Palermo, Sunday 30 October 2016 – The Metropolitan Archbishop of Palermo, H.E. Mons. Corrado Lorefice, celebrated a solemn mass to welcome Mons. Salvatore Grimaldi, Ecclesiastical Knight Commander of Grace of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George as he assumes his new post as parish priest of the Basilica of the Most Holy Trinity La Magione.
The work of the Constantinian Knights dates to 1783 when H.M. Ferdinand II, King of the Two Sicilies, Grand Master of the Order, entrusted the Church to the care of the Order, creating the Commenda of La Magione, to whom he granted privileges and possessions.
Today, as in the past, the Knights continue to provide assistance to the needy of the parish: on this occasion the Delegation donated a portable electrocardiograph and provided for periodic cardiologic examinations thanks to the collaboration of the Knights and Dames of the Order who are physicians.
Attending the event were the Vicar Delegate of Switzerland, Baroness Maria Hélèna di Giacomo di Giampaolo, T.R.H. Prince and Princess Guillame of Luxemburg and their children, H.R.H. Princess Miriam di Tirnovo and her children.
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PALERMO – DONATION OF ELECTROCARDIOGRAPH TO THE BASILICA OF THE MOST HOLY TRINITY LA MAGIONE
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BRUSSELS – LITURGICAL CELEBRATION IN THE PRESENCE OF THE GRAND MASTER AND THE GRAND PREFECT
Brussels, Sunday 16 October 2016 – Holy Mass for the Belgian Delegation was celebrated in the Eglise Saint Jacques sur Coudenberg, place Royale 1.
Present were Their Royal Highnesses Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro and Grand Master and Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Grand Prefect of the Constantinian order.
The Delegate H.R.H. the Prince and Duke Charles Louis d’Arenberg received all present, assisted by Vice Delegate Mr. Gunnar Riebs. -
VISIT TO TIRANA
Their Royal Highnesses the Dukes of Castro met H.E. the President of the Republic of Albania Bujar Nishani. Tirana, Saturday, October 8, 2016. Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Castro were invited to lunch with the President of the Republic of Albania, H.E. Bujar Nishani. H.R.H. the Duke of Castro then met with the Minister of Culture, Professor Mirela Kumbaro Furxhi, to discuss several topics including cultural exchange programs to be promoted between Italy and Albania.
That afternoon Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Castro visited the Orphanage “Zyber Hallulli” where she met with the children, continuing the charity program begun in 2000 and resumed in 2013.H.R.H. Camilla of Bourbon Two Sicilies said “Helping others is a mission that the more fortunate persons must perform with their whole heart”. On Sunday, October 9, Their Royal Highnesses the Duke and Duchess of Castro concluded their visit to Albania by meeting with the Prime Minister of Albania, H.E. Edi Rama.
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VIAREGGIO – PARISH OF SANTA RITA
Viareggio, October 5, 2016 – As part of the program “The Hunger of our Neighbor”, established by the Grand Master of the Constantinian Order, H.R.H. Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, the Knights of the Tuscany Delegation of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George delivered food supplies to the Parish Priest of Santa Rita, don Luigi Pellegrino, and to the Group Home Giovanni Paolo II. -
MONGIANA, FROM INDUSTRIAL EXCELLENCE TO CULTURAL EXCELLENCE
September 24 saw the inauguration of the Weapons Factory Museum in Mongiana (now the province of Vibo Valentia). The ceremony took place in the presence of local dignitaries and H.R.H. Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies. The Royal Ironworks and Weapons Factory of Mongiana, located in the territory once called Ferdinandea (Serre Calabresi) was established by the Bourbons and was home to foundry workers, craftsmen, clerks and military until the end of the 18th century, providing employment to over 1500 people. In 1845 a specific and highly innovative regulation established the work day to be no more than 8 hours and provided employees and their families with medical assistance and free education. The unification of Italy led to a progressive and inexorable crisis. With the opening of the Museo Mongiana the town has found renewed vigor.
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4° TRAINING CONFERENCE and INVESTITURE CEREMONY
Padova, Saturday, September 17, 2016 – On Saturday, September 17 the 4th Training Conference for Knights, Dames and Inductees of the Triveneto Delegation was held during the solemn celebration of Exaltation of the Holy Cross. The conference was held in the Theological Seminary of the Patron Saint of Padova.
The session was followed by a procession through the “Holy Door of Mercy” accessing the adjacent Pontifical Basilica of Saint Anthony where mass was concelebrated by Mons. Pier Emilio Salvadè and Father Giorgio, Vice Rector of the Basilica of the Saint Anthony. The rite of investiture was presided by H.E. the Most Reverend Eminence Dino De Antoni, Archbishop Emeritus of Gorizia, who was presented with the Diploma and insignias of Ecclesiastical Knight Grand Cross of Grace.
On the same date Father Giorgio received the Ecclesiastical Knight of Grace Commemorative Diploma conferred to Father Enzo Paolo Poiana, former Rector of the Pontifical Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padova. -
SOLEMNITIES OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
From its remotest origins the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George has been dedicated to glorification of the Cross, propagation of the Faith and defense of the Holy Roman Church.It is therefore the duty of the Knights and Dames to live as perfect Christians and to take part in all those initiatives to nurture and foster the principles of the Order. The Solemn Eucharistic Celebration of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross was presided by Constantinian chaplain Father Saverio Cento, priest of the parish church of Saint Francis di Paola of Palermo.
The mass was concelebrated by fathers Antonio Porretta and father Giorgio Terrasi.
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EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
Brescia, September 14, 2016. On the occasion of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Crosses a delegation of Knights and Dames of the Constantinian Order, together with H.E. the Grand Inquisitor the Hon Alberto Lembo, the Vicar Delegate of Lombardy Noble Dott. Giuseppe Rizzani and the Prior for Lombardy Mons. Arnaldo Morandi, participated in the solemn ceremony of the Order of the Custodians of the Holy Crosses in the Cathedral of Brescia.Prior to the ceremony the President of the Order of Custodians of the Holy Crosses, Dott. Gino Trombi, Knight Commander of Merit with Star, donated several publications on the precious reliquaries kept in the cathedral of Brescia, to the Grand Inquisitor. In turn, the Honorable Lembo offered President Trombi a copy of the recently published Constantinian Chronicles. The Knights then participated in the Mass celebrated by Mons. Ivo Panteghini, Episcopal Delegate and Chaplain of the Custodians of the Holy Crosses and of the Constantinian Order.
This was followed by the ceremony of investiture for new members of the Confraternity of Custodians. At the conclusion of the ceremonies the Grand Inquisitor and the Vicar Delegate privately conferred diplomas to Knight Roberto Bertoli and his spouse Dame Silvana Vezzoli. The evening concluded with a fraternal agape offered in honor of the Grand Inquisitor and Brothers by Count Pierfrancesco and Countess Marina Coppola De Almanca.
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THE CONSTANTINIAN ANGELS OF THE NIGHT
Palermo, September 13, 2016 – The Sicilian Delegation has initiated the solidarity project “Constantinian Angels”, a program to provide care for the less fortunate and the homeless.
The Constantinian Angels walk through the streets of Palermo greeting “friends” to offer assistance and to help them feel less alone. During their rounds the teams of Angels met with Mrs. Sabrina Ciulla and the volunteers of the Palermo Homeless Assistance Organization who daily care for the homeless.These volunteers welcomed the Constantinian Angels with joy, thanking them for their participation and for bringing approximately 50 packages of provisions to be distributed to the many persons waiting for them. Some food and other nourishment, a smile, a handshake, a few kind words and the time to listen to their stories: this and more are what the Constantinian Angels are attempting to do to make these people feel a little bit less “invisible” to others and, more important, to themselves.
As stated by the Vicar Delegate “Our purpose is not just to fulfil their primary needs but also to restore dignity and give them hope and faith. In addition to items of food, they also bring hot tea and chocolate. Many could criticize us for what we do, but you must understand that these are people just like everyone else. It’s enough to offer a couple of hours a week of your life to do volunteer work, to make a contribution by collecting food or funds. The fundamental thing to remember – he adds – is that when you give money to these people, you shouldn’t just give it quickly and turn away. It’s important to shake their hands, to say a few words and to really look at them. That is the true gift.” -
EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS
San Martino in Freddana, September 11, 2016 – The Eucharistic Celebration for the feast of the Holy Cross was officiated by Don Rodolo Rossi, Prior of the Delegation. As part of the training course, at the conclusion of the ceremony Vicar Delegate Edoardo Puccetti and Prior Don Rodolfo Ross illustrated the basic contents of the handbook “The Spiritual Path of the Constantinian Knights and Dames”, strongly promoted by H.R.E. Cardinal Renato Martino, Grand Prior of the Order, following the spiritual preparation for aspiring Knights who will be invested on September 24.
