From September 1 to 27 in Rome, the General Office for Formation is promoting the second program of ongoing formation for a group of Consolata Missionaries celebrating their jubilee, who during this six–year period will celebrare 25 years of priestly ordination and/or religious profession. The first course, held in Italian, took place in May 2025, and a third one is scheduled for September 2027.
By Jaime C. Patias *
Fifteen missionaries (14 priests and 1 brother) from Africa, Latin America, and Europe are taking part in the course at the Generalate House.
The General Office for Formation includes the General Councilor, Fr. Mathews Odhiambo Owuor, and Fathers Antonio Rovelli and Ernesto Viscardi, who are coordinating the program.
Opening Mass
The opening Mass of the course, on Monday, September 1, was presided over by Fr. Mathews Odhiambo, who in his homily invited the jubilarian missionaries “to be pilgrims of hope, bringing the light of Christ to those who are lost and suffering. The elements of this Jubilee Year encourage us to reflect on how we can be instruments of hope in our contexts, becoming ‘Missionary Pilgrims of Hope!’ by bringing Christ’s love and compassion to those who need it most,” he said.
These courses are carried out in response to the mandate of the most recent General Chapter of 2023 (XIV GC 53-64), which asked the General Council to “organize a program of accompaniment and care for missionaries throughout their lives, through ongoing formation initiatives, especially on the occasion of jubilee anniversaries.”
To avoid the risk of falling into routine and losing enthusiasm, “it is necessary to establish a prolonged period of stepping away from ordinary life in order to ‘re-read it’ in the light of the Gospel and the thought of the Founder, St. Joseph Allamano, canonized in 2024,” recalled Fr. Mathews. “His life and teachings continue to inspire us, reminding us that our first call is to holiness,” insisted the General Councilor. The Founder taught us to be “First Saints, then Missionaries,” a theme that inspires the G25 Course program. “Reflecting on your 25 years of service, reflect on how you can embody this call to holiness today more than ever.”
Commenting on the day’s Gospel, focused on Jesus’ Mission Plan (Luke 4:16–30): proclaiming the good news of salvation to the poor, healing the brokenhearted, and announcing freedom to captives, Fr. Mathews recalled that this “is a powerful reminder of our ad gentes mission as an Institute. We are called to be ‘Missionary Pilgrims of Hope!’”—another theme that inspires this course.
The Main Aim of the course
In the presentation booklet of the G25 Course, the organizers emphasize that for us religious, “ongoing formation is a unique opportunity to be transformed by the paschal experience of the Lord Jesus, to the point of desiring to die ‘to be with Christ,’ in coherence with the original choice of one’s vocation. Permanent formation is an intrinsic requirement of religious consecration. A religious cannot consider his formation as a ‘new man’ complete unless, in every circumstance of life, he experiences within himself the very sentiments of Christ.”
In this sense, the general objective is “to promote, renew, and provide knowledge, pastoral human–spiritual growth, and inspire the missionaries to live their religious vocation fully. The purpose is to improve the capacity for discernment and develop the specific skills required by missionary life. At the end of this program, participants will be able to rekindle and strengthen their fundamental choice for Consecrated Life in the Institute; recognize and embrace the potential and gifts that God has given them; and reach a deeper understanding of spirituality and Consecrated Life.”
“It takes fire to be missionaries”
The first work session, on the morning of Monday, September 1, began with an inaugural celebration at the entrance of the Generalate House, from where the participants processed toward the columns hall. The pilgrimage included two symbolic gestures: purification through hand-washing and the lighting of incense. As each missionary performed the symbolic act, they recalled the phrase often repeated by the Founder: “It takes fire to be good missionaries,” an ardent desire to be fervent and zealous missionaries leading many to encounter Jesus.
After the blessing and words of welcome, each missionary had the opportunity to introduce himself and share about life and mission. Fathers Antonio Rovelli and Ernesto Viscardi presented the course program, methodology, and the list of speakers invited to address the different topics planned.
In the afternoon, the various service groups (animation, music, liturgy, timekeeping, communication, and editorial committee) met to organize their responsibilities during the course, which will continue until September 27.
* Fater Jaime C. Patias, IMC, Office for Communication.
