svil constantinian order

Blog

Solidarity Week – “The Hunger of our Neighbour”

Palmi, 27 November 2015. Charity tour “Solidarity Week – The Hunger of Our Neighbour”, promoted by the Delegation of Calabria in support of needy people in the Calabria region, still underway at several venues across Calabria including local parishes, pastoral institutions (Caritas), communities for the elderly and young people. As the tour arrived at the city of Palmi, a hugely warm welcome was reserved to members of the Constantinian Order who were on hand to deliver a consignment of basic food items to 60 families from the Parish of ‘Maria Santissima del Soccorso’, following a donation from ‘Esselunga S.p.A.’. All families were picked by the local Caritas management team from among the poorest households in the area. “What we’re doing”, said the Vice Delegate, Aurelio Badolati, Commander of Knight with Star, visibly touched at the thought of bringing humanitarian aid to his own hometown, “is just a small fraction of what could be done to ease the suffering of people, a drop in the ocean, but a great many drops can ultimately make a river”. Before the Vice-Delegate’s address in the splendid old ‘Church of the Most Holy Cross’, High Mass had been officiated by the parish ‘Don Emanuele Leuzzi’. The prelate took many opportunities to express his heartfelt thanks and deep gratitude for the event during his homily, lavishing praise on the Order and paying homage to those Constantinian Knights who had fallen in the service of Christianity in a bid to uphold its values. In attendance at the ceremony were Rocco Gatto, Knight of Merit, and Paqualino Guerrisi, along with the Coordinator for the Benefactors, Roberto Bendini.

Next destination on the charity tour is Polistena (RC).

(more…)

November 27, 2015
Conference on the later years of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies

Palermo, 27 November 2015. On Friday 27 November, a conference – entitled ‘The Later Years of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies through the historical lens of Mons. Del Pozzo and a bibliographical approach to HRH The Prince Alfonso of Bourbon-Two Sicilies”. Speakers at the event were: Eminent Professor Manlio Corselli, Professor of Political Philosophy at the University of Palermo and the historian Maurizio Di Giovine. The conference panel was moderated by the Vice Delegate of the Delegation for Sicily of the Constantinian Order, Antonio di Janni. Attendees included the Delegate for Western Sicily of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Baron Vincenzo Calefati di Canalotti, and the Representative for the ‘Nunziatella’ Military Academy, General Antonio Jovane. After the introductory address, an interesting debate took place in which the latter part of the Bourbon years in our land was discussed.

(more…)

November 27, 2015
Solidarity Week – The Hunger of our Neighbour

Lamezia Terme, 25 November 2015. As part of humanitarian project ‘Solidarity Week – The Hunger of our Neighbour’, promoted by the Delegation of Calabria in support of impoverished people in the region, the Constantinian Order’s charity tour has now landed in the city of Catanzaro too. The food supplies, originally donated by ‘Esselunga S.p.A.’, were made available at this November event at the parish church of ‘Santa Maria Goretti’ at Lamezia Terme. Local volunteers were handed the relief materials at a symbolic donation ceremony, presided by our Dame Maria Neve Marzo Spizzirri and held at a venue adjacent to the church. Subsequently, parish priest Don Giuseppe Angotti celebrated the Holy Mass, reciprocating, in a warm and heartfelt response, the cordial greetings conveyed by our Vice Delegate, Aurelo Badolati, Commander of Merit with Star. In a speech addressed to the congregation, Mr Badolati explained how ‘in this day and age, as we move further into the third millennium, attending to the duties of a knight entails launching crusades to assist the most vulnerable members of society, outcasts and individuals with little or no social visibility at all as humanitarian acts of selflessness can go a very long way towards putting a smile back on their faces.” Alongside our Dame Spizzirri, other attendees included the following Knights of Merit: Giuseppe Spizzirri Marzo, Pasqualino Guerrisi, Rocco Gatto, as well as Marcello Bagalà, one of the Order’s trusted volunteers currently helping with the project.

Next up on our charity tour is Palmi (RC).

(more…)

November 25, 2015
November events for ‘New Crumbs Health’ in Monreale

Monreale, November 2015. Two different events, which were held in the Monreale branch of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George, situated alongside the Church of ‘Maria SS degli Agonizzanti’ (‘Blessed Mary for the Agonising’) and which were concerned to distribute children’s food and accessories, saw participation by the Vice Delegate along with the following Knights: Salvatore Vassallo, Carmelo Sammarco, and Vincenzo Nuccio. The Delegation was assisted by the volunteering team currently working on the project. As many as forty families braved weather conditions, standing in a queue for a chance to pick up their share of nappies, homogenised baby food, baby milk, both standard and dairy-free for toddlers with milk allergies. Food supplies were also distributed at the same event, including cookies, sugar and other food items. Based on a rough estimate of 2-3 children per family unit (up to 5 in some cases), the Delegation of Sicily, headed by the Grand Prior, His Most Reverend Eminence Mons. Michele Pennisi, is currently providing assistance to about 90 children at events held on a fortnightly basis. As Christmas draws near, the Constantinian Delegation is planning to go the extra mile to give even more needy children a smile in December.

(more…)

November 25, 2015
Feast of Christ the King at Sciacca

Sciacca, 22 November 2015. A contingent of Constantinian Knights, headed by Commander Elio Zuccarello, attended a religious service, held at the Church of ‘San Michele Arcangelo’ (‘St Michael the Archangel’), to mark the Feast of Christ the King. Before the celebration of the Eucharist, the Delegation of Knights, who had received a warm welcome from parish priest Don Pasqualino Barone, carried in procession a reliquary of the Holy Thorns of Christ from the Church of San Salvatore (Badia Grande) to the Church of San Michele Arcangelo. Prior to officiating the Liturgy of the Mass, Don Pasqualino Barone, in a brief historical account, retraced the events leading up to the discovery of the Holy Thorns by Saint Helen, mother of St. Constantine, Emperor and founder of the Equestrian Order. Don Barone also remembered how the Holy Reliquary was part of a donation made by the ‘d’Angiò Family’ back in 1383. Adding to his presentation, he explained to an attentive congregation that the Holy Thorns can only ever be carried in solemn procession on ‘Quasimodo Sunday’ (‘Dominica in Albis’, the first Sunday after Easter) and on ‘Christ the King Sunday’. This was authorised following a decree issued by the competent bishop. At the end of the liturgical celebrations, in an atmosphere suffused with deep religious emotion, the Holy Reliquary was offered to the faithful to be kissed. Among those present were the following Knights: Elio Zuccarello, Erasmo Miceli, Giuseppe Lipari, Salvatore Notarianni and Baldassare Cacioppo.

(more…)

November 22, 2015
Piano Concerto 2015 Classical Season

Monreale, 22 November 2015. A piano concerto, played by Maestro Salvatore Gaglio, was held in the Church of ‘Maria SS degli Agonizzanti’ (Blessed Mary for the Agonising) in Monreale on Sunday 22 November. This was the second such performance in the classical season organised by the Delegation for Sicily of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George. Art director for the event was the knight and Professor Alberto Giacchino. At the end of the concert, the Vice Delegate extended cordial greetings and deep gratitude on behalf of the Delegation in a letter of appreciation which he presented to the young Maestro. Among those attending were Professor Manuela Quadrante and Councillor Pica. The programme included works by Chopin, Wagner and Beethoven.

(more…)

November 22, 2015
SOLIDARITY WEEK – “THE HUNGER OF OUR NEIGHBOUR”

San Ferdinando, 22 November 2015. Second edition of ‘Solidarity Week – The Hunger of our Neighbour’, a charitable project promoted by the Delegation of Calabria to provide assistance to individuals facing hardships in the region and made possible, as was previously announced, by Esselunga S.p.A. following their donation of a substantial basic foods consignment. The whole operation was the result of an initiative spearheaded by our Grand Prefect, HE The Ambassador Augusto Ruffo di Calabria dei Principi di Scilla. This time round, the charity event reached out to the lovely little village of San Ferdinando (RC), a small municipality overlooking the Gulf area near Gioia Tauro, on the Calabrian side of the Tyrrhenian Sea. The food distribution ceremony was held in conjunction with a religious service celebrated by the local parish priest, Don Antonino Massara, at the ‘Chiesa Madre di San Ferdinando Re’, which turned out to be so packed with people for the occasion that many were not able to find a seat. The prelate felt it imperative to publicly express his thanks to the Order – here represented by the Vice Delegate, Aurelio Badolati, Commander of Merit with Star, the knights of Merit Rocco Gatt and Pasqualino Garrisi, the latter having been at the helm of the initiative – voicing deep gratitude on behalf of the local community too “for this remarkable donation by means of which the light of Christ is bound to shine even more brightly over Calabria.” As Holy Mass drew to a close, the Vice Delegate, returning appropriate thanks, gave a brief talk to provide an outline of the Order’s programmatic goals and, more importantly, to emphasise its historic ties with the Holy Roman Church. There was also time for more surprises towards the end when parish volunteers, headed by the now retired Benefactor Carabinieri Marshal Antonino Guerrisi, unexpectedly presented the Vice Delegate and the contingent of knights who had attended the event with a commemorative plaque in acknowledgment of their significant humanitarian help.

Next destination on the charity mission is Lamezia Terme (CZ).

(more…)

November 22, 2015
SOLIDARITY WEEK – “THE HUNGER OF OUR NEIGHBOUR”

Giffone, 21 November 2015. Charitable program “Solidarity Week – The Hunger of our Neighbour”, launched by the Delegation of Calabria in aid of low-income individuals facing economic distress in the region, saw its debut in the pleasant village of Giffone, a small community in the province of Reggio Calabria, nestled between the Massif of the Aspromonte and the Calabrian Serre. The project was made possible by a significant donation of basic food staples from Esselunga S.p.A., one the major Italian retailers in the supply chain business and was the brainchild of our Grand Prefect, HE The Ambassador Augusto Ruffo di Calabria dei Principi di Scilla whose great sensitivity towards what happens to be the poorest region in Italy gave the project huge momentum. Shortly after the food consignment had been delivered by parish volunteers, the highly symbolic act of donation was further highlighted by celebrating Holy Mass in the ‘Chiesa di Santa Maria del Soccorso’, which turned out to be full to capacity for the occasion. Attending the ceremony were the Vice Delegate, Aurelio Badolati, Commander of Merit with Star, the Knights of Merit Rocco Gatto, Pasqualino Garrisi and the leader of the Benefactors of the Delegation, Roberto Bendini, along with top state and military officials. The religious service, which was concelebrated by Don Elia Longo and the rector of the church, Don Salvatore Tucci, saw the parish priest acknowledge his debt of gratitude to the Order for their help. At one point during his speech, the prelate turned to the 18^th century wooden effigy of the ‘Madonna del Soccorso’ to address the following words: “the Virgin Mary has come to the rescue of the many parishioners currently experiencing great trials by having us blessed with this remarkably generous donation.”

Next up on our charity tour is San Ferdinando (RC).

(more…)

November 21, 2015
VIRGO FIDELIS CEREMONY AT MASSA

Massa Carrara, 21 November 2015. On Saturday 21, Mons. Giulio Rossi presided over the liturgical celebrations of the ‘Virgo Fidelis’ (The Faithful Virgin), protector of the Corps of Carabinieri. The ceremony, held in the Cathedral of Massa, was attended by the Delegation of Tuscany of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George upon the invitation of the Provincial Corps Commander. Subsequent to the ceremonial event, a brief speech was given by the Commander for the Massa and Carrara region, Colonel Giovanni Semeraro, who had previously expressed his thanks to all the high dignitaries in attendance. Special thanks was also due to participants who had been directly involved in the event, among whom were the knights of the Delegation of Tuscany of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George.

(more…)

November 21, 2015
Celebrations for the Virgo Fidelis and National Orphan Day

Genoa, 21 November 2015. A religious service marking National Orphan Day and the Virgo Fidelis celebrations in honour of the Faithful Virgin, Protector of the Corps of Carabinieri, was held in the extremely ancient church of Pieve, predating the 11^th century and dedicated to “Nostra Signora dell’Assunta di Prà” (Our Lady of the Assumption). The Delegation of Liguria of the Constantinian Order was also invited to the ceremony. In attendance were Captain Massimo Pittalunga, Brigade Commander of the Arenzano Brigade, who hosted the event, numerous knights and dignitaries of the Order, along with a large contingent of mayors from nearby municipalities situated in the eastern districts of the Genoa region, where the Delegation is actively engaged in delivering humanitarian assistance to areas heavily affected by the current post-industrial economic crisis.

(more…)

November 21, 2015