USA

The first Rosminian to come to the USA was Fr. Joseph Costa in 1864. Fr. Costa was a native of Italy who had previously worked for some years in the UK. Gradually he was joined by a few other priests and the Rosminians began to establish themselves in Illinois, Missouri and Indiana where they worked mainly in parish ministry. In the 1880’s Fr. Costa was instrumental in establishing St. Joseph’s Academy in Galesburg and it went from strength to strength, eventually changing its name to ‘Costa High School’. 

The Rosminians continued to work in parish ministry mainly in the mid-west for many years.  In the early 1960’s the Rosminians accepted new challenges in Florida. Over the years since then members of the Rosminians have worked in the Florida Dioceses of St. Augustine, Venice and St. Petersburg.  

At the moment the Rosminians have the care of 3 parishes in the Diocese of St. Petersburg: Blessed Sacrament Seminole, St. Francis of Assisi Seffner and St. Therese Springhill. Other Rosminians in the USA work in hospital or prison ministry. The Rosminians in Florida are now an international group of 10 priests, from the USA, Vietnam, India, Tanzania and Ireland.