Category: Delegation of Sicily

On January 18th, the Vice Delegate, accompanied by a volunteer, Mrs Lia Giangreco, delivered many products for early childhood to the community “La Casa del Sorriso” in Monreale. The structure, which has been operating in the territory for 50 years and is headed by the Capuchin Father Francesco Biondolillo, hosts 30 children. Clothes, diapers, pasta and shirts were delivered.

Rooted in the territory of Monreale, “La casa del sorriso” celebrates the 50th anniversary of its foundation. Father Clemente Calogero Giadone and Father Francesco Biondolillo’s efforts in favor of children in difficulty allowed the realization of a program whose main values are solidarity and legality. Today our Order has approached this reality with the intention of supporting it through the project “Briciole di Salute”  After the meeting between the Vice Delegate and Father Biondolillo, the Sicilian delegation has begun to collaborate with the structure. The first intervention of the delegation took place thanks to Dr. Simona D’Alba, dentist, who visited the children of the structure and gave a class on dental prevention.

On January 12th, Father Giacomo Sgroi, secretary of the Archbishop of Monreale, offered Father Darío Russo, responsible for the Kitanewa mission in Tanzania, a defibrillator with 10 plates donated by the Sicilian delegation and the Africa Onlus Project. In addition to the defibrillator and the plates, several medications for different diseases were offered for the Idodi hospital.

HRH Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Grand Prefect, was given the Grand Cross of Merit of the Sovereign Order of Malta by Father Naselli, Grand Prior of the Sovereign Order of Malta, for her efforts in the realization and maintenance of the project “Briciole di Salute”. The event, whose godmother was Princess Beatrice, was held on January 14th  at the Archaeological Museum Salinas in Palermo, on the occasion of the conference titled “Palermo, Capital of the Kingdom, the Bourbons and Archeology in Palermo, Naples and Pompei”. The event was organized by the Sicilian delegation in collaboration with the Museum. Baron Vincenzo Calefati of Canalotti, delegate of the Order of Malta for Western Sicily and the Consul of Morocco attended as well.

On January 11th the monthly distribution of clothing for early childhood was held at the parish of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Trapani. The Vice Delegate, Mr. Camillo Carpinteri, Mr. Nicola Saladino and Father Michele Crociata gave diapers, biscuits and milk to the parish priest, Father Alberto Giardina.

On January, 9th the first distribution of the month took place in Monreale, at Maria SS degli Agonizzanti church. The vice Delegate and some volunteers donated food, biscuits, milk and clothes to 40 needy families.

On January 6^TH , as usual, the Sicilian delegation distributed socks with sweets and toys to the children at the Basilica la Magione and the church of Maria SS della Pietà. The Vice Delegate, Mr. Antonio di Janni, Mr. Gasperino Como and Mr. Gaetano Giarrusso helped Mrs. Giovanna Galli and Mrs. Eugenia D’Alessandro to distribute the gifts to the children. Shortly after, the knights gave some toys and socks with sweets to the children hosted by the Mission “Speranza e Carità”.

On January 5^th  a meeting between the President of the Red Cross of Castelvetrano, Mr. Giuseppe Cardinale, and a delegation of local knights took place. The meeting, which was held on the eve of Epiphany, motivated one of the Knights, Mr. Carpinteri, to donate on behalf of the Order “a bag” full of more than 50 toys for the children assisted.

On January 5th, gifts were distributed to forty children at the church of Maria SS degli Agonizzanti in Monreale . The volunteer Sonia Lo Monaco, the Vice Delegate, Mr. Vincenzo Nuccio and the members of the MCL club Fabio Billetta, Pamela Russo, Renato Galano, Luigi D’Eliseo and Flavio Pillitteri took part in the donation.

On January 2^nd , the Sicilian delegation donated 140 liters of milk to Banco Alimentare of S. Caterina Villermosa.  Mr. Michele Tramontana (local representative) and Mr. Giovanni D’Agostino participated. Basic needs are distributed monthly, especially for children from 0 to 3 years.

On January 4TH , a donation was made in Alcamo. It is part of the project “Briciole di Salute”. Mr. Antonio Fundaró, Mr. Pietro Francesco Mistretta, Mr. Giancarlo Martorana, Mr. Vincenzo Bussa and Mr. Antonio Mario Vitiello gave the products to Msgr- Aldo Giordano, archpriest of the Maria Assunta church (Mother Church).

In Alcamo some Knights and Dames also participated in the solemn mass in preparation for Christmas at the Basilica Maria Assunta, held on December 22^nd .

On  December 21^st,  the Sicilian delegation offered a Christmas lunch to the guests of the “Benedetto Balsamo” retirement home in Monreale. The Archbishop of Monreale HE Msgr. Michele Pennisi, Prior of Sicily, the Vice Delegate, Mr. Vincenzo Nuccio and the volunteers Daniela Prestigiacomo, Sonia Lo Monaco and Antonella Zito, the director Giovanni Viola and the assistants of the structure served the meals to the elderly guests.

On December 23^rd , the Vice Delegate handed over about 100 kilos of pasta to the director of the Maria SS Assunta fraternity located at the Real Carolina Church, in a suburb of Palermo called Guadagna. The confreres will distribute the pasta to the needy people of the neighborhood.

On December 23^rd, Msgr. Salvatore Grimaldi, parish priest of the Magione Church, celebrated a holy mass for the knights and the dames on the occasion of Christmas. Before the Eucharistic celebration, Bishop Grimaldi thanked the Royal Family and the Sicilian delegation for donating four of the new stands for the church.

On December 23^rd , Mr. Marcello Cantone, representative of Noto, delivered lots of products to Father Volantino, responsible of Saint Corrado canteen. After the donation, Mr. Cantone was received by Mgr. Staglianò and discussed about the activities of the delegation in his diocese.

On December 23^rd, some Sicilian knights offered panettone, a typical Italian Christmas cake, to young mothers, their children and families in need at the Madonna della Tenda di Cristo community in Acireale. The cake had been provided by a local industry. The delivery is part of the project “Briciole di Salute” and was carried out under the patronage of the Bishop of Acireale H.E. Msgr. Antonino Raspanti, IEC Vice President for Southern Italy, and thanks to the active collaboration of the meritorious Giuseppe D’Urso.

On  Christmas Eve,  Mr. Michele Salerno and Mr. Antonino Centonze were received by H.E. Msgr. Domenico Mogavero, Bishop of Mazara, to wish him a merry Christmas. During the meeting, they were able to appreciate the message His Eminence Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, Grand Prior, had addressed to all the knights for Christmas. Then, a new defibrillator was offered to the Bishop who, visibly moved, gave it to the Mother Superior in the presence of the sports directors.

On December 30th , a Mass was celebrated and presided over by the Reverend Father Vittorio Rizzone at the Benedictine Abbey of S. Martino delle Scale. Many knights attended. Before the blessing, the Vice Delegate gave the Abbot his letter of appointment as Commander of Grace. After the religious ceremony, the Sicilian delegation offered a Christmas lunch to one hundred disadvantaged families.

On December 13th, the delegation of Sicily donated 100 mattresses to the mission “Speranza e Carità” directed by Father Biagio Conte. H.E. Msgr.  Michele Pennisi, Archbishop of Monreale and Prior of the delegation, the Vice Delegate and Mr. Giuseppe Consentino, owner of the mattress company, delivered the products.

On December 14th the Vice Delegate handed over to the head of the Caritas of the Benedictine Abbey in S. Martino delle Scale, Father Bernardo, some basic products.

On December 17th the usual distribution of food was held at the church of Saint Stefano in Piazza Armerina. The distribution is part of the project “Briciole di Salute”.

On December 19th, the Vice Delegate delivered a defibrillator, as well as several medicines, to H.E.. Msgr. Michele Pennisi, Archbishop of Monreale for the mission of Kitanewa, in Tanzania (Diocese of Iringa).

On December 19th the usual distribution of food was held at the church of SS Maria degli Agonizzanti in Monreale. The distribution is part of the project “Briciole di Salute”.

On December 19th the usual distribution of food was held at the church of Maria SS dell’Annunziata in Castelvetrano. The distribution is part of the project “Briciole di Salute”.

On December 5th, a donation was held at Maria SS degli Agonizzanti Church in Monreale. Cookies, milk, paste, homogenized and diapers of various sizes were distributed. During this distribution, Mrs. Simona D’Alba,  a dentist, made free visits to children to ascertain any oral pathologies. From this date on dental visits will be scheduled periodically.

On December 3rd, the Vice delegate and Msgr. Salvatore Grimaldi delivered some products to the nuns of the Mission Speranza e Carità in Palermo.

On December 7th and 8th, Mr. Leonardo Mirandola, Mrs. Gaetana Barcio, Mr. Simone Valenti and Mr. Giuseppe Di Virgilio participated in a collection of food at a local city mall in Siracusa, to be allocated to a local structure which helps many needy families.

On December 12th, another donation was held in Siracusa and was carried out by Mr. Leonardo Mirandola and Mrs. Gaetana Barcio, promoters of the food collection carried out on December 7th and 8th. Pasta, tomato sauce milk, rice and biscuits were distributed.

On December 11th, the Vice delegate handed over some garments for children to the head of Caritas of Piana degli Albanesi, Mr. Caruso. Diapers of various sizes and baby food were delivered to the new Caritas headquarters.

HRH Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Grand Prefect, together with Bishop Msgr. Raspanti and several Knights who came from various Sicilian cities delivered pasta, milk and biscuits for the children assisted by the structure Tenda della Madonna di Cristo in Acireale.

On November 30th in Acireale H.E. Msgr. Antonino Raspanti celebrated a Solemn Eucharistic mass at the Church of St. Joseph in the presence of HRH Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Grand Prefect.

On December 1st, the book “La cucina al tempo dei Borbone” written by Bruno Di Ciaccio was presented in Pergusa. The author, in video conference, thanked and greeted the participants, especially HRH Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies, godmother of this charitable event. Princess Beatrice has been nominated Honorary Member of the Pergusa Academy and has also been nominated Ambassador of Gogòl, “For a World of Smiles” in recognition of her charitable activities carried out through the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George.