Rome, October, 28 – 2014 H.R.H. the Grand Master has appointed as Delegate for Liguria Mr Giovanni Chersola.
London – October 2014. During his visit to London, HRH The Duke of Castro and British & Irish Delegate Anthony Bailey paid a home visit to the outgoing Delegate for Poland of the Constantinian Order, HE Count Andrzej Ciechanowiecki and to express their personal thanks for his lifetime commitment in the interests in the Constantinian Order.
London – October 2014. HRH Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro has been awarded the Companion’s Badge of the League of Mercy, in recognition of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George’s voluntary service to wider society in Britain.
The awards ceremony took place at the Claridge’s Hotel in London on 8 October 2014 and was presided over by The Rt Hon the Lord Lingfield, President of the League of Mercy. Among those attending were HE Mr Anthony Bailey, Delegate of Great Britain & Ireland, The Rt Hon Lord Lingfield, Mr Nigel Branson JP, Mr Rupert Pearson and Dr Xhoana Papakostandini, Chancery Assistant.
The Rt Hon Lord Lingfield, President of the League of Mercy said“Your Royal Highness. The Order of Mercy was first founded by Royal Charter of HM Queen Victoria in 1899 to recognise voluntary work in hospitals both at home and in war zones. Its aims broadened in 1999, one hundred years later, to encompass care for the dying, for refugees, the homeless, for children at risk and others in need. One of the Order’s Royal Founders said in 1907: ‘the Order’s work forms a golden chain of sympathy between all sorts and conditions of our people. Everyone will recognise the need for its work for there is ringing in our ears a great cry of suffering, unceasing through the ages, a pleading to which we must not refuse to listen.’
“Its highest award is the Grand Companion of the Order and its Trustees have delegated to me their authority to confer it upon Your Royal Highness today for your exemplary voluntary humanitarian endeavours on behalf of the destitute and needy through the charitable and spiritual mission of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George which you have served and led so extremely well for over thirty years. It is with great pleasure, Your Royal Highness, that I do so now.”
HRH The Duke of Castro also made a short speech during the presentation. “My Lord, Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen. In thanking you for your kind words I wanted to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to you, your fellow officers and the League of Mercy for presenting me with the Grand Companion’s Insignia of The Order of Mercy. The League of Mercy was originally created in 1899 for the encouragement and recognition of voluntary work in hospitals and the wider community. The worldwide Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George, of which I have the honour to serve as the 59th Grand Master share with you this central mission. I know that our vibrant Delegation here in Great Britain and Ireland is also very much active in these areas too.
My Lord, I am needless to say touched that you and your distinguished charity consider my efforts in the service of our faith and of wider society here in the United Kingdom and elsewhere worthy of this recognition. I accept it this Insignia with much pleasure and in the hope that our two organisations with grow in strength as a result.
My Lord, be assured of my good wishes and prayers as you continue your much needed and valuable work.”
The League of Mercy was founded on 30th of March 1899 by Royal Charter of Queen Victoria. It was instigated by the Prince of Wales (later Edward VII) who became its first Grand President. Subsequently two further Princes of Wales (later George V and Edward VIII) and HRH Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester succeeded him in this office. The League was refounded as a nationwide registered charity in 1999 and now continues the work of the original royal founder. Among other holders of the Companion’s Badge is Delegation member HRH Princess Michael of Kent.
Count Alessandro di Carpegna Brivio, Delegate for Milano and Lombardia, appointed Prior of his Delegation the Very Reverend Monsignor Arnaldo Morandi, Commander of the Order of Ecclesiastical Grace and Representative for the cities of Brescia and Bergamo.
H.E. the Marquis Don Pierluigi Sanfelice di Bagnoli, Delegate for Napoli and Campania, appointed Prior of his Delegation the Very Reverend Father Damiano La Rosa OM, Commander of Ecclesiastical Grace, Corrector of the Religious Province of Santa Maria della Stella and Rector of the Royal Constantinian Basilica of S. Francesco da Paola in Napoli.
H.R.H. Prince and Grand Master, on October 2 2014, has decided to appoint M. John M. Viola as Delegate for the State of New York.
During the past 12, 13 and 14 September there was a collegial meeting that saw the participation of all the new Great Officers with the Delegates, the Vicar Delegates, the Representatives of the Constantinian and accredited observers. There were also the representatives of the Royal Magistral Juridical Council and the Royal Magistral Heraldic Commission, the President and the Treasurer of the National Association of Constantinian Italian Knights.
The Royal Family of Bourbon Two Sicilies visited Portugal last week at the invitation of the Royal House of Braganza. H.R.H. Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro and Head of the Royal House, traveled accompanied by his wife, H.R.H. Princess Camilla, Duchess of Castro, and his two daughters, H.R.H Princess Maria Carolina , Duchess of Palermo and H.R.H. Princess Maria Chiara, Duchess of Capri.
Several the reasons for this three-day visit to Portugal, including the participation of the Royal Family to the traditional festivities in honor of the Saint Queen Isabel of Coimbra, along with the Royal House of Bragança.
During a reception at the Duke and Duchess of Bragança’s home in São Pedro de Sintra, the Duke of Castro, 59th Grand Master of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George, has invested H.R.H. Dom Afomso de Bragança, Prince of Beira, as Knight Grand Cross of Justice.
Highlights of the visit were, in the morning of July 4th the pilgrimage to the Shrine of Fatima, and in the afternoon the Lithurgy Mass of Saint Isabel celebrated in the Convent of Santa Clara in Coimbra, during which H.R.H. the Duchess of Castro received from the Grand Master H.R.H. the Duchess of Braganza the Insigna and Diploma of Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Saint Isabel.
At Fatima, the Royal Family has offered prayers to Our Lady of Fatima at the small Chapel of the Apparitions, and then visited the Royal Lipsanotheca, an exhibition of relics of the Foundation Oureana / D. Manuel II, presented by Mr. Carlos Evaristo, Expert of relics and Chairman of the chapter of the Patrons of the Vatican Museums, with particular emphasis on the relics of the Seers of Fatima, the Sicilian Saints and the Major Relic of the Blessed Maria Cristina, Queen of Naples, recently beatified by Pope Francis.
Together with the Royal Family of Bourbon Two Sicilies in pilgrimage to the Altar of Fatima were H.R.H. Dom Duarte, Duke of Bragança, H.S.H. Prince Peter von Hohenberg, grandson of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria, H.S.H. Princess Marie-Therese von Hohenberg, H.E. Mr. Anthony Bailey, Delegate of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George in Great Britain and Irland and Magistral Delegate for Interreligious Relations; the Marquis of Rio Maior, D. João Saldanha Vicente; Dr. Miguel Horte e Costa, Baron of Santa Comba Dão, Delegate of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George in Portugal, Sir Gavyn Arthur, former Lord Mayor of London; Eng.Domingos Patacho of the Royal Association; Dr. José Carlos Ramalho Royal Association of Ribatejo, Dr. Francisco Ramalho, Dr. Alberto Calafato Janelli, Private Secretary to the Duke of Castro and Dr. Carlos Evaristo, who led the visit to the shrine.
The day ended with a dinner in honor of the T.R.H. Duke and Duchess of Castro, set in the beautiful surroundings of the Castle Forte da Cruz on the Estoril Coast residence of Dona Diane Barros de Polignac and Dr. Miguel Horte e Costa, Baron of Santa Cumba Dão.
June 24, 2014 – H.R.H. Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, Grand Master, appointed H.R.H. Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies as Interim President of the Magisterial Heraldic Commission of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George. H.R.H. Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies, appointed Chancellor on June 13 is a Dame Grand Cross of Justice since December 19, 1978.
June 13, 2014 – H.R.H. Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, Grand Master, appointed H.I.H. Prince Napoleon, Head of the Imperial House of France, as Vice President of the Royal Deputation of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George. H.I.H. Prince Napoleon, Bailiff Grand Cross of Justice with Collar, was admitted into the Order in 2008.
