On May 4th, the French delegation organized a guided tour of the Elysée for the benefit of the young people of the parish of the Risen Christ of Bondy, with whom she had engaged in particular organizing outdoor outings. About thirty young people were able to discover the rooms on the ground floor and the history of the building, its occupants but also its architectural evolution and the changes over the centuries of its arrangement, its decorations and its furnishings. They were led by the parish priest Father Patrice Gaudin and the France’s Vice Delegate Charles-Hubert Olivier.
The visit ended with the traditional group photo on the porch. At the end of this visit, Father Gaudin and the boys warmly thanked the delegation for this new activity organized in their favor.
France: Holy Mass of February 13 in Paris in the presence of H.R.H. the Duke of Castro
On February 13, 2023, the French Delegation gathered at its headquarters at the Saint Roch Church in Paris in the presence of the Grand Master of the Order, H.R.H. Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, and His Excellency Mons Luc Ravel, Archbishop of Strasbourg and Prior of the delegation. The Vice Delegate Charles-Hubert Olivier was able to present the achievements of the past year, in particular the excellent results of the “Saint-Georges” scholarship and the support of the parish of Bondy. The Vice Delegate, surrounded by the other members of the delegation, has set the objectives and the course for the year 2023. The mass that followed, presided over by His Excellency Monsignor Ravel, in the presence of Mons. Thierry Laurent, Chaplain of the delegation and parish priest of Saint Roch church and Father Yves Genouville, parish priest of Saint-Symphorien in Versailles and Ecclesiastical Knight of our Order, brought together many Knights and their guests. A cocktail followed and it allowed, as usual, to meet in a particularly pleasant and fraternal atmosphere around the Grand Master of the Order.
AWARD CEREMONY FOR SCHOLARSHIPS IN PARIS, IN THE PRESENCE OF H.R.H. THE GRAND MASTER
On 23 November 2022, the traditional delivery of the St. George’s Scholarships, one of the Order’s various charitable activities in France, took place. The initiative aims at helping students from needy families for preparatory courses of Grandes Ecoles at Sainte Marie Institute in Antony, in the suburbs of Paris.
This year, His Royal Highness Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Grand Master of the Order, accompanied by his daughters T.R.H. Princesses Maria Carolina, Duchess of Calabria and Palermo, and Maria Chiara, Duchess of Noto and Capri, in the presence of the Director of the preparatory courses, Brother Guillaume Gervet, His Excellency Monsignor Luc Ravel, Prior of the French Delegation, the Vice Delegate, Maître Charles-Hubert Olivier, and several members of the Delegation, including Reverend Abbot Genouville, delivered four scholarships amounting to almost 22,000 euro, collected thanks to the generosity of the Order’s members in France.
At the ceremony, former students who received their first scholarships were present. They were able to join prestigious engineering schools after the admission test and for this reason expressed their gratitude to the Order.
A tour in the school and a friendly aperitif were also organised, allowing participants to talk in a convivial atmosphere.
FRANCE: RECENT ACTIVITIES OF THE DELEGATION
FRANCE: ACTIVITIES FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH
On March 23rd, a dozen Dames and Knights of the French delegation had the opportunity to meet Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies and His Excellency Msgr Ravel, on the occasion of the drink organized at the Saint-Roch church, kindly made available by the chaplain, Msgr Thierry Laurent.
The atmosphere was very fraternal; and the Italian buffet was delicious.
Those who were able to stay until the end attended the concert organized by the delegation.
Since it was a charity concert, all donations raised during this event went to the Saint-Georges Scholarship programme, which supports students belonging to low-income families.
Every first Friday of each month, as well as every Friday of Lent, the Knights and Dames of the French delegation keep a thorn from the Holy Crown in the Church of Saint Roch.
The Holy Crown was purchased and returned by Saint Louis. It is for the Holy Crown that the Holy Chapel was built. Today the Sacra Corona is located in Notre Dame of Paris.