Three days of remembrance, communion, and missionary renewal in the Amazon among the Yanomami people
From October 20 to 22, 2025, the Catrimani Mission, located in the heart of the Diocese of Roraima (Brazil), celebrated a memorable event: the 60th anniversary of the presence of the Consolata Missionaries among the Yanomami people. Three days of living memory, reflection, and gratitude culminated on October 20 with the celebration of the first anniversary of the canonization of Saint Joseph Allamano, founder of the Consolata Family.
By Bob Mulega *
The conference took place each evening, from 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., gathering members of the Consolata missionaries family, members of the Indigenous Missionary Council (CIMI), religious men and women, teachers, students, and representatives of various organizations and local communities. Joining online the indigenous expert Egydio Schwade and the theologian Guilherme Damioli, who enriched the event with their reflections and testimonies of faith and missionary commitment.
Memory and Testimony: A Story That Touches the Heart
The meeting opened in an atmosphere of joy and respect for the history built by so many people over six decades. In the presence of Bishop Evaristo Spengler of the Diocese of Roraima and Fr. James Murimi, Vice-Superior of the Consolata Missionaries in Brazil, participants gathered with members of the ecclesial and missionary family.
In the opening prayer, Fr. James Murimi encouraged everyone to cultivate a spirit of gratitude and attentive listening. Bishop Evaristo then offered inspiring words, emphasizing that the Catrimani Mission represents “a unique vision of the Gospel that leads to presence, dialogue, and service among Indigenous peoples.” Over the years, the missionaries have embraced a model of mission based on respect for diversity and dialogue, defending life, culture, territory, and the forest – walking alongside the people, sharing their joys, sufferings, and resilience.
The sharing session included a contribution from Brother Carlos Zaquini, a missionary with 60 years of service in Roraima and head of the Indigenous Documentation Center (CDI), who presented a historical overview of the Catrimani Mission, founded in 1965 by Fathers Bindo Meldonesi and Giovanni Calleri, 250 km from Boa Vista, to accompany and support the Yanomami Indigenous communities of the region.
An online contribution by Guglielmo Damioli offered a theological reflection on the inculturation of the Gospel, deepening the spiritual and communal dimensions of the Consolata Missions. In turn, Laurindo Lazaretti, Coordinator of the Pastoral Land Commission (CPT) of Roraima, recalled the challenges faced by the first Yanomami communities accompanied by the missionaries, while Sister Florence Lindey, who worked in the health sector at Catrimani, moved the audience with her testimony about the vital role of consecrated women in the mission.
Education, Health, CIMI, and Community: The Mission That Transforms
The program on October 21 focused on remembering the areas of education, health, and community organization, pillars that have sustained the mission through the years. It was a time of recognition and analysis, but also of renewed commitment for the future.
The health sector was presented by nurse Gracione, from the Indigenous Health Secretariat (SESAI), who emphasized the value of collaborative work between health professionals and Indigenous communities. The education theme was addressed by Maria Edina de Brito and Sister Noemi Del Valle, who recalled the efforts to build a culturally respectful ethno-education centered on human development.
Later, the CIMI’s work was presented by Gilmara Fernandes and Ediana da Sousa, who highlighted the defense of Indigenous rights, the importance of land demarcation and recognition, and the Church’s commitment to justice and life. Also noteworthy was the online contribution of Egydio Schwade, who reflected on the challenges of mission amid social and environmental changes.
Celebration of Faith: 1st Anniversary of the Canonization of Saint Joseph Allamano
The gathering concluded on October 22 with a Holy Mass presided over by Fr. James Murimi at Our Lady of Nazareth Church. The atmosphere was festive and spiritual, linking the 60th anniversary of the Catrimani Mission with the first anniversary of Saint Joseph Allamano’s canonization.
Several missionaries participated: Fr. Mário Gamba, Fr. Máximo, Fr. Joseph Mugerwa, Fr. Rosarinho Dall’Agnese, Fr. Filbert Nkanga, Fr. Bento Eugenio, Fr. Bob Mulega, and Fr. Alexander Nthenge, along with Brothers Carlos Zaquini and Ayres Osmarim, several sisters, and laypeople. During the Mass, Fr. Bento read an article published by the Consolata Missionaries Institute recalling the canonization process of Saint Joseph Allamano, which took place on October 20, 2024, in Rome, during a Mass presided over by Pope Francis.
It was in the Catrimani Mission that the miracle occurred which led to the canonization: the healing of the Indigenous man Sorino Yanomami, who was attacked and severely injured by a jaguar on February 7, 1996. This “sign of the times” made possible the canonization of Allamano as a model of missionary holiness – a life rooted in faith, charity, and trust in Mary Consolata. The miracle of Sorino confirms how God looks lovingly upon all peoples of the world and encourages us to continue this way of presence.
We cannot ignore the Indigenous peoples, true guardians of the lungs of the world, whose communities continue to suffer violence and atrocities from invasions of their lands.
In his homily, Fr. Murimi emphasized the spirit of consolation as the heart of the Consolata missionary spirituality, reminding that the same Spirit who consoled the Blessed Virgin and sustained Saint Joseph Allamano is what inspires every missionary to be “consoled in order to console.” The Mass concluded with a solemn blessing, followed by a moment of communion and fraternal sharing—celebrating history and renewing the commitment to mission.
The Story Continues
The celebrations of the 60th anniversary of the Catrimani Mission and the first anniversary of Saint Joseph Allamano’s canonization were more than simple commemorations – they were acts of faith and missionary renewal. These were days of encounter, sharing, and reflection on walking side by side with the Yanomami people – a people who has welcomed and transformed the missionaries themselves, revealing to them the true face of the Gospel.
The Catrimani Mission continues to live, sustained by the same spirit that inspired Saint Joseph Allamano: “To be holy and missionaries – nothing more.”
* Fr. Bob Mulega, IMC, on behalf of the Catrimani Mission Team in Roraima, Brazil.
