Delegation of Sicily

On Sunday, May 7, on the occasion of the liturgical feast of the S.S. Crucifix, a solemn liturgy was held at the Constantinian Cathedral of the Mansion, presided over by the Diocesan Vicar of the Second Vicariate the Reverend Father Adriano Titone and concelebrated by the Reverend Mons. Salvatore Grimaldi, Commander of Ecclesiastical Grace and Pastor of the Basilica.
A group of Constantinian Knights led by the Vice Delegate Noble Knight of Grace Antonio di Janni, including the Chancellor of the delegation Knight Officer Lawyer Claudio Ragusa, Nobile Knight of Grace Prof. Manlio Corselli, Comm. Dr. Vincenzo Nuccio, Comm. Dr. Rino Como and Dame Carmela Munda Corselli was present at the liturgy. Prof. Giovanni Messina was also present.

On May 10th, Vice Delegate Antonio di Janni and Noble Manlio Corselli were received by the Commander of the Legion of Carabinieri of Sicily, General of Division Rosario Castello. After a cordial conversation, the Vice Delegate handed over to General Castello the Commandery of Merit granted by H.R.H. the Castro of the Royal House.

On saturday 29th of April, in the city of Trapani, a group of Knights of the Sicily delegation composed by Dame Giacoma La Rosa and Maria Antonia Spagnolo and by Knights Antonino Patti, Maurizio Di Stefano and Baldassare Cacioppo, participated in the Holy Mass in honor of Saint Catherine of Siena, Patroness of the Volunteer Nursing Corps of the Italian Red Cross, at the invitation of the Territorial Inspector of Trapani, Sister Mirella Orlando.

The usual donations of the month of May in Carini, Monreale and Castelvetrano have been held regularly.

Donations related to the project “Briciole di Salute” took place in Nicosia, San Martino delle Scale, Monreale (the latter in particular in the presence of H.R.H. the Grand Prefect), Cefalù and Palermo.

The Knights of the Sicilian delegation went to the Constantinian Cathedral of the Mansion to celebrate the Mass in Coena Domini, like every Holy Thursday.

The Noble Knights Antonio di Janni, Gaperino Como and Umberto Mendola gathered, on the occasion of the liturgical feast of Good Friday, to celebrate the passion of Our Lord at the Constantinian Cathedral of the Mansion, headed by the Constantinian Chaplain Mons. Salvatore Grimaldi, Commander of Ecclesiastical Grace. They went to the ancient Church of the coachmen to participate in the procession, at the end of the religious function.

H.R.H. the Grand Prefect, accompanied by the Vice Delegate and the Chancellor of the delegation Claudio Ragusa, handed over to Mons. Gualtiero Isacchi, Archbishop of Monreale, the appointment as Knight Grand Cross of Ecclesiastical Grace, in the afternoon of April 18.

On 18 April, H.R.H. the Grand Prefect inaugurated the Center of Medicine and Social Assistance at the Constantinian Cathedral of the Mansion. The Parish Priest Mons. Salvatore di Grimaldi was there to welcome her. The ceremony was held in the presence of the Mayor of Palermo, Hon. Prof. Roberto la Galla and Councillor Hon. Dario Falzone. The doctors who will take care of the assistance of the needy of the territory who attended the ceremony were: Dr. Francesco d’Alba, Dr. Sardo, Dr. Ercole Pusateri, Dr. Antonio di Janni, Dr Liboria di Baudo.

H.R.H. the Grand Prefect was received by the Prefect of Palermo, Maria Teresa Cucinotta. After a cordial conversation during which the Princess illustrated the charitable activities carried out by the Order, she handed the diploma of Dame Commander of Merit to the Prefect.

Moreover, on 18 April, H.R.H. the Grand Prefect went to the Mission “Hope and Charity” to pray at the tomb of Brother Biagio Conte. The Princess was welcomed by Father Pino Vitrano, spiritual guide of the mission.
The Princess delivered a ton of pasta and a gas stove donated by the Sicilian delegation.

H.R.H. the Grand Prefect, honorary citizen of Monreale, met the Mayor of the Norman city Engineer Alberto Arcidiacono in the Constantinian church of Maria SS degli Agonizzanti before the distribution of the principals of the project “Briciole di Salute”. The Mayor reiterated the important role of charitable activities to help the needy families of the municipality by giving them early childhood facilities. Princess Beatrice donated to the Mayor a saucer with the coat of arms of the Royal House at the end of the meeting.

H.R.H. Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Grand Prefect, accompanied by the Vice Delegate of Sicily, Noble Antonio di Janni and by the Referent for the city of Noto Comm. Dr. Marcello Cantone, was received by the new Bishop of Noto Mons. Salvatore Rumeo.

On Sunday 19th of March, Monsignor Salvatore Rumeo, having received the day before the consecration as Bishop of the Diocese, celebrated, as Pastor of the Netina Diocese, his first Holy Mass with a solemn Pontifical in the cathedral of Noto. H.R.H. Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies, H.R.H. Princess Anne of Bourbon Two Sicilies, accompanied by Vice Delegate Nob. Dr. Antonio di Janni, Comm. Marcello Cantone, Constantinian Referent for Noto and Nicosia, Comm. Antonio Amato, Referent for Catania and province, Knight Leonardo Mirandola, Referent for Syracuse and a large number of Knights attended the ceremony.

The usual donations of the principals for children of needy families, from zero to three years, of the Project Briciole di Salute were held at various Sicilian towns including Noto, Patti, Carini and S. Martino delle Scale.

On Friday 24th of March, Noble Antonio di Janni and Dame Carmela Di Paola, Referent of the delegation of Cefalù, were received by Mons. Giuseppe Marciante, Bishop of the norman city. During the cordial meeting, the Vice Delegate explained to the Bishop the Project Briciole di Salute that helps children from zero to three years old of needy families. He also asked Mgr. Marciante to be the spiritual guide of the Constantinian Order in his Diocese and to indicate where to carry out charitable activities.

On Thursday 28th of March Noble Antonio di Janni, Noble Manlio Corselli and Dame Carmela Munda have been invited by the Commander of Air Base 37 of the Stormo di Birgi (TP), Colonel Daniele Donati, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Aeronautical Arm. A delegation of the Italian Red Cross guided from the regional Inspector Sister Sally Lacagnina was present. She spoke with the Vice Delegate complimenting for the humanitarian activities carried out by the Sicilian delegation.

The Vice Delegate Noble Antonio di Janni gave to Mons. Gualtiero Isacchi, Archbishop of Monreale, the appointment of Knight Grand Cross of Ecclesiastical Grace on Palm Sunday, immediately after the Solemn Pontifical. The Archbishop accepted with pleasure the appointment and agreed to lead the delegation, within his own Archdiocese, for the works of assistance and charity that the Order has been carrying out for several years.

The ceremony of Palm Sunday was held on 2 April in the Majestic Cathedral of Monreale. The liturgical celebration, presided by Mons. Gualtiero Isacchi, Archbishop of Monreale, began in the churchyard of the Church of San Giuseppe, where the prelate blessed the palms and the olive branches of the many faithful present. Mgr. Isacchi, immediately after the blessing, together with the diocesan Clergy, the Constantinian Knights and the people of God paraded in procession, imitating the entry of Jesus into the City of Jerusalem, through the streets of Monreale leading to the Cathedral. In addition to the Vice Delegate, Knights Vincenzo Nuccio, Manlio Corselli, Antonino Patti, Alberto Marino, Fabio Marino, Gregory Dendramis, Giovanni Impastato, Giovanni Falcone, Rosario Palermo, Giulio Pillitteri, Maurizio Di Stefano as well as Dames Mariella Lo Castro, Carmela Munda and Maria Antonia Spagnolo also took part in the ceremony.

Our Order began its Lenten journey, together with the monks and the parish community of San Martino delle Scale, with the Eucharistic celebration of Holy Ashes, presided over by the Abbot Father Vittorio Rizzone. A group of Knights and Dames of the delegation of Sicily attended the ceremony, the Noble Vice Delegate Antonio di Janni, the Noble Knight Manlio Corselli, Mr. Vincenzo Nuccio, Knight Claudio Ragusa, Knights Giulio Pillitteri, Maurizio Di Stefano and the Dames Carmela Munda and Patrizia Biagi.

On Saturday 25th February, a concert was held for piano, violins and guitar for the XVII concert season of the delegation of Sicily at the hall S. Cecilia in the Cathedral of the Mansion. The artistic Director is Master Alberto Giacchino. Tracks by Grieg, Carulli and Beethoven were masterfully interpreted by the students of the music conservatory of Palermo. Once finished, the young artists were given the acknowledgement diplomas of the delegation Sicily by the Vice Delegate.

On Wednesday 8th February, the usual donation of childcare facilities for children from zero to three years of needy families was held in the rooms adjacent to the Church Maria SS degli Agonizzanti in Monreale. The Vice Delegate and the volunteers Sonia Lo Monaco and Marco Solaro have distributed principals and clothing for the children of the family Briciole di Salute.