“Blessed are those who dwell in your house, ever singing your praise!” (Psalm 84:4)
The Consolata missionaries from Mongolia, Korea, and Taiwan gathered in Mongolia for a deeply enriching retreat from 2 to 6 May and will then for the elective assembly on 8 and 9 May. On the first day, we met at our Consolata House in Ulaanbaatar, where we celebrated the Holy Eucharist together as one family – the IMC (Consolata Missionaries) and the MC (Consolata Sisters). This was followed by a moment of sharing with the local community.
By Kenneth Okoth Oriando *
It was indeed a moment of spiritual renewal, reviving the spirit of Saint Joseph Allamano, who desired that we always live and work as one family. The joy in everyone’s eyes clearly showed how much we had missed one another after a long time apart.
As is customary in our Region, the missionaries in Asia come together every two years for a retreat. After our gathering in Ulaanbaatar, we visited the different communities where the Consolata Missionaries are currently working: Chingiltei and the Cathedral in Ulaanbaatar, as well as Arvaikheer and Kharkhorin.
We also had the opportunity to meet with the Bishop of the Apostolic Prefecture of Ulaanbaatar, Cardinal Giorgio Marengo, IMC. During this visit, we heard the moving testimony of one of the local faithful, who has been a christian for over 22 years and now works in the Prefecture.
In each community we visited, we were warmly welcomed with joy and offered the traditional milk – a powerful Mongolian symbol of hospitality and gladness. As a sign of communion with creation and commitment to the mission, we also planted trees in each of these communities.
We then moved to the retreat center, where accommodation was provided in traditional Mongolian houses called “gers”. It is worth noting that even the churches in Mongolia are often built in the shape of a ger, symbolizing that Christ comes not to erase culture but to embrace and uplift it.
The retreat was preached by Fr. Nicolas Muthoka, parish priest of Maria Esperanza in Turin (Italy) and a member of the CAF formation team. The retreat was guided by Psalm 84 – the prayer of a pilgrim – with a central focus on the verse: “Blessed are those who dwell in your house.”
Fr. Nicolas invited us to rediscover the joy of being missionaries dwelling in the house of the Lord. He reminded us that a missionary must be rooted in constant prayer – feeling the pain of the people, serving with compassion, but always drawing strength from Christ. Without prayer, the missionary can easily become a burden to the community and a stumbling block to the faithful.
He reminded us that the faithful look to us as priests to nourish them spiritually – but for us to feed them, we must first be fed by Christ. In the Eucharist, the people do not merely see a priest at the altar; they see Christ feeding them. In confession, they do not come to confess to a man, but to Christ, who forgives and absolves them.
Fr. Nicolas also highlighted the importance of communion and walking together. A missionary who walks alone is more prone to error; in walking as a community, we support one another.
He spoke openly about missionary fatigue – how loneliness, personal struggles, family problems, inner crises, or health issues can lead one to feel abandoned or discouraged. Yet, despite all this, we are called to live joyfully, without complaining or criticizing. Like the pilgrim in Psalm 84, we should not lament but instead give thanks, rejoicing at the opportunity to return to the house of the Lord.
This retreat offered a profound moment of spiritual reflection – a chance to return to our origins and ask ourselves why we became Consolata Missionaries, and whether that initial fire still burns within us.
The Asia Region is a young and vibrant missionary territory, with most of its twenty missionaries having less than ten years of priesthood. Yet, it is a region filled with great enthusiasm, energy, and zeal for mission.
It is truly an invitation to rediscover the joy of being missionaries – joyful, prayerful, united, and rooted in Christ.
* Fr. Kenneth Okoth Oriando, IMC, missionary in South Korea.
