Streetwise priest



Streetwise priests (preti di strada; curas de la calle; prêtres de rue; Priester der Straße) are Roman Catholic priests who exercise their spiritual mandate by living in structures in direct contact with the "street", which is their mission land. Historical streetwise priests include Philip Neri (1515–1595) and John Bosco (1815–1888).

Recently, the expression came to denote priests with reformist ideas, especially those involved in reform movements for social justice in a Christian context through service to the poor and marginalized. Their work covers various areas, such as education, marginalization, imprisonment, development cooperation, drug addictions, disabilities, orphans and abandoned children, prostitution, and homelessness.

In many cases, streetwise priests form groups, associations, or communities, especially inclusive of laity. Through 2008, debates and conflicts with ecclesiastical hierarchy existed regarding Catholic social teaching and implementing the Second Vatican Council's doctrine.

Notable streetwise priests
Below is a list of priests who have been described as streetwise.

Africa

 * Father Jean-Baptiste Malenge Kalunzu,

Central America

 * Oscar Romero, El Salvador
 * Padre Gadalupe, James Carney, American missionary murdered in Honduras 1983
 * Juan José Gerardi Conedera, Guatemala

South America

 * Padre Cacho, Uruguay
 * Don Gonzalo Aemilius, Uruguay
 * Monsignor Hélder Câmara, Bishop
 * Don Júlio Lancellotti, Brazil
 * Father Alfredo Souza Dorea, Brazil

North America

 * Larry Rosebaugh, O.M.I.
 * Greg Boyle
 * Michael Pfleger

France

 * Abbé Pierre (1912–2007)
 * Father Guy Gilbert (b. 1935)
 * Fr. Pedro Meca
 * Father Axel
 * Father Jean Tessier
 * Father Jean-Philippe Chauveau
 * Abbé Fabrice Loiseau

Germany

 * Franz Meurer

India

 * Barnabe D'Souza, Salesian of Don Bosco, Mumbai Province.
 * Bosco Pereira, Salesian of Don Bosco, Mumbai Province (1950-2013) founder of Shelter Don Bosco
 * George Kollashany, Salesian of Don Bosco, Bangalore Province, Founder of BOSCO a Non Governmental Organisation working with the Young At Risk in the city of Bangalore since 1980.
 * George Miranda, Salesian of Don Bosco, Mumbai Province.
 * Gregory Almeida, Salesian of Don Bosco, Mumbai Province, currently directory of Don Bosco Bal Prafulta
 * Lester Fernandes, Salesian of Don Bosco, Mumbai Province.
 * Monty Rodrigues, Salesian of Don Bosco, Mumbai Province.
 * Thomas Koshy, Salesian of Don Bosco, Hyderabad Province, director of the Navajeevan Bala Bhaven.
 * Xavier Devdas, Salesian of Don Bosco, Mumbai Province.

Italy

 * Don Antonio Acciai (1924 – 1974), Genoa
 * Don Vinicio Albanesi (b. 1943), Comunità di Capodarco
 * Don Franco Baroni (1934–1985), OASNI (Care for Nomads)
 * Don Mimmo Battaglia (b. 1963), Centro Calabrese di Solidarietà, Catanzaro
 * Monsignor Tonino Bello (1935–1993), Bishop
 * Don Oreste Benzi (1925–2007), Comunità Papa Giovanni XXIII
 * Don Giancarlo Bertagnolli (don Geki) (b. 1933), Associazione La Strada – Der Weg, Bolzano
 * Don Albino Bizzotto (b. 1939), Beati i Costruttori di Pace
 * fratel Ettore (Ettore Boschini) (1928–2004)
 * Monsignor Giancarlo Bregantini (b. 1948), Bishop
 * Don Marcellino Brivio (b. 1951), Carcere di Opera
 * Don Luigi Ciotti (b. 1945), Gruppo Abele and Libera
 * Don Dante Clauser (1923–2013), Punto d’incontro, Trento
 * Don Virginio Colmegna (b. 1945), Casa della Carità, Milano
 * Don Danilo Cubattoli (don Cuba) (1922–2006)
 * Father Angelo Cupini (b. 1939), Comunità di via Gaggio, Lecco
 * Don Peppino Diana (1958–1994), priest against the Camorra
 * Don Roberto Dichiera (b. 1974), Comunità Nuovi Orizzonti
 * Father Carmelo Di Giovanni (b. 1944), St Peter's Church, London
 * Don Fortunato Di Noto (b. 1963), Associazione Meter
 * Don Pierluigi Di Piazza (b. 1947), Centro Ernesto Balducci, Zugliano
 * Don Andrea Gallo (1928–2013), Comunità di San Benedetto al Porto
 * Don Fabio Giacometti (1967–2011), Meldola,
 * Father Mario Golesano (b. 1949), Fondazione Don Giuseppe Puglisi
 * Don Aniello Manganiello (b. 1953), priest against the Camorra
 * Don Edoardo Medori, Comunità San Benedetto, Livorno
 * Don Luigi Melesi (b. 1933), Carcere di San Vittore, Milano
 * Don Luigi Merola (b. 1972), priest against the Camorra
 * Don Matteo Migliore (b. 1937), Torino
 * Don Lorenzo Milani (1923–1967), Scuola di Barbiana
 * Don Franco Monterubbianesi (b. 1931), Comunità di Capodarco
 * Don Fredo Olivero, Torino
 * Don Giacomo Piazza, Comunità Progetto Sud di Lamezia Terme
 * Don Mario Picchi, Centro italiano di solidarietà
 * Father Antonio Poletti, Caserta
 * Don Valentino Porcile
 * Don Giuseppe Provitera, Secondigliano
 * Don Pino Puglisi (1937–1993), victim of the Sicilian Mafia
 * Don Innocenzo Ricci
 * Don Gino Rigoldi, Istituto penale per minorenni "Beccaria" (youth detention centre)
 * Father Giuseppe Russo, Palermo
 * Don Alessandro Santoro, Comunità delle Piagge
 * Don Roberto Sardelli, Scuola 725 all'Acquedotto Felice, Rome
 * Don Luciano Scaccaglia, Parma
 * Don Vincenzo Sorce, Casa Famiglia Rosetta,
 * Don Antonio Terlizzi (-2011)
 * Don Mario Vatta, Comunità di San Martino al Campo
 * Father Alex Zanotelli
 * Don Armando Zappolini
 * Don Giuliano Zattarin

Ireland

 * Fr Peter McVerry, SJ (b. 1944)