The Prince-Abbot has recently been appointed Grand Prior for the United Kingdom of the Order of the Calamian Star of Peace. The Order is awarded by Tagbanwa Tribal Chieftain H.M. Rodolfo Aguilar I, ruler of the Coron Island Ancestral Domain in The Philippines.

The Prince-Abbot, who already holds several honours of the Royal House of Sulu (Philippines), has received the Medal of Solidarity awarded by H.R.H. Princess Dayang-Dayang nur Mahal T. Kiram. The Princess is the sister of Ampun Sultan Muedzul Lail Tan Kiram, the current Head of the Royal House of Sulu.

International Corps for Civil and Health Emergencies, Wyoming, USA

The Institute of Arts and Letters, London, has entered into a reciprocal Treaty of Collaboration and Partnership with the International Corps for Civil and Health Emergencies, an international humanitarian association incorporated in the State of Wyoming, USA.

Norman Academy, Florida, USA

The Institute of Arts and Letters, London, has entered into a reciprocal Treaty of Full Collaboration, Partnership, Accreditation and Recognition with the Norman Academy, incorporated in the State of Florida, USA. The Norman Academy is a non-profit association concerned with Arts, Letters, Humanities and Human Rights. It is active in the United States, Italy and The Gambia, where the President, H.E. Dr Yahya A.J.J. Jammeh, is Honorary Chairman of the Norman Academy. On April 29, 2003, the Norman Academy was recognized by the Government of the Republic of The Gambia as a Moral Entity of Public Utility and of High Culture, with decree no. 246/2003 issued by the Ministry of Justice.

Mgr. Franz Hippolyte Courtens is a mysterious figure about whom little is known at present. He was born in Vive Saint Eloi, part of the bigger municipality of Waregem, Western Flanders Province, Flanders Region, Kingdom of Belgium.

He also lived for many years in a Roman Catholic College in the French city of Tourcoing, Northern France.

During World War One and beyond he served as an intelligence officer for the Vatican and possibly for other Allied governments.

A Roman Catholic, he was awarded the Cross “Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice” and admitted a knight of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. He also held the Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Thorns, and was appointed a (lay) Monseigneur of the Principality of San Luigi.

In the photograph reproduced above, Mgr. Courtens wears the decoration of a Grand Cross of the Order of the Crown of Thorns on his right breast.

The Prince-Abbot has received the Commemorative Cross of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Marshal Józef Piłsudski. This is a joint decoration on the initiative of several Polish veteran organizations, patriotic associations, monarchists and former military men. It was made in a circulation of only 300 medals. The Secretary for this award is San Luigi Grand Prior H.E. Dr. Norbert Wójtowicz.

The Abbey-Principality and its constituent institutions have entered into mutual treaties of partnership, accreditation and recognition with the Academie Héraldique de Saint Paul, which is a registered non-profit association in France.

 

The Annual Dinner of the Institute of Arts and Letters (London) was held at the Civil Service Club in London on the evening of 3 November. The Fellows and their guests numbered fourteen. A decision had been taken to change the format this year to a less formal event than had previously been the case, and as a result the focus was on enjoying the company of a very diverse and interesting group of people and on some excellent food and wine.

In the course of proceedings, a presentation was made to Mr John Balsdon, Registrar of the Institute, who was presented with the honorary degree of Master of Business Administration awarded by the Western Orthodox University (Commonwealth of Dominica). This award was made in recognition of John’s considerable work as proprietor of a successful record label that has established itself as a distinctive contribution to classical music.