Seminary of Acireale (

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: ''Seminario Vescovile di Acireale'') is a

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seminary located in

Acireale Acireale (; scn, Jaciriali, locally shortened to ''Jaci'' or ''Aci'') is a coastal city and ''comune'' in the north-east of the Metropolitan City of Catania, Sicily, southern Italy, at the foot of Mount Etna, on the coast facing the Ionian Sea. ...

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in the Diocese of Acireale for the education and training of young men studying for the priesthood.

History

The seminary was founded on 15 December 1881 by the first Bishop of Acireale, Gerlando Maria Genaurdi. The building which houses the seminary was originally St. Martin's college and was acquired by a group of priests for the purpose of establishing a seminary for men from various dioceses of Sicily and southern Italy who were training for the priesthood. The first

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was Fr. Alessandro Amato, selected by Bishop Genaurdi on the advice of the

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. Fr. Alessandro was a young priest with degrees in theology and philosophy which he had obtained from the

Pontifical Gregorian University The Pontifical Gregorian University ( it, Pontificia Università Gregoriana; also known as the Gregorian or Gregoriana,) is a higher education ecclesiastical school (pontifical university) located in Rome, Italy. The Gregorian originated as ...

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. He served as rector from 1881 to 1887. Italian politician and priest, Don

Luigi Sturzo Luigi Sturzo (; 26 November 1871 – 8 August 1959) was an Italian Catholic priest and prominent politician. He was known in his lifetime as a " clerical socialist" and is considered one of the fathers of the Christian democratic platform. He ...

was a resident of the seminary for three years from 1883 to 1886. As of 2007, the seminary housed a total of 20 seminarians''Il Solco'', 2006-2007 edition, p.4. The rector of the seminary as of 2021 is Don Marco Catalano, and the vice-rector is Fr. Alfio Privitera.

References

* ''Il Solco'', published by the Seminary of Acireale, 2005-2006 edition * ''Il Solco'', 2006-2007 edition * Instituto di Luigi Sturzo, ''Università e cultura nel pensiero di Luigi Sturzo: atti di convegno'', Google Books accessed 29 September 2009 {{coord missing, Italy Education in Sicily Buildings and structures in Acireale