Father, son to be invested as ‘Knights’ in ancient Order

Among the 21 men and women being welcomed into the ancient and internationally recognized dynastic Orders of Knighthood engaged in spiritual, humanitarian, hospitaller and charitable projects across the U.S. and the world are two members of a local Catholic family: John Bonaduce and his 23-year-old son, Dominic.Dominic, a recent graduate of the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., was inspired as a freshman to become a squire in the Order. He had met a senior student who introduced him to the Order’s many activities, which include the promotion of the Roman Catholic faith, protection of the Holy Roman Church and participation, along with members of the interdenominational Royal Order of Francis I, in global charitable projects. A Boy Scouts of America “cub scout” in middle school, Dominic was impressed that Constantinian Order members were active in promoting vocations to the priesthood and religious life through Scouting and the Military. Two years ago, he volunteered at a “St. George Trek for Vocations” at a Boy Scout Camp in New Mexico where seminarians led scouts considering vocations to the religious life.“I thought it was absolutely amazing the effect that the Constantinian Order had on the students — they were doing a lot with the kids to help them with their lives,” said Dominic. He also appreciates the Knighthood’s outreach to other faiths and volunteered last year in the Order’s interfaith dialogue held at the Pope John Paul II Cultural Center in Washington, D.C. When members of the Constantinian Order heard of John Bonaduce’s pro-life activities — his Choir Shantigarh singers perform his Requiem for the Unborn at the Cathedral every year on the anniversary of Roe v Wade — several asked to participate in the honor guard for the liturgy’s candle ceremony. For the past three years, Constantinian Order Knights from the East Coast have flown out for the January service.In recognition of John and Dominic’s service to the church and the Order, they will both be invested as Knights of Merit in the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George. Dominic will also take on the duty of being vice-chancellor for squires. The squire program, which currently includes 16 young adults, exists as a period of formation for young men and women, allowing them to be mentored by the example of the knights and dames of the order while simultaneously taking part in charitable and humanitarian works.“I believe that being a member of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order will better allow me to serve the sick and poor and help those in need by presenting me with more opportunities, and further, stronger ways to do my part,” said Dominic. “There is strength in numbers, and the honor of being a member of the Order would be in the fact that I would be able to share my faith and skills with all the men and women united in a common mission to defend the Roman Catholic faith.”“While it may sound exotic to speak of the ‘knight’ and his ‘quest,’ it sounds very modern when we describe the ‘purpose-driven life,’” said John, music director at Our Lady of Peace in North Hills and teacher at Notre Dame High School in Sherman Oaks. “That’s what being a Knight means to me: the outward sign of a purpose-driven life.”Cardinal McCarrick, archbishop emeritus of Washington D.C., is the prior of the Order’s American Delegation, which has its head office in Dunkirk, Maryland. The chancery of the Constantinian Order is in Naples, Italy, with an office in Rome. {gallery width=100 height=100}gallery/2011/0715/constantinian/{/gallery}