A new community of the Legionaries of Christ has begun to officially reside in the diocese of Catania, Italy, after Father Luca Frontali, L.C., took possession of two parishes, Santa Lucía (on October 20) and San Giuseppe in Ognina (on October 23). On both occasions, Mons. Salvatore Gristina, Archbishop of Catania, introduced the new parish priest to the faithful of each parish.

The parochial vicar of Santa Lucía will be Father Claudio García, L.C., and the parochial vicars of San Giuseppe will be Fathers Miguel Cavallé, L.C., and Arquímedes Sánchez, L.C. The new community, composed of four priests, will reside in the canonical house of the church of San Giuseppe. Father Manuel Álvarez Vorrath, L.C., territorial director of the Legionaries of Christ in Italy, a group of diocesan priests, and some Legionary priests serving in Palermo and Padua were present at the ceremonies of the new parish priest’s installation.

Mons. Gristina recalled during the celebration that, for several years, Fathers Arquímedes Sánchez and Miguel Cavallé have served the diocese of Catania and that now, with the installation of the two parishes, the presence of the Legionaries of Christ in the diocese has been institutionalized. He also invited the faithful to see, with the arrival of the new community, a gift from God. “It is rare nowadays to have the availability of four priests,” said Mons. Gristina. The bishop also reminded the parishioners of San Giuseppe that the previous parish priest had requested to be assigned to a new pastoral service.

During the homily, the new parish priest emphasized that the desire of the new community is “to be a family among families.” Father Manuel Álvarez thanked the bishop for the trust placed in the Congregation to carry out this ministry in service of the Church in the diocese of Catania, and to the parishioners for their warm welcome.

In Sicily, in addition to the two parishes entrusted to the Legionaries of Christ, the Congregation is present in Palermo at the Parish of Our Lady of Lourdes, where Father Alberto Avi, L.C., is the parish priest, and it is part of a community of four Legionaries of Christ.

Father Luca Frontali, L.C., originally from Faenza, Province of Ravenna, Italy, was ordained a priest in Rome in 2009. After his ordination, he served his ministry in Padua, at the rectory of San Canziano, and later as vice-parish priest in Busa di Vigonza, Italy.