Bishop to confer diplomas for Knights and Ladies in Greensburg

Bishop Lawrence E. Brandt will honor 31 laypeople and two priests of the diocese at a ceremony conferring diplomas for Knights and Ladies of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem during a prayer service at 3 p.m. Sunday at Blessed Sacrament Cathedral.

Six couples are receiving a promotion in rank while three individuals and nine couples are entering the order.

The chivalric order dates back to 1099 and the First Crusade. It was first approved by Pope Callistus II in 1122, establishing members as a lay religious community with specific responsibilities of guarding the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre and the city of Jerusalem in defense of Christianity.

The order's objectives today are to strengthen the Christian life of its members, to support the Latin-rite Patriarch of Jerusalem, and to support the Christian presence in the Holy Land by rendering material aid and offering prayers for peace.

Those receiving promotions to Knight Commander and Lady Commander are:

• Dr. Richard and Karen Bonfiglio, Mother of Sorrows Parish, Murrysville.

• Robert and Irene Bozzone, St. Margaret Mary Parish, Lower Burrell.

• John and Rhodora Donahue, Holy Trinity Parish, Ligonier and St. Ann Parish, Naples, Fla.

• William and Virginia Merchant, St. Agnes Parish, North Huntingdon.

• Dr. William and Mary Ryckman, Holy Family Parish, West Newton.

• Paul R. and Anne F. Smiy, Immaculate Conception Parish, Irwin.

Those entering the order are:

• Lawrence and Cynthia Busch, Holy Trinity Parish, Ligonier.

• Dennis and Karen Cadwell, Mother of Sorrows Parish, Murrysville.

• George and Sally Caric, St. Barbara Parish, Harrison City.

• John and Kimberly Dolan, St. Bernard of Clairvaux Parish, Indiana.

• Raymond and Elizabeth Hanley, St. Agnes Parish, North Huntingdon.

• Paul and Susan Hart, Church of the Resurrection Parish, northern Indiana County.

• The Rev. Larry Kulick, co-director of the Office for Clergy Vocations and co-episcopal master of ceremonies.

• Craig and Sandi Leach, St. Theresa of Avila Parish, Summit, N.J.

• The Rev. William J. Lechnar, pastor of St. Thomas More University Parish, Indiana and director of the Office for Planning.

• Dr. James and Helene Paharik, St. Vincent Basilica Parish, Latrobe.

• Patricia Smiy, Immaculate Conception Parish, Irwin.

• Michael and Janice Walker, Holy Family Parish, Latrobe.

Membership to the order is made upon nomination by current members. Candidates must embrace the mission of the order and be willing to enthusiastically serve the order. Married couples are encouraged to enter the order together.

In addition, candidates must be practicing Catholics in good standing who frequently receive the sacraments, have a long-standing record of excellent service and fidelity to the church and are known to their pastor; must be personally known by their nominator; must be worthy of recognition for service to the church, community and others; and should exemplify charity, courtesy, loyalty, largesse and gentility in their conduct.

The promotions in rank and the investiture of new members took place Oct. 1 at Mass in St. Patrick's Cathedral in New York.

The insignia of the order centers on the Jerusalem cross, a large red cross with each of the four quadrants filled with a smaller cross.

For more information about the honorees, visit here or call the office for communications at 724-834-4010.