The Historical Ordre

Chevaliers de Notre Dame(de Sion) exists to forward the work of her spiritual head, Christ, in the world and to care for His flock. The Ordre draws the central inspiration of its work from an intense faith in the living Christ, believing that the vitality of a Religious Order gains in proportion as it's members cease to think only of a Christ who lived two thousand years ago and rather strive to serve as a vehicle for the Eternal Christ, who ever lives as a mighty spiritual Presence in the world guiding and sustaining His people.

If people bring so much courage to this world the world has to kill them to break them, so of course it kills them. The world breaks every one and afterward many are strong at the broken places. But those that it will not break it kills. It kills the very good and the very gentle and the very brave impartially. If you are none of these you can be sure it will kill you too, but there will be no special hurry. In Memory of those brave and honorable warriors, past and present, that have died that we might enjoy the life we have.

Founded in the Holy Land, 1099AD, during the First Crusade by Godfrey I, de Bouillon, Duke of Lorraine, as a Sovereign French Military Religious Order.

To the South of Jerusalem looms the high hill of Mount Sion. In 1099, when Jerusalem fell to the crusaders, there stood on this hill the ruins of an old Byzantine basilica, dated supposedly from the fourth century and called the Mother of all Churches.

According to numerous extant charters, chronicles and contemporary accounts, an abbey was built on the site of these ruins.

This abbey was built at the express command of Godfroi de Bouillon. It was an imposing edifice, a self contained community. In 1172 it was described as being extremely well fortified, with battlements and towers. An most imposing site and this structure was called the

  Abbey of Notre Dame du Mont de Sion.

As recorded in history there were knights attached to the Abbey of Notre Dame de Sion that took the name of  Chevaliers de l'Ordre de Notre Dame de Sion.

  (For references, click here)

True Knights of God, they became famous in Crusade historic annals for their diplomatic skills, discipline, courage and valor, in the struggles to restore the Holy Land to Christianity. Renowned  indeed, as among the most formidable and feared fighting machines in Christendom. These religious knights were under strict discipline and expected to sacrifice their lives without hesitation; an image that endures until today is that of the perfect knight, dressed in a white mantle, bearing the Cross peculiar to the Ordre and carrying a black and white banner on his lance. The Ordre, due, to it's international character, has been  able to survive, through the assistance of the Orthodox Church, and secular courts in Spain, Germany, Scotland and England through which our priestly apostolic successions flow.

The Ordre was revitalized under the lawful authorities of His Eminence The Most Reverend Paul Martin Ngo Dinh Thuc, Holy Roman Archbishop of Hue, Republic of Vietnam, Consultor to the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith and His Eminence Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre, Grand Master of the Ordre in France and the founder of the  Priestly Society of Saint Pius X. (SSPX)

In North America, the Ordre was under the ecclesiastical authority of Archbishop Andre Barbeau, D.D., (now deceased) Cardinal des Chevaliers du Temple, as an Exempt Sovereign Military Religious Order. 

Archbishop Barbeau wishing to ensure the continuity of the Ordre archiepiscopally and canonically reconsecrated 

"Si non es iam valide ordinatus",

Right Reverend Doctor Douglas L. Trees, M.D., NDS as Bishop-Preceptor for 

Chevaliers du Temple.

Chevaliers de Notre Dame remains in service to the Sacred Society of Saint Pius X.

It's modern day mission is service to humanity through the provision of Medical and Psychiatric care to the community without regard to race, colour, creed or country of national origin.

The Ordre actively supports The James Whitcomb Riley Children's Hospital, located on the Indianapolis Campus of The Indiana University Medical Center. The Children's program was founded by Sharon Trees, R.N.  to whom we owe an eternal debt of gratitude. 

For over Fifty years our program in Racine, Wisconsin was administered by Donald W. Trees , who received numerous public awards for his devotion to  and love of children. His endowment to the Shriner's Children Hospital in Chicago remains to this day. 

His untimely death resulted in a void that has never been filled.