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| After Mass, Dama Rosanna Minervivi and Cavs. Vincent Gangone, John Napoli and Charles Sant'Elia show their Two Sicilies pride. |
Investiture by command of His Royal Highness Prince Carlo Maria di Borbone delle Due Sicilie, by the Grace of God and Hereditary Right, Duke of Castro, Head of the Royal House of Bourbon–Two Sicilies, Grand Master of the Dynastic Orders of the Royal House
Sunday, November 5th, I had the honor of joining Her Royal Highness, Grand Prefect and Dame Grand Cross of Justice with Collar, Princess Beatrice of Bourbon–Two Sicilies, our US Delegate H.E. Cav. John M. Viola and the rest of my esteemed brethren in welcoming some 30 new and promoted Knights and Dames into the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George and Royal Order of Francis I at the Cathedral of St. Matthew the Apostle (1725 Rhode Island Ave.) the official chapel of the Order in Washington, DC.
The Investiture Mass was concelebrated by Cav. Rev. Msgr. Charles Antonicelli, Cav. Rev. Msgr. W Ronald Jameson, Cav. Rev. Msgr. Christopher Hynes, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Economos Romanus V. Russo, Cav. Rev. Msgr. James Watkins, Rev. Fr. Michael Duffy, Cav. Rev. Fr. Michael Lankford-Stokes, Cav. Rev. Fr. Dr. Richard Seagraves, and Cav. Rev. Fr. David Skoblow, Esq.
Masters of Ceremony were Deacon James Garcia and Chancellor Pasquale Menna; Marshals Cav. Nicholas Nicholson and Cav. Joseph Sciame; Lectors Hon. Michael Steele and Dr. Catherine Stevenson; Organist Suzanne Bechamps and Cantor Ellen Kliman; and Offertory gift bearers Cav. George Malone and Dama Susan Malone.
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Postulants Hon. Wayne Bacchus, Thomas Barra, and Rocco Berardi
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Honors and promotions of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George were presented to Hon. Samuel Alito, AJSC, Knight Grand Cross of Merit; Hon. Dominic Massaro, Knight Grand Cross of Merit; Nicola D’Elia, Knight Commander Jus Patronato of Grace; Baron Dr. Robert Alessandro LaRocca, Knight Commander of Justice; Rev. Msgr. W. Ronald Jameson, Knight Commander of Ecclesiastical Grace; Timothy Pickles, Knight Commander with Star; Rev. Fr. William Farge, SJ, Knight of Ecclesiastical Grace; Rev. Fr. Michael Lankford–Stokes, Knight of Ecclesiastical Grace; Rev. Fr. David Skowblow, Knight of Ecclesiastical Grace; Hon. Anita Bevaqua McBride, Dame of Merit with Star; Hon. Wayne Bacchus, Knight of Merit; Thomas Barra, Knight of Merit; Rocco Berardi, Knight of Merit; Nicholas Caiazzo, Knight of Merit; Linda Carlozzi, Dame of Merit; Aileen Mary Ann Shapiro Carlucci, Dame of Merit; Robert Edward Carlucci, Knight of Merit; Luisa Maria Cristfano, Dame of Merit; Nicholas Fedeli, Knight of Merit; Cav. Vincent Gangone, Knight of Merit; Rosanna Minervini, Dame of Merit; Joseph Panepinto, Sr., Knight of Merit; Joseph Panepinto, Jr., Knight of Merit; Marc Reynolds, Knight of Merit; Dr. Thomas Rossi, Knight of Merit; and Debra Costa Turano; Dame of Merit.
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| Contantinian sword, spurs and celestial blue collar with Cross, symbols of our Order's oath to defend the faith |
Honors and promotions of the Royal Order of Francis I were presented to H.E. Dama Dr. Margaret Badum Melady, Dama di Commenda; Louis Andre Mendola-Mantegna, Knight Commander; Scott MacMillan Baron Rathdown, Knight Commander; and Hon. Ambassador David Thorne, Knight Commander.
After Mass we adjourned to the historic Decatur House (748 Jackson Place) on Lafayette Square for a Benefit Dinner to help raise money for the hurricane victims in Texas. Following the cocktail reception in the courtyard, guests relocated to the dining hall where we were welcomed by Master of Ceremony Chancellor Menna.
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| Newly knighted Joseph Panepinto Sr. and Joseph Panepinto Jr. with HRH Princess Beatrice di Borbone |
Before enjoying our sumptuous repast, Cav. Msgr. Hynes delivered the Invocation and H.E. Cav. Viola offered a heartfelt toast. Between courses, we were given a brief history of the house and reminded of the heroics of US navel officer Commodore Stephen Decatur Jr. and his Sicilian pilot Salvatore Catalano during the First Barbary War (1801-1805).
Individuals were recognized for their service and felicitations were offered to our new brethren. I was especially moved by the reinstitution of Don Nicola D’Elia of Toronto to the Jus Patronato Commandery, which was stricken from his ancestors in 1861 after the conquest of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies. Don Nicola and his family expressed great joy and pride in reclaiming their familial history and patrimony.
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Don Nicola D’Elia with his proud family
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After dinner HRH Princess Beatrice warmly addressed the audience. Referring to us as family, she encouraged us all to hold on to our traditions, remember our roots and to keep our faith. She received a rousing standing ovation.
The evening came to a close with the Benediction by Cav. Rt. Rev. Economos Russo.
Congratulations to our new and honored confratelli and consorelle, we wish you all the best and much success in the Order. Thank you to the Knights and Dames of the Order of St. Michael of the Wing, The Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulcher of Jerusalem, Johanniter Order and the Order of Malta for celebrating with us.
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| Dama Rosanna Minervivi flanked by uniformed knights, Vice Chancellor Patrick O'Boyle and Cav. Anthony O'Boyle. |
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| (L) Dama of Merit miniature ribbon. (R) Knight Commander Jus Patronato of Grace miniature medal |
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| (L) At the Decatur House, Chancellor Hon. Pasquale Menna and Cav. Msgr. Hynes. (R) A few remarks and toast by Delegate John M. Viola |
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| (L) Our beloved Delegate was presented with a certificate of appreciation by the Comitati Delle Due Sicilie USA. (R) Cavs. Sant'Elia and O'Boyle |
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Cav. Lt. Col. Robert Ruffolo and Cav. John Napoli Photos by New York Scugnizzo |
