Irish Activities & Events |
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His Beatitude Patriarch Gregorios III to attend Delegation Royal Gala Dinner in the presence of TRH The Duke and Duchess of Calabria to be held in London on 14 November. London – November 2005.
The British and Irish Delegation will be hosting a Royal Gala Dinner in the presence of our Grand Prefect, His Royal Highness The Duke of Calabria and Her Roayl Highness The Duchess of Calabria in London on Monday 14 November 2005 at 1 Whitehall Place, London SW1. The guest of honour and guest speaker will be His Beatitude Patriarch Gregorios III of Antioch & all of the East of Alexandria and of Jerusalem.His Beatitude will be visiting London especially for the occasion and will deliver a speech entitled “The fate of the Christian communities in the Middle East”.
His Beatitude entered the Seminary of the Holy Savior of the Basilian Salvatorian Fathers in Shoof, Lebanon in 1943. He took simple religious vows in the Basilian Salvatorian Order in 1949 and his solemn religious vows in 1954. He received his religious and philosophy education at the Holy Savior Seminary. He continued his Theological studies in Rome where he obtained the Doctorate degree in Oriental Theology at the Pontifical Oriental Institute. He was superior of the Holy Savior Major Seminary in 1961-64.
In 1962, His Beatitude founded the magazine “Al-Wahdah”-Unity in the Faith, the first ecumenical magazine to be published in the Arabic language. In 1966, he founded the Providence Home, at Salhiyeh, near Saida, Lebanon, as an orphanage and a trade school.
In 1974, he was appointed Administrator of the Patriarchal Vicariate of Jerusalem. In 1976, in Jerusalem, he founded the “Student Fund” to help needy students and in 1978 the Family Assistance Fund to help needy families in the troubled areas of his Diocese. In 1967, he founded at the Patriarchate the Oriental Library to promulgate the knowledge of Eastern tradition. He initiated many social projects such as repairing churches, opening clinics and building popular housing.
In 1981, he was ordained Archbishop and continued his work as Patriarchal Vicar of Jerusalem as successor to Archbishop Hilarion Cappucci. He is well known throughout the Middle East and Europe as an Ecumenist and a Theologian.
As Secretary of the Ecumenical Commission of the Melkite Patriarchate, he has been very active in the Dialogue between the two Sister Churches, the Melkite Greek Catholic and the Greek (Antiochian) Orthodox Churches. He is also a member of the League of the Universities and Institutes of Religious Studies in the Middle East.
The installation of the New Patriarch took place on 29 November 2000, immediately after his election by 30 Bishops assembled in a special Synod for that purpose. The Patriarch also played host to Pope John Paul II on the occasion of his pastoral visit to the Syrian Arab Republic in 2001.
The dress code for the occasion will be white tie/black tie/national dress/papal uniform with decorations. Invitations cost £125 per person and include a drinks reception followed by a three-course dinner with wines. Invitations are still available through the Chancery.
For more information please contact the Chancery on +44 (0) 20 6594 0275; Fax: +44 (0) 20 6594 0275; e-mail info@constantinian.org.uk
Irish Delegation Knight Dr Michael Smurfit knighted by HM Queen Elizabeth II. Dublin – June 2005.
The Chancery of the British and Irish Delegation extends its congratulations and best wishes to Sir Michael Smurfit on the occasion on his appointment as a Knight Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (KBE) in The Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
Sir Michael Smurfit was appointed as a Knight Commander of the Royal Order of Francis I in November 2002 at a ceremony in Dublin in recognition his of contribution to charitable and humanitarian endeavour.
Sir Michael was born in St Helens, Lancashire in 1936 and holds dual Irish and British citizenship. He is Chairman of the Jefferson Smurfit Group and is a substantial contributor to the NSPCC, the Royal Opera House Trust, the Royal Society of Arts, the Royal National Institute for the Blind and the Royal Life Saving Society. Sir Michael has also provided support for the establishment of an Irish Studies Centre at the University of North London and has been a generous contributor to Co-operation North, Save the Children (Belfast) and the Warrington Peace Centre.
Sir Michael Smurfit was European of the Year 1999 (the first businessman to be honoured) and also holds the position of Honorary Irish Consul to the Principality of Monaco. In 1999, he was also awarded the inaugural Global CEO of the Year of the paper & forest products industry by the North American financial community.
Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Castro dies. Rome – May 2005.
It is with profound sadness that the British and Irish Delegation has learnt of the death of Her Royal Highness Princess Chantal of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duchess of Castro. Her late Royal Highness was the wife of the Order’s Grand Master, HRH Prince Ferdinando of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, and Head of the Royal House of Bourbon Two Sicilies.
The Duchess of Castro was born Chantal of the Counts of Chevron-Villette, in Le Cannet de Maures, France, on 10 January 1925. In 1949 she married HRH Prince Ferdinando of Bourbon Two Sicilies and following the death of her father-in-law in 1960, became Duchess of Calabria.
When Her late Royal Highness’s husband succeeded to the title of Duke of Castro and head of the dynasty in 1973 on the death of his Father, His late Royal Highness Prince Ranieri, Duke of Castro, she became The Duchess of Castro.
During her long life, The Duchess of Castro was awarded numerous state and dynastic honours in recognition of her work for countless charitable and humanitarian initiatives across Italy and further a field. Among them were the Dame Grand Cross of Justice of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George and the Dame Grand Cross of Honour and Devotion of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta.
The Delegate for Great Britain and Ireland, Mr Anthony Bailey, extended the condolences and prayers of all the knights and dames of the dynastic orders resident in Great Britain and Ireland to the Grand Master, HRH The Duke of Castro, and the Grand Prefect, His Royal Highness The Duke of Calabria.
Grand Prior Cardinal Pompedda maintains role as Ecclesiastical Counsellor to the Constantinian Order under Pope Benedict XVI. Vatican City – April 2005.
His Eminence Mario Francesco, Cardinal Pompedda, following the death of His late Holiness Pope John Paul II automatically continues as Ecclesiastical Counsellor to the Constantinian Order under the new pontificate of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI. Cardinal Pompedda was appointed by the late Pope John Paul II to this post for a canonical period of five years commencing on 1 November 2003.
Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland leads Irish tributes following the death of Pope John Paul II. Dublin - April 2005.
His Grace The Most Reverend Diarmuid Martin, Archbishop of Dublin and Primate of Ireland, led Irish tributes to the late Pope John Paul II at a mass at the Pro-Cathedral in Dublin on 3 April 2005. To download the full text of his homily please click here
British & Irish Delegation to host In the Shadows of Vesuvius Book Launch and St George's Day Reception on 25 April 2005.
The British and Irish Delegation will be hosting a Reception to mark the pre-publication book launch of In the Shadows of Vesuvius: A Cultural History of Naples by Dr Jordan Lancaster. The reception will take place at the Embassy of the Republic of Bulgaria, 186-188 Queen's Gate, London SW7 on Monday 25 April 2005 from 6.30-8.30 pm.
Dr Lancaster will give a short talk on her book which will be on sale during the evening. This will be followed by a reception held by courtesy of, and in the presence of, HE Mr Valentin Dobrev, Ambassador of the Republic of Bulgaria to the Court of St James's, and hosted by HE Mr Anthony Bailey, Delegate of Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George in Great Britain & Ireland.
Naples finds its origins in Homer's tale of Ulysses and the sirens. The city has long attracted visitors and foreign rulers, enticed not only by its commercial possibilities but also by the stunning beauty of its natural setting on the eponymous bay and the many cultural delights on offer, from the ruins of Pompeii to glittering performances at the San Carlo opera house. Naples was ruled by the Spanish, French, Austrians, and from 1734 by the Bourbon Two Sicilies dynasty before becoming part of unified Italy in 1861.
From the time of the Grand Tour, the city has attracted travellers, from Goethe to Nelson to Dickens to Neruda, all eager to experience its legendary and seductive charms. Dr Jordan Lancaster's sparkling guide will serve as an ideal companion for visitors and as a valuable cultural resource for all those who seek to expand their knowledge of the City or proudly trace their roots to Naples.
The dress code will be lounge suit. (Members of the Constantinian Order and Royal Order of Francis I may wear their rosette). Invitations cost £20 per person. Invitations will be issued on a first come first served basis.
For more information please contact the Chancery on
+44 (0) 20 7594 0275; Fax: +44 (0) 20 7594 0275;
e-mail info@constantinian.org.uk
For more information on Dr Jordan Lancaster please visit www.jordanlancaster.co.uk & www.squaremilelanguages.co.uk
Constantinian Order Grand Master, The Duke of Castro, praises the work of the British and Irish Delegation. Rome - February 2005.
The Grand Master of the Constantinian Order and Head of the Royal House of Bourbon Two Sicilies, HRH Prince Ferdinando of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, on the occasion of the issuing of the latest Activities Report of the British and Irish Delegation, sent the following message to the Delegate, HE Mr Anthony Bailey:
"Illustrious Delegate,
"I wish to express my sincere thanks and appreciation for the copy of the latest Annual Report you sent me. Your work, illustrates the charitable, humanitarian and interfaith activities of the Delegation for Great Britain and Ireland of the Constantinian Order that are so worthy of praise.
"I am pleased to learn that the past year has seen an increase of new activities and I deeply appreciate all your efforts to ensure the growth of the Order.
"I have found the Constantinian Chronicle a very interesting publication and a precious source of information for all the knights and dames of the Order around the world.
"Thank you for all the important work and I hope your dedication to the charitable works and to the interfaith dialogue will continue for years to come.
With all my best wishes for the future. Ferdinando, Grand Master,".
2005 delegation gala dinner to be held in honour of His Eminence Theodore, Cardinal McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington, & Order Prior of the United States delegation. London - January 2005.
The British and Irish Delegation will be hosting a Gala Dinner in London on Wednesday 2 February 2005 at the Gladstone Library, 1 Whitehall Place, London SW1. The guest of honour and guest speaker will be His Eminence Theodore, Cardinal McCarrick, Archbishop of Washington, and Prior of the Constantinian Order in the United States . His Eminence will be visiting London for one day only especially for the occasion.
Cardinal McCarrick in addition to being Archbishop of Washington, is Chancellor of The Catholic University of America and President of the Board of Trustees of the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. A founding member of the Papal Foundation, His Eminence served as its president since 1997. Cardinal McCarrick also is a member of the Board of Catholic Relief Services. For the Vatican, the Cardinal serves on the Pontifical Council for Justice and Peace, the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerant Peoples and the Pontifical Commission for Latin America.
His Eminence has visited many nations as a human rights advocate and to survey humanitarian needs. These include China, Cuba, Vietnam, The Philippines, South Korea, Rwanda, Burundi, Lebanon and Eastern & Central Europe. In November 1996, Cardinal McCarrick was invited to serve on the Secretary of State's Advisory Committee on Religious Freedom Abroad and from 1999-2001, he was a member of the United States Commission for International Religious Freedom.
The dress code will be white tie/black tie/national dress with decorations. Invitations cost £125 per person and include a drinks reception followed by a three-course dinner with wines. Invitations will be issued on a first come first served basis. A band will perform throughout the evening.
For more information please contact the Chancery on +44 (0) 20 6594 0275; Fax: +44 (0) 20 6594 0275; e-mail info@constantinian.org.uk |
