Category: Delegation of Sicily

Monreale, 6^th April 2016.  On the 6^th April in the afternoon, as is customary, food items consisting of milk, small pasta, homogenized baby food and biscuits, as well as diapers, were donated in Monreale as part of the “New Fragments of Health” project involving the Vice Delegate of the Delegation of Sicily, Nobile Dott. Antonio Di Janni, Knight Grand Cross of Grace, as well as Knights Carmelo Sammarco and Salvatore Vassallo, Dr. Lia Giangreco and volunteers who handed these essential items to 35 underprivileged families with children between the age of 0 to 3 years.

This charitable event was an opportunity to listen to a moving and joyful testimony of solidarity from a person who for many months was being assisted by the humanitarian project of the Constantinian Order in Sicily.  This person thanked the Knights for their continued generosity in assisting the most needy and informed them that as of next month, she would no longer be depending on the support programme because after all these years she had managed to find a job and would therefore leave her place to another more needy family.

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Palermo, 24^th March 2016. The Delegation of Sicily, with the Vice Delegate Nobile Dott. Antonio di Janni and some Knights and Dames of the Order, organized, under the umbrella of the “New Crumbs of Health” project, a collection of food items at the Baby Shopping Mall in Palermo. The donations received included essential items for the most needy families such as small pasta, homogenized baby food, liquid milk, biscuits and diapers.

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Sicily, March 2016.  The Delegation of Sicily’s project “New Crumbs of Health” continues its activities consisting in providing early childhood items for children ranging from 0 to 3 years, namely diapers, small pasta, milk, biscuits and homogenized baby food. The project which was born in 2014 under the high patronage of His Excellency the Archbishop of Monreale and Constantinian Prior for Sicily, is now being implemented throughout the island. As a result of the meeting with His Excellency the Bishop of Acireale, the month of April will mark the beginning of donations of essential items to 29 children living in the tent of Christ which fends for single mothers, and to a further 14 children from the city who have been chosen by the diocesan Caritas. Many Knights and Dames are personally involved in standing outside supermarkets waiting to collect generous donations.

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Messina, 13^th March 2016.  In the Church of San Giuseppe a Palazzo in via C. Battisti in Messina, the Rector Msgr. Mario Di Pietro, Constantinian Chaplain, presided over the Eucharistic Celebration for the 155^th Anniversary of the fallen during their heroic defence of the Royal Citadel. The Celebration took place in the presence of a representation from the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George – Coordination for Messina and province. At the end of the Mass, a floral tribute was laid at the statue of Charles of Bourbon, First King of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies and later on a visit was paid to the Royal Citadel where a wreath was laid in memory of the Fallen.

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Agrigento, 10^th March 2016.  The Vice Delegate for Sicily, Nobile Dott. Antonio di Janni, Knight Grand Cross of Grace, was received at the Archbishop’s Palace by His Eminence Cardinal Francesco Montenegro. The Vice Delegate explained the objectives of the Constantinian Order, describing all the charitable and cultural activities carried out and supported by the Delegation itself.  In particular, the Vice Delegate asked the Cardinal for guidance as to how the “New Fragments of Health” project could be implemented in the Archdiocese of Agrigento. After Holy Easter the Delegation for Sicily and the diocesan Caritas will start working together. A copy of the book called “Stories and Memoirs of the Archbishops of Monreale” was presented as a gift to His Eminence Cardinal Montenegro.

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Acireale, 9^th March 2016.  The Vice Delegate for Sicily, Nobile Dott. Antonio di Janni, accompanied by Knights Avv. Antonino Amato and Dott. Marcello Cantone, coordinators of the city and province of Catania respectively, were received by the Bishop of Acireale, His Lordship Msgr. Antonino Raspanti at the Episcopal Palace. During the meeting the Vice Delegate described the Constantinian activities to the Bishop and informed him of its intentions to implement also in his diocese “The New Fragments of Health” project for the distribution of early childhood items for children ranging from 0 to 3 years. His Lordship Msgr. Raspanti welcomed enthusiastically the intention of implementing this welfare project in his diocese which was created in 1872 by Saint Pius IX and he immediately pointed out the location for such an initiative, namely the tent of Christ, an association of the diocese that cares for single mothers. At the end of the visit, His Lordship the Bishop was presented with the medal of the Delegation for Sicily commemorating the XVII Anniversary of Emperor Constantine’s Edict and a book on the Archbishops of Monreale.

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Messina, 26^th February 2016.  The Stations of the Cross, attended by the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, took place in the splendid setting of the Church of S. Giuseppe al Palazzo in via Cesare Battisti in Messina. In attendance was also the Rector and Ecclesiastical Knight of Grace, Msgr. Mario Di Pietro, who made a few comments with regard to the event. The many faithful, who came with the Archconfraternity of Maria S.S. dei Catalani, spiritually went back over the Via Dolorosa of the Calvary through intense moments of shared prayers and meditation on the passion and death of Christ.

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Caronia (ME), 27^th December 2015.  A defibrillator for emergency interventions was delivered to the church of San Biagio in Caronia after the celebration of Holy Mass officiated by Don Antonio Cipriano, Constantinian Chaplain and Archpriest of the pleasant centre of the Nebrodi.  This important and noteworthy initiative reflects the spirit of the late Most Reverend Eminence Cardinal Pompedda, whose motto was: “ we need to be before we appear”. The machine is a semi-automatic defibrillator with a switch that allows it to be used either on adults or children.  More than 40 operators have been specifically trained to use it.  This valuable equipment will provisionally be kept in the town hall before it is permanently placed in the premises of the Emergeny Medical Services as soon as all the administrative procedures have been completed. At the end foodstuffs were donated to the Parish Caritas as part of the project “Fragments of Health”.

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Monreale, 25^th December 2015.  Upon request of the Archbishop of Monreale, H.E. the Most Reverend Mons. Michele Pennisi, Constantinian Prior of Sicily, the Sicilian Delegation built a crib at the Church of “Maria Santissima degli Agonizzanti”.  The aim of this initiative is to maintain alive the southern Italian traditions which during Christmas are represented by the Crib that is  a reminder of the birth of our Lord Jesus. For this occasion, the church was opened to visitors who were able to admire the antique handmade shepherds loaned by a private collection. A menorah donated to the Archdiocese by Dr. Wolfangan van Pen was placed in the church for the occasion.

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Santa Caterina Villarmosa, 25^th December 2015.  Like every year, the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George attended the Christmas Eve Mass at Santa Caterina Villarmosa.  The Order was represented by Knights Michele Antonio Tramontana (territorial coordinator) and Salvatore Favata and  by Dame Margherita Scarpinata.  The Christmas Eve Mass, a very emotional event, was celebrated by the Parish Priest Don Antonino La Paglia and by his deputy Don Marco Cosentino.  At the end of the celebration the traditional procession took place with Don Antonino La Paglia carrying the Child Jesus in his arms.

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