Father John Dominic Tarlattini, C.P., St. Paul of the Cross Province (1816-1886)

Born in the village of Limano, in the diocese of Lucca, Italy on February 23, 1816, he is considered one of the founders of the United States Passionists. At twenty one he professed his Passionist vows in Lucca on January 11, 1837. He was ordained on December 19, 1840. In 1854 Father Tarlattini was chosen to go to the newly established venture in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania by Passionist General Superior Anthony Testa. There Tarlattini was appointed as superior. From 1863 until 1866 Tarlattini was the first provincial of the newly established St. Paul of the Cross Province in the United States after which he went, for a short time, to Mexico where he founded a retreat and opened a novitiate. Upon his return to the United States, he served as Master of novices and religious superior. Again, he was provincial from 1872 until 1875. Because of an impediment in his speech he preached on a very infrequent basis. Still he was known as kind confessor and spiritual guide. In 1878 he was elected to go the Passionist General Chapter in Rome where he was elected to be a member of the General Council. He was the general’s visitor to Mexico, where he died in 1864. He is buried in the Passionist church in Tolucca, Italy.