Three from St. Catherine of Siena honored in prestigious papal order
The Rev. Matthew DeBlock, pastor, Deacon Hank Schmalen and his wife, Deborah, religious education director, all of St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church in West Dundee, attended the annual meeting and investiture weekend of the prestigious papal Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on Oct. 20-21.
The Schmalens of Sleepy Hollow were newly invested as a Knight and Lady of the Holy Sepulchre and Rev. DeBlock, was promoted within the order to Knight Commander of the Holy Sepulchre during an investiture ceremony at St. Josaphat Basilica in Milwaukee.
Rev. DeBlock has been a part of the order since 2012 upon being nominated by the late Bishop Thomas G. Doran, Diocese of Rockford.
"My parents, Michael and Mary DeBlock, joined the order two years before me and it was a great influence on my joining, too," said Rev. DeBlock, who is a native of Batavia, Illinois.
The Schmalens were nominated by Rev. DeBlock to become a member of the papal order which requires sacrifice, prayer, pilgrimage and charity.
"It is an honor to be nominated and accepted into the Order," said Deacon Schmalen, "and we are humbled to be a part of an organization that has been in place for centuries and does such great work for the Christians in the Holy Land."
During the Rite of Investiture by Milwaukee Archbishop Jerome Listecki, the Schmalens approached the altar as their names were individually called to receive the sign of the cross on their forehead and a Jerusalem Cross, the order's insignia.
They were cloaked in the order's traditional garments. Deacon Schmalen wore a white robe emblazoned with the Cross of Godfrey. Mrs. Schmalen wore a black dress accessorized with a black veil and black cape with the red Cross Potent.
The Order of the Knights and Ladies originated in 1099 to protect the Christians making pilgrimage to the Holy Land. The Order's work eventually evolved into the financial and spiritual care of the living Christians within the Holy Land.
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church is located at 845 W. Main St. in West Dundee. For more information, contact the parish office at (847) 426-2217. Visit the website at stcatherinechurch.com.