14 January 2009

A Delegation of the Constantinian Order headed by HE Ambassador Giuseppe Balboni Acqua, Secretary General of the Order and Knight Commander Marco Cecilia Member of the Magistral Juridical Council, paid a visit to the Mayor of the town of Reggio Calabria Giuseppe Scoppellitti and to the Spokeswoman for Culture and Constantinian Dame Antonella Freno. The meeting took place in the beautiful Roman church of Santa Marta in piazza del Collegio Romano. On the occasion the Constantinian Delegation discussed over the future cultural and charity activities of the Order within the territory of Reggio Calabria and throughout the province.

9 January 2009

The Constantinian Chaplain Don Vincenzo Marino presented an account of the activities carried out by the Constantinian Knights and Dames in the province of Syracuse throughout the year. The presence of the Constantinian Order in Syracuse dates back to 2006 when the first five Constantinian Knights were invested into the Order during a ceremony that took place in the Parish Church of Saint Anthony of Padova that from that moment has become the spiritual site of the Constantinian Knights and Dames from Syracuse. During the past year the Constantinian Knights and Dames in addition to the commemorative ceremonies and monthly Masses, have also carried out various charity activities. According to the Gospel” I was in Prison and you came to visit me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was hungry and you fed me” (Matthew 25,35,35-36) the Knights and Dames offered their assistance to the prisoners of local house of detention

by sending them clothes, hygienic sanitary equipment and accessories for daily living. Our confreres from Syracuse have also re-established the old custom of visiting the Relics of Saint Lucy Martyr, Patron Saint of Syracuse that are kept in the prison. As a matter of fact, this tradition was interrupted in 1990, when an earthquake seriously damaged the historical Borbonic prison of Ortigia and the detainees were moved to a prison out of town.Among the other activities carried out during the year were a fundraising concert in favor of the sick and the elderly in the parish church of Saint Anthony during which toys were distributed for needy children and a donation of a tabernacle to the harbor office of Syracuse.Particular thanks were expressed from the local authorities to to the Constantinian Knights Sergio Petruzzello and Leonardo Pace.

8 January 2009

A Eucharistic celebration presided by Very Reverend Monsignor Salvatore Genchi and co-celebrated by Constantinian Chaplain Don Vincenzo Marino, took place in the Chapel Stella Maris inside the harbor office of Rome, in the presence of the Secretary General of the Order HE Ambassador Giuseppe Balboni Acqua and Constantinian Knight Commander Marco Cecilia Member of the Magistral Juridical Council. The ceremony took place on the occasion of the investiture of Admiral Raimondo Pollastrini,Commander of the Harbor Office, who received the Commenda of Merit of the Constantinian Order. Among those in attendance were the Admiral Stefano Stefanini, Admiral Pierluigi Cacioppo, Admiral Marco Brusco and Admiral Felice Angresano.