Delegation of Sicily

On June 10 the ceremony of investiture welcoming the new Knights and Dames of the Constantinian Order took place in the Cathedral of Maria Santissima Annunziata in Acireale.

The ceremony was officiated by H.M.R. Mons. Antonino Raspanti, Bishop of Acireale, at the request of His Eminence the Cardinal Grand Prior.

The Vice Delegate first thanked Mons. Raspanti and then read the letter sent by H.R.H. Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, Head of the Royal House and Grand Master, congratulating Mons. Raspanti for his recent appointment as President of the C.E.I. (the Italian Episcopal Conference) for Southern Italy. Nob. Dott.  Antonio di Janni then spoke of the many and varied charitable activities that are carried out throughout the island, concluding with what is now the motto of the Sicilian Knights “To be Rather to Seem”, meaning that a Knight must become personally involved in the numerous benevolent activities and must always fight for the Catholic faith.

At the conclusion of the religious ceremony the knights paid homage to the statue of the Blessed Pius IX, founder of the Diocese of Acireale, before proceeding to the shelter of Madonna della Tenda di Cristo where they brought their monthly donation of food for the residents.  The facility welcomes and cares for single mothers and their children.

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IDuring the month of May the most representative project of the Sicily Delegation added the city of Agrigento to the already long list of dioceses they assist.

On May 22, the Vice Delegate, Dott. Antonio Janni, and Cav. Dott. Alfonso Lo Zito brought products for infants to the Caritas of the Archdiocese of Agrigento. As agreed with the Diocese Cav. Lo Zito will provide items for the children of the area on a monthly basis.

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A conference on Chivalrous Orders was held in Palazzo Fatta in Palermo, organized jointly by the Rotary Club of Palermo South and the Rotary Club of Palermo Monreale. Present for the conference were the delegate of the Order of Malta for Sicily West, Baron Vincenzo Calefati, the Chancellor of the Lieutenancy of the Holy Sepulcher, Domenico Pantaleone and the Vice Delegate of the Constantinian order.

Following remarks on the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher and the Order of Malta, Dott. Janni spoke of the origins of the Constantinian Order up to its current regency held by H.R.H. Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro and Head of the Royal House. He then described the many humanitarian activities carried out by the Constantinian Order in Sicily and  in other parts of the world, citing among others the Constantinian Hospital in Uganda and the aid provided to the mission of the Archdiocese of Monreale in Tanzania. Regarding the delegation’s work in Sicily he spoke of the ambitious project Crumbs of Health intended to assist the children of needy families in Sicily  by providing products for children aged 0 to three years.

The project was established in 2014 in Monreale under the leadership of the Prior of Sicily, H.E. the Most Reverend Mons. Michele Pennisi, Archbishop of Monreale, and was later extended to also include the Dioceses of Piazza Armerina, Piana degli Albanese, Acireale, Patti, Messina, Palermo, Trapani, Mazara del Vallo and Catania.

Finally, the Vice Delegate spoke of the recognition of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George by Italy, France and Hungary and the granting of a special plenary indulgence by Pope Francis last May. He also pointed out that the current Grand Prior holds his post thanks to the direct support of the  Secretariat of State of His Holiness.

One of the many engagements of the Grand Prefect, H.R.H. Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies, during her recent trip to Sicily consisted in a visit to the city of Barrafranca (EN) to participate in a ceremony to name a street in honor of the Blessed Maria Cristina, Queen of the Two Sicilies.

In her comments H.R.H. the Grand Prefect emphasized the warm bond  that exists between her family and Sicily and spoke of the many efforts by the Knights and Dames of the Order to bring some comfort to the needy families of the region.

The ceremony concluded with the unveiling of a plaque and the solemn benediction of the  portrait of the Blessed Cristina, Queen of the Two Sicilies, by Maestro Roberto Caputo. At the conclusion of the ceremony Princess Beatrice decorated the  standard of the city with the Gold Medal of the Constantinian Order.

H.R.H. The Grand Prefect (EN)

The Sicily Delegation carried out numerous activities during the month of May.

On Sunday, May 7, a mass was celebrated  in the church of St. Basilio in Palermo to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the apparition of the Madonna of Fatima to the three young shepherds. The mass was also dedicated to the memory of victims of all wars, terrorist acts and the mafia. The Constantinian delegation was led by the Vice Delegate.

On the following day they donated a wheelchair for the elderly hospitalized in the Balsamo Hospice of the Archdiocese of Monreale. The  Delegation has developed a very rewarding relationship with the hospice and the knights and dames often visit the  facility to bring comfort to the residents.

The project Crumbs of Health, a unique undertaking of the Sicily delegation, provided food for children ages 0 to three years who live in the town of Borgetto, province of Palermo, archdiocese of Monreale. This was made possible thanks to volunteers of the Sicilian non-profit organization Constantinian Cross. The items were delivered to Don Sergio Albano, priest of the church of St. Anthony. Many of the products were collected in a supermarket of the area by Constantinian volunteers. The project Crumbs of Health reaches out to various cities in Sicily and is a highly prized endeavor of the Sicilian delegation.

On the 11th the Vice Delegate brought to the head of the Caritas organization in the Diocese of Piana degli Albanesi, Papas Alberto Stassi, products and equipment for children aged 0 to 3 years from the needy families of the Diocese.

Two additional donations of food items were also brought to the soup kitchen of the church of St. Mamiliano. The Sicilian delegation donated more than 20 kg of fish for each delivery and was warmly thanked by the volunteers of the center for their valuable and continuous support.

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