Father Paolo De Leo is the new parish priest for the communities entrusted to the Doctrinariee in Cavaillon-Les Vignères, Cheval Blanc, and Robion-Les Taillades, which make up the Cavaillon pastoral sector in the Diocese of Avignon. On Sunday, September 20, during the 10:30 a.m. Mass at the Cathedral of Notre Dame et Saint-Véran, Archbishop François Fonlupt presided over the celebration alongside Vicar General Father Charles-Bernard Savoldelli, the Superior General of the Doctrinaries (Father Sergio La Pegna), the outgoing parish priest (Father Gianmario Redaelli), Fathers Emmanuel Nkengurutse and Jean-Marie Nahimana, and Permanent Deacon Franck Thiriet.
Also present in the cathedral—packed with the faithful who expressed great gratitude to Father Gianmario—were the mayors of Cavaillon, Cheval-Blanc, and Le Taillades, as well as the deputy mayors of Robion.
In entrusting the parishes—serving a population of over 45,000—to Father Da Leo, Archbishop Fonlupt reiterated the mandate to “unify without imposing uniformity,” with the aim of creating a single parish in the coming years that could be named after Saint-Véran and—as the new parish priest hopes—Saint César de Bus.
Father De Leo will be assisted by vicars Father De Martino and Father Nahimana, while Father Nkengurutse will move to Italy for further study, and Father Gianmario Redaelli will go to Sant’Andrea Apostolo in Rome to continue his pastoral service as parochial vicar.
Father Paolo De Leo developed his vocation in Turin, at the Gesù Nazareno parish. Following his ordination, he served in India for many years—starting from the inception of the first Doctrinarie community—and worked as an assistant parish priest in both Turin and Rome; he is currently the head of Cesar-stock, the Doctrinariaries youth and vocational pastoral care movement aimed at young people aged 12 to 20.
The installation ceremony of Father Paolo De Leo as the new parish priest of Cavaillon.
