Category: Delegation of Sicily

A conference on Chivalrous Orders was held in Palazzo Fatta in Palermo, organized jointly by the Rotary Club of Palermo South and the Rotary Club of Palermo Monreale. Present for the conference were the delegate of the Order of Malta for Sicily West, Baron Vincenzo Calefati, the Chancellor of the Lieutenancy of the Holy Sepulcher, Domenico Pantaleone and the Vice Delegate of the Constantinian order.

Following remarks on the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher and the Order of Malta, Dott. Janni spoke of the origins of the Constantinian Order up to its current regency held by H.R.H. Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro and Head of the Royal House. He then described the many humanitarian activities carried out by the Constantinian Order in Sicily and  in other parts of the world, citing among others the Constantinian Hospital in Uganda and the aid provided to the mission of the Archdiocese of Monreale in Tanzania. Regarding the delegation’s work in Sicily he spoke of the ambitious project Crumbs of Health intended to assist the children of needy families in Sicily  by providing products for children aged 0 to three years.

The project was established in 2014 in Monreale under the leadership of the Prior of Sicily, H.E. the Most Reverend Mons. Michele Pennisi, Archbishop of Monreale, and was later extended to also include the Dioceses of Piazza Armerina, Piana degli Albanese, Acireale, Patti, Messina, Palermo, Trapani, Mazara del Vallo and Catania.

Finally, the Vice Delegate spoke of the recognition of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George by Italy, France and Hungary and the granting of a special plenary indulgence by Pope Francis last May. He also pointed out that the current Grand Prior holds his post thanks to the direct support of the  Secretariat of State of His Holiness.

The Sicily Delegation carried out numerous activities during the month of May.

On Sunday, May 7, a mass was celebrated  in the church of St. Basilio in Palermo to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the apparition of the Madonna of Fatima to the three young shepherds. The mass was also dedicated to the memory of victims of all wars, terrorist acts and the mafia. The Constantinian delegation was led by the Vice Delegate.

On the following day they donated a wheelchair for the elderly hospitalized in the Balsamo Hospice of the Archdiocese of Monreale. The  Delegation has developed a very rewarding relationship with the hospice and the knights and dames often visit the  facility to bring comfort to the residents.

The project Crumbs of Health, a unique undertaking of the Sicily delegation, provided food for children ages 0 to three years who live in the town of Borgetto, province of Palermo, archdiocese of Monreale. This was made possible thanks to volunteers of the Sicilian non-profit organization Constantinian Cross. The items were delivered to Don Sergio Albano, priest of the church of St. Anthony. Many of the products were collected in a supermarket of the area by Constantinian volunteers. The project Crumbs of Health reaches out to various cities in Sicily and is a highly prized endeavor of the Sicilian delegation.

On the 11th the Vice Delegate brought to the head of the Caritas organization in the Diocese of Piana degli Albanesi, Papas Alberto Stassi, products and equipment for children aged 0 to 3 years from the needy families of the Diocese.

Two additional donations of food items were also brought to the soup kitchen of the church of St. Mamiliano. The Sicilian delegation donated more than 20 kg of fish for each delivery and was warmly thanked by the volunteers of the center for their valuable and continuous support.
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On Monday, April 24, the Vice Delegate for Sicily, Nob. Dott. Antonio di Janni, donated 800 kilos of pasta to the volunteers of the soup kitchen of San Corrado in the Diocese of Noto.  The pasta will be used for the soup kitchen and was purchased and delivered personally by Dott. Antonio di Janni.

Immediately following the delivery of this enormous quantity, the person in charge of the soup kitchen, Brother Rino, accompanied H.R.H. Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Grand Prefect, who was visiting Noto, to the Bishop, His Most Rev. Mons. Antonio Staglianò, Knight Commander of Ecclesiastical Grace. The Bishop expressed his gratitude to the Order for its support to the Diocese through the project Crumbs of Health.

On Friday, April 28, a second “Crumbs of Health” distribution, this time for infants, took place in the premises located next to the Constantinian Church of Maria SS degli Agonizzanti. The diapers, baby food, milk, biscuits, pasta and more were distributed by volunteers coordinated by Cav. Salvatore Vassallo.

On the following day the Vice Delegate brought 40 kilos of pasta and 10 kilos of fish to the soup kitchen of San Mamiliano. The weekly delivery of food helps the soup kitchen provide 100 meals a day to the needy.

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The 750th anniversary of the Dedication of the Cathedral of Monreale was celebrated on April 26. This was also the date of the 4th anniversary of the appointment of H.R.E. Mons. Michele Pennisi, Ecclesiastical Knight Grand Cross of Grace and Prior of the Delegation, as Archbishop of Monreale.

The solemn Eucharistic celebration was presided by His Most Rev. Eminence Cardinal Angelo Bagnasco, President of the Italian and Bali’ Episcopal Conference, Knight Grand Cross of Justice of the Constantinian Order.

Many dignitaries were present, including the President of the Sicily Region, the Vice President of the Regional Assembly, the Mayors of Monreale, Palermo and other cities of the archdiocese, the Prefect of Palermo, the Police Commissioner of Palermo and the Interregional Commanders of the Carabinieri and the Guardia di Finanza, in addition to representatives of the Order of St. Gregory the Great,  the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher and numerous Knights and Dames of our  illustrious Constantinian Order.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, His Eminence Cardinal Bagnasco met with several knights of the Sicilian delegation who explained in detail their involvement in the project “Crumbs of Health” which supports various Sicilian dioceses on a regular basis.

The Vice Delegate, Nob. Dott. Antonio di Janni, gave to Cardinal Bagnasco a copy of the book “The Gospel of Justice” written by the former Grand Prior, the late Cardinal Mario Francesco Pompedda, and published posthumously.

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Sicily – On Saturday, April 15, the project Crumbs of Health was implemented in Noto by a donation of numerous items for children ages 0 to 3. The contribution was delivered by Comm. Marcello Cantone who was warmly thanked by His Most Rev. Eminence Mons. Antonio Staglianò, Bishop of Noto and Knight of Ecclesiastical Grace.

The donation included items collected by the Delegation of Calabria. On Thursday, April 18 the weekly collaboration with the soup kitchen established by the church of S. Mamiliano in Palermo continued with a contribution of a significant quantity of fish to be cooked this week by volunteers.

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Palermo –  In view of the upcoming Easter festivities, the Sicilian Delegation is providing greater support to their various dioceses during this period that is so significant for the life of every Christian.

The Easter precept was inaugurated with a religious function in the small church of St. Mary Magdalen inside the military headquarters of Saint Giacomo, in Palermo. The Knights and Dames were welcomed by General Riccardo Galletta, Knight Commander of Merit and Commander of the Carabinieri Legion of Sicily.

On Friday, April 7, several Knights and Dames went to the Church of San Giuseppe al Palazzo in Messina to take part in the traditional Way of the Cross, led by the Rector, Mons. Mario di Pietro, Knight of Ecclesiastical Grace.

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Palermo, April 2, Solemnity of St. Francis of Paola. The celebratory year commemorating the VI centennial of the patron saint of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies was concluded in the church of St. Francis.

At the conclusion of the religious ceremony, the Vice Delegate, Nob. Antonio di Janni, conveyed the greetings of H.R.H. Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, Grand Master and Head of the Royal House, as well as those of His Most Rev. Eminence Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, Grand Prior and the Prior for Sicily His Most Rev. Eminence Mons. Michele Pennisi, Archbishop of Monreale.

The Vice Delegate also reiterated the commitment of the Sicily Delegation to continuing the project Crumbs of Health in the church of St. Francis of Paola.

On the same day, several Sicilian Knights and Dames participated in the ceremony held in the Sanctuary of St. Francis of Paola in Milazzo.

The Eucharistic Liturgy was presided by His Most Rev. Eminence Mons. Vittorio Luigi Mondello, Archbishop Emeritus of Reggio Calabria – Bova, Knight Commander of Ecclesiastical Grace. For the occasion the Constantinian Knights acted as honor guard for the Relic of the Mantle of the Saint during the procession toward the Sanctuary.

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Palermo, 20 March 2017. The initiative Crumbs of Health is enriched by an additional distribution point. In order to fulfil the requests of the Diocese, Vice Delegate Dott. Antonio di Janni has also included the Parish of San Mamiliano, in Palermo, among the sites to receive the monthly distribution of products for infants – homogenized baby food, diapers, milk, etc.
The meeting with the parish priest, Don Buccaro, was very fruitful and led to the beginning of a new collaboration of the Knights and Dames of Palermo who will assist the volunteers of the Parish in a soup kitchen preparing daily meals for the needy to bring home, thus allowing them to avoid common soup kitchens and safeguarding family unity. Weekly supplies will include meat, fish and milk.

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Enna, Palermo and Catania, 19 March 2017 –This year as in the past, the feast of St. Joseph was the perfect occasion for the community of Barrafranca (EN) to renew an ancient and heartfelt tradition: “the solidarity meal”.
Food with an extended shelf life is collected and assembled in the premises of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Cross of the mother church and is distributed to the needy families of the city. This year, as part of the project Crumbs of health, the Knights of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George donated food and essential goods for the needy.
On the same day the Vice Delegate, together with H.R.E. Mons. Pennisi, and several Knights and Dames, served a meal to the guests of the Hospice of Monreale, aided by the President of the Opera Pia, Dott. Viola. At the same time, in Catania a group of Knights, Dames and Volunteers of the Order, coordinated by Don Giuseppe Scrivano, Knight of Ecclesiastical Grace and Constantinian Chaplain, took part in the “Day of solidarity, altruism and Christian communion” organized in the Parish of St Francis of Paola. A generous solidarity meal was organized here for more than 200 needy people. Volunteers and fellow diners together enjoyed the delicious dishes, including the traditional “maccu”, in a festive and harmonious atmosphere.

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Palermo, 14 March – On the 150th anniversary of the Founding of Boccone del Povero (morsel for the poor) instituted by the Blessed Giacomo Cusmano, the Knights and Dames of the Sicily Delegation, led by the Vice Delegate, celebrated the event by preparing and serving a meal to approximately 40 inhabitants of the facility.
At the conclusion of the meal they celebrated Sister Calà for her 60 years of religious service. 

On the following day, Mr. Antonio di Janni, together with Knights Vassallo, Ragusa and Giarrusso, assisted by volunteers, distributed products for 50 children of needy families, aged zero to three years. The items included 75 liters of milk, about 45 packages of diapers, cookies, 80 containers of homogenized food, 70 kilos of pasta and more.

On that same day, the Vice Delegate, together with His Most Reverent Eminence Mons. Michele Pennisi, Archbishop of Monreale and Prior of the Delegation, conferred the silver medal upon Carabiniere Lieutenant Francesco Vivona, commander of the Carabinieri Operations Center of Monreale. This award was conferred for activities performed by the Lieutenant in favor of the less fortunate.

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