Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre invests/promotes Diocese of Toledo faithful

​​LA​ CROSSE, Wis. – The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem ​invested three individuals from the Diocese of Toledo and promoted a Knight from its Toledo Section at the North Central Lieutenancy’s annual Investiture Weekend held in La Crosse, Wis., Oct. 4 -7, 2024.

In a solemn​ ​investiture ceremony held on Sunday, Oct. 6 at the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman in La Crosse, Rev. Albert John Beltz, KHS, Sir Kaleb Joseph Brankamp, KHS, and Sir David Eugene Saunders, KHS were invested into the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre by His Excellency, the Most Rev. Jerome E. Listecki, KC*HS, Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Milwaukee and Coadjutor Lieutenancy Prior. ​​​​The three investees were among ​the class of 82 candidates from across six states​ approved by Rome to be invested​ into the Order ​this year.

Father Albert Beltz is pastor of Immaculate Conception Parish in Bellevue, Ohio; ​Sir David Saunders is a parishioner at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Maumee; and Sir Kaleb Brankamp is a parishioner at St. Michael the Archangel Catholic Parish in Findlay. With ​their investitures, they become the newest members of the Toledo Section.

Newly invested Knights and Dames pose in the Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman with Archbishop Listecki and H.E. Raymond Leo Cardinal Burke, KGCHS. Photo by Ken Snow.


Following the​ ​investiture ​ceremony, a Memorial Mass was celebrated by the archbishop and concelebrated by the bishops and priests of the Order to remember and pray for Knights and Dames who have died during the previous year.

In a separate promotion ceremony held on Saturday, Oct. 5 at the Shrine of Our Lady of Guadalupe in La Crosse, Archbishop Listecki promoted Rev. Msgr. William James Kubacki, KCHS to Knight Commander. Msgr. Kubacki served as Rector of Rosary Cathedral from 2010 to 2024, and ​currently serves as Vicar General of the ​Diocese​ of Toledo and Moderator of the Curia. Following the ceremony, the archbishop celebrated a Votive Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary at the shrine.

The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem is a Pontifical Order of Chivalry under the protection of the Holy See, with origins that can be traced back to the time of the First Crusade. Members make a lifetime commitment to live a life of the Order’s spirituality and make a commitment to the Order’s mission of service and support for the Christians in the Holy Land. Today the Order numbers over 30,000 members worldwide. The North Central Lieutenancy covers the states of Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin.

Posted November 1, 2024 at 11:25 am