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| MEMORIAL MASS IN NEW YORK CITY FOR HIS SERENE HIGHNESS PRINCE RAINIER III Family,
friends and admirers gather to honor
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| MEMORIAL MASS IN NEW YORK CITY FOR HIS SERENE HIGHNESS PRINCE RAINIER III Family,
friends and admirers gather to honor
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New York – A Memorial Mass was held at New York City’s Cathedral of Saint Patrick on April 27 for His Serene Highness Prince Rainier III who passed away, aged 81, on Wednesday, April 6, 2005. The Mass, which was organized by the Consulate General of Monaco, with the participation of the Permanent Mission of the Principality of Monaco to the United Nations and the Princess Grace Foundation-USA, was officiated by His Excellency the Most Reverend Celestino Migliore, (Permanent Observer of the Holy See to the United Nations); concelebrants were the Reverend Monsignor John T. Ferry, Associate Rector at the Cathedral and the Reverend Father Vittorio Guerrera. NYC attorney, Mr. John Dunlap, a Knight of the Order of Malta also took part in the service. The Hon. John F. Lehman, Chairman of the Princess Grace Foundation – USA, delivered a poignant eulogy. Mr. Lehman, a former US Secretary of the Navy and a cousin of Princess Grace, led the official delegation to represent the United States at Prince Rainier’s funeral in Monaco on April 15 at the request of President George Bush. In his tribute, Mr. Lehman described the Prince as a great leader, a man who was modest about His exceptional military career and a gentle and loving father. Cousins of HSH Prince Albert II, Mr. John B. Kelly III and his sister and nephew, Susan and William Von Medicus, and Julie Loesch took part in the offertory procession. A number of family members and friends from the United States were also in attendance along with delegates and official representatives from more than 70 countries. NYC Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe represented Mayor Michael Bloomberg and New York City. In October 2003, HSH Prince Albert and Commissioner Benepe dedicated the Living Memorial Grove near City Hall where surviving trees from Ground Zero were replanted. At His initiative, the Living Memorial Tree Foundation was established in Monaco and as a tribute to 9/11 victims and survivors, donated 3000 trees to the City of New York. H.E. Ambassador Gilles Noghes, Monaco’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, gave the reading and Hon. Maguy Maccario-Doyle, Consul General of Monaco, offered the general intercessions. Thirteen-year-old MonégasqueGabrielle Doyle read the responsorial psalm. “America’s Tenor”, former NYPD officer, Daniel Rodriguez, who celebrated Monaco's National Day last November in the Principality, paid a special musical tribute to the Prince by leading the singing and performing moving renditions of “Ave Maria” and “Amazing Grace” as soloist. A special delegation of two police officers, Commandant–Inspector Jean Pierre Raffaelli (Hon.), Chevalier de l’Ordre de St. Charles and President of the International Police Association (Monaco section) flew in from Monaco to participate. Police Officer Roger Bosio, I.P.A. (Monaco) Vice-President, stood as a special Guard of Honor during the Mass. The Mass was opened to the public and more than 700 mourners attended.
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