sovereign order of st. john of jerusalem knights hospitaller · sovereign order of st. john of...

International SOSJ Newsletter December 2016

Sovereign Order of St. John of Jerusalem Knights HospitallerFounded in Jerusalem 1113, continuing through Czar Nicholas II

Confirmed by the Royal Charter and Constitution of H.M. King Peter II of Yugoslavia

Pro Fide, Pro Utilitate Hominum

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Welcome to the December 2016 International NewsletterThis Newsletter is for all members of the Order for their information of activities and events taking place throughout the Order. Please advise the

International Office if you are not receiving the Newsletter or, if you know of other members who have not received previous Newsletters.

MESSAGE FROM SENATOR MARGARET ROLFE, DCJSJ, MMSJ

Dear Friends in St. John,

On behalf of our family I thank you all for your kind messages of sympathy and support during a very difficult and sad time in our lives.

David was proud of being a member of our Sovereign Order and honoured to serve as the 77th Grand Master. He particularly enjoyed attending investitures and welcoming new Knights and Dames into the order. He lived his life in accordance with the vows made at those times.

David greatly appreciated your dedication to the work of the Order and your unwavering support through the years.

I thank you.

With very best wishes to you and your loved ones.

Yours faithfully in St. JohnMargaret Rolfe, DCJSJ, MMSJ

International SOSJ Newsletter December 2016 2

VANCOUVER COMMANDERY INVESTITURE

The well attended Investiture and Gala Dinner was held in June 2016 with nine Aspirants invested. Sadly this was the last Investiture presided over by our Grand Master David Rolfe.

An obituary of David Rolfe is included in the Vancouver Commandery Summer 2016 newsletter. See “Newsletters” below.

VICTORIA COMMANDERY INVESTITURE

The 2016 Victoria Investiture weekend took place October 21st and 22nd. The weekend started with a cocktail party at the lovely home of Chevalier David William Moore, KJSJ and Ms. Margot McLaren Moore. The guests were made to feel very welcome and their heritage home was abuzz with conversation and cheer.

The following morning the five Aspirants and ourseveral out of town guests met for breakfast at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel where introductions were made and the history and structure of the Sovereign Order was explained. We were honoured to have H E Conventual Bailiff Grand Councillor David J.R. Petitpierre GCSJ and H E Bailiff Grand Prior Prior Emeritus Suzanne Turner GCSJ with us to address the group.

The Investiture Service was held at Christ Church Cathedral and was presided over by Grand Councillor David Petitpierre and Chevalier Ian Powell both of whom put all in attendance at ease and kept

proceedings on schedule. It was also the first Investiture orchestrated by Chevalier William Donald Macnamara, OMM, CD, KGSJ as Marshal whose military background was evident in his orderly and precise orchestration of the service.

One of the many highlights of the Investiture was the lively reading of the Allocution by Dame Mary Collins, PC, DCSJ, who imagined that she was reading a story to her grandson. Those in attendance were spellbound.

The following members of the Victoria Commandery were promoted: Dame Deedrie Dawn Ballard, DCJSJ and Dame Gail Mackay, DCJSJ, Chevalier David William Moore, KJSJ, Chevalier Francis Charles (Frank) Bourree, KGSJ, Chevalier William Donald Macnamara, OMM, CD, KGSJ, and Dame Marilyn Elizabeth Pattison, DGSJ.

The following Knights and Dames were invested into the Sovereign Order: Dames Shannon Baillie, DSJ and Victoria Starr McMichael, DSJ. Chevaliers Robert Coulter, KSJ, Richard Crow, KSJ and Daniel Sharp KSJ. All five have excellent credentials and we are honoured to include them in our Commandery.

The service was enhanced with the beautiful music of Canon Michael Gormley and the Christ Church Cathedral Choir and concluded with a performance of the stirring Highland Cathedral performed by The Greater Victoria Police Pipe Band accompanied by the Christ Church Cathedral pipe organ and was followed by Scotland the Brave as processional.

Following the service the group enjoyed cocktails and dinner at the Oak Bay Beach Hotel. All in all it was a successful and memorable weekend.

Commander Stewart Johnston, KGSJ


PRIORY OF BRITTANY RETREAT

In October the annual two-day retreat of members of the Priory of Brittany met at the Cistercian Abbey of La Joie Notre Dame. Some members were unable to attend due to sickness or other family commitments.

During the two days members listened to reports and discussed matters relating to various projects supported by the Priory in France and overseas. Decisions were made on continuing support.

Members also held the Priory’s annual meeting, heard the report of the Sovereign Council meeting given by Chevalier Remy Leprette and celebrated Mass together.

LONDON INVESTITURE

The Commandery of London held its Investiture event weekend on Friday 18 and Saturday 19 November 2016. The hotel venue was the Warren House Hotel, a traditional setting in suburban Kingston upon Thames in South London and the Investiture took place at the Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church in Wimbledon

The Weekend started with a reception and Dinner after which the Prior of England, Professor Vassilios Papalois KJSJ gave a lecture in memory of our late Grand Master H M E H Bailiff David R Rolfe GCSJ, GMSJ, CMSJ, MMSJ and the two members of the Commandery of London who died since the last investiture, Chevalier Anthony David Mercer KCJSJ, MMSJ and Dame Christine Murrell DCSJ. Senator Margaret Rolfe DCJSJ, MMSJ, Chevalier Peter Murrell KCJSJ and his children and members of the Mercer family were present.

61 members attended from Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Monaco, San Francisco USA, Scotland and Spain together with 22 spouses and guests.

The Investiture on the next day was a truly international affair with new members being invested from the Commanderies of London, Denmark, Germany, Monaco and Vancouver. H E Conventual Bailiff Dag von Schantz GCSJ, PUHR, CMSJ presided. Also at that ceremony two new Grand Priors for Europe: St Henrik (Finland) and Dacia (Denmark) were inducted as well as two new Commanders for Glasgow and North Germany.


Listed below are all those who were inducted and invested:New Grand Priors: Chevalier Timo Juhani Lääperi KJSJ as Grand Prior of the Grand Priory St Henrik and Chevalier Per Michael Østergaard KJSJ as Grand Prior of the Grand Priory of Dacia. Both were also promoted to Knights of Justice at the investiture.

New Commanders: Chevalier Professor Dr Michael Stefan Assländer KGSJ as Commander of the Commandery of North Germany (also promoted to Knight of Grace at the investiture) and Dame Ruth Chappell-Fleming DGSJ as Commander of the Commandery of Glasgow.

Newly Invested as Knights and Dames of Honour:

From the Commandery of London: Dame Barbara de Rueda DSJ and Zoe-Athena V. Papalois DDJ

From the Grand Priory of Dacia (Denmark): Chevalier Lars Hawaleschka Madsen KSJ

From the Commandery of North Germany: Chevalier Antonio Masella KSJ

From the Commandery of South Germany: Dame Dr Christiane von Duering DSJ, Chevalier Christian Henrich Saxen KSJ, Chevalier Dr Ludwig Weber KSJ, Dame Dr Rosemarie Weber DSJ, Chevalier Roger Franz Wilfinger KSJ

From the Commandery of Monaco & Italy: Chevalier David Oliver Rodriguez KSJ

From the Commandery of Vancouver (Canada): Chevalier Robert James Macdonald KSJ

Commander Neville Ransley KGSJ

MONACO COMMANDERY IN FORMATION

The Commandery has been very active in 2016 and particularly helping Iraqi Christian refugees to settle in Monaco. The support includes providing French speaking lessons; donating clothes for children; giving guidance; meeting fellow Christians in Monaco and elsewhere, and arranging a picnic lunch with Commandery members.

In addition the Commandery has been active in providing financial support to other worthy causes.

The Commandery is also working with the Italian Commandery in Formation in supporting those in need. It is planned to hold a meeting of members of both Commanderies in late 2016.

Commander Jacqueline Marschner von Helmreich, DCSJ


COMMANDERY OF ST. JOSEPH. GARDEN PARTY

On September 10, the St. Joseph Commandery held its annual Summer Garden Party fundraiser. This year’s theme was Great Gatsby, hosted at the historic Winchester Mystery House in San Jose, CA. The beautifully manicured grounds and historic home provided a wonderful backdrop for this annual affair.

Many Knights, Dames and special invitees attended, with a total guest count of 192. There was a Gatsby type casino for those who dared to gamble. During the evening a live and silent auction was held with many great gifts that were donated which helped raise needed funds for the charities St. Joseph selected as recipients for the 2016 Grants.

The event included a local band for entertainment, but it was extra special to have the Hope Services band play. They really engaged the guests with their gifts of music and song.

Grants for 2016 will go the following local charities;Hope Services; Alzheimer’s Activity Center; Costco Ministries; Live Oak Adult Care Services and Family Supportive Housing

A special acknowledgment and appreciation to all that contributed to our fundraising efforts at this event. Through this and our year-end fundraising endeavors, St. Joseph will reach our goal of raising $3,000,000 since our inception as a Commandery!

COMMANDERY OF ST. JOSEPH CERTIFICATE OF RECOGNITION

On November 4th the St. Joseph Commandery received the award for Outstanding Philanthropist for 2016.

This award was delivered by the Morgan Hill Community Foundation as a result of being recommended by One Step Closer Therapeutic Riding as a result of St. Joseph’s financial grant to One Step Closer for $50,000 for their barn renovation.

Attending the event on behalf of St. Joseph was Commander Brian Rauschhuber and his wife Julee, Dame Kelly Dippel, Dame Valerie Burniece, Chevalier John DuBois and his wife Donna.

PRIORY OF WESTERN USA GALA BALL

A very successful Christmas Ball and fundraiser was held in San Francisco on 3rd December. A full report

will be given in the next newsletter.


HONOR FOR CHEVALIER WILLIAM HIGHLANDER, KCSJ, MMSJ

Chevalier William Highlander, became a member of the US Army Public Affairs Hall of Fame on June 2, 2016, Brigadier General Malcolm Frost, the US Army Chief of Public Affairs, inducted Lieutenant Colonel (R) Richard William “Bill” Highlander, USA (Ret), at the awards ceremony. General Frost said, Highlander, served the Public Affairs with great distinction.

Excerpts of the ceremony commended Highlander for “exceptional and lifelong contribution to the career field" that was “groundbreaking, enduring, and trailblazing.” A photo and biography is displayed at the Pentagon and on the Hall of Fame wall at the Defense Information School, Fort Meade, MD.

Bill is a highly decorated officer in the US Army and served in South Korea (twice), Germany and VietnamLt. Col. Highlander’s awards and decorations include Legion of Merit (2 awards), Bronze Star for valor (2 awards), Bronze Star for Meritorious Service, Purple Heart, Meritorious Service Medal (3 awards), Army Commendation Medal (4 awards), Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry with Gold Star, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, Ranger tab, Airborne wings, Army General Staff Identification Badge, and Department of Defense badge.

NEWSLETTERS

All Priory and Commandery newsletters are posted in the International website (www.sosjinternational.org)

For those unfamiliar with these newsletters we encourage you to become more familiar with what is going on around the Sovereign Order through these newsletters.

Some of the recent newsletters on the site are:

The European. July 2016. This letters covers news from all European Priories and Commanderies.

Priory of the Western United States. June 2016. Full of Priory and Commandery information.

The Vancouver Commandery. Summer 2016. Report on the June Investiture and member profiles. It also includes the obituary of our late Grand Master, David Rolfe.


The Commandery of St. Joseph, California. Monthly newsletters including December 2016. Full of descrip-tions of fundraisers and of community institutions receiving financial support from the Commandery. The newsletters also include member profiles.

The Western Military Commandery. October 2016

Commandery of The Palm Beaches. July 1916. Reports on many deserving organizations receiving support.

2017 INVESTITURES

April 8. Priory of The Western USA. Mission Santa Clara de Asis, Santa Clara University, California May 27. The Okanagan Commandery. Kelowna, British Columbia.June 24. Priory of Brittany, FranceJune 27. Vancouver Commandery, Vancouver.

Layout: Our thanks to Alexandria Gordon-Collins

Editor: Grand Counsellor David Petitpierre, GCSJ

INTERNATIONAL OFFICE1100 – 900 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, V6C 1E5, CANADA

Phone: +1.604.685.2141. Fax: +1.604.685.2142Email: [email protected]

www.sosjinternational.org

Wishing Everyone a

Merry Christmas

and a Peaceful New Year.

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