This was communicated in the evening to the outgoing ISI Provincial, Fr Giovanni D’Andrea, by the Councillor for the Mediterranean Region, Fr Juan Carlos Pérez Godoy.
Fr Saraniti, who until now has been the rector of Don Bosco – Ranchibile in Palermo, was born in Paternò on 14 December 1979 and grew up at the oratory in Cesarò, where the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians work.
After studying at the Capizzi Liceo Classico in Bronte, he entered the novitiate on 8 September 1999, spent the year preparing for his first profession in Pinerolo, Monteoliveto, and made his first profession as a Salesian at Valdocco, Turin, on 8 September 2000. He completed his philosophical studies in the San Tarcisio community in Rome and attended courses at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome from 2000 to 2002. He did his practical training in Palermo at the Jesus the Adolescent school from 2002 to 2004.
He attended theological studies at the San Tommaso Theological Institute in Messina from 2004 to 2007, finally making his perpetual vows on 16 September 2007. He was ordained a priest, by Bishop Ignazio Zambito, Bishop of Patti (ME), in Cesarò on 10 May 2008.
As a deacon and in the first year of his priesthood, he was at the Saint Thomas Aquinas community at the Pontifical Salesian University in Rome. He graduated in Pedagogy at the University of Palermo and in Philosophy at the Roma Tre University.
Always with young people and for young people, his first obedience after the years of formation was to be in charge of the oratory at Ranchibile and teacher of History and Philosophy at the local high school. In 2017, he was appointed Rector of the House. From 28 April 2018 until today he has been a Provincial Councillor, and was Delegate for the Salesian Cooperators at the Ranchibile centre until last October.
Fr Saraniti succeeds Fr Giovanni D’Andrea, who received heartfelt thanks from the entire provincial community for the service rendered in recent years on behalf of young people, families and all the educative and pastoral communities in Sicily.
Announcing the news of the new appointment to his confreres, Fr D'Andrea commented with a sports example: "Just as in a relay a runner, at the end of his journey, passes the baton to another who continues the race, so I am passing the ‘witness’ of the service of animation and government to Fr Domenico, who I am sure will do well in the stretch assigned to him in this race , which continues to embody the dream and mission of Don Bosco for young people in Sicily, especially the poorest."
Fr Saraniti will begin his service as Provincial on 25 January 2025, and will thus take part in the General Chapter that will take place at Valdocco, Turin, from 16 February to 12 April 2025.
