Brescia, January 5th, 2019 – Mr. Francesco Spada and Mr. Daniele Gavezzoli, having proceeded to the usual collection of food products in the various market stands of Brescia, delivered to the Prior Father Benedetto Toglia about 200 kg of fruits and vegetables in favour of the disadvantaged families and the elderly of the place and the Sisters of Santa Marta, who run the parochial primary school “Casa San Giuseppe” in Rodengo-Saiano.
Bergamo, January 3rd and 4th, 2019 – Mrs. Veronica Grillo, accompanied by several knights and some volunteers, distributed hot meals at the “Opera Padre Beretta” canteen of the Capuchin Fathers in the heart of the city of Bergamo. The following day, Mr. Otte Strouken offered different types of food to guarantee hot meals to 150 people.
On December 21st, the Sicilian delegation offered a Christmas lunch to the guests of the “Benedetto Balsamo” retirement home in Monreale. The Archbishop of Monreale HE Msgr. Michele Pennisi, Prior of Sicily, the Vice Delegate, Mr. Vincenzo Nuccio and the volunteers Daniela Prestigiacomo, Sonia Lo Monaco and Antonella Zito, the director Giovanni Viola and the assistants of the structure served the meals to the elderly guests.
On December 23rd , the Vice Delegate handed over about 100 kilos of pasta to the director of the Maria SS Assunta fraternity located at the Real Carolina Church, in a suburb of Palermo called Guadagna. The confreres will distribute the pasta to the needy people of the neighborhood.
On December 23rd, Msgr. Salvatore Grimaldi, parish priest of the Magione Church, celebrated a holy mass for the knights and the dames on the occasion of Christmas. Before the Eucharistic celebration, Bishop Grimaldi thanked the Royal Family and the Sicilian delegation for donating four of the new stands for the church.
On December 23rd , Mr. Marcello Cantone, representative of Noto, delivered lots of products to Father Volantino, responsible of Saint Corrado canteen. After the donation, Mr. Cantone was received by Mgr. Staglianò and discussed about the activities of the delegation in his diocese.
On December 23rd, some Sicilian knights offered panettone, a typical Italian Christmas cake, to young mothers, their children and families in need at the Madonna della Tenda di Cristo community in Acireale. The cake had been provided by a local industry. The delivery is part of the project “Briciole di Salute” and was carried out under the patronage of the Bishop of Acireale H.E. Msgr. Antonino Raspanti, IEC Vice President for Southern Italy, and thanks to the active collaboration of the meritorious Giuseppe D’Urso.
On Christmas Eve, Mr. Michele Salerno and Mr. Antonino Centonze were received by H.E. Msgr. Domenico Mogavero, Bishop of Mazara, to wish him a merry Christmas. During the meeting, they were able to appreciate the message His Eminence Cardinal Renato Raffaele Martino, Grand Prior, had addressed to all the knights for Christmas. Then, a new defibrillator was offered to the Bishop who, visibly moved, gave it to the Mother Superior in the presence of the sports directors.
On December 30th , a Mass was celebrated and presided over by the Reverend Father Vittorio Rizzone at the Benedictine Abbey of S. Martino delle Scale. Many knights attended. Before the blessing, the Vice Delegate gave the Abbot his letter of appointment as Commander of Grace. After the religious ceremony, the Sicilian delegation offered a Christmas lunch to one hundred disadvantaged families.
Brescia, January 1st 2019 – The representatives of Brescia and Mantua, with the collaboration of the representative of Cremona, offered a lunch on the first day of the year at the diocesan Caritas canteen “Mother Eugenia Menni”. Msgr. Arnaldo Morandi, prior of Lombardy, with a representation of knights and dames, helped the caritas volunteers to prepare the rooms and the lunch service, which was attended by more than 200 guests. This initiative is part of the program of collaboration with Caritas Diocesan of Brescia and was entirely offered by a Knight of the Brescian delegation who wishes to remain anonymous. All meals also offered by other members of the Order will be distributed in the coming days of the year.
Prato, December 22nd 2018 – The Vice Delegate for Tuscany, Mr. Edoardo Puccetti, together with the Representatives for Florence and Prato and a group of Knights, went to the poor’s canteen, located in Via del Carmine (Prato) to offer as a gift a semi-automatic defibrillator. The canteen, which offers free 200 meals a day and a dormitory with 21 beds, is part of the Giorgio la Pira Association. The donation is also part of the “Città cardioprotette” project.
