Irene Sweeney receives Palm of Jerusalem award

Intermountain Catholic

+ Enlarge

Bishop John C. Wester (left), and Sir Patrick Powers (right) congratulate Lady Irene Sweeney upon receiving the Bronze Palm of Jerusalem. IC photo by Christine Young

SALT LAKE CITY — "Irene Sweeney is a woman of faith who makes our church and community a better place," said the Most Rev. John C. Wester at a Mass at the Cathedral of the Madeleine Oct. 19.

Lady Irene Sweeney of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre received a special honor and the Bronze Palm of Jerusalem from His Excellency Sir Patrick Powers, KGCHS, Lieutenant for the Western Lieutenancy of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem.

"This is a very special award that is given as a result of a review by our past Lieutenants or Lieutenants of Honor, our Chancellor, and our Chancellor Emeritus," said Powers. "Then we seek approval from our Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre, who is His Eminence Cardinal John Patrick Foley, who governs the order in Rome. This is an order that has enjoyed the support of the papacy since the year 1113."

Powers read the Decree of the award from Cardinal Foley, which stated he had considered Lady Irene’s positive sentiments toward the Holy Church, the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, and to the Holy Land, and he was most pleased to recognize her merits. Therefore by the virtue of the authority vested in him by the Supreme Pontiff Pope Benedict XVI, he bestowed upon her the Bronze Palm of Jerusalem.

"Irene is probably known by everybody. She has been a wonderful presence in the whole Church and throughout the State of Utah, in the various ways in which she has given of herself," said Bishop Wester. "Irene came here to promote the Women’s League of Voters, and ever since she has been involved in countless causes. She sees good in the secular world and she sees Christ in all those around her. Irene, we thank you for all you have done, and more important, for all you have done for us."

Powers said the Order of the Holy Sepulchre goes back to the year 1099, and the first crusade. Sir Godfrey of Leon led the crusaders into Jerusalem, and once Jerusalem was captured, he assigned certain knights to guard the Holy Sepulchre, which is the Tomb of Christ. These knights became known as the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre.

"For the last 900 or so years, they have continued to fulfill a mission of service to the Archdiocese of Jerusalem and the Latin Patriarch," said Powers. "The Archdiocese of Jerusalem covers Israel, Jerusalem, Palestine, Jordan, and Cypress.

"Our mission today is to support the archbishop financially," said Powers. "We have about 20,000 students in more than 40 schools. We have hospitals, orphanages, clinics, legal aid societies, and a variety of charities and support over there. We provide about 70 percent of the financial where with all for the Archdiocese of Jerusalem.

"In my capacity, I will receive about 1,500 Knights and Ladies that make up our membership in Utah, Nevada, Arizona, Southern California, and Hawaii," said Powers. "Every so often, we present a special award to one of our members called the Palm of Jerusalem. It is a medallion that is to be worn as extended from a ribbon from one’s chest."