The investiture ceremonies for new knights in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of the Austrian Lieutenancy occurred from September 20 to 22, 2024, at the Augustinian Church and Monastery of Klosterneuburg and in Vienna, with Msgr. Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo attending as the delegate for the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem.
Organizing such an event involves extensive preparation, with many knights and ladies from the host Section collaborating closely. Key organizers included Dr. Andreas Leiter, the Austrian Lieutenant; Dr. Andreas Branstetter, the delegate for international relations; Dr. Martin Partilla, President of the Klosterneuburg Section; and Fr. Raimund Shreier O. Praem, the Section's Grand Prior, Dr. Walter Rechtberger was assigned as the accompanying knight for Msgr. Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo, and other guests.
The ceremonies consisted of several distinct phases:
- Reception and Presentation for all 500 participants and the introduction of 22 new candidates took place at the Austrian Inferior Palace, under the direction of the Austrian Lieutenant.
- Prayer Vigil: Held at St. Michael's Church next to Vienna's Hofburg, this segment featured prayer, Bible readings, meditation, and song. New candidates professed their commitment during this time, reciting the special prayer of the Knights and Ladies, overseen by the Lieutenancy's Grand Prior, P. Raymond Shreier, O. Praem.
- Solemn Investiture Ceremony: The formal investiture was conducted at Klosterneuburg Monastery and Church.
- General Meeting and Celebration: The festivities continued at Klosterneuburg's town hall, where the New members congratulated each other, new promotions were announced, and various official speeches were delivered.
During the event, Mgr. Giacinto-Boulos Marcuzzo spoke on behalf of the Patriarch of Jerusalem, expressing gratitude to the Knights for their ongoing support for the Holy Land, particularly highlighting the contributions of the Austrian Lieutenancy to special projects over the past year. He provided an update on the dire situation in Gaza and northern Israel and presented tokens of appreciation to several leaders, along with a picture and prayer of the Palestinian saint, Sr. Mariam Baouardy.
Canon Markus Burgnyar, rector of the Austrian Hospice in Jerusalem, also addressed attendees, sharing insights from his 20 years of experience in Jerusalem through a new book.
Throughout their speeches, the high officials reaffirmed their commitment to the Church of the Holy Land and expressed continued support for the Latin Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
