Four new members join the Lieutenancy for the Philippines
The active and dynamic Lieutenancy for the Philippines welcomed four new members in 2018.
The Investiture ceremony was held on Wednesday, February 28, 2018 at the Santuario De San Antonio Church in Mckinley Road, forbes Park, Makati City. The Investiture was presided over by Our Grand Prior, His Eminence Luis Antonio G. Cardinal Tagle, Archbishop of the Diocese of Manila and assisted by Priests from the Liturgical Commission led by Fr. Rico and several seminarians.
Each of the four new members - namely Roberto F. De Ocampo, Augusto B. Santos, Olga s. Martel, and Maria Linda S. Santos - was formally inducted into the Order and each Knight and Dame recited their Oath in the presence of all the Knights and Dames, their family members, and guests. As part of the Investiture Ceremony, the promotion of Ambassador Jesus P. Tambunting, Lieutenant of Honour, to the rank of Knight Grand Cross of the Holy Sepulchre, was also announced by Our Grand Prior, H. E. Luis Antonio Cardinal Tagle as well as the formal Installation of the New Lieutenant, Ambassador Jose L. Cuisia, Jr.
The Knights & Dames of the Order joined in the recitation of the Knight’s Prayer led by the Lieutenant, Amb. Jose L. Cuisia, Jr. There were around 12 Knights and 15 Dames who participated in the Investiture in their complete regalia. In his Homily during the Mass, Cardinal Tagle reminded the new Knights and Dames, as well as all the members of the Order of their responsibility to defend the teachings of the Catholic Church, particularly with regard to promoting respect for the family, respect for human life, and respect for the dignity of the individual.
In his acceptance remarks on behalf of the new Investees, Knight Roberto De Ocampo expressed his feelings of profound humility for the honour of being welcomed into the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, and added that more than an honour, it is a blessing which he fully embraces. He also mentioned that family and children are blessings that we should nurture, protect, and imbue with Christian values that would provide them a moral compass, which “unfortunately is lacking in too many of today’s youth” that would guide their actions within a Christian context for a lifetime. Knight De Ocampo reminded his fellow Knights and Dames of their responsibility to “strive to live meaningful lives and bringing light to whatever darkness that may befall those whose lives we may touch”. He likewise mentioned his desire to join fellow Knights & Dames in a proactive pursuit of our Order’s vow “to support Christian presence in the Holy Land”. And lastly, he urged the Knights and Dames to join the unceasing efforts to preserve the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem both as a historical and physical reality and as a symbol of the faith we profess that Christ has died, Christ is risen, Christ will come again!
(April 10, 2018)
