Delegation of Sicily

On February 5th, the Vice Delegate of Sicily, accompanied by Mr. Giulio Pillitteri, donated to the Archpriest of Carini, Father Giacomo Sgroi, several products that are part of the project “Briciole di Salute” at the Main Church in Carini.

As part of the synergistic collaboration between the Sicilian Delegation and the “Crocerossine d’Italia Onlus” Association, thanks to the availability of Dr. Muratore’s “Ponte Oreto” pharmacy, some doctors of the Order voluntarily collaborated for the local vaccination campaign.
The members of the Association “Crocerossine d’Italia Onlus” have been in charge of guaranteeing the correct access procedures to the Pharmacy facilities. In addition to Dr Di Janni, Dr. Amalia Guccione, Dr. Andrea Muratore, Prof. Anna Di Marzo and Dr. Pietro Muratore also collaborated.

On February 9th, the usual donation of the products of the “Briciole di Salute” project took place in Monreale.

A day dedicated to health solidarity took place on Saturday, February 12th at the Mother Church of Carini.
Internal medicine and diabetology visits were made, guaranteed by Prof. Ercole Pusateri. The medical prevention sessions planned in Carini were strongly requested by Archpriest Father Giacomo Sgroi, assisted by Mr. Julio Pillitteri. The head of the Palermo section, Professor Anna Di Marco, and the Vice Delegate for Sicily, Nob Dr Antonio di Janni attended.

From Monday, February 7 to Friday, February 11, Italian Red Cross volunteers held the 170th International Humanitarian Law course for international operators at Villa Cerami.
The event was possible thanks to the memorandum of understanding that had been signed on December 05, 2018 between the director of the Italian Red Cross, Mr. Francesco Rocca and the Grand Master, H.R.H. the Head of the Royal House.

On Saturday, February 19th, the Vice Delegate for Sicily, Nob. Dr. Antonio di Janni, went to the Benedictine Abbey of S. Martino delle Scale for the usual donation of products for children from zero to three years old. Dom Bernardo and Don Giuseppe received him at the time of delivery.

On February 23rd, the second donation of products, carried out by the Sicilian Delegation, took place at the Maria SS degli Agonizzanti church in Monreale.

On February 28th, H.R.H. Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies, accompanied by Mr. Marcello Cantone, Representative for the city of Noto, delivered numerous products at the Saint Corrado canteen, located in Noto.

On February 27th, a solemn ceremony took place at the Saint Benedetto church in Catania. After the Holy Mass, Father Corrado Pantò blessed the painting made by the artist Carmen Arena, and donated by H.R.H. Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Grand Prefect, to the Benedictine nuns. Mr. Antonino Amato, Representative for the city of Catania, Mr. Cosimo Costa, Massimo Putrino, Giuseppe Longo, Sergio D’Urso, Tony Zarrillo, Giuseppe Di Gregorio as well as many civil and military authorities were present.

On Wednesday, January 5th, the Vice Delegate for Sicily, accompanied by Mrs Lia Giangreco, delivered some typical Italian sweets donated by HRH Princess Maria Carolina, Duchess of Calabria and Palermo on the occasion of the Epiphany at the association “La Casa del Sorriso” in Monreale. The Vice Delegate also donated diapers and notebooks for children.

On Thursday January 6th, the Sicilian delegation, on the occasion of the Solemnity of the Epiphany, participated in the religious function presided by the parish priest Don Giuseppe Di Giovanni at the church Madonna della Pietà. Immediately after Holy Mass, the delegation distributed hundreds of assorted sweets to the children who attended the liturgy.

On January 11st, H.R.H. Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Grand Prefect, accompanied by the Vice Delegate of Sicily, by Commander Marcello Cantone, and by Mrs. Giovanna Galli, has donated several food products for S. Corrado canteen in Noto.

On Wednesday, January 12th, the Sicilian delegation held the first monthly distribution of products for needy children at Maria SS degli Agonizanti church in Monreale.

On Friday, December 3rd, in Borgetto, the Vice Delegate Noble Dr Di Gianni, Knight Giovanni Impastato and Father Antonio Ortoleva, Constantinian Ecclesiastic Knight and Chancellor of the Archdiocese of Monreale, donated to the Mother Church of Santa Maria Maddalena, run by Father Gioacchino Capizzi, parish administrator and chaplain of the Ingrassia Hospital in Palermo, various devices of the “Briciole di Salute” Project. In this way, a new collaboration has been set up with another parish in the Archdiocese of Monreale.

On the liturgical feast of the Immaculate Conception, the Solemn Celebration of the Immaculate Conception took place in the Cathedral of Monreale, presided over by His Excellency Monsignor Michele Pennisi, Archbishop of Monreale and Prior of Sicily, which was attended, in addition to the Mayor and the Commander of the Carabinieri Corps, by a representation of Knights led by the Vice Delegate Noble Antonio di Janni.

On Saturday, December 11th, the representative for the city of Noto, Commander Marcello Cantone, donated, on behalf of the Sicilian delegation, several devices for the S. Corrado Canteen. The representative was welcomed by Sister Teresa of the Little Friars and Little Nuns of Jesus and Mary, a monastic order founded by Father Volantino. The S. Corrado Canteen, which is run by the brothers and sisters of the same order, helps the needy by delivering food for their daily needs.

Among the many solidarity initiatives organised by the Anffas onlus Association of Marsala, committed to improving the quality of life of people with intellectual disabilities and neurodevelopmental disorders and their families, in this very difficult year due to the health emergency caused by Covid-19, a pleasant moment of encounter for the traditional exchange of greetings for a happy Christmas and a peaceful New Year could not be missing. In a joyful Christmas spirit, on Sunday 12 December 2021, a solidarity meeting was held in the Salesian Oratory in Marsala, attended by the Knights Camillo Carpinteri, Antonino Patti and Nicola Goffredo Saladino of the Sicilian delegation, who were sensitive to the project “donarsi al fratello” that the Association has set itself for 2021. President Dr Anna Maria Casano thanked the board, the civil service volunteers, the Order’s delegation for the gifts offered and all those who, with affection and solidarity, have supported the disabled people the Association cares for.

On Monday, December 13th, the Vice Delegate of Sicily, accompanied by Knight Giovanni Impastato, was received by His Excellency Archbishop Michele Pennisi.  On this occasion, the Vice Delegate gave the Archbishop a pewter statue of St. Michael for his birthday and also delivered, on the part of Prof. Tommaso Romano, who edited the re-edition, the book by Attilio Mordini “L’Ordine Costantiniano di S. Giorgio-la Regola di S. Basilio” with the dedication to H.R.H. Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro and Head of the Royal House, published by the Thule Cultura Foundation.

On December 14th, the M.A.S.C.I. (Movimento Adulti Scout Cattolici Italiani) scout centre in the “Don Cannizzo Enna 1” community in Enna made a donation of toys, educational material and complete clothing for children aged 0 to 3 for needy families, as part of the “Briciole di Salute” project.
On behalf of the delegation, Knight Matteo Bertino (Provincial Representative), Knight Alessandro Balsamo, Knight Claudio Fazzi and Knight Elio Virone participated.
On behalf of M.A.S.C.I, the Magister Mario DI PRIMA, Angelo LI MONGI e Paolo FULCO attended as well.

The collaboration with the municipality of Monreale on aid for the needy is continuing. On Saturday, December 18th, the Vice Delegate of Sicily delivered to the town councillor, Luigi D’Eliseo, 70 pandori (Italian typical Christmas cakes), donated by H.R.H. Princess Maria Carolina of Bourbon Two Sicilies, which will be distributed to the children of the Monreale hamlet of Pioppo, together with other items donated by the Monreale town hall.

On Tuesday, December 14th, in the afternoon, as part of the initiative  “Constantinian Medical Days”, conceived and promoted by Noble Antonio di Janni, Vice Delegate of Sicily, oncological prevention of the oral cavity was carried out by Dr Francesco D’Alba, dentist, with the collaboration of the members of the Associazione “Crocerossine d’Italia Onlus”, whose president is Countess Mila Brachetti Peretti, represented by the responsible for the territory, Anna di Marzo. The initiative took place at the Church Santa Maria della Pietà in the Kalsa district of Palermo, Father Giuseppe Di Giovanni. On Wednesday December 15th, orthopaedic examinations were carried out by Dr Pietro Palazzolo, head of the orthopaedic department of the Igea clinic in Partinico, assisted by the members of the “Associazione Crocerossine d’Italia Onlus” of Palermo. More than 20 visits were made to citizens in difficult economic situations. The access to the clinic was allowed in accordance with the rules of the anti-covid 19 procedures. After dental and orthopaedic examinations on Tuesday and Wednesday, cardiology and diabetology examinations followed, with blood pressure checks and electrocardiograms. On Thursday 16th, Dr Ketty Sardo, cardiologist, examined 32 patients. On Friday 17th, Dr Ercole Pusateri, internist and diabetologist, visited several diabetic patients. Our thanks go to the volunteers Anna Di Marzo, Virginia Lo Bianco, Flavia Prestana, Domenica Airò Farulla, Mariella Spagnolo, Stefania Di Lorenzo, Rosaria Lotà, Maria Rosaria Ales, Giovanna Ales, Marina Pedalà and Cettina Rubino.

On Wednesday, December 22nd, the distribution of early childhood items from the “Briciole di Salute” project was held in a place devoted for the occasion in the Constantinian church Maria SS degli Agonizzanti in Monreale.

On Thursday, December 23rd, the distribution of early childhood items of the Constantinian project “Briciole di Salute” was held in Mazara del Vallo, at the Parish St. Gemma Galgani. The Vice Delegate Knight of Grace Noble Antonio Di Janni and Knight Nino Centonze delivered baby food according to the request of the parish Caritas, and in particular baby food, nappies of various sizes and baby food.

On December 19th, after the Eucharist celebration at 6 pm at the Parish SS Alfio, Cirino and Filadelfio in Sant’Alfio (CT), the solidarity draw organised by Knight Tony Zarrillo took place, the proceeds from the sale of tickets being used to purchase basic necessities to be donated to the Franciscan Sisters of Roccalumera (ME). A basket of sweets and personal care products was kindly donated by sympathisers of the Constantinian Order, for whose gesture we thank Federico Corda, Giuseppe Miano and Stefano Papa. At the end of the evening, Archpriest Father Giovanni Salvia, our chaplain, thanked and praised the Sacred Militia for its charitable activities in favour of the disadvantaged, including the ‘Briciole di Salute’ project.

On Sunday December 19th, the parish priest, Monsignor Salvatore Grimaldi celebrated a Holy Mass in preparation for Holy Christmas at the Constantinian Basilica Magione. Numerous Knights and Dames from various parts of Sicily were present. Salvatore Notarianni presented the knights with a mask bearing the insignia of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George. Before the blessing, the Vice Delegate of Sicily thanked Dr. Ketti Sardo, cardiologist, with a diploma from the delegation for the voluntary cardiological examinations during the week of medical prevention held at the Church Maria SS della Pietà in Kalsa.

On Wednesday 10 November, the traditional fortnightly distribution of early childhood items for the “Briciole di salute” project was held in Monreale. Next to the Church Maria SS degli Agonizzanti, the volunteers Daniela Prestigiacomo and Sonia Lo Monaco, assisted by the volunteer Mimmo Milazzo, donated nappies, baby food, pasta, biscuits, milk and various clothes to some needy families.

On 15 November, the “Briciole di salute” project took place at the “Sacra Famiglia” Diocesan Home in Patti. There, Knights Tony Zarrillo and Antonino Smiroldo were welcomed by Sister Rita and Sister Shiny, members of the Franciscan Sisters of the Third Order Regular of St Francis, who received food for breakfast and other groceries to be donated to needy families. This event was organised by the High Patronage of the Bishop of Patti, His Excellency Most Reverend Monsignor Guglielmo Giombanco, who has decided to make the premises of the Sacra Famiglia available to the patients’ families of the local hospital, who were unable to stay at accommodation facilities in the district due to economic reasons. In addition, he has invited Noble Antonio di Janni, Vice Delegate for Sicily, to contribute to the breakfasts.

On Sunday 14 November, the first concert for the 16th concert season was held at the Church Maria SS degli Agonizzanti in Monreale. Alessia Martorana, Anna Alaimo, Cristina Cangelosi and Eva Benfratelli performed on the piano, playing 19th century classical music by composers such as Beethoven and Chopin. Before the start, the artistic director Maestro Alberto Giacchino, a Constantinian Knight, thanked the Delegation of Sicily for being close to the young musicians and giving them the opportunity to express their talent. At the end of the concert, the Vice Delegate congratulated Professor Marzia Manno, the teacher of the three pianists, and thanked the Delegation with a diploma for having performed at the concert.

On Thursday 18 November, the Vice Delegate for Sicily donated to the Caritas of the Abbey St. Martino delle Scale some items of the “Briciole di Salute” project for children from zero to three years old, assisted by the Benedictine community. The delivery was made to the head of Caritas, Father Bernardo. Afterwards, the Vice Delegate met the Most Reverend Abbot Father Vittorio Rizzone.

On Wednesday 24 November, the second distribution of the early childhood items of the “Briciole di Salute” Project took place in Monreale, next to the Constantinian Church Maria SS degli Agonizzanti.

On Saturday 27 November, the Vice Delegate for Sicily donated 100 kg of pasta to the Caritas of the Constantinian Church Magione. The donation was received by the parish priest, Monsignor Salvatore Grimaldi, who had requested the amount of pasta in various formats, given the increasing demand.