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  • CHRISTMAS CONCERT

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    Monreale, 12th December 2015.  The church of Monreale, the Most Blessed Mary of the Agonizing, acted as venue for the Christmas concert promoted by the Sicilian Delegation.   Maestro Alberto Giacchino, a Constantinian Knight and Artistic Director of the Constantinian concert seasons, organized a concert in memory of Sr. Anna Giovanna together with her pupils who now teach at the same institute of Sant’Anna.  Sr. Anna Giovanna attained a diploma in piano at the Conservatory of Naples.  She taught in Catania at the institute for the blind and in Palermo at the Sant’Anna Institute. Her school produced many well known artists in Italy.  The very young musicians who performed in front of a full audience were between the age of 7 and 15.

     

     

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  • INSTALLATION OF THE ARCHBISHOP OF BOLOGNA

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    Bologna, 12th December 2015.  The Bologna Representation of the Emilia Romagna Delegation of the Sacred Military Order of Saint George met on the occasion of the installation of His Excellency the Most Reverend Bishop Monsignor Matteo Maria Zuppi who took possession of His Bishop’s Seat.  After the blessing of the city the procession left the due Torri and headed towards the Cathedral. At the end of the parade, organized together with the Basilica of San Bartolomeo e Gaetano which made available the Piazzetta delle due Torri, a guard of honour was performed by a group of Knights. Among the Knights and guests attending the event were the Representative Count Giacomo Maria Cavina Boari, Commander of Justice, Marquis Rene’Talon Sampieri, Knight of Justice (who for the occasion opened to visitors His Palace frescoed by Guercino), Dame of Grace Elena dei Conti Maffei, Advocate Pierpaolo Barbolini Cionini, the Knight of Ecclesiastical Grace Stefano Greco.

     

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  • SOLIDARITY DAY: “Children, our future…”

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    Bellaria Igea Marina, 12 December 2015. The Delegation of Emilia Romagna of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George was delighted and honoured by the invitation to cooperate with NGO ‘Help for Life Foundation’ to work towards a common goal. Since the late 1990s, the ‘Help for Life Foundation’, headed by Luciano Brighi, has been providing social care services to families and mothers experiencing pregnancy complications, assisting them right through the child-bearing process, true to the spirit of Mother Theresa’s motto that has inspired its founders from the very beginning: “Life’s trials are not to be removed by removing life itself but rather by sticking together through thick and thin”. With the approval of the Board of Deputies, the Delegation of Emilia Romagna has undertaken to acquire a sufficiently large number of nappies in different sizes (mostly popular ones, such as 3-4-5) to meet the needs of about 70 families currently receiving assistance.

     

     

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  • DONATION TO THE “ARMADIO DEL FRATELLO” DIOCESAN BODY IN PAVIA

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    Pavia, 11th December 2015.  500 items of clothing made up of sweaters, shirts, trousers and scarves for the most needy of the city were donated to the Diocesan Body “Armadio del Fratello” at the seat of the Pavia Prefecture.  This donation was presented by H.E. the Prefect of Pavia, Dr. Erminia Rosa Cesari, Dame of our Order and the Delegate of Milan and Lombardy, Count Alessandro di Carpegna Brivio. The donation ceremony was attended by the heads of volunteer organizations of the province and by high dignitaries of institutions.

     

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  • CHRISTMAS MASS

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    Alessandria, 5 December 2015. Member Representatives for Alessandria and Asti were brought together at a religious service, held – in preparation for Christmas – within the evocative setting of the Romanesque Abbey of Sezzadio (AL). After joining in the celebration of the Eucharist, a contingent of Dames and Knights, along with a 70-strong group of friends from the Constantinian Order, gathered in the splendid hall-rooms of the adjacent ‘Villa Badia’ to attend a string concerto, which was followed by a Christmas banquet. Attendees included, among others, Alessio Varisco who gave an exclusive presentation of his book “St George and the Constantinians” featuring a foreword by HRH The Prince Carlo of Bourbon-Two Sicilies. Also present were the Representative of the Constantinian Order for Como, Giuseppe Rizzani; the Prior of Pavia, Don Maurizio Ceriani and the Delegate for Piedmont and Valle d’Aosta, General Mario Marioli. Speaking at the event, General Marioli took the opportunity to provide some insight into the sense of momentous change currently experienced by the Order whose programmatic goals for the new year were also outlined in his address. Subsequently, the Representative for Alessandria and Asti, Alessandro Medici took a retrospective look at recent charitable work in the area and its achievements before introducing all newly-joined Knights and Dames as well as a number of suppliants who had taken part in the event. All proceeds from the initiative, to be administered by the Order’s own aid agency, will go towards funding humanitarian projects targeting the Asti and Alessandria areas.

     

     

     

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  • Monreale – Feast of St Barbara

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    Monreale, 4 December 2015. During a celebration of the Holy Mass officiated by the Constantinian Chaplain Don Nicola Gaglio and held at the Church of ‘Maria SS. Agonizzanti’ in Monreale, whose premises have been provisionally free-leased to the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George at the behest of the Archbishop of Monreale, His Most Reverend Eminence Mons. Michele Pennisi, Constantinian Prior for Sicily, the ‘Association of the Artillery Corps’ of Palermo, marked the Feast of St Barbara by paying homage to the saint of the same name, Patroness of all Artillery soldiers, combat engineers as well as firemen, sailors, miners and architects. A painting commemorating the Virgin-Martyr, along with a relic of the Saint herself, originally donated by Commander Vincenzo Nuccio which our Grand Prior, the Archbishop of Monreale, His Most Reverend Eminence Renato Raffaele Cardinal Martino had entrusted to his care on the advice of the Constantinian Chaplain Don Antonio Cipriano, was what led the Association to choose our own church as the venue for the celebration. Numerous Artillery officers, together with their families, attended the event. Also in attendance were the President of ‘UNUCI’, Claudio Zaccardo; Nastro Azzurro Regional President, Ugo Frasconà, a Constantinian Knight; President of the Italian Cadet Division for Palermo, Antonio Girgenti. A delegation of the Constantinian Order, headed by the Vice Delegate, along with the Commander Carmelo Sammarco, and escorted by the following knights: Fabrizio Ippoliti, Domenico Scapatie and Ugo Frasconà, joined the celebrations. At the end of the ceremony, the President of ‘Unuci’ presented a crest of the Association of the Artillery Corps to the Constantinian Chaplain.

     

     

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  • Constantinian Order provides funding for A&E ultrasound machine

    imm1Principality of Monaco, 3 December 2015. The Monaco Association of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George were donated ultrasound diagnostic equipment for use by A&E Care Units, during an official ceremony taking place in the Board Room of the “Princess Grace” Hospital Centre, in the presence of HRH The Prince Charles of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, Head of the Royal House and Grand Master of the Constantinian Order. ‘Technology in the service of patient care’ is the thinking behind this assistive medical device playing a key role in supporting patient care and in ensuring correct diagnosis is promptly delivered even to patients suffering from complex medical conditions.

     Among the many notables scheduled to attend the event were:

    • Mr Georges LISIMACHIO, Head of the Cabinet Office under HMSH The Prince Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco
    • Mr Michel ROGER, Minister of State
    • Ms Stéphane VALÉRI, Government Advisor for Health & Social Affairs
    • Mr André GARINO, Chairman of the Board of Directors
    • Ms Patricia NOVARETTI, Vice President of the Board of Directors
    • Professor Marc FARAGGI, Vice President of the CME (Committee for National Healthcare Professionals)
    • Mr Gérard BLANCHY, Medical Engineer and Head of Biomedical Engineering
    • Mr Jean-Yves CASTEL, Medical Engineer for the Biomedical Engineering Unit
    • Mr Michel HAMON, Head of Financial Affairs

     

     

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  • SOLIDARITY WEEK – “THE HUNGER OF OUR NEIGHBOUR”

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    Reggio Calabria, 21 – 29 November 2015. As previously announced by the Vice Delegate Mr Aurelio Badolati, Commander of Merit with Star, charitable project “Solidarity Week” is scheduled to get underway in the third decade of November under the leadership of the Delegation of Calabria. “We have resolved to focus the bulk of our humanitarian efforts on bringing aid to our fellow citizens of Calabria, where the economic crisis is not simply a severe one but has actually taken on dramatic proportions.” This was the promise made on the occasion of a Convention which took place in October in the Council Chamber of Varapodio City Hall and which was titled “Dara Project – The Hunger of Our Neighbour”. The basic foods consignment, which – let us remind you – recently arrived in Calabria following a donation of supermarket chain ‘Esselunga S.p.A.” and which owes a great deal to the keen sense of initiative of our Grand Prefect HE The Ambassador Augusto Ruffo di Calabria dei Principi di Scilla, went through a sorting process, having been parcelled out and reassembled by the volunteer teams of the parish churches directly involved. All volunteers worked under the guidance of project coordinator the kinght Mr Pasqualino Guerrisi.  Today, the packaged food supplies are ready for distribution to all the provinces in the region thanks to the involvement of local parishes, pastoral associations (Caritas), and institutions for the young and the elderly.

    What follows is a listing of the dates and locations set for the first segment of the food distribution:

    21 November – Giffone (RC), Parish Church of Maria SS. del Soccorso

    22 November – S. Ferdinando (RC), Parish Church of S. Ferdinando

    23 November – Sant’Eufemia d’Aspromonte (RC), Parish Church of Sant’Eufemia Vergine e Maria

    24 November – Palmi (RC) Parish Church of San Nicola

    25 November – Lamezia Terme (CZ), Parish Church of Santa Maria Goretti

    26 November – Taurianova  (RC), Parish Church of S. Giuseppe

    27 November – Palmi (RC), Parish Church of Maria SS. del Soccorso

    28 November – Polistena (RC), Parish Church of Santa Maria Vergine

    29 November – Cosenza (CS), Parish Church of Santa Teresa del Bambin Gesù

     

     

     

     

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  • Solidarity Week – “The Hunger of our Neighbour” and Giuseppe Marzo Spizzirri, Knight of Merit, receives appointment as City of Cosenza Representative for the Delegation of Calabria

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    Cosenza, 29 November 2015. “I would like to offer my warmest thanks to all the Knights, Benefactors and Volunteers of our Order who, for over a month, have been working flat out to help breathe life into this major project which showed our Delegation in the best possible light. Indeed, several charity organisations, which we have been assisting right across the region, have immediately joined in extending their sincerest thanks to us: parishes, Caritas agencies, communities for the elderly and young people. We are proud of our achievements as our donations have succeeded in bringing back a smile to some of the most vulnerable among us.” Such poignant words, spoken by the Delegate Gianpietro Sanseverino dei Baroni di Marcellinara, came as charitable project ‘Solidarity Week – The Hunger of our Neighbour’, promoted, as you will remember, by the Delegation of Calabria to bring humanitarian aid to people facing economic hardships in the region, finally drew to a close. The initiative was made possible by a donation of basic food items from Esselunga S.p.A. and owed much to the tireless support given by our Grand Prefect HE The Ambassador Augusto Ruffo di Calabria dei Principi di Scilla. Final food aid recipient for the third decade of November was the city of Cosenza. In particular, the consignment was despatched to the Caritas agency within the Parish of Santa Teresa del Bambin Gesù (Saint Therese of the Child Jesus) where, following hot on the heels of the handover ceremony involving parish volunteers, Holy Mass was celebrated by the parish priest Don Dario De Paola. Among those in attendance were Dame Maria Cristina Parise Martirano and Dame Maria Nivea Marzo Spizzirri; the Knights of Merit Maurizio Greco, Ivan Pucci, Giuseppe Vena, Giuseppe Valente, Emanuele Nazario Scarlata, Antonino Sgrò; the Coordinator for the Benefactors, Roberto Bendini; the volunteers and collaborators Erminia Pucci, Ramona Rugna, Tina Spizzirri Marzo, Carlo Parisio, Domenico Bilotta, Gustavo Valente, Francesco Paolo Piro, along with our Member Delegates. During the celebratory banquet which took place straight afterwards, Giuseppe Spizzirri Marzo, Knight of Merit, was formally announced as the City of Cosenza Representative for the Constantinian Order. All attendees joined in congratulating the new appointee, a man of unquestionable character and integrity, extending warmest wishes for success in the position, which was greeted by a round of applause. Subsequently, the Delegation paid a visit to the ‘Museo Diocesano’ (Diocesan Museum), escorted by its current director Don Salvatore Fuscaldo who, together with antiquarian Francesco Paolo Piro, went on to provide an extensive and vivid commentary on the historic treasures on display, among which the famous ‘Stauroteca’, a golden cross containing an extant relic of Christ, which Frederick II of Swabia donated to the city of Cosenza on the occasion of the consecration of the ‘Duomo’ in 1222. A final address was delivered by the Vice Delegate Aurelio Badolati, Commander of Merit, in which he discussed plans for new charity events to be held in December.

     

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  • Solidarity Week – “The Hunger of our Neighbour”

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    Polistena, 28 November 2015. It was left to the city of Polistena, a small village lying at the foot of the Aspromonte massif, to play host to the penultimate event of ‘Solidarity Week – The Hunger of our Neighbour’, a charitable project in aid of people in need in the region, promoted, as many of you will remember, by the Delegation of Calabria in response to our Grand Master’s charity appeal. The Delegation was keen to follow up on the Grand Master’s call for humanitarian help with a wide range of initiatives delivering relief services in close partnership with other aid agencies. More specifically, a consignment of basic commodities, donated by Esselunga S.p.A., was despatched to the Parish of ‘Santa Marina Vergine e Martire’ (‘St Marina Virgin and Martyr’) where voluntary association ‘Il Samaritano’ (‘The Samaritan’) is regularly engaged in providing humanitarian assistance as well as actively contributing to the dissemination of the Christian ‘doctrine of love’ through several different projects aimed at tackling and preventing the ills of social exclusion and malaise (as evidenced by their work in support of young people with disabilities, individuals facing distress, underage youth confronted by social issues). After the donation ceremony, which took place at the same venue run by the Association, Holy Mass was officiated by Mons. Giuseppe Demasi, generally referred to as ‘Don Pino’. Mons. Demasi is a ‘front-line’ prelate, Vicar General to the Diocese of ‘Oppido-Mamertina-Palmi’, Representative for the ‘Libera in Calabria’ Association as well as a recent winner of the prestigious ‘Paolo Borsellino National Award’, usually conferred in recognition of significant acts of bravery and committed actions guided by moral integrity with the aim of fighting back violence and injustice within the social domain. We would like to pay tribute to Don Pino’s tangible commitment to society and his successful efforts in the administration of property and assets seized from organised crime group ‘Ndrangheta’. His work offers high hopes for the many law-abiding and honest people in the South who, sharing a common desire to bring back law and order, move forward and live together peacefully, still place their trust in the State and its institutions. Don Pino extended warmest thanks to our Order for its charitable activities: “….for you fed the hungry, and gave a drink to the thirsty and clothes to the naked who came knocking at the door here at ‘The Samaritan’…”. Turning emotional, Vice Delegate Aurelio Badolati, Commander of Merit with Star, explained how “…it would be a great joy for us, as members of the Constantinian Order, if we had managed to make only one person smile when there was really a need for it”. Little did the Vice Delegate know that shortly before his speech, a boy from Mali, rushed to a hospital emergency unit, had previously been handed undergarments donated by the Order. Attending the ceremony were the following Knights of Merit: Rocco Gatto and Pasquale Zavaglia along with the Coordinator for the Benefactors Roberto Bendini.

    Our charity tour is to move to Cosenza next for the last event of ‘Solidarity Week’.

     

     

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