In our presence in Asia, “the people we meet may be Christian or non-Christian, followers of other religions such as Buddhists, adherents of Won Buddhism, or believers in other indigenous religions in Korea. However, what is fundamental is not the works we do but, above all, being with people, talking with them, opening ourselves to them, and letting them open themselves to us.”
By Jaime C. Patias
These are the words of Father Diego Cazzolato, a Consolata missionary who has been working in South Korea for 35 years, who originally comes from Biadene, Treviso. In this interview with the Communications Office in Rome, he summarizes his experience at the Interreligious Dialogue Center in Daejeon. He speaks of evangelization combined with the promotion of human development carried out by a group of 21 Consolata missionaries in seven communities located in South Korea, Mongolia, and Taiwan.
“We try to meet people, especially those who are not Christians. Naturally, we don’t always talk about Jesus or Christ, but we share life, share problems, listen to their opinions, and give our own. In short, we try to become friends. I would say this is the most important aspect of the mission in Korea,” explains Father Diego.
The IMC Presence in Asia
The opening of the Consolata Missionary Institute in Asia was “prophesied” by its founder, Saint Joseph Allamano: “I will not see it, but perhaps you will go to Japan, China, or Tibet…” However, this dream was outlined during the 7th General Chapter (1981) and approved by the 8th Chapter on June 12, 1987.
The first four missionaries (Diego Cazzolato, Paco Lopez, Luiz Carlos Emer, and Alvaro Yepes) left for South Korea on January 18, 1988, and were welcomed in the Diocese of Incheon by Bishop William J. McNaughton.
In 2003, in collaboration with the Consolata Missionary Sisters, the mission in Asia expanded to Mongolia, where the Institute engages in first evangelization and the formation of the local Church. Recognition of this missionary work came with the appointment of Monsignor Giorgio Marengo as Bishop and Apostolic Prefect of Ulaanbaatar in 2021 and his elevation to Cardinal by Pope Francis in 2022.
Following directives from the 2011 General Chapter (Cf. Acts XII CG, 47), the Institute opened a new mission in the Diocese of Hsinchu on the island of Taiwan on September 20, 2014.
On March 21, 2016, the Consolata Missionaries operating in the three Asian countries were united under the newly established Asia Region, with its official headquarters in Incheon, South Korea.
* Father Jaime C. Patias, IMC, Communications Office
