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