Serafino Arena

Serafino Arena was born on 4 May 1876, to Giuseppe Arena (1834–1910) and Domenica Giuffrida (1843–1923) in Misterbianco, Catania, Sicilia. They lived in via Santa Orsola.

On 22 October 1925 he married Savina Livia Tedeschi (1869, Monchidori [sic. Montedoro?] –1925, Catania) in Catania, Sicily, with whom he had three children: Angelo (1905– ); Joseph (1908–1991) and Serafino Jr. (1910–1952).

Arena was converted to the pentecostal faith in 1908 during a visit by Luigi Francescon, who was visiting the Moles family [q.v.] in Los Angeles. In 1910, Serafino Jr was born, providing the information that Arena was a 'merchant', living at 5874 Woodlawn Ave, Los Angeles. Francescon records:

I gathered in the house of Brother N. Moles some sisters who had been saved and sealed with the [Holy Spirit] in the American churches of that city. At that time the Lord saved Serafino Arena and family, and some others. After a time, Brother S. Arena felt comfortable bearing the witness in Sicily, Italy, which he was very successful at.

He returned to Catania around 1911 and the first group of believers, as shown by the Archiepiscopal Archives of Catania, gathered for worship in local homes. In 1912, Arena was working with Francescon's Assemblea Cristiana colleague, Giacomo Lombardi [q.v.] in and around Messina.

In 1919 Arena founded (but did not at first pastor) the community which would become the Church in Catania. He also worked extensively in the rest of Sicily, his work in Riesi, Messina, and Scaletta Zanclea (Messina), leading to new works there too. Those who knew him recalled that he was neither terribly well educated nor a gifted preacher, but "he knew how to overcome these natural gaps with the burning zero of his Christianity overflowing with enthusiasm." People in his congregation recalled that he was a tall man (1.80 metres), good looking, brown complexion and graying hair. He wore a mustache and beard on his chin. He always dressed with dignity, always appearing at worship meetings and evangelizations in the square in a jacket and tie. His ministry was built on the direct address that the pentecostal gospel made to the lived experience of people, incluidng in healings and the miraculous. One story handed down involved the healing of a lame man:

During the worship service he said to his lame brother that he was supported on crutches: 'The Lord Jesus heals you, walk and get up in the name of Jesus'. The lame man did not believe that the word was addressed to him and remained at his place a little confused, but Arena, grabbing him by the hand, helped him to his feet saying: 'Trust in the Lord, get up and walk!', and the lame man slowly without the help of crutches began to walk to the astonishment of those present. [Lombardo 2022]

At this time the community was located in a district called Zia Lisa.

In 1920 Arena relocated to Messina for an evangelistic campaign, leaving the church in the hands of Bro. Ravidà, returning to Catania to lead the church from 1923 until 1927. He is nevertheless remembered as the first leader of the community of Catania.

In 1927 he left Catania to go to the north of Italy to Cascina Mariaca, near Erba (province of Como). Arena was convinced that this was a divine leading with precise instructions to evangelize and build a community. Having left and rented and fitted out a place of worship, however, it remained completely empty, creating disappointment in those who had believed and collaborated in his undertaking. Arena then disappears from the standard records, as the rise of Fascist oppression (Erba was in the very heart of the Fascist Republic of Salò, the revanchist rump of the post-1943 regime) drove pentecostal churches underground. [Lombardo 2022]

In 1928, 19 year old Joseph returned to the USA. Serafino Jr remained in Sicily, married Grazia Ferlito and had at least one son, Santo (1909–1969).

Serafino Arena Sr died on 4 Feb 1952 in Erba, prov. Como. Despite the disappointments of his 'end', his work in Sicily continued to flourish. Reinforced by other returnees from the USA - which saw the founding of Scordia (Emanuele Salvatore), Grammichele (Salvatore Gandolfo), and Giarre (Salvatore Spinella) -- Arena's works in Messina and Catania grew into among the strongest Protestant presences in Italy. They would become the source of global expansion throughout the Sicilian diaspora after World War II.

Family:

• Joseph (23 Mar 1908, Los Angeles, CA-23 Feb 1991, 34972, Okeechobee, FL); m. Rose Farace (4 Jun 1911, Chicago–13 Feb 1986, Okeechobee FL); daughter of Domenico Farace (1877–1937) and Mary Louise Cantore (1884–1950). 1930, working as a moulder, living at 2316 Grand Ave., Chicago. 1940: Restaurant Proprietor, living at 1121 Pulaski Ave, Chicago. 3 children (all girls), including:

  • Livia A (26 Apr 1930, Chicago, IL - 1974, Chicago, IL; m. Silvio J. Irali

    • Elyse.

    • Paul

    • Rosanna (m. Neil Caporale)

    • Karin (m. Zucker)

  • Marie Rose (b 1930)

  • Josephine (b. 1940)

• Serafino Jr. (b. 10 April 1910, Los Angeles, CA–)

Sources:

Ancestry.com (see public tree: https://www.ancestry.com.au/family-tree/person/tree/87959507/person/48574282160/facts)

Lombardo, P., Local church recollections of Serafino Arena, personal correspondence 30 Dec 2022.