July 15, 2008

Dear Knights and Dames:

On behalf of the 2008 Sacred Military Constantinian Order of St. George Investiture Committee, we look forward to welcoming you to Chicago for the Investiture weekend Friday, September 12th through Sunday, September 14th. We have planned a weekend of fraternity and fellowship, spirituality and celebration, beauty and joy.

Our activities will be centered on the Magnificent Mile, with a Friday evening visit to our exciting new Millennium Park on the lakefront, and a Saturday visit to the River North neighborhood.

Chicago’s Magnificent Mile runs along Michigan Avenue, from the wonders of the Tribune Tower and Wrigley Building on the Chicago riverfront, to the Chicago Water Tower, survivor of the 1871 Chicago Fire, a symbol of Chicago's fierce drive to endure any adversity. The Magnificent Mile is known for fine shopping, dining and entertainment in the midst of architectural treasures and gardens. Our weekend home - The Peninsula Hotel – is centered in this welcoming environment. The Peninsula Hotel has been awarded numerous accolades, including the prestigious Mobil Five-Star and the AAA Five-Diamond awards for five consecutive years. We will have a chapel in the hotel from Friday evening through Saturday morning, with an opportunity for confession and Eucharistic adoration. Also, two tips – don’t miss the legendary Peninsula Afternoon Tea, while their string quartet plays from the lobby balcony; and don’t miss the Hotel Spa, rated the number one Urban Spa by Conde Nast Traveler. The Peninsula Spa is an oasis on the top two floors of the hotel, offering unparalleled views of the city, where you can unwind with pampering beauty therapies, or just relax at the pool and sundeck. Truly, we hope you will leave our hotel location refreshed in both body and soul!

The weekend will commence with a Vespers prayer service at 4:00 p.m. If your travel schedule allows, please try to join us as we gather communally to ask God’s blessing upon our endeavors.

Friday night of the Investiture weekend has always been a great time to visit with friends, and to welcome those entering our Order. We have chosen to have our Friday evening event in Chicago’s “front yard” to the lakefront. We will take a ride down Michigan Avenue to Chicago’s award-winning Millennium Park, with the Frank Gehry-designed Jay Pritzker Pavilion, the interactive Crown Fountain by Jaume Plensa, and Anish Kapoor's Cloud Gate sculpture. Then we will have our reception and dinner with some very special Chicago residents – Cézanne, van Gogh, Rembrandt, and Monet! We have arranged a special “after hours” visit to the Art Institute of Chicago for a private viewing of one of the world's great art collections, while we enjoy our reception, followed by dinner.

The highlight of the weekend will certainly be our Saturday Investiture Mass at St. John Cantius Parish in Chicago’s River North neighborhood. We will be hosted by the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius, who are dedicated to the preservation of the artistic patrimony of the Church, replete with exemplary vestments, sacred vessels, and art works. Complementing the visual impact of the church is the music provided by one of its six choirs. Francis Cardinal George, Archbishop of Chicago and a member of our Order, will be the principal celebrant of our Mass, as well as one of the Order’s guests of honor later that evening.

Saturday evening, we plan a truly memorable gala dinner back at the Peninsula Hotel, in the Grand Ballroom, followed by an “afterglow” into the night with coffee, cordials, and deserts, while we are treated to one of Chicago’s great performers. As everyone departs on Sunday, we hope a fond memory of the weekend’s events endures, until we meet again.

As you can see, we have lined up quite a weekend -- but the best part of the weekend will be having you join us! With your presence, our committee will truly feel that its efforts have been worthwhile.

See you in September!

Keith and Mary Armato
Investiture Committee Co-Chairs