Chev. John Refieuna, Imperial Chief Scout, Passes Away

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. 15 December 2016 (ORCNS) - The Patriarchal Household of the See of St. Stephen is deeply saddened to report the passing of Colonel the Chevalier John V. Refieuna (16 December 1946 – 12 December 2016), age 69, in Huntsville, Alabama, USA. While awaiting surgery, he suffered a massive heart attack. He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Antonette Durkee. He is survived by his wife, Lady Cynthia Refieuna; son, Michael; and daughter, Karen. "John Refieuna was a devoted Catholic dedicated to service to others; and he was a good friend whose kindness will never be forgotten," said the Cardinal Count of Sainte Animie. 

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Chev. John Refieuna addresses the congregation at an
event for papal knights and other Christian knights.
Seated behind him are the Prince v. Reichenberg (L)
and the Cardinal Count of Sainte Animie (R).

Chev. Refieuna was a graduate of St. Joseph Catholic High school and the University of Wisconsin Parkside. He was a member of Good Shepherd Catholic Church in Huntsville, Alabama, and was a Past Grand Knight of a local Knights of Columbus Council. Among his many offices held in service to others, he was the Chancellor of the Most Honorable Legion of the Eagle, a Companion Aide-de-Camp of the Noble Company of Saint Mary of Walsingham, and the Imperial Chief Scout of the Patriarchate's religious outreach ministry to the World Brotherhood of Scouting, the Imperial Scouts and Guides of the Holy Roman Empire. He was also active with Boy Scouts of America for over 60 years and served on a number of Scouting committees and was the Chairman for Catholic Committee on Scouting for the Diocese of Birmingham in Alabama. He received many awards including the Catholic Adult Scouter's Saint George Emblem, the Anglican Rite Roman Catholic Church's national Silver Saint George Medal for Christ and the Nation, the District Award of Merit, and the Silver Beaver for service at the council level. He had also been nominated for the prestigious Silver Antelope award for Scouting service on the regional level at the time of his unexpected death. 

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Chev. John Refieuna (second from left) with other recipients
of the Imperial Distinguished Scout religious award. 

His many honors includes Knight Commander of the Pontifical Order of Saint Gregory the Great, Companion of the Most Honorable Legion of the Eagle, Knight of Honor (Civil Division) of the Royal Order of Saint Stephen, and Distinguished Imperial Scout of the Holy Roman Empire. He held the rank of Colonel in the Walsingham Guard and the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Civil Air Patrol. Professionally, Chev. Refieuna was a retired Engineering Department Manager supporting NASA/Marshall Space Flight Center and also served as an Adjunct Instructor of Mathematics.

Epidemia di Meningite in Toscana

FIRENZE 30 dicembre 2016 (ORCNS) - Mgr. Rutherford Johnson, Cardinale Conte di Sainte Animie e Principe di Firenze e Mma. Hanna, Principessa di Firenze hanno espresso costante preoccupazione sopra l'epidemia di meningite continua in Toscana. Un numero elevato di casi è stato confermato dalle autorità sanitarie della Repubblica italiana nel 2016 ed è creduto per essere portato da clandestini. "Si tratta di una minaccia preoccupante per la gente Toscana ed ai visitatori. Preghiamo che questa epidemia sarà portato sotto controllo," ha detto il Conte di Sainte Animie.

Meningitis Epidemic in Tuscany

FLORENCE 30 December 2016 (ORCNS) - Mgr. Rutherford Johnson, Cardinal Count of Sainte Animie, Prince of Florence, and Mme. Hanna, Princess of Florence have expressed continuing concern over the continuing meningitis epidemic in Tuscany. A high number of cases have been confirmed by health authorities of the Italian Republic in 2016 and are believed to be brought by illegal immigrants. "This is a troubling threat to the people of Tuscany and to visitors. We pray that this will be brought under control," the Counte of Sainte Animie said.

Christmas Address of H.Em. the Card. Patriarch of St. Stephen

ENGLISH TRANSCRIPTION:

Dear members of the Court of St. Mary of Walsingham and all the faithful in Christ around the world whom we serve, grace and peace, and our Apostolic Blessing on this Feast of the Nativity, in the year of our Lord 2016. This day is a joyous day, the culmination of a long period of waiting. Truly the world walked in darkness, and our Lord Jesus Christ came to bring everyone into the light. Christ is truly the light of the world, the only light, and without Him, we are always in darkness. But, it was not a single and historic event, after which humanity would walk in the light. Yes, the birth of Jesus Christ happened approximately 2000 years ago. But, dear sons and daughters, think for a moment. Yes, the light of Christ has arrived, but the love of Christ has not entered into the hearts of the people. The hearts of mankind remain hardened against love. Brother against brother. Country against country. Children against parents. Christian against Christian. Officials of the Holy Church against Christ. For me, it is difficult to understand this. It is difficult to understand, in this era of our Lord, that hate exists where love could exist. This is truly the result of the diabolical work of the devil. The great enemy likes hate, war, suffering, poverty, and famine. We, dear sons and daughters, the clergy and laity, we must fight against the forces of darkness, the forces of the devil. We must show forth the love of Christ and maintain the Holy Church.

There is in the world a problem of Christians with a weak faith, like a slight wind with no power. That sort of faith is not the true faith. To have the true faith, it is necessary to be on fire for Christ. It is necessary to be a fanatic for Christ and for His Holy Church since to love Christ is, by that very fact, to be a fanatic for Christ. The lukewarm Christians have caused a degradation to the Holy Church, and this is like a knife in the back of Christ. We must pray for the conversion of the lukewarm Christian as well as of the modernists, but we can no longer tolerate their destruction of the Holy Church.

Therefore, dearest sons and daughter, let us march as an army of Christ and carry the standard of Our Lord to all people in every country and in every community. Let us set on fire the hearts of everyone for Christ in every place. Only when the people open their hearts to Christ will the world become better. Without Christ, neither goodness nor virtue exists. All for Christ, the light of the world.

And now, prepare yourselves to receive the blessing of Our Lord.

Et benedictio Dei omnipotentis, Patris + et Filii + et Spiritus + Sancti descendat super vos et maneat semper. R. Amen. 

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ORIGINAL TEXT: 

Carissimi membri della Corte di S. Maria di Walsingham, e tutti i Cristifideli nel mondo chi serviamo, grazia e pace a tutti, e la mia benedizione Apostolica nel festo del Santo Natale, Anno Domini 2016. Questo giorno è un giorno gioioso, il culmine d’un lungo tempo di speranza. In verità il mondo camminava nelle tenebre, e nostro Signore Jesu Christo venne per illuminare tutto il mondo. Christo è veramente la luce del mondo, l’unica luce, e senza di lui, noi siamo sempre nelle tenebre. Ma, non fu un evento solo e storico, dopo di cui l’umanità camminarebbe nella luce. Sì, la nascita di Jesu Christo, avvenuta quasi 2000 anni fa. Ma, carissimi, per un momento pensate. Sì, la luce di Cristo ha già arrivato, ma l’amore di Christo non è già entrato ai cuori della gente. I nostri cuori rimangono duri contra l’amore. Fratello contra fratello. Paese contra paese. Figli contra genitori. Cristiano contra Cristiano. Ufficiali della Santa Chiesa contra Cristo. Per me, è dificile capire questa cosa. È dificile capire, nell’epoca del Nostro Signore, che esiste l’odio dove solo esisterebbe l’amore. Questo è veramente il risulto del lavoro diabolico del diavolo. Al nemico grande si piaciono l’odio, la guerra, la sofferenza, la povertà, e la fame. Noi, carissimi, il clero e la laicà, noi dobbiamo combattare le forze delle tenebre, le forze del diavolo. Dobbiamo mostrare l’amore di Cristo e sostenere la Santa Chiesa. 

C’è nel mondo un problema di cristiani con una fede senza forza, come un piccolo vento molto meno mosso. Questa fede non è la vera fede. Per avere la vera fede, è necessario essere in fiamme per Cristo. È necessario essere fanatico per Cristo e per la sua Santa Chiesa poichè qui ama Cristo è di conseguenza un fanatico per Cristo. I cristiani tiepidi hanno causato una degredazione della Santa Chiesa, e questo è come un coltello nel dorso di Cristo. Dobbiamo pregare per la conversione dei cristiani tiepidi, inoltre dei mondernisti, ma non possiamo più lasciarli rovinare il cuore della Santa Chiesa.

Quindi, carissimi, marciamo come un esercito di Cristo e portiamo lo stendardo di Nostro Signore ad ogni popolo in ogni paese ed in ogni communità. Infiammiamo i cuori di tutti per Cristo in ogni luogo. Solo quando la gente apre il cuore a Cristo sarà migliore il mondo. Senza Cristo non esistono la bonta’ e la virtù. Tutto per Cristo, la luce del mondo.

Adesso, preparatevi per ricevere la benedizione di Nostro Signore.

Et benedictio Dei omnipotentis, Patris + et Filii + et Spiritus + Sancti descendat super vos et maneat semper. R. Amen.

Franciscan Abbot Deployed to Charleston, Helps Hurricane Victims

CHARLESTON 28 Nov 2016 (ORCNS) - Hurricane Matthew, a Category 1 storm, stuck Charleston in early October. It left destruction in its wake, with several dead. Mgr. Abbot Anthony Giunta, TOR Mar., deployed from Lexington, South Carolina, to Charleston to help as a chaplain. Abbot Anthony is Minister General of the Franciscan Third Order Regular of Penance of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Commandant of the Chaplain Regiment of the Walsingham Guard. 

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Relief Efforts in Charleston

While in Charleston on an extended deployment, the Abbot served with police chaplains and others. He ministered to the homeless and persons displaced by the hurricane. He was a beacon of hope to countless people looking to him as a shepherd and minister of the Holy Gospel. When asked about his experiences, Abbot Anthony said that it was not an easy mission. It took significant effort to keep going and "...bring forth the energy to carry the message and keep fighting for all in need," the Abbot said.

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Abbot Anthony has a long history working with First Responders.
In the Charleston relief efforts, he worked with police and
fire departments to help those in need. 

Abbot Anthony has many years of experience as a chaplain in hospitals and with police and fire departments. As a priest and Abbot, he serves in the Religious and Military Patriarchate of St. Stephen (Anglican Rite Roman Catholic Church), a non-parochial, mission-based Old Roman Catholic personal patriarchate. The Cardinal Patriarch of St. Stephen said, "Abbot Anthony is an inspiration to us all. We are a mission-based See, and the good Abbot's work exemplifies our sacred mandate." 

Walsingham Guard Qualification Brevets Awarded

20 November 2016 (ORCNS) - General Command of the Walsingham Guard is pleased to announce that several officers of the Guard were awarded the following qualification brevets in recognition of skills and qualifications obtained through professional-level specialty training.

Airbourne Brevet

Flight Surgeon Brevet

Air Crew Brevet

Health Support Officer Brevet

Patrol Boat Commander Brevet

Patrol Boat Officer Brevet

Airbourne Brevet insignia

Air Crew Brevet insignia

Flight Surgeon Brevet insignia

Health Support Officer Brevet insignia

Patrol Boat Officer Brevet insignia

Patrol Boat Commander Brevet insignia

All images Copyright (C) 2016 Walsingham Guard. All Rights Reserved.

John Refieuna receives Silver St. George Medal for Christ and the Nation

15 November 2016 (ORCNS) - Chev. John V. Refieuna, a retired government contractor and long-time leader in Boy Scouts of America and other church and civic organizations, was recently awarded the Silver St. George Medal for Christ and the Nation for his exceptional service to both the Church and Scouting. The medal, whose proper name in Latin is the Insegne Argenteum Sancti Georgii pro Christo et Patria, is presented by the Patriarchal Council for International Scouts and Guides (Consiglio Patriarcale per Scoutismo Internazionale) for service to the Church and positive character development of youth. Typically recipients are active in a program within the World Brotherhood of Scouting, though sometimes awards are given to those outside the program for service to Scouting or youth in general. 

An Eagle Scout, John Refieuna has been an active adult leader in Scouting through Boy Scouts of America for many years, with over 60 years in the Scouting program. In addition to being highly involved in the Catholic Committee on Scouting for his local diocese, he has also served the Patriarchate of St. Stephen's Scouting outreach ministry and had significant impact on the development of its programs. Refieuna's other Scouting awards include the Silver Beaver award (from Boy Scouts of America) and the Imperial Distinguished Scout of the Holy Roman Empire religious award given by the Patriarchate of St. Stephen. Outside of Scouting, Refieuna is a Knight Commander with Star of the Pontifical Order of St. Gregory the Great and is active in the Knights of Columbus. He also holds the ranks of Lieutenant Colonel in the Civil Air Patrol (U.S. Air Force Auxiliary) and Colonel in the Walsingham Guard, the uniformed humanitarian wing of the Patriachate of St. Stephen.