Fr Ronny Alessio SJ appointed new Provincial of the EuroMediterranean Province

The Superior General of the Society of Jesus, Arturo Sosa SJ, has appointed Fr. Ronny Alessio SJ as the new Provincial of the Euro-Mediterranean Province (Malta, Italy, Albania and Romania).

Father Alessio was born on October 28, 1974 in Bassano del Grappa (VI). He met the Jesuits in Padua where he frequented the Franciscan Sisters of St Elizabeth after which he discerned his vocation for 4 years assisted first by Fr. Luigi Saggin and then by Fr. Franz Tata.

In the meantime, he completed his studies in Mechanical Engineering, specializing in energy, at the University of Padua, attending the Collegio Don Nicola Mazza. During this university period, in his hometown, he worked first as a turner and milling machine operator and then, for the last 4 years, in the family bar. He also collaborated with a Family Home for the accompaniment of young people with family problems. Here he deepened his faith and thanks to the care of the director, Sr. Albina, he met the Jesuits.

After his novitiate in Genoa, he completed his studies in Philosophy in Padua (2004-2006), his Master’s degree in Scutari, and his three-year course in Theology in Madrid (2008-2011). He was ordained a priest in April 2012. Fr Alessio obtained a Licentiate in Pastoral Liturgy in Padua (2011-2013). He was then assigned to Scutari as Director General of the “Atë Pjetër Meshkalla” School (2013-2018). He did his Tertianship in Ireland and Athens (2018-2019).

From 2019 to 2021 Fr Alessio was delegate for the implementation of the Apostolic Project of the Province. He professed his final wows in Posillipo on October 8, 2021. From 2019 to 2023 he was president of CeFAEGI, which runs formation programmes for teachers in the schools and colleges that form part of the Foundation for Jesuit Education network. From 2021 to 2023 he was President of St Ignatius SSD Football club in Villa Ara, Trieste, and legal representative of the ‘Jesuit Fathers’ Residence’. Ever since 2021 he has been Rector of the Pontifical Seminary – Campania. On October 8, 2024 Fr Alessio was appointed Provincial, with a Decree from Father General Arturo Sosa.

Companions on a shared journey

View Fr Ronny Alessio’s first video message here

“I want to share my deep gratitude mixed with a certain sadness at having to leave the mission I was serving up till this point,” says Fr. Ronny in his first message following his appointment. “Perhaps I too was becoming lukewarm, touched more by the mission at hand than by our apostolic body.

In his letter of June 19, Fr. General expresses the desire that all members of the Province adopt an attitude of true spiritual conversion, to do everything possible to walk together. He adds that this will be the primary task of the next leadership of the Province: to accompany this journey, entering into a climate of greater collaboration, shared discernment, availability for service and for any necessary changes.

All this without closing ourselves in – the Jubilee invites us to become ‘pilgrims of hope,’ and the Synod calls for a Church in mission, which knows how to go beyond its confines into the geographical and existential peripheries, taking care to establish bonds with everyone in Christ, our Brother and Lord.

I thank Fr. Roberto who has given shape to a Government structure that the General sees favourably, and one that will strengthen the relationship amongst all of you, as much as possible.

How will we do this? I don’t know… the parable of the Good Samaritan comes to mind… asking for the gift of loving one’s neighbor, of being a little Samaritan, a little innkeeper… I hope not so much like the brigand, half-dead or indifferent!

I hope I can be of help to the Province. I ask for your prayers, Jesuits, lay people, religious and priests, for the intercession of the patron saints of the new Province, the blessed Jesuit martyrs in Albania, Fr. Giovanni Fausti SJ (Italian), Fr. Daniel Dajani SJ (Albanian) and Fr. Gjon Pantalija SJ (Kosovar), entrusting ourselves to Our Lady of the Way, Mary Queen of Peace, so that she may make us people capable of bringing peace and witnesses of peace in war zones”.

A word from Fr Roberto del Riccio SJ, EUM Provincial 2021-2024

“We welcome, with a heart full of gratitude to the Lord, the gift of Fr. Ronny Alessio whom Father General has chosen to lead our EUM Province in the coming years” said Fr Roberto Del Riccio SJ. “In order to sincerely support Fr Ronny in his new mission as our Provincial, we are called to accept the invitation that Father General has addressed to us: to seriously put ourselves in an attitude of true spiritual conversion to walk together with a deep sense of unity of the Body. Grateful to Ronny for having accepted his new mission as Provincial, we ask the Lord to kindle in each of us the desire to let ourselves be converted by Him into living members of this humble Society bearing His name”.

The Euro-Mediterranean Province of the Society of Jesus, established on July 1, 2017, comprises Albania, Italy, Malta and Romania. It has 384 Jesuits, present in 35 communities. It has approximately a hundred works in social, cultural, educational fields, alongside young people, and for the promotion of the Spiritual Exercises.