Knights of St-Catherine of Sinai

The last Grand Masters of the Order

The Order has been founded in the year 737. Therefore, the list of all Grand Masters is practically impossible to obtain completely. However, the following document shows the list of all known Grand Masters to this day.

In what follows, you will find a brief biography of our last 6 Grand Masters.

Mr Jean Pellerin

7th Vicar Grand Master of the Order, from October 17, 2015 to this day

His Excellency Mr Jean Pellerin is a business man an a paramedic, serving his community for the better part of his life. Here are a few medals detained by His Excellency:

Grand Cross of Sinai with Collar
Grand Cross of Merit of Sinai
Commander of the Ecological Order of St-Francis
Serving brother of the Most Venerable Order of St-John of Jerusalem (SBStJ)
Medal of service of the St-John's Ambulance
Emergency Medical Services Exemplary Service Medal
Silver Medl of the Pro Patria Order of Swiss
Bronze Pro Merito Melitensi Medal of the Order of Malta

Major (ret) Jacques Labrecque

Duke of Blandford

6th Vicar Grand Master of the Order, from June 7, 2011 to October 17, 2015

His Excellency Major (ret) Jacques Labrecque is a business man and ex officer of the Canadian Forces for 38 years. He was a member of several organizations and has primarily served humanitarian causes during his career: the St-John's Ambulance, the Duke of Edinbourg's price, Knight of Columbus, 4th degree, the Canadian Red Cross, the Royal Legion of Canada, etc. He has also served as Aide de Camp for the Lieutenant-Governor of Quebec (1991 to 1997). He is also the president of the Canadian Circle of International Medallissts. He serves the Order since 2002 as Grand Prior of Canada after the interim of Dr. André St-Jean (2000 - 2002). Here are some of the decorations of Major (ret) Labrecque:

Grand Cross of Sinai with Collar
Grand Cross of Merit of Sinai
Knight of Magistral Grace of the Order of Malta
Officer of the St-Lazarus Order
Serving Brother of the Most Venerable Order of St-John of Jerusalem (SBStJ)
Grand Cross of the Ecological Order of St-Francis
Medal of service of the Canadian Forces (CD2)
Medal of service of the St-John's Ambulance
Medal of the 125th anniversary of Canada
Medal of the Gold Jubilee of her majesty Queen Elizabeth II
Mdeal of Peace of the United Nations
Gold Medal of the Pro Patria Order of Swiss
Medal of the 75th anniversary of the Canadian Legion

Sadly, Majot (ret) Labrecque passed away on September 23, 2016. The following document is his memorial bookmark (french only)

Dr. Brett A. Gordon, PhD

5th Vicar Grand Master, from February 21st, 2009 until January 30th, 2011

His Eminence the Most Reverend Archbishop Mikhail

4th Vicar Grand Master, from year 2000 until February 21st, 2009

His Eminence Mikhaik is an Arcbishop of the Ukranian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (Sobornopravna) in the United States. He is styled the Archbishop of Texas and the entire south. He succeds His Excellency Gérard Shanks after serving 14 years as Grand Chancellor of the Order.

His Excellency Gérard Shanks, PhD

Doctor in Theology

3rd Vicar Grand Master, from 1980 to 2000

Gérard Shanks was Chief of Protocol of the City of Montreal (Quebec, Canada) during the Expo 64 Exibition. Mr Shanks also detained 2 doctorate degrees en Theology. He was a member of l'Assemblée Nationale du Québec for 6 years before being appointed as Consul of Togo in 1988. He served in that capacity until his death on November 8th, 2000. Gerard Shanks received the rank of Knight Commander of the Pontifical Order of St-Gregory the Great from His Holiness John Paul II in 1981. He received his decoration for the hands of Cardinal Oddi at Castel Gondolfo in a Grand Ceremony. He was one of the most prominent citizen of Montreal, and a man of great personal honour. Here is a sample of Mr. Shanks' honours and decorations:

Knight Commander of the Pontifical Order of St-Gregory the Great
Lanteran Cross in Gold
Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Patriarchal Order of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem
Grand Collar of the Order of St-Mark of Egypt
Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Byzantine Order of the Holy Sepulchre
Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Most Holy Orthodox Order of St-Gregory the Illuminator
Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Most Holy Orthodox Order of St-Basil the Great
Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Orderof St-Stephan the Martyr
Knight Grand Cross of the Greek Order of St-Dennis of Zante
Knight Grand Cross with Collar of the Sovereign Knightly Noble and Religious Order of St-Lazarus of Jerusalem
Grand Cross of the Order of the White Eagle of Poland
Grand Cordon of the Polonia Restitua

Count Achille Facon-Leleu

2nd Vicar Grand Master, from 1944 (?) to 1980

Count Achille Facon-Leleu was born in Tourcoing, France on May 9th, 1909. He was married to his wife Madeleine Leley on August 3rd, 1935. They had 3 children, Mancelle, Brigitte and Achille-Michel. Count Achille Facon-Leleu was a Knight of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem. He was President of the International Chambre of the Radio Industry and Vice-President of the France Comittee-French Union. He was also a member of the Advisory Board of the Noble Association of Pontifical Knights. We apologize for the low quality of the image: it is the only one we have available.