INVESTED IN THE ORDER Diocese of Knoxville parishioners recently attended the annual meeting of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre in Baltimore. They included (front row left to right) Dina Mardini, Sally Sefton, Renée Hamilton, Cardinal O’Brien, Rita Mardini, Archbishop Lori. Second row: Alan Sefton, Mary Jane Frederick, Melissa Smith. Third row: Antoin Mardini, Michael Ruck Sr., George Frederick, Peter McGrath.
Two parishioners in the Diocese of Knoxville have been named to the Knights and Ladies of The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem during the organization’s annual meeting in Baltimore Oct. 31-Nov. 1.
Renée Marie Hamilton and Rita Mardini of the diocese were among 46 new members invested into the order.
During Vesper services at St. Mary’s Seminary in Baltimore on Oct. 31, Peter McGrath was promoted to Knight Commander and Alan and Sally Sefton received Pilgrim Shells for their pilgrimage to Jerusalem. The Seftons and Mr. McGrath also are parishioners in the Diocese of Knoxville.
The Nov. 1 investiture services were held at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore.
Officiating over the investiture was Cardinal Edwin O’Brien, grand master of the Order of Holy Sepulchre from Rome, and Archbishop William Lori of the Archdiocese of Baltimore, who is the grand prior of the lieutenancy and archdiocesan host.
The pope is sovereign of the Order of Holy Sepulchre, which enjoys the protection of the Holy See and has its legal seat at Vatican City.
