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!

Pilgrimage in the Footsteps of a Graceful, Courageous Warrior: St. Joan of Arc

Written By Marissa Romero

This passage of Sacred Scripture first came to mind for Father David Ducote, Pastor of St. Joan of Arc Catholic Church in LaPlace, Louisiana, when asked about St. Joan of Arc.

“That is God’s MO [modus operandi], isn’t it?” he said.

Anticipating the 75^th anniversary of his parish, to be celebrated in September 2022, Fr. Ducote envisioned a pilgrimage to France to learn more about St. Joan of Arc, their great patroness.

In September 2023, the wished-for pilgrimage became a reality.

Celebrating Mass in the historic churches the pilgrims had the opportunity to visit became Fr. Ducote’s personal pilgrimage highlight.

But his chief gift was “celebrating Mass in the little parish Church where Joan herself went to Mass daily,” he said.

“It was in that Church and in that very baptismal font that a young Joan was chosen by God for His service.”

Photos shared by Fr. Ducote

St. Joan of Arc, a humble teenage peasant born in 1412 in Domrémy, France, courageously following God’s command, became a graceful warrior in defense of her nation almost overnight.

At only seventeen years of age, she led the French army to victory at Orléans, ruining the English plan to conquer France during the Hundred Years’ War.

Joan of Arc Enters Orléans [painting]. Scherrer, J. (1887). Musée des Beaux-Arts d’Orléans, France. (Public domain.)

“With the English continually besting the French, the ultimate outcome of English dominance was of little doubt,” said Liz Cline, a 206 Tours pilgrim following St. Joan’s steps in France along with her husband, Jon Cline. They are technical school owners, retired in Phoenix, Arizona.

“That 17-year-old child turned the tides of the war,” added Liz Cline.

Moreover, the thought of having an illiterate teenage peasant girl—in command of the French male military, including its well-established hierarchy—seems unreal.

“From a time in history when women were effectively chattel and whose opinions were not considered, much less sought, Joan came onto the scene and shattered the barriers and limitations society placed on her to become Commander in Chief of the French forces,” said Jon Cline.

“She gained the confidence of seasoned military leaders—some of whom tried to work counter to her orders at first—and successfully led them in battle.”

Joan, later captured and sold to England, courageously faced her imprisonment, trial, threats, tortures, and ultimately, her unfair sentence—contemplating a Crucifix, she died burned at the stake.

The Martyrdom of the Maid of Orléans [image]. Twain, M. (1896). Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc. (Public domain.)

May 30, St. Joan of Arc’s feast day, marks the anniversary of her death in 1431—she was 19 years old.

Courage, faith, and trust in God are the traits that Fr. Ducote most admires in this teenage saint.

“[St. Joan of Arc] never doubted herself and the mission that God entrusted to her,” he said, and recalled one of Joan’s most famous quotes: “I am not afraid; I was born for this.”

Playing the “what if game,” Jon Cline said, “Without Joan—there would be no France. Without the French [coming] to the aid of the Colonies in the 18th century—there would be no United States of America.”

“How much of an impact can possibly be attributed to this girl in terms of her potential impact on the world?” he reflected.

For future pilgrims and for those who, for whatever reason, cannot travel, Callie Connor, a retired accountant in Carthage, Illinois, and 206 Tour pilgrim, recommends reading Mark Twain’s book “Joan of Arc” (Volume 1, Volume 2).

“I just shake my head and am in awe of [St. Joan of Arc],” she said as this book inspired her to join the pilgrimage to France.

Fr. Ducote suggests praying the Chaplet of St. Joan of Arc to also follow in the footsteps of the teenage saint as a “pilgrimage at home.”

Reminiscing about the treasured journey to France, Liz Cline shared that Fr. Ducote, the 206 Tour Guide, and the bus driver became family to the pilgrims following in the footsteps of Joan of Arc.

“[They] worked together throughout our whole trip to make it unforgettable.”

Photos shared by Fr. Ducote

Trailing across France, the inspired pilgrims submerged themselves into the teenage saint’s mission, prayer life, decisive actions, and heroic work.

Pilgrimage in the Footsteps of St. Joan of Arc: www.206tours.com/tour11

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