CATALDINO, GIUSEPPE – One of the founders of the Paraguay missions. Born in Fabriano (Ancona) in April 1574, died in San Ignacio Miní on 10 July 1653. He was already a priest when he entered the Society of Jesus in 1601. He departed for America still a novice, accompanying Fr Diego de Torres. Between 1605 and 1606 he was sent from Peru to Paraguay, where a new province of the Order was shortly thereafter established. In 1609 he was appointed, together with Fr Simone Massetta (also an Italian), to found new reductions in Guayrá, where he remained for many years as superior. In 1633 he founded the reduction of San José near the Sierra del Tapé. After Fr Marcel de Lorenzana, he also served as superior of all the Paraguay missions.
Bibl.: F. Xarque, Vida apóstolica del ven. p. Josef C., uno de los primeros, y mas insignes conquistadores de las dilatadas provincias y bárbaras naciones del Guayra, Saragozza 1664; Streit, Bibl., II, p. 559; P. Pastells, Historia de la Comp. de Jesús en la provincia del Paraguay, 2 voll., Madrid 1912-15, passim.