London, July 2011: September Delegation Mass announced:
The Delegation of Great Britain and Ireland will celebrate mass to mark the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on 14 September 2011 at 6.30pm. The mass will be held at Tyburn Convent, 8-9 Hyde Park Road, London W2 2LJ.
The Principal Celebrant will be Abbot Cuthbert Johnson and the preacher will be Father Paul Chavasse. The sermon will be delivered on the 'Blessed John Henry Newman and The Exaltation of the Holy Cross'.
Following the mass, refreshments will be served.
We urge all knights and dames to attend and for more information and to register your attendance at this event, please contact the Chancery.
London, May 2011: Vice Delegate for England appointed
The Delegation of Great Britain and Ireland is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor Lord Alton of Liverpool, KCSG, KCMCO, as the first and new Vice Delegate for England of the Constantinian Order of Saint George.
Lord Alton of Liverpool was invested as a Knight Commander of Merit with Star and has been a member of the delegation since June 2002.
London, May 2011: Grand Prior to visit London:
The Council of the British and Irish Delegation is pleased to announce that the Orders Grand Prior His Eminence Renato Raffaele, Cardinal Martino, has accepted the Delegation's invitation to preside at the 2011 Royal Investiture Ceremony to be held in London on Friday 21 October 2011.
His Eminence, who until recently held the posts of President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and as President of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples will also attend the Royal Gala Dinner to be held on the same day in the presence of the Order's Grand Master, HRH Prince Carlo of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro.
For further information please contact the Chancery.
London, April 2011: 2011 Royal Investiture Ceremony Announced
The Council of the British and Irish Delegation is pleased to announce that the Orders Grand Master, HRH Prince Carlo of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, has accepted an invitation to visit London in the Autumn. HRH Princess Camilla, Duchess of Castro, will also attend.
This will be the first visit made by the Duke of Castro to the United Kingdom in over five years. The visit will also celebrate His Royal Highnesss first visit to London since becoming the Orders new Grand Master and Head of the Royal House.
A Royal Investiture ceremony will take place in central London on Friday 21 October 2011. This will be followed by a memorial mass for our late Grand Master, HRH Prince Ferdinando, Duke of Castro. It is expected that the investiture and mass will take place in the early afternoon. The dress code for both events will be lounge suit and for those that have them, capes of the Order should be worn. For further information please contact the Chancery.
London, April 2011: Grand Master to be guest of honour at 2011 Royal Gala Dinner
The Council of the British and Irish Delegation is pleased to announce that the Orders Grand Master, HRH Prince Carlo of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, has accepted an invitation to be Guest of Honour at a Royal Gala Dinner to be held at a central London venue on Friday 21 October 2011. HRH Princess Camilla, Duchess of Castro, will also attend. The dress code will be White Tie/ Black Tie with decorations. For further information please contact the Chancery.
Vatican City, April 2011: Delegation Sub Prior Appointed as new Archbishop of Cardiff
His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI has announced the appointment of the Rt Rev George Stack, Auxiliary Bishop of Westminster and the Sub Prior of the British and Irish Delegation of the Constantinian Order, as the new Archbishop of Cardiff. The Council of the Delegation extends its warmest congratulations and good wishes to Archbishop George on this singular distinction.
London, April 2011: Constantinian Order Websites Launched
The Delegation is pleased to announce that two new Order websites have been launched. The first is the revamped website of the Delegation of Great Britain and Ireland which can be found at www.constantinian.org.uk.The Grand Magistral Delegation for Inter-Religious Relations of the Constantinian Order has also launched its new website www.constantinian.com
The Delegation very much hopes you will enjoy visiting both sites.
Dublin, April 2011: Irish Delegation Mass and Dinner announced:
Professor Richard Conroy, Vice Delegate of the Constantinian Order of St George has announced that a Delegation Mass and Dinner will be held in Dublin on Thursday 9 June 2011.
Delegation Chaplain and Auxilary Bishop of Dublin, The Most Reverend Raymond Field will preside. For further information please contact the Chancery.
Gibraltar, April 2011: Irish Delegation Mass and Dinner announced:
To mark St Georges Day 2011, longstanding Constantinian Order chaplain, The Rt Rev Monsignor Canon Coronato Grima offers this relfection on the Orders Patron Saint.
The Martyr: supreme embodiment of victory: Tropaiphoros. St George is presented as the quintessential Easter Saint. His is a victory over self, the world and Satan, achieved by becoming one with the Only One, Christ. Becoming one with Christ is the fundamental vocation of the Church herself as the Bride. St George embodies this fundamental vocation and also is its realisation. He becomes the altar Christus by re-living the redemptive suffering and the humiliating death of Our Lord, the Great Witness, thus acceding to His glorification. By voluntarily laying down his life, he proves that the undermost powerlessness is a function of the uppermost power. This is indeed, perhaps, the major paradox which itself constitutes the Gospel, the Good News: the way down is the only way up; the way of self-denial is the only way to self-realisation; the way to death is the only way to life; the way to the cross is the only way to resurrection; the way to humiliation is the only way to glorification.
The city on a hill and the light on the lampstead materialise only if the grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, and the yeast disappears into the flower. Only in this way can the disciple/community of the disciples become the conspicuous, unavoidable and effective signpost they are called to be and meant to be. Indeed the grain of wheat was unceremoniously thrown into the ground and meant to be. The earth opened up to receive the life-giving death and the city on the hill glowed with unsurpassed glory; the light shown with renewed intensity, the virgin mother gave birth and the woman triumphed over the beast (Apoc. 8). At the core of this seemingly physical impossibility lays total obedience to the Fathers will. Luke formulates this simple truth at the outset of his version of the Good News, when the messenger of God declares, what must have been in his own personal experience, nothing is impossible to God (1, 37), prompting Marys self-definition as the humble slave of the Lord who abides by His will.
Obedience to the Father, the liberating and ennobling attitude, is considered by Paul as being in Christ and no longer a mere following of the Master. It is a passing from the sequela Christi to the imitatio Christi as testified by the life and the death of the martyr. This being-in-the-Mast er is in fact a being-surrounded by His infinite love and being grasped by his love to me (2 Cor. 5, 14). It is from this high point that everything needs be considered. This high point is personified in the fearless stand taken by St George.
Rome, November 2010: Constantinian Order appoints new Grand Prior
The Grand Magistry has announced that His Eminence Renato Raffaele, Cardinal Martino, has been appointed by decree of the Grand Master as the new Grand Prior of the Constantinian Order.
Cardinal Martino served from 2002-2009 as President of the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace and as President of the Pontifical Council for Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples from 2006 to 2009.
His Eminence served as the Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations from 1986-2002. Previously His Eminence served from 1980-1986 as Apostolic Pro-Nuncio to Thailand, Singapore, Laos, Malaysia, and Brunei Darussalam.
In 2003 he was appointed as a member of the Sacred College of Cardinals. Cardinal Martino was invested as a Bailiff Grand Cross of Justice for Cardinals of the Constantinian Order in 12 February 1996 by decree of HRH Prince Ferdinando, Duke of Castro. We wish His Eminence well in this important role.
Rome, November 2010: Ecclesiastical Counsellor to the Royal House appointed
The Grand Magistry has announced that His Eminence Albert, Cardinal Vanhoye, SJ, has been appointed Ecclesiastical Counsellor to the Royal House and Grand Prior Emeritus.
We wish His Eminence well in his new role.
Rome, February 2009: Alessandro de Franciscis appointed permanent medic of the Bureau Médical
To mark the occasion of the commemoration of Our Lady of Lourdes, the Bishop of Tarbes and Lourdes HE Mgr Jacques Perrier officially appointed Alessandro de Franciscis permanent medic of the Bureau Médical, the institution responsible for the medical documentation that officially states the healings in the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes . The archives of the Bureau have registered up to this moment 700 cases of people who have declared recovery after visiting the Sanctuary but among these 700 cases only 66 have passed the ecclesiastical selection and have been officially stated as miracles. The appointment was officially announced in Lourdes and the prestigious acknowledgment honors the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George. HE Ambassador Giuseppe, Secretary General of the Order, sent a congratulatory message to dr Alessandro de Franciscis on behalf of all the Constantinian Knights and Dames and on behalf of Professor Leonardo Saviano Secretary General of the Royal House of Bourbon. Dr Alessandro d Franciscis, Constantinian Knight of Justice is a pediatrician and has obtained a master in epidemiology at Harvard University, since 2005 he is the President of the Province of Caserta. He has been the first non French doctor who is in charge of the Bureau Médical founded in 1882 by Baron Dunot de Saint Maclou and has succeeded Dr Patrick Theillier who was appointed in 1998.
Rome, 16 October 2009: Holy Mass in the Church of the Saints Idefonso and Thomas of Villanova in Via Sistina.
On Monday 19th October a Holy Mass is going to take place in the Church of the Saints Idefonso and Thomas of Villanova in Via Sistina, 11 in Rome, to pay a tribute to His Late Eminence Mario Francesco Cardinal Pompedda, late Grand Prior of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George. The Secretariat of Order invites the Knights and Dames to take part in the spiritual commemoration of the blessed soul of the late Grand Prior.
Rome, September 2009: The Lieutenant General Aldo Cinelli, Secretary General and Director of the weaponries of the Ministry of Defense received the insignia of Knight of Grand Cross of Merit
The Lieutenant General Aldo Cinelli, Secretary General and Director of the weaponries of the Ministry of Defense received the insignia of Knight of Grand Cross of Merit of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George.H.R.H. the Grand Master paid an official visit to the site of the Italian Army where he was received by the General Potito Genova of the General Secretariat who lead his Royal Highness to the office of the Lieutenant General Aldo Cinelli for a brief meeting. Following the reunion the Grand Master signed the guest book of honor and made his entrance to the Palace Hall with Lieutenant General Cinelli for the investiture ceremony. Among those present were the director of the General Secretariat and some other guests of the Cabinet of the Minister of Defense. H.R.H. was escorted by HE Marquis Aldo Pezzana Capranica del Grillo, Grand Chancellor, HE noble Ambassador Giuseppe Balboni Acqua , Secretary General of the Order; Prof. Leonardo Saviano Secretary General of the Royal House and Constantinian Knight Vincenzo Giovagnorio Ceremonial Attendant of the Order. Following the ceremony General Aldo Cinelli held a speech in which he expressed his warm thanks to His Royal Highness.
London, December 2008: Delegate attends UAE National Day
The Grand Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations, HE Mr Anthony Bailey, attended the National Day Cerebration of the United Arab Emirates. The event, held at the Royal Lancaster Hotel, London W2 was hosted by the Ambassador, HE Easa Al-Gurg, CBE.
Canterbury, November 2008: Delegate attends Canterbury Cathedral Celebration
The Grand Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations, HE Mr Anthony Bailey, attended a Service of Celebration at Canterbury Cathedral to mark the 125th anniversary of the United Church Schools Trust (www.ucst.org.uk). The principal preachers were The Most Reverend Desmond Tutu, Archbishop Emeritus of Cape Town and the former Lord Archbishop of Canterbury, Lord Carey of Clifton.
London, November 2008: Delegate attends Anglo-Israel Association dinner
At the invitation of Lord Anderson of Swansea, the Grand Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations, Mr Anthony Bailey, attended a dinner held at the House of Commons and hosted by the Anglo-Israel Association and the Council for Christians and Jews. The Guest Speaker was Professor Shai Feldman, Director of the Crown Centre for Middle East Studies, Brandeis University, Boston, USA.
London, November 2008: Delegate attends Oman National Day
The Grand Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations, HE Mr Anthony Bailey, attended the National Day Celebration of the Sultanate of Oman hosted by the Ambassador to the Court of St Jamess, HE Mr Hussain Ali Abdullatif.
London, July 2008: Delegate attends dinner in honour of the Prime Minister of Lesotho
HE The Grand Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations, Mr Anthony Bailey, attended a dinner in London hosted by HRH Prince Seeiso Bereng Seeiso, High Commissioner of the Kingdom of Lesotho to the Court of St Jamess in honour of the Prime Minister of Lesotho, The Rt Hon Pakalitha Mosisili, MP.
London, July 2008: Delegate attends Egyptian Embassy reception
HE The Grand Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations, Mr Anthony Bailey, attended a reception to mark the National Day of Egypt hosted by the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt at his London Residence.
London, July 2008: Delegate attends farewell reception for the Marshal of the Diplomatic Corps
HE The Grand Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations, Mr Anthony Bailey, attended a farewell party in honour of Sir Anthony Figgis held at Buckingham Palace and hosted by the Comptroller of the Lord Chamberlains Office.
London, June 2008: Delegate attends Luxembourg Embassy reception
HE The Grand Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations, Mr Anthony Bailey, attended a reception to mark the National Day of Luxembourg hosted by the Ambassador of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, at his London Residence.
London, June 2008: Delegate attends Portuguese Embassy reception
HE The Grand Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations, Mr Anthony Bailey, attended a reception to mark the National Day of Portugal hosted by the Ambassador of the Portuguese Republic to the Court of St Jamess.
London, June 2008: Delegate attends Croatian Embassy reception
HE The Grand Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations, Mr Anthony Bailey, attended a reception to mark the National Day of Croatia hosted by the Ambassador of the Republic of Croatia to the Court of St Jamess, Mr Josko Paro.
London, May 2008: Delegate attends Maltese High Commission dinner
HE The Grand Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations, Mr Anthony Bailey, accompanied by his wife, HSH Princess Marie-Therese von Hohenberg, attended a farewell dinner hosted by an to mark the departure of the Maltese High Commissioner to the Court of St Jamess, HE Mr Michael Rafalo.
London, June 2008: Grand Magistral Delegate Anthony Bailey appointed an OBE by HM Queen Elizabeth II
The Grand Magistry Delegation for Inter-Religious Relations extends its warmest congratulations to its Delegate, HE Mr Anthony Bailey on the occasion on his appointment as an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE).
The award, founded in 1917, was announced in The Queens Birthday Honours list on 14 June 2008. The award was made in recognition of Mr Baileys contribution to Inter-Faith Relations and to Charity.
Delegate Anthony Bailey commented Having had my inter-faith activities recognised by several governments abroad, this particular honour is all the more appreciated knowing that it has come from my own Sovereign and Government. It is also special knowing that the nomination was made by many within our countrys faith communities and charities whom I have had the pleasure of working with over the years.
Rome, 20 March 2008: Duke of Calabria succeeds his father as Duke of Castro and Head of the Royal House
The Grand Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations has received official notification that His Royal Highness Prince Carlo of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Calabria, and Grand Prefect of the Constantinian Order has on the death of his Father on 20 March 2008 succeeded as Duke of Castro and Head of the Royal House of Bourbon Two Sicilies.
In addition, His Royal Highness Prince Carlo of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, has succeeded his father as the Grand Master of the Dynastic orders.
As the Head of the Royal House, HRH Prince Carlo of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, automatically becomes the Grand Master of his House Orders, which are the Royal Order of Saint Januarius, the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George, the Royal Order of Francis I, the Royal Military Order of St. George and Reunion, and the Royal Order of St. Ferdinand and Merit.
The Grand Magistral Delegate HE Mr Anthony Bailey has send a message of congratulation on behalf to HRH Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro, on his accession of the post of Head of the Royal House of Bourbon Two Sicilies and Grand Master of the Dynastic Orders.
Rome, 20 March 2008: Duke of Castro and Grand Master of the Constantinian Order dies
The Grand Magistral Delegation with profound regret has received official notification of the death on 20 March 2008 in France of His Royal Highness Prince Ferdinando of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, Head of the Royal House of Bourbon Two Sicilies, and Grand Master of the Dynastic Orders.
Prince Ferdinando, succeeded his father in 1973 as Head of the Royal House and Grand Master of the Dynastic Orders. His late Royal Highness served with distinction throughout his thirty five year tenure and was a committed supporter and supporter of furthering the Orders inter-religious activities.
A private family funeral will be held in France on 25 March 2008 with a public memorial mass to be held in France and Italy at a later date.
The Grand Magistral Delegate HE Mr Anthony Bailey has sent a message of condolence to his successor and heir, HRH Prince Carlo, Duke of Castro.
London, March 2008: Delegate attends Czech Ambassadors reception in honour of the Israeli Ambassador.
HE The Grand Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations, Mr Anthony Bailey, attended a Musical evening and dinner hosted by the Ambassador of the Czech Republic in honour of and to welcome to London the new Ambassador of the State of Israel to the Court of St Jamess. HE Mr Ron Prosor.
London, March 2008: Delegate meets with the UN High Representative for the Alliance of Civilizations
The Grand Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations, Mr Anthony Bailey, attended a meeting in London with HE President Jorge Sampaio, former President of the Portuguese Republic and recently appointed United Nations High Representative of the Alliance of Civilisations.
London, March 2008: Delegate attends Andorran National Day celebrations
HE The Grand Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations, Mr Anthony Bailey, attended a reception at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park Hotel in London hosted by the Ambassador of the Principality of Andorra to mark the countrys Constitution Day. The Ambassador, Mrs Maria Rosa Picard de Francis, is a Dame of Merit with Star of the Constantinian Order of St George.
Rome, 11 March 2008: Constantinian Knight elected new Prince & Grand Master of the Order of Malta
The Grand Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations, HE Anthony Bailey, together with his Council extends its warmest and heartfelt congratulations and prayers to His Most Eminent Highness Frà Matthew Festing on his election as the 79th Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
Fra Matthew Festing has had a long assosciation with the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George. His Most Eminent Highness was appointed to the Council of the British and Irish Delegation in 2002 and was first invested as a Knight of Justice of the Constantinian Order of Saint George in 1991. In 1994 the Grand Master, HRH The Duke of Castro promoted His Most Eminent Highness to the grade of Knight Grand Cross of Justice.
London, March 2008: Delegate attends Bulgarias National Day
The Grand Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations, Mr Anthony Bailey attended a reception hosted by the Ambassador of Bulgaria to mark the countrys National Day. During 2007 the Grand Magistral Delegation hosted a successful one day conference in London which brought together some of the principal faith leaders of Bulgaria and the United Kingdom.
London, February 2008: Delegate attends Kuwaits National Day celebrations
The Grand Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations, Mr Anthony Bailey attended a reception hosted by the Ambassador of Kuwait to mark the countrys National Day.
Rome, February 2008: Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta dies
HRH The Duke of Castro, Grand Master and Head of the Royal House of Bourbon Two Sicilies, has today announced with sincere regret the death in Rome on 7 February 2008 of His Most Eminent Highness Fra' Andrew Bertie, Prince and Grand Master of the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and Malta. Fra' Bertie was a longstanding Knight of the Illustrious Royal Order of Saint Januarius and a Bailiff Knight Grand Cross of Justice with Collar decoration of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George.
The Grand Master asks all knights and dames to pray for the blessed soul of Fra' Andrew Bertie. For a full Obituary please visit the obituaries section on this website.
London, February 2008: Delegate attends Sri Lanka National Day Reception
The Grand Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations, Mr Anthony Bailey attended a reception hosted by the High Commissioner of Sri Lanka, to mark the countrys 60th anniversary of Independence. During November 2007 Mr Bailey visited Sri Lanka and met with senior representatives of all the faith communities.
