Delegation of Tuscany

Avenza – Massa Carrara, March 18th, 2023. After the official visit of the Delegation of Tuscany, that took place on October 18th and 19th, 2022, on March 18th the Delegation hosted the Magnificent Rector of La Sapienza University in Goma, Professor Innocenzo Nyirindekwe, who was in Tuscany for institutional meetings. In collaboration with the school Zaccagni-Galilei, that kindly hosted us in one of its rooms, the Delegation organized a conference, with the title Studiare in tempo di guerra, helded by the Magnificent Rector Professor Innocenzo himself. At the end of the conference Father Modestus Ben Subwanone, Vice priest in Massa Carrara-Pontremoli diocese, explained the educational activity that he carried out in Goma the previous year with more than 3,000 young people.

Some Knights of the Delegation of Massa Carrara and Versilia participated in the conference, together with the Delegate of Tuscany Ranieri Gastone Adorni Braccesi. In addition to some students of the school also the school principal Professor Silvia Arrighi, the Professor Marta Castagna of the Inspection Corps of the Tuscany School Office (former I.I.S. Headmaster), the Vicar General of the diocese of Massa Carrara Father Marino Navalesi, the Director of the Missionary Office Gianni Lazzarotti, the Director of the Diocesan Communications Office Father Alessandro Biancalani and the Parish Priest of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Quercioli, Father Mario Amadi, participated in the conference. To follow, in the Church of Mary Most Holy Mediatrix, two speakers celebrated the Holy Mass in honour of the victims of the Democratic Republic of Congo and for peace in that area. The event finished with a joyful lunch.

CLICK HERE to read the press release on the donations that the Delegation of Tuscany did during the first trimester of 2023.

Livorno, January 27th, 2023 – A representation of the Tuscan delegation composed of Knight Grand Officer of Merit Ezio Papa, of Knight Grand Officer of Merit Andrea Checcucci and of Knight of Merit Federico Taccini, in the presence of the Coordinator of the Tuscan delegation, Knight Grand Officer of Merit Luciano Giannelli, took part in the “Festival of the Vow” in Livorno, as a tradition. The religious ceremony started with the prayer of the Holy Rosary before the image of the Virgin, placed on the front of a building situated in a square opposite the Cathedral. At the end of the ceremony, the firefighters paid tribute to the City by framing the image of Our Lady of Montenero with a wreath. Processionally, the believers, the Civil and Military Authorities, the Priests, the religious and lastly Bishop Simone Giusti, went to the Cathedral for the solemn Eucharistic Concelebration. The Cathedral was crowded with believers; many Lay and Voluntary Associations were present along with representations from the Order of Malta, the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem and the C.I.S.O.M.

Lucca, February 4th, 2023 – In the Holy Trinity Church, a representation of Knights and Dames from the delegation commemorated the Liturgical Memorial of Blessed Maria Cristina of Savoy, consort of King Ferdinand II of the Two Sicilies, tied to the Lucca territory as Mary Teresa’s sister, Duchess consort of Lucca.

The solemn Eucharistic Concelebration was presidied by the Prior of the Tuscan delegation H.E. Simone Giusti, Bishop of Livorno. The concelebrants were Vice Priors Father Donato Mollica and Father Rodolfo Rossi, Priests Father Cristian Domenico Comini and Father Emanuele Borserini.
The songs that accompained the solemn liturgy were performed by the city choir, directed by Knight of Merit Maestro Silvano Pieruccini. Like every year, by courtesy of Vice Prior Father Rodolfo Rossi, an “ex capillis” relic of the Blessed was displayed on the altar for veneration.

At the end of the Mass, Monsignor Giusti gave a catechesis form the cycle of Formative Lectures “The Mission and Spirituality of the Constantinian Order of St. George in the Contemporary Age.”
Dr. Roberta Baroli, President of the Lucca Association “Convegni di Cultura Maria Cristina di Savoia”, attended the ceremony.

Livorno, 11th February, 2023 – A representation of the delegation, formed by Kinght Grand Officer of Merit Luciano Giannelli, Coordinator of the Tuscan delegation, and by Kinght Grand Officer of Merit Andrea Terreni, took part in the Religious Ceremony for the XXXI Day of the Sick in St. Joseph’s Church inside the Livorno Hospital.
H.E. Monsignor Simone Giusti, Bishop of Livorno and Prior of the delegation, celebrated with Father Stanislaus, a priest from Tanzania, and with canonical Father Placido Bevinetto, Chaplain of the above mentioned Hospital and of the delegation itself.
Numerous believers, doctors and nurses participated, as well as many Volounteer Associations, such as the AVO, Le Misericordie di Livorno, Montenero, Antignat, the Frates Associations and the CISOM.
The songs were perfomed by the Choir of the Seton Parish.

Florence, December 7th, 2022 – At the invitation of the Air Brigadier Urbano Floreali, Commander of the Institute of Military Aeronautical Sciences, the Grand Chancellor H.E. Don Francesco, Prince Ruspoli and the Delegate of Tuscany Count Ranieri Gastone Adorni Braccesi, participated in the Holy Mass. The Holy Mass in honour of Our Lady of Loreto, Patroness of the Air Force, was presided over by the Cardinal of Florence H.E.R. Giuseppe Betori, and was celebrated in the Basilica of Saint Lawrence in Florence, filled with numerous Civil and Military Authorities and the students of the Military School, accompanied by their families.

On Wednesday, December 7th, in the evocative lecture hall of the ISMA (the Italian Institute of Military Aeronautical Sciences) in Florence, 37 young students of first Course of the “Giulio Douhet” Aeronautical Military School received the court sward, the symbol of belonging to the school and to the Air Force. Grand Chancellor H.E. Don Francesco, Prince Ruspoli and the Delegate of Tuscany Count Ranieri Gastone Adorni Braccesi participated in the ceremony. During such ceremony scholarships and merit badges were awarded to the students that most distinguished themselves during the 2021/2022 accademic year.

8 September – Sanctuary of Montenero (LI) – At the invitation of the Prior of the Delegation, His Excellency Monsignor Simone Giusti, a group of Knights of the Tuscan Delegation took part in the annual Pilgrimage of the Diocese of Livorno to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Graces in Montenero for the feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. The pilgrimage began from Piazzale Giovanni XXIII in the presence of numerous faithful, coming not only from the Diocese of Livorno but also from other Tuscan cities, who walked towards the Sanctuary praying the Holy Rosary. Many voluntary associations, the Misericordie of Livorno, CISOM and representatives of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem were present. The Eucharistic Concelebration, celebrated on the Shrine’s parvis, was presided over by H.E.R. Cardinal Ennio Antonelli, Metropolitan Archbishop Emeritus of Florence. Many civil and military Authorities were present, including the Prefect of Livorno Mr. Paolo D’Attilio, the Deputy Mayor of Livorno Mrs. Libera Camici, and the Provincial Commander of the Carabinieri Colonel Piercarmine Sica. After the Holy Mass, in a room of the Sanctuary the Constantinian Knights present had the opportunity to meet Cardinal Antonelli who asked for news about our Order and its activities.

10.09.2022 – Avenza (MS). At the invitation of the Parish of Maria SS. Mediatrice, a group of Knights of the Tuscan Delegation participated in the Holy Mass in memory of the Carabinieri killed in the course of their service, among whom we remember Vittorio Iacovacci, Gold Medal of Merit to the Memory of our Order. The Eucharistic Concelebration was presided over by Diocesan Bishop H.E. the Most Reverend Father Mario Vaccari in the presence of numerous faithful and Military Authorities. At the end of the Holy Mass, Monsignor Vaccari, on behalf of the Provincial Command of the Carabinieri, presented some commemorative plaques to members of the Carabinieri and the Guardia di Finanza, and to our Order.

Livorno, June 19th, 2022 – After receiving the invitation from H.E. Msgr. Simone Giusti, Bishop of Livorno and Prior of the Tuscan Delegation, Luciano Giorgio Giannelli, Coordinator for Tuscany and Andrea Terreni, Knight of Merit, represented the Tuscan Delegation at the Solemnity of Corpus Christi that took place in the city’s Cathedral. At the end of the celebration, a solemn procession was held, too. In addition to our Order, some representatives of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem were also present.