eohsjpg@gmail.com.
The EOHSJ is a lay order with over 30,000 members in 40 countries. It is an international Order of Knighthood with its headquarters in Vatican City State and is under papal sovereignty and protection of the Holy See. Its principal mission is to reinforce the practice of Christian life by its members, fidelity to the pope; sustain and assist the religious, spiritual, charitable & social works of the Catholic Church and the Christians in the Holy Land, particularly of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem. – Herald Malaysia
