Delegation of Sicily

Enna, Palermo and Catania, 19 March 2017 –This year as in the past, the feast of St. Joseph was the perfect occasion for the community of Barrafranca (EN) to renew an ancient and heartfelt tradition: “the solidarity meal”.
Food with an extended shelf life is collected and assembled in the premises of the Confraternity of the Most Holy Cross of the mother church and is distributed to the needy families of the city. This year, as part of the project Crumbs of health, the Knights of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George donated food and essential goods for the needy.
On the same day the Vice Delegate, together with H.R.E. Mons. Pennisi, and several Knights and Dames, served a meal to the guests of the Hospice of Monreale, aided by the President of the Opera Pia, Dott. Viola. At the same time, in Catania a group of Knights, Dames and Volunteers of the Order, coordinated by Don Giuseppe Scrivano, Knight of Ecclesiastical Grace and Constantinian Chaplain, took part in the “Day of solidarity, altruism and Christian communion” organized in the Parish of St Francis of Paola. A generous solidarity meal was organized here for more than 200 needy people. Volunteers and fellow diners together enjoyed the delicious dishes, including the traditional “maccu”, in a festive and harmonious atmosphere.

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Palermo, 14 March – On the 150th anniversary of the Founding of Boccone del Povero (morsel for the poor) instituted by the Blessed Giacomo Cusmano, the Knights and Dames of the Sicily Delegation, led by the Vice Delegate, celebrated the event by preparing and serving a meal to approximately 40 inhabitants of the facility.
At the conclusion of the meal they celebrated Sister Calà for her 60 years of religious service. 

On the following day, Mr. Antonio di Janni, together with Knights Vassallo, Ragusa and Giarrusso, assisted by volunteers, distributed products for 50 children of needy families, aged zero to three years. The items included 75 liters of milk, about 45 packages of diapers, cookies, 80 containers of homogenized food, 70 kilos of pasta and more.

On that same day, the Vice Delegate, together with His Most Reverent Eminence Mons. Michele Pennisi, Archbishop of Monreale and Prior of the Delegation, conferred the silver medal upon Carabiniere Lieutenant Francesco Vivona, commander of the Carabinieri Operations Center of Monreale. This award was conferred for activities performed by the Lieutenant in favor of the less fortunate.

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Monreale –  On Saturday, March 4, 2017, the investiture ceremony for the new knights and dames of our Order took place in the Cathedral of Monreale.

The Solemn Pontifical was officiated by the Grand Prior of the Order, His Most Reverend Eminence Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, Proto-Deacon of the Holy Roman Church, concelebrated by the Prior for Sicily, His Most Reverend Excellency Mons. Michele Pennisi, Archbishop of Monreale, and by the Eparch of the Diocese of Piana degli Albanesi, His Most Rev. Excellency Mons. Giorgio Demetrio Gallaro.

The ceremony took place in the presence of H.R.H. Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Grand Prefect, and numerous dignitaries of the Order, including the Delegate for Sicily, Don Lucio Bonaccorsi of the Princes of Reburdone, the Vice Delegate for Sicily, Nob. Antonio di Jani, the Vice Delegate for Tuscany, Edoardo Puccetti, the Vice Delegate for Calabria, Aurelio Badolati. Also present were numerous civilian and military authorities, including the Mayors of Monreale and Barrafranca (EN) and the General of the Carabinieri Legion, Riccardo Galletta.

During the ceremony Cardinal Martino emphasized the need for the Constantinian knights to be the living symbols of the Christian Cross.  According to His Eminence, Lent should be considered as a period of reflection and rediscovery of the true Christian spirit, a spirit  to be transformed into tangible actions for the benefit of our neighbors,  this being the special prerogative of the knights of our sacred order.

At the conclusion of the ceremony all present went to the Gala Luncheon held in the Hotel San Paolo Palace of Palermo. During the meal the Mayor of Barrafranca, Fabio Accardi, presented to Princess Beatrice, Grand Prefect, the deliberation of the Municipal Council to dedicate a street to the Blessed Maria Cristina of Bourbon, Queen of the Two Sicilies.  At the end of the evening, the Grand Prefect, on behalf of the Grand Master Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro,  appointed the Vice Delegate for Sicily Antonio di Janni, Knight of Grand Cross of the Royal Order Francis I, rewarding him for his continuous and generous commitment to the needy through the project “Crumbs of Health” and other deserving social, religious and cultural initiatives carried out throughout Sicily.

On the day prior H.R.H. had met with His Most Reverend Eminence Msgr Michele Pennisi, Archbishop of Monreale, to donate a lifesaving electro medical defibrillator for the Cathedral.

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Palermo, Dott. Antonio di Janni, Knight Grand Cross of Grace and Vice Delegate for Sicily, reactivated an earlier project that had been implemented almost seven years ago: using sports to help young people love life and stay away from alcohol and drugs.

For this reason the vice delegate took up a small collection among his Knights to buy and donate to a gym on the outskirts of Palermo 20 white Judogi for young athletes who will soon be taking part in martial arts competitions.

This is a gesture of affection for the youngsters who will be participating, in addition to an encouragement to take part in sports activities. The athletes who participate in these competitions will be wearing a kimono bearing the Constantinian symbols.

On Saturday, February 11, the Vice Delegate of the Sicilian Delegation, Dott. Antonio di Janni, together with Knights Matteo Bertino and Giuseppe Balsamo, was received by the Bishop of Piazza Armerina, H.M.R.E.  Mons. Rosario Gisana,  Knight Commander of Ecclesiastical Grace. During the meeting they drafted a program for the monthly project “Crumbs of Health” in the diocese and scheduled meetings with the senior citizens living in the Hospice “Boccone del povero”. They also planned an additional humanitarian activity to provide medical instruments to the clinic for the needy set up by the Diocese in Enna.

At the conclusion of the meeting the Vice Delegate gave the Bishop a letter from His Most Rev. Eminence Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, Grand Prior of the Constantinian Order. The letter accompanies and introduces the Pontifical Decree for Plenary Indulgence granted to the Constantinian Knights and Dames by His Holiness Pope Francis during the Order’s Jubilee celebrated in St. Peter’s Basilica in May 2016.

As part of the “Crumbs of Health” project items for infants were distributed that afternoon in the Church of S. Stefano in Piazza Armerina. The items included diapers, pastina, cookies, milk, homogenized food and more.

This wonderful initiative was then repeated in Acireale where the Vice Delegate, after meeting with H.E. Mons. Antonino Raspanti, Bishop of Acireale, organized a delivery of food supplies for  the project “Crumbs of Health”.

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