On 22 and 23 September, at the Monastery of Our Lady of Heiloo, the Prior of the Delegation of the Netherlands, His Excellency Mgr. Johannes W.M. Hendriks, Bishop of Amsterdam-Haarlem, led together with the Vice Delegate, Esq. Otte Strouken, assisted by Dame Veronica Grillo, a moment of spiritual preparation and sharing in fraternal agape of the 12 new Knights who will receive the investiture next October 13 in the Cathedral of San Bavone in Haarlem.
Campi Bisenzio (FI), 11 November 2023 – The Tuscan Delegation, following the flood that struck the Region between 2 and 4 November, has activated and provided aid to families in difficulty in the area of Campi Bisenzio, city particularly affected by the weather.
Thanks to the generosity and to the action of its Knights, a good amount of food was collected and promptly delivered to Mrs Lucia Nardozza of the Mercy of Campi Bisenzio, at the gym of the Giuseppe Garibaldi school and at the Emil Zatopek center.
This donation was made with the coordination of the Provincial Contact of Florence, Knight Official Francesco Cuffaro, the Provincial Contact of Livorno, Knight Official Ezio Pope, and the Provincial Contact of Pisa, Knight Official Giovanni Merola, as well as with the collaboration of the Knights of Merit Pier Francesco Cellai and Francesco Franco of Florence. The Provincial Contact Person of Pistoia, Knight Official Daniele Romanelli, personally intervened at the site of the disaster for the distribution of food to the population.
On 13 October 2023, the first investiture of the Constantinian Order of Saint George in the Netherlands took place. It was held in the Cathedral Basilica of Haarlem-Amsterdam.
The Grand Chancellor of the Order, His Excellency Prince Francesco Ruspoli, Prince of Cerveteri, the Delegate for the Netherlands, His Excellency Dr. Paulus van Hanswijck de Jonge, the Vice Delegate for the Netherlands Dr. Esq. Otte Strouken and the Dame Veronica Grillo of the Brescia-Bergamo representation were present.
The ceremony, concelebrated by ten priests, was presided over by the Prior of the Constantinian Order in the Netherlands, His Excellency Mgr. Jan Hendriks. The Nunzio Apostolico for the Netherlands, His Excellency Mons. Paul Tschang In Nam, was also present. Ten new knights have been appointed to the Order.
After the investiture there was a reception attended by 130 people, followed by a dinner attended by 70 people.
The delegation in Netherlands has now established an annual agenda for the next activities, as well as the establishment of a website. The next investiture is scheduled for 14 September 2024.
The investiture of new knights and ladies of the Constantinian Order of Saint George took place on 20 October at the Igreja da Memória in Lisbon. Five new knights (one of them an ecclesiastic) and one lady were invested. The ceremony was presided over by the Rev. Fr António Borges, Knight of Ecclesiastical Grace, Rector of the Church of Memória, by appointment of The Most Reverend D. Rui Valério, Patriarch of Lisbon and Chief Chaplain of the Portuguese Delegation of the Constantinian Order. The Bronze Medal of Merit was also awarded to the President of Veritas Art Auctioneers for his support of the Constantinian Order project to rebuild houses for needy families in Alcanena.
The Mass was followed by dinner at the Turf Club, and the ceremonies were attended by HH.RR.H: the Duke and Duchess of Bragança, H.H. the Duchess of Coimbra, H.E. the Duke of Coimbra and a representation of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta made up of its Chancellor and Secretary. The dinner was also attended by the President of the Turf Club, D. Luís Folque de Mendoça.
On Saturday, November 11, the Delegation of Molise was invited to participate in the ceremony of oath of the students Carabinieri of the 142° training course at the school Allievi Carabinieri in Campobasso. The Delegate Duke Ettore d’Alessandro di Pescolanciano, assisted by Knight Comm. Giuseppe D’Amico, brought the greetings of H.R.H. the Grand Master, wishing a good job to the many students present, with the hope of being able to reward with a Constantinian honor the next most deserving students. The group of Delegates, with Father Giuseppe Graziano, was so entertained for due thanks with the Commander Legion Allievi Carabinieri, General Division Carlo Cerrina, General Giuseppe Crisà, the Commander Carabinieri school of Campobasso, Col. Bruno Capece and the Provincial Commander, Colonel Luigi Dellegrazie. Formal greetings on behalf of the Order have reached the President of the Molise Region, Dr. Francesco Roberti, and the President of the Regional Council of Molise, Dr.Quintino V.Pallante, and the Senator of the Republic Dr. Costanzo Della Porta, that were all present at the event along with other local authorities. After the military ceremony, the Delegate Duke d’Alessandro was able to visit the new administrative headquarters of the Delegation of Molise, at the “Government Palace” in Piazza Pepe, managed by Comm. D’Amico.
