Following on from last year’s great success, members of the Gozo Delegation of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, repeated the activity to exchange Wishes for the New Year.
This took place on Sunday, the 21st of January with a Mass of Thanksgiving in the Chapel of O.L. of Lourdes in Ghajnsielem.
Mass was celebrated by Mgr. Chev. Dr. Joseph Zammit assisted by the Prior of the same Delegation, Comm. Fr. John Muscat. The Lieutenant H.E. Amb. Roberto Buontempo, attended the event together with his family.
At the end of the Mass, all those present, including Knights, Dames, and Prostulants, together with their families, attended a formal lunch at the Grand Hotel where they exchanged greetings for the New Year.
During this activity, a couple of interventions were made to mark the occasion, where the Delegate for Gozo, Comm. Euchar Mizzi thanked those present for their participation and thanked the Lord for a successful 2023 and augured and prayed to God that 2024 will be another successful year.
Comm. Mizzi continued by congratulating His Excellency Roberto Buontempo, “as everyone knows how tirelessly he works throughout the year, both locally and Internationally where in the five years he has been in charge, the Maltese Lieutenancy has made great advances.”
For the Gozitans, 2023 was a very special year during which for the first time in the history of the Maltese Lieutenancy, the statutory establishment of the Delegation took place.
This was granted from Rome with the seal of the Grand Master Cardinal Filoni and of the Governor General Leonardo Visconti di Modrone.
Comm. Mizzi mentioned that the Gozitan Delegation, which is now formed of 17 members and three Postulants, has taken part in several events during the last year.
He noted that another positive aspect is that several members from the Delegation were appointed on commissions of the same Order, as well as that others were given promotions under the regulations and practices of the Order.
In his response Ambassador Buontempo, apart from expressing his great satisfaction for the work being carried out by the Delegation, reiterated that he has always done everything possible to give Gozo its importance and that today, “thanks to the standing of the Order in Malta, we count Cardinal Mario Grech, as our own member, forming part of the Gozo Delegation.”
It was explained that both the establishment of the Gozo Delegation and the induction of Cardinal Grech as a member, came to fruition following a lot of work spread over two years.
For Lieutenant Buontempo this has always been a dream and now, thanks also to the exceptional collaboration of the Grand Prior, Archbishop Charles Scicluna, it all came to fruition.
He thanked everyone, in particular the Delegate and the Prior who with their experience worked hard within the Council to make this happen.
He expressed his great satisfaction that the Order is constantly growing with many people of quality, approaching the Order to express interest in knowing more about its mission.
Buontempo appealed to members to come forward with names of prospective “postulants of quality” because the Order is always in need of members and this reflects on how last year, the Maltese Lieutenancy, sent nearly €40,000 to Rome, intended to sustain the Christian presence in the Holy Land.
Concluding, he announced that for the Jubilee Year of 2025, both the vigil and investiture will be held in Gozo. This news was met with great applause from all those present.
Soon after, the Gozo Delegate Comm. Euchar Mizzi, presented H.E. Lieutenant Buontempo with a very beautiful silver icon representing Our Lady of Ta’ Pinu, on behalf of all the members.
Chev. Joe Bajada