Constantinian Order Investiture Mass at Westminster Cathedral

Investiture Mass at Westminster Cathedral

The Grand Master of the Constantinian Order of St George, HRH Prince Carlo of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro, presided over a Royal Investiture of new knights, dames and medalists of the British and Irish Delegation of the Constantinian Order of Saint George and the Royal Order of Francis I at Westminster Cathedral on 21 October.

Before the investiture ceremony commenced, Mass was celebrated in Latin by the Grand Prior of the Constantinian Order, His Eminence Renato Raffaele, Cardinal Martino, President Emeritus of the Pontifical Councils of Justice and Peace and for the Pastoral Care of Migrants and Itinerants. The Delegation Sub-Prior, His Grace The Most Reverend George Stack, Archbishop of Cardiff con-celebrated with the Cardinal.

Knights and Dames of the Order entered in formal procession headed the Grand Master and his wife, HRH Princess Camilla, Duchess of Castro, who were followed by the Delegate for Great Britain and Ireland, HE Mr Anthony Bailey and the Vice-Delegate for Ireland, Professor Richard Conroy.

The Procession was preceded by the Mace Bearer of Westminster Cathedral Mr Albert Denehan and the flags of Great Britain and Ireland, the banner of the Delegation and the Royal Standard.

More than 500 guests attended the ceremony including over sixty knights, dames and medalists. Among them were Rory More O’Ferrall, Baroness Scotland of Asthal QC, Sir David and Lady Durie, Mr John Kennedy, Kevin Grant, Dr Daniel McCartney, Dr Colin Smythe, Mr Norman Gooding (Master of Ceremonies), Sir Michael Craig-Cooper, Jim Dobbin, MP, Cyril and Lorna Woods of Slane, The Dowager Marchioness of Salisbury, Brigadier Tom Ogilvie-Graham, Don Riccardo Tomacelli Filomarino, the Hon Alexander Brennan, HE Donal Lydon, Don Cristoforo Rocco di Torrepadula, Lady Sternberg, Lord and Lady Brennan of Bibury, Mr Timothy George, Gerard Lawler, The Hon Patrick Brennan, Dr Sorca Conroy, Professor John Ryan and Cllr John Turley.

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons, Nigel Evans, MP, attended as part of a wider group of members of the House of Commons and House of Lords.

Among the Order’s dignitaries were: HE Count Andrzej Ciechanowiecki - Delegate for the Republic of Poland, HE Dr Paulus van Hanswijck de Jonge - Delegate for the Kingdom of The Netherlands, Dr Gunnar Riebs - Vice Delegate for the Kingdom of Belgium, Nobile Doctor Antonio di Janni - Vice Delegate for Sicily and Professor Giovanni Bonanno of the Delegation of Sicily.

The Delegation was also attended by the Ambassadors, High Commissioners and Charge d’affaires of over forty nations including Armenia, Belarus, Bulgaria, Croatia, Ecuador, Japan, Kosovo, Macedonia, Montenegro,
Paraguay, Peru, Romania, the United States of America and Zambia.

A Royal Gala Dinner was held that evening, at the historic Stationers’ Hall in London. The Archbishop of Westminster, Vincent Nichols was the guest speaker. Over 250 people attended, including the Prior of the British and Irish Delegation, Cardinal Cormac Murphy-O'Connor, the Apostolic Nuncio to the Court of St James's, Archbishop Antonio Mennini and Lord and Lady Carey of Clifton.

The following message from Buckingham Palace was read out at the Mass and Royal Gala Dinner:

“The Queen was pleased to receive your kind message of loyal greetings, sent on behalf of the members and chaplains of the Delegation Council in Great Britain and Ireland of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George on the occasion of your Annual Mass in Westminster Cathedral and your Royal Gala Dinner in Stationers’ Hall.

“Her Majesty much appreciates your thoughtfulness in writing as you did and, in return, sends her warm good wishes to all concerned for a most memorable day.”

The President of Ireland, Her Excellency Mrs Mary McAleese sent the following message:

“I would like to convey my warmest greetings to the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George Delegation of Great Britain and Ireland on the occasion of your annual investiture Mass and Gala Dinner.

"I am very honoured to be included among the members of the prestigious Order which so loyally and devotedly defends the Catholic faith.

“Our two Islands know, all too well, the terribly destructive power of religious intolerance. We know that, underpinning the work of peace and prosperity building is the gospel challenge to love one another, to forgive one another and to be charitable to one another. I thank you for your quiet and often courageous work in promoting a true understanding of the Catholic faith, and engendering respect and tolerance for those who practice and uphold that doctrine.

“May God Bless you in your important work. I wish you an enjoyable and successful evening. Mary McAleese, President of Ireland.”

The Grand Master decreed, invested or promoted into the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St George:

Bailiff Grand Cross of Justice

His Highness Duke Georg von Hohenberg, GCPO, KM, (Promotion), Head of the Ducal House of Hohenberg and former Ambassador of the Republic of Austria to the Holy See,

Dame Grand Cross of Justice

Her Highness Duchess Eleonore von Hohenberg, (Promotion)

Knight Grand Cross of Justice

His Serene Highness Prince Peter von Hohenberg, KCSG, KM,

Dame Grand Cross of Justice

Her Serene Highness Princess Marie-Therese von Hohenberg, Mrs Anthony Bailey,

Knight Grand Cross of Merit with Gold Star

His Excellency Mr John Bruton, former Taoiseach of Ireland,

Ecclesiastical Knight Grand Cross of Grace

His Grace The Most Reverend George Stack, Archbishop of Cardiff, (promotion)

Ecclesiastical Knight of Grace

The Reverend Canon Christopher Tuckwell, Administrator of Westminster Cathedral,

Knight Commander of Merit with Star

His Honour Judge Patrick Clyne, KM, (promotion),

HE Mr Alexander Nixon,

Knight Commander of Merit

His Excellency Mr Donal Downes, KC*SG, (Promotion), Dr Daniel McCarthy, TD, (Promotion), Colonel Alan Roberts, OBE, TD, JP, DL,

Knight of Merit with Star

Mr Niranjan de Silva Deva-Aditya, DL, MEP, Mr John Graeme Igoe, KM, Chancellor of the Irish Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, (Promotion) and Professor Vincent McBrierty, KC*SG.

Dame of Merit with Star

Mrs Teresa Downes, (Promotion)

Knight of Merit

Mr Michael Barry, KM, Professor Trond Beravale, The Honourable Daniel Brennan, Mr Joseph Byllam-Barnes, Mr Adrian de Redman, KM, Mr John McIntosh, OBE, Mr D’Arcy Myers, Dr David O'Connell, KM, Mr Joseph O'Connor, KM, Mr Bernard O'Reilly, Dr Nicola Pedroni, Mr Andrew Rogers, Professor John Ryan, (Promotion)

Dame of Merit

Miss Anne Hodson-Pressinger, Mrs Maureen Jones, Dr Jordan Lancaster, Professor Sarah Rogers,

Silver Benemerenti Medal

His Excellency Ambassador Lachezar Matev, (Promotion), Captain Paul Champness, TD, Mr Murray Craig.

Bronze Benemerenti Medal

Mr Michael Clarke, Mr Noam Tamir.

The Grand Master decreed, invested or promoted into the Royal Order of Francis I:

Knight Grand Cross

His Eminence Archbishop Athanasius Toma Dawod of the Syrian Orthodox Church, His Honour Sir Gavyn Arthur, former Lord Mayor of London (Promotion),

Dame Grand Cross

Her Royal Highness The Princess Elena of Romania Mrs Alexander Nixon,

Knight Commander

The Lord Brennan of Bibury, KCSG, QC, Delegate Emeritus (Promotion), Sir Ewan Harper, CBE, The Lord Lingfield, Kt, KStJ, DL, Knight Principal of the Imperial Society of Knights Bachelor.

Dame Commander

The Baroness Cox of Queensbury

Knight First Class

Mr Joseph Gaggero, CBE, Mr John-Barry Noble, The Reverend Deacon Meliton Richard Oakes, Mr Albert Roux, OBE, Professor Michael Sternberg, QC, (Promotion), Mr Vivian Wineman, President of the Board of British Jews.

Dame First Class

Mrs Joyce Parsons.

For more information on the Constantinian Order please visit www.constantinian.org.uk