From the armed forces to the priesthood, through a long and unexpected journey of discernment. It is the vocational story of Don Antonio Calandra Sebastianella, new parish priest of the community of Santa Domenica Virgin and Martyr of Tremestieri, called to take up the baton of Father Marcello Pavone, who led the parish for almost six years. His arrival in the southern village represents a new chapter in a priestly experience marked by accompaniment, discernment and service to the Church.
Don Antonio, who will celebrate seven years since his presbyteral ordination on 4 October, has in fact dedicated a significant part of his ministry to the formation of young people on their way to the Seminary: he was vice-rector of the “San Pio he will instead continue to serve as private secretary to Archbishop Giovanni Accolla. A path that has its roots in its own vocational history. Born in 1988 and raised in Mili San Marco, after graduating as a surveyor he began his theological studies with the idea of teaching religion, and then took a different path and volunteered for two years in the Navy at the Port Authority of Messina. Precisely in those years the question about one’s vocation arose and the choice to begin a journey of discernment with the archbishop’s seminary. On 30 September 2013 he entered the Seminary and, in the following years, the path towards the priesthood. A choice that Don Antonio has always described as a destination capable of giving meaning to the experiences he had previously lived. “The Lord began to knock on the door of my heart in a new, unexpected way,” he recalled when speaking of his vocation. And on the day he became a priest he entrusted the meaning of that choice to a simple phrase: “God’s dream has also become mine”.
It is a phrase that today seems to naturally accompany the start of his new service. After the years dedicated to accompanying young people in vocational discernment, Don Antonio is now called to accompany an entire community, making available the experience gained in the Seminary and in service alongside the archbishop. Archbishop Giovanni Accolla underlined the beauty of this new path: “Thank you because you are opening your heart to the community of Tremestieri, which together with you will carry on a beautiful path of evangelization”, he said. The family and community of Mili San Marco were present at the entrance celebration, together with the priests of the vicariate and other presbyters who crossed Don Antonio’s path over the years. Also sharing this moment were the outgoing parish priest, Father Marcello Pavone, the members of the Confraternity of Santa Domenica, the scout group and the parish choir.