The 100th anniversary of our Founder’s death (February 16, 2026) presents an extraordinary opportunity, almost a sign of Providence, to examine the authenticity and generosity of our love and purpose for him, and our desire to renew ourselves in fidelity to his charism.
By Jonah M. Makau *
The Centenary celebrations of the death of Saint Josehp Allamano must engage each member and community of the Institute in the realization of two purposes: Spiritual renewal and actualization of the missionary commitment. These are in fact the message our Founder wants to keep in mind.
Spiritual renewal
The first aim of the celebrations is spiritual renewal, in accordance with the identity and demands of our missionary vocation, enriched by the charism of religious life. Any discourse and celebration of our Founder that does not result in a concrete commitment to spirituality and holiness seems inauthentic to us and unresponsive to his spirit, which must live among us. We know his constant concern and the responsibility that terrified him: “I absolutely desire that the Institute perfect itself and live a perfect life… Therefore, anyone who does not become a saint not only to himself but also to the Institute thwarts its purpose… As Missionaries, you must be not only holy, but superlatively holy.”
The spiritual life desired by Saint Josehp Allamano is nourished by a solid Eucharistic piety, is expressed in a warm and sincere family spirit, in a missionary yearning for the salvation of all, and in industriousness. It flourishes in Marian devotion and love for the Church, demonstrated by adherence to authority; and it is permeated by a living faith in God, nourished by the fervent celebration of the mystery of Christ in the liturgy. These are, in summary, the elements that compose and embody the spirit and holiness of Fr. Allamano; these Jubilee celebrations invite us to reflect on them, to live them more deeply, drawing inspiration from the example and doctrine of our Founder.
Missionary commitment
The second aim is the actualization of our Missionary commitment. The centenary celebration of our Founder’s death must be animated by an intense missionary spirit, which in turn is reflected in the Churches in which we work. We believe that our Founder’s missionary message can and should be expressed in three directions and attitudes of thought and action:
a) ensuring that our spiritual life has a missionary soul and expression, as the Founder intended;
b) evaluating the style, spirit, and method of our activities and works, both apostolic and in formation and outreach: all must reflect our missionary identity;
c) participating in the missionary outreach of local Churches, whether young or long-established.
The missionary nature of the local Church seems to us to be a key aspect of our Founder’s missionary message, which stems from his life and the founding of two Institutes; and today it is strongly felt at the level of the universal Church and particular Churches. It is up to us to highlight it, living it and interpreting it according to the situations and expectations of the various ecclesial communities.
The Founding Father lives today in the missionary work of the two Institutes. We cannot, therefore, conclude these few words without a fervent invitation to deepen or rediscover, the spiritual face and teachings of the Founder. By returning to the Spiritual Life, which brings us his living words, imbued with simplicity, practicality, and wisdom, and by seeing how they are embodied in his life, as testified by the testimony of so many Confreres, we will rediscover unexplored, unsuspected, or forgotten treasures, which will renew our missionary fire. We are therefore invited to draw on the material we possess to achieve an ever deeper understanding of St. Joseph Allamano, our Founder, his life, teachings and mission.
It would be important that as individuals and also as IMC communities, we may take time to review our knowledge of the Founder especially this time we are approaching the climax of the centenary celebrations. With our Institutes taking more and more an African face, the reflections and interpretations of our young missionaries could help us expand our understanding of the Founder and his teachings. Their reflections and interpretations, along with those of those more experienced in this knowledge, could become a means of exchange and communion, mutual support, and a means of unity in our Founder who is our common Father, and from whom we draw inspiration.
May we by looking at our Founder and by deepening his spirit and his message, receive from God the grace to better recognize ourselves in him, and to bear more valid and authentic witness to his charism in the Church and in today’s world.
* Father Jonah M. Makau, IMC, Postulator
