The Consolata missionaries working in the African continent have been urged to be witnesses of the Word of God. Fr James Lengarin, the General Superior of the Consolata missionaries said these words on December 8, 2023 during the closing Mass of the post-chapter continental assembly of Africa held in Bunju, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania.
“The General Government is honoured to be here with you today as we discuss the way forward in being witnesses of the Word of God in the continent of Africa” he said.
The General Superior in his message acknowledge the great welcome offered by the Region of Tanzania.
“We all felt at home enjoying the fruits and the Swahili cuisine, popped with the fantastic atmosphere of our brothers from different circumscriptions of the Continent” he expressed.
Fr Lengarin reminded the 40 delegates present what the just concluded XIV General Chapter called on the missionaries to do: to be ‘everything for the Gospel,’ emphasizing the importance of our mission in witnessing the Good News in the new era.
“It is not just about preaching the Gospel through words, but also through our actions, our presence, and our solidarity with those who are suffering” he said, adding that in order to be effective witnesses of the Word of God, missionaries must first deepen their own relationship with Christ.
In his speech that lasted eight minutes, Fr Lengarin challenged the missionaries to be ready to manage the structures laid down during the period of the seven fat bulls. “This calls for a rebirth, and a restructuring in order to put new wine into the new wineskins” he said.
“This continent is first and foremost coming out from being the mission land, the silent receiver, where missionaries were scrambling for her to save souls for Christ, into a major sender of missionaries to the whole world to maintain faith” reiterated Fr Lengarin a Kenyan-born Consolata missionary who is the first African to be elected Superior General. He insisted on how the paradigm has now changed radically. “Africa is now sending missionaries to other parts of the world. From being a receiver to being a sender is a huge change that needs to be acknowledged and owned” he added.
Fr Lengarin invited the missionaries present to pray for the departed missionaries “who left a great legacy in this continent, we pray for the sick, the elderly and for our brothers and sisters that do pray for us and assist us to be worthy disciples of the risen Lord”.
The continent of Africa, said Fr Lengarin, is a bedrock for family and religious vocations adding that the continent is seen as the current vocational hub for the institute. “It is here that most of our missionaries originate” he said.
According to the present statistics, there are 911 Consolata missionaries in the world. Of these 529 are from Africa, 245 from Europe, 130 from America, and 7 from Asia.
“We therefore deduce without doubt that, Africa is the present and future resource of the Institute” he said.
In his speech, the General Superior echoed the words of Fr Peter Makau, the regional superior of Kenya/Uganda at the opening of the assembly who brought with him the greetings of Fr Antonio Bianchi, the oldest Consolata missionary in the world aged 101 years residing in the regional house in Nairobi,
“May we be encouraged and moved by Fr. Bianchi who sent us his soul touching message at the beginning of this assembly and these were his words, ‘Be joyful missionaries despite the challenges that we encounter’.” he said.
The Superior General aware of doubts a few members of the congregation have over the spirit of continentality, he encouraged the delegates to embrace it. “It is now 25 years since this way of working in communion had been introduced in our congregation. I invite each of you to create a communication link that will inform and involve all the missionaries in the continent on this way of working in synodality,” he said.
“As we move forward, let us be bold and courageous in our mission. Let us be willing to step out of our comfort zones, take risks, and to embrace the challenges that come our way” he challenged
Fr Lengarin concluded his speech entrusting the delegates to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary “whose Solemnity we celebrate today, to enkindle in us the fire of that humble Yes to be heralds of the Word made flesh”.
By Fr Daniel Onyango Mkado
