Formators and Formation: CAF Turin, Father Samuel Kibara

Formative Apostolic Community in the parish of Maria Speranza Nostra in Turin Photo: CAF Turin

Situated in the historic Turin neighborhood of Barriera di Milano, the most multi-ethnic in the city, there is the parish of Maria Speranza Nostra which since 2022 has also hosted an Apostolic Formative Community (CAF) with a group of theology students involved in pastoral care.

By Jaime C. Patias *

In this video from the Formators and Formation series, the Kenyan Father Samuel Kabiru Kibara, IMC, head of the CAF, speaks about the importance of formation in the life of the Consolata missionary and comments on his participation in the course held in Rome in September 2024 when he also left a message on the occasion of the canonization of Saint Joseph Allamano.

Currently, the CAF Turin has five professed students from Ivory Coast, Kenya, Tanzania, Uganda and Ethiopia. They study theology at the Pontifical Salesian University of Turin. The Consolata missionaries arrived in the parish in 2013 with Father Godfrey Msumange. Since 2017, the parish priest is Father Nicholas Muthoka (Kenya) who is accompanied by the assistant priest, Father Elmer Pelaez Epitacio (Mexico).

As far as the formation in Italy is concerned, the Institute in Rome has the Bravetta Theological Seminary with 24 students, and the Porta Pia – Nomentana, Specialization community, with 8 students.

Procession in the Maria Speranza Nostra parish in the Barriera di Milano district of Turin. Photo: CAF Turin

“The parish is located in a suburban area of the city of Turin where the main work is to accompany migrants arriving from abroad (Europe, Africa, Asia and Latin America). It is a challenging but also interesting situation, which requires open dialogue with people of other religions”, explains Father Samuel who worked in the past in the suburbs of Bogota in Colombia where he was a CAF formator.

Regarding his participation in the formation course in Rome, Father Samuel shares that, first of all, it was “an interesting moment because it brought into focus the expectations of formation in the different contexts where the Consolata missionaries operate. A moment of sharing”. Secondly, it highlighted the importance “of taking care of oneself and subsequently to be able to accompany these young people”. Furthermore, it “enphasised the Allamano as an educator. Our Founder has already indicated the path of how we must accompany the community and the young people”.

Father Samuel Kibara with the training course participants in Rome. September 2024. Photo: Jenaro Ardila

With the canonization of Joseph Allamano “we are living a very important and significant moment as Consolata missionaries” – says Father Samuel – “For us, a moment of joy, a moment of happiness, of affirmation of our charism. After 123 years from the foundation of the Institute, it is important to continue with this charism of mission ad gentes”, he concludes.

* Father Jaime C. Patias, IMC, Communications Office in Rome.

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