Inspired by the biblical text of John, chapter 21, 1-14, the “risen Jesus and the disciples”, Father Ugo Pozzoli, IMC, reminded the Consolata Jubilee missionaries gathered in Rome for the ongoing formation course of the need to start again from Christ. Peter and his colleagues after the death of Jesus found themselves wounded and disillusioned that they went back to their original occupation.
By Stephen Gichoki Ngari *
Father Ugo is a former General Councilor and currently works in Turin as head of Missioni Consolata Onlus, which supports evangelization and human development projects in our missions. He is also Vicar for Consecrated Life in the Archdiocese of Turin, where he works with over 2,400 religious men and women. The reflection by Father Ugo, held via videoconference from Turin, concluded the first week of the course program, which will last until the 27th of September.
“Jesus always attentive to those he has called and chosen organized for the second calling”, remembered Father Ugo. ‘After this Jesus revealed himself again to his disciples at lake Tiberias…’. “It was a wounded community which had lost hope, especially with the project of Jesus. However, the miraculous catch of fish revived the fire of the calling. Peter, jumped into the water in order to get to Jesus. He felt revived from the despair”.
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The second ongoing formation course begins in Rome
Connecting this text with the situation of those attending the renewal course, Fr. Ugo said that “crises in consecrated life are inevitable, discouragement and disappointments will always be there in our missionary life. But we should not give up. Jesus comes towards us in order to rekindle the fire of our calling”.
In this scene, “Jesus prepared breakfast for the disciples with bread they didn’t know where it came from and with fish they didn’t catch. Just as he did during the last supper he took the bread and gave it to them. They had spent the whole night fishing therefore they were weary physically and emotionally disappointed for having caught nothing. Jesus showed them, and at the same teaches us, to trust fully in Him and believe that with Him we will always get all that is needed”.
The second aspect the father drew from the gospel text was the importance of the community. “When Peter decided to go fishing the others felt bound to accompany him. So we can say the whole community backslid. However, after the miraculous catch the loved disciple was the first one to point out to Peter and the others that the man standing at the shore of the lake was the Lord”.
According to our charism we are consecrated to the mission within the Consolata family. In success we are happy with the community and in failures the community is our refuge and support. The family, where one belongs, helps in discerning and making the right judgment in embracing the will of God. In case of failure, the community raises us up and points to us the Lord who is at the shore waiting for us. We should always express the joy of belonging and working in a community.
In the mid-morning the missionaries met in the respective groups to digest further the input received. Afterwards, they shared their reflections in plenary. In the afternoon, the group had free time to visit some sites in Rome.
* Father Stephen Gichoki Ngari, IMC, missionary in Colombia.
