Knights of the Holy Sepulchre Northwestern Lieutenancy

by: Edward Dillon - Americans for Middle East Understanding
[full article]
...they shall come streaming to the Lordís blessings: the grain, the wine, and the oil Jeremiah 31:12

You make...wine to cheer man's heart, oil, to make him glad, and bread to strengthen man's heart. Psalm 104: 14-15

Let's single out that phrase: "oil, to make him glad"

For starters, it is not a reference to black gold or Texas tea, the kind of oil that fuels our cars and our wars.

It refers to the fruit of the olive tree.

The gifts of the earth culminate in the grain, the wine, and the oil.

She did it!

You did it!

We did it!

Thanks for all your support!

Gaza Student Completes Her Bachelors Degree
from Bethlehem University
Ms. Berlanty Azzam completes course requirements for her bachelors degree!
75 days from when she was blindfolded, handcuffed, and taken from Bethlehem to Gaza
Berlanty graduates in Gaza at the Holy Family Church
Bethlehem University expressed gratitude to Gisha and to thousands of local and international friends who joined in the efforts to seek justice for Berlanty.
Bethlehem University continues to seek support for other Palestinian students from Gaza to enroll in and attend courses at the Vatican- sponsored Bethlehem University – as well as at all other Palestinian universities in the West Bank or Gaza.

By Stuart Littlewood - London
[full article]

Poor Berlanty. What did she do to deserve this crushing blow to her hopes and life chances?

The Israeli High Court has denied her justice - again - and prevented Berlanty Azzam returning to Bethlehem University for the final few weeks to complete her degree.

On 28 October this Christian student at the Vatican-sponsored Bethlehem University was abducted by the IDF after attending a job interview in Ramalla, then blindfolded and handcuffed and dumped in Gaza. She had lived in the West Bank since 2005 after being granted a permit.

Dear Friends of Bethlehem University,

A few days ago I wrote about “justice delayed” in the case of Berlanty Azzam, our 4th year student who was taken blindfolded and handcuffed on 28 October 2009 from Bethlehem to Gaza.
Today, after hearing of the decision of the Israeli High Court, I write about “justice as an elusive reality.”

A few hours ago, I received a phone call from Yadin Elam, the lawyer from the Israeli Human Rights Organization who has been working with and for Berlanty Azzam. Yadin called right after he spoke with Berlanty – to let me know the unfortunate news that the Israeli High Court decided not to allow Berlanty to return to Bethlehem University to complete the last few weeks of her bachelors degree program.

2 December 2009
Update on Berlanty Assam, Bethlehem University Student
35 days since she was blindfolded, handcuffed, and taken from Bethlehem to Gaza

Dear Friends of Bethlehem University,

Many of you have written to know what happened at Monday's Hearing. My apologies for the delay in responding.

Bottom line, I regret to say, is that it is not over yet!

Berlanty is still not back in Bethlehem. She is in Gaza while her academic courses and her future aspirations remain “on hold.”

It is now 35 days since she was taken from Bethlehem.

At the Monday, November 30th Hearing at the High Court, the Court did not declined to instruct the Israeli Army to return Berlanty to Bethlehem for her to complete her education at Bethlehem University – but instead allowed her to be returned to Gaza as the Court continued to consider the matter.

29 November 2009:
Update on Berlanty Assam, Bethlehem University Student
33 days since she was blindfolded, handcuffed, and taken from Bethlehem to Gaza

Dear Friends of Bethlehem University,

Thank you for your on-going patience and persistence in your support of Berlanty.

The date and time are set for the next Israeli High Court hearing. Mr. Yadin Elam, Berlanty's lawyer from the Israeli Human Rights group GISHA, tells us that the Israeli Army will be bringing Berlanty from Gaza to Jerusalem in keeping with the Israeli High Court decision that she should be present for the High Court Hearing on Monday, Nov 30th @ 4pm.

News Release - Tuesday, November 24, 2009
· Gisha requests that the Court instruct the army to let Berlanty return to her studies in Bethlehem.
· Berlanty has already missed almost a month of her studies; she was due to finish her BA in Business Management in less than two months.
· Israel admits that it has no security concerns regarding Berlanty and that she was removed only because the address listed on her identity card is in Gaza.
· Since 2000, Israel has enforced a sweeping ban on Palestinian students from Gaza studying at universities in the West Bank.
The IDF maintained its refusal to allow Berlanty to return to her studies in Bethlehem, stated the Israeli State Attorney’s Office in a supplementary statement submitted today to the High Court of Justice following an urgent petition submitted by "Gisha – Legal Center for Freedom of Movement". The State's update was submitted following a military hearing conducted for Berlanty after the High Court ordered the State to grant her the legal right that was originally denied to her – the opportunity to present her claims and appeal her removal, while exercising her right to legal representation.The hearing took place on November 17, 2009, at the Erez Crossing in the presence of Gisha attorney, Adv. Yadin Elam.

18 November 2009
Update on Berlanty Assam, Bethlehem University Student
22 days since she was blindfolded, handcuffed, and taken from Bethlehem to Gaza

On Tuesday, 17 November 2009 the Israeli military, as ordered by the Israeli High Court on 12 November, held its administrative hearing at Erez, the Gaza border crossing, with our Bethlehem University student, Berlanty Azzam, present.

We are most grateful that Berlanty was provided this opportunity to explain her situation to the Israeli military administrative officers and to challenge their decision to blindfold and handcuff her – and to summarily remove her from Bethlehem to Gaza on Wednesday, 28 October (two months before completing her studies for her bachelors degree at Bethlehem University).

Saturday, 14 November 2009

Subject: Update on Bethlehem University Student: Berlanty Azzam (18 days since she was blindfolded, handcuffed, and taken from Bethlehem to Gaza)

Dear Friends of Bethlehem University,

When I last wrote to you, it was early Thursday morning, 12 November, and we were just about to go to the Israeli High Court for a hearing with Attorney Yadin Elam from GISHA arguing against the lawyers for the Israeli state and military to “bring Berlanty back to Bethlehem.”

Today, on Saturday morning, 14 November 2009, may I share with you what happened at the hearing at the Israeli High Court on Thursday, 12 November:

12 November 2009
Update on Bethlehem University Student: Berlanty Azzam
16 days since she has been taken

Dear Friends of Bethlehem University,

Thank you so much for your TREMENDOUS support from all corners of the globe. We've heard from Australia, New Zealand, England, Ireland, Canada, Egypt, Denmark, Germany, China, France, Jordan, Italy, the Vatican, Philippines, and the United States. Many have contacted their elected representatives, Israeli embassies, and media. Many individual citizens have made themselves known and have expressed their deep concern for this abusive military intervention into the educational activity of the Vatican-sponsored Bethlehem University. You are making a difference and your voices are being heard - THANK YOU!

Dear Friends,

Below is an update on the case of Berlanty, the date of the next Israeli
court hearing, and a request for another letter from you to help Berlanty.

1. Thank you for your continued support for the Bethlehem University student
Berlanty Azzam to be returned to the University campus by the Israeli
military who took her blindfolded and handcuffed to Gaza on Wednesday, 28
October 2009.

2. The Israeli High Court of Justice will hold another court hearing on
Berlanty’s case next Thursday, 12 November 2009 at 9:00am to have the
Israeli military to further explain why Berlanty was removed from Bethlehem

From Bethlehem University

Dear Friends

Your support is TREMENDOUS -- and deeply appreicated.

I've tried my best to write back and acknowledge each of you individually - but it is simply not possible - and that is a good sing of great support! Thanks so much because what you are supporting is the sacred nature of the life of a real human being - Berlanty Azzam - a young woman who for some reason, God has entrusted to us at Bethlehem University. And for her - and each and every student - it is a sacred trust / covenant we undertake when we engage in the teaching and learning process - for it is about both touching hearts and enlightening minds.

From Bethlehem University
The Israeli military has gone one step further in denying a young Christian woman her right to complete her bachelor degree at the Vatican-sponsored Bethlehem University in the Holy Land.

On Wednesday, 28 October 2009, we learned that Ms. Berlanty Azzam, a Bethlehem University student studying business administration and translation, was arrested by the Israeli military.

On Thursday, 29 October 2009, we spoke with Berlanty via mobile phone and learned that on Wednesday night at 11:00pm the Israeli military loaded her into a military jeep - blindfolded and handcuffed - and moved her from Bethlehem to Gaza - against her will.

While Israel has a right to protect its citizens, the security barrier separating Israel from the Palestinian territories raises human rights concerns, said a U.S. cardinal. “The most tragic thing I have seen is the miles-long wall that separates Jerusalem from Bethlehem and separates families and keeps farmers from the land that has been in their families for generations. It is humiliating and distressing,” Cardinal John P. Foley, grand master of the Knights of the Holy Sepulcher, told participants at the 11th international conference of the Holy Land Christian Ecumenical Foundation on Oct.

Zenit.org
[full article]
By supporting Christians in the Holy Land with more than $50 million in less than 10 years, the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher is laying the foundation stones for peace in the Holy Land.
The grand knight of the order, Cardinal John Foley, affirmed this Saturday when he explained both the importance of Jerusalem and the role of the order at a conference in Washington, D.C.

By Judith Sudilovsky -- Catholic News Service
[full article]
The Palestinian students of the Rosary Sisters' High School in East Jerusalem's Beit Hanina neighborhood are eagerly and prayerfully awaiting the beatification of one of their own.

Sister Soultaneh Maria Ghattas, founder of the Dominican Sisters of the Holy Rosary of Jerusalem, will be beatified Nov. 22 in Nazareth, Israel. Born in Jerusalem in 1843, she founded the first and still the only Palestinian women's religious congregation. She was given the name Marie Alphonsine when she entered religious life.

Dr. El-Farra was recently invited to speak to the Arab Women Association in London. However, she, like hundreds of thousands of other Palestinians, was forbidden by Israeli military authorities to leave to travel. Her grown daughter, who is currently living in England, read her words.
Dear all
Thank you for your presence today ,thank you for the great support you show for the Palestinian people and specially for Gaza .
While addressing you from a distance, and being unable to cross the borders, like many of us here in Gaza ,who try everyday and fail, I feel strongly of the injustice that has been imposed on the Palestinian people since Israel was founded 1948, where big ethnic cleansing process took place and Palestinian people were made refugees ,

Name Email Council Position Council Name
H E. Most Reverend Sir George H. Niederauer, KC*HS Grand Prior
H.E. Mary Currivan O'Brien, LGCHS eohsmobrien@gmail.com Lieutenant
H.E. Sir Robert Begley, KGCHS rfbegley@comcast.net Lieutenant of Honor
H.E. Sir Albert Maggio, KGCHS Lieutenant of Honor
Sir Michael Hall, KGCHS mirh39@aol.com Chancellor
Sir Thompson M. Faller, KGCHS faller@up.edu Lay Master of Ceremonies
Deacon Peter Boulware, KCHS pjboulware@sbcgobal.net Ecclesiastical Master of Ceremonies
Sir Leonard Vuylsteke, KHS lvuylsteke@archdpdx.org Treasurer
Deacon Sir Hank Jacquemet, KCHS hjacque@sbcglobal.net Treasurer Emeritus

Obituary

Please pray for the Repose of the Souls of

Sir William Dougherty, KGCHS, - Deceased 4/15/2009
Sir William and his wife Lady Lenore, LGCHS, were invested in the Order in 1995 and served as very active members of the Stockton Council.

Lady Charlene Day, LHS Deceased – 4/15/2009
Lady Charlene was pre-deceased by her husband, Sir John, KCHS. They were invested in 1998 and were in the Oregon Council.

Lady Yuklye Combs, LHS, - Deceased 5/30/2009
Lady Yuklye and her husband Deacon Richard Combs, KCHS, of Renton,
WA, were invested into the Order, she in 2003, and he in 1998.

HOLY LAND PILGRIMAGES

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SUPER PILGRIMAGE TO HOLY LAND
Western Lieutenancy
November 1-12, 2009
Land and Air Price: $3,538
Cardinal Mahoney, Bishop Esterka (Czech Republic), Bishop Luong (Orange) and Bishop Pepe (Las Vegas) will accompany the pilgrims. Focus of the pilgrimage will be on the lives of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, our Christian heritage, the works of the Order and the results of its generosity.