Bishop of Nuoro and Lanusei
Antonio Mura, known as Don Antonello, was born in Bortigali (in the province of Nuoro and the diocese of Alghero-Bosa) on December 28, 1952. He completed his secondary education at the Technical Institute for Surveyors in Macomer and attended university for two years before entering the seminary in 1974. Sent to Rome, he obtained a Baccalaureate in Philosophy and Theology from the Pontifical Salesian University. He earned a Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology from the Theological Faculty of Sardinia and degrees in Pedagogy and, subsequently, in Philosophy from the State University of Sassari. He was ordained a priest on August 1, 1979, in his hometown. Following his ordination, he held the following positions and ministries: Assistant Pastor of San Francesco in Macomer (1979–1981); Assistant Pastor of San Leonardo in Villanova Monteleone (1981–1982); Animator at the Sardinian Regional Seminary in Cagliari (1982–1985); Editor-in-Chief of the diocesan newspaper *Il Dialogo* (1984–1993); Spiritual Director at the minor seminaries of Alghero and Bosa (1985–1988); Head of diocesan youth ministry (1986–1988); Director of the Regional Vocations Center (1985–1995); Pastor of San Leonardo in Villanova Monteleone (1988–1991); Pastor of the Nativity of Mary in Santa Maria La Palma (1991–1993); Director of the Diocesan Liturgical Office (1993–2007); and Rector and Administrator of the diocesan seminary (1993–2009). Furthermore, he has been registered with the National Order of Journalists (as a *pubblicista*) since 1986, and has served as Director of the School for Ministries and the Formation of Permanent Deacons since 1994. Since 2004, he has served as the regional coordinator for the CEI’s Cultural Project; since 2005, he has been the editor of the diocesan fortnightly publication *Il Dialogo*; and from 2007 to 2010, he served as the diocese's Pro-Vicar General. He has taught religion at the Technical Institute in Macomer, the Teacher Training Institute in Bosa, and the Classical High School in Alghero; he has also taught history and philosophy at the Classical and Scientific High Schools in Bosa and Macomer, as well as at the Teacher Training Institute in Bosa. He is currently a lecturer at the Higher Institute of Religious Sciences in Sassari and a member of the Presbyteral Council and the College of Consultors. He contributes regularly to the daily newspaper *Avvenire*.