By Cav. John Napoli
Friday, April 26, Staten Island, New York – The Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George (SMOCSG) Investiture Weekend kicked off Friday evening with a Welcoming Reception at the scenic Belvedere Club (79 Howard Ave.) in Staten Island, New York. Some eighty guests filled the cozy Italianate mansion on Grimes Hill—with its stunning view of the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge—for a lavish meet-and-greet replete with cocktails, delicious gourmet fare by Executive Chef Massimo Felici, and the musical stylings of Maestro Louis Siani on the piano.
Without question, the highlight of the evening was the investiture of Gina Biancardi, who was made Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Order of Francis I, an Order of Knighthood established by decree on September 28, 1829 to reward civil merit. The ceremony was presided over by our esteemed Delegate HE Cav. John M. Viola and Vice-Delegate Cav. Patrick O’Boyle. Dama Biancardi was recognized for her many important contributions to the Italian American community, including the founding of the Italian Cultural Foundation at Casa Belvedere.
Saturday, April 27, New York, New York – The Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George Investiture Mass was held Saturday afternoon at historic St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church (22 Barclay St.) in Lower Manhattan. Mass was sung by celebrant and homilist the Very Rev. Msgr. Cav. Joseph Ambrosio, Chaplain of the Order and Pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church in Newark, New Jersey. Monsignor was dutifully assisted by server Phil Vierno; HE Cav. John M. Viola served as Lector; and Count Justin Morin-Carpentier de Changy was the Master of Ceremony.
Established in 1785, St. Peter’s was the first Roman Catholic parish in New York and predates by a few years the first Bishopric founded in Baltimore, Maryland in 1789. The first Solemn High Mass was offered on November 4, 1786. More relevant to the Order, our late Grand Master HM Charles of Bourbon, King of Naples and Sicily (later King of Spain), generously donated one thousand silver dollars to help construct the church.
During the ceremony, honors and promotions were presented to Carmine Amato Berardi, Knight of Office; David Gregory D’Alessandro, Knight of Office; Francesco Nicholas Rossi, Knight of Office; Matthew Bonfitto, Knight of Merit; John Robert Brown, Knight of Merit; Joseph Peter Cirillo, Knight of Merit; John A. Fratta, Knight of Merit; Thomas R. Gilmour, Knight of Merit; Gerard S. LaRocca, Knight of Merit; Eric Joseph Lavin, Knight of Merit; Michael Thomas Limongello, Knight of Merit; Andrew Portelli, Knight of Merit; Joseph Quintilian, Knight of Merit; Basil M. Russo, Knight of Merit; Vincent C. Tizzio, Knight of Merit; Joseph C. Sardano, Knight of Merit; Carlo Piccolo, Knight of Merit; Raymond Arrovo, Knight of Merit; Jeanne Abate Allen, Dame of Merit; Donna Cameron Connolly, Dame of Merit; Mary Morrow Mooney, Dame of Merit; Eva Sturchio, Dame of Merit; Hon. Francesca La Marca, Dame of Merit; Kara Elizabeth DioGuardi, Dame of Merit; Dolores Alfieri Taranto, Dame of Merit; Michael Joseph Piazza, Knight Officer of Merit; Hon. Joseph John DioGuardi, Knight Officer of Merit; Cav. Patrick O’Boyle, Esq., Knight Officer of Merit; Vito De Stefano, Knight Officer of Merit; Reverend Father Michael C. Barone, Knight of Ecclesiastical Grace; Reverend Father Timothy A. Iannacone, Knight of Ecclesiastical Grace; Reverend Father Edmund Amil Luciano III, Knight of Ecclesiastical Grace; Reverend Father Joseph A. Mancini, Knight of Ecclesiastical Grace; Reverend Father Carmine Rizzi, Knight of Ecclesiastical Grace; Reverend Canon Matthew Louis Talarico, Knight of Ecclesiastical Grace; Reverend Father Stephen Anthony Saffron, Knight of Ecclesiastical Grace; Reverend Father James F. Spera, Knight of Ecclesiastical Grace; Reverend Father Richard G. Cipolla, Knight of Ecclesiastical Grace; Reverend Mons. Joseph Ambrosio, Knight Officer of Ecclesiastical Grace; H.E. Bishop Frank J. Caggiano, Knight Grand Officer of Ecclesiastical Grace; and H.E. Bishop James Massa, Knight Grand Officer of Ecclesiastical Grace.
Saturday, April 27, New York, New York – Members of the Order reconvened with family and friends later that evening at the elegant Broad Street Ballroom (41 Broad St.) in the New York City’s Financial District for the highly anticipated Ballo Constantiniano.
After warm introductions and welcoming speech by our Delegate, and incredibly rousing rendition of the United States National Anthem by Dr. Kevin Strother, grace was said by the Reverend Canon Cav. Matthew Talarico ICRSS, Rector of the National Shrine of Christ the King in Chicago and Provincial Superior of the United States province of the Institute of Christ the King.
Dressed to the nines, partygoers enjoyed a sumptuous repast, the delightful Sicilian poetry of Nino Provenzano, and music by The Bloomfield Mandolin Orchestra, which performed a fantastic rendition of Inno al Re, the national anthem of the Kingdom of the Two Sicilies composed by Giovanni Paisiello.
Sunday, April 28, East Harlem, New York – Our Investiture Weekend celebration concluded Sunday morning on the Octave Day of Easter at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel Pontifical Shrine (448 E116th St.) in East Harlem, New York. In thanksgiving for the investiture of the new cavalieri and dame, the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass was sung in the Extraordinary Form by The Reverend Canon Cav. Matthew Talarico.
The Reverend Father Cav. Richard Cipolla, Chaplain of the Society of Saint Hugh of Cluny and Pastor Emeritus of St. Mary's Church in Norwalk was the Homilist. Father Cav. Michael Barone attended in choir and Father Christopher Salvatori SAC, Associate Pastor assisted with the distribution of Holy Communion.
Cordially welcomed by Pastor Reverend Father Marian Wierzchowski SAC, and Fr. Salvatori, the Shrine’s bell tower—recently restored through the charitable support of the Delegation—was rededicated in honor of Blessed Maria Cristina of Savoy, former Queen of the Two Sicilies. It was the perfect ending to our incredibly festive and edifying weekend.
I want to thank all the members of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George who helped make this weekend a great success, especially the incomparable Stephanie Gordon whose hard work and dedication to the Order is an inspiration to us all! I also offer my heartfelt thanks to our esteemed Delegate HE Cav. John M. Viola, who is a tireless organizer, a true leader and friend. As always, His Excellency did a tremendous job and we are indebted to his munificent hospitality, remarkable leadership, and unrivaled devotion to our community! God Bless our Grand Master, HRH Prince Carlo di Borbone, Duke of Castro, and the Royal Family! IHSV!
