2018 Equestrian order of The Holy Sepulchre Pilgrimage to The Holy Land

EOHS Knights and Dames in the Holy Land – view more photos in the slideshow below.

In December of 2018, the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre Eastern Lieutenancy made a Pilgrimage to the Holy Land with Her Excellency Vicki Downey, and spiritual leaders Chorbishop John Faris and Fr. Michael Saharic. The group embarked on a spiritual journey through many significant and deeply holy sites. We at 206 Tours consider ourselves so blessed to have been given the opportunity to operate several Pilgrimages for the Order.

The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre is a Roman Catholic Order of Knighthood that has operated under the protection of the Pope since the Middle Ages. Its mission for, almost a millennium, is to strengthen Catholic beliefs and values; to sustain and aid the charitable, cultural and social works of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land; and to protect the rights of Christians in the Holy Land.

Originally founded by Godfrey of Bouillon in 1099, this internationally recognized order of knighthood now has 30,000 Knights and Dames from all over the world. Our 206 Tours President and Founder, Lady Milanka Lachman LC*HS, her husband Sir Charles Lachman KC*HS, and her daughter, Vice President of 206 Tours, Sandra Lippold, LHS, are all honored to be supporters and members of the order. Sandra and her young daughter embarked on this very special Pilgrimage.

The Pilgrimage began with a full day tour to Acco and Mukhraha with Mass at Magdala. On the second day, the Order visited the Byzantine Church of St. Joseph and Mary’s Well in Nazareth. It was a very special way to celebrate advent with Mass at the Church of the Annunciation.  Married Pilgrims were given the opportunity to renew their wedding vows at the Franciscan Wedding Church in Cana.

The next day the group explored the theme of the Ministry of Christ in Galilee starting with Mass in Capernaum and visiting the museum exhibiting the oldest venerating sign of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The group celebrated the Liturgy at the Mount of Beatitude where Jesus gave his great Sermon on the Mount before heading to Tabgha where Jesus fed the crowd of 5,000 people and ending the day with a beautiful boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.

Reflecting on Christ’s Humanity and Divinity, the group celebrated Mass at the site of the Transfiguration, Mt. Tabor. On this packed day, the group also visited Jerusalem, renewed their baptismal vows in the Jordan River, viewed the Mount of Temptation and explored Jericho.

The group had the extremely rare opportunity to tour the Alasqa Mosque, the Dome of the Rock – the golden roof of which has become an iconic symbol of Jerusalem. The Dome of the Rock is the Islamic holiest place of prayer, as it covers the sacred Rock where Muhammad prayed. The Dome of the Rock is also sacred to Jews as it is the place where Abraham prepared to offer his son Isaac, and to Christians as it is where baby Jesus was presented in the Temple; where He was found among the teachers when He was 12; where He prayed and taught. After this short tour, the group visits the Church of Visitation in Ein Karem, Jerusalem where Mary visited Elizabeth, mother of St John the Baptist and where Mary recited one of the greatest Marian hymns Song of Praise, the Magnificat. At the Israel Museum the group saw the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are on display.

While reflecting on the themes of the Visitation and Nativity, the group journeyed to Bethlehem and stopped for a visit to the Holy Child Program run by Franciscan Sisters of the Eucharist. After celebrating Mass at Saint Jerome, the Order spent the afternoon at Shepherd’s Fields.

Members of the Eastern Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre pictured outside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre where they made solemn entry into the Tomb of Jesus Christ.

Towards the end of the Pilgrimage, the Order visited the Mount of Olives, Pater Noster shrine, the Dominus Flevit church, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Rock of Agony, and celebrated Mass the Church of All Nations. While reflecting on Palm Sunday, His Agony, and the Last Supper, they continued to the Church of the Assumption, and commemorated the Last Supper on Mt. Zion. The Knights and Dames, of the group, were excited to receive the Pilgrim Shell from the Most Reverend, Pierbattista Pizzaballa, the current Apostolic Administrator sede vacante of the Latin Patriarchate of Jerulsalem. On this very special day, the order made Solemn Entry into the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. You’ll see in the images below; the group’s youngest Pilgrims led the procession.

The Knights and Dames also traveled to Deir Rafat Monastery – dedicated to “Our Lady of Palestine”, the Patroness of the Order. Established in 1927, the facade in the Convent Church bears the Latin inscription “Reginae Palaestinae”, meaning “to the Queen of Palestine”. It carries a six (6) meter statue of the Virgin Mary, and the Church ceiling is decorated with a painting showing angels carrying banners with the first words of the “Hail Mary” prayer in 280 languages.

Finally, on the last day of their Pilgrimage, the group commemorated His Crucifixion walking the Via Dolorosa beginning at dawn at the Antonia Fortress, following the Road to Calvary, reflecting on the Stations of the Cross and celebrating Solemn Mass at the Tomb of Christ in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

This special Pilgrimage was sure to be a life-changing experience to all present. We’re grateful for the opportunity to share these beautiful photos that so well document their spiritual journey. Please enjoy the slideshow below showing highlights form the 2018 Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre Pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Watch the slideshow below to view stunning photos from this special Pilgrimage!

Remembering Padre Pio’s San Giovanni Rotondo—A Pilgrimage Filled with Blessings and Fireworks!

Written by Marissa Romero

Outdoor Solemn Mass, uplifting music, devotional processions, benedictions, and dazzling fireworks irradiated Italian San Giovanni Rotondo’s sky on the eve of September 23, 2018, to honor the 50^th anniversary of St. Padre Pio’s passing into eternal life on September 23, 1968, at the age of 81.

Moreover, this exceptional celebration also honored the Italian saint’s 100^th anniversary of receiving Christ’s stigmata on September 20, 1918.

A stream of devotees, not only from his native Italy but from around the world, gathered in San Giovanni Rotondo, the town where the Italian saint spent the last 51 years of his life, to celebrate and honor his remarkable saintly life legacy.

A bunch of 206 Tours pilgrims witnessed it all!

The Franciscan Capuchin friar, affectionately known as Padre Pio, used to say:

Worrying is pointless, the saint explained, because God is merciful and listens to the prayers of His flock.

Indeed, as it is written, “Cast all your worries upon Him because He cares for you” (1 Peter 5:7).

Pilgrims’ Reflections on Particular Aspects of the Life and Legacy of Padre Pio

Currently residing in Rome, Fr. Guido Gockel, MHM, is passionate about pilgrimages, including serving as a spiritual director during a 206 Tours walking pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain.
Having made at least five visits to San Giovanni Rotondo, he said:

“[Pray, hope, and don’t worry] is a good summary of what we are called to in our lives. It is another way of saying what our Lord teaches:

a) Prayer: Which the Lord defines as a relationship with Him when he asks us, ‘Abide in me,‘ (John 15:4).
b) Hope: Accepting the pain, rejection, and suffering in life willingly because of the hope His Father’s love gave Him.
c) Don’t worry: Jesus clearly teaches this in His sermon on the mount, as he tells us not to worry about food, drink, or clothing.
[Worrying] does not add anything to our lifespan.”

Padre Pio wanted the faithful to surrender all their worries to Christ, said full-blooded Italian pilgrim Tia Fortino-Duhe, an active grandmother of five in LaPlace, LA. She joined a 206 Tours pilgrimage to Italy, including San Giovanni Rotondo, in 2022.

“It’s a matter of placing all trust in the One who created you,” she added.

Throughout Padre Pio’s lifetime, as news about him spread across the globe, he received thousands of letters from the faithful. Amazingly, the Italian saint directly responded and blessed from afar all who sought his guidance.

_{PADRE PIO’S MAIL OFFICE: Correspondence received by Padre Pio—in just one year—is displayed at the Friar Minor Capuchin Convent in San Giovanni Rotondo, home of Padre Pio for over 50 years. The remaining mountains of correspondence are stored elsewhere in the convent archives.}

“I was struck by the reams of correspondence he had with so many people,” said Lyra Rufino-Maceda, Executive Director of the Chesterton Academy of St. James in Menlo Park, CA. She joined the 206 Tours pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotondo in 2018 for the mega-celebration of Padre Pio.

“There is no explanation to account for how he was able to pray, celebrate Masses, hear confessions, meet with people, correspond with them, visit others, and do spiritual battle within the confines of earthly time,” Rufino-Maceda said. “The Lord was really his health and strength.”

In 1918, Padre Pio received the stigmata, the wounds of Jesus Christ’s Passion.

Countless people from all across Italy and beyond flocked to his confessional to receive the Lord’s forgiveness and spiritual guidance from the stigmatized priest.

Receiving the stigmata is “a special grace and invitation to share in Jesus’ suffering,” explained Fr. Gockel.

“When most people think of His suffering, they fail to understand that, at the moment of His suffering, which ultimately ends on the cross, Jesus draws all suffering of all mankind to himself—a cosmic mystery.”

Fr. Gockel further explained that suffering is an invitation to “take up your cross” to follow Jesus.

Padre Pio indeed received this special invitation as he bore the stigmata for 50 years.

^{TAKE UP YOUR CROSS: Statue of St. Padre Pio helping Jesus carry the cross in the Santuario di San Salvatore in Lauro. This sanctuary is considered the home of Padre Pio in Rome, where he was also greatly celebrated on the eve of September 23, 2018.}

The Capuchin friar also devoted extended hours to hearing confessions. He had the gift to discern people’s consciences and was unafraid to withhold absolution until achieving genuine repentance and, in certain cases, until performing reparations.

Fortino-Duhe refers to Padre Pio as the “Apostle of the confessional.”

_{CONFESSION MARATHONS: Padre Pio spent countless hours, often more than 12 hours per day, in this confessional housed in the Old Church of Santa Maria delle Grazie. Pilgrims have the opportunity to leave their written intentions on the floor surrounding the confessional.}

Pope John Paul II beatified Padre Pio in 1999 and canonized him in 2002 for his ultimate commitment to the welfare of suffering souls.

During the canonization, St. John Paul II said: “Prayer and charity; this is the most concrete synthesis of Padre Pio’s teaching, which today is offered to everyone.”

The Pope reminisced about how Padre Pio used to say:

“It reinforces the reason to pray,” said Fortino-Duhe.

Rufino-Maceda added that Padre Pio’s “Stay with me, Lord” prayer after Communion is her favorite.

Pilgrimage to San Giovanni Rotondo with 206 Tours: www.206tours.com/padre-pio-san-giovanni-rotondo-pilgrimage

View all Pilgrimages with 206 Tours: www.206tours.com/pilgrimages