Dear Knights and Ladies of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem,

The 2016 Annual Meeting of the Northern Lieutenancy will be held at the Omaha/LaVista Hotel & Conference Center beginning on Friday, September 16 and concluding on Monday, September 19. The Conference Center and Embassy Suites by Hilton & Courtyard by Marriott are located at Exit 442 on I-80. Both hotels adjoin the Conference Center and parking is free for everyone. We hope you have made your hotel reservations, but if not please do so at your earliest convenience. 

Our Steering Committee has been working very hard for the past year to be sure that your days in Nebraska are filled with updated information from the Holy Land, opportunities to deepen your spiritual life and additional time to enjoy the friendship of those in attendance.

We begin on Friday with Mass at the Conference Center, followed by an evening of tasty food, fellowship and celebration of each of our States. 

On Saturday, the Memorial Mass and Promotions will be held at St. Patrick Church in nearby Gretna. In the evening, we will have a Reception and Vigil Dinner in preparation for our Vigil Service. This will all be at the Conference Center.

On Sunday, we will celebrate the Investiture Mass at our magnificent St. Cecilia Cathedral. That evening we will have a Formal Reception and Banquet at the Conference Center. Sunday’s Mass and Banquet have been planned so all can enjoy a perfect culmination of your weekend.

In keeping with our format from prior years, Saturday will build on the personal spirituality of our Members, led by Rev. Richard Gabuzda, S.T.D, Executive Director, Rev. James Rafferty, S.T.D., Director of Programs and Mission, Kathy Kanavy, M.A., Director of Spiritual Formation, all of the Institute for Priestly Formation in Omaha, Nebraska.  Sunday will focus on the Holy Land with an update by Msgr. John E. Kozar, President of the Catholic Near East Welfare Association, and a presentation by Most Reverend William Shomali, Auxilliary Bishop of the Latin Patriarch.

On Friday afternoon at the Conference Center, we will host a presentation by Mr. Joe Ricketts on a Retreat Center being built near our Conference Center, “The Cloisters on the Platte”. It will be an Ignatian Retreat Center opening in 2018. You will find the personal story of Mr. Ricketts and his passion for the Retreat Center to be interesting.

Our Archbishop, Most Reverend George Lucas, KC*HS and Most Reverend Joseph Naumann, KC*HS, Archbishop of Kansas City, KS and Grand Prior of the Northern Lieutenancy will join us and are looking forward to renewing our interest and devotion to the Holy Land and especially to welcoming our Investees.

We, along with our Steering Committee, welcome you to Nebraska. Please come to pray, to be inspired by our speakers and to enjoy the special friendship of the members of the EOHSJ Northern Lieutenancy!

Yours in Our Lady of Palestine,

Sir Paul Tamisiea, D.D.S., KC*HS & Lady Judy Tamisiea, LC*HS

2016 Annual Meeting Co-chairs