Lucca, 31st January 2016. In the Sanctuary of S. Gemma Galgani, the Delegation for Tuscany of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George celebrated a memorial Mass in honour of Blessed Maria Cristina di Savoia, known as “ The Holy Young Queen”, to commemorate the second anniversary of her Beatification.
Caserta, 31st January 2016. H.R.H. Don Alessandro of Bourbon Two Sicilies officiated the Eucharistic Celebration in honour of Blessed Maria Cristina at the Church in Vaccheria solemnly dedicated to Santa Maria delle Grazie. The ceremony was organized by the Delegation for Naples and Campania, the Association for Cultural Conventions “Maria Cristina di Savoia” and the Institute for Historical Research of the Two Sicilies. The Church in Vaccheria was chosen because Queen Maria Cristina, called by the Neapolitan inhabitants “The Holy Young Queen”, donated some sacred vestments which she herself had made using the fabrics of San Leucio. For this occasion, the place of worship was decorated by the Garden Club of Caserta and the hymns were sung by the choir of the Music Association “Resonare Fibris” conducted by Maestro Guglielmo De Maria.
Florence, 30th January 2016. On the eve of the third Liturgical Feast of Blessed Maria Cristina di Savoia, spouse of King Ferdinand II, Queen of the Kingdom of Two Sicilies, the Delegation for Tuscany of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George provided 67 meals to elderly needy persons of the Parish of San Michele in Rovezzano. This lunch was a symbol of solidarity and sharing which is in keeping with “The Hunger suffered by our Neighbour” project endorsed by the Grand Master and Duke of Castro, H.R.H. Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies.
Livorno, 11th January 2016. The Delegation for Tuscany of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order organized a solidarity lunch in remembrance of the Epiphany that has just gone by for 40 needy elderly people of the Parish of S. Maria, Giulia and Francesco of Livorno. This lunch was a symbol of solidarity and sharing which is in line with “The Hunger suffered by our Neighbour” project endorsed by the Grand Master of the Constantinian Order, H.R.H. Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro.
Château de Réduit – Presidential Palace (Mauritius), 8th January, 2016. – H.R.H. Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro and Grand Master bestowed, with Motu Proprio decree of 1st January 2016, the Royal Order of Francis I, with the rank of Dame Knight Grand Cross, upon Her Excellency the President of the Republic of Mauritius, Ameenah Gurib-Fakim, GCSK, CSK, PhD.
The Royal Order of Francis I was established in 1829 by His Majesty King Francis I in order to reward the civil merit of whoever distinguished themselves in the art of literature and science and for particular merits attained by virtue of special actions in the protection of human rights.
Her Excellency the President of the Republic of Mauritius, through her important role and for the work carried out as a Biodiversity scientist, has unveiled the nutritive values present in the plants of her island, a discovery that has led to innovations in the fields of medicine and nutrition.
Gaeta, 31st December 2015. On Thursday, 31st December, last day of the calendar year, His Excellency the Most Reverend Mons. Rabio Bernardo will hold the traditional celebration of the end of year Te Deum at the Sanctuary of the “Santissima Annunziata” in Gaeta at 5.30 p.m. During the celebration of the Te Deum, His Excelleny the Most Reverend Archbishop, together with the faithful present, will conduct an in-depth reflection focusing on the theme of mercy on which hinges the Jubilee Year recently inaugurated by Pope Francis. Like every year, not only are the members of the church of Gaeta invited to attend but also, and in particular, the local Administrators of the Municipalities of the Archdiocese, including the various civil and military Authorities.
Reggio Calabria, 17th – 28th December 2015. Continuation of the solidarity tour of the Calabria Delegation with the second tranche of humanitarian assistance to be distributed to the disadvantaged families of the region planned for this Christmas period. The Vice Delegate, Dr. Aurelio Badolati, Commander of Merit with Plate, speaking in respect of the “Christmas for All” project expressed his interpretation of the true meaning of today’s Christmas: “ A Christmas of emotions, of good intentions but above all one of solidarity towards the last”. Because Christmas is the feast which in one way or another calls upon all of us, including non believers, to recover those values, lost along the daily course of a year, albeit also for emotional reasons. Such “Values” will once again be conveyed to Parishes, Pastoral Organizations (Caritas), Associations for the Elderly and Youth who, after having identified the last, will distribute basic food products donated (full load of a tir) as may be recalled, by Esselunga S.p.A., one of the main Italian chain stores operating in the large-scale retail trade. All this was made possible thanks to the active involvement of the Grand Prefect, H.E. Ambassador Augusto Ruffo di Calabria of the Princes of Scilla.
The following are the dates and beneficiaries identified for this second tranche of donations of basic food products:
17th December – Sant’Eufemia D’Aspromonte (RC), “Parish of Sant’Eufemia Vergine e Martire”
19th December _ Polistena (RC), “ Luigi Monti Community ”
19th December – Taurianova (RC), “Parish of San Giuseppe”
20th December – Castellace (RC), “Parish of Santa Maria Assunta”
27th December – Polistena (RC), “Fr. Pino Puglisi Multipurpose Centre”
28th December – Gioia Tauro (RC), “Parish of Sant’Ippolito Martire”
Caronia (ME), 27th 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”.
Locri (RC), 26th December 2015. The convention “Francis II of Bourbon, man of peace in the storms of history” was held at the Episcopal Seminary of Locri organized by the Cultural Association Due Sicilie di Gioiosa Jonica in cooperation with the Delegation of Calabria. The event was an opportunity to rediscover, on the occasion of the 121st anniversary of his death, the great figure of His Majesty Francis II, the last king of the Two Sicilies, who on 27th December 1894, took leave of the world stage on tiptoe in the same sober and dignified style with which he had lived his life. In his will, Francis II of Bourbon had written: “ I thank all those who were good to me, I forgive all those who wronged me and I beg pardon from those who I may have somehow harmed”. “Permission”, “Apology”, “Thanks”, over a century later, the three words uttered by the “Saint and King”, were reaffirmed “ For a happy and strong life” by Pope Francis during a recent catechesis held in Saint Peter’s Square. At the end of the convention, in the splendid Chapel of the Seminary, Holy Mass was celebrated to commemorate the event officiated by Don Nicola Commisso Meleca, Rector of the same Episcopal Seminary.
Monreale, 25th 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.
