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.
