Aloysius Sturzo | ANZ Clergy


About Help Contact login Rev Aloysius Sturzo SJ Title: Rev First Name: Luigi Middle Names: Preferred Name: Aloysius Surname: Sturzo Order: SJ Date of Birth: 24-Apr-1826 Place of Birth: Mineo, Catania Country of Birth: Italy Date of Ordination: Place of Ordination: Country of Ordination: Ordination Diocese: Seminary: Date of Death: 17-Sep-1908 Place of Death: North Sydney NSW Country of Death: Australia Date of Burial: 19-Sep-1908 Place of Burial: Gore Hill NSW Country of Burial: Australia Find A Grave URL: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/300740503 FindaGrave - Person Photo FindaGrave - Grave Photo Biographical Notes Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017: Sturzo, Luigi Provincial, novice master, confessor; born Mineo (Catania), Sicily, 24 April 1826; died Sydney, 17 September 1908, aged 82. Aloysius Sturzo was one of four brothers to enter the Society of Jesus, and was the nephew of a well-respected Jesuit, Antonio Ayala. His parents, Don Francesco and Donna Antonia Taranto were traditional pious Catholics, and Luigi followed in the ways of faith of his parents. He entered the Society, 3 November 1840 in Palermo, at the noviciate, which is now the Casa Professa, under the care of the novice master Antonio Vinci. Rhetoric studies followed in the same house for a further two years before two years of philosophy at the Collegio Massimo in Palermo. In his second year he was the beadle of the group. Regency followed for the next six years at the Collegio Massimo, teaching grammar, history and geography, Italian, Latin and Greek at various times. In his second year he was appointed beadle of the regents. From 1854-57 Sturzo studied theology at the Collegio Massimo, during which time he was the prefect of the Sodality of Our Lady. After ordination he was appointed confessor of the parlour and to prisoners. In 1858 he made his tertianship in the Roman province, and the following year, for two years, he returned to Palermo to the House of Probation to be socius to the master of novices, Giuseppe Spedalieri. He was also spiritual father to the young scholastics, and continued his work as confessor of the parlour, and also at the hospital and in the prison. He was solemnly professed of the four vows on 15 August 1859. In 1860, with the dispersion of many Sicilian Jesuits, together with others, he was invited to Ireland, especially to care for the Italian novices. He became the first novice master of the Irish province, then rector of Milltown Park, Dublin, 1866-1877, followed by provincial of Ireland, 1877-80. He went as rector to Tullamore College, 1880-1883, and was sent to Australia and was superior of the mission and novice master until 1890, living at Richmond and Xavier College. After that he became rector of Loyola, Greenwich, and was master of novices at the same time, as well as procurator of the mission. He remained rector until his death. Sturzo had entered the Society six months before the canonical age for the reception of novices, but could not be persuaded to leave. He was highly respected, as he was master of novices at the age of 33. One of his Irish novices and later Irish provincial, John Conme, praised him for his gentleness, meekness, admirable patience, faith, and ardent love of the Lord. He was greatly respect by all who encountered him, and in his last days, he talked much about Sicily, his family and friends. He never learned to speak English well, but his spiritual sense and inward fervour came through the imperfect utterance. His Australian novices spoke highly of him. As a superior he was mild, but not weak, and was well endowed with prudence and sagacity. He had a sense of humour, and never minded being laughed at for his solecisms in English. He was a truly international Jesuit, highly respected in three countries. (Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Title:

Rev

First Name:

Luigi

Middle Names:

Preferred Name:

Aloysius

Surname:

Sturzo

Order:

Date of Birth:

24-Apr-1826

Place of Birth:

Mineo, Catania

Country of Birth:

Italy

Date of Ordination:

Place of Ordination:

Country of Ordination:

Ordination Diocese:

Seminary:

Date of Death:

17-Sep-1908

Place of Death:

North Sydney NSW

Country of Death:

Australia

Date of Burial:

19-Sep-1908

Place of Burial:

Gore Hill NSW

Country of Burial:

Australia

Find A Grave URL:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/300740503

FindaGrave - Person Photo

FindaGrave - Grave Photo

Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Sturzo, Luigi

Provincial, novice master, confessor; born Mineo (Catania), Sicily, 24 April 1826; died Sydney, 17 September 1908, aged 82.

Aloysius Sturzo was one of four brothers to enter the Society of Jesus, and was the nephew of a well-respected Jesuit, Antonio Ayala. His parents, Don Francesco and Donna Antonia Taranto were traditional pious Catholics, and Luigi followed in the ways of faith of his parents. He entered the Society, 3 November 1840 in Palermo, at the noviciate, which is now the Casa Professa, under the care of the novice master Antonio Vinci. Rhetoric studies followed in the same house for a further two years before two years of philosophy at the Collegio Massimo in Palermo. In his second year he was the beadle of the group.

Regency followed for the next six years at the Collegio Massimo, teaching grammar, history and geography, Italian, Latin and Greek at various times. In his second year he was appointed beadle of the regents.

From 1854-57 Sturzo studied theology at the Collegio Massimo, during which time he was the prefect of the Sodality of Our Lady. After ordination he was appointed confessor of the parlour and to prisoners. In 1858 he made his tertianship in the Roman province, and the following year, for two years, he returned to Palermo to the House of Probation to be socius to the master of novices, Giuseppe Spedalieri. He was also spiritual father to the young scholastics, and continued his work as confessor of the parlour, and also at the hospital and in the prison. He was solemnly professed of the four vows on 15 August 1859.

In 1860, with the dispersion of many Sicilian Jesuits, together with others, he was invited to Ireland, especially to care for the Italian novices. He became the first novice master of the Irish province, then rector of Milltown Park, Dublin, 1866-1877, followed by provincial of Ireland, 1877-80.

He went as rector to Tullamore College, 1880-1883, and was sent to Australia and was superior of the mission and novice master until 1890, living at Richmond and Xavier College. After that he became rector of Loyola, Greenwich, and was master of novices at the same time, as well as procurator of the mission. He remained rector until his death.

Sturzo had entered the Society six months before the canonical age for the reception of novices, but could not be persuaded to leave. He was highly respected, as he was master of novices at the age of 33. One of his Irish novices and later Irish provincial, John Conme, praised him for his gentleness, meekness, admirable patience, faith, and ardent love of the Lord. He was greatly respect by all who encountered him, and in his last days, he talked much about Sicily, his family and friends. He never learned to speak English well, but his spiritual sense and inward fervour came through the imperfect utterance. His Australian novices spoke highly of him. As a superior he was mild, but not weak, and was well endowed with prudence and sagacity. He had a sense of humour, and never minded being laughed at for his solecisms in English. He was a truly international Jesuit, highly respected in three countries.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)

Rev Aloysius Sturzo SJ

Biographical Notes