The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem Southeastern Lieutenancy gathered this past weekend in Montgomery, Alabama for its annual meeting and investiture ceremonies, held from April 16-20, 2026. The event brought together Knights and Dames from across the Southeastern United States for their annual conference. Central to the gathering were solemn Masses, spiritual reflections, promotions and the formal investiture of new members into the Order. Most important was the updating and reinforcing of the order’s mission of supporting the Christian presence in the Holy Land.

Members in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem are distinguished by their assiduous practice of Christian faith, by their moral conduct, by their exemplary involvement in the activities of the Church at the parish and diocesan levels, by their willingness to engage in the needs and problems of the Holy Land. Members of the Order have a specific focus of Christian concern and apostolates material, moral, and spiritual assistance to and support of the poor, those without resources, voice, or means, and those who are oppressed and lacking the means to defend themselves and their rights. Member of the order are called to specific activities involving education, the dissemination of information, heightening public awareness and consciousness, advocacy, and initiatives concerning the recognition of the human dignity of every person, respect for fundamental and inalienable human rights, equal justice under law, freedom, lack of discrimination, security, human development, and a reasonable quality of life. This particularly involves the Holy Lands and the work of the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, His Beatitude: Cardinal Pierbattista Pizzaballa, Head of the Catholic Church in the Holy Land. The Order currently has 65 Lieutenancies including 24 in Europe, 125 in North America, 15 in Latin America and 6 in Australia and the Far East. At present, the number of Order Members stands at just under 30,000 worldwide.

The order was led throughout the weekend by Lieutenant Joseph A. Marino Sr., Grand Prior Most Reverend Gregory M. Aymond, Archbishop Mark S. Rivituso, Bishop of Mobile, along with other Bishops in the lieutenancy including our very own Bishop Louis E. Kihneman, Bishop of Biloxi.

The Diocese of Biloxi, headed by Section President, Theodore J. Longo, KGCHS, was well represented at the conference. The Diocese was thrilled to welcome into the order, Christine Longo.