Washington DC, November 2017. On 5 November 2017, more than fifty members of the United States Delegation of the Constantinian Order came together at the Cathedral of Saint Matthew The Apostle, in Washington DC, to celebrate Holy Mass and to take part in the investiture ceremony of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George and the Royal Order of Francis I. The ceremony was held in the presence of the Order’s Grand Prefect, Her Royal Highness Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies.
Representing the United States Delegation were the Prior His Eminence Theodore Cardinal McCarrick, as well as the Delegate, HE Cav. John M. Viola, and the Chancellor, the Hon. Pasquale Menna. Baron Dr. Robert A. La Rocca, Vice Delegate, and Cav. Patrick O’Boyle, Vice Chancellor, were also in attendance. Over 5 clergy concelebrated including the Rector of the Cathedral, Cav. Rev. Msgr. W. Ronald Jameson. Unfortunately, due to health concerns, Cardinal McCarrick was prevented at the last minute from attending in person, but sent his heartfelt greetings by personal messenger.
The Delegation was honoured by the attendance of official representatives from the Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, the Sovereign Military Order of Malta and the Johanniter Orden. Friends and family members of the postulants, knights and dames of the Constantinian Order, and the Royal Order of Francis I, were present, with more than one hundred attending the Mass and investiture ceremony.
During the ceremony HRH Princess Beatrice, personally invested those attending with their diploma of appointment or promotion, and the Delegate, Cav. John Viola, presented each knight and dame with the appropriate insignia of their rank.
Following the investiture, a black tie reception and dinner was held at Decatur House, built in 1817 for the American Naval hero Stephen Decatur for eighty guests.
The recipients of the awards were:
SACRED MILITARY CONSTANTINIAN ORDER OF SAINT GEORGE
KNIGHT GRAND CROSS OF MERIT
The Honorable Samuel Alito, Associate Justice, The Supreme Court of the United States
The Honorable Dominic Massaro *
KNIGHT COMMANDER JUS PATRONATO OF GRACE
Nicola D’Elia
KNIGHT COMMANDER OF JUSTICE
Baron Dr. Robert Alessandro La Rocca*
KNIGHT COMMANDER OF ECCLESIASTICAL GRACE
Rev. Msgr. W. Ronald Jameson
KNIGHT COMMANDER WITH STAR
Timothy Pickles*
KNIGHTS OF ECCLESIATICAL GRACE
Rev. Fr. William Farge, SJ
Rev. Fr. Michaael Lankford-Stokes
Rt. Rev. Msgr. Richard V. Russ
Rev. Fr. David Skoblow*
DAME OF MERIT WITH STAR
Hon. Anita Bevaqua McBride
KNIGHTS OF MERIT
Hon. E. Wayne Bachus
Thomas Barra
Rocco Berardi
Nicholas Caiazzo
Robert Edward Carlucci
Nicholas Fedeli
Cav. Vincent Gangone
Joseph Panepinto, Sr.
Joseph Panepinto, Jr.
Marc Reynolds
Dr. Thomas Rossi
DAMES OF MERIT
Carol Berardi
Aileen Mary Ann Shapiro Carlucci
Luisa Maria Cristofano
Rosanna Minervini
Debra Costa Turano
THE ROYAL ORDER OF FRANCIS I
KNIGHTS COMMANDER
Louis Andre Mendola-Mantegna
Scott MacMillan of Rathdown*
Hon. Ambassador David Thorne
DAMES COMMANDER
H.E. Dama Dr. Margaret Badum Melady
(* – indicates promotion to a higher grade)