St John’s, November 2014. A high level delegation of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George paid an Official Visit to Antigua and Barbuda from 1 – 4 November 2014 at the invitation of the country’s Prime Minister.
The main purpose of the high level visit was to launch an extensive charitable programme in the fields of education, national patrimony, inter-religious understanding, and social and community welfare. The significant charitable projects in the country include the Good Samaritan Church and Centre in Hatton the redevelopment St Joseph’s Academy, Christ the King High School and the St John’s Catholic Primary School. The benefits of these projects go well beyond the minority Catholic community to impact the multi-faith Antiguan society as a whole.
The high level delegation was led by HRH Prince Charles of Bourbon Two Sicilies, Duke of Castro and 59th Grand Master of the Constantinian Order, HRH The Duchess of Castro and His Eminence Renato Raffaele Cardinal Martino, Grand Prior of the Constantinian Order and Cardinal Proto-Deacon of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. This visit marked the first ever visit of a member of the Sacred College of Cardinals to visit Antigua and Barbuda. To mark the new international engagement of the Order, the Grand Master publicly announced during the Official Visit the creation of a permanent Delegation for the Caribbean, based in Antigua and Barbuda.
The eighteen-member delegation included HE Anthony Bailey, OBE, Magistral Delegate for Inter-Religious Relations and Secretary General of the Royal Order of Francis I. The Rt Hon Baroness Scotland of Asthal, QC, a member of the Constantinian Order’s British and Irish Delegation Council together with five members of the Order’s Charitable Council representing numerous faiths Cyril Woods, (Anglican) Nadhmi Auchi (Muslim), William Jeffcock (Roman Catholic), Spas Roussev (Orthodox), Mr Francesco Baroni, Private Secretary to HRH The Duke of Castro, and Dr Xhoana Papakostandini, Chief of Staff to the Secretary General.
His Excellency David Shoul, Ambassador of Antigua & Barbuda to the Holy See and His Excellency Archbishop Nicola Girasoli, Apostolic Nuncio to Antigua & Barbuda, His Grace The Most Rev Robert Rivas, Metropolitan Archbishop of Castries and The Most Rev Kenneth D Richards, Bishop of St John’s-Basseterre also formed part of the official delegation.
To view photographs from the Constantinian Order’s visit to Antigua and Barbuda, please see our Photo Gallery by clicking here.
