Holy Land Christians need our support Cardinal Edwin O’Brien tells Mary O’Donnell
Cardinal Edwin O’Brien, the Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, knows first-hand the suffering, poverty and injustices experienced by the diminishing Christian community in the Middle East.
Since appointed by Pope Benedict XVI three years ago to lead the order in the support and protection of Christians in the Holy Land, the 75-year-old American has witnessed the strong faith of those suffering persecution in the land where Jesus walked.
Highlighting the very important role of prayer, the cardinal referred to the example of Pope Francis during his visit to the Holy Land and his invitation to the Palestinian and Israeli Presidents, Mahmoud Abbas and Shimon Peres, to join him at the Vatican “in heartfelt prayer to God for the gift of peace”.
The persecution in the land of Christianity’s origin has reduced the number of Christians to around 160,000 – almost one-tenth the numbers of 60 years ago.
Crusades
In his former chaplaincy roles in the US Military, Cardinal O’Brien brought the message of peace and love to some of the world’s worst war torn lands, including Afghanistan and Iraq, and so brings much experience from his 50 years in the priesthood to his work in support of the Christian people of the Holy Land.
The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, which has its headquarters in Vatican City, dates back to the First Crusade but officially came into being in the mid-19th Century, and now has 30,000 knights and dames in 35 countries, and 60 lieutenancies.
As Grand Master, Cardinal O’Brien explained that his role was to ensure the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem had what he needed to support the 45 schools, two universities, 60 parishes and many social welfare centres in the Patriarchate.
“Our presence there shows our desire to build bridges not walls in the Holy Land,” he said, adding: “It is very important that the Church remains there and that we help encourage Christians to stay through finding work for them and employing them.”
Describing it as “a very hard life”, he remarked: “We have to identify with them and let them know we support them, and our 30,000 members do that through programmes of education and through generous donations.”
Last year, the generosity of members enabled the order to forward $13 million (€11.4m) to support the Diocese of the Latin Patriarch, which covers Israel, the West Bank, Gaza, Jordan, and Cyprus.
The solution to the conflict in the Holy Land “is not a short term one”, Cardinal O’Brien said, adding: “Hearts have to change. Christ needs to be at the core of everything, bringing people of all faiths together again.”
All faiths
The University of Bethlehem, which was established in 1973 at the request of Pope Paul VI and managed by the De La Salle Brothers, provides courses for students of all faiths, with over half being Muslim.
“While they are Muslim, they are very respectful of our faith,” said Cardinal O’Brien, adding that many of them go into public service and work for the Palestinian government.
In considering the contribution of this building of respect towards a peaceful future, he believes that it “far outweighs the virtues of what any other powerful institution is doing”.
Noting that the Order of the Holy Sepulchre has 200 members in Ireland, including Cardinal Seán Brady as the Grand Prior, Cardinal O’Brien said: “With these numbers, and our members so highly placed and successful in the civilian world, we should be able to talk with some clout to the leadership in this country about staying in support of freedom and greater freedom in the Holy Land, especially for our own.”
Delighted to be in Derry as guest speaker at the annual John Paul II Awards ceremony, Cardinal O’Brien recalled Pope St John Paul II’s committed search for peace and uncompromising call for respect for minorities throughout the world.
At the start of John Paul II’s papacy, when Cardinal O’Brien was vice-chancellor of the Archdiocese of New York, he was charged with coordinating the papal visit there in 1979.
His eyes lighting up at the memory, the cardinal spoke fondly of the Polish Pontiff and how he was “very popular and outgoing, and just loved to be with young people”.
He added: “He made a great impression, as I think Pope Francis will when he comes to the United States in September.”
Considering Pope St John Paul II’s popularity with youth, the cardinal felt that it was very appropriate that his name be attached to a youth programme such as that created by the Derry diocese eight years ago.
“He would have loved it,” smiled the cardinal, expressing a hope that the saint would be present in grace when the 552 young people, from all over the Derry diocese and beyond, including pupils from St Brigid’s College, Enniscorthy, received their awards in the city’s Millennium Forum.
Aimed at 16–18 year olds, the award enables young people to become more actively involved in their parish and community life, and now has 19 dioceses taking part throughout Ireland, with an international coordinator expected to be appointed this year.
Praise
Praising the Derry diocese, and especially Fr Paul Farren and his team at the Diocesan Catechetical Centre, the cardinal said that he, and the papal nuncio, Archbishop Charles Brown, would love to see the ever-spreading awards programme reach their homeland.
He added: “It is unique. These young people are not going to forget this experience.
“Each will do the programme in their different way. It really is planting seeds for the future.”