London, 18 December 2014. The Grand Magistry of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George has announced today that the longstanding charitable engagement in St Lucia has commenced a new phase in partnership with the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Castries.
The charitable projects, whose grants have now been transferred, are being supported thanks to the efforts of the Delegation for Great Britain and Ireland in cooperation with the Diocese of Castries. They include the external restoration of the Catholic Cathedral Basilica of the Immaculate Conception in Castries and the publication of a book written by His Grace The Most Reverend Robert Rivas, Archbishop of Castries ‘How Beautiful the Valley’, launched in London on 10 December 2014. The book will be formally launched in the Caribbean in late January 2015 by the Governor General of St Lucia, HE Dame Pearlette Louisy, GCMG.
This significant charitable engagement follows the highly successful Visit of the Secretary General of the Royal Order of Francis I and Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations of the Constantinian Order, HE Sir Anthony Bailey to St Lucia from 29-31 October 2014 which included meetings with the Governor General, Prime Minister and the Archbishop of Castries.
Anthony Bailey said, “I am delighted that the Constantinian Order has finalised shortly after the visit this significant donation which will allow for the immediate commencement of the projects in St Lucia. The Constantinian Order has been actively engaged in St Lucia since 1981. These projects further develop the longstanding connection with the country, its church and our Order”.
The Rt Hon Baroness Scotland of Asthal, QC, said: “I am truly delighted that the Constantinian Order, of which I have been a member since 2003, has been so gracious as to accede to my pleas that it should widen its global programme to include the Caribbean region, which sadly has within its compass many areas of acute deprivation and need which, notwithstanding the strong faith of its people, merits further spiritual encouragement and is worthy of immediate financial and other support.”
A full and official report is currently being prepared and will be published early in the New Year.
The institutional charitable and community engagement undertaken and launched in St Lucia by the Constantinian Order in the areas of national and religious patrimony and community outreach is part of a wider regional programme for the Caribbean including Antigua and Barbuda and the Commonwealth of Dominica, and which is expected to be extended next year to St Vincent and the Grenadines, Barbados and Grenada.