(OSMTH) Annual Report 2011

OSMTH Annual Report 2011 Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani (OSMTH) Annual Report 2011
OSMTH is a United Na ons Non‐Governmental Organiza on (NGO)
registered in Geneva, Switzerland. Swiss Federal Registry Number CH‐660.1972999‐4 OSMTH Annual Report 2011 Page 2 Table of Contents Royal Patron Message
3
Religious Protector Message
4
Grand Master Welcome
5
Grand Commander Welcome
6
Grand Priory Reports
7-21
Future Grand Priories
22
Our Vision OSMTH’s raison d’etre is expressed through the Brussels Declaration: “Aiding
humanity on the pilgrimage through life.”
Vision and Commitment
Christian Ethos, Spirituality and Chivalric Values.
Domestic Charity and International Humanitarian Aid
Human Rights and the respect for Human Diversity
Interfaith Dialogue and Bridge-Building
OSMTH Annual Report 2011 Page 3 ROYAL PATRON 1996. Subsequently, she agreed to become the Royal Patron of the Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolimitani (OSMTH).
Princess Elisabeth is the widow of His Serene Highness Prince Ferdinand Heinrich of Ysenburg and eldest
daughter of Prince Friedrich Ferdinand of SchleswigHolstein-Sonderburg- Glücksburg. Her mother is Duchess Anastasia of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. She is the great
granddaughter of Grand Duchess Anastasia Mikhailovna
of Russia, wife of Grand Duke Friedrich Franz III of
Mecklenburg-Schwerin, and daughter of Grand Duke
Michael of Russia, younger son of Tsar Nicholas I of
Russia.
H.R.H. Princess Elisabeth zu Ysenburg
und Büdingen
Her Highness Princess Elisabeth zu
Ysenburg und Büdingen, Princess of
Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg- Glücksburg has been the Royal Patron of the
Grand Priory of the USA since 1996. She
was a guest at several SMOTJ events
and, with the encouragement of BG
Chev. Patrick Rea, was formally invested
as a member of the Order in 1995 in the
Priory of St. John the Baptist. She accepted the role of patron for the Grand
Priory within a year and is the first royal
personage to assume that position since
the death of HRM King Peter II in 1970.
She has honored the Grand Priory by
attending, supporting and participating in
a large number of the SMOTJ events
since then. She was awarded the Grand
Cordon of the GPUSA Order of Merit in
Princess Elisabeth is descended twice from Empress
Catherine II “the Great” of Russia. Also, she is a greatgreat-granddaughter of King Christian IX of Denmark
and a great-great-great-great granddaughter of King
George III of Great Britain, America’s last King. Princess
Elisabeth of Ysenburg is a third cousin of H.M. Queen
Elizabeth II of England. OSMTH Annual Report 2011 Metropolitan Theodosius has been the spiritual leader
of the Orthodox Church in America (OCA) from 1977
until 2002. He was born in Canonsburg, Pennsylvania to
immigrant parents from Galicia in 1933, in what is today
the southeastern corner of Poland. He was consecrated in
1967 to the episcopacy as Auxiliary to the Metropolitan
and Bishop of Washington, D. C. and was administrator
of the Diocese of Alaska in 1967. The Great Council of
Bishops elected him diocesan Bishop of Sitka and Alaska
in November and he was consecrated a bishop in 1968.
Metropolitan Theodosius has played an active role in
inter-Orthodox gatherings, consultations and bodies, including the Standing Conference of Canonical Orthodox
Bishops in the Americas [SCOBA], of which the OCA is
a member. He continues to be a strong supporter of various inter-Orthodox ministries, including International
Orthodox Christian Charities and the Orthodox Christian
Missions Center.
Metropolitan Theodosius was a frequent guest at the
White House in Washington, D. C., having been called
upon by Presidents George Walker Bush and Bill Clinton
for advice on religious and political affairs in various
parts of the world, especially after the fall of communism
in the late 1980s and early 1990s. He boldly defended the
Page 4 RELIGIOUS PROTECTOR His Beatitude, Metropolitan Theodosius [Lazor] became
the religious patron of the Grand Priory USA in 2003 and
in 2007 became the Religious Protector for OSMTH. His
association with the Order predated that honor by a number of years. As a result of the efforts of Past Grand Prior
BG Patrick Rea, the Templar assistance rendered to the
Russian Orthodox Church and the warm endorsement of
The Rt Rev Bishop Job, GMTJ, of the OCA Diocese of
Chicago, he accepted the position of Religious Patron and
shortly thereafter, was awarded membership in the Order
of Merit with a rank of Grand Cordon. Since then he has
given his support, advice and active participation in many
Grand Priory and OSMTH events, including a Templar
pilgrimage to the Holy Land.
His Beatitude was elected Metropolitan of All America and Canada during the fifth All-American Council in
Montreal, Quebec in 1977. He became the leader of one
of the world’s fifteen, self-governing or autocephalous
Orthodox churches as the Primate of the Orthodox
Church in America.
His Beatitude Metropolitan Theodosius
rights of all peoples in the Kosovo region
during its most recent crisis, while calling upon President Clinton to end the
NATO air campaign.
Metropolitan Theodosius maintains a
residence near St Tikhon's Seminary in
South Canaan, Pennsylvania.
OSMTH Annual Report 2011 Page 5 GRAND MASTER Allow me, on behalf of Order Supremus Militaris
Templi Hiersolymitani, to introduce you to our inaugural annual report where you will find an overview
of who we are and what we do as Knights and
Dames in the twenty-first century.
Patrick E. Rea
Brigadier General - US Army (Ret.)
Our Order was founded on the principles first adopted by the original Templar Knights in France in the
Year 1118 and carried out in those early days from
their home in the Temple of Solomon in the Holy
City of Jerusalem, provided for them by then King
of Jerusalem Baldwin, the Second. In these modern
times, OSMTH is international in nature with members from over 40 nations, ecumenical Christian in
our religious beliefs welcoming Members of all
Christian religions, and focused on matters of human
rights, political and religious freedom, and humanitarian aid to the world's less fortunate. We are officially recognized by the United Nations in Special
Consultative Status and furnish OSMTH Official
Delegations to the United Nations in New York
City, Vienna, and Geneva.
Please take the time to look at the humanitarian projects in progress and supported by the member
Grand Priories. We welcome your visit to the website and encourage you to explore membership in
one of the Grand Priories. OSMTH Annual Report 2011 Page 6 GRAND COMMANDER On behalf of the more than 5,000 members worldwide of Ordo Supremus Militaris Templi Hierosolymitani (OSMTH) – the Knights Templar International – a modern day Christian chivalric Order,
I welcome your visit to this website where you will
find information about the many activities and projects of our member Grand Priories (National entities).
Each Grand Priory strives to reach high levels of
volunteerism for the greater good of mankind and
thus increase the worth of the Order to those who are
less fortunate than us. Through the Grand Priories
each member is urged to become more involved in
the humanitarian and charitable efforts of the Order
as a whole.
Like the Knights Templar of old, we operate as a
modern-day worldwide network of educated professionals from such widely diverse backgrounds as
senior government officials, members of the Diplomatic Corps, senior clergy, military officers, physicians and surgeons, engineers, historians, lawyers,
humanitarian aid caregivers and representatives of
many other vocations. OSMTH members include
many of the most respected and credible senior officials in their home nations thus providing a highly
respected body of expertise and an influential voice
supporting the Order’s commitment to help the less
fortunate of the world regardless of race, colour,
creed or political persuasion. OSMTH members promote the time-tested chivalric ideals of honour, honesty, civility, tolerance, care for our fellow man and
support of ecumenical Christian religious faith
throughout their individual nations and throughout
the world community.
Please take the time to look at the humanitarian projects in progress and supported by the member
Grand Priories.
Major General (Ret) Robert C. G. Disney
OSMTH Annual Report 2011 GRAND PRIORY OF AUSTRIA Page 7 OUR MEMBERSHIP
45 Future oblations of the Grand Priory is based on this TOTAL membership.
OUR CHARITIES
We have experienced a new awakening in 2012 now
showing a total membership of 45 which includes a
mentored unit in Georgia which is a sovereign state
in the Caucasus region of Eurasia.
Our main humanitarian charity effort is through contributions to Oikocredit (approximately 3.000 Euro
to date).
Other humanitarian charity effort is financial support
to refugees (mothers with children from Bosnia and
Kosovo); Tadzreli heritage sign project (Georgien);
Kindertheater (Oesterreich).
http://www.templerorden.at
Grand Prior BG Ronald S. Mangum, GCTJ
OSMTH Annual Report 2011 OUR MEMBERSHIP
GRAND PRIORY OF BULGARIA 453 Future oblations of the Grand Priory is based on this TOTAL
membership.
OUR CHARITIES
The Grand Priory’s main charity effort is continued humanitarian activities for the monastery – refuge for abused mothers with children in Novi Khan.
Other charity efforts include donation of books and a water
stone tap project with the municipality of Sofia in addition
to a variety of Commandery projects.
1. We have published further 3 books, proceedings of which
went for charity. One of the books was an exquisite edition
of the Bible, published with the authorisation of the Bulgarian Patriarchy.
2. We continued editing our “Templar” magazine (4 issues
per year). The edition is distributed besides to our members
also to the various government and municipal authorities.
3. In November 2011, we created a Youth Templar Organisation. Part of the members (Knights and Postulants) received training at the Ministry of Education and are already
working on small projects within the Programme “Youth in
Action”, financed by EC.
Under the mentorship of GP Bulgaria are Russia, Ukraine
and Belorussia. Presently we have 18 Knights and Dames in
the Preceptory “St. George” in Moscow. So far we have 10
Knights in the Ukraine with Preceptory in Kiev. We have 2
Knights in Belorussia. Due to the political situation, we are
going very slowly and cautiously.
For us a great event was the visit of our Grand Commander
– HE Bob Disney, in Sofia. We succeeded to organise a
busy programme for him meeting top level officials in Bulgaria (the Chairwoman of the National Assembly, the
Mayor of Sofia, chiefs of the ruling political party, union
leaders, military officials, etc.). We succeeded in bringing
together more than 15 nations at our C&I in November and
we are sincerely thankful to our Grand Commander for being able to attend. Very important was also the media coverage we organised for his visit. It is our firm belief that going
public is very important for our Order. Page 8 Grand Prior MG Roumen Raltchev
OSMTH Annual Report 2011 GRAND PRIORY OF CANADA Page 9 OUR MEMBERSHIP
175 Future oblations of the Grand Priory are based on
this TOTAL membership including our three Priories
and one Commandery as well as several members at
large.
OUR CHARITIES
The Grand Priory of Canada strives to balance our
charitable donations between international, national
and local projects. The Grand Priory of Canada's main
charity efforts include:
Grand Prior Ron Matthewman
International
Canon Andrew White’s St. George’s Church Baghdad
Preservation of ancient buildings in Jerusalem.
The Jordan River development project.
Protection of Christians at risk, support among the
Chaldean people.
Support and attendance at the United Nations conference for women and youth.
World Relief Projects for famine and disaster relief,
refugee camps, emergency relief, and disaster funds.
The Oikocredit investment in marginal family projects
in third world countries.
National
On Canadian soil we have a support programme for:
Military families whose Military member is serving
overseas
Support of Canadian Military personnel, injured/
wounded in Afghanistan
National Emergency Disaster Funds program for Indian Reservations in support of children sport and welfare projects
Local
Locally our support has gone to:
Help to feed, clothe and house local people in need.
Shoe and sock project for street people
Hospital rehabilitation groups
Medical projects for indigent people
Salvation Army Projects
Emergency programs for rehabilitation after
fires and floods
Woman's shelter for abused women
These projects through the three priories of the
Grand Priory of Canada, total an estimated $50.000 OSMTH Annual Report 2011 Page 10 GRAND PRIORY OF ENGLAND & WALES OUR MEMBERSHIP
92 Future oblations of the Grand Priory is based on this TOTAL membership.
OUR CHARITIES
The Grand Priory of England & Wales main humanitarian effort is financial support for:
 Foundation for Peace & Reconciliation in the Middle
East
 HAITI appeal
 Famine in Africa 300 euro
 Orphanage in Mozambique project 180 euro
Contributions have been given to:
Templar Pilgrimage Trust
Templar Heritage Trust


Grand Priory of England & Wales held the Annual General
Assembly at Rothley in April. The History & Heritage weekend was held at Lincoln in July where Grand Prior Godfrey
was installed at Lincoln Cathedral.
Grand Prior Chev. Godfrey Fowler
Grand Priory members attended memorial service for Sir Roy
Redgrave, Guards’ Chapel London in September (see below).
A retreat and study weekend was held at Glastonbury in September and an Advent dinner was held in November at Canterbury. Rounding out our year were three Chapter meetings and
various other Preceptory and House meetings.
A new project commenced to revise the Constitution, rules and
regulations of the Grand Priory of England and Wales. We are
also defined roles and responsibilities of Grand Priory Officers.
Grand Prior Emeritus Simon Lefevre visited the Australasian
Preceptory where one new knight was invested. We accepted
the mentorship of Ireland.
It would be pointless to pretend other
than that Roy Redgrave could give a
startling impression on first acquaintance. His relationship to the Redgrave
acting family — Sir Michael was his
father’s half-brother — might lead one
to expect a certain theatrical air, but he
was distinctly mannered in stance and
speech, especially speech. Those who
thought he might be joking discovered
he spoke in no other way and there was
more than a touch of steel about him.
He was the first Commander of British Forces Hong Kong in
recent times below the rank of lieutenantgeneral and not al-
ready knighted. This called for some aplomb
in a highly prosperous community very conscious of style and position. No one could
say that Redgrave lacked self-confidence or a
certain style. He may have been rather different from what Hong Kong had grown used to
in its local general but his appointment as
KBE on giving up the job was widely welcomed.
In retirement he threw himself into a variety
of work and travel. He was Grand Master of
the Knights Templar for a time; he was chairman of the Hammersmith & Fulham Health
Authority and the Charing Cross Hospital
special trustees. He married Valerie, daughter
of Major Arthur Wellesley, in 1953. She died
last year. He is survived by two sons.
Major-General Sir Roy Redgrave, KBE, MC,
Commander British Forces Hong Kong 1978
-80, was born on September 16, 1925. He
died on July 3, 2011, aged 85
OSMTH Annual Report 2011 Page 11 GRAND PRIORY OF FINLAND 
collection
Visually impaired persons in North Eastern Finland
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GRAND PRIORY
DURING 2011
We celebrated our 25th year as a Grand Priory in Turku
in September 2011. We welcomed Grand Commander
Robert Disney and Dame Sheila Disney to the celebration.
Other Grand Priory activities to mention:
Establishment of the Commandery of Estonia
Annual Spring Convent with Investiture in the Commandery of Tampere
 Ideology and History Seminar in the town of
Hämeenlinna


Each of the eight Commanderies have organized their
own meetings, excursions and other activities.
Bausceannus, the GP Newsletter, two volumes published
in 2011.
Grand Prior Prof. Dr. Ilkka Välimäki
OUR MEMBERSHIP
294 Future oblations of the Grand Priory is
based on this TOTAL membership.
OUR CHARITIES
Financial support and visits to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Jordan and
the Holy Land. We also support the
schools run by the church.
International
Food aid project for the North Eastern
Africa (via Lutheran Finn Church Aid)
Domestic
 The Roman Catholic parish and parish church in Turku (in connection to
the Grand Priory of Finland 25 years
celebration in September 2011).
 Elderly persons’ home in the area of
the town of Tampere.
 Food aid to families with small children via Salvations Army Christmas
MENTORSHIP PROGRESS
Convent and Investiture in Tallinn, Estonia, in March
2011; the Commandery of Estonia within GP Finland was
established with 12 members and one postulant.
By Resolution in the GMC Meeting of OSMTH in
Noordwijk, the Netherlands, Estonia was approved as
Commandery affiliated with OSMTH through the mentorship of GP Finland.
OSMTH Annual Report 2011 OUR MEMBERSHIP
Page 12 GRAND PRIORY OF FRANCE 146 Future oblations of the Grand Priory is based on this TOTAL membership.
OUR CHARITIES
Microcredit (Oikokredit), Bamenda clinic Cameroun
Silent Knight, Donations to other NGOs or Organizations
(Red Cross, Les Restos du Coeur) 33 187€ for the Grand
Priory and its mentored units (Scotland, The Netherlands,
Poland, Philippines, and Singapore). 4316 sweat equity
hours.
The Grand Priory held commandery meetings and grand
council meetings. This reporting year, we identified and
installed an Ordained Grand Chaplain. Since we are mentoring units in Scotland, The Netherlands, Poland and the
Philippines, activities were held in many countries to
foster growth in membership.
Communication is important and one focus this year has
been the maintenance of our Web site with up to date information concerning activities of the Order worldwide
and at the UN.
Many of our sweat equity activities were in support to
Veterans and many Church service participations.
We are a strong partner with CoNGO on the NGO Working Group on Human Rights Education and Learning
at the UN in Geneva. The Vice Chair of the NGO Committee on the Environment (UN Geneva) is a member of
the Grand Priory of France. We participate actively in the
NGO committee on Human Rights and theNGO committee on Spiritual Values (UN Geneva).
Our 2011 Grand Prior COL Dr Marcel de Picciotto authored in 2011 two statements at the United Nations. The
first written statement “Managing Resources to give
Peace and Humankind a Chance” was delivered at
the 6th session of the advisory Committee of the Human
Rights Council, Geneva. The second oral statement was
on the empowerment of women and gender equality, delivered during the 55th Committee on the Status of Women , New York, March 5, 2011.
NEWS FROM MENTORED UNITS
THE NETHERLANDS
This commandery organised the FALL 2011 GMC meeting in NOORDWICK. This has been a time consuming
effort. Membership continues to grow at a steady pace
Grand Prior Chvse. Dr. Iole de Angelis
ensuring that quality is maintained. The
aim here is to establish a priory in the
Netherlands in the short term – 2013.
PHILIPPINES
Emphasis has been put to the membership for their registration as a Non For
Profit Organisation in the Philippines. At
present the Preceptory is having a slow
turn out of recruitment: the total numberare Seven (7).
SCOTLAND
Membership of this commandery continues to grow at a slow but steady pace
ensuring that quality, not quantity is preferred. A number of good and interested
postulants will be nurtured and invested
in April 2012. This new influx pushes
the Commandery towards Priory status
and the next batch of postulants should
see the Commandery formally petitioning for Priory status either in late 2012 or
early 2013.
OSMTH Annual Report 2011 Page 13 GRAND PRIORY OF GERMANY In 2011 German Knights and Dames worked about 13450
honorary hours for pastoral care and social projects. For
example:
 Relief missions to countries in Eastern Europe
 Relief mission to Afghanistan
 Geriatric care centres
 Hospice
 supporting starving people
 Supporting German Red Cross and Malteser
 Children’s home
 Kindergarden
 Nursing home
Grand Prior Chvse. Elke Bruns
OUR MEMBERSHIP
97 Future oblations of the Grand Priory is
based on this TOTAL membership.
OUR CHARITIES
Beside the local projects of the commanderies there are three main projects
supported by all members of the GP Germany:
“St. Louis Clinic” Bamenda, Cammeroon (Chev. Dr. Nick Ngwanyam.
MD)
“Anbu Illam” – an orphanage for deaf
and dumb children in India
Medical equipment for hospitals in
Ghana.
“Banja Luka” International School –
Bishop Dr. Franjo Komarica.
OSMTH Annual Report 2011 OUR MEMBERSHIP
Page 14 GRAND PRIORY OF GREECE 197 Future oblations of the Grand Priory is based on this TOTAL membership.
OUR CHARITIES
 Ηοspital “Pedon” of North Athens
 “Ark of the World” Institution for Orphan Kids
 Participation in the daily mess of the Archdiocese of Athens of the Church of Greece, where
10.000 poor persons are fed every day
Grand Prior Chev. Paul Tsolakian
OSMTH Annual Report 2011 Page 15 GRAND PRIORY OF ITALY Institutes for elderly and houses family) and families
in difficulty, for the following communities:
 Aosta
 Florence
 Frosinone
 Livorno
 Rome
Tanzania: Interventions for the Maghabe Secondary
School of Mbeya
Grand Prior Prof. Stelio Venceslai
OUR MEMBERSHIP
492 Future oblations of the Grand Priory is
based on this TOTAL membership.
OUR CHARITIES
Albania: sanitary mission for interventions of urgency in the dental sector, with an ambulance and specialized doctors, that have effected
around 350 interventions in the period August - September 2011.
Cambodia: Rain Water Harvesting
System Projet in Bak Pnomh School,
in collaboration with the Village and
Development (V&D) Ong / Apsara
Onlus (Siena -. Italy).
Italy: Many interventions have been
effected supporting some associations
(Catholic and Waldensian churches,
OSMTH Annual Report 2011 OUR MEMBERSHIP
Page 16 GRAND PRIORY OF MEXICO 133 Future oblations of the Grand Priory is based on this TOTAL membership.
OUR CHARITIES
MEXICO: Provide physical and monetary assistance to
Church Diabetic Group.
ARGENTINA: Provide pro-bona Medical attention to
indigenous people in outlying distant areas.
BRAZIL: We are providing monetary support to the Red
Cross and Diabetic causes. We provide monetary support
for the Oikocredit Foundation.
We refurbish used computers and provide finished product to low income area schools to support their education
programs and to the Alcoholics Anonymous System in
Central Mexico to know where the recipients of aid reside. We provide visits to Zoos and Museums for several
Orphanages to give the children an outlook into History
and to have an enjoyable break in their life in Mexico
and Argentina.
The Grand Priory of Mexico provided financial support
to various charity projects that include: Franciscan Foundation for the Holy Land, Red Cloud Indian School, and
Orbitz Sight Flight.
Our most demanding activity this year is to prepare both
Argentina and Brazil to become full fledged members of
our community. We have strived to change or bring into
conformity all the issues that were not in acceptable order. This required some changes at the higher level of
responsibility, while continuing our established medical
aid projects.
Final applications for Grand Priory Level are being completed for Argentina and Brazil.
Our Templar Units are trying to open meaningful dialog
between the Roman Catholic Church and the Anglican
and Lutheran Churches in our area. Our Area is heavy
Roman Catholic, but we find that in some cities the Anglican Church is more cooperative. This is slow moving
work, but working together can make good changes.
We have been fortunate in recruiting well received Clergy in all three of our Major Countries. It is very possible
to have an interfaith meeting with all of them in the very
near future.
We will continue to support the education programs
Grand Prior Alfred Michaud
for Arab Children in the Holy Land.
We will continue to support programs
assisting needy, bright youngsters in our
needy areas.
We are endeavouring to find Templars
who can and will attend our UN NGO
programs in our Areaof Operations.
We will grow our area by a good 15% in
2012.
OSMTH Annual Report 2011 Page 17 GRAND PRIORY OF NATO Membership in the NATO Grand Priory is composed of military officers and defense officials of
NATO member countries and partner states, who are
recommended, and who are awarded, the NATO
Grand Priory Military Cross of Merit. Award of the
Cross of Merit is in recognition of significant contributions to the NATO community and to the Grand
Priory’s humanitarian goals.
Grand Prior LTC William B. Sellen
The purposes of the NATO Grand Priory include
furthering the concepts of Christian chivalry of the
original Knights Templar Order, and pursuing humanitarian objectives in the modern world. The
NATO Grand Priory supports communications and
networking among NATO and NATO partnership
militaries and defense establishments, support of
NATO peace and peacekeeping initiatives, development of interoperability of NATO and NATO partner forces, and support of veterans and veteran or-
OSMTH Annual Report 2011 OUR MEMBERSHIP
Page 18 GRAND PRIORY OF NORWAY 140 Future oblations of the Grand Priory is based on this TOTAL membership.
The main project for GP Norway after July 22, 2011 has
been to try to reengage the members. We have not succeeded in that. Since the terrorist attack, the Grand Priory
has tried to gather the members to begin a rebuilding process. Concentrating on the positive success of a mentored
unit in Denmark will be the focus of the remainder of this
report for GP Norway.
OUR CHARITIES
The Priory of Denmark relaunched the 2010 conceptualized Song-book (90 pages) for Christmas (2010) This
book was produced in adequate numbers to be sold again
in 2011. The book contains 26 psalms from the psalm
book of the Church of Denmark. The Psalms were sung
by two of the members of the Order, and all psalms are
introduced by leading priests and bishops. These books
were sold in the months before Christmas and the profit
goes to Jerusalem. Support to the Jerusalem Office: It has
been decided to donate funds to the Jerusalem Office,
when Denmark has reached Grand Priory status, where
we want to mark this by such.
House for Veterans in Denmark. Our Priory has been
supporting the three special Veteran-houses in
Denmark. Members of the Order were supporting their
national webpage setup – as well as establishing
procedures for using the veteran houses – and also establishing an education for the helpers.
Christmas baskets - Help to the lesser fortunate. Within
one Commandery, local stores and shops were asked to
contribute with groceries, gifts, and food. The Commandery spent a lot of time collecting the items as well as coordinating the distribution together with the local Church
community. This project also led to cooperation with the
local Lions Club.
The Danish United Nations Association:
A member of the Priory of the Kingdom of Denmark represents the order in the NGO – sitting on the national
board aiding humanitarian projects. Another member of
the order has been working in the group of Human
Rights.
Grand Chaplain and Bishop Younan visit to Denmark.
The benefits of this visit cannot be changed to value.
Meeting with four Bishops of Denmark, Meeting
Grand Prior Rev. Stein Tennebø
with Interchurch, Churcaid, Chairman of
the Danish Parliament – and of course
leading together with Grand Prior of
Norway our Convent and Investiture.
The aftermath on this event on opening
doors for our Order in Denmark in houses of politics, humanitarian aid organisations, diplomacy and the Churches can
not be counted – it is massive and very
positive.
As a result of these efforts, the Grand
Priory of the Kingdom of Denmark will
be formally recognized in 2012.
OSMTH Annual Report 2011 Page 19 GRAND PRIORY OF PORTUGAL Donations to “Society of Portuguese Language”,
“Association S.O.S. Friendly Voice” and “Food Bank”,
as well as 1397 hours of voluntary work in “Gil Foundation”, “S.O.S. Friendly Voice”, “Portugues Institute of
Oncology”, “Santa Casa da Misericórdia de Lisboa”,
“Karingana Wa Karingana” by the Lisboa Commandery.
Grand Prior Col. Dr. Antonio Andrade
OUR MEMBERSHIP
140 Future oblations of the Grand Priory is
based on this TOTAL membership.
OUR CHARITIES
Cooperation protocol with Doctor´s of
the World, which allows the members of
the Grand Priory of Portugal in the
Health Department to participate in volunteer deeds.
Support and maintenance of a School in
Mozambique, by the Mafra Commandery.
“City Hall of Palmela” protocol for social support, by the Setubal Commandery.
Support to 40 families in need of food
and groceries, by the Braga Commandery.
OSMTH Annual Report 2011 Page 20 GRAND PRIORY OF SERBIA OUR MEMBERSHIP
69 Future oblations of the Grand Priory is based on this TOTAL membership.
OUR CHARITIES
1. Abandon children and children without parents.
2. Children with special needs and for Roma children
Grand Prior Chev. Dragutin Zagorac
OSMTH Annual Report 2011 Page 21 GRAND PRIORY OF UNITED STATES OF AMERICA 
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Land (Roman Catholic) (Fr. Pizzaballa-Custos)
Franciscan Family Center in Bethlehem (Sister Maria)
The Orthodox School for Girls in Bethany (Russian Orthodox - Sister Martha)
The Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul
Children’s Home in Jerusalem
Holy Family Children’s Home of Bethlehem (The
Crèche)
The Foundation for Relief & Reconciliation in the Middle East (FRRME)
The Jerusalem Patriarchs
 Armenian Patriarch (His Eminence Archbishop Shirvanian)
 Greek Patriarch (HB THEOPHILOS III/Arab Orthodox
Invalids Home)
 Latin Patriarch (HB Fouad Twal)
Grand Prior CAPT Keith H. Larson
OUR MEMBERSHIP
1909 Future oblations of the Grand Priory is
based on this TOTAL membership.
OUR CHARITIES
The main charitable and humanitarian effort of
the Autonomous Grand Priory of the United
States of American is to aid Christians at Risk
in the Holy Land. This is accomplished in a
variety of ways which include establishing
scholarships for education and access to medical care, as well as financial donations for general response to the needs of these Christians.
This support follows closely on previous years’
efforts to publicize the dire situation for Christians in the Holy Land. The film production,
“Christians at Risk” by Priory member, Robert
Marcarelli, further exhibits the Grand Priory’s
continued focus.
The following churches, organizations, and
endeavors received donations from the Grand
Priory of the United States in 2011:
 Anglican Church of Jerusalem & Jordon
(Bishop Dawani)
 The Evangelical Lutheran Diocese of Jerusalem and Jordan (Bishop Younan)
 The Franciscan Foundation in the Holy
Student Scholarships
 Anglican High School (Hotel School) in Ramallah (4
students)
 Lutheran High School in greater Jerusalem (2 students)
 Franciscan High School in Ramleh (6 students) $ 7,800
 Orthodox School for Girls in Bethany (Russian Orthodox-Sister Martha)
Nurse Scholarships
 Bethlehem University (1 student)
 Arab American University in Jenin (1 student)
 Zefat Gov. Hospital School of Nursing)
The individual priories within the United States have a tendency to concentrate their charitable donations on worthy
organizations within their local communities. This year the
list contains 155 separate charities.
GPUSA has nine members of the Order who are very active
participants in the United Nations in NYC and Geneva. They
receive no travel assistance; they pay all transportation costs,
ground, air, etc., as well as their lodging and living expenses.
In some cases the contingent that travels to NYC are occasionally housed in the homes of other Templars which results
in a gift in-kind to both the Order and to the United Nations.
Likewise, of special note this past year, were the presentation
and participation of five Grand Priory members at the 55th
Session of the UN Conference on the Status of Women. Two
especially important activities at CSW 55 were the “Parallel
Event” and “Oral Presentation” by GPUSA. The “Parallel
Event”, produced by GPUSA member, Chev. Robert Marcarelli was a film presentation on the hideous issue of female
slavery around the world. The Oral Presentation was made
by Diana O’Brian (Piscitelli).
OSMTH Annual Report 2011 Page 22 We Are Expanding
GRAND PRIORY OF ARGENTINA Grand Prior Chev. Capt Maximiliano
Schlez, GCTJ
GRAND PRIORY OF BELGIUM Grand Prior Chev. Leo Thys
GRAND PRIORY OF DENMARK Grand Prior Chev. Lars Karstensen
GRAND PRIORY OF ROMANIA Grand Prior Chev. Ovidiu Panea
GRAND PRIORY OF CROATIA New Grand Priories
to be Formally
Admitted in
2012
Grand Prior Dr. Djuro Crnjak