Msgr. Giuseppe Pavone,  the Administrator of the Archdiocese of Trani-Barletta. Bisceglie, announces that the episcopal ordination of His Excellency, Msgr.. Leonardo D’Ascenzo, the new Archbishop of Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie, will take place on January 14, 2018, in the Cathedral of St. Clement of Velletri, at 5:00 p.m.

Father Leonardo D’Ascenzo will officially take office in the diocese of Trani-Barletta-Bisceglie on January 27, 2018 in the cathedral of Trani with a solemn Celebration at 4:00 p.m..On February 18, 2018,  he will be in Corato and celebrate  the Holy Mass.

Msgr. Leonardo D’Ascenzo was born on 31 August 1961 in Valmontone, province of Rome and diocese of Velletri-Segni. After his high school examinations at the State Technical-Industrial Institute, he entered the “Pontifical Leonine College” Regional Seminary in Anagni for his studies in philosophy and theology, followed by the Pontifical Gregorian University, where he obtained a licentiate in dogmatic theology and a higher degree in science of education. He obtained a doctorate in spiritual theology from the Pontifical “Teresianum” Theological Faculty.

He was ordained a priest on 5 July 1986 for the diocese of Velletri-Segni, and was parish vicar of Santa Maria in Segni, parish priest of Santa Croce in Artena, and parish vicar of the Cathedral of San Clemente in Velletri. He was at first diocesan assistant of Catholic Action for young people and then unitary assistant.

Msgr. Leonardo D’Ascenzo also served as spiritual father, vice-rector and then director of the preparatory year of the “Pontifical Leonine College” in Anagni, director of the centre for vocations, both diocesan and regional, and vice-director of the National Centre for Vocations of the Italian Episcopal Conference.

He is lecturer in spiritual theology at the “Pontifical Leonine College”, and collaborator in the parish of Santa Barbara in Colleferro. On 21 February 2004 he was named Chaplain of His Holiness.

In July 2015 he was appointed as rector of the “Pontifical Leonine College” in Anagni.

On  October 24, 2017, Fr. Felice Posa returned to the Father’s house after 62 years of priesthood. He was a spiritual son of Fr. Pasquale Uva and ordained a priest on August 14, 1955. He became Vicar General for the diocese of Bisceglie, Director of the “Don Uva” Health Institute in Bisceglie and a close associate of Fr. Pasquale.

Fr. Felice was Prothonotary. For years he was the Judge of the Ecclesiastical Tribunal and professor of canon and ecclesiastical law. He  served as a parish priest of the churches of St. Lucia and St. Augustine. He was the Director of the Miulli Hospital Research Center, Treasurer of the Chapter in Acquaviva and Director of the Chapter Archive.

On August 9, 1994, Fr. Felice was appointed first Postulator of the Cause of Beatification and Canonization of the Servant of God, Luisa Piccarreta, and held this office until 2001.

The Association Luisa Piccarreta Little Children of the Divine Will fondly remembers his moral qualities and the praiseworthy commitment made by him in setting up the works on the Cause, supported by his faith and love for the spirituality of the Divine Will. We entrust Him to the mercy of God. We are confident that our Heavenly Father welcomed him in the Kingdom of His Supreme Fiat giving him the greatest joy: living in Him and in His Will.

Associazione Luisa Piccarreta