17th January is the feast day of Saint Anthony the Abbot, and the Delegation of Rome and Lazio commemorated it, in line with the ancient tradition, with a Eucharistic celebration held on 21st January in the Church of SS. Annunziata in Minturno (LT), with the presence of children and adults who brought along their small or large four-legged friends for the traditional blessing. After the blessing by parish priest Father Adriano, people received a personal certificate of participation.
Last 24th January, Marquis Giuseppe Ferrajoli, Delegate for Rome and Lazio, Noble Esq. Gualtiero Ventura, accompanied by the General Secretary of the Order, Mr. Giampaolo Grazian, went to the “Elemosineria Apostolica” for a donation of about 1500 packets of medical products, that will be gifted to needy people seeking refuge near the Colonnade of St Peter’s by H.R.H. Cardinal Konrad Krajewski.
This donation has strenghtened the deep bond between the Order and the Vatican institutions.
A small but concrete gesture of solidarity was represented by the donation of 70 single portions of hot meals to needy people in Reggio Calabria city centre. The donation was made in favour of the Candelora parish.
Last 26th January, the Delegation of Calabria donated food products to the association known as “il Samaritano” in Polistena (RC). This one is managed by “Santa Maria Vergine di Polistena” parish, run by Don Pino De Masi, who is also a representative of “Libera. Associazioni, nomi e numeri contro le mafie” of Don Luigi Ciotti, for the plain of Gioia Tauro. “Il Samaritano” association, founded in 1988, developed in a particular context of charitable interventions, including basic solidarity, sharing of goods, occasional availability for services and almsgiving.
With the new year’s beginning and the resumption of the Delegation for Sardinia’s activities, the representative for Cagliari and Medio Campidano provinces, collaborating with some volunteers, has allowed medicinal prodcuts dispatch, which have been recollected for a sensitivization campaign against medicinals waste.
This material is sent to the Maronite parish of San Charbel located in Via Monza nr. 21, Rome, where Father Charbel El Khoury is forwarding it to the San Charbel Monastery in Lebanon.
On Friday, 19th January, in Acireale H.R.H. Mons. Antonio Raspanti, Bishop of Acireale, President of the Episcopal Conference of Sicily and Knight Grand Cross of Ecclesiastical Grace has met the Vice Delegate, Noble Antonio di Janni, the Comm. Marcello Cantone, referent for Noto and Nicosia, Father Antonio Cipriano, Archpriest of Capizzi and Vice Prior and Father Gaetano Pulvirenti, Archpriest of Acicatena and Knight of Ecclesiastical Grace. The bishop spoke about charitable initiatives carried out by the Delegation of Sicily in favour of the women and children welcomed in the “Madonna della Tenda di Cristo” community, led by Sister Alfonsina, and about the “P.ssa Maria Carolina” study grant for rehabilitative implantology on disabled patients, in the “S. Marta e S. Venera” hospital in Acireale. Furthermore, a collaboration with Father Orazio Caputo was proposed, as he helps many homeless people and involves them in charitable activities. In line with Vice Prior’s request, Mons. Raspanti found a church to entrust to the Delegation. At the end of the meeting, the latter thanked the Delegation for its commitment towards people in need, both in its diocese and in all Sicily.
On Sunday, 14th January Mons. Gaetano Tulipano, Knight Grand Cross of Ecclesiastical Grace, parish priest of St. Anthony the Abbot, and Father Giuseppe Iozzia, Knight of Ecclesiastical Grace, celebrated the Holy Mass in honor of the Saint of the church, by remembering his life and exemplarity. The Municipal police’s choral animated the liturgical celebration. The Mayor of Palermo Roberto Lagalla, Commander of Merit, and Knight Dario Falzone, responsible for human resources and Palermo municipal police attended the celebration. Before the Holy blessing, the mayor awarded a medal of the city to Mons. Tulipano, and thanked the Constantinian Order for the presence at the event. At the end of the religious function, Vice Delegate Antonio di Janni brought H.R.H. Prince Charles of Bourbon two Sicilies Duke of Castro, Grand Master’s greetings to the Mayor and Mons. Tulipano.
On Saturday 13th January the Knight Grand Cross of Grace Antonio di Janni and the Comm. Gasperino Como have delivered some medical products of the project “Briciole di Salute”, gifted by the Delegation to Father Bernardo, responsible for Benedictine Caritas. After the donation, the Knights have met the Abbot Father Vittorio Rizzone, Knight of Ecclesiastical Grace, who thanked the Delegation for the continuous aid to the children of needy families.
On Wednesday 17th January, the donation of garrisons of the project “Briciole di Salute” was held in the adjacent structures of the Constantinian church “Maria SS. degli Agonizzanti”. The project aims at helping vulnerable families with children up to 3 years. The Vice Delegate and the meritorious Sonia Lo Monaco, Antonella Zito and Marco Scolaro joined the event.
During the solemn Eucharistic Celebration which took place in “S. Giacomo Maggiore” Church in Messina last 20th January, the appointment of Most Reverend Mons. Mario Di Pietro, Knight Officer of Ecclesiastical Grace as new representative for Messina and its province was formalized. Knight Mr. Renato Milazzo proclaimed the relevant Decree signed by Vice Delegate Noble Antonio di Janni, Knight Grand Cross of Grace, transmitted by Chancellor of the Delegation of Sicily, Knight Officer Claudio Ragusa. Finally, the new representative thanked the Knights who were there and expressed his gratitude to his predecessor, Mr. Giovanni Bonanno, Knight Grand Officer of Merit for his contribution during his office.
The participation of the Knights to the celebration was led by Knight Felice Alessandro Gambadoro, in the role of Master of ceremonies.
Moreover, also Knight Grand Cross of Justice Giorgio Mirti della Valle, Knight Officer Letterio Sciliberto, Knight of Merit Admiral Giacomo Santi Legrottaglie, Knight of Merit Letterio Donato, Knight of Merit Comm. Lino La Rosa, Knight of Merit Gefr. Antonino Smiroldo, Knight of Office Brig. Pasquale Marchesano, Knight of Office Giuseppe Cirrincione attended the event.
Before the blessing, Mr. Bonanno led the choral recitation of the Constantinian Knight prayer.
A solemn Pontifical was held in Acireale, on the occasion of St. Sebastian in the homonymous. The rite was presided over by H.E. Most Rev. Mons. Renato Boccardo, Metropolitan Archbishop of Spoleto. H.E. Most Rev. Mons. Antonino Raspanti, Bishop of Acireale, Knight Grand Cross of Ecclesiastical Grace, H.E. Most Rev. Mons. Domenico Mogavero, Bishop Emeritus of Mazara del Vallo, Knight Grand Cross of Ecclesiastical Grace, and Bishops Mons. Salvatore Cristina, Mons. Salvatore Pappalardo, Mons. Carmelo Cuttitta, Mons. Vincenzo Manzella, and Canon Don Alessandro, Knight of Ecclesiastical Grace. Also a group of knights representing the Delegation of Sicily attended the event.
