Retreat Highlights Holy Land Presence

A mini‑retreat, held May 30 at St. Catherine of Siena Parish in West Simsbury, Connecticut, brought together members of both the Federal and American associations from across Connecticut for a day centered on faith and fellowship, and a talk on the Order’s work in the Holy Land.

The gathering began with Mass, grounding the day in prayer and the shared charism of the Order. The liturgy offered participants a moment of unity and reflection, reinforcing the spiritual foundation that animates the Order’s mission.

Following Mass, attendees gathered for the Defense of the Faith lecture, delivered by Michèle Burke Bowe, the Order’s ambassador to Palestine and president of the Holy Family Hospital of Bethlehem Foundation. Her presentation, “Keeping Christianity Alive in the Place Where Jesus Was Born,” offered a compelling and deeply personal look at the challenges and hopes facing Christian families in Bethlehem today. She spoke of the vital work of Holy Family Hospital, the Order’s flagship project in the Holy Land, and highlighted the responsibility of the global Church to support the Christian presence in the birthplace of Christ.

The retreat concluded with a luncheon that fostered warm conversation and renewed fraternity among members. It was a time for reconnecting, welcoming new faces, and strengthening the bonds that sustain the Order’s work in Connecticut. The spirit of the day—faith and fellowship—was rooted in prayer, learning, and community. Participants left encouraged and united in their shared commitment to the Order’s mission.

Photo above shows Knights and Dames of Connecticut from the Federal and American Associations, with members of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, Ambassador Michèle Bowe, GCM, and Father Michael Whyte, Chaplain of the Federal Association Region of Hartford, CT.