Fr Domenico Paternò was born in Messina (Italy) on 6 October 1955. He completed all his schooling and academic preparation in his city of birth, concluding with a degree in Law at the Faculty of Law at the University, Messina. During his schooling, he met the Salesians at the Dominic Savio Oratory, located in the district where the family lives. After completing his studies, and following a process of discernment, he entered the Novitiate and made his first religious profession on 12 September 1978 in Lanuvio (Rome) before the Rector Major at the time, Fr Egidio Viganò. After completing his practical training and obtaining the state qualification in 1983 in Catanzaro to teach Law and Economics and then having undertaken theological studies, in October 1984 he made his perpetual profession in Catania before the Rector Major Emeritus Fr Luigi Ricceri. On 29 December 1985 he was ordained a priest in Messina by Salesian Bishop Domenico Amoroso.
His journey as a Salesian took place largely in the CNOS-FAP Vocational Training Centres in Sicily where he held various roles as director in the various centres until becoming Regional Delegate of CNOS-FAP from 1994 to 2010. He was assistant of the VDB area in Palermo from 1995 to 2001 and Rector of various houses from 1998 to 2013. He was Provincial Councillor from 2002 to 2008. In September 2013 obedience sent him as Rector of the house at Manouba in Tunisia where he ran a primary school for all Muslim students and an oratory, holding various positions for the local Church at the service of Muslims. Since September 2022 he has been a Provincial Councillor for ISI.
