Dear Knights, Dames, Priest Knights, Investees, and Guests,

La Crosse is honored to host the moments of nobility, spiritual power, and exceptional beauty that characterize the gathering of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. When the Knights and Dames gather for a ceremony of investiture or promotion, it is done in a solemn manner marked by nobility of action and purpose, spiritual power, and ceremonial beauty. The nobility and spiritual powers are further revealed in the works of mercy and generosity extended to the Catholic community of the Holy Land by members of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre. Our confused moment in history profits from all aspects of the presence of the Equestrian Order.

Beautiful La Crosse, nestled between the majestic bluffs to the east, and the Mighty Mississippi to the west, is honored to host the annual gathering of the Equestrian Order. La Crosse has the names of Catholic Missionaries like Father Marquette and Father Mazzuchelli in its history from the days this area was a pristine pioneer country and Catholicism was an infant in this part of the continent. On another level, La Crosse, in its early days, was a rough and humble town famous for, and living off of, the immense pines forests to the north and benefitting from the great river and its tributaries which floated floods of great logs to the mills of La Crosse where they were converted into the lumber used to build large sections of the city of Chicago and much more.

Special gratitude is extended to His Excellency, Bishop William Patrick Callahan of La Crosse for his gracious invitation to welcome us to La Crosse for this extraordinary moment, our Annual Meeting and Investiture in 2024.

You can view the video of Bishop Callahan’s welcome message here.

The La Crosse committee has spent numerous hours planning and organizing this special event. However, gratitude goes beyond our local committee to our Lieutenant, Sir Thomas M. Olejniczak, KGCHS, and most especially to Investiture 2023 hosts Sir John and Dame Patty Becker for including me in their planning sessions.

Thank you to the Fort Wayne team for leading our way, and for your great job in 2023!

Please note that everyone (clergy included) needs to make their own hotel reservations.  We will be spread over several hotels, all of which are within walking distance to the Convention Center where our meetings will be held.  Hotel reservations for the weekend can be made using the following link: La Crosse Hotel Reservations

We are once again soliciting your support of our event through our Sponsorship program.  For additional information click on the following link: 2024 Sponsorship Form

Membership in the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre is truly a great honor.  I am blessed to be part of such a great group and especially honored to be the chair of a fantastic committee of faithful and dedicated Knights and Dames in the La Crosse Diocese. Thank you La Crosse team!

We look forward to welcoming all the Knights, Dames, Priest Knights, Investees, and guests to La Crosse in October 2024.

Dame Mary B. Hovel, DC*HS

Chair, La Crosse Investiture Host Committee